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I got a copy of this story in my email inbox. This story touched me even though I am no martial artist. So much stuff comes in with my email that represents to-dos and unwanted come-ons that it is nice to receive a little pearl now and then.

And then in my search to find examples of the anecdote on the web somewhere, I ran into Pensieve, the blog of what looks to be a kindred spirit. Another little pearl.

This is all that I miss about blogging when I am not into it regularly. My contacts from my previous blogging years have all but dried up. My comments are basicaly only spam. My site traffic comes from chance encounters from online searchers. But I still keep this blog — to exchange Little Graces, like pearls among the stones.

Type “I-for-one-welcome-our-*-overlords” into Google and see what you get.

The Edge has posed it’s annual question of the World’s Thinkers — What is your Dangerous Idea?

One of the below mentioned salons takes place monthly in Second Life, this 3-D virtual world which, as I understand, is now free to join. There’s a teen version too, I see.

I don’t dare even go in. The same reason why I don’t try to learn the latest video games. I find that once I climb the learning curve on one of those things, it’s a slippery slope to obsession city. But you might be able to handle it.

I don’t need a second life. I need more hours in the day for my current life.

Having just come from Kansas, where Evolution and Intelligent Design are duking it out over meme space in the public schools there, I couldn’t help loving this alternative theory. It seems as scientific as ID yet more imaginatively compelling — the Flying Spaghetti Monster: “He who created all that we see and all that we feel.”

Count me in with the FSM crowd. If we’re going to open up Science class to alternatives to evolution, let’s really open it up. And if overwhelming observable scientific evidence is no longer the sole criteria for what’s taught as science, then the field of alternatives should get very crowded indeed.

My questions: Who created the Flying Spaghetti Monster? What kind of sauce? Does this make Italians, not Jews, God’s chosen people?

I am totally inspired by the Box Doodle project. I got a buttload of cardboard at home just waiting for some attention.

Oh, and check out their online box doodle tool. Totally cool interface.

Don’t care what the Hitchhiker’s Guide people say. 43 is the answer, not 42. 43 is my latest favorite number.

It’s the number assoicated with my latest social online collaborative find – 43 Things (from Matt)

It’s also the number associated with my favorite geekalicious productivity and lifehacks site – 43 Folders.

The common use of 43 on these two sites is apparently non-related. But then again I’m no numerologist.

Five reasons you should go read this guy’s page of five things lists

1. It’s Darn Funny.
2. Walk down memory lane if you’re a gen-X’er.
3. Lot’s of fodder for hip ironic conversation with your urban hipster friends.
4. Good example of a low-design webpage that totally kicks the ass of all those professionally designed websites out there.
5. Gives you practice in silent chuckling so no one will know you’re reading it at work.

(via Matt)

Posting this as much for me as for you. Inter Press Service news Agency has a great article on information, open government or lack thereof, and how to get access to information the government is trying their undemocratic best to obscure the access to.

A few examples of such sources:

“- GlobalSecurity.org which says it provides “bottomless resources on all aspects of national security policy, and then some;”

- Nautilus Institute’s Global Disclosure Project specialises in nuclear weapons policy and strategy. “

This has good value to me as a scanner, and to all of us as citizens. Before we succomb completely to consuming all our news through someone else’s ideological filter, it’s be nice to know how to go to original sources.

More evidence that I have to face up to the fact that I am in middle age – this video game trend appeals to me. I am in a middle age, middle America cultural demographic despite my strident efforts to to appear ‘alternative’ and ‘eclectic’. I am one of those who eschew the high learning curves and large time investments of online role playing games (though they sound intriguing). My elderly brain is instead attracted to online parlor games like Hearts and Scrabble. Remind me to pick up some assisted living community brochures on the way home.

“I like to make movies with my Hot Wheels video camera. One day, I’m going to be a famous actor. My favorite actress is Lindsay Lohan. I really like comedies and funny TV shows.” – Rhys

My friend at work has a son named Rhys. Rhys is ten years old. Rhys has Asperger’s Syndrome. Rhys really likes Thomas the Tank Engine and Lindsay Lohan. Rhys writes better 1KBWC cards than most adults. Rhys now has a blog.

While searching for information on Integrated Collaborative Environments (ICE) I found this snazzy online music mag and a story about Wilco’s upcoming release in June.

Hey! I didn’t know Wilco had a new release coming out! Cool.

Speaking of serendipitous culture mag discoveries, I literally tripped over this one. There was a stack of them on the floor by the door at the store. (I’m showing my assonance…) It’s called Arthur and contains a pleasing combo of alternative music, art, and independent comix. A whole lot less mainstream than ICE, but that’s kind of how I like it.

“Every American has a responsibility to understand fully the terrible costs of war and the extraordinary sacrifices it requires of those brave men and women who volunteer to defend the rest of us.”

– John Mc Cain

This story pisses me off. I don’t usually watch Nightline because I don’t care for Ted Koppel (and I don’t really like TV) but I will definitiely try to tune it in tonight.

I’m not usually one for web multi-media, but this Poverty Tour presentation by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is compelling. Regardless of your politics, it is informative to put yourself and your lifestyle in perspective. To think about all of the purchasing decisions you don’t have to agonize over, all the thinking you don’t have to do because of the resources you have available to you.

I won’t spread rumors. Not even ones that my Austin insider lawyer in-law told me she heard from six different credible sources. In fact the whole internet is full of people who aren’t spreading rumors. That’s how I heard of it.

Of all the non-rumor-spreading I’ve read so far, Gwen Zepeda has the best take. Gwen says “HELLO, GAY MEN WHOSE REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN BOYFRIENDS SPEAK OUT AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE, DON’T YOU DESERVE BETTER BOYFRIENDS?” Now that’s perspective.