Monday, January 29, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Carbon Taxes
Great blog post regarding the idea of a carbon tax: A Taboo Link. A highlight: "They know they’ve got an uphill fight, because presidents and legislators would rather hand out subsidies and set long-range targets than inflict immediate pain at the pump and in utility bills. But that immediacy is why the carbon tax appeals to so many experts of both parties (at least experts who aren’t running for office)."
But my favorite part is the "guiding principles" of the blog:
* 1. Just because an idea appeals to a lot of people doesn't mean it's wrong.
* 2. But that's a good working theory.
But my favorite part is the "guiding principles" of the blog:
* 1. Just because an idea appeals to a lot of people doesn't mean it's wrong.
* 2. But that's a good working theory.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Five Favorites for January
I meant to start doing this EVERY month, just a way of noting my favorite things periodically so I can look back and say, oh yeah, in October I was obsessed with That 70s Show! (I think I will enjoy that...not sure that anybody else will, but hey, blogs aren't really for the READERS, are they?) Anyways, this month's favorite five:
1. The Office (especially Season 2 on DVD, but also the current season). Nothing better on TV these days. I think it's the best comedy since Seinfeld. Maybe even better than Seinfeld (although they are so different, it's hard to compare). Current favorite Office quote: "The office is like Friends. I'm Chandler...and Joey." (Michael, of course.) Another similar (and classic) Michael quote: "Ryan...is book smart. I am street smart...and book smart."
2. Adobe Photoshop Elements. I have been having SO much fun lately just messing around with Photoshop - I learned some neat effects from a magazine article and I've been digitally altering all my photos ever since. I also have been trying a little digital scrapbooking - I downloaded a bunch of swirly brushes and digital "stamps".
3. L.L. Bean. They are on my good side this week because I saw a suitcase in a catalog for $99, but online it was $119, so I called and asked them to honor the catalog price even though the catalog stated quite clearly that the prices were only in effect until 12/31/06, and they gave me the $99 price! That kind of customer service goes a long way, in my opinion.
4. My new iPod FM transmitter. So I can listen to all my tunes in the car. Frickin' awesome.
5. Soy sauce. Okay, I get that it's basically salt water and probably not worthy of being in my top five. It's just SO tasty! (I'm thinking of soy sauce right now because I made a yummy cashew chicken stir fry last night.)
1. The Office (especially Season 2 on DVD, but also the current season). Nothing better on TV these days. I think it's the best comedy since Seinfeld. Maybe even better than Seinfeld (although they are so different, it's hard to compare). Current favorite Office quote: "The office is like Friends. I'm Chandler...and Joey." (Michael, of course.) Another similar (and classic) Michael quote: "Ryan...is book smart. I am street smart...and book smart."
2. Adobe Photoshop Elements. I have been having SO much fun lately just messing around with Photoshop - I learned some neat effects from a magazine article and I've been digitally altering all my photos ever since. I also have been trying a little digital scrapbooking - I downloaded a bunch of swirly brushes and digital "stamps".
3. L.L. Bean. They are on my good side this week because I saw a suitcase in a catalog for $99, but online it was $119, so I called and asked them to honor the catalog price even though the catalog stated quite clearly that the prices were only in effect until 12/31/06, and they gave me the $99 price! That kind of customer service goes a long way, in my opinion.
4. My new iPod FM transmitter. So I can listen to all my tunes in the car. Frickin' awesome.
5. Soy sauce. Okay, I get that it's basically salt water and probably not worthy of being in my top five. It's just SO tasty! (I'm thinking of soy sauce right now because I made a yummy cashew chicken stir fry last night.)
Friday, January 19, 2007
Wildly Tragic Life Seeking Slightly Comic Attitude
"Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I've had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh."
-Katherine Hepburn
-Katherine Hepburn
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Photos from Trip to Maine/Boston
Just a couple of highlights from my recent travels...
One of the best parts of the trip was seeing my nephew Kieran, who's about 21 months old, enjoying the first Christmas he was really old enough to understand (if by understanding you mean playing with the stuffed Santas and snowmen around the house).
This picture is from Christmas Day down at Five Islands:
Outside the famous L.L. Bean store there is a live 40' Christmas tree. This year, they decorated the tree with Nalgene bottles, and it was possibly the MOST beautiful Christmas tree I've ever seen! These pictures really don't do it justice.
On my last full day of vacation, my parents and I went to Boston and checked out the new ICA museum. The "art" was a little contemporary for my taste, but the modern building was spectacular! After the museum, we drove through Boston, past Fenway Park (!) and into Cambridge, where we walked around the Harvard campus, had a lovely dinner, and met up with my college friend Sarah for dessert!
One of the best parts of the trip was seeing my nephew Kieran, who's about 21 months old, enjoying the first Christmas he was really old enough to understand (if by understanding you mean playing with the stuffed Santas and snowmen around the house).
This picture is from Christmas Day down at Five Islands:
Outside the famous L.L. Bean store there is a live 40' Christmas tree. This year, they decorated the tree with Nalgene bottles, and it was possibly the MOST beautiful Christmas tree I've ever seen! These pictures really don't do it justice.
On my last full day of vacation, my parents and I went to Boston and checked out the new ICA museum. The "art" was a little contemporary for my taste, but the modern building was spectacular! After the museum, we drove through Boston, past Fenway Park (!) and into Cambridge, where we walked around the Harvard campus, had a lovely dinner, and met up with my college friend Sarah for dessert!
New Year's Resolutions
I can't believe it is 2007! I feel like it only ought to be about April 2006, but sure enough, the calendar tells me it's January 2nd, 2007. Here is my obligatory list of New Year's resolutions:
1. Run the Bolder Boulder. This is the resolution that I tell people when they ask - not that I don't intend to do it, just that it's easier to give a concrete resolution than list off all the less tangible ones listed below. The Bolder Boulder is a 10K race held every Memorial Day weekend. I've never done a 10k before, so this should be interesting. I starting running last October, but due to illness, travel, snow, and the lack of daylight, I've fallen off the wagon! So this week I am devising a training plan, and hopefully in the next few days enough snow will melt that I can safely run in my neighborhood.
2. Read more. I say this every year! A couple of books I'd like to read this year include: Don Quixote, the Jane Austen novels, Barack Obama's book, Robinson Crusoe. Plus, I'd like to stay caught up on the Atlantic Monthly and Time magazine.
3. Organize and decorate my house. Tired of the college dorm room look. I want to paint the walls, get rid of all the boxes, put some art up on the walls, buy a couch, organize my closet, find a nice desk and bookcase, etc.
4. Work on training with Fenway. Fenway is a pretty good dog, but I'd like to finally solve some of his problem behaviors, like jumping up on people, barking, etc. Plus I'd like to teach him to do cool service dog-type commands like putting toys away. That would be super cool.
5. Learn to ski the black diamonds. Maybe not the DOUBLE black diamonds, that can be next year. But I'm definitely ready for the single black diamonds.
6. Make more time for creativity. I'd like to spend less time watching TV and more time doing photography, scrapbooking, playing the piano and other musical instruments, writing, etc.
7. Keep in better touch with friends. I've fallen so out of touch with my Morse and Bowdoin friends - even worse, some of my Colorado friends! So I really want to make an effort this year to remember birthdays, send cards and emails, pick up the phone, and generally be a better friend.
1. Run the Bolder Boulder. This is the resolution that I tell people when they ask - not that I don't intend to do it, just that it's easier to give a concrete resolution than list off all the less tangible ones listed below. The Bolder Boulder is a 10K race held every Memorial Day weekend. I've never done a 10k before, so this should be interesting. I starting running last October, but due to illness, travel, snow, and the lack of daylight, I've fallen off the wagon! So this week I am devising a training plan, and hopefully in the next few days enough snow will melt that I can safely run in my neighborhood.
2. Read more. I say this every year! A couple of books I'd like to read this year include: Don Quixote, the Jane Austen novels, Barack Obama's book, Robinson Crusoe. Plus, I'd like to stay caught up on the Atlantic Monthly and Time magazine.
3. Organize and decorate my house. Tired of the college dorm room look. I want to paint the walls, get rid of all the boxes, put some art up on the walls, buy a couch, organize my closet, find a nice desk and bookcase, etc.
4. Work on training with Fenway. Fenway is a pretty good dog, but I'd like to finally solve some of his problem behaviors, like jumping up on people, barking, etc. Plus I'd like to teach him to do cool service dog-type commands like putting toys away. That would be super cool.
5. Learn to ski the black diamonds. Maybe not the DOUBLE black diamonds, that can be next year. But I'm definitely ready for the single black diamonds.
6. Make more time for creativity. I'd like to spend less time watching TV and more time doing photography, scrapbooking, playing the piano and other musical instruments, writing, etc.
7. Keep in better touch with friends. I've fallen so out of touch with my Morse and Bowdoin friends - even worse, some of my Colorado friends! So I really want to make an effort this year to remember birthdays, send cards and emails, pick up the phone, and generally be a better friend.
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