I don't know what made me remember my adoration of the mid-90's MTV cartoon "Daria" but I've been singularly consumed by her since Monday. My original goal was to find the DVD collection as officially released by Viacom but, unfortunately, only the 2 "Daria" movies were offered. I did find some bootlegged DVD sets for $49.95 but have absolutely no faith that I'll ever receive the merchandise. Does anyone out there have a hook up for copies of "Daria"? I'm desperate and willing to fork over good money for your time. Payment, of course, is for your assistance with the matter only and NOT for the shows themselves since that would be pirating and, therefore, illegal. (wink, wink)

After reading Jason's previous post about overhearing a Kniker Carillon practice session, I did some research and was able to locate the person playing the piece. Kim Schafer is a graduate student in the School of Music and also the instructor for the Carillon class and she has agreed to play Radiohead's "Karma Police" tonight at 7:05 on the actual Carillon, not just the practice console. So for those of you who will be on or near campus tonight, you'll get to enjoy her rendition of the song. Merry Christmas to Jason and everyone else who gets to hear "Karma Police" played on 56 bells.

I look at these people and can't quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it? To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.

- Author David Sedaris, on undecided voters

Jason and I put in an offer on a condo this weekend and it looks like it's going to go through. It's actually a four-plex that will be it's own self-contained home owners association once the other 3 units are sold. We're very excited to finally be home owners again and relieved that we've finally found something in Westlake that meets our price needs without being a complete hovel. The outside, not so great but the inside is fabulous:

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We'll probably close the last week of October but maybe sooner. Of course you're all invited to the house warming.

Jason finally established a Live Journal account. Friend him so he doesn't feel lonely. His user name is esparuss. He'll most likely just lurk but he's tired of hearing 2nd hand what everyone is writing; he'd rather read it on his own.

I wanted to share with my close friends and family that I've accepted
a position with Plan II, the Honors Program for The University of Texas
at Austin College of Liberal Arts. It is a step forward professionally
as the position requires more advanced budgetary and HR skills than
what is required of me currently. Additionally, Plan II is the most
prestigious program within CoLA, making it a sought after department
for students, faculty and staff. I feel very honored to have been
selected and look forward to the new challenges and relationships that
will accompany this new posting.

Current Mood: jubilant

As some of you already know, my brother Mike was told on Monday that cancerous cells had been found in the lymph node he'd had removed last Friday. Yesterday he was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, a very rare, very fast moving form of lymphatic cancer. It represents only 1% of cancer in the U.S., meaning less than 300 new cases annually. Mike will begin a very aggressive regimen of chemotherapy on Monday which will require alternating 1 day outpatient/2 weeks off/1 week inpatient visits for the next 6 to 8 months. While he does not look forward to what he must go through, Mike is optimistic as the oncologist told him that this is treatable and, more important, usually curable. Please keep Mike and my family in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Whatever happened to the separation of Church and State? Beginning 9/1/07, the Texas Pledge of Allegiance will add the words "one state under God," making the new pledge "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible." (House Bill 1034) I guess I was unaware that God was a word that could stand alone as it's usually followed by damn whenever it leaves my lips.

I just read that Karl Rove is resigning at the end of August. Finally, he's returning to that hot, dusty, arid land he calls home. And no, I don't mean Texas. Good bye and good riddance!

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks company has committed to produce at least one movie on the famed Belgian cartoon character Tintin, the head of the Tintin studio announced Thursday.

Nick Rodwell of Herge Studios said the Hollywood company will go into preproduction on a film, which should be in theaters in about two years.

It was unclear which of the 24 cartoon books of Tintin's adventures would be picked for a first movie script, he said. "If movie No. 1 works, we will continue."

Talks about a Hollywood movie on the intrepid reporter who saves the lives of countless people and makes sure criminals end up behind bars has been talked about for a quarter-century.

The first plan surfaced just before Tintin's creator, Georges Remi, aka Herge, died in 1983. But financial and production issues have kept Tintin from landing a role in a Hollywood production.

Tags: tintin