A resigning U.S. diplomat sent his resignation letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell. The New York Times (free registration required, but it’s worth it) published the letter yesterday.
It’s an important, well-written read. Please take a few minutes to look it over.
Fred Rogers, host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood died of cancer at the age of 74 earlier today.
When I was very little, I used to watch Mr. Rogers on PBS religiously. It was at the time, and probably still is, hands down the best television program for kids up to third grade or so. It was filmed from 1968 through 2000.
Mr. Rogers was a piano player, jazz enthusiast and Presbyterian minister. The music you hear in the opening and closing credits is his own performance. Singing was an important part of his program and he often had special segments dealing with music education. I think this is one of the first places I first found my love for music.
Fred Rogers was also a member of my “fraternity.”
Addendum: Fred Rogers gave a commencement speech at Dartmouth University last year. Take the time to read it; it presents a good insight into what this man was like.
I’ve put the journal back up for now. It’s not completely what I want, but I don’t have time right now to figure out what it is I want online. Also, the strange comments people were leaving were driving me insane, if insane were a place I could be driven.
I just finished playing outside in the snow for an hour with Denise and Ward. Some pictures should be up at some point. I’m not sure how much snow has fallen over the last twenty-four hours, but it’s definitely more than a foot. Apparently, there’s still more snow in store for us. I’m enjoying it while I can.
Google is buying Pyra Labs (Blogger). It will be interesting to see what they do with it… The Google people are geniuses.
Also just in: I need to go to sleep. I spent just about all of the day backing up the important files from my computer, wiping the hard drive, and reinstalling Windows XP Pro. Once everything was reinstalled, I upgraded the BIOS on all the network equipment in the apartment (Linksys cable modem, Linksys broadband router, Linksys wireless access point) and that caused some problems for a while.
But everything’s running smoothly now, as smooth as an aging Hollywood producer trying to pick up a young, looking-for-work actress in a bar in SoHo.
Uh oh, it’s going to get a little mushy. Just a little. And it’ll be over quickly.
To everyone who has helped me, cared about me up close or from afar, loved me, stood by me through anything and everything, and even a few who didn’t stand by me, I love you.
I noticed a computer accessing my “legitimate personality” site was eop.gov. Eop.gov is the Executive Office of the President. It’s not clear how they found the site and what they were searching for however. The first site they entered was one correlating to this page.
Why is Lou Reed trying to get me to call 212-970-INCEST? Why is he telling me that I can get a discount of $37.50 and see a completely new design at Incest.com? Why does he want me to subscribe to Incest.com Magazine? Why do you torture me, Lou Reed? I don’t plan on taking a walk on that wild side. Sorry.
My lower third left molar (“wisdom”) tooth (#17) has been bothering me all day. Just thinking about getting my wisdom teeth removed is racking my nerves. I’ve learned there’s no reason to have them out unless the teeth are damaging surrounding teeth or causing pain, and I’ve managed to get by without any pain until now. But today, just the one tooth is bothering me. Time to make an appointment with the dentist.
I received this email today. I’m posting it for others to take action, as well as a reminder for myself.
McCarter Patrons & Supporters – We Need Your Help Now to SAVE NJ Arts!
For the first time in NJ history, the Governor has prosposed eliminating all funding for arts and culture. All grant funding through the NJ State Council on the Arts, NJ Cultural Trust and NJ Historical Commission will be wiped out along with staff for these agencies beginning July 1. In addition to having a devastating impact on McCarter and the hundreds of arts organizations across the state, this decision is extremely short sighted economically; for the $18 million that the Arts Council distributes, the arts community contributes $1 billion back to the state?s economy.