you should tell him, "hey, I really want to support you, but starbucks coffee just tastes better.

What Vortex said. I respect the desire to support independent businesses, but if they're worse than the chains, they shouldn't earn money entirely by playing on guilt.

oh my dear lord, I am gonna fall asleep at my desk. I should probably just give in and get some caffeine, huh?

It is supposed to get up to 40 degrees today. I had to remind myself that that is still cold. The winter has been mild and yet it still feels like it is dragging along forever. or maybe that is just me. I may not make it to March. In my fantasy world, I am getting a week off and going to a warm island to do nothing but walk and read and eat and sleep.

Ugh. So very tired today. Must make a mental note to turn in as early as possible tonight.

At least I started the day off with good news from my broker - Disney increased in value by 10% over the last quarter. I'm kinda regretting not buying thousands of dollars in shares last year when I had the money to spend. But the whole Roy Disney flap put me off about how the company was being run. Looks like the no confidence vote that resulted in Eisner letting Robert Iger take over day-to-day operations was a good thing.

This nifty inflation calculator tells me that what I did buy back when was done wisely, as it's doubled my investment even after adjusting for the falling value of the dollar.

So, not about Michael Jackson this morning, despite temptation:

Jennifer Aniston is drawing strength from her girlfriends to get over her split from husband Brad Pitt. The Friends actress is still heart-broken by the collapse of her high profile marriage to the Troy hunk last month, but she is determined to move on with her life by concentrating on her career. The 35-year-old says, "There are times when you look in the mirror and go, 'OK, we're having a good day.' You go through those moments of hating things about yourself and not having any positive reinforcement. You know when I feel inwardly beautiful? When I am with my girlfriends and we are having a 'goddess circle'. The most beautiful I have ever felt is when I am surrounded by a group of women and we are having some wonder ful evening together and are celebrating women. No men allowed!"

that crazy hippy dippy Jennifer.

When I am with my girlfriends and we are having a 'goddess circle'.

Just last week, I saw the Friends episode about this. With the wind and the pools and the whatnot.

Just last week, I saw the Friends episode about this. With the wind and the pools and the whatnot.

"I will never suck your energy again!"

I hate it when I scuff new shoes the first time I wear them. I must remember to tell that to my goddess circle tonight; they'll understand.

What's up with my brain today? Now I feel light-headed....

ION: [link]

A number of science fiction luminaries and a bot got together to write the very worst book they possibly could and submit it to PublishAmerica, and were, of course, accepted.

Subsequently, PublishAmerica apparently found out what was going on and rejected the book, explaining that after having accepted the book for publication based on its high quality someone actually read it and discovered that it sucked.

Now you, the reader, can discover the transcendent badness that is Atlanta Nights, by Travis Tea (say it out loud). The press release is here.

(It's Starbucks coffee. I feel bad about this, because on the sidewalk nearby is a guy with a coffee cart who's had that sidewalk spot for about 25 years, and he's got his cart all covered with signs about why we should by coffee from him rather than from Starbucks. And I agree with most of his reasons, but I just really can't stand the taste of his coffee.)

His name isn't Tweak, is it? (South Park episode that's almost exactly like the situation you describe; watch out for Gnomes and hang on to your underwear)

Oh well...I need coffee myself.