Denial isn't Denial

Dear me minus 10 years,

Things ARE what they seem. Older people are older. They just know what they should have known when they were your age but they don't know what they should know now. Listen. But don't follow.

Start taking Rogaine now. Get in more trouble. Start reading Paul Auster now. Take a cooking class. And, please, stop being so dramatic.

- JL

Humility is an Old Fashioned Word

Ate at Colorado Kitchen in DC's Brightwood neighborhood last night. Been a long time since I'd had amazing food without the hype.

Speak Softly is a new ebook written by the Harvard MBA grad Ira L. Williams.

Right now, some ant is carrying a load ten times its body weight.

It's Fun, It's Easy. Like Superman.

It's easy to jump into a conclusion, but not out of it.
Elevate your cuestick above the pool table at a 30 or 40 degree angle.
Grimace optional.

It's easy to jump into a feeling, but not out of it.
Elevate your mood for 30 or 40 minutes.
Screaming, laughing, crying optional.

It's easy to jump.
Elevate yourself.
Options are endless.

Coffee Cup Morality
On my way into the office this morning, while squeezing my coffee cup's rim and watching it snap back into place for my coffee-drinking enjoyment, I remembered an important lesson.

THE BEGINNING
In 1997, Jon Katz, an eccentric engineer/philosopher/community organizer, began helping the rural village of El Limon by introducing them to a cheap form of renewable energy--a small (about 20 inches in diameter), highly-efficient turbine to power a couple light bulbs in each house, a community refrigerator and a computer lab / telephone center. The project was very successful in improving the quality of life in El Limon.
More info on the project here.
...

Ferrocement structures are made with rebar and chicken wire--later, cement is spread on top to create a thin but rigid wall. The preliminary structure might seem, at first, to be incredibly fragile. See pictures of the El Limon structure here.


In fact, because of the fragile appearance, the band of trained builders told Katz...

So, folks that had never built this type of building before started to help Katz out. The malleability of the structure let them tailor the structure to their exact needs. When they decided to add a smaller room for community counsel meetings it was easy to snip the chicken wire and add the space...

BACK TO REALITY
Well, actually, the building doesn't seem to have been finished. But the structure is still there.

THE MORAL TO THE STORY
You figure it out. I'm going to finish my coffee.

Now This Ruins Everything
Jim and Jim were taking a walk through the desert. The desert was hot. Jim was sweating. Jim was actually kind of cold. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up and he didn't know why.... Holy Shit. A monster.

Ladies and Gentleman, We Are Floating in Mystery

I have faith in the process. I have faith in the process. I have faith in the process.

Things happen for a reason. Things happen for a reason. Things happen for a reason.

Chocolate. Yum. Chocolate. Yum. Chocolate. Yum.

Control Issues

A remote control is a device used for the remote operation of a device or tool.

According to the Urban Dictionary, a tool is a person who lacks mental capacity. Someone who is being used. A fool, a cretin. A cheap piece of meat.

According to the January 26 Giant Circular for the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington DC, center cut pork loin chops are on sale for $2.99 a pound with your Bonus Card.

Jesus is Awesome

When I was a kid, I thought I was the Jesus of the monsters under my bed and in my closet.

Jesus Complex is the electro-industrial project of Damon Fries. Though originally from San Francisco, Damon moved to Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1998 to escape the "extremity and hypocrisy of American culture."

"As we all know, Jesus fought corruption, hypocrisy, and the decadent power structure. He shook people up and you know what He got for that!"

I'm running for President on the monsters in my closet platform.