Not Helpful: Blogger!

All of a sudden, my colors have changed and the sidebar is on the left. I'll see if I can fix this, but I may not be able to get to it until next week.

Interesting: UIC in the news

Nik Theodore, one of the professors in my college, is all over the news these days with a study about day laborers. This is an issue that I just don't know much about yet, but with immigration sure to be a top political issue this November, I'm glad to have access to such learned experts.

Helpful: Why I'm a Democrat

Because I want to do things.

I+H: Go Steelers!

What a game! If only the Super Bowl were being played at General Motors Field, I might have a chance to score a ticket. Since that isn't the case, and I don't have a spare $2,440 to spend, two Sundays from now I will be at home, wearing my lucky shirt, listening to the "Pittsburgh Steelers Polka," and watching as the black and gold take home a fifth Super Bowl trophy.

Polka link from SteelersFever.com

I+H: Go Steelers!

What a game! If only the Super Bowl were being played at General Motors Field, I might have a chance to score a ticket. As it stands though, two Sundays from now I will be at home, wearing my lucky shirt, and listening to the "Pittsburgh Steelers Polka" as they take home a fifth Super Bowl trophy.

Polka link from SteelersFever.com

Podcasting test

I'm trying out Audacity, the free, cross platform audio software so it won't take me so long to publish audio posts. Right now, my quickest podcasting tool is my cell phone, and as you know, the audio quality is less than perfect (not to mention the call waiting and telemarketers.)

The main advantage of Audacity is that it automatically exports to MP3. Very nice.

Helpful: Grow stuff!

Man, the Chicago Reader has been great this month. Very interesting stories about water policy, Debra Shore, and now urban gardening. [.pdf links] I remember seeing the Earthbox at the Wired Magazine NextFest last summer -- it was not as entertaining as the virtual nerd reality videogame deathmatch machine they had set up there, but it was far more helpful, in the long run. Apparently, this technology allows anyone to start growing produce out of this self-watering container. Inner city schools, prisons, and hipsters alike can grow fresh tomatoes, which of course makes them happy. I'll probably have to check with my landlord to see if she'll let us put one outside. I hope she says yes!

Interesting: Fire!

Pic of the Day.

Helpful: 100 free MP3's

Emusic.com has mostly indie labels, but free is free, people. You normally get 50 free MP3's during the trial period, but thanks to Schuba's Tavern, you get 100 instead. Sweet.

Helpful: Find a place to study!

Just in time, some good advice from Lifehack.org for my first day of school.

Helpful: Resolution?

2005 brought some big changes, but mixed progress on the 2005 resolutions.

1. Work out avg. 4X a week -- I was close to that until after the Half Marathon, getting sick, and hurting my knee. Then it all went downhill.
2. 36" waist -- getting closer.
3. Reading 20 books -- I did that. In fact, remember when I was reviewing ten books a month? That was crazy. I'm happy with my reading, for sure.
4. Blog 30,000 words -- Blogger's word count feature doesn't exist anymore, so I have no idea what my total was, but with it not being an election year, I know that output and traffic was down for the year. Oh well. I still enjoy it.
5. Work hard at Kaplan and see what shakes out -- Did that!

As for resolutions for this year, I want to:

1. Get my knee healthy and run 4 races, including the half marathon. I'd like to take another 10 minutes off of my time.
2. With school, I want to make straight A's and land a part-time and/or summer position in the field of urban planning or government.
3. Raise $10,000 for the church.
4. Travel to Coachella in April, somewhere great (and unknown as of yet) in July, and maybe Austin City Limits?
5. Get down from 215 to 195 pounds. That would be a normal weight for my height.

That'll work. Now I gotta go fix my lunch to get ready for school tomorrow. Sweet.

Helpful: Make up for your stinky car

If you drive a car, TerraPass gives you a way to make up for all that CO2 you're putting in th air. Get to it.

Helpful: Inspiration

Maybe it's the snow or the cold medicine, but I'm in this kind of mood.

Interesting: New Year's Eve Quotes

Heard on Saturday night:

"The curse of being a Walker is small genitalia -- a curse I've lived with my entire life"

"Has anyone ever told you look like that Jake guy from Brokeback Mountain? I'm not saying you look gay, by the way."

"I don't make it easy - don't do the flirt, eye contact thing. You have to come talk to me."

-Rebekah: "Matt, you could put your knee down so you don't fall."
-Matt [crouching]: "Rebekah, I'm not going to do that." [falls over]

"I said, 'Excuse me, are you a hustler?'"

"I wanted to buy him a vodka that would be impressive so I went with Thor's Hammer. Thor is a pretty kickass god."