Who else misses Lincoln's oratory? Hell, I'd settle for drunk old Andrew Johnson at this point.

This is originally from Snopes, via Wonkette. I DARE you to read the whole thing:

WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: ‘I don’t really understand. How is it the new [social security] plan going to fix the problem?’

PRESIDENT BUSH: (Verbatim response):
‘Because the — all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases There’s a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those — changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be — or closer delivered to that has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It’s kind of muddled. Look, there’s a series of things that cause the — like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate — the benefits will rise based upon inflation, supposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those — if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.’

Doin' stuff and also things

I've been behind on my correspondence, dear internet. What's been going on? Oh, lots of stuff, I guess. And also, not so much.


I moved, as you know, and unpacked the few belongings I brought. Probably more than half of my stuff is still in New York.


I've also seen a few friends. See what fun is being had in this picture? Yeah, good times. Anyways, I've been lucky enough to run into some cats from way back in the day, one of whom - a guy who went to my high school - is actually taking the course I'm teaching.





The highlight of my few weeks here was, undoubtedly, Funthena Week 2006. Athena (of whom I present, below, one of my favorite pictures, taken in Brooklyn) made the trip to Michigan for the very first time ever to visit yours truly. I played tour guide for sojourns around Ann Arbor and to Detroit, and we had dinner at a Japanese restaurant with my mother and Hilary and Luke. I've been havng kind of a tough time adjusting to being back in Ann Arbor, what with the being lonely and having so few people to talk to, so being with Athena was a welcome respite and a decidedly wonderful time. She's incredibly fun, sweet, and genuine; she also wants me to remind you that she's "ninety times hotter than other girls." I miss her very much.

I also attended the annual Robbie Burns dinner with the St. Andrew's Society. Robbie Burns is the poet laureate of Scotland, and the dinner was held at the Eagle Tavern at Greenfield Village...








where, apparently, the seats were reversed for the band.
Yep.

So here I am. I'm teaching at what is perhaps the most frustratingly bureaucratic university you can imagine. In addition, I miss New York and my amazing friends there; while Ann Arbor was great when I was in college, I am not in college anymore, and I am aware of how fun and beneficial for personal growth it can be to live in a place of constant vibrance, challenge, and opportunity. So what's next? Stick it out and try to make this UM program work? Return to New York? Take Dr. Lalwani's advice and go to med school? Move to Japan? Who can say? All I know is that spot of gray hair I've got ain't getting any smaller...

I'll be on TV tonight!

Hey kids -
It may be good, or it may be horribly embarassing. Who knows? But I'm going to be on ABC Primetime tonight (Jan. 12) at 10 p.m. in a segment about the effects of peer pressure on visual perception. Watch at your own risk!

Mich-again

More can and will be said on this when I get internet access of my own, but for now, suffice it to say that I have returned to Michigan to start teaching at the University thereof. I've been here since wednesday, I miss NYC terribly, and I am very curious about how the course I am teaching will go. The best news is that Athena is coming to visit next weekend and Tillotama has also agreed to come see me in the great white north. This will take some getting used to, methinks. Anyways, just wanted to let y'all know what I'm up to.

If you're in Michigan, holla.