January 1, 2012
Goodbye 2011. Hello 2012. I'm cheating a bit, starting this a few days early, on my birthday (12/30), but it's not too early to say goodbye to another rough year: the passing of friends and meaningful others; the economy hurting at a national level and really dumping on folks very close to me; our departure from Iraq bringing, yes, many of our troops out of that specific hell, but exposing other troops in others, and dooming the forsaken desert of Iraq itself to the chaos caused by the absence of a stabilizing, if detested, presence. The list could go on, but let's just close the book with one last goodbye to Susan, Saul, and Steve, and best wishes to all the survivors.
Though the big picture is pretty gray, I have to say that, with all due respect to the possible jinx, things here in Silva-ville are pretty damn good. Health concerns are all mere irritants, work is steady if not booming, my students are wonderful, and I never have to worry about where the next meal is coming from or where I'll be spending the night. Where I spend the nights ain't bad, either. The nearby earthquakes have been rather small. Typhoons in our part of Japan the past year were few and mild. I begin the sayonara festivities with what has become an annual ritual on the day: Kobe Steak. Insanely expensive, insanely good, guaranteed the best you've ever had. Guaranteed.
Looking ahead,I may be optimistic in thinking I'll crank out a new mini-eBook, and still manage visits to Vietnam and Russia with Wifus™ in addition to my usual pilgrimages to Chicago. I resolve to drive more in Chicago, too, perhaps trying a number of fun-to-drive cars under $30,000 at local dealers under the guise of a potential buyer. Oh, the potential is there, just not for a few more years. There'll be competitive driving, too, as last year I broke down and bought myself a new helmet that needs more breaking in.
Just some cleanup and stuff to share. The SOPA thing is far from resolved, so do what you can, please. Something I will not have the time to contribute to, but could be great fun if more old-timers get involved, is a site devoted to cars people drove in high school. Would love to have my memories up there: 1963 Chevy Impala, 1969 Mercury Marquis, and finally, in college…1969 Fiat 124 Spyder. Yes, red. Loved that car. Looking back, a collection I've linked to before, some wonderful images of 1950's Chicago, and the the main web site. One little kick at my host country about its duplicity in reporting on events surrounding the nuclear meltdowns following the earthquake and tsunami in March. A reminder about yet more good Obama has done, and finally, a little humor.
So, happy birthday to me. Good riddance 2011. Best of the new year to you all, and thanks for reading.
Archive of 2011 entries
Archive of 2010 entries
Archive of 2009 entries
Archive of 2008 entries
Archive of 2007 entries
Archive of 2006 entries
on Twitter
friends' sites (in no particular order):
Irv
Pavlik
John
Dean Blog
Hirose先輩
/Miura Dojo
David Stepanczuk
Davina
Robinson
Kunio
Kise
Natsuki
Yamamoto
Greg Lowndes
if you were i (just some stuff I find
interesting):
a&l
daily
dilbert blog
the pour
japanese study
それから、もっと日本語
boing boing
joy
of tech
geoffrey chaucer
blog
worth1000
tour chicago
on my iPhone (music
& words):
Bottle Rockets
Jackson Browne
Guy Clark
Marc CohnRy Cooder
Dengue Fever
Steve Earle
Zoe Keating
Junior Kimbraugh
Robert Earl Kean
Paco de Lucia
Michael McDermott
Low Millions
Muddy Waters
The National
Poco
Rita Men playlist
Leon Russell
Andrés Segovia
The Stax Story (thanks, bro!)
Joe Strummer/Mescaleros/Clash
Them Crooked Vultures
Neil Young
Townes Van Zandt
Wilco
This American Life Podcast
Japanese lessons (wishful thinking)
Lin's Bin WXRT Podcast
MacBreak Weekly Podcast
Mac Observer's Mac Geek Gab Podcast
NPR CarTalk Podcast
Spanish lessons
Slate Podcast
Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson
books being read or I wished were:
Chronicles Vol. 1, Bob Dylan
The Coast of Chicago, Stuart Dybek
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
Quicksilver,
Neal Stephenson (yes,
still...)
Mind Hacks, Stafford & Webb
Mexico, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides
The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi
Working, Studs Terkel
Various Historical Chicago Photograph Collections
amazon.com
| Email me when this page changes |
better in theory
- Ripping up a parking ticket*
- Bjork*
- Riding your bike to work*
- One more
- Topless beaches
- Couscous
- Forgiveness
- Revenge. No, I take that back.
- Martini bars
- Blue Man Group
- Quentin Tarantino
- Crossover vehicles. Including the Cayenne. Please.
- Low-fat
- "Mission Accomplished"
- Harleys
- Audiobooks
- Room service
- Indoor pools
- Showing him/her/them who's boss....OK, maybe not.
- Pretty good for the price.
*Stolen from Esquire
