Since I've been gone

As has been the pattern for the last couple of years, I go on a publishing jag for a few weeks and then either forget about this space for a few other weeks or just forget to post something.

This time was a little different. In a foolish moment of pique, I promised Jeff that I'd make my next post a wholly hyperlinked villanelle, which I half-assedly worked on for a week then abandoned as beyond the scope of anything I had time or inclination to do. But then I felt like I couldn't post anything until I came up with the damn poem, which kept me away for another few weeks, until I decided that I'd just been a moron and that the only way out of the situation was the dishonorable one-- that's right, no villanelle.

At some point I'll have to belatedly comment on all the current event issues. Until then, here's my summary:

• Inauguration: didn't watch it.


• Terri Schiavo: wow, watch the Right eat itself. Go jurisprudence! Boo, Frist!


• Bird Flu: hysteria is not fever pitch yet. Give it until October.


• NCAA Basketball: The best sports value out there. Suck it, professional leagues.


• NHL Hockey Lockout: Maggie still is employed by a non-existent team in a non-existent league. I wish they'd solve their problem for her (our) sake. Otherwise, see previous comment.


• NCAA Football: Last I checked, the Sooners were undefeated and going to play in the Orange Bowl. I don't remember anything after that.


• Michael Jackson trial: wake me when it's over.


• Scott Peterson trial: He did it.


• Robert Blake trial: He probably did it, too. But the rules are different if you're a rich and famous dude.


• Martha Stewart: Welcome home! I'm still glad you went to jail. Now if we can get Bernie Ebbers (GUILTY!), Jeff Skilling, and Kenny Boy Lay there too...
  
• Hubble telescope: another beautiful thing that Bush is trying to kill.


• Mars Rovers: SCIENCE!


• Iraq: a terrible, bloody, worthless quagmire.


• Me: I'm thirty now. It boggles the mind. This has been the most personally eventful year since 2000.

Check out my del.icio.us feed linked in the sidebar; most of my links to peruse that would ordinarily be in my < h5 > tags are now there.