When work gets really busy, I have less time for chasing down interesting web content. Consequently, fewer links and more stories about my obscenely sensual life. All of your kind words in the last few days have been a real ego booster (as if I needed that…). Thank you.

I get my TV programming via satellite from the Dish Network. I’m too far in the boonies to get any broadcast stations, but the FCC got it into its head that I was close enough to Atlanta that I didn’t qualify to receive any satellite network programming. I appealed, and they gave me ABC, CBS, and PBS. I don’t watch TV much at all, but with ABC carrying the NHL playoffs, I was very happy to get it. The only network show I regularly watched, though, was the Simpsons, and I was told that the Atlanta FOX station refused to allow me to get FOX off the satellite. I’d miss out on all the used car ads, you see. After really missing the Simpsons, I finally called the station and complained. The lady in charge of such things told me, after finding out where I lived, that of course I can get FOX over the satellite. They didn’t care at all, in fact. She mailed me a postcard to that effect. Now,I get FOX from New York and FOX from L.A. Net result? I can watch the Simpsons five times daily. Maybe I ought to start filling up VHS tapes.

It’s only Virtual Hell, but the background music will convince you it is real. At least they didn’t use that citizen in hell song I pointed to earlier. They’re trying to scare me straight, and now that it’s been pointed out that they don’t serve breakfast in hell, it might’ve worked.

There’s a party in my mind, and I hope it never stops.

Only 14 hours to go until maximum planetary alignment. I’m flush with anticipation. Come tomorrow, I might be living on the beach! In the snow!

Nothing says “spendthrift” like Ramen noodles, and nothing offers more ways to cook ’em than the Ramen Recipe Page. There’s one hundred seventy two ways to tickle your tastbuds, ranging from “Orange Ramen Pancakes’ to “Florentine Noodles a la Marco Polo and Paul Newman” to “Nukem Spaghetti Ramen”. Mmmmm, mmmmmm. That’s good eatin'!

It’s “beg week” for Georgia Public Radio. Somehow they managed to snag a killer web address, pledgenow.org.

Last night, the University of Georgia here in Athens mourned its dead. It’s been a record semester for death, with causes all across the spectrum: suicide, overdose, accidents, illness, car crashes, and fraternity hazing. So far this semester, there are eleven dead. Oddly enough, there has been a perceptual shift in attitude here, albeit a likely temporary one. Folks are realizing that they (and more importantly, the people around them) aren’t invincible.

I woke up this morning to a flock of wild turkeys perched in the trees in my front yard. They weren’t too concerned with me down below, so I brought my food (poundcake, strawberries, and freshly whipped cream) outside and joined them for breakfast. The conversation was very pleasant.

Steven Baum over at Ethel the Blog did what I didn’t have time to do yesterday: link to a whole mess of information about fire ants. If you like my story from the weekend and want to know more about the industrial little beast, Ethel’s the place to go.