First Garret rightly points out the weird similarities to Clancy’s books to the news as of late. Then Bill is posting some Clancy news. Me? I’m re-reading Red Storm Rising. About mid-way thru what is one of my favorite books. (Answering Shelley’s request)

Writer (thanks Bill) of “Basic Instinct” looks to himself as a promoter of smoking in his NYTimes opinion piece. Rare to hear someone in Hollywood admit their role in influencing the public.

A timely metalfilter thread inspired by a timely Slashdot thread on a NYTimes article.

If the Internet economy was built on vapor, these new ventures are all too real. “I buy eggs, flour and cheese and turn it into things people like and will pay more for than I did,” said Assaf Tarnopolsky, 31, a Wharton School of Business graduate who is now the proud owner of two crepe stands in San Francisco, under the self-bestowed title of the West Coast Crepe King. Mr. Tarnopolsky lost his $125,000-a-year job last September when his employer went bankrupt, so he turned to an earlier love.

…They were in a fantasy world. Now we’re in a back-to-basics mode,” he said. “Hot dog stands are about handling real merchandise and interacting with real customers. It takes hard work and time to see results when you build a business the old-fashioned way.”

Any non-profits, in the Philly area, that are looking for a good programmer to volunteer some time? Let me know.

Dante and Katie’s SleepingAngels fund makes it to The Daily News’ hometown heros section.

A very timely (sorry) Time magazine article on the housing market. Speaking of which, Garret points to an American Prospect article and concludes that “stocks rise and fall, but real estate is tangible and fungible”.

Still moving in 🙂

George Bernard Shaw

This is the true joy in life – that being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. That being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for it’s own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it to future generations.

That quote is scribbled on a piece of paper in my wallet. Been there for a long time. I havn’t found my purpose yet. But man do I feel blessed.

In that spirit I want to send some shout outs.

Please say a prayer for Garret and his family.

Send supportive e-mails to Rogi and Dave on their struggle with smokes. It’s way harder then most people realize.

Go to MP3.com and listen to a great band, a rocking song, and support one of my friends, Mark. The song is about to crack MP3.com’s top 50!

Send a supportive word to Meryl who survived Blogathon!. You can still donate to her very worthy cause.

Very importantly – The Sleeping Angels fund has placed it’s first headstone for a child who didn’t have one since February 2001! I am so proud of my brother and his family. How they are channeling their son’s passing is inspirational.

Time’s deserving person of the week is 7 year old Erica Pratt. A girl that has inspired many in the city and out here in the blogging world. Her strength will be remembered for a long time by many.

There’s much more to this story. The Inquirer reports that the Suspected kidnappers, family have web of ties.

As Acel Moore says

Unlike recent kidnapping cases in Utah and California, this crime suits its surroundings.

She had to learn at a very young age how to watch for herself when away from her grandmother, and thank God for her grandmother’s love and care.

No, this posting is not a return to my past blogging velocity. Still lots more moving to do, and I like my time away from the web, with my friends and family.

Moving is tough 🙂 Lots to do. I’ll be around, just not posting that much.

Since I am the owner of a mini-rex named Velvet, here goes some really interesting and funny links culled from Metafilter today.

Signs of rabbit anger (really great site.. continue to read the other emotions), some rabbits are just too aggressive, Rockem Sockem Rabbits a game, everything you need to know to raise rabbits, a comic with a rabbit as the main character, and yet another cute rabbit game.