In a speech back in Chicago a year ago David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, compared America with the Roman Empire: It "fell for many reasons, but three reasons are worth remembering -- declining moral values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."

Sound familiar?

Paul B. Farrell
God Wants You to be Rich

Instead of gifts this year, I want action! I want YOU to take action, then comment below about what you did! Here are some suggestions:

• Make a gift to the Main Cancer Foundation in memory of my good friend Wilfred Harrington.
• Go to your local blood blank or red cross and donate blood, platelets, or plasma.
• Volunteer time at your local Boys and Girls club.
• Find a fun-run/walk and walk in it for any good cause such as, domestic violence, lymphoma, cancer.
• Give money to someone who is walking/running in one of these events.
• Hug your spouse/child/parent.

Don't limit yourself. Think of something awesome you can do to make the world a better place, and go for it! I'm looking forward to reading what you do!

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It simply means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!

Unknown

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the 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.

George Bernard Shaw

It's interesting to me that even though they're outright calling the combined works a "trilogy", people are still missing the giant I.G.Y. quote at the very end of the Morph the Cat album. That's the kind of broad-stroke which, when it's that obvious, you shouldn't miss.

Tooting my own music-nerd horn here (horrible pun intended), but I didn't miss it!

Incidentally, I've been listening to Nightfly and selected tracks from the other 2 records lately. Florida Room still does it for me in a big way. The horn section in the middle is great. Love the flute! (In particular, that you can actually hear the flute in the mix.)

I read a tweet from Scoble and learned George Carlin had died. I was on the phone to my brother Chris within five seconds. I asked him if he was sitting and had heard the news. He hadn't. I told him.

Chris said, "Fuck!"

I replied, "Fuck!"

It seems apt.

I'm upset and saddened by Carlin's death.

No offense dad, but in a weird way, that goofy old George Carlin record was one of the first adult male influences in my young life. Growing up in Berkeley, after my parents divorce, it was my mother, my older brother, and me. Chris and I listened to George Carlin's record together over and over.

Carlin is the reason why at 5 I knew the 7 words you couldn't say on television. It's probably the first list I memorized outside of school, and can still recite it for you today.

Carlin is the reason why when I met my dad's girlfriend on a visit to Phoenix at age 5, I told her my teddy bear's name was Fuck Face. Dad still tells that story in certain company. I love it.

After a pretty big shake up in my personal life a couple years ago, when I went to reconnect with some old, classic, "Phil" things, I bought the most recent Carlin album I could find and listened to it repeatedly.

His unusual observations, his exposition on the English language, his cynicism, his obscenity, his brash political commentary, his manliness... the man himself, was an inspiration and constant delight to me.

George is an American treasure. He will be missed.

A day later, I had to move the guitar case, and bumped the surge protector plug from the wall. When I plugged it back in, I noticed the MR8 was glowing and ready to go. I guess the surge protector plug had been loose all along. Lucky!

I messed around with it the a couple of days later and recorded a musical version of a poem by Dorothy Parker, which my mother introduced me to after a long talk about suicide:

Resume

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

Dorothy Parker

The music is lifted from my favorite rif by Jason Mraz, and the melody I just made up on the fly. My apologies to everyone for the poor sound quality and cheap "drum machine". These are all one take tracks, so be kind.

Enjoy!

As for my time? I'm averaging about 3 and a half minutes to solve. I'm not keeping track of number of moves. I use the F2L method, but not with her 43 algorithms, just with the "3 standard situations", i.e. "differing face on top", "same face on top", and "corner on top".

It's been fun to time myself. I can do under 3 minutes sometimes, if I get lucky and can skip a step. Right now I'm focusing on solving the white cross when that face is down. I use green for the front. It's helpful to keep the same face front, because you can learn the same "directions" for the faces.

I have a feeling Michelle knew it would come to this...

It's so important to make someone happy,
Make just one someone happy;
Make just one heart the heart you sing to.
One smile that cheers you,
One face that lights when it nears you,
One girl you're everything to.

Fame if you win it,
Comes and goes in a minute.
Where's the real stuff in life to cling to?
Love is the answer,
Someone to love is the answer.
Once you've found her, build your world around her.

Make someone happy,
Make just one someone happy,
And you will be happy, too.

Make Someone Happy
Sung by Jimmy Durante

Make Someone Happy