It's time to hunker down. Food budget approaching $20/week. Award-winning Franzia instead of Glenlivet. Spying on neighbors instead of going to the movies. And always watching out for the first signs of an adventure beginning or a chance to be a freelance hero.

Topics:
Election
My new Camera
Deck Staining Trouble

Plus SUXM radio, 20 hours with the silver sled, a good short weekend. The Princess Bride, academic costs of traveling, my little electronic friend and less.

Poll: Favorite use of satellites?

In honor of Google's 10th birthday, they're letting you search the oldest available version of their index, for a little wayback machine fun.

It's the 70's.

From Time Magazine, with some added links for Great Justice:

because there has to be one!

The nice thing about a largely dry autumn are the piles of crunchy leaves you can kick through while walking.

can an employer force you to work more hours?

Bollywood budgets cut due to global meltdown make me sad. The worst bit is that this will probably spark a return to formula. Over the last decade or so, there were some interesting film makers experimenting with some interesting themes in Bollywood.

Democracy Now! has an interview with Namoi Klein whereshe lays responsibility for the current crisis at the feet of those who put Milton Friedman's economic theories into practice. I found this especially interesting in an email being bandied about from someone educated at the University of Chicago in economics which made the observation that most of Europe is far less regulated than the US vis a vis the banking industry. Given the EU, I guess this makes sense that banks would be less regulated within member states.

It's time to drop out and become a goatherd. Or an adventurer. Where should I go for adventure? How do you get a gig as a freelance hero? I was just in a four hour meeting and the market lost like 4% while I was out. That means it's time to cash out and join the battle against cosmic evil.