Comment of the day

I came across a good explanation of the Zen koan. See the comments for that post if you are curious.

Civic duty of the day

Until this year, I was not registered to vote. Really, I just didn't care.

Now that you all think I am evil, I'll continue.

A couple of months ago, I spoke to my mom.

Mom: Mark, I want you to vote this year. I don't care who you vote for. But you better vote!
Me: Mom, I hate waiting in lines, and voting is a hassle. If you
really care who wins an election, you should just give money. I live in
California, which is going for Kerry anyway. And they pick jury pools
out of the voter registration lists!
Mom: I don't care. I want you to vote!

Soon afterward, I was at the post office to send a package. Waiting in
line, as usual. I saw a voter registration form there, so I reluctantly filled it
out and mailed it in.

Sure enough, I have been summoned for jury service.

Comment of the day

Some of you have commented to me on my Brookstone pillow post. If you
thought that was amusing, then you should check out the comment and
link that three_five left.

I
bought this book upon the recommendation of poker professional Howard
Lederer, who said that it teaches you to improve your focus. So far I
find it deeply confusing, which is pretty much how the author felt as
he began his search for enlightenment under the tutelage of a Zen
master archer.

This book reminded me of the following story, which I first came upon in Douglas Hofstadter's Goedel, Escher, Bach. Probably it contains some deep spiritual truth, but I just find it very funny. Anyway, here is today's

Zen Koan of the Day


Zen master Gutei
raised his
finger whenever he was asked a question about Zen. A young novice began
to imitate him in this way.

When Gutei was told about the novice's imitation,
he sent for him and asked him if it were true. The novice admitted it was
so.

Gutei asked him if he understood.

In reply the novice held up his index
finger.

Gutei promptly cut it off. The novice ran from the room, howling
in pain. As he reached the threshold, Gutei called, "Boy!"

When
the novice turned, Gutei raised his index finger.

At that instant, the novice
was enlightened.

Purchase of the day

I
was shopping at Brookstone when I came across a "Fom" pillow, which
I ended up buying. It was soft and squishy, and I couldn't resist
clutching it to my chest. Just like this picture!

As I held it, I thought, "hmm, this feels really soothing and comforting. Almost like holding a real person."

Then I thought, "I really need to get married."

I even bought a second one for the office. That's pretty bad, huh?
Still, things could be worse. There was a larger model which I didn't
buy.

Poem of the Day

Brought to you by Mrs. Britney Spears Federline, who recently returned
from a honeymoon trip to Fiji. I have no comments to add to this poem. It speaks for itself.

---

We hopped on a plane and took our flight
I slept really well, all through the night.
As we arrive, I turn and look out the door
People are greeting us right at the shore.
A meal, a shower and some ice cream
Then I threw my man down, you know what I mean!

My mom told me today that as Ohio voters, she and my father got a
ridiculous amount of attention in the month prior to the election. They
averaged five phone calls every day, mostly from Bush, of which a
little more than half were actual people rather than recordings. They were also the lucky
recipients of (on three separate occasions) large manila envelopes
containing smiling color portraits of the First Couple.

And one day my mother received a call from a high school
acquaintance who was ranting about the evils of the Bush
administration. They had not spoken in forty years, so the phone call was a little out of the blue.

Mom: She talked to me for over an hour.
Me: I can't believe you talked to her for all that time.
Mom: Well, I have a nice, warm heart. So I couldn't say what I wanted to say: "hey, shut up!"

Actually, she said, "So I couldn't say, 'hey, shut up!' " But I like my version better.

My mom voted for Kerry, as did I. But sadly, after all the money Kerry
and Bush spent on my dad, he was fed up with them both. So he threw his
vote away on an independent candidate.

My mom also told me about the proposal to amend the Ohio Constitution to ban gay marriage, which passed overwhelmingly.

Mom: I voted against the ban.
Me: Mom, you're so progressive!
Mom: Yes, well, gay people aren't hurting anyone. And scientists say that they are predisposed to it. So I say, okay.

Me: (with mock sincerity) Mom, I want to marry a man. Is that okay?

Mom: (quickly) No, not you!

My thoughts on Ashlee Simpson

1. It's no big deal if she lip-syncs.
2. On the other hand, it's sad if a Saturday Night Live performance does not require even as much effort as karaoke.

Carville the prophet

During the campaign, there was a lot of buzz
about the how the young voters of America would mobilize and propel
John Kerry into office.

Weeks ago, Democratic strategist James Carville had a different angle on the situation. He said, "You know what they call a
candidate who's counting on a lot of new voters? A loser."

I voted

... for the first time. Of course, my vote didn't make much difference,
living here in California. Too bad I don't still live in Ohio!