• Here's a bit of fun!
  
  "I write like" is a website where you enter a few paragraphs of your work and an algorithm developed by a young, Russian software programmer, Dmitry Chestnykh, analyzes your style. I couldn't resist the challenge, so I pasted in the first two paragraphs from a recent blog post. Here are the results:
  
  
  
  

  I write like
  David Foster Wallace

  I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

  
  
  
  Flattering! :-)
  
  Give it a try, and let me know whom YOU write like!
  
  

• Along time ago, after a great deal of soul-searching, agonizing, I realized that physics and philosophy weren't really at the opposite ends of the spectrum but were actually the conjoined ends of a circle—each flowing seamlessly into the other as water seeks its own level in a pond. I quit feeling guilty about "religion" and have never known such inner peace as dumping that prescribed dogma and doctrine allowed. However, curiosity is—as it should be—irrepressible, and the quest for understanding has no finite end-point.
  
  I recently "read" (it was actually an audio book narrated by the authors) The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self, by Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Debbie Ford. It was an amazing piece of work, each author contributing to the clarity that is difficult to achieve.
  
  This morning I read more by Deepak Chopra, a voice of reason, which explored the science v. religion debate:
  
  Consciousness and the End of the War Between Science and Religion

• When I read this article on CNN, I confess, I was a little surprised they were spending so much time arguing over the color of Cleopatra's skin. Cleopatra was a Ptolemy—Greek. I don't have a problem with the color of Angelina Jolie's skin suiting the role of the most famous female Egyptian pharaoh. I don't even doubt Jolie can pass herself off as one of the most highly-educated women of that era. But I do question whether they should be casting a woman of such unquestionable and surpassing beauty in the role of Cleopatra. After all, the REAL Cleopatra was reported by her contemporaries to be a woman of ordinary, even unremarkable appearance. What made Cleopatra's beauty the stuff of legends was her inner beauty—that certain je n'sais quoi that made her stand out as extraordinary.
  
  I do believe Hollywood would have done better to go through a thousand auditions until they found a relative unknown with some of that same magical, charismatic appeal—a unique and interesting face to capture our imaginations and allow Cleopatra's true beauty to shine once more.
  
  

• Talking tech isn't usually my habit, but I absolutely MUST rave about this screen-saver. I installed it several days ago and find it hard not to simply sit and stare at its almost-organic evolution over time. I think you'll love it too!
  
  Download the "E-volved Cultures" Screen Saver here.
  

• As Atlantis prepares to make its final landing @ Kennedy Space Center in a couple hours, I've wondered what will happen when the last space shuttle retires later this year. I couldn't imagine NASA completely cutting off this vital life-line to ISS in the event an emergency occurs.
  
  Then I read an article on CNN this morning which outlines NASA's future plans for these unique craft and also mentions that Atlantis will be kept in a state of readiness to be pressed back into service should it be necessary. All the shuttles will eventually find their way into worthy museums.

• I'm busy working around the house today, mopping floors while listening to the talking heads on CNBC cry about the way U.S. markets are taking a beating on worries over the health of the Euro. Although I can sympathize with their outrage, I can only feel even worse for countries in the Euro Zone who have strong economies, e.g. Germany and France. Their citizens are going to have to REALLY pay a price for the debt load carried by the P.I.G.S.
  
  I wouldn't be surprised to see rioting in the German streets before this fiasco is resolved.

• Almost a year ago, in "Will the Phoenix Fly Over Michigan" I wrote about the plight of our urban centers, the decline and bulldozing of entire city neighborhoods, particularly in locations like Flint, Michigan where the loss of jobs in the auto industry has had such a devastating impact. I went on to speculate that as "razing cleanses as it cauterizes," we might see a reversal in mass-migration to the suburbs. I wondered if people would return to those urban centers as the quest for jobs, the arts, entertainment and the cost of fuel makes the long commute from homes in the suburbs less attractive.
  
  Then in an article I stumbled across on MSNBC this morning, "'Bright flight' changes the face of cities, suburbs", I read that is, in fact, already happening.
  
  
  
  

  "A new image of urban America is in the making. What used to be white flight to the suburbs is turning into 'bright flight' to cities that have become magnets for aspiring young adults who see access to knowledge-based jobs, public transportation and a new city ambiance as an attraction."

  
  Now, I wonder, will we be left to contend with row after row of sprawling, decaying cookie-cutter mansions?
  

• This morning I entered "Pink" Maisy Pup's photo in a Pedigree Dentastix contest. Check out her audition!
  
  Pink's Audition
  
  I seriously need to get a life. [sigh]
  

• U.S. Representive from Michigan, Bart Stupak, has announced he will retire rather than seek reelection in the fall. Democratic Congressman Stupak has been the target of aggressive Tea Party attacks after he supported the health care reform legislation that was recently signed into law by the president. IMHO, this is a sad day for Northern Michigan. Bart Stupak has been our champion and beloved by voters on both sides of the aisle for many, many years.
  
  Now that the Tea Party has slaughtered its scapegoat, I wonder... will the Northern Michigan residents who turned on him so brutally be left only to dine on crow?
  
  

• I just stumbled across an intriguing link on Twitter: "Signs of Life Detected on the Moon?"
  
  This is the first time I've heard any suggestion of organic compounds being detected in the lunar regolith since I wondered aloud back on November 14.
  
  Interesting....
  

• Pssst! Don't spill the beans, but I think it's safe to talk about Mom's Christmas gift on this blog because she hasn't figured out it's here, and I know you're not going to tell her. ;)
  
  About two weeks ago, she asked me to search around on the Internet to see if I could find Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series available on audio CDs. Well, a quick search of Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com and I learned that all six books are available in audio format for about $80 EACH. Correction: All 6 books except book #4, The Drums of Autumn, which was almost impossible to find. When I did finally track it down through an unknown book seller, they wanted $200 for the darn thing.
  
  She said she didn't want the collection if she couldn't have book #4, so I almost despaired...until I stumbled across Audible, an Amazon company. They had the entire series available (for a fraction of the price) in a digital format that I could simply download onto my computer then burn onto CDs for her. I was ecstatic!
  
  Have you ever seen one of those little light bulb illustrations suddenly light up over the top of someone's head? Well, that was me when I realized this would make the perfect Christmas gift for Mom! I joined Audible and hurried to download "Drums of Autumn" to see how it would work. The download was a snap, no problem. However, because this book is a monster—over 40 hours long—I did the math and realized I would need nearly 40 blank CDs and HOURS to spend burning onto CDs. Then I would need a HUGE CD case just to hold this ONE book.
  
  CRAZY! I'd have more $$$ invested in blank CDs than I spent on the audio download.
  
  I finally determined it was cheaper to buy a good MP3 player (I purchased a 16 Gig Sansa View) with a docking/charging/speaker system. The player will store the entire series of books with room to spare. Once the MP3 player arrived, it took me thirty seconds to transfer a 40 hour book onto the device. Absolutely amazing!
  
  
  
  I gave the book a listen and the narrator does a wonderful job; I couldn't be happier, and I know Mom is going to be thrilled. So, if you're ever at a loss what to get for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list, consider an audio book from Audible. They're wonderful to deal with (tech support was very helpful!), and an audio book is a great alternative for someone who has time to listen to a story while they're traveling or working with their hands (Mom's a quilter).
  

• After I wrote about how much I enjoy shopping with Amazon a couple weeks ago, I'm not really surprised to read this article which confirms Amazon is nipping at the heals of marketing mega-giant, Wal-Mart.
  
  While the online retailer isn't large enough (yet!) to take Wal-Mart down, it's nice to know it can at least offer some serious competition.
  

• Lookin' to get your butt kicked? Take this CNN Challenge." I totally bombed. Totally. :/
  

• This morning I discovered one more reason to love Amazon! (To read the text in the photo, you may need to click on the image to view full-size.)