Happy Independance Day, Bill Pullman!

It occurred to me in the shower that it's July 4th. I love this holiday because it involves getting drunk and playing with fire and explosives. Oh, and remembering sacrifices made on my behalf and thinking about how lucky we are, blah blah blah.

I kinda wish I could be in the US for the 4th of July, but, alas, 'tis not to be. Instead, I think I'll lecture my students about Independance Day and how important it is that we celebrate the US-led victory over the aliens who mysteriously sought to annihilate our species.

In other news, I completed viewing the ridiculous fourth season of "24". This is a monumental achievement in TV watching, and I'm sure you're all proud of me. For season five, I'm going to do "24" in 24: 24 episodes of "24" in a 24-hour period. Furthermore, I'll write 24 consecutive hourly blog entries complete with pictures and postings depicting my reactions to the events as I witness them unfold. As if watching me watching TV wasn't exciting enough, I'm going to perform this feat under the pressure of a brutal "24" themed drinking game. To borrow a phrase from the immortal RyBo, I'm gonna get hammered.

The tentative date of this history-making endeavor? Probably in two weekends, after regular classes have ended. Stay tuned for more details, including the rules for the drinking game. If you download (legally, of course) season five of "24", you're welcome to play along with me--IN REAL TIME!

Until then, here's a CG rendition of Baron Munchausen. I'm also going to try to publish video of me getting lost in Osaka a couple nights ago. I can't figure out how to do that in this post, but it should be ... well ... above this post. Enjoy! (hopefully...)