New Zealand Day

Some YP from NZ came to Atlanta recently, and their visit reminded me of that little comedy group, Flight of the Conchords. They made a movie recently, which I haven't seen. Anyway, I'm on another FoC binge; here are my two favorites:

Word of the Day - Pertinacious

adjective

1. holding tenaciously to a purpose, course of action, or opinion; resolute.
2. stubborn or obstinate.
3. extremely or objectionably persistent: a pertinacious salesman from whom I could not escape.

Public Accounting Report 2008

27th Annual Professor’s Survey
Top Undergraduate Accounting Programs

1 University of Texas-Austin
2 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
3 Brigham Young University
4 University of Notre Dame
5 University of Southern California
6 The Ohio State University
7 University of Georgia
8 Indiana University Bloomington
9 Pennsylvania State University
10 Texas A&M University

Darby Quote

"Oh, the joy of having nothing and being nothing, seeing nothing but a Living Christ in glory, and being careful for nothing but His interests down here." - J.N.D.

flibbertigibbet - word of the week

Here I sit. My feet are cold from the hardwood floor. I listen, almost ostentatiously to Bach's cello suite no.1 humming into my headphones. The book I'm reading is nearly finished. It's over 500 pages. My next book should be rather different. Something like Gogol or Tolstoy. Maybe an autobiography would be nice. I would like to ask for recommendations, but my inbox is already flooded with fan mail from well-wishers and busy-body bloggers, I simply don't have time to sort through hundreds of opinionated emails from zealous readers about what book to read next. So, I'll just have to decide of my own accord.

Recently at dinner dad made an interesting announcement. After some (questionable) research, he has concluded that our surname is Jewish. We immediately determined that he has been watching too much Fiddler on the Roof, and then Stephen piped, "Well Dad if we're Jewish you owe me bar mitzvah money." That seems to have settled the discussion. I'm indifferent. First we were Scottish, then Swedish, now we're Jewish. What's tomorrow?

Tonight I'm not planning to sleep much. There are some issues that demand resolution, and today I received notice that the "Admissions Committee has recommended you for admission for the MAcc Program at the University of Georgia." Graduate school, it formerly seemed to be foreign, daunting, distant, uninviting. Now I'm accepted and it seems like just another step down this long wearisome road. The novelty of it is inarticulately fleeting. It's a huge relief, honestly.

I really can't help it....

When the sun shine
We'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath imma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella

Word of the Day - Profligate

prof·li·gate (prŏf'lĭ-gĭt, -gāt') pronunciation
adj.

1. Given over to dissipation; dissolute.
2. Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant.

n.
A profligate person; a wastrel.

[Latin prōflīgātus, past participle of prōflīgāre, to ruin, cast down : prō-, forward; see pro–1 + -flīgāre, intensive of flīgere, to strike down.]

Billy Collins

Something rather hilarious crossed by path not too long ago. And while I'm somewhat reluctant to post something I didn't really discover by myself, I think it's time to unwrap this delicious piece of art...

As a background, Billy Collins served two terms as Poet Laureate of the United States. His piece "Litany" is among the most entertaining things I've ever read. I thought to post it here but it's somewhat long so I will invite you to find it yourself, or spare yourself the trouble and simply click this link. And to make things even easier, I've embedded the video where he reads it aloud...but you might get more out of it from reading it first.

Wicker Park, Chicago IL

 

It's a wonderful life

The Times has an interesting piece this morning about the classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life." This is a movie I have never seen, and was recently encouraged to watch. As Wendell Jamieson explains, "Lots of people love this movie of course. But I’m convinced it’s for the wrong reasons. Because to me 'It’s a Wonderful Life' is anything but a cheery holiday tale."

As A.O. Scott explains "Everybody knows this movie as a uplifting, heartwarming holiday tale, but if you look at it again a very different picture emerges. It's a wonderful life is a dark disturbing fable about greed, exploitation, misery, and disappointment."

Here's the link: Wonderful? Sorry, George, It’s a Pitiful, Dreadful Life

I'll probably rent it tonight...

Addendum: And here's another article I just found, along similar lines. It's interesting, but I still haven't been able to rent the movie.

no rest for the weary....

In recent days there has been an explosion of response from my faithful readers. And I must say, somewhat aggressively have they demanded further posts. As one enthusiastic reader wrote:

(Quoted)

Dear Weekend Intellect,

My day begins and ends with your blog. The rhythm of my life relies on your blogging, and I despair sullenly when the sun goes down without a new dabbling, a new diatribe, a new flavor of your tempered brilliance penetrating across the internet. Today I cried into my milk (during morning cereal) and regretted with solemn contempt that a new post had not been sacrificed to the blogosphere. Currently my life is a whirlwind of depression; you have not posted anything in over three days. I feel the livelihood of my soul resting in your (lazy) hands. Please renew your dedication, strengthen your resolve, and ride to our rescue!

Yours truly,

Loyal Reader

(End quote)

But please allow me explain, that the genius required to post these gems into the blogosphere is somewhat spontaneous - you can't just sit down and write something without an ocean of inspiration backing it up. And thus the most epic dilemma; How do I continue the prodigious, prolific work that has begun without compromising the genius quality behind it?

I'm on the verge of a breakthrough, but in the form of a sneak preview I can explain that I will be archiving some postings, and then enrolling a blog-automation program to upload them systematically. Loyal Reader, please relax. I shall not rest, shall not retire, until this effort is fully completed.

Poetry Appreciation Day

The New Yorker once published a crafty poem every year-end, then stopped, and now have rekindled the tradition. Anyway, it's kind of a fun way to review the year. Greetings, Friends!

Daily Photo

From Just Because

About Alice - Calvin Trillion

While I should be studying for my approaching final in systems accounting, I managed to find an interesting book review. The book, "About Alice" is brilliantly reviewed, and seems perfectly interesting - especially at this hour when compared to data flow diagrams and COSO framework components and ERM evaluations and detective controls and risk assessments and differential backups and, well, you get the point. The book review is also over a year old; don't ask how I found it.
New York Times Book Review

you may know these...

"Sæglópur" (Icelandic for "lost at sea") is a song by Sigur Rós, released in 2006 as a single from the 2005 album Takk.... Parts of the song are in Icelandic, although a lengthy portion is in Hopelandic, a "language" of nonsense words selected by the band that sound similar to Icelandic. - Taken from Wiki.

This song is huge.



"First Breath After Coma" from an album entitled The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. The band is called Explosions in the Sky. If you've never heard of this group, it's time you crawled out of your subterranean holding cell and have a listen.

This song, also, is huge.

295

O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me,
And all things else recede;
My heart be daily nearer Thee,
From sin be daily freed.

Each day let Thy supporting might
My weakness still embrace;
My darkness vanish in Thy light,
Thy life my death efface.

In Thy bright beams which on me fall,
Fade every evil thought;
That I am nothing, Thou art all,
I would be daily taught.

More of Thy glory let me see,
Thou Holy, Wise, and True;
I would Thy living image be,
In joy and sorrow too.

Fill me with gladness from above,
Hold me by strength divine;
Lord, let the glow of Thy great love
Through all my being shine.

Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim;
Oh, make me daily through Thy grace
More meet to bear Thy name.

something for stephen...

Word of the Week

Effusive
ef·fu·sive
adj.
1. Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy: an effusive manner.
2. Profuse; overflowing: effusive praise.

my spirit

2 Cor. 2:13
I had no rest in my spirit, for I did not find Titus my brother; but taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

2 Cor. 7:13
Because of this we have been comforted. And in addition to our comfort, we rejoice more abundantly over the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

Darwin was a Capitalist

Allowing Lehman to fail was perhaps the smartest thing Hank Paulson has done this year. Like other investment banks, Lehman was highly leveraged and had gorged itself on toxic assets. When any firm is leveraged at 30 to 1 and asset values drop, they quickly become insolvent. And insolvency, if you were wondering, is not good.

Blame is easy to spread around, and excuses come cheap in Washington. Maybe FAS 157 is the culprit, banking regulations were too weak; perhaps aliens interfered. The point of the matter is that poorly-run businesses need to fail.

Fast forward a few months and we have $700 billion sitting at Hank’s fingertips. They call it the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. That money may be able to free up the credit markets, revive the economy, and save the world – but only time will tell.

Eager to exploit the benevolence of American taxpayers, Detroit auto executives are now sprinting, palms-outstretched, to Washington with hopes to claim some of the TARP funding. Detroit, by the way, is home to General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.

While the financial crisis undoubtedly has affected American automakers, their issues go far beyond credit and the economy, and taxpayers should be concerned by any political movement to place Detroit on welfare.

Congress passed a $25 billion loan package for automakers in September; apparently that wasn’t enough. Now Democrats are working to grant another $25 billion of aid for the “Big Three.” But throwing money at our auto industry is not a solution.

Regardless how the economy is doing, General Motors cannot stay competitive. Their stock, for example, has been in decline for the past eight years. The sad truth is that our auto industry is crippled.

Detroit automakers have allowed unions too much power. And perpetuated by misguided government policies, unions workers have strangled their employers to the point of extinction.

Should the government step in to save this ailing industry? No, unfortunately it's too late. The course of evolution requires that Detroit become part of history. New companies have evolved - stronger and better equipped for the 21st century.

As Darwin would say, it's natural selection. "Survival of the fittest." Let capital be efficient, let the markets adjust our economy. It's going to happen, eventually.

Happy Birthday!!!

It's really hard
We heard her say
To change your diapers
everyday
Do the laundry
Clean those clothes
Wash the dishes
Let's hope she knows
How much we care
Her love it shows
This one is rare
And we're so proud
Congrats, we cheer
And well done boys...

We raised a good mom!




Happy Birthday Mother.

Stories from another universe

My desk is always a mess. The clutter is unbearable and usually spills over onto the floor area surrounding me. And as if the papers and books weren't bad enough, I also have this nasty tendency to horde dishes on my desk. Every once in a while we run out of cups or bowls and I have to make several trips to my room to recover those items.

Maybe this is an indicator that I need "training." Yes, that thing. I don't know. Just a few minutes ago I noticed that gallon of milk sitting on my desk for - well I'm not sure how long. It was from the cereal. The cereal. I remember now; there had been already a bowl (and cups and plates for that matter) on my desk, so I ran to the kitchen to bring cereal and milk.

Milk shouldn't be left on my desk over night. I put it back.

"Moon River"

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.


music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

But Galenson simply wanted to poll a broad cross-section of literary scholars about which poems they felt were the most important in the American canon. The top eleven are, in order, T. S. Eliot’s “Prufrock,” Robert Lowell’s “Skunk Hour,” Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” William Carlos Williams’s “Red Wheelbarrow,” Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish,” Ezra Pound’s “The River Merchant’s Wife,” Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy,” Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro,” Frost’s “Mending Wall,” Wallace Stevens’s “The Snow Man,” and Williams’s “The Dance.”

If I recall correctly, this is Gladwell talking about the thoughts and research for his latest book, Outliers. The paragraph sort of popped out and hit me in the face, and I realized that some of these pieces I am not familiar with. Hence I've begun a journey through the eleven poems. My mind right now is scattered, so I only attempted the first two. As Robert Lowell would say, "My mind’s not right."

We'll save the rest for a later day...

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

~Frost

Things on my mind...

My blog is expecting a new visitor so I decided to tidy up a bit.


Warren Buffet has a book I really want to read, The Snowball. I have the book and would like to start reading it but two things prevent this; 1) I haven't the time 2) It's preoccupied currently such as it is being used as a prop to elevate my monitor.

Also, there is a book on my desk about some ridiculous thing called a FairTax. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer right? Yup, I should read it.

Song: I Don't Mind
Album: Cherry Tree EP
Artist: The National

I've decided to start posting an occasional picture or two. This week in pictures; but only one or two, so as to keep a slight trickle of viewership. That would be good I think.

Ready for my third glass of gingerbread egg nogg, a close cousin to the potentially better tasting boiled-custard. Which, dear reader, do you prefer?

Cloud Gate (aka The Bean)

Chicago from a yacht (last summer)

Sunset on the Hancock 2

Sunset on the Hancock