May 31, 2007

Critic At Large: The Historian

The Historian is a novel in search of a coherent narrative structure and a paring knife. The premise is interesting enough, if a bit rehashed: the vampire Dracula is alive and well in the mid-20th century and making life difficult for several scholars around the world. Rarely has a novel made such a concerted effort to depict life in academia with what is intended to be excitement. but any thrills the plot generates are effectively rendered stillborn by the plodding pace and the novel's baffling construction. Flashbacks can be an effective narrative device if used judiciously. Unfortunately, the author chooses to tell much of the story via extended flashbacks that kill the forward momentum of the main story. And then there are the flashbacks-within-flashbacks. I'm not one of your MFA instructors, Ms. Kostova. Put away your bag of tricks and just tell the damn story. And quit having your characters exclaim "Alas!" and "Alack!" Even during the Eisenhower years, nobody talked like this.

Overall, this is a mediocre retread of vampire mythos. You're better off picking up Bram Stoker's classic. It's shorter and the dialog, while baroque, is less likely to make your eyes roll.

Next up is Robert Charles Wilson's Spin.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:21 PM | Comments (1)

May 30, 2007

Getting It On

Today's Strib features an article about disability and sexuality, while also highlighting a local entrepreneur with a disability who has developed a device that facilitates sex for people with physical impairments. I haven't had a chance to check out the particulars of this invention, but if it's similar to other devices I've seen, I assume it provides support for maintaining certain sexual positions. Speaking from experience, I can attest that a little creative engineering is required to achieve a happy ending for both parties. And sometimes the positions that work aren't necessarily the most natural for the human body to maintain. It's good to see more devices like this going to market. See, capitalism does work.

Naturally, I'm curious to try out some of these inventions myself. The disability community needs responsible, impartial reviews of products like this and who better than a semi-respected blogger like me to provide such a service. But that will have to wait until I find a willing, er, collaborator.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:38 PM | Comments (0)

May 29, 2007

Global Phenomenon

I glanced at my Frappr map the other day and noted with satisfaction that several more readers have marked their locations. A big hello to my fans in Uganda and Togo. But South America, Asia, and Australia remain blank. Clearly, I need to do more to increase my international appeal. Hmm. I'm already strongly critical of Bush. I know jack about soccer--er, football--so that's out. I could try writing something en francais, but I don't think that will attract people in Argentina or China. I guess I'll just have to depend on my charm and good looks. Think of me as more humble, more respectful, more well-informed mirror image of all those ugly Americans that come traipsing through your countries with their fanny packs and baseball caps.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:19 PM | Comments (2)

May 28, 2007

Downsizing

My friend Lani Willis, communications director for the Minnesota Opera, has an op-ed piece in today's Star Tribune lamenting the paper's decision to do away with its regular classical music column. These are uncertain days for the Strib, which was recently purchased by a private equity group convinced that the best way to improve the paper's circulation numbers is to get rid of many of its longtime reporters and focus more intently on local/human interest stories. That may attract readers, but I'm not sure it serves the community in the long run. Newspapers play an important role in holding leaders and institutions accountable to the public and I worry that the Strib's new owners might not be as interested in the civic aspect of the news business. And as Lani points out, the paper's alleged commitment to covering the local arts rings hollow. The same market forces that have made local television news a frothy mix of sensationalism and inanity are threatening to diminish a respectable news source.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:31 PM | Comments (0)

May 27, 2007

Urban Oasis

I checked out the recently completed Gold Medal Park this afternoon. It's impressive. Located on the riverfront near the Guthrie, its defining feature is a gently sloping hilltop (which is perfectly accessible) that offers panoramic views of downtown and the booming Mill District. Plenty of other people were there, playing with their dogs or making sketches of the scenery or simply lounging in the grass. It's a beautiful addition to the neighborhood and provides another reason why I feel fortunate to live downtown. We need more green spaces like this. Might I recommend the city do something similar with the rather bleak expanse of pavement that is the northern end of Nicollet Mall? The area is an eyesore and doesn't seem to attract much business; sprucing it up would nicely complement the Central Library.

Next time I go, I'll try to remember to take my camera.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:37 PM | Comments (2)

May 26, 2007

IM ON YOR SCREEN, MOKKING U

This whole LOLcats meme/fad/thought virus/whatever needs to be over. Your cat is not that interesting. Your grammatically challenged captions are not cute. In fact, I hold you and your collaborators at least partly responsible for the declining literacy of our nation's youth. They already have enough trouble distinguishing between "your" and "you're"; they don't need those habits reinforced and popularized. If this sort of thing keeps up, in twenty years the Internet will consist entirely of nothing but LOLcats, porn, and personal ads. Please, I'm begging you, just stop.

I'm now going to sit in my rocking chair to enjoy my latest copy of Reader's Digest.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)

May 25, 2007

The Force Is Strong In This One

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Star Wars. And while I wish I could say that I was one of those guys who saw it in the theaters umpteen times, I cannot. After all, I was barely four at the time. I didn't have the full Star Wars cinematic experience until three years later, when my dad took to me to see The Empire Strikes Back. I was a little bewildered with the plot because somehow I still hadn't seen the first one (remember, this was back when VCRs and cable TV were still in their "early adopter" phase and my parents hadn't adopted either). I was sitting in theater, trying to puzzle out exactly who these Rebels were and why the Empire didn't seem to like them very much. Then the AT-ATs invaded Hoth and I became too enthralled to think much about the backstory.

Since then, the Star Wars films (at least the original trilogy) have served as a kind of mental comfort food. In later years, they were the movies I would put on when I was feeling sick or bored. I fantasized about being able to move objects with my Jedi mind powers. They were second only to my father (who introduced me to Asimov and Tolkien and chess and computers) in terms of awakening my inner geek. So thanks, Mr. Lucas. Your prequels left me a bit cold, but I could watch Episode IV a hundred more times and never get tired of it.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:57 PM | Comments (4)

May 24, 2007

Precautionary Measures

I'm beginning to think that I need to pick up an external drive that is dedicated solely to backing up my data. I dutifully make DVD backups of critical data (like my Word files and e-mail archives) every few months, but I've also accumulated enough music, video, and generally hard-to-replace stuff that backing it all up on disc would be both cumbersome and environmentally irresponsible. I suppose some sort of remote storage would be the most secure solution, but none of the services have much appeal in terms of storage space or price. For now, a basic 100-200 GB drive should meet my needs nicely.

And I received this from a new reader in Belgium:

From now on I'll read everything you write. It just makes me happy.

The 19th Floor: Making the world incrementally more bearable since 2002.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:46 PM | Comments (1)

May 23, 2007

Now Comes The Spin

Over the weekend, a friend told me that the DFL overreached in the early days of the legislative session, proposing a smorgasbord of bills on everything from a gas tax hike to medical marijuana to domestic partner benefits. As a result, they didn't gain any traction with the public and were in a weaker position when it came time to strike a deal at the end of the session. I don't necessarily agree with that analysis. Compromise requires good faith on both sides and the Republicans' maniacal devotion to ideology rendered them incapable of making sensible bargains. The transportation bill is a particularly good example of the lock-step mentality that afflicts Republican legislators. For years, Minnesota voters have been clamoring for improvements to our roads and transit system. Many Republicans voted for a comprehensive bill that would raise the gas tax and give counties the option of raising funds for transit improvements. But when it came time to buck Pawlenty's veto, they caved and obediently got in line behind their leader.

The session did accomplish a few good things. The smoking ban. Health insurance for more kids and adults. Renewable energy standards. Real change comes slowly and the DFL message machine could probably use a little tweaking before the next session. But the Republicans are being forced to play defense, which can only be a good thing.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:28 PM | Comments (0)

May 22, 2007

With A Bang Or A Whimper

After a lot of tinkering and persistence, I managed to get my old copy of Fallout running successfully on my computer. As I paid another visit to Vault 13  and the surrounding environs, I thought about the prevalence of post-apocalyptic memes in popular culture. It's a trope that has inhabited my imagination since I was a kid (thanks, Ronald Reagan!). That cheesy TV movie The Day After both enthralled and terrified me back then and I remember thinking that maybe my hometown of Green Bay was too small to be worth the Soviets' attention (I later learned that Green Bay was indeed a target for the Russians).

For more of that mid-Eighties-we're-all-gonna-die vibe, there's the uber-bleak BBC docudrama Threads (which you can watch here at Google Video). I watched this a few months ago when I was home with a cold. Not recommended viewing if you're already feeling nauseous.

The whole nuclear holocaust thing seems a little retro now, although the publication of books like The Atomic Market makes me wonder how much longer our dumb luck can hold out. Of course, we now know that there are any number of interesting and creative ways we as a species can do ourselves in. Maybe these stories we tell ourselves serve as some sort of pressure valve; a way for us to indulge our dark fantasies so that we don't feel compelled to fire off a few missiles just to see what happens. And maybe they also encompass our ardent hope that, should everything turn to shit, that some remnant of what we once were will survive and endure.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:59 PM | Comments (0)

May 21, 2007

Instant Recollection

I like to think I have a pretty good memory, but I think I met my match today. I was in a meeting with Ollie Cantos, an attorney from the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, who was rattling off dozens of phone numbers and e-mail addresses without hesitation. I suspect the use of some kind of recall-enhancing substance (genetically modified fish oil, perhaps?), but even airing that suspicion on this blog is probably going to get me audited or put on some kind of no-fly list.

All kidding aside, I admired Cantos' ability to cultivate such a huge professional network. He said that he makes it a point to respond to every e-mail he receives. I struggle with responding to the two or three personal e-mails I receive a week. Which probably explains why he's at the DOJ and I'm not.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:52 PM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2007

Mostly Cloudy

I think I'll take advantage of this overcast day and try to make a dent in my reading pile. More later, perhaps.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)

May 19, 2007

Zerg Rush!

A friend invited me to hear Brandi Carlile perform a brief set at the local Borders this afternoon. I've heard her on the radio a couple times, but that's the extent of my familiarity with her. She has a powerful, distinct voice and reminds me a bit of Neko Case, except Carlile has more of a folk twang to her music.

Blizzard announced the forthcoming release of Starcraft 2 today. Ah, back in the day, my law school buddy and I used to waste many an hour with the original Starcraft. I'll probably pick up the sequel, even though I'll likely need to resort to cheat codes before I'm even halfway through the game.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:51 PM | Comments (0)

May 18, 2007

Horse Trading

It doesn't surprise me that much of the fiscal wrangling between the governor and the Legislature in these final days of the session is centered on the health and human services bill. The HHS bill, which funds nursing homes, public health care programs, and a host of other services, is a frequent source of contention in these budget battles. The governor has already vetoed the first version of the HHS bill sent to his desk and is threatening to veto the next one. The DFL-controlled Legislature is attempting to undo many of the 2003 health care cuts, as well as provide funding for some much-needed mental health service improvements. I don't think we'll see a special session this year, but the legislature might simply throw its collective hands up in the air and send the governor a bare-bones bill with no new funding. That would be a shame and here's hoping that our elected leaders can demonstrate an ability to compromise for the public good.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:35 PM | Comments (0)

May 17, 2007

Two Down, One To Go

My sister just finished her 2L year of law school. For me, the second year was the most taxing (I remember having doubts about whether I'd even finish the year). Third year was much more tolerable, mostly because I was finally able to take classes that actually interested me. I'll tell my sister to enjoy her third year because then she'll graduate and spend the entire next summer studying for the bar, which really isn't much fun.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:30 PM | Comments (0)

May 16, 2007

What All The Suburban Gimps Will Soon Be Driving

When I'm cruising the streets in my wheelchair, I often find myself thinking, "Gee, I really wish this thing had a DVD player. And a water tank. And a laptop computer. And enough lights to illuminate a city block." Well, Jesse Leaman hasn't just thought about it. He's gone and built the Gryphon Shield, a wheelchair so pimped out that it should be starring in its own music video surrounded by gyrating women in thong bikinis. No word on whether the rumors linking Gryphon Shield with Lil' Kim are indeed true.

I'm a simple man when it comes to accessorizing my chair. All I want is a built-in artificial intelligence that will discuss current events with me, as well as assist me in my nefarious plans to achieve world domination. It should sound similar to KITT from Knight Rider, but slightly less prissy.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:22 PM | Comments (1)

May 15, 2007

Let's Make A Deal...Please

When the new Central Library opened in downtown Minneapolis last year, I thought I would be a frequent visitor. But when the place is closed on Sundays and Mondays and open only until 6:00 on most other nights, it can be difficult to fit trips to the library into my schedule. A merger between the city and county library systems was supposed to extend operating hours (as well as ensure that some branch libraries marked for closure remain open), but merger talks appear to have stalled over labor issues. To complicate matters further, less than a week remains for the Legislature to give its required approval of the merger.

The Central Library is too beautiful a facility to lie dormant for two whole days a week. I sympathize with the workers who are concerned about lost wages after a merger, but it would be a shame if this issue scuttled a real opportunity to provide better library service to the city's residents.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)

May 14, 2007

Mixed Message

Sunday's Styles section of the NY Times asserted that we gimps are getting all uppity and "confrontational" vis-a-vis society's general discomfort with our gimpiness. The article points out that media depictions of people with disabilities are changing, citing examples like The Amazing Race (which featured a contestant with an amputated leg) and CSI (which features an actor who is also an amputee). Not to put too fine a point on this, but I think it's fair to say that these people are on television because they're disabled but not too disabled. The guy on CSI appears perfectly normal until he starts walking. The Amazing Race contestant is still a conventional-looking hottie who happens to be missing a leg. They don't slur their speech. They don't drool or piss into a bag. They don't have oversized heads or undersized bodies. I'm not sure these examples signify some radical paradigm shift in both Hollywood and the larger culture regarding attitudes towards disability. If anything, they represent a very incremental acceptance of people with disabilities.

The article goes on to say that NBC is developing a sitcom that will feature a cast with a variety of disabilities. If the show uses actors with disabilities and doesn't shy away from some of the topics that still elicit freak-outs from the public (disability and sexuality is probably the most potent example), I'll be both surprised and impressed. How viewers react to a blunt treatment of disability is another matter. I guess the present state of affairs is better than the good old days when we were kept out of sight and mind. But I'm also not going to be satisfied with tokenism.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:08 PM | Comments (1)

May 13, 2007

Critic At Large: 28 Weeks Later

28 Weeks Later is the rare sequel that meets and sometimes even exceeds the standards of the original film. I reacted with skepticism to the announcement of this film because it seemed like a crass attempt to cash in on the modest success of 28 Days Later. But this movies matches its predecessor in both scares and smarts. The story picks up with the resettlement of London seven months after the Rage virus has decimated England. The American-led effort goes awry, naturally, and before long hordes of the newly infected are rampaging through the streets and snacking on human flesh. The movie has its occasional lapses of logic (apparently, it's really easy to gain access to an Army medical facility), but they're soon forgotten in the rush of adrenaline that follows. And I had to smile at the film's last scene because I was in the exact same location not too long ago.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:03 PM | Comments (0)

May 12, 2007

Extreme Makeover

I  have a few requests for the creative forces who are currently remastering the original Star Trek episodes:

• Please digitally wipe that perpetual I'm-so-getting-laid-tonight smirk off of Kirk's face.
  
• You know that "Mirror, Mirror" episode where we meet Evil Spock? Maybe you could give Evil Spock a few scars or something because that goatee is about as menacing as Sulu in a room full of Orion slave girls.
  
• There has to be a way to make those tribbles look more like exotic, cuddly pets and less like roadkill.
• Maybe you could do one episode where the Enterprise is all cherried out with flames on the saucer and "USS ENTERPRISE, BITCH" written on the hull in big, obnoxious Gothic lettering.
  
• I will pay good money to hear Uhura say, "Captain, incoming message from Admiral Siegel."
  

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

May 11, 2007

Working For The Weekend

Why on earth are you sitting at your computer on a Friday night? Didn't I tell you that you need to get out more? The Internet will still be here when you get back. I promise. Now, you kids go have fun.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:59 PM | Comments (2)

May 10, 2007

We Don't Care About The Young Folks

Peter Bjorn and John didn't go on stage until eleven last night. I want some kind of Hipster Certificate of Recognition for getting to bed after one and still showing up for work this morning. PB&J performed a great set and I was equally impressed with the sleek, pulsing beats of Fujiya and Miyagi. As for the opening act, Au Revoir Simone, let's just say I was underwhelmed and leave it at that.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:14 PM | Comments (0)

May 09, 2007

Robots And Speed Freaks

Did anyone notice the high geek quotient of last Sunday's Arts section of the NY Times? It featured a lengthy assessment of Philip K. Dick's cultural significance as well as a fond recollection of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I need to pick up a few more Dick novels. I've read The Man in the High Castle and liked it (even though I found all the I Ching references a little tiresome), but that's the extent of my familiarity with his oeuvre.

I'm leaving shortly to check out Peter Bjorn & John in concert. I expect to be charmed but not astounded.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:13 PM | Comments (0)

May 08, 2007

Long Memory

My blog was apparently cited in, of all places, the Star Tribune's Roadguy Blog (devoted mostly to local transportation issues) because of an observation I wrote about Nicollet Mall way back in 2004. This completely validates my fear that one day, when I'm running for office or being considered for some prestigious political appointment, some hack will dig through the archives and wave about some post that I wrote at two in the morning after a wee too much chardonnay. Because the internet never forgets. In fact, some computer scientists think that a certain amount of forgetfulness should be built into our digital world.  Some selective amnesia applied to this blog would probably save me some embarrassment, but it would also remove the most interesting entries. I guess I'll just have to take my chances.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:48 PM | Comments (0)

May 07, 2007

A Skimpy Serving

I'm going to be bouncing around from one event to another this evening, so I don't know if I'll have time to make any witty or insightful observations today. I'm afraid you'll have to find something else to fill those five minutes you usually devote to me. Perhaps you can pay some bills or write up a grocery list or water your plants. Carry on.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)

May 06, 2007

Critic At Large: Spiderman 3

Toby Maguire is a fine actor, but he cannot convince me that he's a badass. That's the biggest issue I had with the latest iteration of the Spiderman franchise. I'm sorry, but just because Peter Parker has a scowl and a haircut borrowed from one of the band members of Fallout Boy does not mean I have to take seriously his foray into his inner dark side. Otherwise, the movie was fine. The villains were cool and the battle royale at the end was fun. If the producers decide to milk this cash cow a fourth time. I have one request. More Gwen Stacy, please. She makes my spidey sense all tingly.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:27 PM | Comments (1)

May 05, 2007

Co-Morbidity

Last month, I was part of a panel reviewing proposals for a conference on disability and aging. One of proposals concerned the link between Down's Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. The proposal intrigued me because I wasn't aware of the connection. And today I came across an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail exploring the very same topic. The article points out that people with Down's are living longer, a trend that is now revealing the strong propensity of this population to develop Alzheimer's. Medical and community support professionals are now working to develop living environments appropriate to the needs of these individuals.

This story demonstrates that society's current practice of stovepiping disability and aging issues. The human services field is particularly guilty of this sort of thinking. Entirely separate support structures and bureaucracies are created to serve each population and there is depressingly little interaction or collaboration between the two. When a person with a disability turns age 65, they are considered "elderly" and they are shuffled into the "elderly" silo of supports, which often has a paradigmatically different underlying philosophy and set of priorities. Whereas the disability support system--at least in many states--emphasizes independence and community living, the elderly support system tends to have a greater bias towards institutional care settings.

More people with disabilities are going to live into old age (not to mention the fact that the boomer generation will probably resist efforts to label them either as disabled or elderly) and it may be time to do away with the notion that disability and aging are separate and distinct human experiences. Perhaps we should be more concerned with meeting the needs of the person rather than stubbornly clinging to outmoded categorizations and classifications.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:10 PM | Comments (1)

May 04, 2007

Hard News

I just received a Breaking News e-mail alert from CNN. Paris Hilton is going to jail. That distant, desolate scream of bleak rage and hopelessness you just heard? That was me.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)

May 03, 2007

Aggravating Circumstances

Here's how the AP began its story about today's House vote to expand federal hate crimes legislation:

The House voted Thursday to expand federal hate crime categories to include violent attacks against gays and people targeted because of gender, acting just hours after the White House threatened a veto.

The New York Times:

The House of Representatives voted today to extend “hate crime” protection to people who are victimized because of their sexuality. But the most immediate effect of the bill may be to set up another veto showdown between Democrats and President Bush.

The Los Angeles Times gets it right:

The House, defying a fresh veto threat, passed legislation today to expand the federal hate-crime law to include violent acts motivated by a victim's sexual orientation, gender or disability.

I have a feeling the disability component of the bill was overlooked or buried by most news outlets because it isn't provoking nearly as much overheated rhetoric from social conservatives as the provision regarding sexual orientation. Here's an  illustrative quote from Concerned Women for America:

Perhaps most frightening is the fact that liberal legislators have refused any amendment which would substantively protect religious expression in association with this legislation. Similar laws have been used around the world — and right here at home — to silence opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. That refusal speaks volumes about the true agenda behind this legislation, which is to grant official government recognition to both homosexual and cross-dressing behaviors, and to silence opposition to those behaviors.

It seems to escape much of the radical right that the bill kicks in after a crime has been committed and the last time I checked, being a homophobic crank isn't a crime. But I digress.

According to 2005 numbers from the FBI, 53 hate crimes were motivated by disability bias. A small number, to be sure. Nevertheless, the inclusion of disability in the House bill is significant because it acknowledges the persistent stigma and prejudice that can and does motivate violence against people with disabilities act. I'm also willing to bet that the number of violent incidents motivated by disability bias is substantially underreported.

Conservatives like to argue that all crimes of the same class should be treated equally. But they overlook the fact that our criminal judicial system does make distinctions based on things like intent and the status of the victim. Hate crimes legislation will probably not prevent these violent acts, but until we can learn to play nice together (or at least learn to assault and kill each other for purely personal reasons), these crimes deserve a forceful response from the state.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:37 PM | Comments (0)

May 02, 2007

No Excuses

Some of you may be wondering why I didn't participate in yesterday's Blogging against Disablism Day. Frankly, I didn't get home until later in the evening and I wasn't feeling too inspired at that particular moment. The beautiful weather had me feeling too giddy to be in a state of mind where I could blog against much of anything. Maybe I could have ginned up some half-hearted screed against--I dunno, people who use the unisex bathroom at my workplace when they're perfectly capable of using the men's or women's restrooms--but even that would have been a stretch. I was in an expansive mood yesterday. But many other fine bloggers didn't have my problem and their assorted postings are worth your time.

Now, on to more important business. If, in the future, I talk about going to a music festival and later throw cold water on those plans by whining about the expense, you have my express permission to smack me upside the head and tell me to quit being such an equivocating wuss. I'm kicking myself for missing the performances at this year's Coachella. Bjork was there and I heart Bjork! *Sigh* Okay, who wants to come with me next year? Maybe the buddy system will keep me from chickening out again.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:09 PM | Comments (0)

May 01, 2007

In Bloom

If you live in the northern latitudes, there's something special about the arrival of May 1st. It serves as a portent of summer and a farewell to the dreary late winter and early spring that we typically experience in the Midwest. On May 1st, you can be reasonably certain--though not guaranteed--that you won't see another snowflake for at least five or six months. Human bodies begin to shed their heavy sweaters and utilitarian parkas for more stylish and revealing wardrobes. The first of May brings birdsong and sunburns and sweat and trips to the Dairy Queen and the smell of cut grass and the countless other things we've been pining for since October.

Of course, May 1st also May Day and National Love Day (if you're in the Czech Republic and a romantic) and Law Day (if you're in the United States and nostalgic). But for me, the arrival of a month that doesn't contain the letter "r" just makes me happy.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)