I am.

Too many actual work projects.  I know, I know, I feel like I should be blogging constantly at the moment, what with the Bush-blocked spy program review, a first veto straight out of the 15th century, and his weird stealth attack on the German leadership.

(Speaking of which, I think what Bush did was kinda creepy.  But then
again, given Germany’s history, is sneaking up on the leadership every
now and again really such a bad idea?)

But there is the small matter of almost having an actual offline life.  Book
PR thing is ramping up, I’ve got some articles due elsewhere, and I
just signed a deal with DK Books in Britain to start cranking out kid’s
history books

Except way better.

Finally made the leap up to the new MacBookPro.  (Disclaimer: I own a
bit of Apple stock, so consider that as possibly affecting my judgment,
honesty, and personal hygiene in the drooling that follows.  Note also
that I’ve been using mostly Macs since 1986.  This is my sixth Mac in
20 years.  Wow, am I old.  Anyhow.)

Fantastic machine, if anyone’s considering getting one.  Glossy screen
is gorgeous, the Dashboard feature in the current operating system is
terrific, my software leapt from one machine to the other with minimal
hassle, and even the new magnetic power cord is nifty.  The new
software written for the Intel chip zings along in a completely zippity
quick fashion, and even the old software is running faster, despite
having to be internally translated into code the Intel chip can
process. 

Pricey box, but worth it if you live on your computer the way I do.

I’ll never go back to using John Hodgman again.

Except way better.

Finally made the leap up to the new MacBookPro.  (Disclaimer: I own a
bit of Apple stock, so consider that as possibly affecting my judgment,
honesty, and personal hygiene in the drooling that follows.  Note also
that I’ve been using mostly Macs since 1986.  This is my sixth Mac in
20 years.  Wow, am I old.  Anyhow.)

Fantastic machine, if anyone’s considering getting one.  Glossy screen
is gorgeous, the Dashboard feature in the current operating system is
terrific, my software leapt from one machine to the other with minimal
hassle, and even the new magnetic power cord is nifty.  The new
software written for the Intel chip zings along in a completely zippity
quick fashion, and even the old software is running faster, despite
having to be internally translated into code the Intel chip can
process. 

Pricey box, but worth it if you live on your computer the way I do.

I’ll never go back to using John Hodgman again.

Whoo-HOO!

As of this morning, Publishers Weekly likes Prisoner of Trebekistan as much as Kirkus does. In part:

I actually did a little dance when I read this. Not quite as skilled as Matt’s, in the video referenced in the post below this. But still. Wow. Actual dancing.

The last few chapters of Trebekistan touch on my Jeopardy!-induced
increasing wanderlust of the last few years, so I suppose it was
inevitable that someone (in this case a kind fellow named
Darrell) would kindly point me to the website whereinthehellismatt.com.

I doubt we’d all travel to the same places for the same reasons for the
same lengths of time.  But the video on the front page is a thing of
glee.

See if you aren’t smiling broadly in about five minutes.