Who is this guy?

I was browsing through the books section of Amazon today and came across a book that was number one on the "Hot New Releases" list in the "Social Sciences" section. The title suggested that it was something about the end of American dominance. I was interested, because that is no doubt an interesting topic, but I didn't recognize the author...some guy named Mark Steyn.

Anyway, I looked him up on Google and it turns out he's a Canadian-born radio talking head that blames most all of the world's ills on Obama and the "Pelosi Congress."  He's also known for guest hosting the Rush Limbaugh show.  Quite a sterling resume.  Interestingly, he dropped out of school at age 18 and was a DJ for 6 or 8 years before going into "journalism." 

This made me wonder, why is it that so many of the right-wing blow-hards (and politicians...like Rick Perry with his sterling 2.2 GPA and no post-graduate degrees) are so undistinguished in their educational careers?  And more importantly, how is it that when they write books...they get classified as "social science" or "economics" rather than "drivel" or something else more appropriate?  It's sad that so many people eat this misinformation up and craft their entire worldviews around it.

One thing that is both good and bad, I think, is that people who are educated and knowledgeable enough to write valuable and informed commentary don't because they realize just how much they don't know.  So, there's a void in which the vitriolic hacks prosper.  Like I said, it's sad...

I hate getting old...

So I turn 30 a few months ago and since then everything's really been falling apart. Messed up knee, sore sternum, earthquake, riots, revolutions, Rick Perry...what else can go wrong?

On the plus side, Steve Jobs quit...so I feel like I should be next in line for the Apple CEO job.  Seems only natural really...

So, yeah...

...as you might have noticed (or more likely...you haven't) the ole' blog has been a little slow lately.  When I last checked in, we were still in England. We're now back in Titusville.  That's the main development.  Our trip home was ok, if long (about 26 hours door to door).  Our 2-hour layover in Iceland was pretty great...kind of foggy, and we caught a glimpse of Greenland from the plane (snow capped mountains and melting glaciers...freakin' climate change). And of course it's been great to see all our families.  They were very happy to see us, as were our dogs.  With the dogs it's a little more obvious, with the face licking and all...with the people it's a bit more subtle.

Anyway, I really haven't decided what direction to take with the blog now that the traveling and adventures are in the books. I mean, don't get me wrong, now that I'm home...it's pretty much back to the rat race. And while I'm not insanely busy, Regis and Kelly isn't going to watch itself. 

My first instinct is to go all-in on progressive issues and development.  Being back in the cauldron of American politics (with the debt ceiling debacle and all) has got me stirred up.  And I would love to vent about the right wing idiocy that has taken our country's political (and hence economic) system hostage.  But, all that seems kind of weighty and mostly makes my head hurt, stomach churn, and heart beat fast, so it's more likely I'll stick with more important stuff like Qdoba...and pop music conversational nuggets.  I guess you'll have to wait and see...