http://www.kevland.com/blog Ten pounds of blog in a five-pound sack Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:07:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Well that was a sucky day of travel. And it was going so well.  Got to the airport in plenty of time, found a decent parking space.  Got through the TSA checkpoint with all my clothes on.  Well, except the belt, which either has more metal than my old belt or ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2010/01/fly-little-boeing/ [caption id="attachment_423" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Next up: Who's gay?"][/caption] Don't you hate when life imitates art? Standing in the checkout line, living normally in a world of steak, prepackaged couscous, and kitty litter.  A world, in short, of normalcy, of a universe I can believe, with consistent laws and ordinary people.  And then, ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2010/01/i-want-my-fury/ Upon a time, I had two screws Within my life, upon my shoes. Held in tight, against my sole Where I could not refuse. Then one day most unexpected, Solid threads had been rejected, Leaving open space that I had Thought was well connected. The clip I hear, just as before; Like tap-dancing across the floor. But half the power ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/12/half/ What makes a shape to last As plaster wreaths itself in dust When earth is fired Or retired by the next wave? And who will save The moment when a god is slain Or slakes an earthly virgin's lust? When does a story told Through colored composition hold A moment's heart? Or start another school And who will rule Tomorrow's silent silver ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/11/untitled-1/ Nate Silver predicts Prop. 1 will be defeated in Maine. I sure hope he's right.  This is the same Nate Silver who predicted last November's elections with pretty much 100% accuracy, at least for the president and senate.  I didn't check the numbers for the house.  He's giving 5 ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/11/yes-on-nate/ This is no tiny little jewel box. This is The Jewel Box, a large star cluster visible with the naked eye, if the eye in question happens to be well south of the equator. [caption id="attachment_361" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo taken by WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope. Click to ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/10/bite-me-walt-whitman/ Vacant crowded streets of stone Recall a memory, unknown. Beneath the neon, not outshone By women tan and thin. Displayed like sirens from inside Where crystal walls the world divide And by revealing, coyly hide A golden mannequin. Which lightly trying to beguile Mind to thoughts more versatile Removing clothing, thoughts, and smile Opening to view So much of skin, a golden ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/10/wasted-in-the-great-unknown/ It's all about the bikes. Bikes here, bikes there. Bike rush hour! In Soviet Netherlands, bikes take precedence over cars. Vaaaht a caahntry! The daily ride from the hotel to the university, about 2 miles, is bike paths all the way.  Some roads go like this, in cross ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/10/flower-power/ [caption id="attachment_343" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Cali to Maryland to Florida to Maryland to... where next?? It's not just a shipment, it's an adventure!"][/caption] Oh looky!  It wasn't enough that my footer forms made it all the way to Laurel (about 15 miles from here) and then went off to Florida.  It ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/09/exceptional/ The British government has apologized for the appalling way it treated one of the men most responsible for winning WWII. I am both pleased and proud that, thanks to a coalition of computer scientists, historians and LGBT activists, we have this year a chance to mark and celebrate another contribution to ... http://www.kevland.com/blog/2009/09/about-time/