What do you think I was doing for the last 45 minutes?

Yeah, it's taken up way too much of my time already. The "break" I'm taking now may have to be a permanent one if I want to get anything done.

Who knew it would be so easy to get distracted from making one's CV?

Also, I haven't said much about the $700bn the US government is prepared to spend bailing out poorly managed financial markets, but what more needs be said than this:

Dear American:

I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a
transfer of funds of great magnitude.
I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had
crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion
dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most
profitable to you.
I am working with Mr. Phil Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my
replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As a Senator, you may
know him as the leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the
1990s. This transactin is 100% safe.
This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds
as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names
of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family
lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person
who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.
...

ahaha, I played through all 100 levels of that Z-Rox game at work one day last week. hahahaha.

Just channeling my inner nerd:

Super Mario Bros on a Theramin And it`s actually played... decently.

The LHC passes some gas; the apocalypse is delayed for six more months. You may return to your lives now.

Think in two dimensions. Waste time!

Happy birthday Nicholas!

I want this clock.

Air Canada's website:

No fuel surcharge on North America fares

Air Canada has made fares more transparent by removing fuel surcharges from all flights within Canada and to the USA.

This initiative, brought on by a decrease in fuel prices, provides customers with simple, transparent fares that consistently match the lowest in the airline industry.

This is yet another example of Air Canada's commitment to providing the best products and services to meet customers' needs.

Learn more about Air Canada's response to decreasing fuel prices.

With the measures announced today Air Canada will . . . incorporate into its advertised prices the one-way, add-on fuel surcharge that currently ranges between $20 and $60 on domestic and U.S. transborder flights. Starting September 18, 2008, Air Canada will adjust its published fares to include the total cost of fuel in its advertised base fares. This will provide customers simple, transparent and low fares always available at www.aircanada.com.

For some reason, George Saunders reminds me of Jsese:

if you put lipstick on my pig, do you know what the difference will be between that pig and a pit bull? I’ll tell you: a pit bull can easily kill a pig. And, as the pig dies, guess what the Hockey Mom is doing? Going to her car, putting on more lipstick, so that, upon returning, finding that pig dead, she once again looks identical to that pit bull, which, staying on mission, the two of them step over the dead pig, looking exactly like twins, except the pit bull is scratching his lower ass with one frantic leg, whereas the Hockey Mom is carrying an extra hockey stick in case Todd breaks his again. But both are going, like, Ha ha, where’s that dumb pig now? Dead, that’s who, and also: not a smidge of lipstick.