Happy Birthday, Andy!

If you need something to read then go here.

The advantage of the sheer volume of cultural content in this age is that we will never have to sit down with our kids and explain why, exactly, this. Oh, and his book is going to be released December 1st. That's some impressive hype-capitalization speed. (Also, I'm glad that someone's bringing back < blink > and < marquee >. It's been too long, obviously.)

QWOP. via the yeti. I got -2.4m pretty quick. Going in the proper direction seems much tricksier.

I appear to have missed the fact that Michael Crichton died last week. This was an interesting tidbit from a tribute by James Fallows:

I loved hearing from him about oddball "practical" matters. For instance, height: he appeared to be nearly 7 feet tall, and explained to me (6'2") that up until 6'6" height was an advantage, but after that it was a big inconvenience -- door frames, beds, airplane seats.

Why didn't you let him talk more, Cavuto??:

Oilers Fans + Conan:

http://www.superobamaworld.com/

Same as two weeks ago... Mike is bringing over Rock Band for all to enjoy. Come over anytime after 6:30 for Rock Band and the movie at 8:30 (supplied by Paras)

Yeah, Leo, that's what I said: formal patients are generally on closed units. That doesn't mean closed units are only populated by formal patients.

To be fair, my experience with a closed psych unit was a three-week selective, but most of the patients I saw were committed formally, at least on admission. They may not necessarily get their certificate renewed, but that form was on the chart at one point. I'm sure it's institution-dependent as well, though; some are more willing to certify a patient than others.

Of course, a formal patient is the only one you can legally keep on a closed unit against their will; anyone else has every right to leave against medical advice, just like any other patient in the hospital.