Having in friends in town makes it difficult to sit in front of the computer to write.

Instead, check out some of our pictures from the Angkor Temples in Cambodia.

There are a bunch, but it really could be worth your time.

And please, I insist, have a fantastic weekend.

March is turning out to be the Month of Friends! Had the Cokases in town until Tuesday and now the Brodericks are here, to be closely followed by the KCs. Well, they're not quite the KCs yet, but they are engaged as of last weekend, which is pretty freaking awesome. Even better was where he proposed! Now that's a rock.

It's gonna be Thursday when you read this, which means that weekend is nearly upon us. To help you get there I'm going to provide a whole bunch of games and I'm going to hope that none of you get fired for playing the day away. Boomshine is easy, fun and addictive. Next give Flow a shot. As serene as Boomshine, but you're actually sorta playing against other people. Then there's Lightning Pool which is an oldie but goodie. I'm pretty sure my former coworker spent at least 67% of every week playing this game. Don't do that. It made him look like a jerk. Another one from the same site is Mini-Putt. I'm counting on you getting some holes-in-one! And this next one isn't a game, but rather a site of many games. Kongregate. Play against each other. Have fun. But again, don't get canned!

As my final offering of the day, I give you completely awesome slo-mo video fun. It is an egg being sliced cleaning in two by an ultra-sharp sword called a katana. Enjoy.

One of my favorite days of the month just appeared and I didn't even know it was coming. I never do, and that's the way I like it! It's a surprise treasure that arrives in the mail and provides me with all kinds of good things to read, research and think about. Yup, new Wired, and as always it's a treat. One thing that jumped right out at me was a tiny little section about Google Maps mashups. The ones I really like are News Maps, PediaX, and best of all, Mappy Hour! Check'em out!

March is coming to a close and that means JazzFest is right around the corner. I wish we could make it there this year, but it looks like we're going to have to put it off once again. Our SE Asia trip is gonna have to be enough to tide us over for a while. But for those going, consider helping out. Nawlins is still effed and they could can use every hand and heart they can get.

Last 2 things are 7 questions that could change your life, and the amazing and elusive Scratchaphone. Enjoy your Wednesday. You're halfway there.

So here we go again. Jack is going to save the world, Chloe is going to make ridiculous faces, they are going to identify the wrong person in CTU as the mole, but in the end the people we don't know will get shot, the bad guys will get away and Jack will barely survive and somehow manage to tease out the key piece of information that will let him save the day an 'hour' from now. Ahhh 24, is there anything you can't make campy and ridiculous? I didn't think so. I was all set to give it up before last week, but yet I hang on. And tonight I hang on for another 60 minutes.

Finally got to watch the first episode of This American Life on Showtime, and it was almost everything we hoped for. My only complaint is that I wish it was an hour like the radio program, yet I can see why they would hedge their bets and only make it half that. Nonetheless, they did a great job transforming it to the visual medium. It has the same tenor and qualities of the radio show. The stories are the focus with Ira just the master-of-ceremonies and disembodied voice. Like on NPR, he lets the people and events tell the story, and you never quite know where it is going to go. Great cinematography, perfect timing, and a clear focus on the essence of the theme. I already can't wait for next week. Still, 30 minutes is not enough.

Alright, on to the theme of this post's title! Here are 16 things it takes 50 years to learn. Next site is an amazing way to digest the difference between a million and a trillion. To say it is a lot is a vast understatement. But even understanding 'a million' is tough to do. So what then does one do with the visual impact of 200 million? All I can do is hope for a small piece of that, in our bank account.

The last bit for today is a way to visualize the vast numbers associated with this planet and the stark facts of our presence on this rock. Leave this last one counting while you do other things, and I think you will be surprised by how it all ads up. I certainly was. Ohh! There's a friend buzzin' the door. Time to save the world. Again.

I'm writing this post mostly asleep, but I've still got 4 great things for you. First is all edge. Second is a site with the best online documentaries. Third is the great big sky above. Fourth izzzzzzzz

Ljubljana, Slovenia. They don't have March Madness, but we do, and by the time you read this, (Thursday), it will be time again to scream at the screen and shout at the shots. I love that image. So many colors, shapes, shadows, forms. Scott has an incredible eye for the visual.

Here are some other great images, but these really have nothing to do with the person taking the picture. It's just pure nature from the ground up and up and up.

But if photography's not your thing and you can't find any trees to shoot, maybe this page will give you some fun things to spend your time doing and learning. Surf around, there, too. Ask Metafilter has some great stuff.

And I probably shouldn't even do this, because the last thing I want is more competition getting a spot on the server, but screw it. Share and share alike. NCAA Men's Tournament streaming online, for your crazy insane pleasure.

Today is a good day! Lulu returns from her Adventures in Vail, we're one day closer to the next round of the NCAA tourney, and two of my bestest friends in the world just landed in SFO and are--at this very moment--on their way to the Orchard Garden Hotel here in SF. Best part is they've got a brand new little one with them I get to meet for the first time. Their first child is probably so big now I won't even recognize him. Last time I saw him was at our wedding back in June and he was but a wee tyke. Now he's a big brother! So cool. Clearly, being the big brother is the Pole Position of the family. (take that Mark and Mike! Ha!!)

On to links. Here's another good site for finding music: Slacker. Here's a novel way to clear up a sore throat. Haven't tried it, but it sounds pretty good. I'll definitely give it a try next time. Next are the 10 Crack Commandments. Smooth, funky beats & rap.

Last one is a movement to give big media a bit of a shock the day after tomorrow. The aim is to get an indie/unsigned band to the top of the iTunes chart, thereby showing the power of the net, and the imminent demise of traditional record companies. Haven't heard the band, but I really like the plan. I'll be spending the $.99 on Thursday. Will you?

Alright, time to hit the road, see my friends and then scoot off to SFO to pick up the love of my life. Later.

The pet food recall had me freaked out a bit on Sunday. Spent a while online making sure that the cans we had for our 2 kitties were in the clear. Turns out we did have a few cans from Nutro and Science Diet, but the product codes didn't match. Still, there's no way I'm giving those to the cats. Called Trader Joe's and was happy to hear that none of their products were affected. That's the cat food we typically use.

I hope Lu remembers to check my blog even though she's off in Vail partying down with her sister, her best friend and others. Lu's a huuuuge TJ's fan and I'm sure she will want to join the above TJ fansite. She will also be pleased the cats aren't being fed sub-par and dangerous cat food. You hear me Lu!?? Just cause you're a supersnowboarder now who goes out on a Monday night to an apres-ski BBQ and party doesn't mean you can just ignore your husband's blog. Jeez.

Weekend was fun despite the loneliness of Lu-ness. My brackets are in ridiculously good shape for someone who knows so little about college basketball. I've been enjoying the madness of March for several years now, but always very casually. This time I sat with the NYTimes sports section on the Wednesday before the tourney, digested what they dished out, check the records of each team, and then made the best guesses I could. Of course there is still plenty of time to go down in bright, brilliant flames of upsetting failure. But I'm already looking forward to Thursday. Of the 3 teams I've got winning it all I feel the best about Georgetown despite how heart-stoppingly close that game was.

Alright time to Daily Show my life by a factor of couch, and Ableson, this last bit is for you! Good luck with da blog. I'm fucking psyched you are writing again. And yes, the Angry Video Game Nerd is friggin hi-larious.

Jury duty! Gaaah! I would normally not hesitate to go and hang and be ready to be picked because I do believe it is important to participate in that civic duty. But this week? With Friday off and games all day and beerpong to be played? That's a toughie. I'll go in tomorrow hoping to be dismissed and if things escalate, well, I'll deal with that then. I can't decide if it's better to tell them that my uncle is a cop so I trust them completely or that I don't like cops at all and I never trust a word they say. Gonna be a gametime decision.

Gotta be quick tonight 'cause it is a gorgeous evening and there is grilling to be done. First off try Musicovery if you're looking for new tunes. Pick the mood and energy level and it'll give you music. Next there's a big dealio going on in Berkeley this weekend to save/protect the Memorial Grove oaks. To close out this rapid-fire blog entry take a look at I Used to Believe. It's things people believed when they were kids. Hilarious, ridiculous, poignant, the entries run the gamut.

Tip off is tomorrow! Finish your brackets people! Finish them!

Along with the premier on Showtime next week, This American Life is now offering free podcasts. (thanks Lulu!!) Before you had to go through Audible.com to get them. I guess a little cash has been infused into this excellent program. Now you have no excuse to not be listening.

I've always enjoyed the magazine Wired, but I only just discovered the Wired Blog Network. I don't love the banner layout, but I will be going back for Bruce Sterling's Beyond the Beyond, Epicenter and maybe a few others.

Wayne of the Lips has some interesting things to say about how to create your own happiness. Sounds right on target to me. (via) Much better in fact than some other crap I've heard recently. I guess this is one way to make yourself happy, or wet in the crotch area, or maybe both. That might even be higher than than the ziplines we rode in Laos. But not by much.

And if you're not sure what to do, or how to figure out what would be best to make you happy, you can always check here.

Alright, the NCAA brackets are done and Quicksilver is calling my name. This book is unlike anything Neal Stephenson has written before, but I still love it. It's a fictionalized history of the origins of money, currency and how that all intersected with the mathematical and philosophical pursuits during the late 1600s and early 1700s. Yet somehow he manages to make it fun, interesting and exciting. What the main characters were doing and thinking about then was practically the science-fiction of that time. Stephenson captures that beautifully. For me, happiness is a big novel. Time to get back at it.

SF can have powerfully disruptive weather, and not of just the earth-shaking variety (if that's even weather). Example A would be today where it was approx. 75 and gorgeous. How is one supposed to work when there is warmth like that transpiring beyond the windows? Luckily, JP recognized the facts and insisted I go outside and take a weather break. And best of all, it was bright and beautiful coming home, which made the evening truly awesome.

Alright first off are more Wilco tracks. Enjoy. And act fast 'cause they won't be up there long. Thanks Dave! If anyone finds the rest let me know.

There is of course an ethical dilemma re: spreading someone else's art without their permission. Will some of you not buy the album because you find it online? Maybe. But I am also certain that Wilco will garner new fans based on these songs. Those new fans will pay to see Wilco live. They will buy a t-shirt or poster and if they really get hooked, they may even tell their friends about them, or buy their girl/boyfriend a ticket.

Personally, I'm going to buy the album directly from the band's website when it is available. And it has been a lot of fun over the last few days to find the new tracks online like little musical treasures. Plus there are no ads on this site, so I'm not making a dime off of them. It is a fact, though, that Walken fucking rocks and is so much fun to listen to. I cannot be expected to wait when it's out there for the taking.

For visual stimulation here is a rare astronomical sight. For your brain and general enjoyment this guy has a comprehensive list of some of the best movie monologues and scenes. Last bit is this lunatic that made his own rollercoaster.

And make sure you remember to do your brackets tonight or tomorrow! You have until tip off on Thursday to make your picks!

Damn! I found a site with 2 more tracks off of the new Wilco but they took it down. DANG! I really wanted to share that with yas.

This video is great. Those Japanese! What a great method of deterring robbers. Here in the US we'd probably try rocks or something instead. I love their reactions when he picks the thing up. They're terrified! Awesome.

And I'm really really excited about This American Life on Showtime. It starts March 22!! (Thanks Clancy, for the reminder.) Hopefully some of the episodes will be available on the web, for those that don't have Showtime.

And today's final link is a flash version of a TRON game. Enjoy!

Ropeadope you've done it again. Gave me just the music I wanted to hear, even though I didn't realize I was looking for it. Well, I was looking for it earlier in the week but I forgot to check the site again and now here it is. Beautiful. Oh I can't wait till 5/15. I'm quite pissed I didn't know that they streamed the whole new album on Saturday night, but I'm hoping I can get my hands on it, somehow, immediately. I'll still buy it when it comes out. And you can bet your sweet ass I'll have tickets to the show whenever they're nearby. Hell, at this point, I'll even fly for them. WILCO NYE MSG NYC? Bring it, we're there. I'd also go for Radiohead and maybe moe.

Here's how to survive when things are really tough. This crazy person claims people used to wear gloves and hats inside to keep warm! Like they couldn't just turn up the thermostat or something. No but really the instructions for purifying water are very good to know, and the longer I read it, the more interesting it became. We are so lucky to have all the things we have. So lucky.

That's an image from Scott that he captured in Istria, which is part of Croatia. And make sure to look again. There are layers. Every time I check out this photo I like it more.

Alright last bit is a little twister for your brain. Left v Right. Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

Wednesday is one of those days that improves as the day progresses. At first you walk in and you're like, man, only Wednesday. But then by lunch you've hit the middle-point of the week and suddenly the weekend starts to come into focus. Then, by 5pm you're well on your way to weekend fun, and the ride/stroll home has an extra little glow to it.

Today I'm gonna toss stuff up here as I find it. Try something a little different.

Here's 10 tips to increase productivity using Firefox extensions.

Update: Here's a site called blinkx that lets you search the actual content of videos, which isn't easy to do. "Blinkx uses visual analysis and speech recognition to better understand rich media content." Check it out!

More: Here's a game that starts out quite easy, but gets more difficult, fast. The instructions are wrong, though. You control the Blue ball with your mouse, and have to avoid the Red ones. Enjoy.

The building is quiet and there's no wind or rain. Only the cat purring next to me and the hard drive sputtering under the monitor mar the utter peace of this urban moment. It was wonderful to be away at a beach house on the central CA coast for the weekend, but it was almost as excellent to finally arrive home. The serenity of one's own couch and bed is not to be denied.

But I also loved the motion of our car on the road beside the sea. I loved the way the asphalt carved the edges of cliffs above the iron, raging ocean below. I loved the hawks and vultures that circled above the grassy hillsides. I loved the music in our car as we twisted and burned up the western coast of America and I could not believe I was lucky enough to be there with my wife and friend, to be alive, to have made great choices and to be able to savor the beauty of everything that we rolled past, and the weekend we had just enjoyed.

Now Bandha, our cat, is kneading the cover that Lu currently sleeps beneath. He is tearing up the bed in anticipation of sleep and comfort, hoping I'll give him a headrub before bed. Chumby, our other cat, is purring loudly. Some day Chumby will be entered into a purring contest. I am certain she will win.

It was amazing to stand on the rooftop deck of the beachhouse with my brother Mike and look around. There was large hill above us and the blue arch of the sky above. There was a huge rock in the distance that commanded our attention. Once out at the beach we threw the frisbee as hard as we could and then stumbled back to the blankets where our friends were hanging out playing cards, chatting, snacking. (please note, you probably don't have to watch that whole frisbee throwing video. It's not me, although you might mistake me for him, from a distance. But it is rewarding to see the many ways in which he can toss the disc. Even more amazing is his endless supply of new discs to throw. It very well could be a frisbee miracle.)

Nighttime in the beachouse brought Sorry, Yahtzee! and some Hold'em. Latenight brought ping pong and pool.

Standing on the roof with the stunning sunset, I realized once again, I that I need to write a book. As airplanes roared overhead and the sun went crimson, low and magenta, I thought I found another piece to the puzzle of the story I want to tell. In fact I think I'll start right now.

While I'm off doing that check out the MIT OpenCourseWare program and learn some shit. It's free, no registration, non-degree granting information and instruction for those of the curious and diligent mind. I really wish I would take advantage of this, but I know I probably won't. I am, however, happy to know it's out there and maybe someone will benefit from me passing this on. That is always the goal, here. The benefiting of you.

I'm feeling rambly and weird tonight. Pynchon will do that, and I need to get back to it. I'm suddenly obsessed with this book again. Wait, there's a sound. A faucet is dripping. I must fix that and then read.

Saw Lyrics Born and The Coup last night at the Fillmore and they were great. The Coup nearly had us wore out before LB even came on, but once onstage he got us going again, too. Great guitar and bass in his show, not just rapid-fire rhymes. Spent a little too much time letting the female vocalist do her thing, but overall a fun show.

This weekend there's gonna be a lunar eclipse. So cool. It should be clear enough where we are to check it out. I hope so!

Alright, Friday morning. Time to kick today's ass and head straight into the weekend.