Dan Lipka Web Log

"Well, let me tell you something, Johnny. That the first 90 years or so, they go by pretty fast…Then one day you wake up and you realize that you're not 81 anymore"

If the United Nations or some Alien species asked each country to submit one item that would be reflect the best (the ideal) of each country, what would the US submit. For example, Italy could submit the Sistine Chaple; Austria could submit a Mozart CD; Japan could submit an inexpensive, high quality car. So what would the US submit. There are many options; we could send a light bulb (a great achievement of ingenuity and energy), the declaration of independence, or a picture of the first man on the moon. Of course we could go another direction and send a nuclear weapon, wall street journal, or some modern art. However, in the end, I think the best the US has to over, something that incorporates all the great qualities and history that would make this country great is something more simple. If it were up to me, I would send a School House Rocks DVD. Math , Science , History , Freedom , Creativity , Diversity , Rock-n-roll , education , beauty , philosophy , exploration , it has

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a city can force people to give up their homes if it would result in the economic development of the community. Historically, cities could force people to move only if it serves the public good; but that definition has now been expanded. The case in question involved a group of Connecticut families and small business owners who are being forced (although given “fair compensation”) to leave their home so that they (the homes not the people) may be destroyed in order to build a mini mall and some corporate real estate buildings. Some of these people have been in these homes for more than 70 years. The city agues that the new buildings with bring in jobs and tax revenue. The people argue that the government get the f%*k outta their homes. I have to agree with the people. How can you say that economics outweighs sociology. What about the little apartment in the movie Batteries Not Included, when now the government can just throw Jessica Tandy

They just realized the top 100 movie quotes of all time and sadly they missed a few. I don’t know who these people are (who make the list), but they should open their eyes to the genius of... Flash, I love you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth! There is only one place you have not looked, and it is there, only there, that you shall find the master. Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die. I can’t help being the biggest and the strongest. Bats, f$cking, bats. I say, I, I, I, want the kniiiiiiife. WHAT is your favorite color? I’ll cross all the Ts and dot all the...lower case Js. I want you in my belly. Just what I need; a Drewish Princess. Mongo only pawn in game of life Where the white women at? S%$T C&C# A$$S TI%%IE$ B*%#R B(^&H MUFF P@$$^ C&$K B$^^H&LE BARBARA STREISAND! Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your daughter... 's wedding... on the day of your daughter's wedding. And I

The avenue of the first breakthrough from stem cells (i.e. adult or embryonic ) will have significant political and social consequences. Who is buying all of these houses for $700,000 . The middle class is not growing, neither is the upper class (in terms of number of people). Don’t they have to pay the mortgage? Will hard-core atheists ever organize themselves into a proactive, evangelical cult? The NBA just agrees to ban players from being drafted unless they are 19 years old. How is this legal? The current perception is that 18-year-old stars will go to collage for at least a year, but I think they will go where the money is. Watch for prep stars to sign million dollar, short-term contracts in Europe. Oil is at $60/barrel and there is no crisis. Hydrogen cars are not necessary, there are already prototype electric cars that get 500 miles to the gallon. Check this out, “ Avida is an auto-adaptive genetic system designed primarily for use as a platform in Digital or Artificia

My sweet little Molly sure does love to fuss. “Hold me over your shoulder” she says. “No, over the other shoulder...No, that’s too high up...Perfect, now just don’t move. Did you breath? Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!. Ok, now lets try again. Hold me over your shoulder and I’ll fall asleep. Ok, that’s nice. Zzzzzzzzzz.” And thus I put her down, to which she responds, “Aha! I tricked you, I wasn’t really sleeping I was just testing you. Now your must hold me over your shoulder while bouncing up and down, balancing a plate on your nose, and barking like a dog. No, not a big dog, a little dog. Good Daddy. Now I am may sleep for you. Good Daddy. Zzzzzzzzzz. What? Are you thinking about that bottle? You know I can read your mind; you were, weren’t you. Now I’m thinking about it. Waaaaaaaaaaa! Waaaaaaaaaaaa! Ok, good, now we know where you can stick that bottle. Now if you please stop crying, I’m trying to sleep here...” And thus is life. Of course, this was only one interpretation,

Many days and night have passed since Lindy and I were blessed with our first daughter, and every day and night has since been a new experience. I still struggle to comprehend the magnitude of being a parent, as well as my general feelings and emotions. It is overwhelming and natural at the same time. I am happy and frustrated, fulfilled and empty, longing to see molly open her eyes and longing for her to go to sleep. However, I have come to understand a little more about family. Lindy and I each have our strengths and weaknesses, but this is not that time for either; we have both made “the necessary” our strengths and tried to relegate weakness to the irrelevant. Lindy, especially, has held up this family on her sleepless shoulders and refused to allow anything to hinder good parenting. I am in awe at her strength and willingness to relegate the “self” in order to promote the “all”. And I am grateful for and to her. Not to say that everything is perfect. Life continues to thr