Official spring break report for Wednesday, March 29

Quote for the day:

Thinking is the hardest work there is. Which is the probable reason why so few engage in it.

--Henry Ford

Sleep: 7-ish hours. Heavenly.

Weather: Rainy and cool.

Fun: (1) Watched Rent. (see review, below)

(2) According to Entertainment Weekly, here are the top dramas everyone should be watching each week:

1. 24
2. The Sopranos
3. CSI
4. Battlestar Galactica
5. Lost
6. Everwood (see above)
7. Gilmore Girls
8. Law and Order franchise
9. Veronica Mars
10. The Shield

I am a devoted watcher of 6 & 7, but honestly, I’m so busy with school I just don’t dare get involved in any other shows, despite my family’s efforts to interest me in Lost. I have taken a gander at Battlestar before, and liked what I saw. I've always had a soft spot for good sci fi.

Chores: Paperwork day! Paid bills, got caught up on correspondence, etc. There’s more to finish tomorrow, but it was a worthy start.

Food Events: Fed homemade chicken stock and bits of soft chicken breast to the dog.

The World: Received this email from a fellow Grey School staff member:

Dear Folks,

I caught part of "Real Time with Bill Maher" today and was sufficiently impressed to go back and take notes. This is for the episode originally airing 3/24/06 with guests: Actor Jason Alexander, Author Reza Aslan, Rep. Jack Kingston (Republican-Georgia), and Journalist Michael Ware. It will air again on March 30 at 2 AM (central time) on HBO-west.

What grabbed my attention was one of the "New Rules," specifically: No one is allowed to call something "our greatest problem" unless they're talking about global warming. Maher went on to describe how Bush is not waging a war on "terror" but on TERRA (including the satirical idea that he's really an alien sent to destroy the Earth). Then came the news that climate expert James Hanson delivered a message about global warming, saying that we needed to level off carbon dioxide production within 10 years, or the climate would pass certain "tipping points" -- such as the disintegration of the ice sheets. The White House tried to censor this report. Maher also expressed the opinion that global warming threatens us enough that it should be considered a national security issue -- and that failure to warn the citizens of the danger fits the definition of treason. He concluded by saying that environmentalism should be driven by something the Republicans can understand: utter selfishness.

I was impressed because Maher's summary was the most succinct and effective description of environmentalism that I've heard in years. He makes it real and personal and immediate, not just another cause. I hope this phrasing catches on.

Dog: Recovering. Slept all day, didn’t want to play, didn’t eat much, barked once—very hoarsely.