1. Number of impositions of my will on the universe: 2.
A. Weather chilling [see below].
B. Shaming the would-be pseudometalhead F-train businessman into quieting his iPod with one eviscerating glare. Yeah, buddy, we've all heard "Master of Puppets". You still aren't scary.

2. Number of unsolicited compliments on my mouthing off today in class: 3.

3. Number of unsolicited compliments (truly! from strangers!) on my karaoke bellowing of "Bye Bye Love" at a school social function: 2.

This is what is known as "a good day".

Yesterday evening, as I prepared to head out for a friend's birthday party, I was not listening to the latest indie rock sensation. Oh no. I had C-SPAN's broadcast of the Fourth Circuit oral arguments in the Al-Marri case on. It wasn't even video. It was audio with still publicity shots of whichever judge or attorney was speaking at that moment.

The shame!

The probably quite wonderful, charming, noble, etc., fellow student who is sitting opposite me and banging each key on her laptop as though the keys are in danger of flying off in the absence of constant, violent suppression.

Esteemed fellow student, you're shaking the whole damn table. And you're loud. Knock it off.

Not a lot to say, as things are just zipping along toward finals. Soon, no doubt, there will be an incident that merits blogging, but right now there's nothing doing. Those looking for an amusing read would be well served by reading the Pinto Letters. If I live to be a hundred, I will never write anything as funny as that first e-mail.

"At that instant she felt that years of happiness could not make Jane or herself amends for moments of such painful confusion."
—Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 53