I’m no paranoiac, but I think I might be secretly working for an MIB-level government agency where all tasks and other alleged business-related duties are actually complex tests of human psychology, stamina, and ability to cope with illogically stressful situations. I don’t have any real evidence to back this up, but my company’s tendency – nay, preference! – to demand far more with far, far fewer resources than are adequate to even just about fail has no practical application in the world of business. So it’s either the MIB or we’re being ruled by a mad monarch with syphilis and a bunch of illegitimate hemophiliac children.
Also I watched Travels in Europe with Rick Steves last night, which was always one of my favorite shows on PBS. Not because Rick Steves goes anywhere that is incredibly interesting or even strays off the tourist path (you can tell because everyone in every shot is a tourist), but because Rick, like Bill Bryson, takes his nerdly level of enthusiasm into every conceivable situation, and somehow makes everything look at least bearable. Last night’s episode was Bavaria, which is like the Texas of Germany, which is already the Texas of Europe. Actually. Maybe Austria is the Texas of Europe, and Germany is the Austin of the Texas Empire. You know, modern design, Kraftwerk, et al.
Anyway, Mad King Ludwig’s castles are in Bavaria, which is why I’m applying the reference to work. It’s either that or this, which I think approximately 14 times an hour:
Ephemera Etc. 
Rick scores high on the NS (Nerd Scale), but I still like him because he enjoys going places alone, and daytime drinking, and thus always knows where to find the best pub food. The last two lines of his bio (www.ricksteves.com) read: “Rick was divorced in March 2010. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.” For some reason, I predict the next Mrs. Steves will be an Asian woman.
What I love most about people who read my stuff is that they take the time to do things like research Rick Steves’ bio and say hilarious things that I see when I wake up in the morning.
Turns out Rick Steves enjoys other things about Europe besides charming villages, artisan cheese, and a pint of Black & Tan with his hearty pub breakfast….like decriminalizaiton of weed. He serves on the board of directors of NORML and is quite outspoken in his belief that it should be legal for mature adults to smoke marijuana recreationally in the privacy of their own homes. According to his website, he was a guest speaker at Seattle’s Hempfest.