First NARPA cook up a scheme to create a database of reminiscient of Big Brother, then there's the online gambling thing to wager on upcoming terrorist actions. Leaving no stone unturned, Darpa's foray into bioengineering sounds fantastic! What'll these guys dream up next?! OK, so maybe they did more or less create the internet but when you appoint a convicted felon to head this agency, let the madcap tomfoolery begin!

I finished reading The Corrections last week. This was the book selected for Oprah's book club that the author declined the invite to. Recommended reading. Finding a replacement book took trips to 5 bookstores over the weekend. I was actually looking for a book on Lewis and Clark, but I didn't know what the definitive piece of work was on the subject. Eventually, Stephen Ambroses Undaunted Courage ws the frontrunner, based on the prevalence of said authors preface for most other books on the subject and Amazon.com reviews. Only finding books on American history isn't the easiest thing to do. Hence the 5 bookstores.
After Borders (yes we have one and its dope) didn't have any in stock I thought it was a lost cause. I settled for Cod, A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World. Its a quick read, and its a tasty fish anyway. One thing I didn't know was the Basques near spain and france were fishing the grand banks off newfoundland 100 years before columbus. They found the best fishing in the world, why the hell would they tell everybody? Or that the pilgrims were nearly starving while 50 british ships were offshore catching all the cod they could carry. All in all its a good blend of history, economics and food, with ample references to boston and cape cod.
Sunday afternoon I popped into one last bookstore, and sure enough, Undaunted Courage, Merriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West.. Currently sitting on deck.

Robert Frost Greeting Cards Be sure to check out the other lists as well.

The Electric Version is my pick for album of the first 8 months of 2003.