Sheep go to Heaven

So...in all the excitement I forgot to post about last weekend. And this weekend, for that matter, though that will come later. Last weekend I accompanied my mom for a day to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, an annual gathering of a very large number of natural fiber enthusiasts. It's...mildly a family tradition, I guess. Mostly my mom digs it, being a natural fiber enthusiast. I go for the food, because I'm a county fair food enthusiast. I went this time, though, for a certain amount of nostalgia, since I haven't been in...well, we were trying to figure it out, and we figure I was maybe ten or eleven the last time I was there. It was much as I remember it...though a bit expanded. The standard fare is livestock, generally leaning toward the fiber-givers (sheep, goats, rabbits...the odd alpaca); products derived from the hair of such livestock (yarn, tapestries, clothing); equipment used in the care of said livestock; and equipment used in the manufacture of said products. In short, this is a natural fiber enthusiast GenCon. The extension of the festival, though, seems to include a lot of other hand crafts; I saw handmade brooms, basket-making, painting...even some leatherwork. There's also been a marked shift in the demographic of the attendees since my younger days, including what seemed to me to be a significant population of alternakids and such. I surmise that the resurgence of yarncraft among a certain segment of my generation has a lot to do with that. In any case, it was everything you could want from a big-time natural fiber and hand craft symposium.

Myself...I had a corn dog. Of course. I love corn dogs.

Bizarrely, what was more nostalgic than the event proper was the drive to get there, which took us through a large swath of rural New Jersey. Now...I don't have a lot of nostalgia for rural New Jersey, but much of rural America is the same at a glance, and I have to admit, it took me back a bit to my younger years. I guess I don't have a whole lot to say about it; you've smelled one cow farm, you've smelled them all. It was just interesting to get back on the road, however briefly, and be met with...that. Yeah. Farms.

So there was that. :)

This weekend I believe I'll be able to make it back up to the City. I'm going to try to hit Montien on Thursday, and I'm also going to shoot for Sokin's shindig on Saturday. What this also means is that I'm probably going to enter radio silence for a few days, though I'm hoping it doesn't start off another long string of not posting, as has tended to happen recently.

Anyone see that Daily Show with the Samantha Bee bit on gambling and Atlantic City? Yes. It's just like that.

Anyway, what would an entry be if I didn't like to someone else's content? It's been a while since I've pimped Fanatical Apathy, so it might be time to give it another shout. Excitingly (or not), it's undergone a recent back-end change and facelift, so note that new URL! (http://www.felbers.net/fa/) There's been some good stuff lately...here's a taste:

Wreck of the HMS Beagle
"...a handsomely-bound billion-year-old tome entitled 'How I Did It, by God Himself' which featured a dust-jacket photo of the bearded, white-haired Deity in a contemplative pose and several flattering blurbs from other celestial beings (like 'This guy really did it - Vishnu,' and 'Makes me wish I'd written it - a real page-turner! - Lucifer')"

US Twists Brazil Nuts
"See, here in America we understand that our values are the Microsoft Windows of morality. Sure, there may be other systems out there. But unless you make sure you're compatible, you don't get to play."

Deterring Mr. Kim
This post I just recommend in general, because it's all about something that was vaguely formed in my head, but I could never get out on paper: invasion as an anti-deterrent.

Anyway...check it. Also..."Fanatical Apathy"? We're we just talking about the need for fanatacism in moderates? Hmm...

Party on, everybody. Hopefully catch some of you in NYC.

Worst. Jedi. EVER.

Ganked from wickedthought (and edited for that unfortunate second person posessive problem that plagues so many web quiz authors and readers).

Star Wars Meme by sailor_phobos
1st 2 Ltrs of 1stname + Last 3 Ltrs of last name
1st 2ltrs of moms last name+Last 3ltrs of city brn
Sith or Jedi	Jedi
Skin Color	Black
Eye Color	Blue
Light Saber Color	Yellow
How close you are to switching sides: 22%
Username
Your Random Star Wars Quote:	Don't underestimate the Force.
Your Padawan (if you're a jedi)	tribblewing
Your apprentice (if you're a sith)	flatvurm
Your Master	memento_mori
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Crappy name, even by Star Wars standards; who the hell needs that many vowels? Anyway...leaving aside that I'd be my own Sith apprentice (probably true), a yellow lightsaber would just suck ass. Rest assured I would always activate it at a slight downward angle, handle held at my crotch. Once my buzzing yellow beam tinkled forward, I'd probably pause for a moment and go, "Ahhhhhh..." Anyway, sorry, tribblewing, my Padawan; I'm afraid even I am rooting for my death. Sadly, I doubt I'll be able to guide you from beyond. Perhaps my fate is to instead take a blaster shot to the...er...lightsaber, in order to save my Master. That would be satisfying. :)

Yeah, still in SoJo. :)

And speaking of my Master...

By way of memento_mori, please read this. That is all.

Small update

Probably no Montien for me tonight. Weekend most likely still on, though.