V took me out for dinner and a movie last night to get my mind off this infuriating and depressing grant. We had a couple of slices of pizza at go on, take another little Pizza My Heart, then moved the Mini two blocks to a space in front of the downtown San Mateo theater and bought two tickets to Nacho Libre. Hrm. The big question going in was how long they could stretch out the joke of Jack Black as both a monk and a Mexican wrestler ("luchador"). Well, about 100 minutes, actually. The movie has some funny bits, particularly Black's feral wrestling partner who keeps reminding him "i don't believe in god, i believe in science" in the film's steadiest joke. But the whole thing feels tacked together and doesn't really provide Black the opportunity to showcase his comedy. Other than spitting out lines in his bizarre Mexican affect.

My mp3 genres need some serious work. Seeing the folk rock masterpiece Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg & Wilco labeled as "brit pop" just pushed me over the edge.

I've improved the fac13 user account preferences interface with more options, and added a link for those of you that are too forgetful to remember your login information. I'm quite happy with my homegrown website, but sometimes wonder just what kind of coniption fit a real programmer would have upon inspecting my code.

I think i'm grinding my teeth again, dammit. I've got a dentist appointment coming up so we'll see if they can do anything for me. Getting out from under this grant hell is probably the best medicine, though.

With this savory encounter between France and Spain coming to a climax, the final eight of the World Cup are coming into view. Some enticing matchups on the horizon ... lackluster England facing a depleted but dangerous Portugal side, hosts Germany taking on the impressive Argentines, and defending champions Brazil awaiting the winner of this afternoon's match. Ted's predictions ... England, Brazil, Argentina, and Italy make the semis, Brazil exposes the Brits' inadequacy while Argentina manhandles the overrated Italians, and Argentina knocks off their familiar rivals to hoist the trophy. Of course, i'm no Kreskin so my picks could be looking pretty silly by Saturday.

French starlet Franck Ribery is one ugly bastard. He looks like the villain in Cobra that Sly Stallone hung on a hook and set on fire.