Oh, I think I don't need to tell you that this page is still in flux (but I'm telling you anyway because sometimes I'm patronizing like that), and who knows what wacky format idea I might come up with next.  I may even go so far as to install navigation buttons!  Crazy.

You young whipper-snappers!  Always wanting everything handed to you on a platter.  Well, I'm not bowing to your wishes--by cracky, if you want to know anything about these pages you're going to have to work for it by clicking here.

Friday, December 31, 1999

Well, it's been a great, challenging year, and I look forward to more adventures to come.  Happy New Year, my friends!  And now I'm going to go out and party like it's 1999!  (Oh, come on, you had to know it was coming.)

Wednesday, December 29, 1999

A friend of mine said language is thought.  I've been thinking about that for a little while now, and I can't seems to totally contradict him.  My best attempt thus far:  we can think in pictures without involving vocabulary.  Pictures can convey concepts and feelings, which do not require a language to interpret.  In fact pictures (and expressions) are often used to cross the limiting borders created by language.

Monday, December 27, 1999

Sorry about the delay.  I've been rather ill and unable to manage this until today.  Anyway, I do hope you all had a Merry Christmas; aside from the sickness mine was most enjoyable.  Well, this has quite tired me out, so I'm going to go now.

Wednesday, December 22, 1999

Have you ever noticed how sometimes a contraction will work perfectly fine in a situation but then be entirely wrong in others?  Ex:  "He has 25," which says he has 25 objects.  If expressed as a contraction, the sentence then says, "He's 25," which expresses age.  To make the contraction work, you have to add another word, "He's got 25," which completely defeats the purpose of the contraction!  Foreigners must hate us based solely on our arbitrary language.

Monday, December 20, 1999

I just spent over 8 hours in a Steak n' Shake, working on a project with a friend of mine.  We were there from just before 1am to shortly after 9am.  You see an interesting cross- section of life during those hours, and if I were feeling more philosophical right now, I might be able to make some insightful observation.  As it is, I just want to go to bed.

Friday, December 17, 1999

Ok, after much thought, I think I'm still trying to figure out what to do. Should we trade with "bad" nations in the hope that as we boost their economy reforms will follow, or should we refuse to trade with such countries until they implement such changes?  The latter has a lot of appeal for me, but that really puts the burden on the common people of the "bad" country who may not grasp the politics or be in a situation to do anything about it.  The former may only prop up a "bad" government and encourage despots to remain in power.  I'm open to suggestions.

Tuesday, December 14, 1999

Although I am upset that a small group of individuals got out of hand and caused a riot in Seattle, on the whole, I am glad that the protest took place:  the protest forced the US, and possibly other countries, to ask some hard questions that have been absent in past trade debates--most notably whether trade should be tied to a raft of other issues such as human rights and the environment; tune in next time for "My Thoughts on This Issue," and yes,  today's entry is all one sentence.

Sunday, December 12, 1999

Hey--I saw "The Nutcracker" for the first time today.  It's a great ballet, and I really enjoyed it.  Also, it helped put me in the Christmas spirit.  Thank you, Tchaikovsky!

Friday, December 10, 1999

And guess who had to reformat his harddrive and reinstall all of his software... again.  But I think everything will be fine on the computer front for a few months now.  Whatever.

Tuesday, December 7, 1999

So is today infamous for anyone?  I don't doubt that it is for some.

Sunday, December 5, 1999

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome.  The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse."

                                                                                            - Helen Keller

Friday, December 3, 1999

Well, a friend sent me both of these items, and, frankly, I've got nothing better to post here, so this is what you're getting:

Most embarassing litigation this year

Worst date ever?

Wednesday, December 1, 1999

I don't normally tout my own birthday, but in years past, friends have been upset that I didn't tell them about it.  So that explains yesterday's post.  (Yeah, that's all I've got for today - you wanna' make sumthin' of it?!)  (See, I told you - downward spiral of the mind.)

I rarely use the above feature, but if you email me I'd be willing to give it the old college try.

Check out a little vintage Matt in the previous months:

[November][October][April-September] [Present][2007][2006][2005][2004][2003][2002][2001][2000][1999]