2004 has been an absolutely wild ride. And though there has been many less favorable moments (read: anything relating to politics, the middle east or southeast Asia), this has been a phenomenal year.

Best wishes everyone. Here's to cherishing the joys we already have, and to making life better where it's needed.

Happy new years.

Santa Badgers!

Hahahahaha!

Bill Clinton should be the next secretary-general of the UN.

Over 38,000 51,000 confirmed

More than 27,000 in Indonesia alone.

So Bronwyn's back and she brought presents. We finally exchanged Christmas gifts and the scene that ensued was sickeningly cute. First, we ended up giving each other the exact same book. This is a book we found in a book store long ago in Seattle during spring break but were never able to find in any other book store again. When I went back to Seattle for Thanksgiving, I revisited the same store and finally purchased said book. Little did I know that at the same time, Bronwyn had gone on to amazon.com and purchased same.

Then, Bronwyn gave me a Saturday Looks Good to Me t-shirt. Little did she know that I had already bought myself that shirt at the SLGTM concert in October.

So basically what's happening now is Bronwyn has to return both of the presents, not because they were bad presents but because we are entirely too cute and know each other far too well.

Is anybody else disturbed by the fact that the US hasn't pledged any aid to southeast Asia yet?

I guess that's what happens when you don't stand with the Coalition of the Willing.

According to BBC news, the US has finally pledged $15 million.

*is once again able to take pride in his country*

I was going to get online and refelect on Christmas, but after checking BBC news, I'm too shocked to write about my weekend.

Earthquake kills more than 11,500 in Asia

And now I reload the page and they've increased the number to more than 12,000...

This has my attention not simply because 12,000 is a large number but also because Bronwyn has a couple of friends currently vacationing in Thailand.

The grocery shopping is all set for tomorrow when Emily and I will prepare a Christmas feast THE LIKES OF WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN (in this apartment).

It will also likely be quite a bit of extra food. If anyone's around that wants some tasty dinner, and spiked nog let me know.

Until then, I'm going to spend the remainder of my Christmas Eve pretending I'm James Bond by way of the Gamecube. This will be done, however, in front of the tanenbaum by a burning fire in the firepalce.

I must have these shirts - all of them.

But if I had to choose I'd want this one and this one and this one and this one and this one but MOST DEFINITELY this one.

Hmm... that's only six... I could cover my wardrobe for all of 2005 in one go, right? It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to buy all of them, right?

Why both voting and a paper trail of election ballots are absolutely necessary:

Democratic candidate Gregoire wins Washington state governor's race by 130 votes after second recount.

This makes me even prouder of the fact that I voted as a Washington state resident this year, though it'll be my last Washington election as I'm going to register as a California resident in a week or two.