Can't sleep, so I'm watching About A Boy. I love this movie. I'm not really sure why. I mostly dislike Hugh Grant movies, but this one clicks.

I've been thinking about social anxiety lately. It plagues me, at times. I'm sure everyone has a different image of themselves than the one that other people see. At times I feel almost as if (and I know that this isn't the case) some people 'like' me to my face, but when I'm not around, they feel differently.

I often feel anxious and insecure in social settings, worried that I just won't fit in. I know that to some people this sounds preposterous, since I'm kind of seen as a social butterfly by some people. But I can't help it.

Anyway. Bookstore rant:

I'm quite entirely and completely tired of idiots coming in and asking for books on 'arrowheads', etc. I even had these two jerks asking for books on how to find them today. I told them 'Uh... they really discourage that. You could do a lot of damage to a valuable site, and you should probably leave that to the archaeologists. Anyway, they don't write books like that for the layman.'

Seriously, I must get at least 4 people asking for books on arrowheads a week. Probably methheads looking for a simple way to make some cash without doing anything overtly illegal.

Did some Christmas shopping today. It went surprisingly well, despite the fact that I had to go to the mall. I must be getting old, because teenagers tend to REALLY get on my nerves (with some notable exceptions; you know who you are). Still have to make a few things though, not the least of which are my chocolate truffles.

Groovin' on some Underworld, Beaucoup Fish to be exact. Has to be some of the most beautiful dance music ever made in the history of all of planet Earth. It's great music for a road trip, too.

Heard of the London Synthesis Orchestra? It's an ensemble of synth players from London, and they've gotten together to play music inspired by John Cage, etc. Haven't listened to it yet, but it seems like it'd be crazy amounts of cool.

I wonder if a bunch of violin/fiddle players would do the same thing for me if I fed them barbecue?

Some things I just don't get, or like. Dog the bounty hunter. WTF? This is on A&E? This is just one example of the kind of coarsening of our entertainment culture that reduces everything down to its lowest commen denominator. In short, it sucks. American Chopper and Monster Garage. Why would I care about this crap, and why is it on the Discovery Channel? I'm serious. Whoever is in charge over at Discovery should be slapped around a little. Sack and stick style.

Rant mode off.

SNL is probably long past their glory days, but here's a hardcore rap about the Chronicles of Narnia. Funniest thing I've seen in a long long while.

In answer to Nick's post about the 8bit Christmas, check out 8bit Betty. Found via EM411. So damned catchy.