Out.

I took today off because, in addition to being sick, I had an appointment for a full physical, something I'd been putting off for a long time. I'll have to put it off a bit longer, though, because I got a phone call this morning canceling the appointment. If I'm lucky, I won't have to wait another two months for another appointment.

For now, I'm going to go outside for the first time in a few days and breathe some real air. Through my mouth, of course, because I'm still stuffed up.

Falling on My Head

As I was out, it started sprinkling. It could be worse.

I was lured into purchases. At Gamestop, I picked up a new DS stylus (which I needed), and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law for the Wii, which has apparently had a price reduction in the past two weeks. I also picked up some more Wii points, because I love me some downloads and I still feel weird giving my credit-card information to a videogame console.

Then I went to Borders, where I picked up Influence by Robert Cialdini. I've been talking about it for a while with references to the original, so I thought I should pick it up. I also picked up Police Procedures and Investigation. Read into that what you will.

Also, and update. Remember that Adult Swim minifigure I got? Turns out, I didn't pay very close attention. The Moral Orel I got wasn't the Moral Orel on the box listed as having an 8% chance of occurrence. Instead, it was Crackpipe Orel, which is one of the two rare figures worth about $70.

ThuNYTX: 9:30.

Why You Are a Terrible Parent

When a recorded program finished, my TV went back to live cable, specifically Little Beauties: Ultimate Kiddie Queens Showdown. Yeah, I know. Here's what I saw:

Kid: I came in fourth place; and I beat twenty people; and there was twenty-three people.
Mom: (doing math in her head while her daughter is talking) Well, you beat nineteen, actually.
Kid: (turning on her mother, standoffish and affronted) HUH!
Mom: (leaning away, placating) Well, you know, I added wrong. I'm sorry, I added . . . Okay, if you want twenty, that's fine.

I'm not a father yet, and I try not to judge parents too harshly when it comes to setting limits. I imagine that it can be very hard to hold out against the tantrums of your children. But you know what boundaries kids don't get to act out over? BASIC FUCKING ARITHMETIC!