Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

A while back, I mentioned on Lifeisathrill.com that I might cease blogging there. Well, as the new year comes around, I’m set to follow through on that notion. When the site comes up for renewal, I’ll let the deadline pass and that will be that. If you want to continue reading my scattered Internet debris, you can do so either on my LiveJournal or at mrshl.net. That’s the Cliff Notes version.

Read on for rationale and details…

As much as I love the Interweb, I’ve found that the oceans of time I used to have when I was in law school have simply dried up. Working five days a week, and the stress of buying a house, planning a wedding, and doing assorted chores in between have meant:

1. Less discretionary time in which to spend coasting around the Internet.
2. A lot less of the energy and inclination it takes to manage and update a blog on regular basis.

Simply put, I am lazy. And blogging is no hobby for a lazy person. I have a few pals of mine who do a damn good job at typing in the public realm. I’m not sure how they stay so focused, but focus is one thing I haven’t got.

What I’ve discovered is that I’d rather read other people’s blogs than my own. I might even leave comments. But sitting down to compose my own thoughtful post is something I rarely do. When I DO have something intelligent or helpful to say, I will say on my ever trusty Livejournal.

In addition, I have been fairly good about sharing links on del.icio.us and Google Reader. As you’ve seen, I’m also pretty good at using Twitter. Well, the Twitter updates won’t be showing up on my LJ anymore. Instead, you can keep up with my Twitter, del.icio.us, and Google Reader at mrshl.net. 

Mrshl.net is built on the same platform as the old LIAT site, Tumblr.com. I like using Tumblr because it requires almost no effort to update, and it’s super easy to use. It doesn’t allow comments, but that’s the only discernible drawback. What it does very well is pull in RSS feeds from Twitter, Del.icio.us, Google Reader, and anywhere else. And it takes about two seconds to post a YouTube video, photo, or quote. That’s the kind of speed that it takes if you’re going to actually get a post out of me these days.

Finally, I’d like to say thanks to Matt B., Matt L., Meg, Melissa, Keef, Casey, Miles, Christopher, and Joel for indulging me and joining the LIAT experiment. I’d also like to thank those of you who have put up with me over the years as I’ve tried out different blogs and blog platforms.

As it turns out, my Web dorkness is surpassed only by my laziness. But then, you probably knew that.

Ancient IBM ad showing the mythical slide rule my dad always talked about. Via Incredimazing.

Like me, Owen Jarvis is a musician who went to law school. Unlike me, he’s made a fantastic (and fantastically viral) video documenting the experience. 

Jarvis wrote this song during exams for his first year of law school. The lyrics are pretty typical bitching and moaning, but with the sketches (also by Jarvis) and some clever turns, he’s perfectly distilled the cliché angst of your average 1L.

I have to say that I enjoyed law school immensely, and I think the work load is usually overstated (e.g., I had to walk 9 miles in the snow, and write 100 footnotes in a dark, frozen room). But this video had me laughing.

Hat tip: my fellow UH-er, 3L Luke Gilman.

I have nothing else to say. Links are here and here.

mrshl’s links for December 18th through December 20th:

• Ask E.T.: Megan Jaegerman’s brilliant news graphics – Edward Tufte, the renowned information design guru shares some of his favorite works from one of his favoriate designers. In a word: awesome.
• “Don’t Tase Me, Bro” tops ‘07 memorable quote list – I’m not sure I remember any OTHER quote from ‘07. But there’s a good list here.
• Remember The Milk – Services / Remember The Milk for Gmail – I have rarely used Remember the Milk, even though it’s probably the best online to-do list. This Firefox extension seamlessly integrates RTM with Gmail. And that’s pretty cool, because unlike Outlook, Gmail never had a built-in to do list. Until now.
• Texas defends new $5-per-visitor strip club fee | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle – Texas finds yet another way to avoid imposing an income tax on its citizens.
• Summize – Discover reviews and blogs on millions of products – A new site that works like Metacritic but for more than just music and games. It includes gadgets and home electronics.

TackyChristmasYards is a blog chronicling terrible excesses in the already questionable realm of holiday lighting.

Naturally, this site pointing out the specks in their neighbors’ eyes, has a huge plank in its own. Check out the huge eyesore of an ad that dominates TCY’s header.

I learned of this video courtesy of Slate.com’s recap of the year’s best singles. I’m not sure anyone in the world does better a cappella guitar solos.

No word on whether President Lisa Simpson was upset about her adult self being excluded from the list.

Sexiest Ladies of The Simpsons

Here’s a short list of quotes from Republicans criticizing Clinton’s Bosnian intervention. Naturally, well known Republicans like Trent Lott and Tom Delay were vocally opposed to Clinton’s plan because they didn’t like the open-ended nature of the commitment. Hmmmm.

My favorite quote?

"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy."

–Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush, who was then Governor of Texas.