I like this song, and videos are fun, too

(kijjohnson, this one's for you.)

kijjohnson turned me onto this song, and I like it a lot. It captures what it's like to be a decent person working at a soul-sucking job while dreaming of a better life. In fact, I find it downright endearing. It's surprisingly touching; listen to it/download it here.

( Here are the lyrics )

( Here is a video of the composer performing it )

And here's an illustration.

Now this is where it gets interesting: a lot of people have gotten interested in this song and have responded by doing videos on YouTube.

Here are three that I like the best:

( The Code Monkey dance )

( An animated video )

( The Code Monkey song, using video from the Canadian show Traders )

So interesting to see three COMPLETELY different creative takes on this.

Edited to add: And then there are the Code Monkey re-mixes, here.

The Battle of Helm's Deep as a Gingerbread tabletop creation

Gacked this from ellen_kushner, who said,

For decades, now, I've been trying to get over the fact that I never got to have a tabletop gingerbread house like everyone else (I mean, c'mon; didn't everybody have a mom who spent her time putting together little fashionable & fanciful seasonal treats for her kids but me?), ornamented with frosting and raisins and candycane shingles. . . .

But now I see the light. I realize now that what I really need is the complete Battle of Helm's Deep instead.

What a fool I've been.

Wow. Some people really do have too much time on their hands.

I must say, though, that the Tootsie Pop catapults are a particularly inspired touch.

Starting out from Bag End -- a second time!

If you'll remember, I had previously participated in the Eowyn Challenge, walking the entire length of Middle Earth, from Bag End to Mount Doom and back, logging over 4,100 miles.



What the heck. I've decided to go again.

Accordingly, I have started recording my mileage back again from scratch, starting January 1. As of today, I have logged a total of 54.9 miles, day 3 of the quest (September 25) and have just heard the cry of the Black Rider again. According to my WalkerTracker blog, I am averaging 11,302 steps a day.

For more information, check out the skinny_hobbits community.

Edited to add: By the way, here is a chart I created which gives the mileage totals of the various characters at various landmarks, which you may find useful if you decide to join me on the journey.

And feel free to gank my "The Road Goes Ever On and On" icon, too, if you like.