Last week, a very good friend of mine graduated from a very expensive great university after four years of hard work. It was a close call, as this very intelligent young man almost convinced himself that going to graduation wasn’t worth it, that it was pointless and that it didn’t mean anything. He was understandably burned out and mentally done with it all. I guess that’s what writing a 40-some-odd page thesis in the same pair of pants will do to you.

1. Svenisgson.com - What a great design. Bence Kucsan, an interactive designer in Hungary, has got one slick little site here, rolling his portfolio and journal all into one cold, techy web-2-oh-ish amalgamation. He’s got an amazing control over this particular style and his grid structure and attention to detail is superb.
2. For the Love of a Good Burger - An article by Mark Bittman (who’s books I always have respected) about the overall basics of making a good hamburger. Simple, yet effective advice. I love burger season, despite not being the stereotypical “grilling guy.”
3. “Tarantula” by the Smashing Pumpkins - No, I’m not daft. Yes, I realize that the post just prior to this one was solely about how much I like this song. But seeing as how I listened to it about, oh, 9 MILLION TIMES this week, (and the fact that I’ve not been this enthused about a song in many months)…that means it’s worthy of a FTILFF nomination. Oh how I’ve missed your nasally trill, Billy.
4. A newly formatted computer - Sure, I’m revealing a little more about the dorkness inside of me, but after my laptop harddrive took it’s last breath seek, I’ve had to slowly rebuilt everything. And despite having obese programs like Photoshop sitting around, a fresh install is still all clean and speedy. Stupid Windows. Give it a few weeks and it’ll be back to navel-contemplation speed.
5. Brutus 10 - This brewing system designed and built by Lonnie Mac is what other homebrewers dream of, often waking up in a puddle of their own drool. An almost entirely-automated all-grain system with regulated mashing temperature control and wort pumping, Brutus 10 is one of the best examples of the ingenuity that the homebrewing community is all about. Be sure to check out the build process as well. (oh, and the bar that he built.

Last Saturday after doing yard work I got a text message from him, bemoaning just how boring the ceremony actually was. I was really sad that I couldn’t make the drive up, but happy knowing that he finally decided to attend commencement. I’m not sure he’ll ever know just how proud I am of him for sticking it out, despite all the crap he went through. But moreso, I’m really relieved that he didn’t throat punch the president on stage, or another such grandiose and obscene final bow.