"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." -- Helen Keller

Happy holidays to all! I hope yours was as happy as mine, and that you have a happy, healthy and safe 2003.

Does this advance the cause of women at all?: At the Las Vegas Bowl yesterday, Katie Hnida became the first woman to appear in an NCAA Division 1-A football game. She attempted a PAT and it was blocked. Does this move women's equality and/or Title IX (gender equity) issues forward at all? Doesn't seem (to me) like it will have much impact either way.

Somebody got a nice gift this year: A West Virginia man was the sole winner of the $315 million Powerball lottery yesterday. After choosing the upfront (vs. spread over 30 years) payment option and paying federal and state taxes, the winner receives approximately $111.7 million. What can you do with $111.7 million? Well, you could buy 745 houses (at $150,000 each), or houses that cover about 62 blocks (i.e., about 6 miles of medium-priced houses in my hometown of Minneapolis). Or almost 14 million copies of a $7.99 paperback novel, or 6.2 million CDs (at $17.99 each), or perhaps just one professional hockey team.