Yay I'm home!  For the weekend, at least... and anticipating a wonderful pre-Valentine's dinner with Shirley tonight... and possibly a pre- pre-Valentine's dinner ride this afternoon.  But first, blogging!

Remember this?  The famous "Pale Blue Dot", an Alien View of Earth.  That was 20 years ago and seems like 20 centuries...  I remember it well, and also Carl Sagan's book of the same name which was inspired by this photo... 

Twilight of the shuttle, in more ways than one; a wonderful silhouetted photo of the Endeavor on its last mission, as seen from the International Space Station.  How cool is that? 

Valentine's Day: how sex drives spending.  Heh.  [ via Instapundit ] 

News you can use: How to seduce someone (or simply get a date).  I have a simple rule for this, in order to ask someone out, you have to believe that they're going to have a good time.  Once you convince yourself of that you're doing them a favor by asking, instead of them doing you a favor by saying yes, it's all downhill from there.  And you will both end up having a good time :)  This rule applies in business as well as pleasure! 

Dave Winer: the 20 minute rule.  "I have a rule, formed by many years of experience, that I wait for 20 minutes, then I leave."  Not a bad rule, but it seems pre-texting; today if you're waiting you text to find out why, and if you're late you text to say so.  I guess if your texts time out you can apply the rule :) 

Wrapping up, here we have 30 stunning abstract wallpapers for your desktop, and they are indeed stunning.  Wow, check 'em out!