Test 1, 2, 3.

               

But here is the cool poem that inspired it.
By Don McKay from his book Another Gravity:

ICARUS


isn't sorry. We do not find him
doing penance, writing out the golden mean for all
eternity, or touring its high schools to tell student bodies
not to do what he done
done. Over and over he rehearses flight
and fall, tuning his moves, entering
with fresh rush into the mingling of the air
with spirit. This is his practice
and his prayer: to be translated into air, as air
with each breath enters lungs,
then blood. He feels resistance gather in his stiff
strange wings, angles his arms to shuck the sweet lift
from the drag, runs the full length
of a nameless corridor, his feet striking the paving stones
less and less heavily, then
they're bicycling above the ground,
a few shallow beats and he's up,
he's out of the story and into the song.

At the melting point of wax, which now he knows
the way Doug Harvey knows the blue line,
he will back-beat to create a pause, hover for maybe fifty
hummingbird heartbeats and then
lose it, tumbling into freefall, shedding feathers
like a lover shedding clothes. He may glide
in the long arc of a Tundra Swan or pull up sharp
to Kingfisher into the sea which bears his name. Then,
giving it the full Ophelia, drown.

On the shore
the farmer ploughs his field, the dull ship
sails away, the poets moralize about our
insignificance. But Icarus is thinking tremolo and
backflip, is thinking
next time with a half-twist
and a tuck and isn't
sorry.

Why couldn't they air one of the good versions?

From TVGuide.com:
Anderson goes off to rehearse the big wedding scene. Sam (Amanda Tapping) is the bride, and Daniel (Michael Shanks) is the best man. No doubt saluting the fans who want Jack and Daniel to hook up, they do a couple of "Brokeback" takes. In one, Richard takes the bouquet out of Amanda's hands and gives it to Michael. In another, Richard takes Michael's hand at the altar, which causes the assembled cast and crew to erupt in applause. (You'll just have to watch to see what ends up on air.)

At least Richard Dean Anderson agrees with me on the Why Is He Doing More Episodes Of Atlantis Than SG-1? front.

Hmmm... should I replace the icon I'm currently using with this one?

Decisions, decisions.

...you might as well bask in the pretty:

          

Also, this is the Encarta definition of badass:

noun (plural bad·ass·es)

Definitions:

a highly offensive term for somebody who is regarded as bad-tempered or aggressive ( taboo insult )


adjective

Definitions:

1. a highly offensive term meaning bad-tempered or aggressive ( taboo )

2. a highly offensive term meaning tough, intimidating, or powerful ( slang )

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My definition lacks the "highly offensive" bit. I always considered it a complement of sorts, unless it's being said derisively/mockingly. Definitely more along the lines of "tough , intimidating, or powerful" than "bad-tempered or agressive". I guess they have to put the taboo stuff in there because it contains the word "ass". Gasp! The Horror!

Well, except when I scraped the Honda up against the dogwood, but the Honda doesn't count, and there was actually another car involved that hit me. Thankfully, there was more damage to my heart rate and stress levels than to my car. I guess she was going slow enough, so there was only a jarring thud, and as far as I can tell not even a blemish on the bumper, but I think I'll wait until the harsh light of day to say for sure. Beyond the major panic, holy crapness of it all, I think I'm okay. Especially since it took forever for LJ to work and I made four icons while waiting to post about this.

I'm not sure which of my current icons, if any, I want to give up though.