No comments in 14 days. Two weeks without nourishing feedback or response.

It leaves me feeling melancholy, and I think it’s best described in a picture.

Or perhaps…

New on Amazon Kindle (and Kindle for PC/iPhone/Blackberry), and available for only 0.99c for a limited time – Homo sarcasmus, On the Origin of the Species.

Here I present the forward from this brand new book from yours truly…

I was born on September 29, 1973, and my date of death is as of yet undetermined (hopefully). My father was a computing centre director for a major university (major = impressive) and my mother taught piano, English lessons, and the value of a good smirk.

When I was young I did what most young people did. I attended school, I played on a soccer team, I went to church and sang in the choir, and I grew up. Many people thought I would go into the ministry due to my devotion to church, but as I became more familiar with the world around me, such notions were entirely unacceptable. Like Darwin, I consider those ideas subversive, and the arguments unconvincing.

In 1983, I embarked upon a great voyage on the H.M.S. Lickety Split – a boat which carried my curiosity around the world to explore the islands of Madagascar, Sadagascar, and very infrequently, Gladagascar. It was a troubling time, and my journals were filled with hastily scribbled notes of thoughts, ideas, and yes, immeasurable and countless experiences.

It was in those days, and in those observations of the appearance and behaviour of different men and women, most notably the delightful little-people of Sadagascar, that I was convinced to consider the possibility of evolution. When I finally returned from my travels in 1993 and evaluated my many experiences, it became clear to me that evolution was a fact.

However, I kept this discovery to myself, sharing it only with a few close friends over the years who I knew would understand the life-changing consequences of what I had found, and would appreciate the lengthy story I told.

From stacks of short notes and volumes of handwritten short stories, I drew up some additional short notes that eventually found themselves part of a big pile of conclusions. This work is by no means finished, as evolution is an ongoing and sometimes lengthy process. But in these days, I think we see more than ever that things are changing.

All around us the world changes, people change, societies change, and destinies change. But above all, the weather changes. As a cold and blustery wind blows through the cracks, these are my findings on an origin of the species. No more shall we consider ourselves mere Homo sapiens. That time has passed. As we leap ahead into the horizon, what awaits us is much more, and much less than anything we could have ever imagined.

And it is that, my dearest and closest three-hundred million internet friends, that I hope to share with you today. I am fully convinced that what you are today will be nothing compared to what you are after you read this book.

Let us leap together.

Residents of Castleford in Yorkshire have won a battle for a landmark bridge to be given back its original name of Tickle Cock – after the local council prudishly changed it to ‘Tittle Cott’.

Commence giggling. (and if you want to take a look at the bridge, click here)

But in all seriousness – I was shocked to see that the Brits had suddenly become so prudish. I mean, they originated some of the delightful location names that tickle our fancies. And how exactly is “Tittle Cott” better or less poke-ish than “Tickle Cock” ?

What about places like:

• Asick Bottom
• Bishops Itchington
• Lower Slaughter
• Buttock Point
• Peover Superior
• Crapstone
• Spital-in-the-Street

And the list goes on and on. Tickle Cock is tame compared so some of the amazing names that people come up with for landmarks, streets, and public places. I say, good on ya to the people of Castleford for reclaiming their pride in Tickle Cock.

Join me in applauding them, won’t you? Three cheers for Tickle Cock!

* You can read more funny British place names here.

I went to check the news about the plane crashing into a building in Austin, TX, and here is what I see on the msnbc.com home page.

That man is seriously angry about his low mortgage rate.