My new favorite radio show is "Says You!" It appeals directly to the werd nerd in me: Two teams face off in friendly challenges involving made-up definitions (a la Balderdash), etymology and other random word-related trivia.

The teams are awarded points on a somewhat arbitrary basis, but the end score is hardly the point. The host and players entertain with their fast thinking and as a sucker for puns, I love the vocabulary-based humor. The show is recorded with a live audience, who often get to participate by helping stumped players.

I think I'll get a Radio Shark (think TiVo for radio), so I won't miss an episode. Or I could just drive around for half an hour every Thursday evening when it's on WABE.

On my way to lunch yesterday in Little Five Points, I was stopped by a guy selling his CD. Cipher Kenni was carrying a CD player and headphones to let prospective buyers sample his wares and had a rhyming sales pitch, which I can't remember now but remember being impressed by. After trying on the headphones, it wasn't long before I was bobbing my head to his rapid flow and production. Mostly, though, I appreciated the effort it takes to stand around on a hot, humid summer day trying to move a product he's obviously proud of. I happily bought a copy.

Kenni doesn't have any tracks availble on his MySpace profile, but here's a short (~45 sec) sample.

I guess my hiatus has gone on long enough. It's time to lay a blog*.

First a quick recap: In the last month and four days, I've been to Maine and back (you can see the photographic evidence on Flickr), and I've done some renovations here at cmerrill.com. This is Version X. Not X as in "ten," but X as in an unknown variable, because I honestly have no idea how many times I've changed, reworked, renovated, or otherwise rebuilt the site. I hope you enjoy it, because I'm not changing it for at least six months, starting now. Let's see how long my will power can hold out. Any bets?

Looking forward, the rest of 2006 is shaping up to be very exciting. In two weeks, Mike and I will be embarking on a roughly 2,750-mile road trip. In October, a friend from Fairbanks is visiting for a week or so and sometime before the end of the year, I'll be headed to the Pacific Northwest.

Now is the time on North when we review my resolutions for 2006. With two-thirds of the year now behind us, let's check in:

Goal: Zero credit card debt
Status: 37.5% complete
Outlook: I'm going to be cutting this one close, but I think I can do it.

Goal: One entry per week
Status: 82% complete
Outlook: This is effectively a gimme.

Goal: One letter per month
Status: 50% complete
Outlook: I've got one in my bag, I just need to mail it. With the holiday season approaching, I don't foresee any problems reaching 100 percent.

Goal: Two new CDs per month
Status: 45% complete
Outlook: I've got a shopping list, I just need to make it to the record store.

Goal: Run three miles in 25.5 minutes
Status: unknown
Outlook: I've been getting some regular exercise playing Ultimate Frisbee twice a week, but that involves a lot of short sprints instead of longer distance running. I still think this is doable in the next four months.

Goal: Leave the state five times
Status: 120% complete
Outlook: With at least two more trips across the border in the next four months, I've got this one more than covered.

Goal: Spend eight days in Par-- London
Status: Not gonna happen
Outlook: Replacing the alternator in the Grasshopper effectively killed this goal. It will definitely be revived for next year, though.

Goal: Read 13 books
Status: 38% complete
Outlook: I'm currently reading "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay," which is awesome, and I have a couple more on my to-read list. I shouldn't have any problem reaching this goal.

Goal: Prepare 21 meals per month
Status: 17% complete
Outlook: Yikes. I hope to raise this up to at least 30 percent before the end of the year, but I honestly don't see myself achieving this one.

Goal: Post 34 minutes of A/V content
Status: 22% complete
Outlook: It looks like I'm pretty far behind, but the upcoming road trip should generate plenty of opportunities for audio/video stuff.

* Thanks to Tom D. for this phrase.