07.16.05 - 2:42 a.m.

Back from poker night. I went out but at least did better than last time. I like playing poker w/ Arnab & co. because it's not really about the game, it's more about sitting around drinking beer and shootin the shit. "Running a scene" as Sandeep would say.

Sufjan Stevens this Sunday. Here's my favorite song off his new album. It's a beautifully orchestrated ditty about the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson.

Sufjan Stevens - Jacksonville
from Illinois LP (Asthmatic Kitty)

Thankfully, the US today is marginally more civilized than it was in the days of Ol' Hickory...

As a young man, attorney Andrew Jackson, future president of the United States, earned a reputation as a formidable duelist. His honor suffered, however, after a duel against Charles Dickinson in 1806.

Dickinson fired his pistol, slightly wounding Jackson. Jackson's weapon misfired -- which according to dueling rules counted as a shot. Technically, the duel should have ended there. But Jackson coldly pulled his hammer back again and fired, this time killing Dickinson. In the eyes of many, Jackson's behavior amounted to little more than murder. more