On this date in the year 1880 c.e. Emperor Joshua Norton the First, Emperor of United States of America and Protector of Mexico collapsed in death at the corner of California Street and (now) Grant Avenue.

Emperor Norton was possibly one of the most eccentric people ever to have lived in the United States. Born in England in the early 19th century, he came to the United States by way of South Africa in the mid 1800's and became something of an entrepreneur, working the real estate market and using the profit to try to corner the market on …

Wow.. are there only three days left in 2006?? It feels like time's been flying by faster than even the most sensitive of clocks can account for.

Lyssa and I have been back in DC for about two days now, and it's been a hell of a vacation thus far. On the 26th, while we were still in Pennsylvania, Lyssa spent some time at home with a friend of hers while I trekked back to Pittsburgh to see my family some more, and catch up with some close friends thereof who have gone above and beyond the call of duty …