Life of Buraian

The Genius in the Design

My wife and I are studying Italian.  Or, more precisely, she is studying Italian and I am enjoying attending some Italian classes with her.  Italy is Rika's new thing.  If it pertains to Italy, Italian, or has even a remote connection to Italy or Italian, I can't go wrong.  Apparently this applies to buying books, too.

My wife tolerates my book buying.  She's not as much a reader as I am, so when we're together I don't buy so many books.  I usually just stop by the store on my own, buy what looks good, then mix them up with other books on the shelf.  It's my way of expressing my independence.  Or being immature. 

Then I saw a copy of The Genius in the Design: Bernini, Borromini, and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome on sale at the local bookstore.  (You can see the Squidoo lens I made about it here).  I was with Rika, so I just kind of casually pretended I wasn't interested in it.  But when Rika saw me, she didn't give me that look that says, "You don't need that book.  You have a bunch of books you've still not read..."  Instead, she actually said, "Ooh.  I like it!  I'm so excited you're going to read about Italy!"

Women are weird. 

Fully updated lens on Best Olympic Distance Performers

Now that Beijing is over, I took some time to revamp the Squidoo lens I created about the Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever.  I not only updated the rankings, but the design is different, there are new polls, and more opportunity for readers to provide feedback.

You can read more about the changes here.  Or you can just go straight to the lens and give me your feedback!

And if you'd like to make a Squidoo lens yourself, click here!

King of Beijing: Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt?

I made a new Squidoo lens (my first in a couple months) about the debate that's been raging recently.  Who was the King of Beijing: Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt?

If you've been following the Olympics, you no doubt have seen the amazing performances put in by these two incredible athletes.  And you probably have an opinion--biased or not--over which was more difficult, more amazing, more improbable.  Well, this lens is the place to share that opinion!

I hope you'll stop by and tell everyone what you think!  (And don't forget to check out my other lenses in the sidebar to the right!)