Dear North Americans, for the next two weeks, we are one fewer hour apart! This will confuse my finely-honed "what time is it back home" sense, but what a tradeoff! Don't you all feel closer already? Cozier , even? We'll snuggle up over the Atlantic, whisper across the pillows, "Are you awake yet? Let's all make it tomorrow, today!"

I think the best life would be one that's lived off the grid. No bills, your name in no government databases. No real proof you're even who you say you are, aside from, you know, being who you say you are. I don't mean living in a mountain hut with solar power and drinking well water. I think nature's beautiful and all, but I don't have any desire to live in it. I need to live in a city. I need pay as you go cell phones in fake names, wireless access stolen or borrowed from coffee shops and people using old or no encryption on their home networks. Taking knife fighting classes on the weekend! Learning Cantonese and Hindi and how to pick locks. Getting all sorts of skills so that when your mind starts going, and you're a crazy raving bum, at least you're picking their pockets while raving in a foreign language at smug college kids on the street. At least you're always gonna be able to eat.