From the medical journal Pediatrics:, one of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale Procedures.

H. Pick up Infant (States 4 and 5)
Cuddliness
This item is a summary measure of the infant’s response to being held in alert states. There are several components that are scored in response to the infant being held in a cuddled position both horizontally against your chest and vertically on your shoulder. The infant’s resistance to cuddling should be assessed as well as the ability to relax or mold, nestle, and cling to you. Give the infant a chance to initiate cuddling (~10 seconds). Facilitate cuddling only if there is no active participation on the part of the infant or if the infant is unable to relax or mold. If the infant initiates cuddling, score 5 and above. Cuddliness should not be administered with the infant swaddled. Also, refrain from talking to the infant during the administration of this maneuver. Assign separate scores for Cuddle in Arm (horizontal) and Cuddle on Shoulder (vertical).

The M3 Summit was fun, the little I could enjoy of it. (I have a nasty deadline tomorrow and couldn't get out much.) I saw Peaches though, and Hot Chip and the Juan Maclean. I might try to see Prefuse 73 and The Rub tonight, although this article just won't be done, or become what I want it to be. The sudden invasion by an army of German boys and San Franciscans in stylish glasses and windbreakers was a welcome change from the Spring Break crowd on South Beach I have to say.

I've updated my links. If you read this and you have a blog tell me.

Holler

Did anybody else notice the Lucero t-shirt Shelby wears at the end of Hustle & Flow? That made me happy, for Little Rock, for Memphis, for the greater good.

National Magazine Awards

The Oxford American is nominated for two. Best single topic issue for the summer music issue and best feature for "Love and Death in the Cape Fear Serpentarium," by Wendy Brenner. I fact-checked that! Dubious claim to fame I suppose, but still, I'm proud.
The other finalists are here.

Moving Up

My friends are so smart!

The very clever and funny basketball blog my friend Adam W. works on with some friends, Free Darko, is the recipient of a weekly spot on McSweeney's. The blog mostly follows the varied careers of imported European players but it is also amusing to the basketball illiterate.

Volkswagen's new mascot designed and manufactured by Tim.

And Jamie E. was in my play first!

R.I.P.