President of the Trier Drinking Society

I was looking through one of my old journals, where I make lists, muse, and write down ideas and thoughts to look up. I followed up on one thought this morning. I must have been driving home from work when I heard a segment on NPR's "The Writer's Almanac" where Garrison Keillor talks about Karl Marx writing to his wife. Here is part of the segment, which aired May 5, 2008:

It's the birthday of Karl Marx, born in Trier, Germany (1818), the son of a lawyer. Marx went to university to study law but was not a very dedicated student and became president of the Trier Tavern Drinking Society. When he transferred to a school in another city, he became a more serious student. He married Jenny von Westphalen, his childhood sweetheart and the daughter of a Prussian Baron, in 1843. They would have seven children together, only three of whom would survive to become adults. Nonetheless they had a tender and generally happy marriage, and Marx once wrote to his wife, "There are actually many females in the world, and some among them are beautiful. But where could I find again a face whose every feature, even every wrinkle, is a reminder of the greatest and sweetest memories of my life?"

Someone once told me that I seem like I am equal parts romantic/idealistic and practical. My fondness for what Marx wrote to his wife captures that. He is at once being idealistic and romantic, telling his wife that she is the only one he'd rather be with. But the mention of the reasons why make it all the more real: There are beautiful people in the world, but I'm not interested in them--you are my life. You can also feel the gratitude and appreciation in the tone.

Just when you think you understand a philosopher/political theorist/social scientist, you learn something about him that surprises/delights you.

Workout playlist makeover

I was running today and got bored with the music that was on my Workout playlist. The list is about 2 years old and needs some editing. Any suggestions? I'm X'ing the ones I'm planning to remove from the list because I always skip them.

X Don't Stop - ATB
Commonwealth (Cheap Chicks) - Bahamadia
Wouldn't it be Nice - Beach Boys
Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys
X Still Dirty - Christina Aguilera
Fighter - Christina Aguilera
X Sci-Fi Wasabi - Cibo Matto
Over and Over again (Lost and Found)
The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Is this Love? - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Go! - Common
Here it Goes Again - Ok Go
Friday I'm in Love- The Cure
X Why Can't I Be You - THe Cure
Harder Better Stronger Faster (Neptunes Remix) - Daft Punk
One More Time - Daft Punk
Soul Meets Body - Death Cab for Cutie
Your Heart is an Empty Room - Death Cab for Cutie
X Jumpin, Jumpin - Destiny's Child
Where Did Our Love go? - Diana Ross
Come See About Me - Diana Ross
Baby Love - Diana Ross
X Someday We'll be together - Diana Ross
Hate it or love it - The Game
Maneater - Hall and Oates
X Sexy Back - Justin TImberlake
Stronger - Kanye West
X Gold Digger f/Jamie Foxx
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Nanny Nanny Boo Boo - Le Tigre
X After Dark - Le Tigre
X Don't Drink Poison - Le Tigre
Loungin (Who Do you Love ) - LL Cool J
X Fire Fire - MIA
Dirty Little Secret - All American Rejects
Last Resort - Papa Roach
Work it - Missy Elliot
X Get Ur Freak On f/ Nelly Furtado - Missy Elliot
Float On - Modest Mouse
X Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse
X Shake Ya Ass - Mystical
Maneater - Nelly Furtado
Promiscuous f/ TImbaland - Nelly Furtado
X Say It right - Nelly Furtado
Do It - Nelly Furtado
X Bizzare Love Triangle - New Order
Hella Good - No Doubt
Just a Girl - No Doubt
B.O.B. (Remix) - Outkast
Ditty - Paperboy
X Tombstone, Baby - Peaches
I love your smile - Shanice
Kissing the Lipless - THe Shins
X '93 Til Infinity - Souls of Mischief
What About your Friends - TLC
Ain't Too Proud to Beg - TLC
X Blue Monday - New Order
Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes
X Luv 2 Luv U (remix) - Timbaland
X Clock Strikes (remix) - Timbaland
Kick Push - Lupe Fiasco
X Never Lies - Lupe Fiasco
Don't Phunk With My Heart - Black Eyed Peas
Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
X My Style f/ Justin Timberlake - Black Eyed Peas
The Way You Move - Big Boi f/ Sleepy Brown
X Superstar f/ Matthew Santos - Lupe Fiasco
When You Were Young - The Killers
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine - The Killers
Get Up (Main) - Ciara f/ Chamillionaire
Hey Ya - Andre 3000
Glamorous f/ Ludacris - Fergie
Pogo - Digitalism
X Kids - MGMT
Oh Mandy - The Spinto Band
Obstacle 1 - Interpol
X Yeah! - Usher
Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire
12 O'Clock Girl - James Maker

Know any good workout/running songs?