Shout Out: G.D. Thurman

I should not proceed further without giving props to Gerald Thurman, a man who understands the power of the Internet to help us all "learn it, do it, teach it."

It just so happens that mitchglaser.com and "Paradox Unbound" exist due to his generosity; he is my Web host. I should also mention that he lives with my mom.

Thurman travels extensively and documents his journeys on the Web, as I plan to do. We both like to read maps "for fun" at home, which means we are both freaks.

I didn't fully realize Thurman's influence on me until I got to the East Coast and took pictures of the same types of things he would. The first occurence of this was while dining at Geno's Steaks in South Philly - the picture below is a shameless imitation of one of his. Of course, it's probably classier to take the picture before you start eating but I ask, isn't it less "real?"

Then in D.C. I saw a "gum tree" that reminded me of the "shoe tree" Thurman loves so much.

Also in D.C., I saw an overflowing trash can that reminded me of azlitter.org and uslitter.org. Thurman's anti-litter crusade, and his controversial position that political campaign signs should be considered litter and "visual spam," got him media attention in The Arizona Republic and on the KPHO-TV 5 News in Phoenix.

Thurman's litter crusade prompted him to "adopt a street" - the southbound frontage road of the Loop 101 Freeway between Baseline and Guadalupe roads in Tempe, Arizona. He doesn't pay the city to clean the street "in his name," he actually goes out and picks up the trash himself (even in summer!). Check it out.

I hope to be as expressive, creative, and prolific with my Web endeavors.