The Ides of March has a bad rap for denoting impending doom, or at least imminent discretionary events. But what about the folks who thought Caesar was a jerk? Maybe the IoM took on a celebratory nature in 43 B.C. and thereafter; maybe Brutus cranked out some handmade notecards and invited people over for finger foods and mead. Well, that’s what we’re doing anyway – it’ll coincide nicely with St. Patrick’s Day because Saturday nights are better for light partying than Thursdays.

We’ve planned for some months now to launch Various Pants on the Ides of March, but if ever there was a well founded reasoning behind our chosen date it’s gone to me now. I suspect it was chosen because it’s a good middle-ground date, the 15th, in a month notable for its bringing of the New. Plus it was also six or seven months ago, which at the time was even before the holiday mayhem that blossoms in late November. It’s here now, though, and gentle reader, what shall you expect in the coming days and fortnights? Hopefully you will long for DIYs, covering ground that diverges from building your own compost heap to making your own bias tape. You will wonder about shoes, and whether or not you can pull off mustard-yellow fluevogs if you work in a library. You will increase your maximum braining power by taking our weekly, yes weekly! SmartyPants quizzes. And I haven’t even mentioned the mail art.

2007 is all about being the year of VARIOUS PANTS, and we’re taking the Ides of March for ourselves. No longer shall we tremble at the vision of some soothsayer; we’re fishing around in Caesar’s pot and snatching out March 15, so you don’t have to be afraid anymore.

And Paul Newman, if -nay, when- you read this, we’ve got a great idea for a salad dressing.

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