Dick "Last Throes" Cheney gave the debate over an Iraqi pullout timeline yet another swirlie yesterday. Yawn. I've come to expect that His Supreme Evilness will never acknowledge the validity of opposition to his plans. But the way Mr. "Big Time!" went after all of us pussies yesterday before the American Enterprise Institute begs a brief rejoiner. The quote that made all the newsy replays began with The Big Bypass asserting that his opponents should answer a few "simple questions" that were impossible to answer since they were utterly hypothetical. Kinda like, "if suddenly the sun stopped shining, wouldn't those people advocating solar energy look silly?" Yet beyond the daily revisionism from the Veep, the following chestnut stuck out as a new level of denial - "I repeat that we never had the burden of proof; Saddam Hussein did." So one should extrapolate that The Dark Overlord ain't gonna cooperate with the Congress' new attempts to investigate the misuse of intellegence in the lead-up to our Iraq Crusade. Double yawn. But the lengths to which he'll go to re-assert his unswayable rightness in the face of unassailably valid questions is pretty historic, even if only as a tragedy.
I don't usually pay much attention to the USAToday, but their story on nearly 7000 people still missing after Katrina deservedly caught not just my eye this morning. It led me to the National Center for Missing Adults, which is trying to gather info on the Katrina victims. One should assume that plenty of people have purposely gone missing or that many are mistakenly identified as such. But there's got to be some additional victims, the tally of which stands at 1306 currently. Some coverage of the cleanup is ongoing, yet we've all mostly moved on. I'm not surprised. Just occasionally shocked and saddened by thoughts of how much needless damage could have been prevented.
Another blast from the recent newsy past will blow through around the TurkeyDay news cycle. Cindy Sheehan's group is prepping for another protest gathering in Crawford. The key difference now being the passage of McLennan (not McClellen) County ordinances about gathering/camping along the roadside that are entirely friendly to Crawford's most famous too-often resident and family. Watch for mass arrests. Sizable press coverage. And lots of mountain biking by Dubya.
I watched the Packers get embarrassed yet again last night on Monday Night Football with one of my Vikings fan friends who now lives in San Jose. Both teams are horrible in their own disgracefully incompetent ways. And the always lovable Brett Favre is looking more and more like a Branson Missouri-quality trip down memory lane with each passing game. For anyone that appreciates the history of the Pack, one moment on the sideline shone through brilliantly admist all the dreck. Ex-QBs Jim McMahon (played there two seasons at the end of his career, including the Super Bowl victory year) and Don "The Majik Man" Majkowski were hanging out, looking ready to hit up the adoring ladies at the buffet at Fuzzy Thurston's bar as soon as they could duck out of the game. My Viking friend, Sockie, derisively acknowledged how nice it was that I got my requisite dose of Packer history, probably mandated by a League that still has a permanent set of lips on the butt of the Green Bay "Acme" Packers. And then the Pack lost the game on yet another last second field goal. I hope the entire coaching staff and team are sent packing at season's end. Coat Favre in bronze and ship him to Louisiana. And let's move on, people.
We're off to Santa Barbara tonight for the TurkeyDay holiday. Plenty of pics of Maya should be expected. Speaking of Her Majesty, I'm being summoned for a midmorning snack. Hope all your own orders are equally enjoyable to fill. Rock on.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Monday, November 21, 2005
The Bushies determine what China really needs - Fuddruckers
Everyone knows Dubya hates "reality-based community" distractions like travel and reading. But a story in today's Post even more clearly itemizes how that disdain appears to extend throughout the ranks Dubya brought with him to Asia. The most telling example - while in China, members of his Staff chose to eat at an Outback Steakhouse instead of sampling the local flavors. Twice. No dim sum for the Bushies when there's bloomin' onions within range. No word yet on what they noshed while doing their Mongolian drive-by, but I'd bet they tracked down a Chili's or a TGIFridays somewhere on the steppe. Or maybe notte.
Since her ludicrous attack on the decidedly not "cowardly" Rep. John Murtha on Friday, Rep. "Mean Jean" Schmidt has been getting more coverage than at any time since her narrow special election victory over Paul Hackett in an overwhelmingly Republican part of Ohio this Spring. For all the kudos given to her by the Rush/FOX News/Michael Savage crowd, she's officially become a charicature of a shrill, inappropriate war bitch. Word is that she'll be facing a tough Primary challenge for re-election in '06. Thankfully for her the Congress has two weeks off for the TurkeyDay holidaze. Oh, but when they return in December...
On Saturday, Sarah and I took advantage of a friendly babysitting offer to catch a flick for the first time in months. There's so many things we could have seen, but for reasons that in hindsight make little sense we chose to see "Capote" at an arthouse miniplex in an arty neighborhood we rarely take advantage of (West Portal). As much as I wanted to love it, I give it a C+. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is astonishingly dead-on, but the whole story was too insular, too damn dank and dreary, and about as much fun as waiting for the microwave to ding. Rent it. Maybe. Better yet, read "In Cold Blood" - I did so in college and can still remember feeling that Capote's legend was entirely well deserved, even if the only thing he finished thereafter was a few hearty snifters before breakfast.
Maya's vocal dexterity is growing with hilarious leaps, although there's still no formally recognized words to speak of. She has also developed one quirk that really makes me uncomfortable - she scrapes her top and bottom teeth together, emitting a sound that's probably being used at the CIA "black sites" in Poland and Romania. More teeth on the way. She's still crawling backwards besides doing this funky crab walk squat. We're letting her watch "Sesame Street" which I'm happy to report is still as clever as it ever was. Haven't yet seen the absurd new Cookie Monster bit about how "Cookies Are a Sometimes Food". When I do, I'll give you a full review. Rock on.
Since her ludicrous attack on the decidedly not "cowardly" Rep. John Murtha on Friday, Rep. "Mean Jean" Schmidt has been getting more coverage than at any time since her narrow special election victory over Paul Hackett in an overwhelmingly Republican part of Ohio this Spring. For all the kudos given to her by the Rush/FOX News/Michael Savage crowd, she's officially become a charicature of a shrill, inappropriate war bitch. Word is that she'll be facing a tough Primary challenge for re-election in '06. Thankfully for her the Congress has two weeks off for the TurkeyDay holidaze. Oh, but when they return in December...
On Saturday, Sarah and I took advantage of a friendly babysitting offer to catch a flick for the first time in months. There's so many things we could have seen, but for reasons that in hindsight make little sense we chose to see "Capote" at an arthouse miniplex in an arty neighborhood we rarely take advantage of (West Portal). As much as I wanted to love it, I give it a C+. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is astonishingly dead-on, but the whole story was too insular, too damn dank and dreary, and about as much fun as waiting for the microwave to ding. Rent it. Maybe. Better yet, read "In Cold Blood" - I did so in college and can still remember feeling that Capote's legend was entirely well deserved, even if the only thing he finished thereafter was a few hearty snifters before breakfast.
Maya's vocal dexterity is growing with hilarious leaps, although there's still no formally recognized words to speak of. She has also developed one quirk that really makes me uncomfortable - she scrapes her top and bottom teeth together, emitting a sound that's probably being used at the CIA "black sites" in Poland and Romania. More teeth on the way. She's still crawling backwards besides doing this funky crab walk squat. We're letting her watch "Sesame Street" which I'm happy to report is still as clever as it ever was. Haven't yet seen the absurd new Cookie Monster bit about how "Cookies Are a Sometimes Food". When I do, I'll give you a full review. Rock on.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
The poop gets flung in new directions
Almost every newsie outlet gives extended play to yesterday's call by Rep. John Murtha to move our troops from Iraq to bases in either Kuwait or elsewhere in the hemisphere. And almost before Murtha's press conference was over, the Bushies and their attack monkeys went right into crap flinging mode. Scott "Helen, you hate America" McClellan went so far as to say that Murtha is now running with "Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party." Republicans all over the Capitol equated Murtha's call to re-deploy somewhere "on the horizon" with blowing kisses to the terrorists. So there you have it according to the Bushies. A proven warrior (ex-Marine, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, retired as a Colonel, previously respected hawk on Defense issues). Now an unpatriotic bleeding heart after criticising an aimless war. Amazing.
Arianna Huffington's doing what she can to continue antagonizing Bill O'Reilly for his continuing comments against San Francisco. Mr. Falafel has claimed that he's going to put together his very own "enemies list". Arianna's offered to gather names and deliver them the next time she's on "The Factor". You can add yours to the list, if you're inclined to bear the brunt of being "not spun" or whatever that douchebag calls his brand of attacks. I'm SOOO looking forward to seeing what he flings my way.
Arianna Huffington's doing what she can to continue antagonizing Bill O'Reilly for his continuing comments against San Francisco. Mr. Falafel has claimed that he's going to put together his very own "enemies list". Arianna's offered to gather names and deliver them the next time she's on "The Factor". You can add yours to the list, if you're inclined to bear the brunt of being "not spun" or whatever that douchebag calls his brand of attacks. I'm SOOO looking forward to seeing what he flings my way.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Ashcroft's legacy lives on
All you Patriot Act fans out there must be beaming with vigilante smugness this morning. Looks like the Congress capitulated almost fully to the Bushies' request to extend that raw chafing of our civil liberties. The 7-year sunsetting provisions were dropped. Permanence, baby! So if you want to check out any foreign language books from the library or troll the web looking for al Queda websites or buy some overseas goods with a credit card...well, don't. In each of those cases, you can be monitored without your knowledge and there ain't shit you can do about it. Nice world we made for ourselves after 9/11, ain't it?
I continue to be a big fan of Kinky Friedman's run for Governor in Texas. He's an independent so he needs to gather 46K signatures to get on the ballot. But his slogans are the best, I swear, that I've ever heard in a political campaign. When I saw a blurb on his new campaign manager (Wellstone's replacement in the Senate for a few months, Dean Barkley), I checked in on Kinky's campaign website. He's raised $60K and continues to impress. Zogby recently had his support at 21%. If we still lived in Big D, I'd definitely be in the Kinkster's camp. Just remember, "how hard can it be?"
Maya's calling for a more substantial breakfast. After a killer nap yesterday and an equally impressive night's sleep, she appears to have put our travels behind her. The Bay Area's currently steeped in gorgeously unseasonable warmth and Maya's due for her morning jog after her tasty gruel. Hope your own diet is well constituted. Rock on.
I continue to be a big fan of Kinky Friedman's run for Governor in Texas. He's an independent so he needs to gather 46K signatures to get on the ballot. But his slogans are the best, I swear, that I've ever heard in a political campaign. When I saw a blurb on his new campaign manager (Wellstone's replacement in the Senate for a few months, Dean Barkley), I checked in on Kinky's campaign website. He's raised $60K and continues to impress. Zogby recently had his support at 21%. If we still lived in Big D, I'd definitely be in the Kinkster's camp. Just remember, "how hard can it be?"
Maya's calling for a more substantial breakfast. After a killer nap yesterday and an equally impressive night's sleep, she appears to have put our travels behind her. The Bay Area's currently steeped in gorgeously unseasonable warmth and Maya's due for her morning jog after her tasty gruel. Hope your own diet is well constituted. Rock on.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Looking for the new Deep Throat brings an old Insider forward
In a crazy, irony-laden throwback to the Watergate era, Bob Woodward testified Monday about his involvement in the Plamegate investigation. The WashingtonPost published a piece today from Woodward on his role, as well as a broader look into what he said he knew and did with that information. Included is a dispute over whether he passed it along to Walter Pincus (who denies hearing of Plame's identity from Woodward). Woodward supposedly received Plame's name from someone in the White House in mid-June - weeks before any of the other journalists involved have said they were sneakily leaked to. There's a fair amount of "he said, she said" in this. But the first thing that comes to mind for me is the insider status Woodward has enjoyed with this White House (look no farther than his book "Plan of Attack" for extensive evidence). Was he viewed as a "friendly" avenue to publication of what the Bushies wanted to get out there? Regardless, it appears that Fightin' Fitzy ain't cooling his jets just yet.
Loads of other ugly stories this morning circulating in the ether. Such as the facility in Iraq discovered to contain 173 severely tortured Sunnis that was being run by Shiite militia forces working under the auspices of the Interior Ministry. Reports of flesh torn from bodies and detainees in comas, presumably from their treatment therein. Sadly, the U.S. Military's boilerplate condemnation sounds so laughably hollow given the current attempts by the Bushies to fight McCain's anti-torture provision in the new Defense appropriations bill. We've so completely lost the high ground in such matters. Also, as American forces are continuing yet another offensive against insurgents in Western Iraq, 5 more Marines were reported killed and 11 wounded when a booby-trapped house led to an ambush. Whether or not you care to look to the horrible truth in the numbers, we're losing soldiers at a furious pace this month. This will only give more rhetorical protection to those in Congress pushing the Bushies for a better plan and more handoff to the Iraqis. Hopefully.
In my favorite absurd defense of the morning that's not somehow tied to the Bushies, Philadelphia Eagles ManChild Terrell Owens is being defended by none other than Ralph Nader. So now T.O. is REALLY screwed. But if this keeps up, T.O. might get on the ballot in New Mexico and Oregon. Stay tuned for updates.
We're back in SF after a handful of days of travel both near and far. Over the weekend we went to a friend's wedding in Carmel-by-the-Sea - a verdant, surfy, well-heeled wonder south of Santa Cruz. Too many golfers in that part of the world for my taste (the wedding itself was actually at a course in Pebble Beach). And trying to find a decent, un-froof-ified cafe to do some writing in Carmel is like searching for a kosher meal in the Salt Lake City airport. Damnably fun times were had, nonetheless. Thereafter we packed Maya into her shipping kennel and headed to DC. I didn't get to meet with Ahmed Chalabi or testify before the Grand Jury, but I did cruise extensively with Maya in tow. The Smithsonian's new Museum of the American Indian was one of our stops (great atrium, less-than-fully-realized exhibits in place thus far), along with the Air and Space Museum (fabulous for a Moon child like me and curious nerds of all ages), the Arts, Culture and Technology Museum (did you know that the pirate shirt from "Seinfeld" is now part of the collection there?), and all the along the Mall since we stayed in a hotel very much nearby. The news of the age seems much more obviously integral there and the plethora of sources at the ready are amazing. Case in point - our hotel had al Jazeera in its cable TV spectrum. But for Maya's sake, it's good to be back on the Left Coast. Hope your own daily search for good news bears fruit. Rock on.
Loads of other ugly stories this morning circulating in the ether. Such as the facility in Iraq discovered to contain 173 severely tortured Sunnis that was being run by Shiite militia forces working under the auspices of the Interior Ministry. Reports of flesh torn from bodies and detainees in comas, presumably from their treatment therein. Sadly, the U.S. Military's boilerplate condemnation sounds so laughably hollow given the current attempts by the Bushies to fight McCain's anti-torture provision in the new Defense appropriations bill. We've so completely lost the high ground in such matters. Also, as American forces are continuing yet another offensive against insurgents in Western Iraq, 5 more Marines were reported killed and 11 wounded when a booby-trapped house led to an ambush. Whether or not you care to look to the horrible truth in the numbers, we're losing soldiers at a furious pace this month. This will only give more rhetorical protection to those in Congress pushing the Bushies for a better plan and more handoff to the Iraqis. Hopefully.
In my favorite absurd defense of the morning that's not somehow tied to the Bushies, Philadelphia Eagles ManChild Terrell Owens is being defended by none other than Ralph Nader. So now T.O. is REALLY screwed. But if this keeps up, T.O. might get on the ballot in New Mexico and Oregon. Stay tuned for updates.
We're back in SF after a handful of days of travel both near and far. Over the weekend we went to a friend's wedding in Carmel-by-the-Sea - a verdant, surfy, well-heeled wonder south of Santa Cruz. Too many golfers in that part of the world for my taste (the wedding itself was actually at a course in Pebble Beach). And trying to find a decent, un-froof-ified cafe to do some writing in Carmel is like searching for a kosher meal in the Salt Lake City airport. Damnably fun times were had, nonetheless. Thereafter we packed Maya into her shipping kennel and headed to DC. I didn't get to meet with Ahmed Chalabi or testify before the Grand Jury, but I did cruise extensively with Maya in tow. The Smithsonian's new Museum of the American Indian was one of our stops (great atrium, less-than-fully-realized exhibits in place thus far), along with the Air and Space Museum (fabulous for a Moon child like me and curious nerds of all ages), the Arts, Culture and Technology Museum (did you know that the pirate shirt from "Seinfeld" is now part of the collection there?), and all the along the Mall since we stayed in a hotel very much nearby. The news of the age seems much more obviously integral there and the plethora of sources at the ready are amazing. Case in point - our hotel had al Jazeera in its cable TV spectrum. But for Maya's sake, it's good to be back on the Left Coast. Hope your own daily search for good news bears fruit. Rock on.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
Full affrontal Dubya
Dubya just popped a boner on TV. Seriously. Either that or he got a new speech from the hawkiest of the hawks in his inner circle of Roves. Many douchebags for Liberty will surely call using Veteran's Day to attack opponents of his conjured up War in Iraq a bold, freeballin' way of shifting the debate. This will fail, I predict. And the attempt to pin the anti-war folks down with a faded Kerry/Edwards bumpersticker has about as much chance of succeeding as a "Bring Back the Draft" petition campaign in Detroit. Regardless, I thank the Bushies for giving me ample silliness for shtick at the wedding we're going to this weekend. There will undoubtably be plenty of Hollywood liberals underfoot. In California, there always are. Rock on.
San Francisco gets its marching orders
Bill "Showers with a falafel" O'Reilly baked his noodle but good many years ago. But when you read through the extent of his comments about San Francisco after the ludicrous Special Election you must admit that he's gotten to a whole different party of CrazyTown. Apparently he was put over the top by the passage of measures to ban the sale of handguns in the City (like Chicago passed in '82) and a denial of access for military recruiters to student information (as clandestinely mandated by obscure language hidden in the No Child Left Behind education bill). San Francisco should leave the country. Get attacked by al Queda. Be ignored by the O'Reilly version of America. Aside from the insightfully snarky points made by the SF Comical (including that only tourists go to Coit Tower, which O'Reilly said should be blown up), I think we might be missing a decent opportunity to cut and run on America. Get out while the getting's good, I say. We could start by running the vastly outnumbered Republicans out of town on a rail. And then build a huge tie-dye-technicolor wall around our precious bastion. Or maybe we should all just make O'Reilly even more of a target for ridicule. "The Colbert Report`" is a good start, but there's much farther that we can go.
We're heading out of town today for a wedding in Carmel-by-the-Sea - easily the silliest town name not paid for by a silly TV show. Sounds like a lovely place and we can't wait to get Maya to the beach and such. Then to directly contrast the natural beauty, we head to DC for a few days immediately after. Another silly name for an even sillier place. Hopefully Maya and I can hit the Smithsonian on Monday. Expect more updates and fresh pics than this past week. Hope all's well with your own extensive collections. Rock on.
We're heading out of town today for a wedding in Carmel-by-the-Sea - easily the silliest town name not paid for by a silly TV show. Sounds like a lovely place and we can't wait to get Maya to the beach and such. Then to directly contrast the natural beauty, we head to DC for a few days immediately after. Another silly name for an even sillier place. Hopefully Maya and I can hit the Smithsonian on Monday. Expect more updates and fresh pics than this past week. Hope all's well with your own extensive collections. Rock on.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Saturday, November 05, 2005
"OK, everyone in the Conference Room for the next 20 minutes - there's bagels and cream cheese!"
The story surrounding "What's the Frequency?" Kenneth Tomlinson's ouster from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has some layers of ooze waiting to seep out. It sounds like results of a government audit of his handling of CPB was about to be released. Any day now. And he quit on Thursday. Something smelly this way blows.
George "Not so Fred Friendly" Clooney got a bit frisky after his London premiere. As did his saucy girlfriend, as witnessed by the always tasteless paparazzi for Murdoch's "Sun". Apparently he got in a fight with a producer who insulted his work. Or he defended a woman's honor by getting into a fight with a producer. Either way, he grappled then fled the country. Tell me that guy isn't the reincarnated soul of Sinatra.
Dubya's really showing his MBA training for once. The White House Staff is being required to attend ethics training next week. A full year into his second term. How's the old saying go - better late and insultingly stage-managed to deflect the obvious need for real change than never? I imagine James Dobson giving the PowerPoint presentation while Dr. Phil handles the short Q&A. Badda bing - problem solved. And next on the agenda...
Maya's developed the dexterity in her new pimped out crib to sit up, flippity flop into the corners, and generally set a whole new approach to our mornings. So after getting up at 5:30 this morning, she's back in bed now. Swim lesson today and a gorgeous morning meant for walking in the Park - hopefully we'll tire her out and essentially hit the reset button. Hope your own endeavors are at least as purposeful. Rock on.
George "Not so Fred Friendly" Clooney got a bit frisky after his London premiere. As did his saucy girlfriend, as witnessed by the always tasteless paparazzi for Murdoch's "Sun". Apparently he got in a fight with a producer who insulted his work. Or he defended a woman's honor by getting into a fight with a producer. Either way, he grappled then fled the country. Tell me that guy isn't the reincarnated soul of Sinatra.
Dubya's really showing his MBA training for once. The White House Staff is being required to attend ethics training next week. A full year into his second term. How's the old saying go - better late and insultingly stage-managed to deflect the obvious need for real change than never? I imagine James Dobson giving the PowerPoint presentation while Dr. Phil handles the short Q&A. Badda bing - problem solved. And next on the agenda...
Maya's developed the dexterity in her new pimped out crib to sit up, flippity flop into the corners, and generally set a whole new approach to our mornings. So after getting up at 5:30 this morning, she's back in bed now. Swim lesson today and a gorgeous morning meant for walking in the Park - hopefully we'll tire her out and essentially hit the reset button. Hope your own endeavors are at least as purposeful. Rock on.
Friday, November 04, 2005
The Usual Targets take more fire
Yesterday's blast from the totally uncool past was the story of Congressional Conservatives like Rep. Tom Delay voting to offset the deficit spending they've authorized by cutting programs they disagree with philosophically. The list of programs they've targeted for a piddly $35B over the next 5 years should raise some complaints. Included are Medicaid, food stamps, student loans, agriculture subsidies and child support enforcement. After all, Trent Lott's new porch is worth a little shared sacrifice, doncha think?
Arianna Huffington continues to impress me even when she's completely off in left field. Such is the case in her post today about how James Carville shouldn't be looked to for the "opinion from the Left" because his marriage to Mary Matalin contorts his objectivity. Even though I still appreciate the Ragin' Cajun, this observation is about 13 years overdue. And astonishingly irrelevant. But Arianna writes about it so well that most readers could be swayed. She really has made some tasty lemonade from the long harvest of lemons for the Left.
Maya's letting me know rather loudly that our morning walk is well overdue. Hope your own trails are sunny. Rock on.
Arianna Huffington continues to impress me even when she's completely off in left field. Such is the case in her post today about how James Carville shouldn't be looked to for the "opinion from the Left" because his marriage to Mary Matalin contorts his objectivity. Even though I still appreciate the Ragin' Cajun, this observation is about 13 years overdue. And astonishingly irrelevant. But Arianna writes about it so well that most readers could be swayed. She really has made some tasty lemonade from the long harvest of lemons for the Left.
Maya's letting me know rather loudly that our morning walk is well overdue. Hope your own trails are sunny. Rock on.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
"Thumbs up on the bitchin' crib!"
Maya seems satisfied by the structural integrity of her new digs, which makes us all very happy.
Mojitos with Hugo
This morning's must read itemizes Brownie's emails from the days leading up to and thereafter encompassing the Katrina disaster. Michael "Fashion God" Brown has now become the worst political appointee. Ever. Aside from spending WAY too much time joking about avoiding work and his off-the-rack fashion taste, there's one email that's positively astonishing. It came from the FEMA regional director, Marty Bahamonde (the one who crapped in the hall of the Superdome while Brownie was waiting for a table at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Baton Rouge). After Bahamonde gave his "condition beyond critical" warnings, Brownie responded stupidly to his underling asking him what to do. Remember people - we're still paying Brownie's $148K salary as a "contractor" with FEMA. Hopefully there's more of this junk to be had - this is the most entertaining bunk from a Bushie since "Plenty Bright!" Harriet's gushy notes to Dubya.
Speaking of Dubya, he probably thought he had a cool 4-day getaway lined up for Brazil and Argentina. But it's not looking like it will be one of his beloved "working vacations" given our historic low-regard throughout the hemisphere. If I were running the seating arrangements for the Summit, I'd put Hugo Chavez at Dubya's table. Get a few drinks in Hugo and I bet he's pretty hard to ignore. Screw diplomacy - I want some geopolitical red meat to munch on through the weekend.
Big day for Maya yesterday - we finally got a big girl crib for Maya and retired the shoebox we were cramming her into nightly. The first time I laid her down in it yesterday, she crashed hard for a two-hour nap. Ringing endorsement from her majesty, in other words. We got it from BabyCenter.com and the delivery couldn't have been faster or better (ordered last Thursday, arrived Tuesday afternoon). Our borrowed crib was a recall target, so we searched for both quality and safety. This one rocks. A full recommendation. Hope your own cribs are comfy today. Rock on.
Speaking of Dubya, he probably thought he had a cool 4-day getaway lined up for Brazil and Argentina. But it's not looking like it will be one of his beloved "working vacations" given our historic low-regard throughout the hemisphere. If I were running the seating arrangements for the Summit, I'd put Hugo Chavez at Dubya's table. Get a few drinks in Hugo and I bet he's pretty hard to ignore. Screw diplomacy - I want some geopolitical red meat to munch on through the weekend.
Big day for Maya yesterday - we finally got a big girl crib for Maya and retired the shoebox we were cramming her into nightly. The first time I laid her down in it yesterday, she crashed hard for a two-hour nap. Ringing endorsement from her majesty, in other words. We got it from BabyCenter.com and the delivery couldn't have been faster or better (ordered last Thursday, arrived Tuesday afternoon). Our borrowed crib was a recall target, so we searched for both quality and safety. This one rocks. A full recommendation. Hope your own cribs are comfy today. Rock on.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
"Over There" ends, the War Continues Indefinitely
When "Big Time!" Dick Cheney appointed David Addington to replace Scooter Libby, no one should have expected a change of philosophy in the Veep's office. Well, that instinct seems correct if you read Addington's description in a fascinating piece in today's NYTimes dealing with (gasp!) the Bushies disdain for detainee rights. Addington's a major prick. And a true believer in the mold of the NeoCon. I'm sure he's already fitting in well in his expanded role.
In a related item (since it's all part of the overall mess created by the Bushies), the WashingtonPost leads with a big piece about the "black sites" the CIA is using in scary nations across the globe to interrogate in monstrous violations of the Geneva Conventions. And the shame of these practices continue to expand like ripples in a no-longer-calm pond. Drag.
In a related unintended irony, FX has decided to cancel the series "Over There" after one 13-episode season due to lackluster ratings. Apparently America ain't that interested in watching a series about war, death, separation and the culture of hate in Iraq. It was compelling TV - the squad of actors was fabulous throughout and deserve to find tons more work. The concept of a real-time war drama is startlingly powerful. Too heavy for most people, though. Hence the ratings in the crapper. Nonetheless, a good example of art being used to explain a complicated, massive conflict. Look for it on DVD soon.
In a related item (since it's all part of the overall mess created by the Bushies), the WashingtonPost leads with a big piece about the "black sites" the CIA is using in scary nations across the globe to interrogate in monstrous violations of the Geneva Conventions. And the shame of these practices continue to expand like ripples in a no-longer-calm pond. Drag.
In a related unintended irony, FX has decided to cancel the series "Over There" after one 13-episode season due to lackluster ratings. Apparently America ain't that interested in watching a series about war, death, separation and the culture of hate in Iraq. It was compelling TV - the squad of actors was fabulous throughout and deserve to find tons more work. The concept of a real-time war drama is startlingly powerful. Too heavy for most people, though. Hence the ratings in the crapper. Nonetheless, a good example of art being used to explain a complicated, massive conflict. Look for it on DVD soon.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Maya preps for Trick or Treaters
Didn't take long for Maya's tolerance of strange people in crazy costumes to wear out. But no outright scares on a busy first Halloween made it easy for her to get to bed early and sleep soundly 'til November.
Maya acting like a big skunk at the supermarket.
A few stops tired Maya out like an opening night diva. So we grabbed a few groceries and settled in for Trick or Treaters.
Maya gets into character, which slowed the process considerably.
The choice of a skunk for Maya's Halloween costume rocked. Lots of random laughs and universal approval from friends. So the bar has been raised for next year considerably.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Dubya picks the first name off his new list - Alito
Samuel "Scalito" Alito was dubbed by Dubya the next pick to join the Supremes. He's very conservative ("Scalia lite" according to some), white, Ivy League educated, sorta balding, kinda fleshy, and the only life preserver the Bushies currently have to throw themselves to change the debate. Harry Reid and the Dems are already lining up opposition, which will be a great deal easier with this guy's extensive public record as both a judge (appointed by Bush the Elder in '90) and a U.S. Attorney. Ladies and gentlemen, start your fundraising and hellraising engines.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Maya sizes up her skunky gear on the Eve of Halloween.
Like a boxer trying on his gloves for the Big Fight, Maya spent part of the afternoon getting into character.
Maya digs the view and the hearty bouncing she gets from our new backpack.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.
NFL fan consumes 18 extra-large Busch Lights, unfortunately not done yet
I'm a lifelong Packers fan. I often feel as though I've seen it all when it comes to the NFL. I've seen my childhood Pack lose horribly for years then drive methodically over years to win the Super Bowl only to descend once again into sub-mediocrity. But today's loss to the Cincy Bungles was unlike any I've ever seen before. A fan ran onto the field with less than 30 seconds to go and the Pack driving for a tying touchdown. That fan stole the ball from Favre's hands. Everyone looked shocked for a few minutes, Favre had two more chances to move from the Bungles' 28-yard-line, and he collapsed as time ranout after a futile playground-quality scramble on weary legs. Favre looked utterly spent from all the manic silliness. He's so completely retiring this year. This kind of season (the Pack are 1-6) would wear out Sisyphus. Whatta drag. He's the most entertainingly frustrating and talented athlete in the NFL. He's the NFL's equivalent of an ass-kicking country singer that believes in gay marriage. Or a hooker with a heart of gold that fights crime on the side. Ya know - durable and versatile. Legendarily so.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Libby gets labeled, update #2
If Patrick Fitzgerald is your prosecutor for ANYTHING, you're screwed. By the book, almost funny, humble and tough as a titanium buttplug. Fitz nailed his press conference like a Mormon cousin. Fitz also left the door open wide enough to keep all the Bushies scared sideways. Libby's belonging are already in Cheney's special dumpster and I bet he's out of his skull on booze and pills, stuck in traffic, cursing the very people around him. Don't expect a Supreme Court pick for a few weeks. Hopefully Sandra Day O'Connor didn't make many vacation plans in the New Year.
Libby gets labeled, update #1
The Smoking Gun already has full digital copies of the Libby indictment. With Fightin' Fitz prepping for his presser, we get to watch things unfold. And The Huffington Post climaxed all over this story, with recharged interest building. What an amazing age we're meandering through - the immediacy of this internet utility is the new normalcy. This is political junkie crack.
Libby gets nabbed, Rove's still being followed
Get yer red hot indictments here! Libby, 5 Counts (obstruction of justice, perjury, sodomy, misogyny, something else really greasy) - lawyer up, buddy. Rove - you're now responsible for an extended investigation, extended costs, extended damage to the Bushies, and extended media interest. Fitzgerald's a great G-man, and totally sharp. Giving everyone a few hours to read it before he holds a presser is a classy start for the public phase. The GOP attack monkeys are going to have trouble going after him further. All they can do now is tangentially point to outsiders that are even harder to defend. Like the owner of the N'Awlins 'Aints who's expressed interest in moving them to Los Angeles (as the League hopes to do). Now THAT's a guy with a truly tough home crowd, Dubya. At least you've still got a flock of sycophants surrounding you in the District. For the time being.
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Thursday, October 27, 2005
2/3rds of the way to the Big One
"Plenty Bright!" Harriet withdraws, citing the contrived importance of protecting Dubya's ability to get good legal advice while in the White House. So she did it for liberty. Freedom. All that jazz. Now the uber-Christian Right gets to feel like they're driving the bus, the Dems get to feel like they're more in agreement with each other even though they're not, and the Bushies get to feel like they covered their butts which they didn't. In the end, this is a one day story, albeit one with a lingering aftertaste. Indictments tomorrow will guarantee that. At least "Cool!" Harriet got a partial makeover from the process.
The White Sox swept past the 'Stros on their way to their first World Series title in 88 years. I tried my best to watch the Series and pay attention to some of the stories from the mix. But it never got me excited this year and I always get excited to some degree about the Series. The White Sox got hot and rolled over their post-season competition. Barbara and George the Elder Bush tried to make like 'Stros fans, even when Babs chose to leave in the 8th inning of a 14 inning Game 3 (which her "team" lost anyways, so she probably felt some relief in that serendipity). Bobby Jenks (the White Sox closer) looks like he's about two pork chops short of joining that classic SNL "Da Bears" skit. Yawn. Good for those Southsiders - reversed yet another curse and in a cornfield in Iowa I'm sure there are tributes being erected. But I'm more excited about next year when the New Brew Crew reverses the fabled Curse of '82 and returns to their rightful glory. That will be the story a whole country can truly gather round and sing its praises.
Maureen Dowd's catty comments about Judy Miller get a bit of play today. Not nearly as much as it sounds like Judy gets from her sources, if you know what I mean. If you haven't been paying attention to the mess surrounding Judy Judy Judy, let me summarize by saying that it appears she's not only been used by the Bushies but that she has some really strangely conflicted allegiances. And the Mighty Mo is working Judy over with her trademark eloquence and snarkiness. Not a pretty sight, except when they offer glamour pics of Dowd.
Maya turns 8-months-old today. 2/3rds of a year. I'm thinking about making her 2/3rds of a cake - maybe leave out the eggs or the flour. But I'm also reminded of the often way-out-of-bounds-but-still-gutsy Bill Maher hitting it right when joking about new parents giving their baby's age in months. "It's not a cheese!" So I'm going to start saying that Maya's 2/3rds of a year old when people ask her age. Seeing people do math in their heads is not a pretty thing. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Rock on.
The White Sox swept past the 'Stros on their way to their first World Series title in 88 years. I tried my best to watch the Series and pay attention to some of the stories from the mix. But it never got me excited this year and I always get excited to some degree about the Series. The White Sox got hot and rolled over their post-season competition. Barbara and George the Elder Bush tried to make like 'Stros fans, even when Babs chose to leave in the 8th inning of a 14 inning Game 3 (which her "team" lost anyways, so she probably felt some relief in that serendipity). Bobby Jenks (the White Sox closer) looks like he's about two pork chops short of joining that classic SNL "Da Bears" skit. Yawn. Good for those Southsiders - reversed yet another curse and in a cornfield in Iowa I'm sure there are tributes being erected. But I'm more excited about next year when the New Brew Crew reverses the fabled Curse of '82 and returns to their rightful glory. That will be the story a whole country can truly gather round and sing its praises.
Maureen Dowd's catty comments about Judy Miller get a bit of play today. Not nearly as much as it sounds like Judy gets from her sources, if you know what I mean. If you haven't been paying attention to the mess surrounding Judy Judy Judy, let me summarize by saying that it appears she's not only been used by the Bushies but that she has some really strangely conflicted allegiances. And the Mighty Mo is working Judy over with her trademark eloquence and snarkiness. Not a pretty sight, except when they offer glamour pics of Dowd.
Maya turns 8-months-old today. 2/3rds of a year. I'm thinking about making her 2/3rds of a cake - maybe leave out the eggs or the flour. But I'm also reminded of the often way-out-of-bounds-but-still-gutsy Bill Maher hitting it right when joking about new parents giving their baby's age in months. "It's not a cheese!" So I'm going to start saying that Maya's 2/3rds of a year old when people ask her age. Seeing people do math in their heads is not a pretty thing. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Rock on.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Happy Hour with Arianna
Dubya went back to the political equivalent of hugging his teddy bear yesterday - attending a Million Dollar black-tie fundraiser for the "Republican Eagles" in Los Angeles. The pool report made it sound like the ultimate roomful of well-heeled people in full scale denial. The standard pablum from Ken Mehlman gave the crowd time to pick through their $15K/plate meals. And then Dubya doing his groan-inducing comic folksiness and fear-the-future shtick. My favorite line was "I didn't come here not to deal with major problems." Because I won't tell you that he's not doing a for shite job of it.
No one wanted the 2000 dead soldiers in Iraq milestone to be passed, even though everyone knew it was coming over the past number of months. The tragic irony is that we saw that stat dominate the headline on the day that the Iraqis announced the final results of their Constitutional referendum. Of the tributes I've seen thus far, the NYTimes had a snippet of tragic info that surprised me yet again. In the past year (or since September, 2004) 994 Americans have died. Do you think anyone will still be supporting this "war" next year at this time if we're closing in on 3000 dead? Seriously - no joke there. Someone ask Dubya that, please.
With everyone that cares about politics waiting with bated breath to see what the Fightin' Fitz presents for indictments, I can say that there's one person out there I'd like to be sharing a bowl of pretzels with - Arianna Huffington. Her blow by blows on this whole cabal have been the most thorough. And by far the most entertaining. I can picture her this week in a swirl of cellphone calls, fawning assistants, lattes, wheat grass, martinis, fabulousness and grandiose pronouncements. She hits the mark maybe 35% of the time, which would make her a damn fine everyday player in Major League Baseball. As a pundit, she's more fun to listen to than rely upon. Much, much more fun. I suggest keeping an eye on "The Huffington Post" when the indictments come in.
Richard Clarke is making the rounds doing press for his first novel ("The Scorpions Gate"). Expect Fox News to introduce a book segment on all their shows, just to slam it. Regardless, the things he's able to offer as a critique of FEMA's handling of Hurricane Katrina make for fascinating listening. My, my he's done well rescuing his career from the ashes of this Administration's impending conflagration. I still say that his memoir "Against All Enemies" was the best potboiler of last year. Clarke said on "Fresh Air" that he has always enjoyed writing fiction because he enjoys reading fiction. Maybe he's a joke as a thriller writer. Still, I'd put his intellect above than all the Bushies that I've seen. So good for him. Smart sumbitch deserves to show off.
Tried to put together a crib for Maya last night that we'd gotten from a colleague of my wife. The parts were all there as far as we could tell, but we still couldn't figure it out. So I tried to Google plans or pics or something to help. As I expected, a few pics appeared because I searched for the exact company (Simmons from Wisconsin, under the "Little Folks" line). But more importantly repeated news of a massive recall of their cribs floated to the top of the Google results. So...we're shopping for a new crib. Apparently this one had a problem of the mattress base dropping to the floor because the supports gave way. So I've learned the lesson of researching the companies more completely. I'll be sure to pass along any that I find somehow lacking. Rock on.
No one wanted the 2000 dead soldiers in Iraq milestone to be passed, even though everyone knew it was coming over the past number of months. The tragic irony is that we saw that stat dominate the headline on the day that the Iraqis announced the final results of their Constitutional referendum. Of the tributes I've seen thus far, the NYTimes had a snippet of tragic info that surprised me yet again. In the past year (or since September, 2004) 994 Americans have died. Do you think anyone will still be supporting this "war" next year at this time if we're closing in on 3000 dead? Seriously - no joke there. Someone ask Dubya that, please.
With everyone that cares about politics waiting with bated breath to see what the Fightin' Fitz presents for indictments, I can say that there's one person out there I'd like to be sharing a bowl of pretzels with - Arianna Huffington. Her blow by blows on this whole cabal have been the most thorough. And by far the most entertaining. I can picture her this week in a swirl of cellphone calls, fawning assistants, lattes, wheat grass, martinis, fabulousness and grandiose pronouncements. She hits the mark maybe 35% of the time, which would make her a damn fine everyday player in Major League Baseball. As a pundit, she's more fun to listen to than rely upon. Much, much more fun. I suggest keeping an eye on "The Huffington Post" when the indictments come in.
Richard Clarke is making the rounds doing press for his first novel ("The Scorpions Gate"). Expect Fox News to introduce a book segment on all their shows, just to slam it. Regardless, the things he's able to offer as a critique of FEMA's handling of Hurricane Katrina make for fascinating listening. My, my he's done well rescuing his career from the ashes of this Administration's impending conflagration. I still say that his memoir "Against All Enemies" was the best potboiler of last year. Clarke said on "Fresh Air" that he has always enjoyed writing fiction because he enjoys reading fiction. Maybe he's a joke as a thriller writer. Still, I'd put his intellect above than all the Bushies that I've seen. So good for him. Smart sumbitch deserves to show off.
Tried to put together a crib for Maya last night that we'd gotten from a colleague of my wife. The parts were all there as far as we could tell, but we still couldn't figure it out. So I tried to Google plans or pics or something to help. As I expected, a few pics appeared because I searched for the exact company (Simmons from Wisconsin, under the "Little Folks" line). But more importantly repeated news of a massive recall of their cribs floated to the top of the Google results. So...we're shopping for a new crib. Apparently this one had a problem of the mattress base dropping to the floor because the supports gave way. So I've learned the lesson of researching the companies more completely. I'll be sure to pass along any that I find somehow lacking. Rock on.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Or maybe "Laverne Loves Shirley"
Look's like the GOP attack monkeys are taking a more vicious approach to "Greatest Lottery Commissioner Ever!" Harriet's nomination. They've launched a website subtly named WithdrawMiers.org and gotten plenty of ink today explicitly saying that "Most Qualified Nominee Ever!" Harriet should be pulled before the hearings. If "Greatest Christian Ever!" Harriet were a TV show, she'd be "Joanie Loves Chachi" - over before it began, yet doomed to infamy for an eternity.
Everyone's replaying the NYTimes scoop from this morning that quotes lawyers in the Rove/Libby investigation saying Libby found out about Valerie Wilson's identity from "Big Time!" Dick Cheney weeks before the publication of the Novak column. Cheney apparently found out from "Medal of Freedom!" George Tenet. Ah, the stew is reducing after a period of simmering. Yummy.
We got a hiking backpack for Maya that I must recommend highly. She loves it, especially when she's goading me to bounce her more. Or at least that's how I interpret what she seems to be saying. If I get arrested for child endangerment, that will be my defense. Anyhoo, it's a Lafuma (big European backpack manufacturer). If you want a way to hike with your <50 pound kid, it's absolutely perfect. Great around the neighborhood, too.
I predict that if the White Sox win this world series, they will be the least appreciated champion since the Twins in '87. When the Twins won again in '91, they were an amazing story. Should've been in '87, as well. But most of America didn't seem to care and the same seems to be true this year. In this case, it's the unfortunate timing of winning the year after the Sawx. In that case, it's, well, Minnesota. Might as well be Moosejaw. Rock on.
Everyone's replaying the NYTimes scoop from this morning that quotes lawyers in the Rove/Libby investigation saying Libby found out about Valerie Wilson's identity from "Big Time!" Dick Cheney weeks before the publication of the Novak column. Cheney apparently found out from "Medal of Freedom!" George Tenet. Ah, the stew is reducing after a period of simmering. Yummy.
We got a hiking backpack for Maya that I must recommend highly. She loves it, especially when she's goading me to bounce her more. Or at least that's how I interpret what she seems to be saying. If I get arrested for child endangerment, that will be my defense. Anyhoo, it's a Lafuma (big European backpack manufacturer). If you want a way to hike with your <50 pound kid, it's absolutely perfect. Great around the neighborhood, too.
I predict that if the White Sox win this world series, they will be the least appreciated champion since the Twins in '87. When the Twins won again in '91, they were an amazing story. Should've been in '87, as well. But most of America didn't seem to care and the same seems to be true this year. In this case, it's the unfortunate timing of winning the year after the Sawx. In that case, it's, well, Minnesota. Might as well be Moosejaw. Rock on.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Next question - How much wood would a woodchuck chuck?
As Maya pines away in Gitmo, I just watched Dubya take some questions from reporters following a Cabinet meeting. The heat's really rising for the Bushies and the confluence of events that they've got to speak to is unbelievable. CNN's going live with a trio of car bombings in Baghdad (video of the explosions included). Wilma's ruining some pretty darn serious beachfront property in Jeb's re-election effort. But when the questions get asked? Rove/Libby and "Plenty Bright!" Harriet. Ouch. Quick - find somebody for O.J. to kill or the Press may actually cover this Administration's messiness for a change. Morning photo ops with a tiny sliver of Press opening typically haven't ever been a time to actually show Dubya in unscripted mode. His responses this morning are typically retarded on language. Yet the way he's so inexpertly sticking his paddle out into the current to redirect and instead sending himself into even greater peril is pretty compelling. Cases in point - when questioned about his characterization of Patrick Fitzgerald as running a "distinguished" investigation while GOP attack monkeys tried to now call the Fightin' Fitz "overzealous" over the weekend, Dubya went back to his standard "I'm not going to comment on the ongoing investigation." All that means for me is that when charges are brought (and THE INVESTIGATION IS OVER), they'll need to comment. That should be fun for Dubya's speechwriters. Other case in point - when the suggestion that those same GOP monkeys playing defense suggested that the Bushies were looking for a way to withdraw "Cool!" Harriet's nomination, Dubya went right for the Executive Privilege argument to withhold White House records from the Judiciary Committee. Unreal. It's as if he knows what the next political disaster is slated to be.
Spent a good portion of yesterday playing NFL fan. A good friend from college who's now an insanely funny 2nd Grade teacher (Vikes fan) came up to watch the Packers get embarrassed. Two of the worst teams in the League playing some of their worst football of the year to date. And then the Vikes' 98-pound weakling of a kicker boots a fiddy-six yarder to win the game. Horrid. Thankfully we had lots of hearty brat stew and all the fixins to distract us from what we were seeing. Maya even managed to take a lengthy nap amidst the festivities. So it was a fine Fall day on this Coast.
Hope your own picks came in like a Senatorr Judd Gregg Powerball this weekend. Rock on.
Spent a good portion of yesterday playing NFL fan. A good friend from college who's now an insanely funny 2nd Grade teacher (Vikes fan) came up to watch the Packers get embarrassed. Two of the worst teams in the League playing some of their worst football of the year to date. And then the Vikes' 98-pound weakling of a kicker boots a fiddy-six yarder to win the game. Horrid. Thankfully we had lots of hearty brat stew and all the fixins to distract us from what we were seeing. Maya even managed to take a lengthy nap amidst the festivities. So it was a fine Fall day on this Coast.
Hope your own picks came in like a Senatorr Judd Gregg Powerball this weekend. Rock on.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Friday, October 21, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
I'd call it more of a "re-screw-erating"
Outside of the U.S's news media who are so delighted they've got a new hurricane to cover like a hot Mormon daughter, the big story this morning came from an Australian news program. They showed American soldiers burning two Taliban fighters purposely to then use as propaganda against all the other Taliban within earshot. Go to any European or Asian news-site and this beats Rove and Libby's impending prison weddings big time. My bet is that the Pentagon has developed a weather machine to create catastrophic weather whenever they need a cover story here at home. But unfortunately most of the contractors were weaned on missile defense program requirements so we've got a shoddy, unpredictable, wholly dangerous weapon system and Rummy's chosing the target coordinates. Just a theory. But so is evolution and look at the legs that puppy's got.
Last night's most extreme rhetoric abuse belongs to a "Council on Foreign Relations" blimp named Walter Russell Mead. He compared the Iraq fiasco to "having a contractor come in and redecorate your kitchen" in what may be a Top 10 worst analogy in American history, which is saying bunches about where the neocons are reaching these days. Listen for yourself if you've got a stomach able to digest titanium. I cannot begin to fully voice my disappointment with both Zbigniew Brzezinski and Ray Suarez for letting him get away with it on the "Newshour with Jim Lehrer" last night. But the counterpoint missed is not nearly as important as discussing the point made. When was the last time that you chose to have something "redecorated" that led to 2000+ American dead, not to mention 20K or so injuries? Mead may have unintentionally touched upon the arrogance still in play for the neocons. This ain't war in their view. This is a fixer-upper. And we're all footing the bill for years and years to come.
The Astros made it to the Big Show for the first time with their victory over the Cards last night. I'll always root against the Cards after what they did back in '82 to da Brew Crew. But this time, I was honestly hoping the 'Stros (or maybe the As'es) would step through to face the White Sox. This non-traditional October has me very fired up.
Maya's screaming from "Gitmo" and I don't think the Red Cross will take care of this one. Hope your own prison populations are less unruly. Rock on.
Last night's most extreme rhetoric abuse belongs to a "Council on Foreign Relations" blimp named Walter Russell Mead. He compared the Iraq fiasco to "having a contractor come in and redecorate your kitchen" in what may be a Top 10 worst analogy in American history, which is saying bunches about where the neocons are reaching these days. Listen for yourself if you've got a stomach able to digest titanium. I cannot begin to fully voice my disappointment with both Zbigniew Brzezinski and Ray Suarez for letting him get away with it on the "Newshour with Jim Lehrer" last night. But the counterpoint missed is not nearly as important as discussing the point made. When was the last time that you chose to have something "redecorated" that led to 2000+ American dead, not to mention 20K or so injuries? Mead may have unintentionally touched upon the arrogance still in play for the neocons. This ain't war in their view. This is a fixer-upper. And we're all footing the bill for years and years to come.
The Astros made it to the Big Show for the first time with their victory over the Cards last night. I'll always root against the Cards after what they did back in '82 to da Brew Crew. But this time, I was honestly hoping the 'Stros (or maybe the As'es) would step through to face the White Sox. This non-traditional October has me very fired up.
Maya's screaming from "Gitmo" and I don't think the Red Cross will take care of this one. Hope your own prison populations are less unruly. Rock on.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Pincus sees the Stinkus (don't we all)
"Valued Talbot's Shopper!" Harriet should be topic #1 in the District today given her lame questionnaire release to the Senate yesterday as accompanied by the infinitely more insightful Dallas City Council "I support a Constitutional Amendment to end abortion" candidacy response from way back in 1989. After all, Dubya saddled her nomination with the claim she's not gonna change in the next 20 years so we should assume a 16-year-old disclosure to hold true. But instead the real story that everyone's sipping at water coolers everywhere is the Valerie Plame case and the expected indictments in the White House. The Bushies are entirely vulnerable given their loss of public support and, unfortunately for them, everyone knows it. I watched reporter emeritus Walter Pincus (WashingtonPost) on C-SPAN's beloved "Washington Journal" this morning during Maya's early nap. Ol' Walt (who I respect IMMENSELY) alludes consistently to just what a labyrinth of intrigue this story represents and how much indictments in the White House could shake the foundations of this Administration. The best I can say of this whole mix is that we ain't seen nothing yet.
SaddamTV gets rolling today. According to the WSJ, Saddam's legal strategy is to shake thing's up with courtroom surprises including trying to pin some degree of complicity on the U.S. for past crimes. This, dear readers, will be a circus. Yuck.
Bill O'Reilly really made an ass of himself on "The Daily Show" last night, going so far as to call Jon Stewart a "pinhead". Jon held his fire for the most part, but got some great zingers in. If you missed it, I'm sure they'll feature it prominently on "TDS" website very soon. An absolute must-see.
Speaking of must-sees, the best new show of this TV season is unquestionably "My Name is Earl" starring an extremely funny Jason Lee. I've almost melted our TiVo on a few occasions replaying bits and pieces that are especially hilarious. My favorite by far was in his "Quit Smoking" episode when he got into his brother's car and burped up a small lunger of smoke and quipped "I don't know where that came from - I haven't smoked all day." Absolutely fabulous sitcom humor and top-notch character acting. I give the series a solid A- thus far, with a chance for a legit (and rare) full A.
Maya's California grandparents are in town, giving them some quality time with her (especially Nanna) and me some concentrated writing time on my book. Very much appreciated all around. Maya's growing like a compost-pile weed. Check back for pics of the Halloween costumes we're considering. For her first Trick-or-Treatin' tour we've got either a skunk, a bumblebee, or a ladybug. We, as her parents, also will dress in related costumes. Any suggestions you might have will be greatly appreciated. Rock on.
SaddamTV gets rolling today. According to the WSJ, Saddam's legal strategy is to shake thing's up with courtroom surprises including trying to pin some degree of complicity on the U.S. for past crimes. This, dear readers, will be a circus. Yuck.
Bill O'Reilly really made an ass of himself on "The Daily Show" last night, going so far as to call Jon Stewart a "pinhead". Jon held his fire for the most part, but got some great zingers in. If you missed it, I'm sure they'll feature it prominently on "TDS" website very soon. An absolute must-see.
Speaking of must-sees, the best new show of this TV season is unquestionably "My Name is Earl" starring an extremely funny Jason Lee. I've almost melted our TiVo on a few occasions replaying bits and pieces that are especially hilarious. My favorite by far was in his "Quit Smoking" episode when he got into his brother's car and burped up a small lunger of smoke and quipped "I don't know where that came from - I haven't smoked all day." Absolutely fabulous sitcom humor and top-notch character acting. I give the series a solid A- thus far, with a chance for a legit (and rare) full A.
Maya's California grandparents are in town, giving them some quality time with her (especially Nanna) and me some concentrated writing time on my book. Very much appreciated all around. Maya's growing like a compost-pile weed. Check back for pics of the Halloween costumes we're considering. For her first Trick-or-Treatin' tour we've got either a skunk, a bumblebee, or a ladybug. We, as her parents, also will dress in related costumes. Any suggestions you might have will be greatly appreciated. Rock on.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Courting the "Matlock" vote
To better illustrate "Plenty Bright!" Harriet's good ol' boy credentials yesterday, Dubya emptied the Dallas country club bars and brought a gaggle of white guys to the White House. All ex-TX Supreme Court Justices. All old white guys. All probably big "Matlock" fans. One went so far as to say that he'd trust "Heckuva Job!" Harriet with "my wife and my life." Apparently in that order. Now aside from the latent acknowledgement of "Cool!" Harriet's greasy yet unthreatening lesbian past, what exactly are we to take that to mean? That she won't force anybody's missus to get an abortion? That she's good in a knife fight? That she swings both ways? Seriously, we knew "Mission Accomplished!" Harriet was popular with white male lawyers from Texas, but otherwise I'm still straining to see what else in her past aside from running the Texas Lottery like a church raffle with lots more advertising qualifies her for the job. Is this merely an effort to finally make Clarence Thomas look like a good pick? Inquiring minds are dying to know.
All manner of reports are circling the Veep's office with regard to the Valerie Plame investigation. The WashingtonPost goes large with the possibility that indictments may be coming as early as tomorrow and may reach all the way up to "Big Time!" Dick aside from Scooter and TurdBlossom. I've got loads of popcorn just itching to be popped to accompany my non-stop ingestion of that story playing out. At this point, I can't see how Patrick Fitzgerald can do anything but bring some charges forward. If he were to throw up his hands and say, "nothing to see here, please move along" I think that would be one of Malcolm Gladwell's tipping points. Much of the District would tip right into the Potomac and it would wash that last remaining iota of respect for the Press out to sea. No, this one's gonna end with a protracted Court battle and it has the Bushies very, very nervous. 'Bout time.
It's not exactly as important as the Scott Peterson case, but Saddam Hussein's first trial gets underway today. Thankfully Iraq has something to distract the scrutiny from the vote counting, especially those provinces where 99% of the voting population is alleged to have turned out to get all purply and steeped in freedom. Yea right. 99% of anything is a joke. Unless of course we're talking Dubya's opposition in the black community. Therein, it's bankable.
I'd mentioned earlier that I would give my review of the de Young Art Museum that just had it's grand opening gala weekend. We went with our friend Whitney on an absolutely gorgeous sunny Sunday. The lines were long and the reactions I think were largely laudatory. The copper exterior of the museum is amazing (which looks strangely like a rusted aircraft carrier - in a cool way). The observation tower gives great views of the City, but I've seen better from Twin Peaks or Grand View Park (very close to our place in the Sunset). I can't give a review of the gallery spaces since Maya got restless and I bailed before seeing the whole mix. Regardless, this is truly an innovative building. Great energy, to boot. If you come to San Francisco, I strongly advise that you check it out. Let me know what you think, thereafter. Rock on.
All manner of reports are circling the Veep's office with regard to the Valerie Plame investigation. The WashingtonPost goes large with the possibility that indictments may be coming as early as tomorrow and may reach all the way up to "Big Time!" Dick aside from Scooter and TurdBlossom. I've got loads of popcorn just itching to be popped to accompany my non-stop ingestion of that story playing out. At this point, I can't see how Patrick Fitzgerald can do anything but bring some charges forward. If he were to throw up his hands and say, "nothing to see here, please move along" I think that would be one of Malcolm Gladwell's tipping points. Much of the District would tip right into the Potomac and it would wash that last remaining iota of respect for the Press out to sea. No, this one's gonna end with a protracted Court battle and it has the Bushies very, very nervous. 'Bout time.
It's not exactly as important as the Scott Peterson case, but Saddam Hussein's first trial gets underway today. Thankfully Iraq has something to distract the scrutiny from the vote counting, especially those provinces where 99% of the voting population is alleged to have turned out to get all purply and steeped in freedom. Yea right. 99% of anything is a joke. Unless of course we're talking Dubya's opposition in the black community. Therein, it's bankable.
I'd mentioned earlier that I would give my review of the de Young Art Museum that just had it's grand opening gala weekend. We went with our friend Whitney on an absolutely gorgeous sunny Sunday. The lines were long and the reactions I think were largely laudatory. The copper exterior of the museum is amazing (which looks strangely like a rusted aircraft carrier - in a cool way). The observation tower gives great views of the City, but I've seen better from Twin Peaks or Grand View Park (very close to our place in the Sunset). I can't give a review of the gallery spaces since Maya got restless and I bailed before seeing the whole mix. Regardless, this is truly an innovative building. Great energy, to boot. If you come to San Francisco, I strongly advise that you check it out. Let me know what you think, thereafter. Rock on.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Saturday, October 15, 2005
A Hall of Fame exhibit to keep the kids away from
Huge sporty day for folks so inclined. Big college foohballin' (USC v. Notre Dame AND Minnysoda v. 'Sconi). Big Baseballin' playoffs. And big swimming lesson for Maya. My favorite sports story of the day about the Astros fan who caught not one but two home run balls in their epic victory 18-inning victory over the Braves also features the funniest headline of the day ("Dean, balls to be part of Hall of Fame exhibit"). Can't wait to see the way the HoF displays them.
Most of the early reports from Iraq seem to indicate a smooth Iraqi Constitution vote. The stakes are high and I expect that the Bushies will trumpet the success of whatever comes from the up-or-down vote. Personally, I'm more interested in the NYTimes piece on the border battles with fighters coming from Syria and the comparisons to covert operations into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. As usual, it's almost impossible to get a realistic, objective feel for what's really going on there from our immediate media.
Leave it to Matt Sludge to try spinning Karl Rove's 4 and a half hour testimony before the Grand Jury yesterday with a totally misleading headline. His big banner reads "Rove 'No Charges'" and features a shot of "Too Hot" Karl in his Jaguar. Of course there were no charges brought yesterday. There can't be until after the Grand Jury is done with its bizness (their mandate runs through October 28th). The WashingtonPost has an unnamed source that makes it sound much more pessimistic than Drudge and his favorite slanted pseudo-news-service, Breitbart.com (I keep looking for Jeff Gannon's by-line to show up there). I'd bet a round-trip ticket on Hooters airline that Rove does indeed get charged with something greasy. Conspiracy or obstruction charges, maybe public indecency. Whatever happens, he's still out there on the fundraising trail, believe it or not. "I'm outta here" Novak itemizes that fact in his most recent column. That's Tom "Help Me Defend My Honor with your Dollars" Delay quality audacity, which takes HoF-quality balls. Or Hall of Shame, more accurately. Rock on.
Most of the early reports from Iraq seem to indicate a smooth Iraqi Constitution vote. The stakes are high and I expect that the Bushies will trumpet the success of whatever comes from the up-or-down vote. Personally, I'm more interested in the NYTimes piece on the border battles with fighters coming from Syria and the comparisons to covert operations into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. As usual, it's almost impossible to get a realistic, objective feel for what's really going on there from our immediate media.
Leave it to Matt Sludge to try spinning Karl Rove's 4 and a half hour testimony before the Grand Jury yesterday with a totally misleading headline. His big banner reads "Rove 'No Charges'" and features a shot of "Too Hot" Karl in his Jaguar. Of course there were no charges brought yesterday. There can't be until after the Grand Jury is done with its bizness (their mandate runs through October 28th). The WashingtonPost has an unnamed source that makes it sound much more pessimistic than Drudge and his favorite slanted pseudo-news-service, Breitbart.com (I keep looking for Jeff Gannon's by-line to show up there). I'd bet a round-trip ticket on Hooters airline that Rove does indeed get charged with something greasy. Conspiracy or obstruction charges, maybe public indecency. Whatever happens, he's still out there on the fundraising trail, believe it or not. "I'm outta here" Novak itemizes that fact in his most recent column. That's Tom "Help Me Defend My Honor with your Dollars" Delay quality audacity, which takes HoF-quality balls. Or Hall of Shame, more accurately. Rock on.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Shifting blame to where it belongs - the Vikings
Are we seeing the approach of a perfect political storm? Today's economic news featured the highest monthly inflation numbers in 25 years. Since the Carter Administration, people. If you think gas prices have peaked, I've got some partly-cooked Costco sample kielbasa to sell you. Less influentially but equally troubling to economists that try to look forward (unlike pundits), industrial production numbers for the US are in the toilet. So where's the good news for the Bushies? In a poorly-staged satellite Dubya-fest with 10 hand-picked ass-kissing heroes? In Karl Rove testifying for 4 AND A HALF HOURS THIS MORNING BEFORE THE GRAND JURY? In tomorrow's Iraqi election? In the MLB playoffs? In the Minnysoda Vikings sex cruise scandal? If I was Rove's replacement, I'd seriously consider trying to pin blame on the Vikings.
Maya got a flu shot yesterday and didn't even flinch. Tough broad, that kid. Her top tooth also seems to have officially busted through. As a result, she's a bit more testy and willing to bitch than usual. Hard to blame her.
Since the Packers have a bye week, I'm psyched to tag along on a decidedly non-NFL activity with a college friend of Sarah's (Whitney - an architect in LA) who's coming to town to check out the new de Young Museum in our 'hood. If you haven't seen the reviews for this weekend's opening, you should know that I'm not alone in adoring this building. We walk/run by it almost every day and have been through the "soft opening" areas allowing free entry since September. This weekend the whole space opens for the public and we're going on Sunday with Whitney. If you're interested, check out the deYoung website. I'll post a full review this week after we get the full rundown with an actual architect leading our uninformed asses through the mix. Rock on.
Maya got a flu shot yesterday and didn't even flinch. Tough broad, that kid. Her top tooth also seems to have officially busted through. As a result, she's a bit more testy and willing to bitch than usual. Hard to blame her.
Since the Packers have a bye week, I'm psyched to tag along on a decidedly non-NFL activity with a college friend of Sarah's (Whitney - an architect in LA) who's coming to town to check out the new de Young Museum in our 'hood. If you haven't seen the reviews for this weekend's opening, you should know that I'm not alone in adoring this building. We walk/run by it almost every day and have been through the "soft opening" areas allowing free entry since September. This weekend the whole space opens for the public and we're going on Sunday with Whitney. If you're interested, check out the deYoung website. I'll post a full review this week after we get the full rundown with an actual architect leading our uninformed asses through the mix. Rock on.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
2% of any demographic is equal to...the worst Preziduncy in history
So Dubya went out on a limb yesterday to say that "Bring 'em On!" Harriet is religious. A prospective Supreme Court Justice. Being promoted. For being religious. Is it just me or have we lost complete control of things in this country? Seriously, maybe I'm just a lapsed Midwestern Protestant with too much respect for all the other flavors of cheese out there to believe that my brand should be forced down the gullet of the other 300-ish million Americans out there. But this move should be seen as the insult to us all that it is. Dubya's to be forgiven, however, for not having his A-game in the Q&As he's forced into these days - his new poll numbers are so in the toilet they're halfway down the street. And who's he got left to rely on besides his dog, Barney, or his trusty Mrs. Dubya - Rove and Libby are looking at indictments, Bill "Blind (wink, wink) Trust" Frist is getting indicted and DeLay's busy using his attack ad knee jerk on the DA (if hubris were a crime, The Hammer would get the death penalty). I've been doing loads of pondering on "Cool!" Harriet's nomination and I think I've got it figured out at last. She's a sacrificial lamb. Someone he can claim was the right person for the job who's sure to be sliced to pieces in the Senate debate. And then when she's disposed of, Dubya can appoint someone using his favorite approach (recess appointment - probably right around Christmas) that will serve until the next Congress is put in place after the November 2006 elections. Seriously, Dubya wants to give this "Defeat the Obstructionist Democrats" gift to the GOP to help them get off the bench (pun intended) and start playing the game by their chosen rules. One thing you gotta believe in is that Dubya is a sneaky shit. This just might be his sneakiest move of all.
The Dems are screwed if Howard "YEEEAARRGHH!!" Dean is still the best spokesman they've got - his appearance on Letterman last night was so painfully unfunny that I threw up in my mouth a little bit. Sort of. I'm an occasional Dave fan since my TiVo has always had him in heavy rotation, and last night he asked some appropriately snarky hard ones. Dean flubbed them all. Bummer for all of us. As was the case on his campaign, Ho-Ho just can't see fit to prep for anything. Smart guy, terrible jokester. The one moment where Dean showed his capability for straight talk was when he got grilled on the "hide the salami" flub from last week - still one of the all-time most hilarious political "am I still talking out loud" mistakes in American history. But when questioned on the issues, Howie sucks. Love the guy, but he sucks. And if the leader of the Party sucks on the issues, ya gots problems.
Maya's up from her early morning nap. Time to gather her opinions on the issues of the Day. Hope you've got your own brilliant audiences to do so with today. Rock on.
The Dems are screwed if Howard "YEEEAARRGHH!!" Dean is still the best spokesman they've got - his appearance on Letterman last night was so painfully unfunny that I threw up in my mouth a little bit. Sort of. I'm an occasional Dave fan since my TiVo has always had him in heavy rotation, and last night he asked some appropriately snarky hard ones. Dean flubbed them all. Bummer for all of us. As was the case on his campaign, Ho-Ho just can't see fit to prep for anything. Smart guy, terrible jokester. The one moment where Dean showed his capability for straight talk was when he got grilled on the "hide the salami" flub from last week - still one of the all-time most hilarious political "am I still talking out loud" mistakes in American history. But when questioned on the issues, Howie sucks. Love the guy, but he sucks. And if the leader of the Party sucks on the issues, ya gots problems.
Maya's up from her early morning nap. Time to gather her opinions on the issues of the Day. Hope you've got your own brilliant audiences to do so with today. Rock on.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
"Heckuva job" Harriet's papers are released...and they're totally "cool!"
Out of all the disturbing "Plenty Bright" Harriet Miers pieces as of late, the NYTimes nails down her sycophantic creepiness best in today's story itemizing personal notes sent to Dubya over the years. She uses inarticulate compliments almost as much as she abuses the exclamation point. Her childish writing could only be less professional if she also began abusing emoticons ==];-()>{ As if what we need on the Supreme Court is an evangelical ass-kisser. All the churchy stories bother me, like when she went to two mega-church services in Dallas over the weekend with her old sinning partner and personal pimp, Nathan Hecht. But the lovey-dovey connection with Dubya worries me much more.
For those of you with a horse still in the race to the World Series, I hope all's looking bright and shiny today. Seeing the Yankees lose last night was a personal highlight for me - there's no team in any sport that I root against as consistently. I still can't get excited about the Chicago White Sox possibly exorcising their 1919 demons at long last, the Cards leave me cold, and the Astros and Angels might make a good story if either team had anything like a new rally monkey to spur me on. Over the weekend even the Packers notched up a lopsided victory against the woeful 'Aints. The NHL is back which means Canada's ripe for the picking over the next handful of months if the Bushies want another victory in the Global Struggle Against Extremism. Sports stories everywhere. It's almost enough to make a guy forget about raising his child.
Speaking of which, we've decided to begin experimenting with sign language to communicate with Maya. We see it as a much better experiment than the early toilet-training movement (rimshot!) that I saw described in an article on Monday. Maya's also settled in well at playing for short periods on her own in her playpen that we've playfully dubbed "Guantanamo". Much catchier than Abu Gharib. Her top tooth still hasn't fully breached the surface and Maya makes pretty obvious sucking sounds on that gum accompanied by a pretty ridiculous face. And she took to swimming lessons like a well-balanced chimp to a properly sized bicycle. All in all, she's still hilarious and getting more adventurous all the time. Rock on.
For those of you with a horse still in the race to the World Series, I hope all's looking bright and shiny today. Seeing the Yankees lose last night was a personal highlight for me - there's no team in any sport that I root against as consistently. I still can't get excited about the Chicago White Sox possibly exorcising their 1919 demons at long last, the Cards leave me cold, and the Astros and Angels might make a good story if either team had anything like a new rally monkey to spur me on. Over the weekend even the Packers notched up a lopsided victory against the woeful 'Aints. The NHL is back which means Canada's ripe for the picking over the next handful of months if the Bushies want another victory in the Global Struggle Against Extremism. Sports stories everywhere. It's almost enough to make a guy forget about raising his child.
Speaking of which, we've decided to begin experimenting with sign language to communicate with Maya. We see it as a much better experiment than the early toilet-training movement (rimshot!) that I saw described in an article on Monday. Maya's also settled in well at playing for short periods on her own in her playpen that we've playfully dubbed "Guantanamo". Much catchier than Abu Gharib. Her top tooth still hasn't fully breached the surface and Maya makes pretty obvious sucking sounds on that gum accompanied by a pretty ridiculous face. And she took to swimming lessons like a well-balanced chimp to a properly sized bicycle. All in all, she's still hilarious and getting more adventurous all the time. Rock on.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
More details on "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside the U.S." Harriet
Ain't history a bitch to deal with? Let's hope somebody asks her about this PDB in the hearings.
The only story to read this morning about "Plenty Bright!" Harriet Miers if you've only got the tolerance for one story - the WashingtonPost's insight into her abortion beliefs based on her wacked-out evangelical Dallas background. The fact that the Post got a Texas Supreme Court justice to go on the record by saying that "(she) believes life begins at conception" is a ripple that will build through the weeks ahead. And it should - Harriet's not "stealthy" at all. This broad's a ringer for the Wacko Right. Period.
If you're looking for an opinion piece on "Heckuva Job!" Harriet coming from an unlikely source of such strongly-worded opposition, check out George Will carving up this turkey. He makes one especially good anecdotal suggestion - if you asked 100 legal scholars to list a "top 100" of their nominee suggestions ABSOLUTELY NOT ONE PERSON would have listed "Darn Good!" Harriet. Seriously. As Will notes, being a lawyer, even a damn good one, doesn't necessarily translate to being anything like a constitutional scholar or even a person with the skills necessary to interpret cases through the prism of constitutional debate that the Supreme Court is required to use. In short - "Bring 'em On!" Harriet is the least qualified non-judge nominee you could possibly consider. All the Bushies that bring up the point about how there have been 40 (of 110) Justices that have come from non-bench backgrounds and how even Rehnquist hadn't been a judge forget one extremely important point. "Mission Accomplished" Harriet has only worked as a lawyer. Not as an Attorney General. Not as an Advocate or Inspector for any form of the public interest. Not as as anything other than a lawyer. Unless they want us to consider her time as Texas Lottery Commissioner or an at-large one-term member of the Dallas City Council. She's only represented private interests, most importantly her long-standing work for Dubya directly. And if "Don't Misunderestimate Me!" Harriet gets confirmed to the highest Court in the nation, she will only continue to represent those interests. Even when we're expected to pay her lifetime salary.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
"She's plenty bright."
This morning's presser in the Rose Garden was damn close to one of those crappy sitcom clips episodes that old shows always seemed to cart out in my formative years. Lots of reheated bunk answers, even though the set-ups were somewhat original (the Press pool seems to have grown more obvious character in the soggy aftermath of Katrina). Boil it down and we learned absolutely nothing new. But the more I listen to Dubya, the more I fear for the English language. Never before has someone so completely thrashed both folksy and Ivy-strewn colloqualisms. My favorite aside from the the title of this post was "(P)eople can opine all they want." Yet the standard Dubya keeps exhalting as Harriet Miers's finest trait slays me beyond any grammar lesson irritation. In short, "she won't change." She'll be the same blank slate at 80 that she is now at 60, apparently since Dubya kept saying "20 years from now." Since when is it good to assume that someone will not grow in a new role (please remember that she's never been a judge, people)? Sheesh.
Monday, October 03, 2005
After a few hours, here are my (only slightly) revised thoughts on Harriet Miers
OK, so with Maya down for a nap and C-SPAN's coverage of the Miers announcement TiVo'd to view, I decided to pick through things a bit. The first thing I saw was something that contradicted with a Wonkette post from earlier this morning that I found to be silly yet illustrative - ol' Harriet is supposedly quite the nitpicker. Late worker. Loyal Bushie. All that crap. But in her prepared announcement, she made a grammatical error. As someone who's done never made one, her nit offered needs to be briefly picked. The following sentence comes right from her ridiculously coded and yet still astonishingly boring transcript of the announcement:
"The wisdom of those who drafted our Constitution and conceived our nation as functioning with three strong and independent branches have proven truly remarkable."
"Wisdom...has" - right? But so far as the important stuff goes, here's a few unimportant thoughts while Maya continues to cooperate (she's such a great kid, by the way).
1. Harriet wears enough gaudy jewelry to make Mr. T shake his mohawked-melon in shame. Tacky, tacky, tacky. If she were a store at the mall, it would be on the uppermost level and offer two-for-one piercings. Whatever that means.
2. In introducing her, Dubya listed every lame-ass thing she's been associated with aside from her past recycling history. Not that recycling's lame. Except in Dallas (where I have lived and can verify), there was no curbside pickup as of the time Harriet left for DC to manage policy matters for the Bushies.
3. Conservatives are making a stink out of her past political contributions to Gore's infantile run for Prez in '88 and Lloyd "I knew Jack Kennedy...You're no Jack Kennedy" Bentsen. But are liberals making anything of her $5K contribution to Bush's recount fight in 2000 or the comparable party allegiance shifting of the douchebag now warming Dubya's old seat in Austin? Cut the crap, people - if Dubya chose her, he thinks she's cut from the same archaic cloth as his judicial heroes, Scalia and Thomas.
4. The term "stealth nominee" has gotten more hits today than Paris Hilton's breakup with her fiancee. Granted, Harriet's surely that - no record worth mentioning as of yet on the issues that will be central in this or any foreseeable Supremes' sessions. But if there ever was a stealthier Justice than the still-new-car-smell-infused Chief Roberts, I've got some barely used bathing suits to sell you.
5. One last word on her distinctively-Dallas-thumb-up-her...am-I-still-talking-out-loud look - absolutely-horribly-bad-mascaraness. Karen Hughes and Harriet must shop together.
Craparama - Maya just lit up the monitor like a Larry King call-in show featuring Tammy Faye Baker. I'll come back to this. Let me know if you care. It's only the future of the Nation in question after all. Rock on.
"The wisdom of those who drafted our Constitution and conceived our nation as functioning with three strong and independent branches have proven truly remarkable."
"Wisdom...has" - right? But so far as the important stuff goes, here's a few unimportant thoughts while Maya continues to cooperate (she's such a great kid, by the way).
1. Harriet wears enough gaudy jewelry to make Mr. T shake his mohawked-melon in shame. Tacky, tacky, tacky. If she were a store at the mall, it would be on the uppermost level and offer two-for-one piercings. Whatever that means.
2. In introducing her, Dubya listed every lame-ass thing she's been associated with aside from her past recycling history. Not that recycling's lame. Except in Dallas (where I have lived and can verify), there was no curbside pickup as of the time Harriet left for DC to manage policy matters for the Bushies.
3. Conservatives are making a stink out of her past political contributions to Gore's infantile run for Prez in '88 and Lloyd "I knew Jack Kennedy...You're no Jack Kennedy" Bentsen. But are liberals making anything of her $5K contribution to Bush's recount fight in 2000 or the comparable party allegiance shifting of the douchebag now warming Dubya's old seat in Austin? Cut the crap, people - if Dubya chose her, he thinks she's cut from the same archaic cloth as his judicial heroes, Scalia and Thomas.
4. The term "stealth nominee" has gotten more hits today than Paris Hilton's breakup with her fiancee. Granted, Harriet's surely that - no record worth mentioning as of yet on the issues that will be central in this or any foreseeable Supremes' sessions. But if there ever was a stealthier Justice than the still-new-car-smell-infused Chief Roberts, I've got some barely used bathing suits to sell you.
5. One last word on her distinctively-Dallas-thumb-up-her...am-I-still-talking-out-loud look - absolutely-horribly-bad-mascaraness. Karen Hughes and Harriet must shop together.
Craparama - Maya just lit up the monitor like a Larry King call-in show featuring Tammy Faye Baker. I'll come back to this. Let me know if you care. It's only the future of the Nation in question after all. Rock on.
Ladies and Gentlemen - Meet The Face of the Future
Harriet Miers gives herself the nod as the Bushies's next Supreme Court nominee after sizing up her own experience as White House Counsel, Assistant Chief of Staff for Policy, and past personal lawyer for Dubya. So she's got experience with corporate malfeasance and drug statutes, one would assume. No experience as a judge, not nearly as skilled in obfuscation as Roberts, and from what I've seen her taste in fashion is lodged firmly in Dallas blue-haired Talbot's bunk. Be afraid people. Be very afraid.
On a very different note, Maya's first swim lesson on Saturday went, well, swimmingly. She and about 15 other youngins (up to age 2) were joined in the pool by a parent. Practically everyone else except us had other family there ringing the pool with camcorders and digital cameras - I felt like Tara Reid with a boob out given the amount of flashes going off around me. Just prior to heading up to class, I got a call from a friend who had an extra ticket to the Giants game - fourth row, crazy good seats from the sound of it at the always lovely SBC Park. But life is very different now and I had to pass without objection in favor of singing "The Wheels on the Bus" while splashing around with a bunch of strangers (huge thanks for the offer go out to Scott, nonetheless). Maya's pretty fearless in the pool, even though we're not exactly expected to launch her off the high dive at this point in her swimming life. If nothing else, a half hour in the pool tired those lit'l cuties out big time. One little boy fell asleep on the locker room floor while his Dad and I chatted about our breeding success. Expect more updates on our little dolphin in the weeks ahead. Maya also got some top quality time this weekend with her Aunts Becca and Katie. Maya goes to them as comfortably and eagerly as Conservatives go to an NRA fundraiser. Having them in this timezone will surely be fun for all of us in the months ahead.
So the New Brew Crew finished the season with two losses, but finish at 81-81. As I've been saying for quite some time, this is a team that excites me. For once, I'm really looking forward to next year - something I'm always jealous of hearing baseball fans from other parts of the country saying after a decent season. And to have something to hold onto from this past season I put a bid on and won a team set of this year's baseball cards on eBay. It cost me a whopping $1, plus shipping and handling. Not exactly Hall of Fame prices. But it just may be the best investment I've made in years. Rock on.
Friday, September 30, 2005
News backup
After spending last weekend in DC, Maya's settled back in nicely this week to her regular San Francisco schedule. Morning nap after breastfeeding early. Out into the Park to listen to podcasts and interact with the homeless people getting their days underway - Maya's still awaiting my podcast to begin this Fall and she looks forward to helping with the promotional work. Afternoon nap after taking down increasingly prodigious amounts of oatmeal and fruit/veggie goop. An early evening bath. Wrapped around time on her activity mat where she no longer seems interested in sitting up when she can toss toys out in front of her and then lunge after them. Maya's even occassionally begun a sort of backwards crawl maneuver when she gets splayed out on her tummy doing that sort of toy retrieval exercise. We're still waiting for official crawling to commence. Today I put up a playpen that I'd forgotten we'd received from one of Sarah's collegues and Maya seemed content in her new space. But I think she realizes it is little more than a glorified cage. Anyhoo, her head's also filling up with teeth - her two bottom front teeth will soon be somewhat unequally matched by one up above that's almost poking through. And she's chomping hard on her left side so we know something else is coming in there. The gleeful exclamations and hard-charging rants that she's been emitting for months have become much more insistent. About what, we're still unsure. No words yet. Unless "ahhhhummmarrrrguhmaaawaaah" is a word. So, as I've been somewhat less voluminous in presenting as of late, I hope all her fans realize that she's doing great and progressing accordingly. Tomorrow we start swimming lessons - expect some pics soon thereafter.
I haven't recapped our DC trip as of yet, so I'll step back just a bit to do so. The protest march and festival on Saturday were huge and largely well-contained. I hated to see all the coverage of the counter-protest bunk, especially because those groups amounted to at best a few hundred people (militant frat boys and off-kilter preacher-types holding aloft their Bibles). Maya did fine with the roiling masses and she's surely a vitriol-melting weapon against foes and unruly friends alike. And then on Sunday we did a tour through the National Zoo. The Giant Pandas were zonked out, the Great Apes were placid and no Komodo Dragons were viewable at the time we strolled on through. Yet Maya seemed playful and impressed with the spectacle, taking special note of the Pygmy hippos (one of nature's cutest ugly animals). We got to show her off to some close family friends - Robin and Paul and their middle daughter Megan. Good times. Even while the Pack fell to 0-3 and the nation mourned.
For those of you that check here for my take on the newz of the era outside of Mayaness, I can hardly keep up. This week especially. Tom Delay gets indicted. William Bennett makes himself the story once again by saying that one way to reduce the crime rate would be to abort all black babies. John "I won't comment on my even my middle name which may or may not be Glover" Roberts gets confirmed for life. Gross abuses of the billions being sent to the Gulf Coast coming to light. Judith Miller finally getting a get-out-of-jail-free card from what I believe is far from the only Bushie nicknamed "Scooter", Cheney's Chief I. Lewis Libby. The Guvuhnator vetoing the gay marriage bill here in Cullyforneeya. The start of the new TV season, featuring a less-than-tight "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and some crackin' good episodes of "Lost". The New Brew Crew pulling to 80-79 with 3 games to play en route to their first .500 season since '92 (I LOVE this team and for the first time since I had a long red ponytail look forward to next season). Stories, stories, everywhere. If August is the slowest news month of the year, September is the red hot opposite. And with everyone expecting a Dubya announcement of his new Sandra Day O'Connor replacement this coming week, October will only turn up the volume. In all this, it's easy to miss the fact that 13 American soldiers died in Iraq in the last 4 days and we're rapidly closing in on 2000 dead. People are paying attention, though. That you can count on. At least until the baseball playoffs begin this week. Kidding.
Thanks for checking in. Podcast ideas and technical specs for my offering are forming into a delicious sauce. If you've got suggestions on things I should include, let me know. Rock on.
I haven't recapped our DC trip as of yet, so I'll step back just a bit to do so. The protest march and festival on Saturday were huge and largely well-contained. I hated to see all the coverage of the counter-protest bunk, especially because those groups amounted to at best a few hundred people (militant frat boys and off-kilter preacher-types holding aloft their Bibles). Maya did fine with the roiling masses and she's surely a vitriol-melting weapon against foes and unruly friends alike. And then on Sunday we did a tour through the National Zoo. The Giant Pandas were zonked out, the Great Apes were placid and no Komodo Dragons were viewable at the time we strolled on through. Yet Maya seemed playful and impressed with the spectacle, taking special note of the Pygmy hippos (one of nature's cutest ugly animals). We got to show her off to some close family friends - Robin and Paul and their middle daughter Megan. Good times. Even while the Pack fell to 0-3 and the nation mourned.
For those of you that check here for my take on the newz of the era outside of Mayaness, I can hardly keep up. This week especially. Tom Delay gets indicted. William Bennett makes himself the story once again by saying that one way to reduce the crime rate would be to abort all black babies. John "I won't comment on my even my middle name which may or may not be Glover" Roberts gets confirmed for life. Gross abuses of the billions being sent to the Gulf Coast coming to light. Judith Miller finally getting a get-out-of-jail-free card from what I believe is far from the only Bushie nicknamed "Scooter", Cheney's Chief I. Lewis Libby. The Guvuhnator vetoing the gay marriage bill here in Cullyforneeya. The start of the new TV season, featuring a less-than-tight "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and some crackin' good episodes of "Lost". The New Brew Crew pulling to 80-79 with 3 games to play en route to their first .500 season since '92 (I LOVE this team and for the first time since I had a long red ponytail look forward to next season). Stories, stories, everywhere. If August is the slowest news month of the year, September is the red hot opposite. And with everyone expecting a Dubya announcement of his new Sandra Day O'Connor replacement this coming week, October will only turn up the volume. In all this, it's easy to miss the fact that 13 American soldiers died in Iraq in the last 4 days and we're rapidly closing in on 2000 dead. People are paying attention, though. That you can count on. At least until the baseball playoffs begin this week. Kidding.
Thanks for checking in. Podcast ideas and technical specs for my offering are forming into a delicious sauce. If you've got suggestions on things I should include, let me know. Rock on.
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