Caroline Kennedy

Hahaha...I won't type the name of the hateful religious group who plans to picket Heath Ledger's funeral if they can figure out the location, just like they picket those of Iraq soldiers. If there is a god, she'll take care of those loathesome humans. (Credit 23/6 - some of the new, most of thetime.)

Caroline Kennedy is an admirable, intelligent woman. She wrote this op-ed piece, published in today's NY Times. Her deliberate absence from the political arena makes her Obama endorsement that much more meaningful. I'm thrilled that Obama is not only getting the youth vote, but that youth are finally voting again. They're inheriting this poor world (and earth), and if they don't care, why should anyone?

I'm tickled that Obama is doing so well, and disappointed that Clinton's campaign is stooping to conquer. I'm especially saddened by Bill's behavior. I love Bill. And I'm not nearly alone, according to a poll I read (which I shouldn't quote because I can't find the source article, although I could have sworn it was in last week's on-line Washington Post, which I read whilst in a boring training class, during which the cadaverous-in-both-happearance-and-demeanor instructor read from slides) [pause for deep intake of breath], which demonstrated quite clearly how favorably both Republicans *and* Democrats recall his presidency.

I now read/hear more and more people echoing what two self-employed friends said some time ago, not referring to the campaigns: "I had more money in my pocket thank I do now [with Bush as president]." And one of those friends is downright apolitical. The apolitical friend also thinks Bush's presidency has been a train wreck.

I get to see my good friend Kathy next month. I have to get a spina tap to do it, but that's a small price to pay. The perks of her last job included an office across from the upcoming Democratic convention. I think that was her main regret when she decided to take her fabulous, well deserved new job.

Damn, I had another language pet peeve to snark about, but unfortunately I can't get it exactly right. I'm having a day in which I'm struggling for words. It has something to do with the speaker trying to convey the huge size of x, but negating it by saying 'sort of'' or something similar.

Along the lines of WTF, why doesn't Lieberman just switch to the Republican part? What a weasel. He should have been stripped of his committees &c when he was such a spoiler in 2006.

Enough for now.

Vote! (Unless you plan to vote Republican. And if that's the case, why are you reading this?)

George McGovern

George McGovern made sense in the '70s and he's relevant today. That he lost the election is as inexplicable as Kerry losing the last election. (Oh, yeah, one common theme is the Republican's reprehensible slimy tactics. God, I want the Democrats to get a spine this time.)

I may have been parroting my parents' views back when I had a "McGovern" button pinned on my pink corduroy jumper for an elementary school picture, but as I grew older and understood my parent's politics (and eventually argued successfully with my dad and convinced him to change his mind on a state proposition - a true coming-of-age moment), I was proud of them for their humane, well-reasoned and almost dangerous (we lived in Bakersfield, where dad inspire vitriolic letters to the editor in the local paper) political views. (The previous is a ridiculously long sentence, but I haven't the time to make it prettier.)

I'm reading Stephen Colbert's new book. It makes me laugh out loud. It's ironic that he's so ridiculous when all he's really doing is aping O'Reilly. Not that staying in character is an easy feat. How can anyone watch O'Reilly? My brother has a friend who gets stoned and watches O'Reilly with the volume off, lauging hysterically the whole time.

When did "wrong" become common usage? (As in "That's just wrong," or "It's wrong but it's funny.") I keep hearing people use it, and came across it several times in the last issue of Entertainment Weekly. People say it about, say, edgy humor that some might offensive. I think it may have started as more of an apologety (e.g. "I know I shouldn't think this is funny because it seems racist/sexist/what-have-youist, but I have to confess it slays me."), and now the usage is more of a reflex.

Just curious. I'm a nerd like that.

I attended a work-related class, and a speaker repeatedy said "not so much" when he provided comparisons. (Here's an example: "Blogs can be great - I found one today that's really well written, and informative. My blog? Not so much."). Then NPR ran a story about the origin of the phrase, They tracked it back as far as they could, which was to "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer."

As I said, I'm nerdy enough to find this interesting. In fact, I stayed in my car to hear the end of the story, even though I was parked in the driveway by then. (Kind of like when I was in HS and my best friend and I would hear the start of one of our favorite songs on the radio right when we got to my house, so we'd drive around the block until it was over. Obviously gas was cheaper. (Who am I trying to kid? We'd have been dumb enough to do it anyway.))

I love reading obituaries, and have a big, fat book of interesting NY Times obits. I understand there's volume of th London Observer's best obits. I must look for it. I keep meaning to write mine, but I can't decide whether to go all romantic and gothic (with choirs of angels carrying me to heaven on their feathered wings) or create a fabulous past, perhaps in a Zelig-like way.

introverts

This article resonates with me. (Thanks, Megan!)

I finished Sullivan's What a Woman Must Do. She excels at capturing a time and place - in this case, a small Minnesota town in the early fifties - but her novels, with the exception of The Cape Ann[e?], fulfill the promise. My ex grew up in Minot, ND, and his wonderful aunt has a home in Douglas (population 80). From the wonderful, funny stories they told, Sullivan paints an accurate picture of the setting, era, values and language.

I still wouldn' recommend the book. Read The Cape Ann instead...the characters are more fully realized.

Ha! I found my hook

Ha, a thought struck me. I can discuss books. Well, one sided discussions is an oxymoron, isn't it? You know what I mean, though (I'm referring to my scads of readers).

I spend too much money on books, but there are worse things to spend my salary on. I'd go to the library but I'm too disorganized and I know the fines would pile up. Plus, I'm very noisy (unintentionally). I'd probably get sushed alot. And finally, library hours are lousy and have been since Prop 13. (OK, I can hold a grudge, especially a political one. I'd have probably had a "Don't Blame Me - I Voted for Helen Gahagan Douglas" bumper sticker on my car.) No wonder we're a semi-literate society.

I just finished Queen of the Oddballs, by Hillary Carlip. It was inspiring to read about someone making a living fearlessly (juggling, writing scripts, etc.), but ultimately there wasn't any there there. She is, however, responsible for www.freshyarn.com, which publishes great essays.

Now I'm onto Sicken, by Julia Gregory, whose mother suffered from Munchausen by Proxy. Well, it's probably more accuate to say the author suffered from her mother's MBP. If I'm not feeling perky I'll have to postpone reading it , I'm afraid - that plus Leonard Cohen might make me open my veins lengthwise. Luckily I just received a book by Faith Sullivan (I loved The Cape Ann), and so I may resort to it first.

And speaking of me and apropos of nothing, unfortunately the picture of me you may have noticed is fairly accurate, except that a) I lost my glasses and need a new pair, and b) my cubicle has been upgraded to a horrific one with plexiglass dividers so everyone can watch and hear everyone else's business. But I'm moving into an office from wich I can see the bay and North Island. I'm so pleased I could purr.

And you should look at this website:

http://urbanprojekts.com/

He's a damned fine artist.

Gore Vidal - a man before his time

From An Evening With Richard Nixon,by Gore Vidal: "Over the years I have spoken about politics to quite a few audiences, and I'm continually struck by their collective ignorance - or perhaps lack of memory is a more tactful way of putting it. They don't know who did what last week, much less ten years ago, and they don't want to be told." Although Vidal was referring to Nixon, the sentiment rings true today just as it did in 1972.

"Mission accomplished," anyone?

3,907 members of the U.S. military have been killed in Iraq to date. I'll have to locate the number of Iraqi civilian deaths we're responsible for.

Please remember this: Obama didn't vote for the war.

OBAMA!

Galee, galay (sp)...Obama won the Iowa caucuses! I'm so excited I'm using exclamation points, which I usually eschew. Maybe voters are getting smarter and more involved.

To the left, pleas see where I'm going in two years, for my 50th bday.

I'm going with my friend, pictured at the top of this post. She's the chick. The guy is another friend. My friend will be celebrating her 40th. (She's a kid, but a very wise one.)

Back to immediately important news: You should contribute to Obama. Soon. Just a tad, if you can, to show your support. Really. He's received lots of small contributions that have added up, from people just like you. And if you don't support him one way or another, you will be forced to hush if we get Giuliani for president. AND if you don't see anything wrong with that, read http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/01/giuliani200801. If you think this country is owned by its wealthiest citizens, just watch as we continue our trip to hell in a handbasket.

I'm learning this new-fangled web bidness...

I plan to discuss whatever comes to mind.

I'm currently thinking about politics (I believe I'm supporting Obama but am pretty tired of the whole process). I just received a Gene Vincent CD after reading http://ladimensiondetrastos.blogspot.com/2007/12/behold-economic-solo.html Well damn, I thought I knew how to reference links in that clever way of re-titling it (you know, don't pretend you don't), but I can't. If anyone happens on this and understands my reference, let me know.

I have the handsomest cat on earth. I owe this blog a pic.