Love: A grave mental disease.
Plato, philosopher, 330? BC
I read where Hallmark says, 60 percent of customers buy their Valentine cards several days in advance. I can tell you that the other 40 percent where in my local Hallmark store. The line snaked throughout the little store.
Something completely out of character for me, I walked over to the Sees candy store to get a small box of chocolates. I didn’t even open the store door. It looked like an old college game of seeing how many people could fit into a telephone booth.
I told the wife readership numbers have been low this weekend. “Of course,” she responded, “everyone is out kissing butt.” She might be right both figuratively and literally.
Here are some apropos quotes on LOVE on this day when people are kissing butt:
Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop.
H.L. Mencken, journalist
Love: A mutual misunderstanding
Oscar Wilde, playwright
Love: A narcissism shared by two
Rita Mae Brown, author and social activist
Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties
Jules Renard, writer
Monday, February 14, 2005
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Because you can't go around telling people how large your penis is.
This just in -- for all you guys who want to draw attention to the enormity of your package but are concerned that saying things like "my junk is huge" sounds a little obnoxious -- now you can let your truck do the talking.
The Bad Boy Heavy Muscle Truck can drive through 10 feet of water and climb a 60-degree grade, and with one look the biker chicks will know you've got a full load in your pants. The good kind, that is. The Bad Boy also features infrared cameras that peer through darkness, and just screams, "The guys who drives me has both length and girth. And his dick can see in the dark."
Daniel Ayres, president and CEO of Homeland Defense Vehicles LLC and its Bad Boy Trucks division, probably wanted to say (but didn't), "This truck is perfect for guys like me, who have enormous love organs but don't know how to tell the chicks at the local truck stop without sounding like they're bragging. Becuase it's just plain massive, you know? The truck, I mean. And my little friend. And by little, I mean big." (Again -- he didn't say it, but we're sure he wanted to.)
What's the market for a penis-substitute such as this? Civilians with disposable cash and a hankering for more protection from the outside world. And a need to subtly tell that same world about the Louisville Slugger in their pants.
The base price of $225,000, which gets you six tons of towing strength and the ability to keep rolling even with a quarter-sized hole in the tire's sidewall. Much like your wang, we're sure. For $750,000, buyers can get the fully loaded version that can, Ayres said, detect and block out fallout from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons by over-pressurizing the cab with filtered, clean air. Keeping your unit safe for the ladies.
[Source]
The Misanthrope – Sunday’s Lighter Side
The structure of a play is always the story of how the birds came home to roost.
Arthur Miller (1915 - 2005), playwright
Notes on Arthur Miller. I read the entire news obituary/biography of Arthur Miller and a couple of items struck me. His line a few weeks after the opening of his play “Death of a Salesman,” when he said, “I believe that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were.” The other line was from a critic from the Saturday Review, when he described the character of Willy Loman as “a little man sentenced to discover his smallness rather than a big man undone by his greatness.”
The lines make me think that so many Republicans who seem heartless and condemn those who have fallen upon hard times as people who are too lazy or simply trying to milk the system without working, may one day find out just how small and vulnerable they are.
More on Miller. As writers, I suspect we are interesting in how the greats accomplish their work. Miller would get up every morning and write. During the writing of "Death of a Salesman," he worked all day and night. When he went to sleep he found himself crying for Willie Loman. When I heard Pam Houston speak last week, she said that her writing style was to write while the idea was strong, but she did not write everyday on a schedule. She said that it might be a few weeks between writing, and one time it was a three month stretch that she did not write and that scared her.
Traffic. I saw a California Highway Patrol (CHP) use his loud speaker to tell a driver to move into the far right lane if they wanted to drive slowly. I would like to see a CHP simply tell a speeder to slow down. Driving slower than the speed limit and impeding the flow of traffic is just as dangerous as speeding, so the jerk should have received a ticket just as any speeder would have.
Daughter. Daughter is in Ireland. I have not heard from her since Thursday, briefly.
Stage plays are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly Spectacles, and most pernicious Corruptions, condemned in all ages, as intolerable Mischiefs to Churches, to Republickes, to the manners, mindes and soules of men.
William Prynne (1600 - 1669), English pamphleteer and early forbearer to the current Republican Party
Arthur Miller (1915 - 2005), playwright
Notes on Arthur Miller. I read the entire news obituary/biography of Arthur Miller and a couple of items struck me. His line a few weeks after the opening of his play “Death of a Salesman,” when he said, “I believe that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were.” The other line was from a critic from the Saturday Review, when he described the character of Willy Loman as “a little man sentenced to discover his smallness rather than a big man undone by his greatness.”
The lines make me think that so many Republicans who seem heartless and condemn those who have fallen upon hard times as people who are too lazy or simply trying to milk the system without working, may one day find out just how small and vulnerable they are.
More on Miller. As writers, I suspect we are interesting in how the greats accomplish their work. Miller would get up every morning and write. During the writing of "Death of a Salesman," he worked all day and night. When he went to sleep he found himself crying for Willie Loman. When I heard Pam Houston speak last week, she said that her writing style was to write while the idea was strong, but she did not write everyday on a schedule. She said that it might be a few weeks between writing, and one time it was a three month stretch that she did not write and that scared her.
Traffic. I saw a California Highway Patrol (CHP) use his loud speaker to tell a driver to move into the far right lane if they wanted to drive slowly. I would like to see a CHP simply tell a speeder to slow down. Driving slower than the speed limit and impeding the flow of traffic is just as dangerous as speeding, so the jerk should have received a ticket just as any speeder would have.
Daughter. Daughter is in Ireland. I have not heard from her since Thursday, briefly.
Stage plays are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly Spectacles, and most pernicious Corruptions, condemned in all ages, as intolerable Mischiefs to Churches, to Republickes, to the manners, mindes and soules of men.
William Prynne (1600 - 1669), English pamphleteer and early forbearer to the current Republican Party
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Freedom of Speech?
We must no longer be afraid of the multifarious views and opinions expressed by the people.
Suharto, Indonesian statesman
What is the difference between Ward Churchill and Eason Jordan?
Churchill, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder -- has compared American policy in Iraq to that of Nazi Germany. He also referred to Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the plan to exterminate the Jews, when he called the trade center victims ''little Eichmanns.''
Jordan, a senior executive at CNN who was responsible for coordinating the cable network's Iraq coverage, resigned abruptly last night, citing a journalistic tempest he touched off during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, late last month in which he appeared to suggest that United States troops had deliberately aimed at journalists, killing some.
One keeps his job, the other resigns, but we suspect he was asked to resign. In the corporate world, free speech does not exist, and for professors it is certainly at risk. Since when is having an opinion that on its surface appears outrageous and upon further inspection may have a kernel of truth, which allows the writer or speaker to formulate an attention-grabbing headline an objectionable offense worthy of dismissal or discipline? What happened to just ignoring someone?
Suharto, Indonesian statesman
What is the difference between Ward Churchill and Eason Jordan?
Churchill, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder -- has compared American policy in Iraq to that of Nazi Germany. He also referred to Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the plan to exterminate the Jews, when he called the trade center victims ''little Eichmanns.''
Jordan, a senior executive at CNN who was responsible for coordinating the cable network's Iraq coverage, resigned abruptly last night, citing a journalistic tempest he touched off during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, late last month in which he appeared to suggest that United States troops had deliberately aimed at journalists, killing some.
One keeps his job, the other resigns, but we suspect he was asked to resign. In the corporate world, free speech does not exist, and for professors it is certainly at risk. Since when is having an opinion that on its surface appears outrageous and upon further inspection may have a kernel of truth, which allows the writer or speaker to formulate an attention-grabbing headline an objectionable offense worthy of dismissal or discipline? What happened to just ignoring someone?
Friday, February 11, 2005
On The Mark -- Hypocrisy Decade
Talk about dumbing down, it's gotten so bad that governmental officials, from all points across the world, now think that the public (of any nationality) will buy anything that's said.
Our "good friend and ally," Saudi Arabia, held its first "nationwide" elections for municipal councils this week. It was nationwide in geography only because women were not allowed to run for office. In fact, they were banned from voting, too.
When a Saudi official was asked why women were not allowed to vote, his response was that THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH VOTING BOOTHS FOR WOMEN.
When historians looked back on this period, it will be known as the "Hypocrisy Decade."
(Anybody know a good handyman? Have him/her call Saudi Arabia to see if they want any help getting some voting booths built.)
Our "good friend and ally," Saudi Arabia, held its first "nationwide" elections for municipal councils this week. It was nationwide in geography only because women were not allowed to run for office. In fact, they were banned from voting, too.
When a Saudi official was asked why women were not allowed to vote, his response was that THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH VOTING BOOTHS FOR WOMEN.
When historians looked back on this period, it will be known as the "Hypocrisy Decade."
(Anybody know a good handyman? Have him/her call Saudi Arabia to see if they want any help getting some voting booths built.)
On The Mark -- Speaking of Traffic...Attention All Calif. Drivers
You may not be aware of a new law that took effect Jan. 1. While operating your car, if you turn on your windshield wipers -- even at the intermitten level -- you must also turn on your headlights. If your headlights are not on at the same time, you face a $45 fine (first offense) if caught, you scofflaw, you.
New traffic laws for the CHP are like getting new toys at Christmas. One can't wait to try them out.
New traffic laws for the CHP are like getting new toys at Christmas. One can't wait to try them out.
Traffic-- A Misanthropic Rant
Rush hour: that hour when traffic is almost at a standstill.
J. C. Morton (1893 - 1979), journalist
The following are three traffic incidents that incurred this workweek.
Incident #3. Traffic in Southern California is absolutely abominable. B2 and I decided to carpool as a way to beat the congestion to a meeting on Thursday. Hah. We had to take the San Diego Freeway. The carpool lane was as backed up as a bad septic tank and virtually stationary. On the return trip, we encountered the same constipated movement, which inspired B2 to say, he couldn’t light a strike-anywhere style match, based on the speed we are traveling. We did encountered one short stretch of carpool line openness and we were howling with joy, sounding like Howard Dean after losing a primary.
Incident #2. The other morning, the driver of the car in the lane to my right neglected to turn his flab-filled head to notice that my car occupied the space where he placed his car. I had to maneuver onto the shoulder of the road while blasting my car horn. He refused to acknowledge his mistake, so I politely pulled along side this 300-pound, ponytail wearing, goatee driver and told him to pay attention. Then, politely screamed into his half rolled-up window (please note the positive outlook here, the window was half up as opposed to half down) to pay attention, then civilly pointed out he was overweight using the vulgar vernacular term for fornication as a noun.
Incident #1. The capper to a horrifying week of traffic was the driver of an older model white Ford van, who was unhappy that I had to squeeze in front of him in order to get on the transition bridge from the 405 to the 118. I had planned to apologize (the courtesy thank you wave to the rearview mirror type of thing), but he was already riding my bumper, so I chose to ignore him. Apparently he wanted more from me, probably my life. He decided to try and run me off the bridge. I was very cool on the outside. I held my ground, because what the hell else could I do, and only held the wheel with one hand. Inside, I was sweating bullets, wishing I had a shoulder-held missile launcher to fire into the cab of his van. He eventually cut me at the bottom of the bridge, but I picked up my cell phone and pretended to describe what just occurred with hand signals and he believed that I was calling the police and giving his license number, because he backed off rather quickly and angrily gestured to me with his hand. I just lifted my arm in an “oh well” manner to further infuriate him and drove on.
That so far has been my driving week, but other than the bridge incident, it is all rather common out here. It’s no wonder I want to be in Canada in front of the fireplace.
J. C. Morton (1893 - 1979), journalist
The following are three traffic incidents that incurred this workweek.
Incident #3. Traffic in Southern California is absolutely abominable. B2 and I decided to carpool as a way to beat the congestion to a meeting on Thursday. Hah. We had to take the San Diego Freeway. The carpool lane was as backed up as a bad septic tank and virtually stationary. On the return trip, we encountered the same constipated movement, which inspired B2 to say, he couldn’t light a strike-anywhere style match, based on the speed we are traveling. We did encountered one short stretch of carpool line openness and we were howling with joy, sounding like Howard Dean after losing a primary.
Incident #2. The other morning, the driver of the car in the lane to my right neglected to turn his flab-filled head to notice that my car occupied the space where he placed his car. I had to maneuver onto the shoulder of the road while blasting my car horn. He refused to acknowledge his mistake, so I politely pulled along side this 300-pound, ponytail wearing, goatee driver and told him to pay attention. Then, politely screamed into his half rolled-up window (please note the positive outlook here, the window was half up as opposed to half down) to pay attention, then civilly pointed out he was overweight using the vulgar vernacular term for fornication as a noun.
Incident #1. The capper to a horrifying week of traffic was the driver of an older model white Ford van, who was unhappy that I had to squeeze in front of him in order to get on the transition bridge from the 405 to the 118. I had planned to apologize (the courtesy thank you wave to the rearview mirror type of thing), but he was already riding my bumper, so I chose to ignore him. Apparently he wanted more from me, probably my life. He decided to try and run me off the bridge. I was very cool on the outside. I held my ground, because what the hell else could I do, and only held the wheel with one hand. Inside, I was sweating bullets, wishing I had a shoulder-held missile launcher to fire into the cab of his van. He eventually cut me at the bottom of the bridge, but I picked up my cell phone and pretended to describe what just occurred with hand signals and he believed that I was calling the police and giving his license number, because he backed off rather quickly and angrily gestured to me with his hand. I just lifted my arm in an “oh well” manner to further infuriate him and drove on.
That so far has been my driving week, but other than the bridge incident, it is all rather common out here. It’s no wonder I want to be in Canada in front of the fireplace.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Thank you, American Airlines.
Thank you, American Airlines.
Thank you for reminding me that we Americans are too complacent, and too comfortable with the status quo. Thank you for reminding me that change is necessary, change is inevitable, and change is good.
Thank you for reminding me that physical pleasure is transitory and, in the long run, unsatisfying. Thank you for reminding me that pursuits of the intellect are not helped, and are often hindered, by indulgences of the flesh.
Thank you, American Airlines, for reminding me that true enlightenment can only come when I free myself of an unhealthy reliance on the crutch of comfort. Thank you for reminding me that satori is a state of mind, a mental state -- not a physical one.
[Source: American Airlines eliminates pillows on domestic flights.]
On The Mark -- Broken Heart Syndrome
I heard on the radio yesterday (it may be in the papers today, which I haven't read yet) that doctors have discovered a new heart disease, which for the public they're calling Broken Heart Syndrome.
Researchers have found that there have been cases where patients have been misdiagnosed as having had a heart attack or congestive heart failure. When Broken Heart Syndrome strikes, the patient loses consciousness and the heart stops beating, much like a heart attack. But in these cases there is no heart muscle damage and the occurrence was not the result of artery blockage.
In all the cases (although later in the story the reporter said "in almost all cases"), the patient was revived and it was later discovered that the episode was caused by the heart being attacked violently by hormones that were released when the patient experienced something suddenly that was sad or alarming, thus its name. Some examples cited were hearing about the death of a loved one, or finding out your spouse is cheating on you.
The report also said that all the known cases involved women only. One researcher said he believes this is the case because women have a more sophisticated and intricate connection between the brain and the heart.
Researchers have found that there have been cases where patients have been misdiagnosed as having had a heart attack or congestive heart failure. When Broken Heart Syndrome strikes, the patient loses consciousness and the heart stops beating, much like a heart attack. But in these cases there is no heart muscle damage and the occurrence was not the result of artery blockage.
In all the cases (although later in the story the reporter said "in almost all cases"), the patient was revived and it was later discovered that the episode was caused by the heart being attacked violently by hormones that were released when the patient experienced something suddenly that was sad or alarming, thus its name. Some examples cited were hearing about the death of a loved one, or finding out your spouse is cheating on you.
The report also said that all the known cases involved women only. One researcher said he believes this is the case because women have a more sophisticated and intricate connection between the brain and the heart.
Resurfaced from The Misanthrope’s Desk – Orville Replies
I live for meeting with the Suits. I love them because I know they had a really boring week and I walk in there with my orange-velvet leggings and drop popcorn in my cleavage and then fish it out and eat it.
Madonna, pop singer
Hunt-Wesson Foods, Inc.
1645 West Valencia Drive
Fullerton, California 92634-5003
C.W. Blodgett
Director, Corporate Relations
March 18, 1985
Mr. Misanthrope (name has been changed):
We have received your letter of March 12, 1985 addressed to Mr. Orville Redenbacher which follows up on your initial correspondence of January 2, 1985. We apologize for any inconvenience on your part, but we have no record of receiving your January 2nd correspondence.
We are enclosing a copy of the “Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn Book” which is filled with historical information, along with a wide range of data bout Mr. Redenbacher and his famous popping corn. He is indeed a real person and his actual name is Orville Redenbacher. We hope you enjoy reading this. We are also enclosing an autographed picture of Orville, along with a coupon for our Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn for your use and enjoyment.
Thank you for letting us hear from you again. We apologize for the delay in responding.
Very truly yours,
C.W. Blodgett
Director, Corporate Relations
CWB:kj
enc.
Post Script: I misplaced the photo and the history or they were a casualty of the’94 earthquake. As I recall, the photo was cheap and mechanically signed, probably similar to how Donald Rumsfeld signs letters to families of dead soldiers.
Madonna, pop singer
Hunt-Wesson Foods, Inc.
1645 West Valencia Drive
Fullerton, California 92634-5003
C.W. Blodgett
Director, Corporate Relations
March 18, 1985
Mr. Misanthrope (name has been changed):
We have received your letter of March 12, 1985 addressed to Mr. Orville Redenbacher which follows up on your initial correspondence of January 2, 1985. We apologize for any inconvenience on your part, but we have no record of receiving your January 2nd correspondence.
We are enclosing a copy of the “Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn Book” which is filled with historical information, along with a wide range of data bout Mr. Redenbacher and his famous popping corn. He is indeed a real person and his actual name is Orville Redenbacher. We hope you enjoy reading this. We are also enclosing an autographed picture of Orville, along with a coupon for our Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn for your use and enjoyment.
Thank you for letting us hear from you again. We apologize for the delay in responding.
Very truly yours,
C.W. Blodgett
Director, Corporate Relations
CWB:kj
enc.
Post Script: I misplaced the photo and the history or they were a casualty of the’94 earthquake. As I recall, the photo was cheap and mechanically signed, probably similar to how Donald Rumsfeld signs letters to families of dead soldiers.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Here We Go Again
Military glory—the attractive rainbow that rises in showers of blood.
Abraham Lincoln (1809–65), U.S. president
In today’s Washington Post, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that Iran must live up to international obligations aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons "or next steps are in the offing.
"I believe that everyone is telling the Iranians that they're going to have to live up to their international obligations, or next steps are in the offing," Rice said in response to a question on whether the Europeans have delivered the nonproliferation message strongly enough. "And I think everyone understands what next steps mean." She added that under International Atomic Energy Agency statutes, Iran "has to be referred to the U.N. Security Council" if it does not meet its obligations.
"The Iranians should take the opportunity that the Europeans are giving them," Rice said. "I think the message is there. The Iranians need to get that message. And we can certainly always remind them that there are other steps that the international community has at its disposal should they not be prepared to live up to these obligations."
Abraham Lincoln (1809–65), U.S. president
In today’s Washington Post, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that Iran must live up to international obligations aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons "or next steps are in the offing.
"I believe that everyone is telling the Iranians that they're going to have to live up to their international obligations, or next steps are in the offing," Rice said in response to a question on whether the Europeans have delivered the nonproliferation message strongly enough. "And I think everyone understands what next steps mean." She added that under International Atomic Energy Agency statutes, Iran "has to be referred to the U.N. Security Council" if it does not meet its obligations.
"The Iranians should take the opportunity that the Europeans are giving them," Rice said. "I think the message is there. The Iranians need to get that message. And we can certainly always remind them that there are other steps that the international community has at its disposal should they not be prepared to live up to these obligations."
Resurfaced from The Misanthrope’s Desk – Orville Part II
Clarity is the politeness of the man of letters.
Jules Renard (1864 - 1910), writer
March 12, 1985
Hunt-Wesson Foods, Inc.
c/o Orville Redenbacher
Fullerton, California 92634
Dear Mr. Redenbacher or Whomever:
Why have I not received an answer to my letter that was sent January 2, 1985?
Who cares if there is an Orville Redenbacher or not? I would just like the courtesy of an answer!
Sincerely,
The Misanthrope
Former Orville Redenbacher Popping Corn Eater!
P.S. I have enclosed a copy of my original letter, just in case it was lost in the mail.
Jules Renard (1864 - 1910), writer
March 12, 1985
Hunt-Wesson Foods, Inc.
c/o Orville Redenbacher
Fullerton, California 92634
Dear Mr. Redenbacher or Whomever:
Why have I not received an answer to my letter that was sent January 2, 1985?
Who cares if there is an Orville Redenbacher or not? I would just like the courtesy of an answer!
Sincerely,
The Misanthrope
Former Orville Redenbacher Popping Corn Eater!
P.S. I have enclosed a copy of my original letter, just in case it was lost in the mail.
Spam Ditty
Deirdre Flint is a talented singer-songwriter that my friend Matt turned us on to -- her "Bridesmaid Dress" song is, in fact, on my eldest daughter's latest mix CD.
Deirdre has a new song on her website that is about spam email, and it's funny -- so you should listen to it. Download it here.
Resurfaced From The Misanthrope's Desk
Don't you like writing letters? I do because it's such a swell way to keep from working and yet feel you've done something.
Ernest Hemingway (1899 - 1961), writer
Some of you may remember Lazlo Toth. He wrote letters to stars, dignitaries, and chairmen of the country's most powerful organizations. Toth was really Don Novello's alter ego who pestered his victims for photographs, offered outlandish advice, fired off strange inquiries, and more. The strangest part? Practically everyone answered, leaving Toth with a hilarious collection of outlandish correspondence unmatched in the history of American letters.
I was so inspired by his book I wrote a few of my own letters back in the 1980s. I will post them over the next few days and the replies:
January 2, 1985
Hunt-Wesson Foods, Inc.
c/o Orville Redenbacher
Fullerton, California 92634
Dear Mr. Redenbacher:
I have my doubts that you are a real person, but I will write this letter as If I am talking to you.
My concern is you are some figment of an advertising person’s imagination such as Betty Crocker. I enjoy popping corn immensely. It is just utopia to watch a good movie, eat Orville Redenbacher popping corn, and wash it down with a large glass of water.
However, as I was preparing the premium popping corn I asked myself, my friends, my mother and anyone else who I thought might know the answer – is there really an Orville Redenbacher and why does he wear the funny bow tie?
My questions are as follows:
- Why are you called Orville Redenbacher?
- Why would you devote your life to experimenting with popcorn?
- The label says every popping corn is sorted and polished. I find it hard to believe every kernel is individually polished. Does that mean that there is some plant outside the United States hiring cheap labor to was each kernel and ship it back?
- Also, your slogan: “You’ll like it better or my name isn’t …” I want to know what you will call yourself if someone prefers Jiffy?
- Lastly, I would like an autographed picture of you to prove this is not some Betty Crocker type of fake.
I am sorry Orville, if you are real, to put you and your claims to the test, but I believe in honesty in advertising.
Sincerely,
The Misanthrope (obviously, this is a pseudonym, but I signed the original, now I wished I had not)
Popping Corn Eater
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
On The Mark -- Frozen in Time
It was a small, two-paragraph story tucked away in the back pages of the newspaper, yet has huge implications. The headline, "Infertile Couple Can Sue for Wrongful Death." The Illinois couple had a frozen embryo at a fertility clinic. It was accidentally destroyed. Cook County Judge Jeffrey Lawrence said, "a pre-embryo is a human being...whether or not it is implanted in its mother's womb." The judge said the couple is as entitled to seek compensation as any parents whose child had been killed.
I'm not an attorney, but I'd say it's little cases like this one that set precedent and can create the standard for decisions all over the country. This decision could have major implications in many areas, such as embryonic stem-cell research, for example.
Wasn't it President Bush in his state of the union address who said that judges have a duty to faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench?
I'm not an attorney, but I'd say it's little cases like this one that set precedent and can create the standard for decisions all over the country. This decision could have major implications in many areas, such as embryonic stem-cell research, for example.
Wasn't it President Bush in his state of the union address who said that judges have a duty to faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench?
Capos and Lieutenants
Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82), essayist
The Republican National Committee operates as the capo for President Bush. Bush goes out in public and vows to be a uniter (which we all heard for four previous years) and this country has never been as divided since the Civil War. Then the RNC sends out a scathing letter attacking Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s record. There is nothing wrong with attacking the opposition’s record, but don’t pretend to be a nice guy as you attempt to wrap the piano wire around his neck. All the while Consigliere General Alberto Gonzales defends the positions.
Bush repeatedly has said he wants to work with Democrats, most recently during his State of the Union speech last week, Reid noted in a speech on the Senate floor.
"Why didn't he stand and tell the American people last Wednesday that one of the first items of business we were going to do in Washington is send out a hit piece on the Democratic leader?" Reid said.
According to the Associated Press report, Reid said, The RNC "is the president's organization." "He can't say one thing to the American people and then ... send out scurrilous letters saying that I'm a bad guy. In great detail. I mean, is President George Bush a man of his word?"
We all know Bush may say what he means, but all the capos and lieutenants hoping to become made men or women of his mafia-oriented administration carry out the acts of destruction and contumelious lies.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82), essayist
The Republican National Committee operates as the capo for President Bush. Bush goes out in public and vows to be a uniter (which we all heard for four previous years) and this country has never been as divided since the Civil War. Then the RNC sends out a scathing letter attacking Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s record. There is nothing wrong with attacking the opposition’s record, but don’t pretend to be a nice guy as you attempt to wrap the piano wire around his neck. All the while Consigliere General Alberto Gonzales defends the positions.
Bush repeatedly has said he wants to work with Democrats, most recently during his State of the Union speech last week, Reid noted in a speech on the Senate floor.
"Why didn't he stand and tell the American people last Wednesday that one of the first items of business we were going to do in Washington is send out a hit piece on the Democratic leader?" Reid said.
According to the Associated Press report, Reid said, The RNC "is the president's organization." "He can't say one thing to the American people and then ... send out scurrilous letters saying that I'm a bad guy. In great detail. I mean, is President George Bush a man of his word?"
We all know Bush may say what he means, but all the capos and lieutenants hoping to become made men or women of his mafia-oriented administration carry out the acts of destruction and contumelious lies.
Truce in the Middle East
Umm.. Arik? Could you look less excited?
On the other hand, he certainly sounds pleased: "Today, in my meeting with Chairman Abbas, we agreed that all Palestinians will stop all acts of violence against all Israelis everywhere, and, at the same time, Israel will cease all its military activity against all Palestinians everywhere."
[You can read about the truce and decide for yourself whether Arik is just a glass-half-empty sort of guy inHaAretz.]
UPDATE
Israelly Cool sheds some light on Arik's expression with this quotation from "the Hamas representative in Lebanon" (I wonder what his office looks like):
The Hamas representative in Lebanon said shortly after the summit that his group will not be bound by the cease-fire declarations.
"The talk about what the leader of the Palestinian Authority called a cessation of acts of violence is not binding on the resistance because this is a unilateral stand and was not the result of the outcome of an intra-Palestinian dialogue as has been agreed previously," Hamdan told The Associated Press.
And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon
I'm a big sci-fi reader (see earlier post about being a geek), and Cory Doctorow is one of my favorite sci-fi writers; I can't say enough about Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Eastern Standard Tribe and A Place So Foreign. But that's not what I'm blogging about today.
Cory co-blogs at BoingBoing.net, which we proudly link to as "a directory of wonderful things"; I hit it at least once a day, if not twice or even three times. And yesterday he had an excerpt from a great story by Paul Di Filippo called And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon, which is available on-line for you to read, and which I suggest you go read right now. Right here. And here's an excerpt, to get you excited:
Cory co-blogs at BoingBoing.net, which we proudly link to as "a directory of wonderful things"; I hit it at least once a day, if not twice or even three times. And yesterday he had an excerpt from a great story by Paul Di Filippo called And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon, which is available on-line for you to read, and which I suggest you go read right now. Right here. And here's an excerpt, to get you excited:
Blebs had been around for about twenty years now, almost as long as I had been alive. Their roots could be traced back to several decisions made by manufacturers—decisions which, separately, were completely intelligent, foresighted, and well conceived, but which, synergistically, had caused unintended consequences—and to one insidious hack.
The first decision had been to implant silicon RFID chips into every appliance and product and consumable sold. These first chips, small as a flake of pepper, were simple transceivers that merely aided inventory tracking and retail sales by announcing to any suitable device the product's specs and location. But when new generations of chips using adaptive circuitry had gotten cheaper and more plentiful, industry had decided to install them in place of the simpler tags.
At that point millions of common, everyday objects—your toothbrush, your coffee maker, your shoes, the box of cereal on your shelf—began to exhibit massive processing power and interobject communication. Your wristwatch could monitor your sweat and tell your refrigerator to brew up some electrolyte-replenishing drink. Your bedsheets could inform the clothes-washer of the right settings to get them the cleanest. (The circuitry of the newest chips was built out of undamageable and pliable buckytubes.) So far, so good. Life was made easier for everyone.
Then came the Volition Bug.
What My Five-Year-Old Is Listening To
My five-year-old has her own CD player in her room. No phone, yet, and no TV. And no Nintendo anywhere in the house. But she's gotta have her tunes, right? So here's the playlist on her latest CD (burned by yours truly); incidentally, all of these songs were hand-picked by her.
The Spongebob Squarepants Theme SongYou'll note that I've included just a few hyperlinks; I find that it's disheartening to see too many places to visit. Enjoy!
There Is (Boxcar Racer)
Da Da Da (Trio)
Who Woke Snow White Up? (Baha Men)
What I Like About You (The Romantics)
Beep Beep (The Playmates)
YMCA (The Village People)
Kiss Me Deadly (Lita Ford)
Wooly Bully (Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs)
Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid)
Le Banana Split (Sandra Lou)
That's My Name (Bear in the Big Blue House)
Who Let the Dogs Out? (Baha Men)
Lollipop (The Sensations)
The Bridesmaid Dress Song (Deirdre Flint)
What Do I Do? (Jimmie's Chicken Shack)
Pop Music (Devo)
Chantilly Lace (The Big Bopper)
Elvira (The Oak Ridge Boys)
A Whole New World (Aladdin and Jasmine)
The Tide is High (Blondie)
Sk8r Boi (Avril Lavigne)
Robot Parade (They Might Be Giants)
Me Lost Me Cookie at the Disco (Cookie Monster)
Monday, February 07, 2005
Red Bull, Kabbalah, and Ashton Kutcher
We at Toner Mishap extend a hearty thanks to the gang at JewSchool for the tip on this story. But first, a word to the wise: whenever you read the word "kabbalah" in the following news item, please substitute "commercial venture masquerading as kabbalah"; thanks.
The merchandising-minded spiritualists at the trendy Kabbalah Center are launching a new Kabbalah energy drink, and they’re hoping that Kabbalah devotee Ashton Kutcher will be the face of the new beverage.The whole story is part of the gossip pages at MSNBC.
“We’re going after the Red Bull market,” said spokesman Darin Ezra. “But Kabbalah Energy Drink tastes better. And it’s infused with Kabbalah water, which is holy water.” So does it have mystical healing powers, like Kabbalah water is supposed to? “I’m not going to comment on that,” said Ezra.
P.S. From the Red Bull website: "Red Bull® energy drink is kosher. This has been certified by the KF FEDERATION OF SYNAGOGUES, Rabbi M.D. Elzas, LONDON. Before issuing this certificate the production site and the origin of the ingredients were inspected and checked by an official of the Federation."
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