This guy wants to be your next governor.

This guy is crazy. He's a good ol' boy that no one likes, who doesn't give a crap that no one likes him because he just wants to be known for being crazy (but no one knows his name).

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/NEWS01/703281206

Let's Go, Hoyas!

Thanks to Melissa for the link to this report on the celebrations following Georgetown's win over Carolina. These are some really drunk students...

http://www.wusa9.com/video/player.aspx?aid=42019&sid=56954&bw=hi&cat=2

R.I.P. Jake the Diamond Dog

Jake the Diamond Dog suffered a stroke on March 18 and died the next day. The 14-year-old golden retriever was best known for performing at Louisville Bats games. "My new dog has taken over," said owner Jeff Marchal of Harrod, Ohio, "but it's not Jake." (The canine will keep the same moniker as his predecessor.) "I thought I was big, I thought I was tough, but I'll tell you what, it's been a rough road," Marchal said.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/COLUMNISTS18/703270306/1062

Protesting Mohler

Protesters from Soulforce (http://www.soulforce.org/) held a sit-in yesterday to protest Al Mohler's recent comments.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703270394

I spy..

a businessman using his lunchbreak to practice his banjo. Only in Kentucky.

"The Album, A Commodity in Disfavor"

The future looks bleak for the album, as seen in this New York Times article, "The Album, A Commodity in Disfavor."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/business/media/26music.html

Although there might be hope. Maybe that's why Radiohead is thinking of moving to Starbucks' label...

Many music executives dispute the idea that the album will disappear. In particular, they say, fans of jazz, classical, opera and certain rock (bands like Radiohead and Tool) will demand album-length listening experiences for many years to come.

What women want

I don't know if I'll watch this special on twentysomething women at 8 tonight on Lifetime, but I'm glad that it's out there. Too bad it has to be on "Lifetime Television for Women," known for its soap-opera portrayals of women (many of whome seem to have, at one time, acted on 90210, Melrose Place, or Saved by the Bell) being victimized by countless tormentors.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070326/COLUMNISTS15/703260358/1048

So true

This OPUS cartoon was published in yesterday's comics: http://www.comics.com/wash/opus/index.html

I am already so sick of the run-up to the election, and we aren't even halfway done with 2007. While the media acknowledges that it is ridiculously early in the race to be polling (or even discussing?), they continue to cover (nonstop) the candidates, their speeches, spats, and youtube political ads. I understand that the primaries have been moved even earlier for this election, but come on!

I don't know what to think about the Elizabeth Edwards cancer situation, but I do know that I had no interest in watching the 60 Minutes interview with her and John Edwards last night. Is that callous? Was he simply explaining a very touchy situation, or was he using his wife to get a little more spotlight? Any publicity is good publicity? If that's the case, it's disgusting.

And I can't believe I am saying this, but I don't know if I would vote for Hillary. Maybe I do need the constant media coverage to figure it out. But somehow I don't think so. Instead, I might become so disgusted that I boycott. But what good would that do anybody?

I heard the following report on NPR during my ride home last week. It really boggles the mind how much money is being spent to influence and sway the relatively few people who care at this early stage in the race.

All Things Considered, March 19, 2007 · It may be 11 months before the Iowa caucuses, but presidential campaigns are busy raising — and spending — money. Some of the brightest stars in U.S. politics are plenty busy, as records with the Federal Election Commission show. Wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy everyone who cares a new car?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8997422

Starbucks + Radiohead = ?

Starbucks is in talks with Radiohead to record on its new label, Hear Music. Paul McCartney will be the first to release a CD with the coffee giant, with material out this summer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/r_m/2007/03/23/2007-03-23_jayz_exec_deal_looks_def_jammed.html

I expected this from McCartney, or even from someone like Norah Jones, but Radiohead? Disappointment.

Chicago

Sarah and Judith around the corner from Sarah's apartment.

Sarah and Christy

Sarah and Me waiting for the El

Sarah, the constant in all of these pictures, hosted Christy, Judith, and me at her apartment in Chicago this weekend for a weekend of shopping for bridesmaid's dresses for Christy's upcoming wedding in August. Miraculously, we found a dress at the second store we tried. Unheard of, I know. http://www.anntaylor.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&RestartFlow=t&Section_Id=9794&Product_Id=825110

The rest of the afternoon we spent fighting off the hordes of rich people crazed by the Spring shopping bug who were fighting over button-down shirts at Banana republic's store-wide sale and preppy plaid shorts in JCrew. When our feet couldn't take any more abuse (and we felt like drop-kicking the little girls in braids who were carrying their American Girls dolls in little backpacks, never mind that they looked like they were at least 12 years old), we went to see The Namesake, a movie I would highly recommend. The general consensus among the four of us was that the movie was good, although Sarah liked the book better. Independent of the book, though, the movie was entertaining, touching, and sad. I do agree with Sarah that Gogol might have been a little sexier, but I think Kal Penn did a pretty good job. Here's the NY Times review. http://movies2.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/movies/09name.html?em&ex=1175054400&en=90aef78fa4e1b20d&ei=5087%0A

And here's a link to interviews with Mira Nair and Jhumpa Lahiri conducted on NPR's "Studio 360" that I heard two Sundays ago. http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2007/03/16

We then went out to an Italian restaurant by Sarah's house, went home and crashed. Christy and Judith had us on the road by 6:45am (!), and we were back in Louisville by 1:15pm. A whirlwind tour, but a fun time. Thanks, Sarah :)

Lamott's Amazing Grace

My Aunt Eileen gave me Amazing Grace for Christmas one year, and I read that and one of her other books. I really enjoy Anne Lamott's work. She admits to being a really flawed, awkward, weird, crazy individual, but she's always honest and has some interesting views on religion, politics, etc. This is an interview with her on Salon.com about her new book, Grace Eventually.

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/21/lamott_walsh/index1.html

The Hater on Grey's Anatomy

I have a love/hate relationship with Grey's Anatomy, but this author just hate/hates it.

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/59887?utm_source=avclub_rss_daily

I also hate the show's annoying habit of adding "Mc" to everyone and everything deemed hot by producers. It's now spread to other shows. "McTreemy" (sp?) on Men in Trees? Give me a break. The media's adoption of this awful fad has to stop. Now.

I also dislike Meredith Grey; I find her character intensely annoying. Can anyone tell me why she's considered pretty and desirable by all the men on the show? She has constant emotional problems, needs desperately to eat something (maybe a Mc...Donald's?), has stringy hair, and has obviously-collagened lips. It boggles the mind, really.

But, of course, I will continue to watch on Thursday nights. Come on, it's Grey's Anatomy!

Best Dog Ever

"Booker" books around the backyard, pines for the dog next door ("Beautiful Girl" a.k.a. "B.G."), and kicks tennis balls under the furniture so that he can watch his owner crawl around on his knees to recover them.

Oprah wrong?

This author attempts to bust the myth of the "down low." Watch out, Oprah!

http://www.slate.com/id/2161452/fr/flyout

Book

Yesterday I finished reading Angels Flight by Michael Connelly. I've never read anything by Michael Connelly before, but I liked the book and the character of Detective Hieronymous Bosch.

Angels Flight (1999)
When the body of high profile black lawyer Howard Elias is found inside one of the cars on Angels Flight, a cable railway in downtown Los Angeles, there's not a detective in the city who wants to touch the case. For Elias specialized in lawsuits alleging police brutality, racism, and corruption, and every LAPD cop is a possible suspect in his killing. Detective Harry Bosch is put in charge. Elias's murder occurred on the eve of a major trial: on behalf of black client, Michael Harris, Elias was to bring a civil case against the LAPD for violent interrogation tactics that had caused his client the partial loss of his hearing. Harris had been acquitted of the rape and murder of a twelve-year-old girl, but many, including Bosch, believe him guilty. Elias had let it be known that the trial would serve a dual purpose — to target and bring down the guilty cops and to expose the real murderer of the little girl. Post Rodney King, the 1992 riots, and the trial of O.J. Simpson, the City of Angels is living on its nerves. To discover the truth Harry must dig deep in his own backyard — except that it's a minefield of suspicion and hate that could detonate in his face.

And as if he didn't have enough on his mind, his happiness with Eleanor Wish looks to be short-lived. Five cards on the felt are pulling her back to a place where Harry cannot follow, back to herself.Angels Flight is available now as a paperback and as an audiobook and eBook. Read the Lost Chapter from Angels Flight.

Stuff

Here are a few links that I've sent to various friends in the past couple of days. I tend to hound slate.com, so you might see an inordinate number of Slate articles posted on this blog. So be it. It's a great site. I also like the celeb gossip, so that will pop up as well.

-- Crazy Cramer. Apparently, Cramer admits to doing less-than-legal activity in a recent interview:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03202007/business/cramer_reveals_a_bit_too_much_business_roddy_boyd.htm

youtube video of the interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=708wDFX28lc

-- Hoya Superstition. I had no idea Georgetown's campus paper, The Hoya, is online.
http://www.thehoya.com/sports/032007/sports7.cfm

I have Georgetown winning it, cutting down the net, or however you are supposed to put it. Apparently, this guy thinks that Georgetown is the "chick pick." That kind of pisses me off. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2805390&sportCat=ncb

-- Birth Control BS. Another thing that pisses me off surfaced in Slate recently.

A federal appeals court ruled that employer-provided health insurance doesn't have to cover birth control. Ruling: 1) It's not sex discrimination, since the company in question didn't cover birth control for men, either. 2) It's not pregnancy discrimination, since pregnant women don't need contraceptives. Dissents: 1) It's pregnancy discrimination, since lack of birth control causes pregnancy, and only women suffer the consequences. 2) It's sex discrimination, since the company covered other preventive drugs, Rogaine, and Viagra. (For Human Nature's takes on birth control and responsibility, click here and here. For the joy of sex and food without consequences, click here.)

-- Southern Fried Baptist. Al Mohler outdoes himself once again.

Some conservative Christian leaders are endorsing prenatal treatment to prevent homosexuality. Rev. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, writes, "If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin." In an AP interview, Mohler says this would be morally no different from curing fetal blindness or any other "medical problem." A leading Catholic thinker agrees: "Same-sex activity is considered disordered. If there are ways of detecting diseases or disorders of children in the womb, and a way of treating them that respected the dignity of the child and mother, it would be a wonderful advancement of science." Conservative reaction to Mohler: How dare you suggest homosexuality is biological. Gay reaction: How dare you say it's still wrong even if it's biological. Mohler's clarifications: 1) I oppose genetic, as opposed to hormonal, intervention in the fetus. 2) I'm trying to head off something worse and more plausible: abortions of gay fetuses. (For Human Nature's takes on prenatal treatment to prevent homosexuality, click here and here.)

Original blog entry by Mohler http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=891

-- Scooter Pardon? From that oh-so-reliable-source, PageSix.

March 21, 2007 -- WE HEAR THAT Vice President Dick Cheney spoke to Hudson Institute members Monday at the Union League Club. Asked about a possible pardon for Scooter Libby, he smiled and said, "You can imagine how I feel about that." Libby himself was seated in the front row.

-- Music Stuff. Here is a link to a video of The National playing at a dinner party in the south of France and a link to a great station to stream while at work.

"The National" http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/forkcast/41800

KEXP http://www.kexp.org/home.asp?noflash=false

OfficeTemporal Take 1

I've decided to stop hounding my friends and family with emails citing links to "very interesting" articles. Instead, I will post them on this blog, which almost guarantees that even fewer people will take the time to click the link and read. But it doesn't matter, because here I can while ("while" vs. "wile"? http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-whi3.htm) away my time as an office temp. Anything to pass the time, which we talk about as though it was a commodity to spend or lose at will (see Metaphors We Live By http://www.amazon.com/Metaphors-We-Live-George-Lakoff/dp/0226468011).

As anyone who has temped before knows, time is everything with this job. Not only are you ruled by the timesheet that you fax in every week to the company that is making money off of your blood, sweat, and boredom, but you spend the majority of your day fruitlessly checking the time, as the movie Clockwatchers (1997) depicted so accurately(http://imdb.com/title/tt0118866/).

As I sit at my desk waiting for the phone to ring or for the odd labeling job, I consult the clocks that rule my world. When it is 11:05 on the phone display, it is 11:06 on my cell phone, and 11:07 on my desktop. Only 6 hours and 20 some odd minutes to go. Rather than irritating me, these disparities comfort me. Time will march along in spite of me. And I log out according to the clock on the desktop, which is the fastest of the three.

This office obsession with time has also seeped into my relationship with clocks outside of the office. I recently fixed my car radio's time display to match the time announced on NPR; the announcer's version is somehow always at least one minute ahead. Does he go by an atomic clock, or is he just messing with my head?

This year's early shift to Daylight Savings was a surprisingly welcome shake-up. Although I hate getting up when it's dark, I love having extra time after work to forget the day behind me and enjoy what remains. This is one of the first times that I can recall feeling so personally affected by Congressional decision. That might be sad, but it's true. I don't know if crime and car accidents will go down as the legislation predicts, but from what I hear, most people are enjoying the extra hours of daylight. Maybe it's because the weather seems to have shifted along with the clocks; it's now officially spring, and we have the warm weather and rainy days to prove it.

Time to answer some more phones.