Obama as commander

A great article, well done.

*waiting patiently...*

This is excellent and very balanced reporting. I like that this article isn't an attempt to incite pity for the President, but is instead a thoughtful analysis of the complex nature of his job.

I especially like the observation that any choice Obama makes will be vilified by somebody. Because, of course, there really aren't any ideal solutions here. At least none that I can see. I just take solace that we have such a thoughtful individual considering the options.

Looking from a different angle at Obama's visit to Arlington reveals the same thing, a man fully engaged in his role as CiC.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/11/12/2009-11-12_my_solemn_surprise_meeting_with_the_president_at_my_friends_resting_place.html

I heard on the radio this morning that Obama has rejected all four options in that briefing paper mentioned in Joel's article, though the radio report didn't say clearly what Obama wanted or the reason for rejecting it. None of this is reflected in the Post's Afghanistan lede story yet, but maybe later today we'll get a fuller reading of the situation. The Post story notes that all four options given to him were for increases in troops and/or effort, and none was a scale-back plan. So one might infer that Obama has tentatively rejected the "increase" options and wants to see something else.

Which is good, IMHO.

But yes, instant vilification is built into the system nowadays, alas.

I note Joel's piece quotes Eliot Cohen as being critical of Obama's leadership. Cohen, as it happens, was a mjor Bush admin. guy -- clearly someone who knows a lot about proper presidential leadership as well as masterful foreign and military issues. *sigh* Why are we still quoting former Bush people? Never mind their obvious bias; they simply never did have any competence on this stuff. Might as well ask Dick Cheney for his valuable insights.

Somehow I just don't picture our President as a ditherer. Thoughtful, carefully considering all the options and nuances, analytical, not in a hurry to make a decision, yes. Dithering, no.

Personally, I like this in a president. It's reassuring.

Shriek, thanks for the link, although a tissue alert for that story is needed - very touching.

Zackly, slyness. Which is why Eliot Cohen is a moron. Criticizing a guy for carefully analyzing an extremely complex issue. [expletives deleted]

Joel's remark on the generation of lower enlistees started me on a quest for a chart which I haven't found yet. (# of enlistees from '70 through '95, with ages of enlistees would be nice)

I found this interesting though. It's Heritage Foundation but I think their numbers would hold up.
http://www.heritage.org/CDA/CDA_troops_flash_graphic/CDA_troops_2008.html

I gave up on enlistee ages through the ages, and finished the article, wondering "who is this Cohen, again?" (Lots of political junkies with better name-memory than me) and find Curmudgeon has asked the questions I have. ("Why quote massive failures?")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Cohen

Somewhat disturbing factoid in the Hasan story today, about manpower shortages:

"The Army faces a severe shortage of officers who hold the rank of major, as Hasan does, and that shortage is particularly acute in some medical branches. The Army this year is short about 2,000 majors needed to fill slots created as the service has grown in recent years, according to Army data. In the field of medical doctors, the Army lacks about 15 percent of the majors it needs, the data show.

"To address the shortfall, virtually all Army captains are being promoted to major. The Army's promotion rate from captain to major has been well over 90 percent since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, leading some officers to describe the trend as the "no major left behind" program."

Since this is a story about the Army, there's no reference to whether the Navy and Air Force are similarly stressed, although they probably are. Still, it has been the Army that has been carrying the brunt of these two wars, and so may be stressed more than the other branches.

Be that as it may, it seems clear --especially from Dana Prists's great reporting re: Walter Reed and the [lack of] treatment of PTSD and head injury cases, and of soldiers in general -- that the Army, if not the entire military, have been doing a poor job of properly staffing itself, and of making its needs known to the Pentagon and White House. And it *should* be clear all this was going on all during the allegedly military-friendly Bush years -- and is simply just one more g--d--- mess Obama has inherited from Bush and now has to try to clean up. *sigh*

Careful consideration of complexities is not dithering. However, failure is always a possibility and no strategy is going to be perfect or a guaranteed success. Heck, even if the chosen course of action does succeed that doesn't mean it was destined to. I hope the prez will make a decision soon. Patton is not my favorite, by a very long shot, but he was right when he said "a good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future." This is in stark contrast to what appeared to be the previous administration's philosophy of "a poor plan brilliantly briefed." (a saying uttered by many a soldier subjected to a PPT slide show)

Thanks for that wiki link to Eliot Cohen, Jumper. When I read it just now I see that Cohen is not only a major Paul Wolfowitz protege, he is a co-founding member of the infamous William Kristol/Robert Kagan "Project for the New American Century." In short, he's a full-fanged, red-toothed hardcore NeoCon of the first rank, not just some random military historian or military or political expert.

From wiki:

"Cohen was one of the first neoconservatives to publicly advocate war against Iran and Iraq. In a November 2001 op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Cohen identified what he called World War IV and advocated the overthrow of Iran's government as a possible next step for the Bush Administration. Cohen claimed "regime change" in Iran could be accomplished with a focus on "pro-Western and anticlerical forces" in the Middle East and suggested that such an action would be "wise, moral and unpopular (among some of our allies)". He went on to argue that such a policy was as important as the then identified goal of Osama Bin Laden's capture: "The overthrow of the first theocratic revolutionary Muslim state and its replacement by a moderate or secular government, however, would be no less important a victory in this war than the annihilation of bin Laden."[7]

"Later in 2001, Cohen, in what was becoming a dominant theme of his writing, advocated war against Iraq once again and proceeded to outline how effortless such a military campaign would be:

"After Afghanistan, what? Iraq is the big prize... One important element will be the use of the Iraqi National Congress to help foster the collapse of the regime, and to provide a replacement for it. The INC, which has received bad, and in some cases malicious treatment, from the State Department and intelligence community over the years, may not be able to do the job with U.S. air support alone."

This isn't some dispassionate academic observer of Obama. This is the face of the enemy. I think Joel's piece should have pointed that out. This is one of the main guys who effed up.

When Cohen's name popped up on the second page of the online article, I had to go back and find out who Cohen was. discovering that he was a leading advisor in the Arbusto administration compelled me to consider the dithering quote as political posturing. 'Mudge, you characterisation was spot on.

So typical of a working mom:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/12/AR2009111208131.html?hpid=topnews

Meanwhile, for those of you who still haven't watched "Glee," this Slate review might convince you to do so: http://www.slate.com/id/2235354?nav=wp

And in the continuing discussion about raw oysters, vibrio and the FDA, I think this piece is essentially correct: leave the oysters alone. http://www.slate.com/id/2235360?nav=wp

I sought the son Seltzer, but found the father, Amado Muro.

One book I meant to pick up at the bookseller's tent at the Texas Book Festival in Austin was the anthology "Literary El Paso." From a blurb about the book at the festival's website, I learned that Robert Seltzer was one of the contributors to the book of collected works. I never located the book within the tent: there simply was not enough time.

For some time, I've wondered where Seltzer is, how he's doing since he left the Express-News as assistant op-ed page editor. As kids, Seltzer and I lived at most two miles apart in Bakersfield. Did he leave of his own volition? Was in let go in the major downsizing of the newsroom some months ago?

When I read in the paper that the anthology's editor, Marcia Hatfield Daudistel, would be our local independent bookstore the weekend after the festival, I didn't hesitate to go. The book reading and reception were wonderful, a festive atmosphere, with lively Mexican music and two table filled with a variety of homemade tamales, desserts and blue agave margaritas.

I learned from Daudistel that Seltzer had truly gone home--to El Paso, where he is now employed as a senior writer at the University of Texas, El Paso. I bought the book, thinking Seltzer was within.

-more-

I fooled 'em this morning, slyness. Everyone thought you did breakfast, and didn't notice that the pastries were all store bought.

Why I love "The Onion" (Wishful Thinking Division): http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_deports_lou_dobbs

Seltzer had a four-page essay in "Literary El Paso," titled "My Father, Amado Muro." I didn't know Seltzer's father had a different last name? As I soon discovered, Amado Muro is the pseudonym of writer and newspaperman Chester Seltzer. It is a slight twist on Chester Seltzer's wife's birth name Amada Muro. Chester Seltzer was raised in Cleveland and was the son of Louis B. Seltzer, the influential journalist and editor of the Cleveland Press. An article about Lois Seltzer from Time magazine:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,794478,00.html

Seltzer, in his essay, writes about his father's deep affection for Mexican culture. So profound was father Chester Seltzer's adoration for Mexico, as expressed in his works of fiction, that Seltzer was dubbed the "Pale Chicano" in this 1982 NYT article.

What I found in the anthology were two of Chester Seltzer's works, "Sunday in Little Chihuahua," and "My Grandfather's Brave Songs." Amado Muro/Chester Seltzer is introduced in a preface to these two short stories, where readers also learn of his bravery.

When I had a beer in Helotes with Robert Seltzer several years ago, Robert said that his father had been threatened with a pair of scissors by a fellow employee in the newsroom of the Bakersfield Californian because of his liberal views.

As Robert Seltzer wrote about his own father Chester: "Cleveland was his universe. He neer expressed this thought, not directly, but he never had to. When he talked about his hometwon, he was so passionate tht I fantisized about my own life as a parent. Would El Paso--not Bakersfield--become my Cleveland when I became a father? Would I regale my children with stories from my youth? I hoped so."

In the preface to the short stories, readers learn that while a newspaperman in [our] Bexar County, Texas, during World War II, Chester Seltzer was sentenced to prison at Lewisburg Penitentary for his objections to military service. As the NYT article points out, Seltzer was a conscientous objector like his fellow classmate, poet Robert Lowell. As the preface also mentions, while working for a California newspaper during the Vietnam War, Seltzer refused to write editorials condemning the war protestors and was replaced.

I have a strong hunch that last weekend I found the father within the son who grew up not far from me in a place he'd rather not call home.

SCC: Link to NYT article about Chester Seltzer...

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/30/books/the-pale-chicano.html?&pagewanted=all

SCC: all typos. Tired this a.m. including the one good eye. Many activities yesterday.

Hard stats on the relationship between unemployment and psychologincal stress, particularly among children. *sigh* I'm hopeful that the upcoming jobs summit at the WH is productive.

duh. the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12families.html?em

yellojkt suggested these dates for bracketing the sixties:
February 3, 1959 to October 4, 1970

I think that is the death of Buddy Holly (and the Big Bopper and the guy who sang La Bamba but whose name escapes me now) and the death of Janis Joplin.

I would go with 1964 to 1974.

A tribute written about Chester Seltzer by William Rintoul. William Rintoul's son is Mark Rintoul. Mark and I were in the same classes at Emerson Junior High in Bakersfield, and William Rintoul wrote about oil issues for the Bakersfield Californian.

http://utminers.utep.edu/amit/the%20bridge/lit_reverse/reverse%20assimilation.htm

First graf:

In May 1970, the police of Big Spring, Texas, booked a shabbily dressed middle-aged transient whom they had taken off a freight train, holding him overnight to see if he was wanted anywhere. In his possession they found seaman's papers with a faded photograph of the man when he was younger, and a membership card in the St. Louis Newspaper Guild. In the morning, they released the transient, not knowing that he was a prolific writer whose work was being studied in American universities as a supplement to courses in Mexican American literature. The transient was the late American writer who wrote under the pseudonym Amado Muro, and has been described as a man "who seems to have written more good short fiction than any other young Mexican American" and as "one of the most promising Mexican-American writers." He was neither young nor Mexican-American.

First skif of snow here in the banana belt this morning.

Doggone you yoki, I've had the tune quti 'white sport coat' in my head for the last couple of days and now you have ramped it up again this morning.

Richie Valens

I'm fascinated by the possible resemblance between the challenges facing Obama and those facing LBJ. One thing I have read about LBJ is that his foreign policy faltered in part because things that were valuable to LBJ weren't necessarily valuable to other foreign leaders. This forced him to negotiate from a much weaker position than he ever realized. In other words, the strategy that had worked so well for LBJ domestically, his skill as a horse-trader, failed him overseas.

I am hopeful that Obama avoids a similar scenario. Part of his strength in domestic matters is his thoughtfulness and intellectual rigor. My fear is that this approach will somehow backfire on him when it comes to foreign policy. Which isn't to suggest that this approach isn't the prudent one. Just that the world sometimes doesn't behave in a rational or predictable way.

You are wise to avoid the comments section, Joel. I am always amazed at the number of people who post comments and yet, evidently, have never actually read the article.

Yes, yellojkt, I couldn't come up with a definitive solution to your riddle. I followed the rules & didn't Google. What's the answer?

Although, RD_P (and I'm just talking off the top of my head here), the 8 years before Obama gave us a guy with *no* intellectual rigor (nor curiosity or interest) in anything, domestic or international. I would like to think that many in the international community -- especially our allies -- would be thrilled to have Obama around now for negotiating. And Clinton as SoS is no slim pickin's intellectually, either.

And now for something completely different (and I mean it this time), for many of us SYTYCD fans, Cat Deely will be taking questions, chat-wise, starting at noon, and I've already submitted my question. Would that she would take it. I'll check later, of course.

Very dreary outside. Gonna stay in.

mudge is right about the front end of the riddle. Big Brother is a hint for the end point.

ftb-I missed SYTYCD on Tuesday and the results show last night just didn't do anything for me. Anyone I should be watching as I work it back into my schedule?

Back to lurking from my Blackberry for a couple days. Later gators.

Forgot the 't', Mudge: Ritchie Valens. With whom, I now realize, most BPH'ers have a Bacon number of 3. The guy was pretty good, and he played his own guitar -- no mere figurehead for studio musicians, it seems.

The smallness of Bacon numbers is an amazing aspect of American society. As it happens, I have a Bacon number of 2 for the Attorney General, for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, for Debbie Reynolds, and for Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Also for pretty much the entire cast of BSG, I gather. The world is a weird place.

I agree ftb - which is why I characterized Obama's approach as prudent.

My point is that, sometimes, things evolve in a totally unintentional and unimaginable way. There are ironic unintended consequences to any approach to the problems of the world.

Which is just another way of saying that it is disturbingly difficult to determine if a policy "works" or not. Something that looks like a brilliant success today may have ominous repercussions down the road.

I just hope that Obama doesn't end up falling prey to these repercussions in a manner that no amount of good analysis can predict.

Frosti -- Jacob is really, really good (along the lines of Brandon from last season). Don't remember a lot of the other names yet, tho. Some are good, and some aren't good enough. But I think the game is rigged to winnow out the not-so-good from the top 20 to get a very good top 10.

I vote for the '60s beginning in January 1961. Inauguration of Kennedy. The end is very problematic. Manson, Altamont, Jim, Jimmi, and Janis.. too spread out. Summer '67 raises its hand but RFK and MLK belong. My only alternative to my own definitive moment (my first sighting of men in platform shoes in '72 - and I knew something had changed, and I didn't like it) is the Vietnam pullout in '75 which makes a 14- year "decade" a little long.

I like the dot comments thing.

Obama has neither underperformed nor overperformed in relation to my expectations, excepting his reaction to the criminal aspects of the economic crisis. I was aware that Senate experience is not executive experience, but I think he knew that also and planned to transition in an intelligent way. As far as the handling of the war outcomes, I did not expect flareup in Afghanistan. I have noticed that Karzai is essentially a Bush / Unocal appointee which might be most of the problem. He had an honest face but is probably just another Bush felon.
Unlike many dreamers on the left, I never thought that with a change of presidents you could suddenly unmake the conquering of another country.
People make general comments about the "hand Obama has been dealt" being a very difficult one, and I agree.

SCC: Jim Rintoul is the son of now-deceased oil reporter Bill Rintoul of Bakersfield. Jim Rintoul and Mark Benham were the closest of friends through our shared junior high years, hence the need to both SCC and dust off my 40-year-old memories. Reporter Bill Rintoul's obit here, in proper alphabetical order.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~catgs/obits/obit_r.html

Totally off kit. A link to a photo essay showing the evolution of certain sites in NYC. The early 20th century architecture is striking.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/nyregion/13taxphotos.html?hp

I think part of the perception problem with Obama is connected to the American psyche - America is the greatest country, with the greatest people, and what we do is fundamentally right and good. There doesn't need to be a lot of "dithering" and analysis; just go with your gut.

We've been through 8 years of this kind of Cowboy Diplomacy, and look where it's gotten us. It runs right between all the lines about Cohen from Mudge's 9:48 post. Obama appears to asking some very basic questions - probably some that should have been asked back in the Spring. But that was before the place went really viral. We're not going to know how this administration is really doing for at least 2 or 3 more years. There are no easy answers; not in the middle East, not with health care, not with the economy, not with the environment and climate change. And you have a "loyal opposition" that is hell-bent on trying to spike all administration proposals out of pure partisanship. Never mind the good of the citizens.

Good afternoon, all.

As I've said many times -- I do not envy President Obama in the slightest.

At one point, the whole world was his oyster. Now he's got it on his plate.

bc

This is correct for yellojkt's riddle (I wiki'd after posting):
yellojkt suggested these dates for bracketing the sixties:
February 3, 1959 to October 4, 1970

I think that is the death of Buddy Holly (and the Big Bopper and the guy who sang La Bamba but whose name escapes me now) and the death of Janis Joplin.

I would go with 1964 to 1974.

Posted by: seasea1 | November 12, 2009 11:07 AM

Just sayin'.

Well, well, well . . . both Cat Deely and Lori Montgomery (on the abortion (or, um, anti-abortion) amendment in the current version of the "health care reform" bill took my chat questions. My chat comments/questions hardly ever get picked.

So, should I go buy a MegaMillions ticket for tomorrow's drawing, OR has my puny luck just run out already?

go for it, ftb, but only buy one icket. if you're meant to win, one ticket is all that it will take.

We saw the trailer for "2012" the other night. This flick is supposed to portray the apocalypse predicted by the Mayans (yeah, like they knew) to occur on December 21, 2012. The thing (the film itself, not the trailer) is 2.5 hours long. Good grief, I've seen whole solar systems destroyed in half that time. As we emerged from the theater, Dr. K said to me, "Well, if they're right we'll never have to sit through any more disaster movie trailers after 12\21\12." My take was, "Only two more years' Christmas shopping to do!"

Look at the bright side, K-Guy: having seen the trailer, you can now say to yourself, "There's 30 seconds of my life I'll never get back," rather than "There's 2-1/2 hours of my life and $20 that I'll never get back."

Who was it just yesterday or the day before who quoted the line, "The good is the enemy of the perfect"? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8352711.stm

I need to stop reading foreign news.

*raising hand*

I do believe I used the "perfect is the enemy of the good" line yesterday.

Ah, yes. Thank you, Scotty.

ExLax Smooth Move of the Day Award: Driver of a $2M Bugatti drives it into a lagoon. If one can afford to buy a car like that, one can afford to fix it.

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=792e1da427373dfb

That happens to me all the time with my Bugatti, too, Jack.

I meant to tell Ivansmom that Freddie and I really appreciate being mentioned in her translation yesterday.

Re: SS Bugatti

I especially liked this bit-

"About 3 p.m. a low-flying pelican distracted him as he traveled north on Interstate 45 just south of the hurricane levee near Omega Bay. The man jerked the wheel, dropped his cell phone, and the car’s front tire left the frontage road and entered a muddy patch, which foiled his attempt to maneuver away from the lagoon."

I'll bet you anything the pelican didn't drop HIS cell phone.

Probably only a few of the locals will care, but Sally Jenkins has written a pretty good profile of John Riggins (I'm a fan). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/11/AR2009111126295.html?hpid=artslot

kguy -- perhaps the pelican dropped, well, *sumpin else*.

kguy, I have mentioned this before but one of my children will turn 12 on 12/21/12 - I am hoping the hype for the end of time continues as it will be a great birthday party theme. :-)

Twinged my back working today, I was going to stop but took an extra strength advil and a short break then back to work. I am thinking I might regret that decision later.

Well, kguy, I guess that's what we humans get for saving the brown pelican from the Endangered Species list...

this story of a robbery foiled by Legion members makes me smile (not the attempted robbery but the fact that he was stopped).

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/724954--vets-at-legion-tackle-would-be-poppy-money-thief?bn=1

This piece last week (about another thief-catcher) from Margaret Wente at the Globe & Mail was sort of amusing.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/to-catch-a-thief-in-toronto/article1351338/

I like the picture of the Veyron in the brackishb water pond. That's an expensive cleaning job coming up. If your name is Schumacher, Villeneuve or Andretti you can probably drive a supercar and talk on the phone at the same time. If you are Joe Podnuk who made a fortune in real estate that's another matter. I linked to a story of an English football player who last year rubbed away half his brand new Ferrari against the wall of a tunnel after he lost control. This was the second supercar he had totalled, the twit.

Another story in the same paper caught my eye, about a car and a cargo tank trailer colliding.
“The tanker was hauling Alimet Feed Supplement methionine hydroxy analogue,” Stanton said. “This material is a nonhazardous chicken steroid. The material was never expelled from the tanker, and the public was never at any risk of exposure.”
Hummmmm, chicken.

We had the first and brief (my fault) BPH in the other federal capital. Engelmann most certainly draws on his infantry background and was in fine form despite a brutal schedule. The fine weather is still with us to welcome him.

Bc--
"The world was his oyster. Alas, it was a raw oyster?"

I always love it when Boodlers gather... anywhere. I'm glad you and Engelmann were able to BPH, shrieking. What fun!

I hope, though, that the brief meeting made it unlikely you talked too much about the invasion plans.

An oyster shooter, Wilbrod.

Without actually exploring past the headline regarding Palin's book, apparently she goes postal against (among hosts of others) Katie Couric. Yep, Palin's shortcomings (*ahem*) are all someone else's fault.

So it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow, too. Drat! So the errand I have been postponing for one reason or another for weeks and weeks and which I had planned to do tomorrow, will be postponed yet again until after laundry on Sunday. Perhaps. . . .

Cool to hear about an Ottawa BPH. May there be many more.

Are we the only blog in the world which is like this? Think so . . . The others simply don't know what they're missing.

TBG, I wonder if there is a vegetarian equivalent to Moussaka. Or perhaps one which uses fish or chicken instead of meat. You're the Greek food expert, and one of the minions wishes merely to ask.

TBG, we did talk Army and Navy.

Nellie, I was only too pleased to give you and Freddie credit yesterday in my translation. Far too few people know about the crucial role you play in the story told by the "Nessun Dorma" lyrics, at least as I read them.

I seem to have come down with a cold, or something resembling it. Colds have fever, right? Whatever. I decided perhaps this is not the night to drive an hour and a half to a banquet, then drive home. I'm sure the other thousand or so attendees will be devastated. "It just wasn't the same without you," they'll say.

*faxing chicken soup laced with Tabasco to Ivansmom*

Sometimes colds give you fever, and sometimes not. I always associate fever with the flu. Oops.

Feel better soon.

Thanky, ftb. Chicken soup can't hurt!
I done got my flu shot, and the Boy already exposed me to the swinish version, so this better be a cold.

If there's booze at the banquet, it'll be "Ivansmom whom?" Or possibly "Ivasmo who?"

bob, liked your link as well, will have to keep an eye out to see how the story unfolds. Did note the comments are now disabled for "legal reasons" - probably not too civil in those comments.

ftb.. under the assumption that simpler is better (we didn't see our grandmothers using a zillion ingredients in their delicious ethnic cooking did we?), here's an "authentic" Greek version of vegetarian moussaka...

http://realgreekrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/04/vegetarian-moussaka.html

(apparently courgettes are zucchini)

Here's a more-complicated, but still relatively simple one...

http://alchemistchef.blogspot.com/2009/02/vegetarian-moussaka.html

They both sound delish.

I brought the first report about Levi Johnston (hihihi, his name includes John) doing Playgirl. It is thus my sad but necessary duty to report that he goes for the whole hog.
http://gawker.com/5403433/levis-johnston-watch-he-is-naked-with-a-hockey-stick

May not be safe for work, depending on local standards.

Wow, I don't think I've had moussaka in - gotta be 15-20 years, in both canivore and veggie versions. Yum.

Now, to settle down and watch the 49ers and Bears.

Wilbrod, glad someone went into my oyster trap.

S_d remember that guy who compltely destroyed a Ferrari Enzo a couple of years ago? Made up some crazy story about how some guy was driving it, totaled it street racing and then ran away, IIRC. Finally confessed when the police showed conclusive evidence that the owner was driving it at the time...

Sheesh.

I'm thinking about the movies "Risky Business" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," where expensive machinery gets totaled.

Loved the line in RB,"Who's the U-boat commander?"

bc

Gosh, moussaka without lamb is like... steak without beef. But those recipes look great, TBG. I've saved them.

I'm not sure if anyone has linked to this article already, about a reporter who was visiting Arlington Cemetery on Veterans Day and talked with President Obama:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/11/12/2009-11-12_my_solemn_surprise_meeting_with_the_president_at_my_friends_resting_place.html
I heard the reporter talking about this on NPR as I was driving around yesterday - quite moving.

The wet Bugatti reminds me that a Toyota FJ Cruiser, preferably equipped with a snorkel, might have escaped under its own power.

I suspect you can make a veggie equivalent to nearly anything by using mushrooms, which do taste meaty.

With respect to Obama, it's odd to see a commenter on Joel's story complaining about the President "not loving the Constitution". Doesn't he realize that Obama was offered tenure at the University of Chicago precisely to teach the Constitution? Come to think of it, is the Justice Department working up contingency plans in case Texas decides to nullify any health care legislation, and perhaps even secede? I assume Defense has ways to keep its massive facilities in Texas from being transferred to the revived Texas Republic.

I like Edward Luttwak's seven lessons on strategy from the Byzantine Empire.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/19/take_me_back_to_constantinople?print=yes&hidecomments=yes&page=full

Finally, it was cool and cloudy here today. Two little sasanqua camellia bushes seem to be noticing. Their buds are opening.

If Texas decides to secede, my main strategy recommendation would be to refuse to let them change their mind. "No, no," we should say, "you took a principled position, and it would be wrong for us to weaken your resolve." Although, I would encourage the people of Austin (and especially the musicians) to seek political asylum someplace more liberal than Texas. Oklahoma, say.

The LA Times on the Ferrari Enzo smashup:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ferrari28feb28,0,3986184.story

If Oklahoma City has rowing and surf ski races, it can't be entirely reactionary.

I just read the dot.comments blog. Once again -- lots of folks who don't think too hard, nevertheless consider themselves to be experts in Constitutional law, foreign-policy, and military strategy.

Ooh! I just tuned into Fringe on Tivo, and they're wearing tin foil hats! How cool is that?

Mudge, thanks for pointing out the Riggins story. We first moved to the DC area in 1977, and part of my affection for the area in based on the Redskins, and Riggins *was* the Redskins back in the day. Lots of other great players in that era -- what fun it was!

That's it, DaveotC.

I'd note that the guy had some serious $$ on the road there, that MerClaren (ahem)SLR and Enzo were over $500k US each, IIRC.

How this gentleman acquired so much physical wealth (or at least, significant credit), I know not.

And I don't believe anything about Texas seceding from the US -- I think Texas needs the US more than the US needs Texas. For example -- I don't think Texas can produce nuclear weapons. Or top-notch FMPs.

bc

Well the 49ers backed into that one. Saw only one good play where the O line moved the Bears left and right to make a hole 10 feet wide for Gore to run through for about 14 yards.

If the Forty Niners win a couple more, the wife and I might get brave enough to wear our jackets out to downtown.

Five interceptions. Could have been Bears 42 to 10.

Dozed off after the game and just woke up in time to remember I had a wad of no-kneed dough rising all day and needed to get it in the oven.
Thanks Yoki and IMom for the link.
Been making the simpler sourdough version now for a few weeks. After getting the sourdough starter going we've been having a loaf most every other day. The easy 1-2-3 sourdough variation receipe only requires a single 12 hour rise.
1 cup warm water, 2 tsp salt, 3 cups flour. After a cup of starter.
A slice of this crispy bread with a slice of sharp tillamook cheese is good for breakfast lunch and dinner. Makes one feel like a fortyniner miner in the old days on these cold damp days.

Doesn't the Texas constitution have clause that the fifty counties and separate into fifty individual states?
laloomis

DaveotC, Whenever we drove down that part of the PCH it was bumper-to-bumper ten MPH.

SciTim - While I'm not a big fan of the hair-shirted ravers, if we excluded all of them what who don't think too hard, I'd probably not be allowed entry to these hallowed halls very often at all.

Hmmm... Having given it a bit of thought... that wouldn't actually be a net loss for most of us, I guess.

:-(

The Texas state constitution was signed entirely by relatives of laLoomis, I happen to know. It's a fact, look it up.

hi, bob. uh, no comment. :)

Good Morning All and Happy Friday the 13th!!!

and all the superstition that goes with this day.Knock on a piece of driftwood as it floats by your window this afternoon,either blown by the howling winds or surging surf that is associated with this nasty Nor'Easter.

'morning all. We had a beautiful starry morning with just a sliver of moon for the dogs' outing today. A bit cold at -6C/24F but it comes with the clear skies.
bc, I remember the Enzo guy; if I remember correctly he was a fraud artist of some sort and the car wasn't his.

Here's Ronaldo's smashed Ferrari. It makes me weep.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/08/cristiano-ronaldo-car-accident-manchester-united

The love story between the Fungi's bike and tractor trailers continues. A guy delivering construction materials backed the trailer into the parked bike at the Fungi's work place and broke the front wheel and bent the forks. At least there weren't any broken bones involved, this time.

Good morning and Happy Friday the 13th, indeed.

NPR is reporting that several of those deemed responsible by the US Government for the 9/11 attacks will be moved from Gitmo to stand trial in New York.

Wow.

bc

At least Friday the 13th only lasts 24 hours...The weatherman has promised us a peek at the sun day. What a novelty! I can hardly wait. The good news is that there are lots of leaves down. The bad is that they have to be raked.

Hmmm. We need a really good breakfast. How about pumpkins scones with jam of your choice, with eggs over easy and country sausage? It's all in the ready room, beside the beverages of your choice!

Mr. T is off today. I can already tell that will disturb the normal tenor of my day. But he says he'll take a walk with me.

Indeed so, bc:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111300740.html

And I must say it's very polite of the nor'easter to have kept moving east, providing a glimmer of hope for salvaging today.

*TFSMIF-even-if-it's-the-13th Grover waves* :-)

Good morning, Boodle. Special thoughts to Cassandra.

slyness, that is a gorgeous breakfast. You do spoil us. I've brought my espresso maker in, so can make shots or lattes for those what want 'em.

Busy day ahead. The overnight conversation reminds me why my ancient little car is so desirable -- there will be no gnashing of teeth if it is damaged.

Good morning, you all, every single one.

Boodle oystertalk and today's Tom Toles may be related, how many degrees of separation, I'm not sure:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinions/tomtoles/

I miss large, sweet, "real oysters"; farm raised just does not do it for me. Those were the days, my friend....

I have read that the Lynnhaven oysters are once again being grown, in very limited, clean quantities. I wonder if I can find them at the Beach over Thanksgiving?

The Beach weather has been featured lately in the news, at the boardwalk, looks like some of the sand is gone from the big beach effort, thanks to the Nor'easter. Beach=VA. Beach.

Joel, your essay was a pleasure to read, as was Slyness's ready room breakfast.

And speaking of Joel's essay (!), I do hope Obama takes some time to look after himself. It would be a shame to see him strained and rapidly aging. It cannot hurt America's image to keep him youthful and hot and enthusiastic in his usual way. Pair that with his brains and thoughtfulness, and you've got a winner.

Wondered what people think about this non-thesis thesis...

I am beginning to worry about those folks who constantly hate Barack Obama. I'm not talking about those traditional Republicans who can agree with Obama on several issues, but those folks who just hate on the man.

I think that their ability for productive discussion about Presidential issues has disappeared like water on Mars. I fear that the change is permanent.

I know Republicans in both categories. There are those folks who once again might be in charge and fully expect me, as a member of the minority to respect their positions and go along grudgingly (which I have done way too much in the past 30 years) and then there are those who just go into a factual meltdown.

The Obama haters just come off as totally irrational. These discussions of socialism and communism are "crazy, man!" in the light of Bush's speech at SMU yesterday.

In my book, Bush appeared to me to be totally incapable to steer the country out of the crush of the nation's financial disaster. He basically walked away from the situation before he actually left the White House. Now, we see two men speaking yesterday... Obama and Bush, and we see some folks concern for Obama's health and Bush totally not getting what happened on Wall Street. He was incapable of understanding the lessons of corporate/international mega-companies.

Why is it that we are worrying about communists in our midst when we have had guys like Bush get elected and let the corporate barons run the country.

Yoki, I'm laughing with notion that part of Obama's effectiveness is tied to 'teh hottness' factor.

I guess there is some element to that - perhaps part of the backlash against him is plain old jealousy.

Hmm. I wonder when Angelina Jolie's old enough to run?

Still, I think the US Presidency may be the most difficult job there is and that the health effects would age anyone at some multiple of a normal rate.

On the other hand, he is at an age (as many American Presidents have been) where the most visible effects of his years would begin to tell.

A Question: Will the 9/11 trials be the "Trials of the Century" so far?

bc

Good morning! I am still puny and, after a health-sustaining cup of tea, plan to go back to bed.

bc said: " For example -- I don't think Texas can produce nuclear weapons. Or top-notch FMPs." Ah, bc, you forget Texas is home to Rice University. Unconstrained, I'm sure they could build you a nuclear weapon. They'd probably extract the uranium from cornflakes or something. I'm not so sure about the FMPs. Possibly enough of the science geeks are female to have a shot at it. I know from experience that the guy geeks would never notice a FMP, much less be able to replicate it.

Yep, DaveotC, with rowing and surf ski races, OKC ain't all bad. Did I mention the Parade of a Thousand Skeletons led by the Flaming Lips on Hallowe'en?

Your words are so true, Yoki. This whole week HBO is featuring a wonderful documentary on Obama's candidacy, from Iowas caucus, until the night that he was elected our President. Edward Norton is one of the producers. High emotions and a laittle teariness as the volunteers realize their dream, step by step.

Obama was so youthful looking, just a couple of years ago.

Yoki, Obama taking care of himself...he has people for that. Also, we expect our CiC to age rapidly.

http://news.aol.com/article/white-house-wears-on-presidents/310369

Otherwise everyone would want to be king (this kit gave me a tune cootie all day yesterday..Viva la vida). Besides, a man of a certain age gets bonus points in the handsome category. (The list of examples here is quite long, but no need to look far. Hi Mudge.)

Busy busy day today; have a happy one all.

Continuing on my little search... I look at how folks react to negative ethical triggers. In the absolutely questionable behavior of mega "news" organization of News Corp and the mild statements of unsupport of the racial and ethnic slurs coming from the Republican Congresspeople after participating in recent tea party events, I look at my own reaction to the past election and more directly, the primary process.

I have to say that I was holding onto support of Hillary pretty late. Then, when she started to play the race card with coded implications and Bill followed up with his not so veiled statements... their win at all costs tactics tossed me firmly into the Obama camp.

My point here is that racism, tactical or otherwise just in unacceptable. However, many of my friends can't see their own issues with Obama are so illogical. They don't match up with their opinions of the national goals. What is it that makes it reasonable to spend so much of our money on a party that is basically obstructing the improvements to our nation for which a majority of our country is striving.

The best I can say is that the protestation is very inelegant. What's more, those poor folks can accept that they are a minority--a widely shrinking minority. Even more, they can't appreciate that there is an equally large minority that is to the left of Obama's stances.

They just don't get it. Facts mean nothing.

SCC!!!

Iowa's Caucus

little teariness

and

Yes, bc, I think the trial(s) will be/must be extraordinary.

Well, at least bc laughed.

I see that NASA is on some morning show trying to explain why the world won't end in 2012. This is a fool's game. NASA should be saying, "Yes, the world will end in 2012! Give us all the money we want and we'll stop it." Then, when the world doesn't end, they can take credit. If anyone asks how they did it, they can say (as the Boy used to when asked about his day in elementary school),"I can't tell you. It's a secret."

Exactly, Imom -- NASA could build a whole buncha boosters to "save the world," and when the danger passes, bingo! Instant Moon shot. :-)

Pumpkin scones!!! O slyness!!!

Thank you, LiT; I need all the bonus points I can get. Redford not so much.

I feel sorry for the poor lawyers who are going to have to represent those guys. I know they are just doing their jobs and giving the defendents their due representation, and all that, but a lot of people won't get it, and I think they are gonna get a world of abuse thrown at them. And even worse, they are gonna have to do what they must for their clients, first and foremost of which is complain they were tortured (which KSM surely was), and yadda yadda. Oh, it's just going to be a mess. Of course, it would have been nive if it was the Arbusto administration and its crack Justice Dept. led by Albertomundo had initiated these trials a few years ago, when they should have, instead of leaving it as yet one more giant mess for Obama's team to clean up.

Okay, I'm stumped. What's FMP?

*faxing more chicken soup and freshly baked karma to Ivansmom*

Pumpkin scones -- yumsers! Any recipe, slyness?

And thanks, TBG, for the veggie moussaka recipes. I saved the second one, as I thought the first one (with all the deep fat frying and butter and oil, etc., would completely send me off to the deep fat fryer in the sky really, really quickly. Put me off, I must say, even if the final product was probably entirely too decadently good. Just not good *for* me.

Now I gotta prepare for a conference call which may or may not happen this afternoon. I've been there before, umpty-ump times with this client. *sigh*

Oh, and "Happy Friday the 13th" for the superstitious among us. And even for everyone else. Don't forget to snuggle a black cat. Make 'em purrrrrrrrrrr.

Fairly Moderate Persimmons, ftb...

Fontana Montana Permanente?

Frankly Mumbled Permissions?

I love the boodle breakfasts. The best thing about it is that none of it ever ends up on my hips and the caffeine never keeps me awake at night.

Well, that and the conversation.

NASA- "We can save the world, but it will require the sacrifice of Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck. Hey, it worked once before, right?"

kguy- (in best Meg Ryan voice) "Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!"

Good point about the lawyers, Mudge.

On what some might consider a related topic, I heard a short statement from the lawyer assigned to defend Hasan.

Not a happy man, and not just because he hasn't even been allowed to talk to his client yet, though plenty of federal and military folks have.

I don't envy that chap either.

bc

In 2012, I think there will be resistance to phasing out HD TV.

Obama is at the time of life when aging begins? But he is the same age as am I and.....Oh lord.

I think there is something to the notion that having a youthful and vigorous President is a definite plus on the PR front. Unfair, perhaps, but doubtless true.

Oh ftb - just in case you aren't pulling our leg, "FMP" is a shorthand of sorts for female footwear of a type rumored to enhance said female attractiveness to such an extent that they might (though not necessarily are) represent an expression of implied interest in conjugal relations with an appropriate suitor.

Or something.

Fried Mashed Potatoes?

Footwear, More Prurient.

A least we do not watch President Biden losing his hair plugs row by row.

What would have happeded to President Rodham-Clinton?

Feel More Pretty?
Furry Moist Puppies?
Flying Mary Poppins?
Fuzzy Mole People?
Fast Moving Projectile?
Flustered Member of Parliament?
Fannie Mae President?
Female Military Personnel?
Feed Me Pasta?

Friendly Mounted Police? (that's was for you Canuckistanis)

Foulmouthed Prelates?

Post Office code talk for Frequently Mutilated Packages?

One of the five kids of the former governor of Alaska: Fractal Moondog Palin, called "Frac" by his family

Full Mandibular Prosthesis

Oh, how silly of me...

Forever Monty Python

:-)

Hullo Boodle!

Obama talked his way into a lose-lose situation.

There is a good military dictum:
Don't get drawn into an engagement unless you have a good chance of winning.

The chances of winning in Afghanistan are rotten.

Paraphrasing Mudge, the enemy is in Washington.

FTB could mean Fort Bliss.

But it's exclusively FTB (for the boys).

It means "Eff That B!tch."

Aren't you sorry you asked?

Also, Never get involved in a land war in Asia,

and

Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

I do not think that acronym means what you think it means.

*donning my Kevlar protective equipment*

why LL? just having some fun and then the birthday cake stomp occurs. lighten up.

FTB Acronyms:

http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/FTB

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ftb

Oh, geez. Must we stir up trouble? Why can't we all get along?

--------------------------------------------------

Krauthammer is in exceptionally poisonous form today. I learned something from skimming his column with which I was previously unfamiliar: in his previous life, Krauthammer was a psychiatrist. I knew he held an MD, I just didn't know his specialty. I am afraid that Chuck's column today does nothing to dispel one of my own prejudices, the belief that most psychiatrists ( I surely would not stereotype by saying "all") enter the field because they would like to find out what sane people are like. Apparently, Chuck was out during that lesson, because he never has seemed to get it.

Chuck falls prey to a rather old and stupid canard, with which he is in company with his ideological opposite, Bill Maher: the belief that nasty religion is what turns nice pleasant people into monsters. A brief perusal of history shows that all religions get used at some time to justify wide-ranging brutality and evil, including religions whose overt goal is to achieve peace, comity, and brotherhood (seemingly supporting Maher's point of view and condemning Krauthammer's); and that societies that make a fetish out of the abhorrence of religion have been just as bad (totally trashing Maher's point of view). The fact is that there is one constant in all religious and atheist practices on Earth: people. Surely, by now, we have enough experience to recognize that religion does not make monsters out of people. People make a monster out of religion, and if religion is not handy to be perverted, we'll make a monster out of something else (scientific eugenics, anyone?).

Bill seems to imagine that there is just one bad thing holding back humanity from a future of enlightenment and prosperity: that demon religion. Chuck is a little more open-minded, in that he thinks we have several ills: not religion in general, just Islam; and not only Islam, but wicked godless namby-pamby liberalism, too. I have not yet discerned Chuck's attitudes on pantheism.

It may all be stupid, magical thinking, but it's not as daunting as the only alternative that actually helps: eternal vigilance and continual self-examination.

I quit the new job - it was not a normal office, by a long shot. I'm back at square one.

And then to come here and find Loomis being gratuitously hateful - perfect!

Thanks for the link, except it's "FMP."

Maybe you need to rub your eye.

Wheezy... so sorry the job didn't work out. I know what those dysfunctional offices can be like.

Oh well... it only means that the right job wasn't available yet... will be soon, I'm sure!

LiT,
I think it may be time to get Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander involved in this blog. Now, if you have documentable proof that I am any way involved with witchcraft, then I suggest you play your hand now. Or else bottle it permanently--and I do mean permanently.

You do know the story of Cheryl Kagan, I hope?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ombudsman-blog/2009/09/delay_in_removing_an_insulting.html

Hey, Who's gonna play during the Super Bowl!

Who?

Yes.

Who's gonna play at the SuperBowl?

That's what I said.

Who.

Yes.

But during the Super Bowl halftime show, who's going to perform?

Right.

What's right?

Who. Who is correct.

How can who be correct if we don't know who's going to perform?

Who is going to perform.

That's what I just asked.

I know. And I just told you Who is.

Who is what?

Who is going to play.

THAT's WHAT I JUST ASKED YOU!

...and like that.

Expect to see/hear this routine only 927 more times between now and then.

Thanks, TBG. I'm sure it will work out, just demoralizing and frustrating.

FMP acronyms:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=FMP

Who's been asked to hold that documentable (sic) proof? Wasn't it you, bc?

yeah.. but Hu's the president of China?

[isn't quite the same in writing, is it?]

Well, in spite of all your "help" (friendly or, well, *not*), the interpretation of FMP still escapes me, and I'm just not gonna care anymore. But the imagination will fill in whatever blanx remain during my leisure (or not).

Loomis, I already know about FTB ('cause it's my Boodle handle). Should it actually mean something else, well, okay, but I'm not interested, really.

Wheezy, so sorry the job didn't work out but it's better to be out of there than to subject yourself to a poisonous workplace. Good for you for recognizing this quickly.

This is turning into an interesting morning ;-)

Sorry, ftb. It means "eff me pumps." Sexy shoes women wear out in public when they want to attract a man's attention so he will...um...er...kinda self-explanatory after that.

11:00 a.m. -- 12 Noon

WaPo headline: "Bauer new White House counsel"

Don't tell me we've got Jack Bauer on the WH payroll now!!! We've got just 24 hours to interrogate those Guantanamo b@st@rds before the ticking time bomb goes off!!

First Kal Pen and now Kiefer Sutherland.

(Hey, ain't he a Brito-Canucki...? Is this part of your nefarious takeover plans, Yoki?)

Thanks, badsneakers. Probably the less said, the better about some jobs. I was not the first person they tried in that position. They lost 4 or 5 in the 4 or 5 weeks before me. I lasted the longest.

Condolences on the job, Wheezy, there's one out there for you for sure! :-)

'Mudge, I heard a professional opiner opining that if none of the players in the Super Bowl have the halftime entertainment choice on their iPods, then perhaps another, apparently more "hip" choice is required.

But I'm pretty sure the coaches would have the Who on their playlists, no?

Loomis

I see your time away has done nothing to mellow you.

Certainly you knew the accepted interpretation of FMP here on the boodle, so to use it as an opportunity to launch a crude and childish attack under the guise of being confused is disingenuous in the extreme.

And although LiT's response was a bit testy, I think she has earned that right.

I, personally, would applaud most enthusiastically a more careful examination of your relationship with the boodle by the Ombudsman.

The irony is that I was thinking that you were actually being well behaved lately.

And if you choose to use this criticism as an excuse to pull something about me, my family, my employer, or any past comment I have made, from your file cabinet of grievances please, be sure to copy the Ombudsman.

Yes, RD. The proverb that comes to mind is "Be careful what you wish for."

laloomis, I apologize. I went over the top. I immediately requested that JA be asked to strike it if he also deemed it over the top.

About getting others involved, I think it's a better-than-even shot to guess they already are. Probably have files on both you and me. I'm guessing mine's thinner.

For the record, I didn't post to a boodler handle. I posted to Linda Linda Linda.

Back to my busy day. Have a good one all.

FTB, so glad you enjoyed the scones. No recipe, found a mix from Sticky Fingers Bakeries I just couldn't resist. Also couldn't resist the peppermint/chocolate chip scone mix, but am holding that for Christmas...

Linda, have you ever noticed that the snarky posts ALWAYS get an instant and equal reaction? Why do you bother? If you want friends, this is not the way to go about it. If you don't want to be among friends, why are you here?

RT - you might enjoy this link via Daily Dish, yesterday from a recovering republican.
(http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/11/getting-off-the-bandwagon-ii.html#more)
I liked Sullivan's comment: "...the addiction to outrage is easier than a commitment to actual conservative solutions to our current, actual problems. And I don't mean mere recitation of conservative dogma, a recourse to cliches such as "big government", or a binary left-vs-right paradigm that is blind to actual policy. I mean grappling with actual solutions to health insurance cruelty and expense, to climate change which is real, to Islamist terror that doesn't make global polarization worse."
Take out the word conservative and it's universal. It's easier to just be mad.

On a lighter note, how to get people to do what they ought to do. Make it fun, and play. http://www.thefuntheory.com/

another thoughtful piece, mr. joel. i commend you for keeping your wits about you (except for the whole Iowa football thing) when everyone else in DC appears to have gone bonkers.

a couple of random thoughts for the good people of the boodle. in the category of 'blind squirrels', krautwhammer is right about the ft. hood murderer not having ptsd, or compassion fatigue, or any other psychiatric problem. political correctness has been very costly re that entire sad episode.

and how about this--if afghanistan disappeared from the face of the earth tomorrow, would you or anyone you know miss it? bring the troops home and let them rest. we are going to need them again soon enough next door.

and then there is this--why is it that the repubs are allowed to bring up things that happened during the clinton years, yet no one else can mention that the bush kid was 'in charge' for eight years and obama is expected to have all the answers in less than nine months? just sayin...

Better Jack Bauer than Gary Bauer.

The NYT Wheels blog has taken note of the wet Bugatti.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/bugatti-veyron-drives-into-lagoon-after-pelican-encounter/?hpw

Going from stupid behavior to the sort that might benefit from medical attention, a neighbor who's long been a hoarder (garage stuffed with boxes) has decided that her driveway is about to collapse, and has barricaded it with several new-looking garbage cans and recycling bins.

Wheezy, sorry to hear about the job. I'm terrified that will happen to me, as the choices are few. Actually, these days when I get any interest at all from an employer, I figure it's a scam!

Excellent point, kguy.

"Recovering Republican"-- didn't know there were any, but glad to hear it if there are. Is it the usual 12-step thing, or do they require -- as I anticipate -- an extra four or five more steps, just to iron out all the little side quirks?

I've had that thought, too, seasea. Today I saw an ad on Craigslist for someone to remove staples and tape over holes in papers for eight hours a day and I actually thought about it for a second before I realized it was a joke. At least I hope it was a joke.

Wasn't Bailey a recovering republican? She was OK.

Have we discussed and/or gotten excited by this news yet (not inclined to backboodle)?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301986.html?hpid=topnews

Roger Cohen has a thoughtful article on drones in the NYT. Inexplicably he failed to mention Brag’s Law of Unintended Results. This law is quite simple and can be explained in one word—Metoogottahavit.

Drones can be built in a garage. The technology is widely known and for short ranges, remote guidance is easy to apply.

There are thousands of places in the D.C. area from where drones can be launched while the pilots sit in front of laptops, comfy in their safe house.

Imagine the effect this would have if three out of five drones loaded with three kilos of explosives each hit the White House or the Capitol.

After Obama returns from Asia, someone please explain to him what metoogottahavit means.

Oohhhh, slyness . . . *peppermint/chocolate chip scones* . . .

*reminder to self not to self indulge or to do it only in fantasy*

Sorry about the job, Wheezy. I hope something else comes up soon.

Cya later, Boodlieurs. . . .

I would think someone we all know will soon have a much more in-depth take on the "wet Moon" news...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301986.html

:-)

Don't be so sure that job was a joke. Back in the late Pleistocene when I worked in a menial capacity for the P.O. I was seconded to the IRS for a time, where they had seasonal workers who did nothing all day but remove staples from 1040s. Probably beats greeting at Walmart.

The world is full of crappy jobs, many of which I have done at one time or another. You do what you need to do to keep your sanity. Look for something better. Burn no bridges. Move on when the chance presents. Remember that what you do is not all of who you are.

When I looked at the WaPo home page, the headline for the Pundit Contest was across the top, with a picture of Osama bin Laden below (in that annoying rotating pic thing). For a second, I leaped to a frightening conclusion. (At least, I think it's bin Laden - or is it KSM with a full beard?)

Ooh. Cool news about the Moon. Looking forward to hearing more about that.

In the interest of comity and religious tolerance, I have decided that I shall suffer the witch to live.

Really, there's no need to praise me for my magnanimity.

Did she turn you into a newt? Did you get better?

kguy, I suppose it's no suprise that IRS needed hordes of staple-pullers. May wheezy find something more interesting to do.

*an actual real snort -- I'm not kidding, I really did snort!! -- at Bob's 1:57. Had a mouth full of mug cake and blew crumbs all over my keyboard. Coulda been much worse, coulda been coffee or soda.*

The other day we briefed mentioned David Lloyd and the outstanding Chuckles Bites the Dust episode. Lisa deMoraes' column just provided the links to the full episode, in three parts, which I shall echo here for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgIDwJHTYt8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OtVlsKm6fg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwC361O13gk&feature=related

"A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."

I'm sorry, but it had to be said.

laloomis-

I do not know what caused you to write that 10:27, but I think you owe FTB an apology.

I don't blame LiT, RD, or anyone else for getting upset with you over that one. It strikes me as mean and distasteful and rather sexist, too.

I cannot see the benefit in such unpleasantness - and I cannot understand why anyone would want to reap what they sowed by such things.

bc

Oh goodness. That's my favorite Monty Python bit of all time. You would be shocked (really you would) at how often the phrase "Does it weigh the same as a duck?" shows up in technical discussions.

Well, mebbe you wouldn't..

Of course it is one of your favourites, RD, you who are so wise in the ways of Science.

Only classy people apologize.

Thank you Yoki!

BTW - I am reading Michael Palin's Diaries "The Python Years" at home. Great stuff not only for Python fans, but also for anyone who is interested in Britain during the 1970s. Great, great stuff.

km2bar! Thanks...

I was off trying to crack some PHP code to get to some data. That was a nice little post. I am still trying to really understand what Tom Coburn was basing his tortured logic about standing in the way of the new VA funding legislation.

This is a Senator. I can't imagine how the lazy thinkers just tune off all other thought processes and hunker down with their co-dependent thinkers. So often those folks can't focus on the topic of the discussion, but go straight to what amounts to name calling.

Weed, if you say PHP code as a word instead of initials, it sounds rather like a raspberry. Thanks!

Eyyyyyye toollllllllld uuuuuuuuu...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301986.html

:-)

And I still wanna know how much ice-9 they found.

What I want to know is, how does he do that so *fast?*

Yoki:

*Master Thespian-like voice*

JOURNALISM!!

:-)

Precisely!

How long before it becomes the new Kit? I'm betting less than an hour.

Joel, when you put up your Moon story as a new Kit be sure to preface it with this exchange:

What I want to know is, how does he do that so *fast?*

*Master Thespian-like voice*

JOURNALISM!!

And welcome back to the No Fun League:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/11/13/ocho.ap/index.html

*SIGH*

Just home and backboodling completed, I see that many of you are in top for today.

Wheezy my condolences, we are experiencing something similar with my husbands job - so disappointing to find out what you thought was a great opportunity is a nightmare. Best wish and good luck to you.

kguy, love your 1:42 post.

I am sure Joel will post his kit now! :-)

Good afternoon, all.

I'd heard about the water on the Moon at around lunchtime, but haven't had time to consider it.

On the other hand, I expected that it *would* be there.

The Question is, do we leave it up there and utilize it for Moonbase Alpha (or Ft. Bush or New Houston or whatever), or does Richard Branson start bringing it to Earth via Virgin Galactic and selling it? If people will pay a lot of money for water bottled in the French Alps, what will they pay for water from the Montes Pyrenaeus?

bc

Before we get to engrossed in the moon and and related topics I will struggle to comprehend, I offer this. An article on Morgan Freeman's attempt to integrate the prom in the Mississippi town where he resides - a documentary was also made about the event.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/morgan-freeman-talks-about-his-prom-night-in-mississippi/article1362414/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGlobeAndMail-Front+%28The+Globe+and+Mail+-+Latest+News%29&utm_content=Google+International

Cross-posting from the comments on Joel's water-on-the-Moon article, my response to the first few wrongheaded comments:

Let me re-inject some sanity in this discussion:

(1) Gets us to Mars? Bunky, we don't even get back to the Moon, optimistically, until about a decade from now. The greatest value of this discovery, exploration-wise, is to provide water and oxygen for facilities on the Moon itself. A test system might be operating in 20 years. The big difficulty is in excavating, transporting, and processing the regolith (soil).

(2) This is an infinitesimal quantity of water compared to Earth's supply, but potentially a vast savings in the amount of water that must be boosted into space to support astronauts. Eventually.

(3) Sadly, there's only about 5 scientists left on Earth who feel that the evidence of ancient Martian life in meteorite ALH84001 has not been thoroughly refuted by now. It was nice to think it was there, but it has not stood the test of close examination. Anyway, no one is claiming life on the Moon. It is an investigation of exploration prospects and gaining a deeper understanding of geologic processes on an airless rock in space -- of which there are a lot of them.

(4) There is very little connection between this event and the dinosaur-killing impact. Keep in mind that we are incredibly puny compared to the size of planets. The Chicxulub impact crater is abut 320 times bigger than this crater, so it covers 100,000 times as much surface area, and excavated on the order of 32 million times as much stuff from the crater. When you think of the might of humanity, you would do well to think modestly.

(5) No one is thinking of humanity escaping to the Moon.

(6) The Chandrayaan/M-cubed/EPOXI discoveries of lunar water are different. They discovered water-of-hydration, in far tinier quantities than this. Both discoveries are valuable for lunar geology; neither displaces the other. The announcement of the water of hydration came only about 2 weeks before the LCROSS impact -- did you imagine they would cancel the impact event because of somebody else's discovery?

(7) There is no evidence that the Moon enhances life on Earth. That is pure speculation, most of it discarded since the 1960's. The Moon is in an orbital resonance with its rotation, something that is quite common. The match between the Moon's size and solar eclipses is intriguing, but there is no evidence that it is anything beyond an entertaining coincidence.

(8) LCROSS has been in the works for several years. "Global warming" has hardly been a source of startling new funding for NASA, and political opposition to even investigating the issue has brought its share of headaches.

The comments following mine are now turning toward the usual nonsense about how NASA is manipulating the public to get vast quantities of funding. These days, a single indie film will have a bigger budget than, for example, NASA's planetary astronomy research budget.

We can bring back water from the Moon without any extra effort, so long as the purchasers don't mind it having passed through an astronaut's urinary tract and a water-recycler a few times, first. I'm sure its lunar origin will be demonstrable from the isotopic composition of the resulting fluids.

Only six minutes until I lose my bet, Joel.

I just got my H1N1 shot. I feel teeming with antibodies already. I'm rather peckish too, a bucket of swill would hit the spot nicely.

Uh...

Er...

Just had an interstitial ad from the Nats, to the effect of "Buy a season ticket package by 12/31, and we'll ADD $7 TO EACH TICKET!"

Huh? *RCA Victor dog head tilt*

Monitoring the comments to Joel's article, it strikes me that an efficient way to find people who have passed unscathed and uneducated through the public school system would be to monitor the WaPo (and other newspaper) comment boards. Then we could send them each a complementary copy of Strunk and White, a dictionary, maybe some basic textbooks. You know, help them on the road to self-discovery and self-education.

I don't want to think about the appropriate response if these measures have no effect. Such thinking is uncharitable and morally indefensible, and besides: it would be best to keep the element of surprise. Perhaps some barricades of modest lethality could be erected near their homes and natural selection could take its course, with a little encouragement from society.

Oop. Perhaps I have revealed too much.

Water on the moon? How does that compare with the BIG news of the day?

Number one HS basketball recruit Harrison Barnes has chosen Dr G's beloved Tarheels to join next year!

Go Heels!

SciTim, I belive an appopriate phrase for the majority of the commenters might be:

"The stupid, it burns!!!"

One quibble about point #7 SciTim. I came across an article recently that said that the moon plays an important role in moderating earth's axial tilt (sadly, I can't find the link in my web history). I checked the wikipedia article on axial tilt -- the math and orbital mechanics terminology is way beyond me, but I gather that we would have significantly greater seasonal extremes and longer term climate variability without the big green cheese.

The math and orbital mechanics is beyond me, too. But it's not clear whether a wildly oscillating obliquity would be inimical to life, or just a problem for civilization. Or is it something to which one could adapt? I don't know.

You beat me to it, TBG! Mr. T came in from painting the shed to watch the announcement.

Not that I'm surprised. If *I* (or someone I love) had to choose between Duke and Carolina, it wouldn't be a choice. At all.

Hey rashomon!

*So* glad I didn't have anything in my mouth when I read ScienceTim's 3:40!

Duke's physics building is so astoundingly ugly that it played a part in my decision not to go there -- I couldn't imagine facing that building every morning, for years. On the other hand, the people I met were quite pleasant and I loved the laboratory that proudly described the adhesive material they found that worked at both room temperature and liquid-helium temperature: masking tape. The rest of the campus seemed quite attractive.

UNC, on the other hand... that is, on the other hand... um, I can't think of anything to say about UNC, except that it occupies an entire town.

You spelled it wrong, Tim. It's dook.

wheezy,
Sorry the job just didn't work out. I've told my wife to quit a place if the stress is too much. It's just a job and it shouldn't endanger your mental health. Keep looking. Something will find you and vice versa.

Speaking of Dook: Twelve point underdogs to the Jackets tomorrow and the only road bump between GT and the ACC championship game. I just hope the players aren't looking ahead to the Dawgs (What's the good word?).

The fun thing about not being a Carolinian is that you can hate UNC and Duke equally. If only they could both lose when they play each other.

God loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ.

Hello, friends. I know, it's as though I'm absent like before, but things are hectic and twenty-four hours just doesn't seem to cut it.

Concerning the article, I read it and I thought it was balanced until I read the quotes from a Bush administration official. I agree with Mudge and Slyness, why are we still doing talking points from these folks? If their strategy was so brilliant, why are we still there? And yes, I agree, it's not dithering, it taking the time to think through the situation and looking at it long and hard. If it were your kid, wouldn't you want that kind of of consideration? I read the comment section(not this one, the other one) after reading this kit, and most of the folks responding loved it because they were right on with JA's critique of President Obama. I realize that this is a difficult situation for President Obama, but that's all the man has had since being in office is difficult situations, left there by another President. I've never cared for kicking people when they're trying to make the best of a bad situation. I don't care what anyone has to say, we can't say this President doesn't work because he works all the time. It's almost like he knows he only has so many days to do this, and I certainly hope that is not the case.

We're still trying to bring our heads up over the flood that has almost covered us. My dad is still here, and the g-girl. Her mother will be here Saturday, so that situation will ease up a little. Just keep me in your prayers, and I will pop in when I can.

The weather here has turned really cold. And it seems the clouds are not going anywhere anytime soon.We had about ten minutes of sun today,so all was not lost.

I do hope everyone has a beautiful weekend. Enjoy your families, and get some rest. And I highly recommend you give Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus some of your time. I love you all.

Tim, Duke's biology building was sort a twin to Physics. Just as ugly, astoundingly practical, with glazed tile everywhere. I managed, as a UNC grad student, to visit weekly. NC State also got due attention.

Did anyone wish Frosti happy birthday today?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FROSTBITTEN!!

laloomis-

I do not know what caused you to write that 10:27, but I think you owe FTB an apology.

I don't blame LiT, RD, or anyone else for getting upset with you over that one. It strikes me as mean and distasteful and rather sexist, too.

I cannot see the benefit in such unpleasantness - and I cannot understand why anyone would want to reap what they sowed by such things.

bc

Just getting in from a long time away from the house running errands.

bc, why aren't YOU a more better writer and explain your use of an unknown acronym during your 11:34 p.m. post? I didn't know what the heck the meaning of FMP means--the question ftb posed. Clearly, I was reacting to Padouk's FMP post--extremely lewd and, in my opinion, in very poor taste. I get sick and tired, sick and tired, sick and tired of nmany of the sugestive comments about women here.

As Moose recommended, I rubbed my eye (probably not helped by the fact that we are on vacation this week and the two glasses of Francis Ford Copplola's 2007 Blue Diamond Merlot from Geyersville that we had during a late dinner last night did a number on my one good eye, coupled with conditions caused by my rare genetic disorder--alcohol dries them both out something fierce), and saw that the letters were FMP, not FTB.

The letters of the shoeware, a subject brought up by Padouk, regardless of their composition (the intended meaning of FTB and FMP as regards shoeware is about the same--see Curmudgeon's 11:27. Certainly as one of the SAO15, I've been around plenty long enough to know ftb stands for firsttimeblogger), still raised the same lewdness. Sometimes, I think that some of the men here are no more than Calibans or onanists. Examples are in the archives.

Men, consider yourselves lucky that I didn't turn you all into frogs this morning!

I'd be more concerned about no tides, SciTim. A good souffle needs to be whipped to rise properly.

Are we growing a little somnolent? Or otherwise in need of distraction? I was going to post a link to some nice scream metal, but on mature reflection thought better of it. Instead, and is my wont of a Friday evening, and for your listening pleasure, some new urban hip. La Roux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOYufRHQSms

Onanist?

You believe it's a duty for men to marry and impregnate their dead brothers' widows?

You do realize that such a customary duty occured in polyandrous times and could not exist today outside a polyandrous system?

Therefore, when you slam others for being onanists, you indirectly indicate that you long for those ancient Hebrew days when women had no rights or independence outside their roles as mothers or wives.

I find that a very bizarre, if not downright Freudian insult combined with your apparent "feminist" critique.

You might want to recheck your definition of "feminist."

Sorry, don't buy the logic that I am somehow to blame for your outburst, Loomis.

But for the record, any woman who feels I am lewd and disrespectful to women please let me know and I shall personally apologize.

Except for you Loomis, for you have already let your feelings known.

Can't speak for anyone else, but EYE think you are lovely, RD_P. I think you appreciate and respect women as people, and I also think you are both humourous and discriminating. There is no way your funny definition today was 'lewd.'

RDP - lewd, maybe, but you made me laugh.

"FMP" is descriptive. Women sure don't wear those shoes for comfort or practicality.

I have exactly one pair of FMPs, with a moderate heel but showing just the right amount of titillating toe cleavage.

And, yes, ScienceTim - that's your cue to knock off work :)

The Call of the Spouse

The Science couple are so cute!

RD would not consider you disrespectful.

SciSpouse - I apologize if you found it lewd. Really, the whole point was to go out of my way not to make it suggestive by overwriting it so much.

RD, I thought your definition was very well done, clever and funny, not at all offensive. Your comments are routinely clear, to the point and of the "wish I'd said that" category. I can't remember you ever saying anything negative about women.

I'm just confused, RD. Your post was in response to ftb's sincere question, which was posed in response to my comment, which was made in response to a comment bc made last night. Why pick on you? Why not me or bc? You didn't bring the subject up, and you were trying to find a Boodle-friendly way to define the questioned term, at the request of another Boodler. I thought you did it very well.

I don't think of FMP as a particularly lewd acronym. It's been around at least since the late 1970s, when I wore the things. This was back before I embraced the power that comes with being short. Power and influence. Power, influence and untold wealth. It will come, short people, it will come.

My dear RD, I think you are a most gentlemanly gentleman. Really. The first of equals of our gentle men here on the boodle.

Ivansmom, I'm still shooting for power. In my view, all flows therefrom. With power comes influence and wealth and even, if we are very very lucky, the envy of others.

Loomis was right about the use of unknown acronyms in your 11:34 pm, bc.

I have no idea what SLR means.

Single Lens Reflex
Simply Love Rolos
Seven Large Removers
Satirical Limeys Redux

Silly Lagomorph Romping

I wonder if it was the SLR Stirling, which has my vote for the coolest car ever built.

http://mercedestalk.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/mercedes-slr-stirling-moss-3.jpg

I actually do know what SLR means and it isn't an acronym at all. It is the Mercedes SL-class Roadster.

Actually, Yoki, it is an acronym. In English it stands for Sport, Light, Racing. In this case it would have been German, but the initials are the same.

But it isn't an acronym, unless we say "slerr," or something, and I've never heard anyone do that. They are just initials.

Oops, you're right. I think the correct term is "initialism." My bad.

Point to Yoki! "Laser" is an acronym. "OB-GYN" is not, although for years I've been trying to get my lady friends, as well as my male friends in the medical field, to start pronouncing it as "ob-gine", rather than the silly spelling out of letters that don't stand for anything.

Still friends?

Ah, well ....

My knees can certainly attest to (among other things) my having worn spiked heels when I was a mere lass in my 20s. And I was 5'9" then (I've lost one-and-three-quarters inches!) -- but I'm still tall (not as svelte as I was when younger, but still, well (even if I do say so myself) somewhat cute and adorable (right, BPHers?).

You know, life's entirely too short to f@rt around, and to take *such* umbrage at something entirely too insignificant to mention steals more than your remaining time on this earth.

I did not take umbrage *at all* about any of the effing F** acronyms. Not everything in life is worth exploding over, nor is a slight *always* someone else's fault. And no, I'm not referring to Sarah Palin's new book, because I think I just read it in the Boodle.

How are you feeling, Ivansmom? BTW, I enjoyed your comment on how the Boy would respond to a question about school ("It's a secret") -- what a cool and funny thing to say (and have the nerve to say!). Very cute.

Gonna go make some dinner -- tons of veggies and some tinned sardines (sans the tin) nuked (not "Snuked"). A little Szechwan sauce on the top, and it's a yums-ville.

Later.

It was, of course, devastating to my fragile ego. But if the sun actually comes out tomorrow, the massive cloud of depression may lift.

Absolutely adorable, actually.

Does anybody else confess to a sort of horrid fascination with Palin's book? I'm not going to read it, but I am sure am enjoying the coverage of the AP leaks.

Oh, but everything in life IS worth exploding over, sooner or later, to somebody, and it just pisses me off that you don't understand this!!!

:-)

Just sent an email to this very point, and then popped in to back-boodle before getting back to the salt mine....

RD, you can't possibly taking that with anything other than a big ole blue cylnder of Morton's.

Much like the word b1tch, regardless of what FMP originally meant, it now means something else. It's a type of shoe, like a clog, or a wedge, or an espadrille. Go into any decent shoe store, tell them that you need a pair of FMPs to go with (whatever) color dress, and they know exactly what to bring out, just like if you said you needed d'Orsays or gladiators.

I don't expect others to share my viewpoint, but shoes are artwork you wear. They're not a statement about availability.

SLR also means "single lens reflex" to describe camera architecture. And yet it is an initialism if you say the letters and an acronym if you say the word.

Meanwhile, this is probably not a very good time to explain the other meaning of "onanist," which I suspect was the version Loomis had in mind.

Caliban, as it turns out comes from the same word as cannibal; in fact, it was once the same word. There is a process of sound change in klinguistics called "metathesis" that occurs when people accidentally transpose sounds (sometimes vowels, sometimes consonants or consonant groups).

The most universally understood example of metathesis right now is the way a child pronounces "spaghetti" as something like pasghetti, pisgetti, bisghetti, etc. Metathesis in language is why "iron" is pronounced eye-ern (moving the rbehind the vowel), "bird" was originally "bryd," why some people pronounce "ask" as "axe" (reversing the s and the k), why Bush pronounces "nuculear" the way he does, "pretty" is "purty," "introduce" becomes "interduce," "integral" is "intragul," and etc.

So cannibal, a person who is uncivilized enough to eat other people, becomes caliban, a brutish, deformed person of no class or good breeding. See also Rod Steiger's "this ignoble Caliban" speech in "Dr. Zhivago" (threw that in for kguy).

This has been another wildly fascinating (some might suggest "boring") moment in English language lexicography, yet another service of the Achenblog, the home of sages, scientists, autodidacts and dillitants of all stripes and not a few plaids.

Channeling your inner Lewis Black, bobs?

I trust I didn't offend the Science couple, but we just found out tonight that dear friends will be separating, ScienceSpouse post was a nice highlight after a discssion with our friend that left my husband and I quite emotinal.

yoki, i confess i'm fascinated, too. conservatives peggy noonan and kathleen parker have nailed palin the best - for not knowing what she doesn't know. (wonder if she responds to them in the book.) and it's fascinating to see how palin keeps trying to justify herself despite evidence that undermines her credibility on so many topics.

klinguistics, in case you were wondering is either (a) a typo from my clumsy finners, or (b) the study of klingon language (as if yiou hadn't already arrived at that conclusion yourselves), of which you are all aware that there are three distinct dialects, and Uhuru knows all three.

Gotta say, I found S. Palin interesting for about a month when I first heard about her, then... not so much. I know plenty of people just like her. Energetic, kinda bullheaded, not exactly the sharpest knives in the rack but certainly not idiots. Heck, the most recent President Bush was much like her.

People who need to have an eye kept upon them, and who occasionally need to be saved from themselves, but not actually very interesting. I can't imagine wanting to read a book by any of them unless someone whose opinion I respect an awful lot told me it was a good read.

dmd, sorry about your friends, that has to hurt.

I've seen the Palin book advertised on TV for $5, which I find hilarious. Even at that price I wouldn't buy it but I do enjoy hearing about it. From what I've heard of it so far, I don't know how it helps her at all with anyone who doesn't already think highly of her. I still say that if she looked like Madeleine Albright, she's be "Sara who?" by now.

WTF? This whole thread is FUBARed. What a typical SNAFU.

I don't think we want to bother the ScienceCouple for a few hours. Can somebody go over and take the SciKids out for some ice cream or something?

IYSO, YKJKT.

SCC: IYSS

aka "if you say so"

Or should it be phonetic? "FUC-so?"

yello, you gotta take the good with the bad. TANSTAAFL.

Why the Face, yellojkt? LOL (lots of love)

I won't even get Palin's book from the library, but I probably will watch the Oprah interview. Some things are just too bad to miss.

In the book Palin apparently spends a lot of time pointing fingers and insisting that nothing is her fault. It's something about the Republican party that continues to annoy me: how they come up with this stream of mediocrities who are incapable of understanding their own shortcomings, or possess the minimal level of self-awareness that would lead them to realize "Hey. I'm really not qualified for this." In my lifetime there have been Agnew, Reagan, Quayle, Bush II and Palin on the presidential ticket. It's not that the Democrats don't have people like this (think Blagojevich, who apparently had national aspirations), but they don't seem to let them get to the top.

rashomon, I agree. And they seem to think we have incredibly short memories. I mean, we all saw the Couric interview and the VP debate.

I'm pretty sure we've had this discussion, but since you brought it up, Mudge -- bisketti.

I still have a cold, but I'm pretty sure it is a cold, and not something else. Bah. Ick. Fortunately, I can soon take some over-the-counter knock-me-out cold pill and rest.

ftb, when the Boy was in first and second grade he did that all the time. He'd come home, we'd say, "What did you do in school today?" and he'd say, "I can't tell you. It's a secret." As is true of so many other parenting moments, it was both charming and irritating.

*scratching my head* "In your sushi omlet, you're killing Japanese kelp thongs"?

I'll accept "bisketti" as the proper first preferred spelling of the metathetical, IM.

And gesundheit.

I kinda understand the morbid -stare-at-a-car-accident idea of being interested in Palin's boom, but even so I just can't bring myself to being that interested in it. The articles about it have been sufficient to slake my thirst for...for... whatever that is. Shadenfreude, maybe.

And since I have a reputation as both a Caliban and an onanist (although I must dispute the latter since I was never even in the school band and wouldn't know which end of an onan to blow into (but I did briefly date a girl that was both a flautist and a pianist)), this is as good a time as any to pass on this link as a further edification to boodlers that have expressed curiosity on this particular topic in the past:

http://victoriporn.com/category/victorian/

It's the real deal and very, very, very (did I make that clear enough?) not safe for the drawing room so be sure that you have a swoon couch nearby if you insist on clicking through.

Thank you to the ladies who have said kind things to me both here and in private e-mail.

I agree with Yoki that there is something oddly fascinating about coverage of the Palin book. Sort of like driving by an accident where you must fight the urge to slow down and gawk.

Now off to that other Palin book. You know, the intentionally funny one.

Boundaries, yello. Boundaries.

Nope, SO not interested in that...

The Quiternator's book, that is.

I saw a couple of comments to the effect that the only reason it's a "bestseller" is that certain political organizations have pre-ordered loads of them as giveaways. Makes sense to me. *shrug*

And here's a shocker:

ex-Rep. Jefferson got far less than the sentencing guidelines called for...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301266.html

*SIGH*

Happy birthday, Frosti! 32, is it? ;-)

Power to the short people! Ivansmom, I never minded being short nearly as much as I've minded being wide.

Yes, I remember a pair of FMP's, they were red wedges with toe cleavage, circa 1977. Nowadays it's all flats for me!

Metathetical. The things I learn here! So much for me to be humble about.

Hey Cassandra! I hope things are improving in your part of the world.

Yello, we expect no better from an alum of the North Avenue Trade School.

Hey rashomon!

Frosti, sorry ment to post this earlier - Happy Birthday!! Hope you are having a great day.

Happy Birthday frosti!!! :-)

And hey to you, slyness.

I'm so old that FMPs were called Mules...

Happy birthday to Frosti!

Happy Birthday Frosti!!!!!!

And many, many, many more!

dmd, sorry about your friends.

frosti, happy bday!

re: palin, besides not seeing her own shortcomings, she's utterly confident and self-righteous. it makes me wonder whether republicans ever experience self-doubt.

have a good weekend, everyone!

p.s. my last sentence about self-doubt was a bit of an over statement, but i basically agree with rashomom's point about palin being in good company.

Hippo Birdies to Frosti; thanks Mudge for the language-morphology lesson. Hippo Birdie is Happy B-day in the speak of my family of origin. Also these:

hangabuggers
pisgetti
boobarb
crap apples

RD is is rather like Westley in Princess Bride: good and true and smart and funny and charming; only imagine the dark yet approachable good looks of an Italian movie star of the 60s. Sunglasses and cravat, too.

The SciSpouse moments on the boodle are such grace notes of fun.

Ahhh: shoes and adornment. The happiest people adorn and dress themselves for both themselves and others. We are hardwired to ornament and create a look, an illusion. We are hardwired to notice each other's charms and ornaments.

Curmudgeon: It just occurred to me that you really should have waited for Wednesday for the lesson on metathesis.

A winning wave, deserving note,
In the tempestuous petticoat;
A careless shoe-string, in whose tie
I see a wild civility,—
Do more bewitch me than when art
Is too precise in every part.

Robbert Herrick's Delight in Disorder

Happy birthday, Ivansmom.

Q: Why do my ribs hurt?

Happy Rabbits to frostbitten.

Soon I am off to bed. Buenos gnocchis to all, vaya con queso, and fondue.

mudge,
You are so cute when you are being a prude. I loved your lexicalluthor lesson. You are so good at that. We all work with our given talents. You have decades of writing experience and have a deep abiding passion for the written word and convey this knowledge in a lucid yet expansive manner.

Me? I'm pretty good with a prurient google search.

Drat, I forgot to wish Frosti a happy birthday. Hope it has been a wonderful day!

RD, your 'driving by the accident' comment is another of those "wish I'd said that" moments for me. I'm watching Rachel Maddow and waiting to hear what she has to say about the Palin book. RM is one very smart woman.

But you are clueless about where the boundaries and borders are. Clueless.

Beatrix Potter's Jeremy Fisher:
"Mr. Jeremy put on a raincoat, and a pair of shiny shoes; he took his rod and basket, and set off with enormous hops to the place where he kept his boat."

Happy birthday, FB! Any Friday the 13th that is your birthday is a lucky one.

Louisa May Alcott's
An Old Fashioned Girl

"Grandma was sitting before a quaint old cabinet, the doors of which stood wide open, showing glimpses of the faded relics treasured there. On a stool, at the old lady's feet, sat Polly, looking up with intent face and eager eyes, quite absorbed in the history of a high-heeled brocade shoe which lay in her lap."

But Scotty, the article about Jefferson also says the sentence is:
"the longest prison term ever handed down to a member of Congress convicted of corruption charges"

I guess it depends on how you look at it. BTW, Rep Cao (R-LA), who voted for Health Care Reform, beat Jefferson in the election.

Is it frostbitten's and Ivansmom's birthday today? Happy Birthday!

Off to check out Victorian porn and see what the fuss is about.

Hans Christian Anderson
The Red Shoes

" One day the Queen was travelling through that part of the country, and had her little daughter, who was a princess, with her. All the people, amongst them Karen too, streamed towards the castle, where the little princess, in fine white clothes, stood before the window and allowed herself to be stared at. She wore neither a train nor a golden crown, but beautiful red morocco shoes; they were indeed much finer than those which the shoemaker’s wife had sewn for little Karen. There is really nothing in the world that can be compared to red shoes!"

(Very complex story that I love and loathe.)

No birthdays here, but I'm happy to celebrate an UnBirthday.

While sleeping. 'Night, all.

Wheezy -- sorry about the no money zone that is jobless. Here's to the next job being "right enough."

Bonne fête! (to the birthday girls)

Palin is so outside of my personl experience I can't fathom her motivation and barely understand what she says. I never had an inclination to name a child Bric-à-brac or Zorgd either.

This arepanrix A(H1N1) vaccine is a doll. I've had no reaction whatsoever. I got the seasonal flu vaccine pretty much every year in the past 12-15 years and a couple of them were bothersome. This one goes down smoothly. I'm told the craving for genetically modified corn will subside soon.

Why does a frog need shiny tap shoes and a raincoat?

Is Jeremy Fisher the real name of Michael J. Frog, and is he trying to audition for the remake of "Singing in the Rain?"

Beatrix was a strange chick, let's put it at that, notwithstanding the fact that dogs in spandex have been spotted at Chez Wilbrod...

WB -- just silly anthropomorphism...and punny that frog has shiny shoes and a rain coat.

Hey, am I the last to know that FreeCreditReportDotCom dude is Canadian?

http://www.ericviolette.com

CqP, the excellent "The Red Shoes" movie has recently been restored to its Technicolor glory on a Blue Ray video.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/movies/06redshoes.html?_r=1

Then there is The Red Shoes.

http://dowdreport.blogspot.com/2009/11/seeing-red.html

"Some movies you have to watch whenever they’re on.
One of those, for me, is “The Red Shoes.” Like its doomed heroine, I’m pulled inexorably along by the bewitched crimson ballet slippers into a lush, swirling landscape that turns into an inescapable, bloody hell."

Seasea, it's porn as in dirty pictures of nekkid women.

It violates WaPo posting guidelines in general, and people could be fired for accidentally opening that website at work, f'instance.

Also, I don't think any of us actually asked for those /pictures/ of Victorian women, unless I missed a major backboodling moment?

I remember that scene in Alcott, CqP...Grandma wore those shoes when she was kissed by the Marquis de LaFayette.

sd,
Great minds.

Yep, I looked at it and was underwhelmed. But it's not gross like Penthouse (so I've heard). Somehow Victorian porn came up in the conversation a few days ago, but I think it was of the written, not pictorial variety.

I guess it takes a lot to offend me these days.

Slyness, I really like LMA's An Old Fashioned Girl.

Yes, M d L. The very one.

Yep yello, but those blue ray DVD have to come down cheaper though. I make sure they have been restored properly but yet, most are expensive. The Godfather series happened to be a deal despite the $120 price tag. It's been watched at least a dozen times. I'm even starting to appreciate the GF III.

SD -- me too on GFIII. Thanks for the reminder on the Red Shoes. Moira Shearer....such pathos.

I'm not sure I'm ever going Blu-Ray. I haven't returned a DVD to NetFlix in about three months, but I'm getting my money's worth on the Roku account. Last week it was a Kat Dennings double feature. NoPrize to anybody (who isn't a Facebook friend) that can guess what the movies were.

Even cartoonists know that psychiatrists are crazy.

http://comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2009/11/13/bad-timing/

yello, if I had the money to burn, I suspect I'd love the move to blu-ray and a hi-def monitor. Reality being what it is, I watched Marty Feldman's Think Dirty on Beta last night. On my CRT television.

I actually watched a couple of Reagan's "b" westerns on beta last week (Tennessee's Partner and Cattle Queen of Montana). It's a funny thing about Reagan's movies: I couldn't stand watching them for a couple decades -- until Bush. I detested Bush so much that my dislike for Reagan became trivial, and I found myself able to watch his movies on their own merits(?) again.

Hans Christian Anderson has quite a reputation among storytellers of my acquaintance as an author that hardly anyone could stand to tell. Gruesome death awaits the mildly unpleasant and trivially unjust people of the world. An even more grisly fate is in store for the nice people.

"The Little Match Girl" has what passes for a happy ending in Anderson's stories: she gets to imagine herself in the warm and loving comfort of a happy family gathered about the Christmas tree exchanging presents and singing songs, bellies full and satisfied. This, she hallucinates while freezing to death in the snow.

Good times, good times.

The horror that is Andersen (sorry, Anderson) still makes me wonder just why we know exactly what he is talking about, when we are children.

This tiny insight made me understand childhood better, for my girls, and made me kinder to them. More generous, and welcoming.

More loving and generous-hearted, really.

curmudgeon: if you ever make it to Finland:

http://www.cafebisketti.fi/

As kids, we might understand the HCA stories, but I don't remember any nieces, nephews, sisters, the many and various kids I baby sat, or sons of mine who ever chose them as a bed time story.

'morning all. Another gorgeous November day. I know we are going to pay for that at one point. Actually it's supposed to turn to rain briefly then we will be back to sunny days. It's been unbelievable weather for November up here.

The point of Andersen stories may be to tell the kids that their life could be a lot worse than it is and they that should be grateful for what they have. On the other hand he might just have been a morose peddler of unhappy stories.

Good Morning Everyone,

The rains are letting up, but I fear the moisture has made the leaves expand dangerously.

Front page Joel! Sweet.

Morning all, and happy weekend. Hi Cassandra! There's this great big yellow ball in the sky, I don't know what it is. The sun, maybe? It's been so long since we've seen it!

Much to do today, I'd better get started. With luck, I'll finish painting the living room and the foyer, so we can put the furniture back in place tomorrow.

New Kit!

Water on the moon. Yoki lost her bet by 18 hours.

New kit!

Good morning, folks. Hi Cassandra, and happy belated Birthday, Frosti

Have a good friend in from Boston for the weekend, and we'll be getting together with more friends over the course of it.

So sorry I'm not a better writer in the Boodle for ya, loomis. I don't get paid for this, and it's not my bully pulpit, soapbox, confessional, or substitute for having my own blog, so my standards are even lower than normal.

If you say you haven't noticed or paid attention to all the mentions of FMPs in the Boodle over the past couple of years, that's OK -- I gain a greater understanding of you from that knowledge.

Have a great day, all. My life's too short to get bogged down in acrimonyms (ahem, sez the Jackson Pollock of the English Language) and time-consuming electronic arguing anyway.

Peace.

bc

BREAKING NEWS:

Obama commits more troops to War on Fox News, still pondering an Afghan troop decision.....

Obama loves America soooo much he even had Bill Ayer's ghost-write his book "Dreams of My Father"....

Of course, Obama was spending so much time in church soaking up Rev. Wright's "God-d*mn America" sermons he had to let a good friend write for him......