goddess of clarity: a blog about politics, culture, and serenity
Archive: January 1 - January 15, 2006
January 13, 2006 — 9:53 EST
Happy Friday the 13th!
I stole this from the Blogapotamus, and I wish I'd known to steal it sooner, but this week is National De-Lurking Week (or in my case, I guess it's National De-Lurking Weekend). I lurk on a lot a blogs myself, usually because I can't think of something witty or interesting to say. But this week, there is no wittiness pressure involved. I can't imagine I have many lurkers, but if you're out there, say "Hey!"
—lori.
January 12, 2006 — 13:17 EST
The Unflattering Politician Photo of the Week
(Questionable Questioning Edition)
(Photo originally appeared in Reuters)
"All but two senators used more words than Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. during their allotted 30 minutes of questions yesterday." --The New York TimesI don't know what the problem is with senators. We had the same problem with John Kerry last fall. They just can't seem to shut the hell up, which would be more acceptable if what they were saying was in any way interesting. Usually they just expound needlessly on some hyper-specific point of procedure or speechify with mock-outrage about some perceived calamity that is sure to "disgrace this great and august chamber, my fellow Senators." Gaaaaaawd, just get ON with it!
Alito is interviewing for the job of interpreting the Constitution, and that seems to be the one topic the senators on the judiciary committee are intent on NOT asking him about. If you were interviewing for a job as a flower arranger, I think it would be reasonable to assume that questions about flowers might come up during the process. And when they did, I don't think an acceptable answer would be, "Well I would keep an open mind about them, but I don't think it would be right to comment about flowers at this juncture as they are likely to come before me in the course of my duties."
I just want one senator to ask this one short, sharp question (no preface, no context, no disclaimer, no self-aggrandizing introductory speech, and certainly no "chart"): Judge Alito, the word "privacy" does not appear anywhere in our Consitution. As someone who we are entrusting with interpreting the Consisution, do you believe there is a Constitionally protected right to privacy?
And when he doesn't answer, or gives some rambling reply about the importance of precedent and how "no man is above the law," that senator should reply, "Well that was fun and all very nice, but do you believe there is a Constitutionally protected right to privacy?"
(By the way, in this little parallel universe of mine, the hearings into how the Bush administration manipulated intelligence to justify its policy of war in Iraq are now entering their fifth week.)
—lori.
January 11, 2006 — 09:31 EST
I bought an iPod recently, because it's now 2006 and I was officially notified that if I didn't buy one soon my membership in Generation X would be revoked and I would be forced into early curmudgeon-hood.
How does one become a curmudgeon anyway? Is it something you have to actively decide on, or does it sneak up on you? I admit that when I first saw the ads for the new video iPod my first thought was not "Wow! How cool is that?! Look, it even comes in black!" It was more like, "Well that's stupid. Who wants to pay $1.99 for the privilege of watching a U2 video or an episode of Lost on a 3-inch screen? I'll tell you who. Stupid people, that's who."
As further proof of my impending coot-dom, I nearly broke my iPod the first time I used it because I didn't realize that you had to press the tiny buttons on either side of the connector before inserting it in the dock. Instead, I spent five minutes just trying to jam it in there. And why didn't I realize this? Because the buttons were white, flush against the sides of the shiny white connector. Who designs white-on-white buttons?! I'll tell you who. The same people who designed the black-on-black buttons on our DVD player. These young whippersnappers with their "industrial design degrees" don't seem to realize that sometimes elegance and subtlety have to be substituted for—gee, I don't know—visibility! Some of us are already looking over the tops of our glasses to read the liner notes on our new Franz Ferdinand CDs. We're still hip and cool and all that, I promise. We just can't fucking see! Help us out here, Apple!
—lori.
January 10, 2006 — 13:05 EST
“Nothing is more important in the face of a war than cutting taxes.”
House Majority Leader Tom “Let's Keep Our Priorities Straight” DeLay, 2002—2006
—lori.
January 6, 2006 — 20:05 EST
The Unflattering Politician Photo of the Week
(Boris Badenov Edition)
(Photo originally appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald)
Yes, Natasha, this time we cannot fail. Say goodbye to moose and squirrel! Buwah ha ha ha!
This week, Washington lobbyist and professional slimebag Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal charges of "corruption of public officials," fraud, and tax evasion. Early reports indicate that the Fashion Police have dropped their charges of crimes against good taste.
I won't pretend to understand the web of connections and influence Abramoff has woven in Washington. What is fantastically entertaining to me is how politicians on both sides of the aisle now profess themselves shocked, SHOCKED, to find that lobbying is going on in the fancy restaurants and basketball skyboxes of the greater D.C. area.
Nice hat, asshole.
—lori.
January 5, 2006 — 19:30 EST
Great news regarding my favorite fake news man! Just heard that Jon Stewart will be hosting the Oscars. No word on whether Oscar Stewart will be hosting the Jons.
—lori.
January 3, 2006 — 15:35 EST
Overheard in Rochester: A Spike! Viewer's Wet Dream
Where: Park Ave on a sunny winter morning
Girl #1: "All I want to do this afternoon is have a long shower and watch a James Bond movie."
Girl #2: "Can I join you?"
—lori.
January 2, 2006 — 15:35 EST
Time to revisit my end-of-year reckoning. This list appeared on many, many blogs last year when I first filled it out, so I might as well stay consistent and update it for 2005. I am a fan of the well-ordered list.
40 Questions for 2005
- What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Went to a game at the Phillies' new ballpark, climbed one of the 46 Adirondack high peaks (two of 'em, actually!), ran a 5K (finally!), went cross-country skiing, served jury duty, drank a Manhattan, saw the Dave Matthews Band in concert (finally!), watched a TV show broadcast in high definition. - Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept one of them; I ran the aforementioned 5K. But I had also resolved to remember people's birthdays (nope) and to get my finances in order (nope again). I'll try those two again, plus I've added a few more: run a marathon, read more, take better care of my skin, drink more tea (those last two are a bit hyper-specific). - Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this year. The baby explosion was last year, so I guess everyone is taking a breather. - Did anyone close to you die?
No, happily. - What countries did you visit?
Just Canada for our semi-annual IKEA run. I should add that to my growing list of resolutions: travel more. - What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
The Eagles in the playoffs, more parties/entertaining opportunities. - What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory?
August 29, 2005, watching the news from New Orleans and wondering what the hell was going on. - What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Running a 5K. - What was your biggest failure?
I failed to discover a vaccine for avian flu, or clone a dog, or solve the problem of world poverty. I didn't even buy a white bracelet. And for that, I'm very sorry. - Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, it's been a refreshingly health care-free year. - What was the best thing you bought?
My lovely new laptop. My old laptop had gotten to the point where it was taking about 12 minutes to start up. I guess that Windows 2000 upgrade was just a bridge too far. - Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I find myself once again leaving this question till last. I'm sure it says something more about me than the world in 2005 that I find it more difficult to celebrate than to criticize. The only person who is coming to mind is John McCain. It's incredible to think that, but for his individual efforts, the U.S. would have been on the record as endorsing torture. - Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The usual suspects: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld. But this year there was a new face on the scene: Michael "Brownie" Brown, who was completely unqualified to deal with the mess that was Hurricane Katrina, and then proceeded to whine and moan during his Congressional testimony, pointing fingers at everyone but himself. What a dick. - Where did most of your money go?
Rent, a general "technology upgrade" (new laptop, HDTV, DVD player), movies, books, alcohol. - What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I got embarrassingly excited about seeing Duran Duran in concert after all these years. Also, I was pretty giddy when Firefly came out on DVD. - What song/album will always remind you of 2005?
"Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab for Cutie. This got played *A LOT* this year.
"Ba da ba da ba ba / Ba da ba ba ba da ba ba" - Compared to this time last year, are you:
* happier or sadder? Happier.
* thinner or fatter? The same! (finally cracked the whole "maintaining your ideal weight" thing)
* richer or poorer? Richer.
- What do you wish you'd done more of?
Same as last year: running, reading, taking pictures, playing my guitar, camping. I'd also add travelling to the list. - What do you wish you'd done less of?
Same as last year: watching TV. It's those TV networks! One quality show after another, each one more brilliant than the last! Why won't they let me live?! - How will you be spending Christmas?
Down in Levittown, PA again this year. - Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Mr. Goddess. - Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes, I fell in love with Mr. Goddess all over again every day of the year (this blog provides sick bags as a courtesy for our regular readers. Ring your flight attendant please, $4 dollars each, exact change is always appreciated). - How many one night stands in this last year?
This year marked the 15th year of my one-night-stand dry spell. - What was your favourite TV program?
New favorite was Rome, but I also liked The Colbert Report, Project Runway, House, South Park, and my old, faithful Daily Show. - Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, not really. I don't actually hate anyone who I know personally, I just hate people in the abstract and from a distant. Like Michael Brown. That dick. - What was the best book(s) you read?
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. - What was your greatest musical discovery?
The most fun I've had musically this year has been re-discovering the Mamas and Papas, who I used to love during my high school hippie phase. After Lost featured Cass Elliot's "Make Your Own Kind of Music," I couldn't get the song out of my head and ended up downloading about a dozen Mamas and Papas' songs from iTunes. - What did you want and get?
Hate to rabbit on about it, but the new HDTV is very cool. - What did you want and not get?
A new PDA/cell phone. This is next on my "technology upgrade" list. Impeachment proceedings against President Bush would have been nice, too. - What were your favourite films of this year?
I can't really say yet, since several major films have yet to even open here (I live in the third largest city in the third largest state in the country; when do *I* get to see what all the fuss is about with this gay cowboy movie everyone is talking about, hmmmmm?) So far, I'd pick Serenity. - What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 34 this year, and I drove down to Philly to go to my only Phillies game of the season followed by a birthday barbecue with the folks. - What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A fourth Lord of the Rings movie. Impeachment proceedings against President Bush would have been nice, too. - How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
For work, it's been a kind of "tailored pants / stripey shirt / pointy shoes" sort of year. For casual wear, think Old Navy T-shirts and jeans. - What kept you sane?
Mr. Goddess, Friday morning breakfasts at the Frog Pond, afternoon lattes, The Daily Show. - Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This year, I'd have to say it's a toss-up between Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. So you can say I'm reeeeeeally looking forward to Pirates of the Carribean II. - What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh, God. Where to begin? I guess the issue that pissed me off the most was the post-Katrina budget cuts. The budget passed by Congress cuts more than $39 billion from federal spending over the next five years. All this in the name of "fiscal discipline" and "cutting the deficit," even though the projected deficit over this same time period is $13 TRILLION. And of course, the Bush tax cuts remain off limits, with the House recently approving over $94 billion in tax cuts over the next five years, most of that sum aimed at the wealthiest Americans. I mean, seriously. Are they just trying to be evil? - Who did you miss?
My grad school buddies, now spread across Seattle, Germany, Algeria, and god knows where else. - Who was the best new person you met?
I met some cool new people as part of the HighEdWebDev conference this year: Jarrod and Chris. I hope the conference is a little less stressful this year, but I doubt it. - Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Put one foot in front of the other. - Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Strange days indeed
Most peculiar, mama
—John Lennon, "Nobody Told Me"
—lori.