- No more snowballing the press. Back to Fox News, I guess.
- Senate democrats are looking to regain their footing on ending the war in Iraq. Where have the democrats been on the Iraq war issue? Oh yea, all over the place.
- Google's attempts to use San Francisco as a testing ground for new technologies have collapsed now that the City's plans for city-wide wi-fi is no more.
- And I am not in favor of increasing the use of exclamation points. I hardly ever use them, and don't plan to. Liberal elitist bastard.
It is official: Jennifer Aniston cannot be cast in a good movie. But this one ain't that bad.
(Returned 03/28/06.)
Rent with Netflix.
In May 2002, I graduated from Syracuse University. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the commencement speaker. (We got screwed. Not only did the class of 2003 enjoy a basketball national championship, but also Bill Clinton as it's commencement speaker.)
All Giuliani did was talk about nine-eleven. It was horrible. Here we were, the young class of 2002, about to embark on a journey into the real world, and all the guy had to talk about was his actions on that day. And how the world was now a much different and more dangerous place. (It was depressing.)
Before September 11 we were living like there was a cloud, a veil in front of our eyes. We didn't see what was going on in the world clearly or precisely enough. We didn't understand that there was the kind of hatred for what we are and who we are that could inspire a monstrous attack like that. Maybe we partially understood it, maybe we understood it somewhat, but we didn't understand it with the full drama with which we should have understood it.
What is clear, however, is that Giuliani was running for president. Not in 2004, but he had already determined his signature point for the 2008 campaign: "Remember me, the guy from nine-eleven."
On the way home from puppy class (as we passed a flurry of fast-food places), I had the following conversation with my wife...
reyonthehill: Maybe we should go to Long John Silver's.
Wife: No.
reyonthehill: There is actually one couple in there. Probably divorced, wanting to spend less than five dollars to meet one another.
And then I tried to convince my wife that this conversation was blog-worthy. She didn't agree.
Note: We had already eaten dinner, but every time I pass that place, I yearn for the nostalgia of those famous hush puppies.
- Republicans are looking to rid themselves of Senator Larry Craig. (Is it because he was arrested, or because he may be a closeted gay man?)
- Bush is a polarizing president, even more than Ronald Reagan, mainly because "Bush has from the beginning governed as if he had a broad conservative mandate." While Bush has support from up to 70 percent of deluded republicans, only ten percent of rational democrats support the president.
- The GAO says that the surge isn't working. The investigative arm of Congress's report "contradicts the Bush administration's conclusion in July that sectarian violence was decreasing as a result of the U.S. military's stepped-up operations in Baghdad." Wait until September. Things will be better in September, the second week of September, on or around the eleventh of September.
- And Apple may be teaming up with Volkswagen to produce the 'iCar.' And then Pixar will have a sequel to make, "iCars." (I realize that that's a really bad joke. It's a good thing I test these out here before I partake in open-mic night at the Punch Line.)
A film worthy of an 11th grade U.S. history class.
(Returned 03/24/06.)
Rent with Netflix.
I finished up Garp this past weekend while camping in Tahoe. You know, I didn't realize how relaxing it was to wake up in the woods, sit in a chair, put my feet up on the picnic table, and read a novel, all the while being unshowered, with puppy at side, eating and pooing. The puppy, not me. Moving on.
I had four separate callings for my next book, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, which meant I just had to do it...
Image: The Ayn Rand Institute
The first was a commenter's off-hand mention of Howard Roark in a blog-post at the beginning of this year, which required a Google search before I replied. The second was the prevalence of the author and novel as a theme in Old School. Third, a statement made by a new friend of mine at a Mexican feast, a founder of BuildASign.com, where he mentioned that I would enjoy Ayn Rand's philosophy as we discussed religion and politics. (It was quite the party.) And lastly, a second mention from the original commenter recommending Ms. Rand after I abruptly put down Wormholes.
Writing this, it seems that I've actually listened to others, and took their collective advice. Have I changed? Can this be? Is this blog truly revealing the systematic morphology of an unapologetic liberal striving for energy independence and fiscal solvency? Is it really?
We'll see.
(The novel is good so far, I started reading it during Monday's commute to work.)
Toles on the GOP affront to family values...
Image: Washington Post
- I understand John Edwards' point -- it is important to drive fuel-efficient vehicles, carpool, take public transportation -- however, how am I supposed to go camping, or skiing, up in Tahoe without my SUV?
- The long, slow death of Senator Larry Craig's political career is underway. Would it have been a lesser issue if it weren't for the hypocriticism? "The irony [is] not nearly so keen as when a self-proclaimed bearer of 'traditional family values' finds himself (and it’s almost always a 'him') accused of engaging in behavior that he has condemned."
- Just what the democrats need, a fundraising scandal. Just cool your jets, guys (and gal), this one should be easy. (I stress "should.")
- The San Francisco Bay Area is looking to "restore about 36,000 acres of once-diked wetlands and double the amount of tidal marsh ringing San Francisco Bay." Total cost: $1.43 billion. It's worth it.
- And there was a minor earthquake in the bay area yesterday, but I already reported it, so what's the deal?
It is no wonder George Lucas gave up on creating Episodes 7, 8 and 9 of the Star Wars storyline, and instead, turned towards solely creating Star Wars video games: the movies are horrible.
(Returned 03/14/06.)
Rent with Netflix.
