Heeee. Any child of the 70s will appreciate this cartoon breakdown of how thugs and emporers really aren't that different. Safe for work, unless you office has a policy about spraying your computer with hot coffee.
From Jessi Klein:
Bush didn't pee his pants or kill anyone, so my guess is that people will say it was a tie. Kerry was solid, in his usual, uninspired, A-student-that-memorized-the-text-book sort of way.
The most fun part was at the end when the families had to come up onstage and try to look all huggy and "normal," which tends to fail, since, like every family, both groups are clearly totally dysfunctional.
But after the kisses and handshaking, they all kind of got in a line and waved to the crowd.
It looked like the final bow at a mediocre community theater production of "Godspell." But that's basically what it feels like our country has turned into, so I guess that's appropriate. I don't mean to sound so pessimistic.
As Bush pointed out, I'm probably just making one of those "exaggerations." It doesn't have to be this way.
If we all pull together and really try to be the best country possible, we can be at least as good as the original cast of "Cats," which is to say, we can be magical.
Because the debate is making me a little crabby, I instead chose to do the Friday Five. Maybe it'll save me from grinding my teeth to little tiny nubs. The Friday Five and Jessi Klein's blog on CNN may be the only thing that saves me from a trip to the dentist.
Dan asks:
In all your life's travels, what are your five favorite spots that you'd most like to visit again to be able to share the spot with friends/family? Was it the place itself or the experiences you had there?
1 and 2 and 3) The Edinburgh Castle and the rest of the city. Scott and I went there a few years ago and it was one of the most amazing places I've been. On its face, it's really just a big-ass castle in the middle of a city, but something about the place just felt resonant. Could have just been me. Not far from the Castle is Arthur's Seat, which we climbed, expecting to see something throne-like. While the absence of an actual seat (even a wee outhouse would have reassuring), the view is spectacular, the day was gorgeous and the heather was in bloom. Since we'd rented a car (and drove through the haunting Borders), we stayed outside of Edniburgh in Peebles, a tiny town that seems to consist mostly of sheep and churches. It was a magical trip through unforgettable country.
4) The Mission Walk in San Antonio. I've written about this before and shant go into it again, but, wow.
5) There are a lot of smaller trips that leap to mind. A drive through the Catskills is always nice, as is a weekend in Asheville, NC. Transcendant? No. But certainly pleasant. And good places to get away from Dubya's whining drone.
And now I must vent my ire. Grrrrr. Is it time to vote yet? Let's just cut to the vote, please.
Friday Fivers at left. They, like Iraq, are harboring no WMDs. That I know of, that is. That Lipscomb guy should probably have his pants checked, tho.
I wish I were a clever enough little monkey that I could write about the upcoming election with clarity and humor and intellegence. I am not that monkey and simply want to fling poo. If I were that monkey, however, I would want to sound like Chris, whose clear, witty, smart comments are here.
Also, I'll be doing the Friday Five this week. I know. I'm stunned, too. Soon it will be posted, my pretties. Soon.
Further proof that I may be ever so slightly delusional; I am thinking of knitting a Charlotte's Web shawl, without the fringe, of course, because I don't like being attacked by the cats on a continual basis. Reasons why this may be further proof that I need to lay down for a bit in someplace without sharp objects:
-- I have enough to knit. I should be working through the projects I already have the yarn for, like, for instance, this one. The yarn, incidentally, is Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in a purple-y color that I got for $5 a ball from Elann.
-- I should be finishing my Everyday Cardi. And the ribbing on a Koigu sock, then starting its mate. I owe Jenny and Liz birthday gifts. And I should really get started on the Christmas scarf for a secret someone. And I should make The Hub pick a colorway for his Fitzgerald, if indeed Fitzgerald is what he'd like.
-- I don't wear shawls on a regular basis. I can't recall that I've ever worn one, frankly. But winter is coming. My home office gets very cold. A shawl just seems so dang cozy, perfect for when one is slaving away at the machine on The Book. A poncho might also work -- but I am seriously anti-poncho. Besides, the Charlottes are just so pretty. And I love Koigu. And I've never knit lace. And I want one. *pout*
-- I really should be doing something else. Really. I have no shortage of things -- not just knitting things, mind -- to choose from. And, yet, here I am, thinking of shawls. All is madness.
I wasn't sure if the email address you used was a valid one, so I'm making a public reply -- don't worry about it. I'm thrilled to get anything on any timeline. Seriously. I'm so easy that people are talking about me.
Also, while Freddy wasn't an unqualified success, he was a heck of a lot of fun. Until I killed him, of course.
Cheers,
-Adrienne
One of those weeks where I can't seem to gather enough things to make one coherent post. So, some bits:
-- Gillian Welch is profiled in the New Yorker. I *heart* Gillian Welch.
-- My local grocery is finally carrying the California Pizza Kitchen pizzas. Oh, how I have missed thee! While Oneonta has awesome pizza places, you really can't get a good West Coast-style weird topping-type pie here. And to have one sitting in my freezer makes me happy.
-- I hate finishing sweaters. Hate. Hate. Hate. I'm on the seam-sewing, button-band knitting phase of the Everyday Cardi and can only work for a half-hour or so before I want to poke my eyes out with the needles. It'll be a nice, cozy sweater (and will also be needed sooner rather than later since the weather here is changing quickly) if I can ever get the stupid thing finished. Grrrrr.
--New column on Bookslut. Does anybody ever read these things or am I just shoving words into a formless void? Eh, whatever. I still get free books in the mail either way.
-- Please go tell Kim Lane, proprietrix of austinmama.com that she rocks. The 'mama just won The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin award for best Webzine. A big-ass deal in the Music Capital of the World.