...people are much more interested in the Oscar nominations. Now, if I read one more article about how Dreamgirls got the shaft, I might lose it. I mean, when this movie first came out, the critics didn't give it the two thumbs up. They said it wasn't as good as Chicago, didn't have as much to offer, wasn't as good as it could have been, blah blah blah. Kudos were given to both Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson (especially for the latter's performance of "And I am telling you I'm not going") but most critics agreed that the film was fun but not all that inspirational.
So why now are people so surprised, especially given the caliber of films this year, that it did not get nominated for best picture?
I guess people just got to get mad about something. Like Beyonce's Dad saying how she didn't get the Golden Globe (when Eddie and Jennifer did) because she was black. That was a good one.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The State of the Union.
Well, I suppose I should admit that I totally zoned out during the speech. Honestly, I felt like I was watching just a mash-up of Bush's previous speeches with all of his "find our resolve," "for the sake of our own security," and "united in the goal of victory."
And I have to also admit that I missed ol' Bushie's trademark "stay the course." I think it would have added some much needed pizazz to this snoozer!
Now, my ears did perk up with his talk of a "civilian reserve corps." Ummm, forgive me, but don't we already have such corps in place with contracting agencies like Northrop, Halliburton and SAIC? And I have no idea how giving tax breaks for those who already have health insurance will help insure those who can't afford it. I'm beginning to wonder if Bush's answer for any problem is either "more troops" or "tax breaks," and he just couldn't figure out where to find some extra soldiers to help blitzkreig in a new healthcare plan.
But in any case, I didn't really hear anything new. I have to concur with Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo who said that the President "[trotted] out this same old pig, albeit one with a slightly new shade of lipstick." But in case you want to analyze the speech, and point out where Bush actually said something different while I was picking my nose, you can find the transcript on CNN.
And I have to also admit that I missed ol' Bushie's trademark "stay the course." I think it would have added some much needed pizazz to this snoozer!
Now, my ears did perk up with his talk of a "civilian reserve corps." Ummm, forgive me, but don't we already have such corps in place with contracting agencies like Northrop, Halliburton and SAIC? And I have no idea how giving tax breaks for those who already have health insurance will help insure those who can't afford it. I'm beginning to wonder if Bush's answer for any problem is either "more troops" or "tax breaks," and he just couldn't figure out where to find some extra soldiers to help blitzkreig in a new healthcare plan.
But in any case, I didn't really hear anything new. I have to concur with Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo who said that the President "[trotted] out this same old pig, albeit one with a slightly new shade of lipstick." But in case you want to analyze the speech, and point out where Bush actually said something different while I was picking my nose, you can find the transcript on CNN.
Interesting editorial.
With Joseph E. Duncan III back in the news with his confession of 3 more child murders, this editorial on learning to talk about how to open up and discuss the inefficacy of Megan's Law couldn't be more timely.
Duncan, as the author points out, was registered as a sex offender. But that didn't stop him from shopping for more killers. How can we, as a society, really tackle the problem of child predators?
Duncan, as the author points out, was registered as a sex offender. But that didn't stop him from shopping for more killers. How can we, as a society, really tackle the problem of child predators?
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
So, do you think there's any chance...
...that tonight's State of the Union address will be of more interest to Americans than today's Oscar nominations?
I'm guessing no.
I'm guessing no.
Mmmmmm!
Munchkin has started going "mmmm" whenever he eats. It's very funny. He'll scoop up a mouthful of rice, look at you intently and go, "Mmmmmm!" Then he'll do it again with each and every bite, waiting for praise. The boy knows already that it's always important to praise the cook. Otherwise, Mommy will nuke up chicken nuggets again.
Last night, however, when he got a big bite of green bean, he started to go, "Mmmmm," but had to stop half way to spit the offending bean out of his mouth with hurricane-wind-like force. But not to end the game, when his mouth was empty of the evil, green untasty thing, he finished his hearty "Mmmmm" sound.
But I think he's now gone too far. This morning, he pooped. And it was one of those demon-alien poops, the kind of poop that makes you wonder how such a little boy could pass such a big turd. The kind of poop where the scientific part of your brain wants to sort of examine the contents of the diaper to figure out what, in God's name, the kid ate to produce that disgusting waste (luckily, the offensive odor won't allow you to get that close). The kind of poop that you are afraid has a small, poop monster living inside that will jump out at any moment to scream at you like a small Alien, or perhaps offer sage advice like Kuato from "Total Recall." The kind of poop that makes you want to run screaming from the room.
And, of course, the kind of poop that, no matter how hard you try, your child is going to manage to get on his hands while you are going through two packages of diaper wipes to remove it all from his posterior.
As I tried to get it all off of Munchkin as quickly as possible, he got some on his little hand. And as he held that awful, stinky hand up to investigate the source of the goop, he looked up and me, fervishly working to clean him up before he put that hand in his mouth, and said, "Mmmmm?"
No, baby, no. Not "mmmm" at all.
Thank God it came out in the form of a question. Otherwise I might be worried.
Last night, however, when he got a big bite of green bean, he started to go, "Mmmmm," but had to stop half way to spit the offending bean out of his mouth with hurricane-wind-like force. But not to end the game, when his mouth was empty of the evil, green untasty thing, he finished his hearty "Mmmmm" sound.
But I think he's now gone too far. This morning, he pooped. And it was one of those demon-alien poops, the kind of poop that makes you wonder how such a little boy could pass such a big turd. The kind of poop where the scientific part of your brain wants to sort of examine the contents of the diaper to figure out what, in God's name, the kid ate to produce that disgusting waste (luckily, the offensive odor won't allow you to get that close). The kind of poop that you are afraid has a small, poop monster living inside that will jump out at any moment to scream at you like a small Alien, or perhaps offer sage advice like Kuato from "Total Recall." The kind of poop that makes you want to run screaming from the room.
And, of course, the kind of poop that, no matter how hard you try, your child is going to manage to get on his hands while you are going through two packages of diaper wipes to remove it all from his posterior.
As I tried to get it all off of Munchkin as quickly as possible, he got some on his little hand. And as he held that awful, stinky hand up to investigate the source of the goop, he looked up and me, fervishly working to clean him up before he put that hand in his mouth, and said, "Mmmmm?"
No, baby, no. Not "mmmm" at all.
Thank God it came out in the form of a question. Otherwise I might be worried.
Faith-based dieting?
This goes beyond "What would Jesus eat." This week, Steve Reynolds, a pastor in Annandale, Virginia preached "faith-based dieting" to his flock. And the money quote from him:
"About 40% of you need to lose weight. When you love potluck more than God, it's serious."
It's only a matter of time before the military chaplains start running with this trend. And if the outcome of that is that there are no more cream cheese brownies at our FRG potlucks, I'm going to open a serious can of whoop-ass.
After all, I do have an abundance of ass to be used.
"About 40% of you need to lose weight. When you love potluck more than God, it's serious."
It's only a matter of time before the military chaplains start running with this trend. And if the outcome of that is that there are no more cream cheese brownies at our FRG potlucks, I'm going to open a serious can of whoop-ass.
After all, I do have an abundance of ass to be used.
Last time I checked, I still had another year to ignore politics.
So Hillary's in, as well as a bunch of others whose announcements were outshined by Hillary's "in to win" comments. And the insanity has commenced.
The first debate is going to be in February of this year in Nevada. MoveOn.org has already placed a negative ad about McCain on the airwaves. And if I get that bullshit email forward one more time about how Barack Obama is -- God forbid -- Muslim (where Muslim somehow, someway equals terrorists) and has ties to suspected terrorist groups, I may lose my shit completely.
It's only 2007. We only got the new Congress and Senate up and running. Can't we postpone the insanity a little longer? Please? At least in the hope that people won't be so sick of politics that they'll abstain from voting.
The first debate is going to be in February of this year in Nevada. MoveOn.org has already placed a negative ad about McCain on the airwaves. And if I get that bullshit email forward one more time about how Barack Obama is -- God forbid -- Muslim (where Muslim somehow, someway equals terrorists) and has ties to suspected terrorist groups, I may lose my shit completely.
It's only 2007. We only got the new Congress and Senate up and running. Can't we postpone the insanity a little longer? Please? At least in the hope that people won't be so sick of politics that they'll abstain from voting.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Now, this is devotion.
And I don't know if I'm referring to the institution of marriage or a serious sports obsession that may, one day, require an intervention.
Wife induces labor so husband can go to Bears game.
Wife induces labor so husband can go to Bears game.
An interesting new take on abortion.
This past Sunday's New York Times magazine features an article on an alleged post-abortion traumatic stress syndrome. Warning: it's long, but a good read.
Whether abortion is distasteful (or immoral, whatever flavor you choose bring to it -- I'll state upfront that I am pro-choice and do believe that there are cases where terminating a pregnancy can be a moral choice). But that isn't the point. For me, what is interesting is how far people are willing to go -- even publishing incredibly poor (and somewhat unethical) scientific studies -- in order to fight it. For what other medical procedure would we even tolerate this kind of behavior? What if "scientists" used their own personal beliefs to color research on the effects, physical or psychological, of chemotherapy, of organ transplants, of, God forbid, fertility treatments?
It's a seriously slippery slope, people. How far are we willing to let it go?
Whether abortion is distasteful (or immoral, whatever flavor you choose bring to it -- I'll state upfront that I am pro-choice and do believe that there are cases where terminating a pregnancy can be a moral choice). But that isn't the point. For me, what is interesting is how far people are willing to go -- even publishing incredibly poor (and somewhat unethical) scientific studies -- in order to fight it. For what other medical procedure would we even tolerate this kind of behavior? What if "scientists" used their own personal beliefs to color research on the effects, physical or psychological, of chemotherapy, of organ transplants, of, God forbid, fertility treatments?
It's a seriously slippery slope, people. How far are we willing to let it go?
Oh, boy.
As it turns out, nothing is as fluid as a military training schedule. The days the guys will leave, how long they'll stay, what they'll do and when they'll return is always in flux. I don't like it but I've sort of learned to go with it. I've learned to basically mark my husband as unavailable for the three month period around any 4-6 week training exercise.
But somehow, even after so many goddamn years in the military, my husband isn't quite so smart.
He invited his parents to come visit this spring. And he did so close enough to the training exercise that he will now not be here for even a single day while they are here. He keeps saying that the schedule could change again but he's kidding himself now. Sure, it's possible but he's jinxed himself now. He's afraid to tell his mother that there's no chance in hell that he'll be here. One, because she's kind of scary. Two, because he's a chickenshit.
But I did tell them. Well, I mentioned the likelihood to CPT Dick's Dad, anyway. Needless to say, they are not thrilled. First, they haven't seen CPT Dick in several years. Second, they -- and by they, I mean his mother -- does not like me. I've got their grandson, which at least gives me some type of bargaining tool. But I'm preparing for a thoroughly unpleasant visit.
A week with the in-laws. A week of discussions of how I am not raising their grandson correctly. A week of thinly veiled insults about my weight. A week of my mother-in-law taking any comment that I say -- like, can you please pass the salt? -- as a personal affront. A week of being quietly reminded that their son could have done much better than me. A week of completely inane comments about the war and how I should convince CPT Dick to resign his commission.
Oh, golly gee, I cannot wait!
But somehow, even after so many goddamn years in the military, my husband isn't quite so smart.
He invited his parents to come visit this spring. And he did so close enough to the training exercise that he will now not be here for even a single day while they are here. He keeps saying that the schedule could change again but he's kidding himself now. Sure, it's possible but he's jinxed himself now. He's afraid to tell his mother that there's no chance in hell that he'll be here. One, because she's kind of scary. Two, because he's a chickenshit.
But I did tell them. Well, I mentioned the likelihood to CPT Dick's Dad, anyway. Needless to say, they are not thrilled. First, they haven't seen CPT Dick in several years. Second, they -- and by they, I mean his mother -- does not like me. I've got their grandson, which at least gives me some type of bargaining tool. But I'm preparing for a thoroughly unpleasant visit.
A week with the in-laws. A week of discussions of how I am not raising their grandson correctly. A week of thinly veiled insults about my weight. A week of my mother-in-law taking any comment that I say -- like, can you please pass the salt? -- as a personal affront. A week of being quietly reminded that their son could have done much better than me. A week of completely inane comments about the war and how I should convince CPT Dick to resign his commission.
Oh, golly gee, I cannot wait!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
