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Speechless

There is humor in most things, but once in a while I come across something so offensive it's not even funny.

Friday morning roundup

Actually, the whole world could give a $hit; conspicuous consumption in India.

This really surprises me. Going on vacation makes me happy.

ramble moved to new post...

It's kind of funny that I found myself in Key West during spring break and St. Patrick's Day. So this is what streets filled with drunk people are like these days (it's been a while since I was in Cardiff for the rugby world cup and Paris for the actual World Cup). I stuck to the boardwalk, from where I could see pretty water and fewer drunk people.

Thursday morning roundup

Bad is normal in Nigeria, and collective amnesia the defense mechanism.

Bad is getting incrementally better in Burma.

***
I loved Amy Bloom's "Come to Me," but I find myself hating "Away." Not just not getting into it, but hating it. It reads false. Is it my sensitivity to her writing immigrants, rather than who she knows, as in "Come to Me"? Is it the writing style? I don't know, but the book is annoying.

Wednesday morning roundup

Does getting into a public fight with Israel really carry political risks? There are Jews like my parents who would never vote for Obama anyway, and there are Jews like me and many Israelis who say 'bring it on,' make the Israeli government stop shooting itself in the foot. Whatever the case, could Sarah Palin please stay out of it? Oh, here we go: Maureen Dowd agrees.

Carolyn sums up the gifts issue in passing and touches on the "Christmas" card issue. I don't find receiving Christmas cards offensive, although I think those that both quote scripture and are meant for non-Christians are a bit much (and I've gotten those). I guess it would be different if it's a close relative.

The general consensus is, babies on planes can be pretty f*ing annoying. It makes a difference if the parents are trying. Here's another don't: don't bring distractions that are as annoying as a crying baby--I don't want to hear a rattle behind me, either. And for the commenter who said 'headphones are inexpensive enough'--they're not, and that's not the point. The kid that was keeping me awake on the way back from Hawaii--who was hardly a baby--would have overwhelmed the power of four more sets of headphones.

Tuesday morning roundup

Water shortages in China.

Afghan women are under no delusions.

An unhappy photo essay.

A Supreme Court spouse finds (tea party) politics.

Sappy Monday morning ramble

Believe it or not, my preference is to eschew solipsism (whether or not I succeed is another question). In any case, occasionally I feel the need to tell you, for context, Things About Me. Today those things are, I'm not a very emotional person, and my French is not bad. These Things About Me came together this morning when I called a friend in Europe, as I often do when I have the morning off (usually on account of leaving for a business trip later in the day).

I'd coordinated the phone call ahead of time, to check that it was a good time for Anne. Just e-mailing back and forth got me nostalgic, made me realize that it was ten years ago, for her brother's 30th birthday celebration, that I was last in France. That was such a good time, and it felt very natural, normal to be there. But it's been ten years since I've been there. I couldn't go to Anne's wedding, as it was the summer I moved to DC. I haven't met her husband, or her kids. Although I could never complain about the travel opportunities that have come my way over those years, I'd love to go back to France, even though I miss the memories as much as I miss the country. Anne understands my preference, in a world of limited resources, for exploring countries I know less well. And yet, in the course of our phone call, which felt like we'd last seen each other months ago--not a decade, a wedding and two births apart--I had this sudden urge to communicate the following: "even though it's been a while, I love you and miss you." It didn't occur to me to actually try to say this, directly. I just wanted her to know. And I wondered later whether the language barrier factored into my not having said it--would I have said it to Kate? Kate would know, anyway, but Kate and I have seen each other over the years. Maybe, hopefully, Anne knows, too.

Monday morning roundup

Unsurprisingly, it's come to anticipating the next active shooter.

From the 'ya think?' files:

“There’s been a lot of academic research suggesting that men think they know what they’re doing, even when they really don’t know what they’re doing,” he said.

Women, on the other hand, appear more likely to acknowledge when they don’t know something — like the direction of the stock market or of the price of a stock or a bond.

Please raise my taxes. It's worth it.

I could have written this--I mean, not necessarily as well, but with as much meaning: it's so true. I blogged recently about how when I have a party, I don't expect people to do anything other than show up--and RSVP. You don't have to bring anything. Is it too much to ask to help me plan by letting me know whether you're coming? I'm considering no longer inviting people who don't RSVP ahead of time.

Sunday morning roundup

"Henry V" was excellent--the best I've seen out of the STC for at least a year. The audience was pretty well-behaved, too (less so than the one at "Alice in Wonderland," more so than the one at the ballet last weekend), although there were one or two people who thought that what they had to say was worth distracting those around them from the words of Stacy Keach (who was not Henry V--maybe that's why).

Great article on the vague art of political and ideological labels, although the might have brought up the Fox News proclivity toward the 'socialist/fascist' label. I suppose he opted to limit his analysis to actual journalism.

Speaking of labels: Toles on "procedural mechanisms" and conservative heroes.

The vindication of Ulysses S. Grant.

Gorbachev takes a break from hawking Louis Vitton to tell us nothing we don't already know.

Rich on Rove/Cheney revisionism. David Cole on why we really ought to thank them.

Girls in Chile grow up knowing they could be president.

Will Japan allow itself to go multi-ethnic to survive?

People won't buy an "abortion rider" for the same reason many people are pro-life--they don't think unwanted pregnancy can happen to them.

Ah, horrendous customer service. Which reminds me: ADT wants to charge me $140 to take a service that I never use (and never asked for) off of my account. They said if I didn't want it I should have thought of that at the time I signed up for my service. Because when I was buying a house, moving, and fighting with every other utility, I was thinking about the fine print of my ADT agreement. Jerks.

As someone who bought when the world was ostensibly going to hell, I'm glad I didn't listen to the "great time to buy" mantra of the preceding years. But yes, my realtor did always say it was a great time to buy.

On the topic of domestic matters: go easy on dishwasher and washing machine detergent.

Saturday morning roundup

It's not news that Russia's elite drives by its own rules, but a deadly collision has unleashed unprecedented frustration and ire at the status quo.

Meanwhile, Russia's weapons industry isn't what it used to be. The article doesn't get into the huge geopolitical implications of that reality.

Okay, straight people can reject materialism and gooeyness, too. Nobody's making you get married--the issue is rights.

Even though the Beck-Massa debacle was amusing, Charles Blow reminds us that sexual harassment isn't funny.

Oh, tea party activists--since your platform is limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets, perhaps you'd like to take on agricultural subsidies?

The Washington area real estate market is picking up.

Friday evening ramble

Something odd made its way into my Eat This, Not That newsletter:

There can be something slightly unnerving about turning your grocery cart into the frozen section. Will people think you're single and lonely? Or just lazy? Shouldn't you be loitering instead in the crisp produce and meat sections, planning out some Mario Batali-style feast?

Does anyone else not give a second thought to what people in the supermarket thing of them and what's in their shopping basket?

***
Someone commented in an Express poll that "We should be banning bikes from the streets not giving them a whole lane of traffic and making the cities slow traffic problem even worse." Because putting those people in cars is going to make city traffic a lot better. But I don't argue with morons unless I have to, so I'm just going to talk about how great it's been to get back on the bike, at least a couple of days a week. Even though it hurts when you've not been cycling regularly, but it's so much nicer than dealing with the crowded, noisy metro every day. Today, it wasn't even that crowded... but in the morning, these two women wouldn't stop yapping loudly (there's a tacit no-talking-in-the-morning rule, and you should at least keep it down). This afternoon, there was a screaming toddler and a seat hog. Yesterday, there was just fresh air, beautiful scenery, and peace and quiet once I got out of the city. A sore butt's a small price to pay.

Friday evening roundup

Honest journalists need to stand up to Fox News.

Infuriating food policy news out of NYC, of all places.

I could rail until the cows come home against homophobes with religious pretenses, but nobody says it better than Bishop Tutu. Take that, Cuccinelli! I dare you to write back to the good Bishop (even though, technically, he wasn't talking to you), and say, "why, yes, I do know the mind of God so well that I can decide for him who is included, and who is excluded, from the circle of his love." What's that? You're not sure you do? Then shut the f* up.

On the topic of people who might want to STFU, and also of what religion is not about, enter Glenn Beck. I don't know about you guys, but when I hear the term 'social justice,' the first thing I think of is fascism. Those Nazis sure did believe in ensuring opportunity for the most vulnerable in their society. By the way, check out Jon Stewart's suggestion for Glenn Beck's nightly sign-off:

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Thursday morning roundup

Chile's earthquake impacts political dynamics.

High fashion in the DR Congo.

Really, Texas? I'm not sure what part of those proposals are most absurd (although the ones about including country and western music to the state's "cultural movements" curriculum are the funniest/most harmless). What are the poor normal people in Austin going to do if/when this craziness passes?

Virginia's governor actually mans up and defies his attorney general. Even so, New York antics, hilariously described here, would have kept us out of 'most messed up state' territory.

Pennsylvania Avenue will get dedicated bike lanes.

Wednesday evening roundup

Here's another opera you'd have to pay me to sit through.

It's about time Google Maps shows cyclists some love.

The budget director makes some good points as he defends federal salaries.

This personal finance article on how wealthy surroundings--people and otherwise--can make you feel poor goes well with the news that Alexandria is just one of a handful of metro DC communities that makes it onto Forbes' list of wealthiest communities. The article is interesting, but the study is deceptive--that's an odd choice respondents are given. Would purchasing power stay constant? That would be a huge factor in my decision. The phenomenon she describes isn't limited to differences in wealth; it's also an issue of spending habits. Jay and I have a mutual friend who may or may not out-earn either of us, but who pays no attention to her spending, so that evenings out with her somehow end in exorbitant bar or restaurant tabs. I really don't care about splitting a bill evenly when it's a relatively small difference, but when one person ordered half the menu (the more expensive half, at that) and insists on splitting, that's just annoying.

Guess who partook in socialized health care?

Wednesday morning roundup

Well, I guess we now know who is buying a Hummer.

Reproductive rights threatened across the country.

Not softer, jackass: try "more effective." But that's not the point. More to the point is that we did have an election, and even more to the point is that those ads
could not be more off base.

You had me--or at least at the 'okay, I guess'/'to each his own' level--until, "...their events are no different from dinner parties where guests are asked to pitch in for the cost of the meal." It's not a dinner party if you ask guests to pitch in for the cost of a meal. When did doing so become not-rude in our culture? They say it as if it's perfectly acceptable, but it's just so wrong.

Wow

Don't shave your nether region and drive.

The Onion is so spot on

Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere

What Do You Think is also worthwhile.

I'm now known for my complaint letters??

Jay and I finally talked, after our weeks-long phone tag reached its lightning round. We trip-planned a bit but mostly chatted, commiserated over our whiny, fat, stupid felines. Smokey has apparently changed his pitch to make himself sound even more annoying; Gracie's always had that capacity, and she's adept at leveraging it exactly when her mommy is especially busy. We're an old double-single couple with our respective cats.

I was exhausted, but it was a surprisingly hilarious conversation, given the topics invoked. If you saw the Oscars, you'll have observed this remarkable Jewish characteristic of being able to laugh at past persecution--I mean, did you hear all the nazi jokes? It's a general capacity to bring it up inappropriately. In "Mommy Queerest," Judy Gold talked about how her mom's reaction to her middle school friends was, "Do you think they'd hide you?!"

***
Jay: Richard's learning phrases--are you still learning colors and shapes and zoo animals?
A.: I am. I've learned all sorts of animals now. Including giraffe.

Then, somehow, Chopin made it into our otherwise typically lowbrow conversation.

Jay: Wasn't he Polish?
A.: He... was.
Jay: I remember having this conversation with your mother--she was saying that Poles were all anti-Semites and had a lot of pogroms to answer for, and your dad said, 'they're not all bad.'
A.: Yes, this is a recurring conversation in my family: my mom makes sweeping generalizations about a nationality--mostly nationalities renowned for their anti-Semitism--and my dad answers with 'you can't paint an entire nationality with one brush.' But the Poles do have a lot of pogroms to answer for.
Jay: All this craziness--I can't believe you haven't written a book yet!
A.: Please--my friends don't even read my blog.
Jay: Oh--I know what else I wanted to ask you--American damaged my luggage--would you write a complaint letter for me? I know you have so much practice.
A.: [LOL]

Tuesday morning roundup

The U.N. gets a lot of undeserved flack, but in this case, there hasn't been enough accountability.

Even though Spain serves as an example of how not to embrace solar power, the town in question is still better off than before.

No one (at least not I) is saying that elections are everything or that the Iraqi elections, in particular, will solve everything, but I suspect these critics are just jealous.

Eugene Robinson on what I hope will become neoMcCartygate.

Google's translation tool have improved since the "green onion thing" days.

Frivolous lawsuits or not, immediate damage or not, eating at McDonalds is dangerous.

Students across VA protest against the Attorney General's BS.

The Zoo has a new, less cuddly baby.