I Believe Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway Said It Best

I Guess This Was Inevitable

We're starting to see why puppies and kittens have understandably better pr:

Knut the polar bear has turned from a cuddly cub into a publicity-addicted psycho, one of his keepers claimed yesterday.

Markus Roebke said Berlin Zoo's celebrity animal was obsessed with the limelight and howled with rage when denied an audience.

"Knut must go and the sooner the better," he said, insisting that the bear should be sent to an animal park where he received less attention.

Insert your tacky Hillary Clinton joke here.

I Dare You to Subject Yourself to This

I didn't think this was possible, but the Weather Girls have been profaned.

Probably the Easter Bunny Could Use GPS

In response to receiving an auntly offering of gifts through the mail for the Easter holiday, a tot inquires: "How did you get it?"

It is unfortunate that the Easter Bunny was so disoriented as to have delivered goodies so far afield of their intended recipients. He should do better in future.

Not That I Don't Adore My Lofty Perch as Facilitator of the Flying Pants Seats

I'm finding this intriguing, particularly as it ties in the historical component of clothing expression. My Investigative subtype did a little happy dance.

Still Waiting

1. More cat vomit. Here's hoping the meal and meds I just got her to eat don't come urping back up onto my hardwood, old or new.

2. Performance-review self-evaluations due this week, the writing of which is accompanied by simmering hostility caused by contemplating the past year and issues thereof.

3. Snow, which at least has mostly melted.

Look at That, My NPR Irritation Extends Beyond Cokie Roberts

Summary of this morning's incisive NPR coverage on the nation's Easter services "discussion on race," as sparked by Obama's speech regarding Rev. Wright (I highly recommend, by the way, seeing Wright's sermons in totality on youtube. The post-9/11 one, in particular, was taken absurdly out of context. Shocking, I know.):

1. Interviewed subjects: all members of black churches, as white people have no race and require no discussion on same.

2. Quoted person declaring incendiary language in black churches unnecessary because "we're not oppressed anymore"? Check.

3. Interview with pastor whose welcoming embrace of Louis Farakkhan is noted by NPR interviewer? Check.

4. Noting of origins of the fiery preaching of the black church in the "Black Power movement"? Check.

5. Inane political discussion by Juan Williams (yes, that guy from Fox News), who notes:

a) For the love of God, Obama needs to reassure white people!

b) The speech didn't really work to reassure those white people. Clinton and Obama are tied now, as evidenced by viewing polls from February versus polls taken this week.
This metric neatly ellides the relevant time frame for measuring whether said speech actually worked (e.g., a ten-point recovery from last week to this week). Alas, he might have talked about what people actually, you know, told pollsters about what they thought of said speech, but that would be less fun and less narrative-reinforcing.

c) Hillary is up 15 points in Pennsylvania! He's not closing the gap! White people, the humanity of the unreassured white people!
Of course, she's always polled a wide lead there, because the demographics favor her (older, working class). In any event, we'll see where it is in a month.

Happy Easter

Apart from Everything Else, What Would Not Make Me Support Clinton in the Primaries

A ten-e-mail-a-day "media" spam deluge. They found me. What's up with that?

Happy Good Friday

I hope people are not working today. Happily, I have a half day, to be followed up by lunchtime pear martinis (singular, in my case). Randomly queued music for this holiday weekend:

1. orange blossom special, johnny cash
2. broken hearted hoover fixer sucker guy, glen hansard
3. across the antheap, xtc
4. crestfallen, pernice brothers
5. the scarlet tide, elvis costello and the imposters
6. germany to germany, ratatat
7. the wait, the pretenders
8. outro with bees, neko case
9. i am a poseur, x-ray spex
10. i melt with you, nouvelle vague

My ipod cleverly reflects the rut I'm in! I think I fell asleep there for a second.

Working Toward the Equilibrium

I'm going to try very hard not to think about what it says about our country, and where we are on race relations, if this Wright nonsense ends up killing Obama's candidacy.

Also: kittens in baskets, polar bear cubs.

I'll Regret This When I Get the Endless Answering-Machine Message

A friend of mine enjoys answering-machine bombing people round about Easter every year with an appropriately themed rap. This year, writer's block seems to have descended, because I've been enlisted to brainstorm. Although, frankly, I support something a bit more transcendent than last year's offering, the theme to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ("In West Bethlehem, born and raised . . ."), my base of knowledge of rap artists is limited. Suggestions?

This Just In

The 1969 installment of the Motown singles, featuring such greats as the Supremes, the Temptations, the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, the Isley Brothers . . . and Soupy Sales.

A Note to "Worried in Michigan," aka "Mom"

It looks like that revote in Michigan is not likely to happen, because of concerns about . . . the source of funding.

The Cranky Curmudgeon Is Still in the House

Received today: an e-mail plea from a colleague to join a march today to protest the war in Iraq.

A thought: Perhaps the time spent on a march no one will hear about, in a city about which the president couldn't give a shit because it will never, ever vote Republican might be put to better use campaigning, phone banking for one's preferred candidate, or generally participating in this crazy experiment we call democracy? I hear an election's coming up.

Waiting for the Weather to Change

It probably doesn't help that I'm reading stuff like this. Apart from the fact that it's making me despair about the state of the world and the way that people are forced to live, it's a gripping view of life in poverty without hope. Folks are, if nothing else, very rational.

At work, we also saw a video for this organization, who do the good work of providing micro-loans to Haiti's rural poor. Very moving, again, but I think I need to spend less time reading the news and more time looking at pictures of kittens in baskets or polar bear cubs in baskets.

Because of the Xenophobic Fears Some Have of the "Other"

Instead of pulling together and recognizing our unifying qualities of cuteness, we're splitting apart into our separate camps and fearing those who are "different."

I suppose I am complicit in caving to these irrational feelings, but I cannot carry the responsibility for society.

When will it end?

I Think We All Need This

Oh My.

I was worried that I didn't have quite enough separate things to be worried about. Happily, here's something else to keep me up nights, vis-a-vis the Bear Stearns bailout:

The response of the Fed to this run has been radical and in the form of the extension of the lender of last resort support to non bank financial institutions. Specifically, the new $200 bn term facility allows primary dealers – many of which are non banks – to swap their toxic mortgage backed securities for US Treasuries; second, the Fed provided emergency support to Bear Stearns and following the purchase of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan, is now providing a $30 bn plus support to JPMorgan to help the rescue of Bear Stearns; finally, now the Fed is allowing primary dealers to access the Fed discount window at the same terms as banks.

This is the most radical change and expansions of Fed powers and functions since the Great Depression: essentially the Fed now can lend unlimited amounts to non bank highly leveraged institutions that it does not regulate. The Fed is treating this run on the shadow financial system as a liquidity run but the Fed has no idea of whether such institutions are insolvent. As JPMorgan paid only about $200 million for Bear Stearns – and only after the Fed promised a $30 billlion loan – this was a clear case where this non bank financial institution was insolvent.

The Fed has no idea of which other primary dealers may be insolvent as it does not supervise and regulate those primary dealers that are not banks. But it is treating this crisis – the most severe financial crisis in the US since the Great Depression – as if it was purely a liquidity crisis. By lending massive amounts to potentially insolvent institutions that it does not supervise or regulate and that may be insolvent the Fed is taking serious financial risks and seriously exacerbate moral hazard distortions. Here you have highly leveraged non bank financial institutions that made reckless investments and lending, had extremely poor risk management and altogether disregarded liquidity risks; some may be insolvent but now the Fed is providing them with a blank check for unlimited amounts. This is a most radical action and a signal of how severe the crisis of the banking system and non-bank shadow financial system is. This is the worst US financial crisis since the Great Depression and the Fed is treating it as if it was only a liquidity crisis. But this is not just a liquidity crisis; it is rather a credit and insolvency crisis. And it is not the job of the Fed to bail out insolvent non bank financial institutions. If a bail out should occur this is a fiscal policy action that should be decided by Congress after the relevant equity holders have been wiped out and senior management fired without golden parachutes and huge severance packages.

Where's a green beer when you need one?

The Strategy, Cont.

See? It's floating around already.

Also, via a Clinton campaign e-mail (annotated in an amusing manner by the Obama campaign), more demographic dicing, slicing, and benchmarking.

Okay, I'll stop. I can stop now, you know. Really. Besides, I have better things to do the rest of the weekend:


I'm not sure about the dress, though. Is it too much?

Does Barry Have the Hair?

Yes, he does. Can he hit those high notes? Yes, yes he can.

I Have My Doubts Whether Space Really Is the Place

I foresee another long day of proofreading for me. Hope your day (and weekend, for that matter) promises more excitement than mine. Ye olde soundtrack to start my day:

1. wasted, black flag
2. chinese rock, the ramones
3. as long as i got you, laura lee
4. the enders, the buddyrevelles (i regret to report that i must purge due to lack of interest)
5. silence, pj harvey
6. out of my head and back in my bed, loretta lynn
7. dirt, the stooges
8. say goodnight to the lady, pernice brothers
9. all for swinging you around, the new pornographers
10. dying, xtc

On a completely unrelated note, what does it mean that every commercial, television show, movie, and pledge drive I see or hear these days features music I recognize and likely own? Is it an alarming uptick of artists selling out? Is a reflection of my hopelessly mainstream tastes?

Here's the Strategy, Summed Up. In Case You Were Wondering

From a purely amoral strategic perspective, this seems to be the state of affairs vis-a-vis this endless endless Democratic primary. Obama: growing his support across demographic groups. He can't afford to alienate any groups because he still has a shot at increasing support across the board. Clinton, on the other hand, is trying not erode the support she has while trying to peel away Obama's support by going negative. She has obviously made the calculation that she has lost the African-American vote; therefore, she gains nothing--electorally and immediately, anyway--by sowing good will with them. She can, however, appeal to the working-class white vote and work to increase their skepticism/fear/distrust of Obama. It turns out, he's black!

Then of course, there's the fact that by pretty much any metric you choose to measure by--delegates, popular vote, national polls, potential red-state coattail effects--Obama comes out on top. Desperate times, and all that.

With all of this in mind, let me encapsulate the likely order of events between now and (dear lord, can it be that far away??) April 22, when the next primary happens in Pennsylvania.

1. At least one more interminable, inanely moderated debate.
2. More surrogates pointing out how black/non-Christian/scary/Other Obama is as well as reminding good folks of the evils of affirmative action (I hear Ferrarro's still touring the circuit). Said surrogates will be repudiated, eventually. Obama's campaign will try to balance on the line between smartly responding, overreacting, and sounding like one of those minorities always with the complaining and pointing fingers about racism, so that it gets to the point where everybody's so PC, you can't say anything anymore...
3. The nation will beg for mercy for it to end already.
4. There will be scary ads.
5. Pennsylvania will vote, Clinton will win by a relatively large margin courtesy of her hardcore base of support among working-class whites and women. She may even drive up her proportion of the white vote relative to what she did in Ohio, particularly among younger people.

After the dust settles, the math will not change significantly, but the Clinton argument will be that Obama is unelectable in the general election. The sad sad reason will be that he cannot capture enough of the white vote, he's the "black" candidate, our society is still too racist, etc. etc. Wedge wedge wedge.

Did We Mention He's a Black Man? Sorry. We Won't Talk About His Blackness

On the heels of Geraldine Ferraro's trenchant views on the American racial landscape, a secret (funny) look at the Clinton campaign strategy.



On a serious note, and in a similar vein, I hope that Archie Bunker isn't still alive and well in 2008. Yikes. Wedge wedge wedge. We are all Republicans now.

Experiencing Campaign Fatigue?

Weary of contemplating yet another sex scandal? (A tip for pols in future: if you're doing something unsavory and/or illegal, assume someone will find out about it. You're welcome. Consulting fees apply.)

Other things to ponder:

Mary Ann busted for pot possession.

This--part embracing-her-inner-sex-kitten post-makeover Olivia Newton-John in Grease, part Laura Ashley pillowcase meets April Cornell explosion--shows that Chloe Sevigny perhaps should stick to the Mormon prairie skirt aesthetic and should not have her own clothing line.

Similarly, Iggy Pop: greasy hair, yet highlights.

I Guess I Should Have Taken It as an Omen when Laura K, Her Boyfriend BB King, and I Crashed in That Elevator

Woke up from really weird dreams this morning, only to follow them with one of my more sucky commutes: waiting 45 minutes on a frozen streetcorner for a bus that I could see (goddamnit!) several blocks down. Then the heat wasn't working on the train, on which I was wedged in my seat by a large person who took three-quarters of the available space. Adjacent to me was a person who had her mp3 player turned so loud, it could be heard many rows away. Needless to say, I couldn't hear my iPod or tune out her crappy music to read. Finally, the Dunkin' Donuts, where I went for my salvation cup of coffee, was playing Journey. I'm sitting with three sweaters on, and I still can't warm up. It has not been a good morning.

And we wonder why more people don't take mass transit.

Kenny Loggins: Sweet Rocker

Yacht Rock, the next episode.

Is He 'Avin' a Laugh?

I liked season 1 quite a lot, but season 2 of Extras made me laugh so hard, I nearly spewed mead out my nose.

A Bellwether for Fall?

Democrats take former House speaker Dennis Hastert's seat in a special election. The traditionally very Republican district voted for Bush 55-44 in 2004. A sign of things to come? Or more of a rejection of his challenger, Jim Oberweis (who, despite his fine ice cream, is somewhat of a right-wing wack job)?

Bleh

The top of this pattern was really easy and quick to make.

However, it is ugly.

George W. Bush Library Designs, Revealed

The Chronicle of Higher Education runs a contest for readers to submit designs of the GWB presidential library:

We thought that Chronicle readers would have their own ideas about how that building should be designed, and we invited people to send in designs on the backs of envelopes. About 120 people sent in sketches that were good, bad, serious, humorous, abstract, or really angry. Their designs took the form of toilets, bunkers, crosses, and W's, some crudely drawn and some very elegant. A sampling of those designs is displayed on these pages.

We invite readers to take a look at some of the designs we have posted here and to vote for the best one. You can scroll through the designs and choose the one you like the most, then go to the Forum poll and vote (Forums require a free chronicle account.) So as not to prejudice the voting, we will not fully identify contributors until the voting ends.

If you felt your vote didn't count in 2000, it will certainly count here. The winning designer will get an iPod Touch. Hail to the chief.

E.g., this fine entry, which I like, particularly the "We Don't Toture" Torture Viewing Theater:

QUES-tion.

Doesn't it seem like it might be a problem to not see what's in here or here before we choose a candidate? I get that no one of the Democratic persuasion wants to take a nostalgic tour of 90s (mostly hyped up or fabricated) scandals, but it might be helpful to know the full bill of goods before we commit, no?

Post-Fridge Drama Friday

You've all been on pins and needles, haven't you, to hear the outcome of our petty office-minion power struggles? The fridge was defrosted, without incident or drama of any sort, last Friday. It was almost a collaborative affair. I was a little disappointed, because I was ready to take a stand for the carrots. But even evil takes a day off, as I've come to learn.

Spin some random music, if you're inclined, to usher out your week. To wit:

1. lounge act, nirvana
2. yoshimi battles the pink robots pt. 1, flaming lips
3. heretics, andrew bird
4. identity, x-ray spex
5. pull shapes, the pipettes
6. not ready to love, rufus wainwright
7. love me till the sun shines, the kinks
8. yr mangled heart, the gossip
9. let’s go crazy, prince
10. planet claire, the b-52’s

Goodie

Imagine this product roll out in time for the fall election.

Ice Maker Report

I have one now, suitable for parties. I'm pleased to report that the cat loves it: we spend quality time every damn day fighting over my ice-water glass. I usually lose.

The Carnivore's Dilemma

To chew or not to chew, that is the question.

Another Reason I Need to Not Follow Politics So Obsessively

No matter how many folks send me writeups on the delegate math, this kind of thing makes me think Clinton's not going quietly into that good night.

Obama's Typeface Designers Weigh In

Friends, it's all about the details:

Hillary's snooze of a serif might have come off a heart-healthy cereal box, or a mildly embarrassing over-the-counter ointment; if you're feeling generous you might associate it with a Board of Ed circular, or an obscure academic journal. But Senator McCain's typeface is positively mystifying: after three decades signifying a very down-market notion of luxe, this particular sans serif has settled into being the font of choice for the hygiene aisle.

Fun Factoids

I'm finally reading the Omnivore's Dilemma, in which I have learned the following, among many interesting things:

1. One in three children in the United States eats fast food every day
2. Chicken mcnuggets contain, in addition to a flammable carcinogen, a form of butane that a single gram of "can cause 'nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse.'"

And This Kind of Stuff Makes Me Nutty

I know this drives it for some women, and a part of me can definitely see it. All else being equal, certainly, it would be lovely to have a woman president. Same deal with having an African-American president.

But, honestly, I really don't think that one chooses a solid candidate capable of appealing to a wide variety of voters based on "who deserves" it more (Bob Dole comes to mind), nor do I think fighting over which traditionally marginalized group has it worse accomplishes anything. On that score, my hero Katha Pollitt puts it best again:

"Even if it were true that white women were more oppressed than black men" -- as Steinem suggested -- "that still doesn't mean you should vote for Hillary Clinton," Pollitt said. "It might mean you should fight for better enforcement of anti-sex-discrimination rules, but it doesn't mean you should vote for the candidate most likely to wage a war. "

And when both candidates have 100 percent ratings from NARAL, we're splitting pretty fine hairs on who's "best" for women.

Finally, while I understand this at some level,

[Billie Jean] King, the pioneering women's professional tennis player, was dismayed about Clinton's vulnerable candidacy. "I see my whole life going down the drain," Roberts recounted King saying. "A cute young guy comes in and sweeps away all the hard work that the older woman has done."

It makes me think we're projecting all sorts of expectations and interpretations not at all based on reality.

The Neverending Primary Continues

Clinton is rebounding in the polls in both Texas and Ohio. Looks like the kitchen sink may be doing the trick for her, along with the NAFTA absurdity and perhaps the red phone ad.

On that last, I've seen lots of discussion over what, exactly the positive argument was for Clinton (which her advisors had some trouble coming up with themselves when pressed), what national security crisis prepared her for being the person answering the White House phone at 3 am. I'd argue that the point wasn't to sell Clinton, per se, at all. Rather, it was to sow unease and fear and to drive people back to the safe and known quantity, the Clinton brand. Add in the subtle questions being raised by the "is he or is he not a Muslim" meme going around (with pictures!), and you create some reasons for doubt and fear of the unknown. I've already expounded on how I feel about these tactics, but I don't think, particularly for Democrats, that the answer to winning, or long-term accomplishment of anything positive, is to play every Republican game, as defined by Karl Rove and company.

Predictions? I say Clinton takes Ohio by at least 10 points. I think they'll break pretty close to even in Texas because I think early voting was running pretty heavily in his favor (this Ohio weather is going to be a complicating factor for turnout there, though). I further predict that it's enough to turn some talk of "momentum" in Clinton's direction, regardless of her odds of recouping her delegate deficit. That would of course help her in matchup polls, as well as in persuading superdelegates.

Aha! Success (More or Less)

Here are the results of pattern foray number 2 (tank top sold separately). The piece's life as a minidress was short, as I feel I have matured past excessive minidress action.

Next up, since I have more material: something with sleeves. Oooh. I know you can't wait.

When I Read Ridiculousness

Like this, for example, my response is always to wonder, if said chick really believes that women are stupid and/or inferior, she might just choose to remove herself from the pages of the Washington Post, leaving it for those less cognitively challenged. But in case you think I exaggerate her point, let me provide her conclusion:

So I don't understand why more women don't relax, enjoy the innate abilities most of us possess (as well as the ones fewer of us possess) and revel in the things most important to life at which nearly all of us excel: tenderness toward children and men and the weak and the ability to make a house a home. (Even I, who inherited my interior-decorating skills from my Bronx Irish paternal grandmother, whose idea of upgrading the living-room sofa was to throw a blanket over it, can make a house a home.) Then we could shriek and swoon and gossip and read chick lit to our hearts' content and not mind the fact that way down deep, we are . . . kind of dim.

Did I mention this was in the Washington Freakin' Post?

Once Obama Has Sufficiently Denounced, Rejected, Objected to, etc.

Perhaps we might similarly ask John McCain some teensy questions about this guy, whose support McCain has been embracing as a key component of his religious Right outreach and wooing:

A March 7, 1996, article (accessed via the Nexis database) in the San Antonio Express-News reported that Hagee was going to "meet with black religious leaders privately at an unspecified future date to discuss comments he made in his newsletter about a 'slave sale,' an East Side minister said Wednesday." The Express-News reported:

Hagee, pastor of the 16,000-member Cornerstone Church, last week had announced a "slave sale" to raise funds for high school seniors in his church bulletin, "The Cluster."

The item was introduced with the sentence "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone" and ended with "Make plans to come and go home with a slave."

A July 27, 2006, Wall Street Journal article about Hagee noted the incident:

To help students seeking odd jobs, his church newsletter, The Cluster, advertised a "slave" sale. "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone," it said. "Make plans to come and go home with a slave." Mr. Hagee apologized but, in a radio interview, protested about pressure to be "politically correct" and joked that perhaps his pet dog should be called a "canine American."

Har har har! People are so sensitive about this whole people-as-property thing! Next thing you know, some uptight losers are going to get all bent out of shape over Holocaust jokes.

The article details some of his other, predictable, colorful comments and views.

It's Friday: I Foresee a Happy Hour in My Future

Happy Leap Day! Celebrate in the tradition of your people.

1. ghetto superstar, joi
2. where were you? the mekons
3. lithium, nirvana
4. keep my skillet good and greasy, uncle dave macon
5. energy, the apples in stereo
6. rock the casbah, the clash
7. tomorrow she goes away, the ramones
8. my life is right, big star
9. stone heroes, penetration
10. sgt. pepper's lonely hearts club band, the beatles

Hmm, I'm feeling all retro today, perhaps as a nod to the mead.

Ye Olde Tasty Beverage, Or, Another Reason I Love My Local Liquor Store

I attended a tasting tonight and have come to the following conclusion: Mead is delicious and so retro, it's refreshingly new.

Interesting side note: For reasons that are unclear, certain local meaders offer a "spicy" mead, which was offered to us from a naked-lady-shaped bottle. Said vendor noted that the same mead was also offered in an equivalent male bottle (possibly penis-shaped--the precise form was shrouded in hushed mystery as he relayed this story), but his male customers were so discomfited, he had to defer to sensibility and serve from the boobies instead. There's a lesson to be learned here, something about us all living in dude nation.

Also, on the heels of a 7-bottle sampling of 12-percent-alcohol honey wine, a whiskey tasting seems like a disaster waiting to happen. (No, I didn't have the whiskey.)

Peepian Dioramas

I'm not a fan of marshmallow anything, but these are cool (via Ms. Nikki). Is it just me, or do marshmallow peeps look more abstract than they used to? And peep as Marilyn Monroe? Creepy.

Pagan Lawnmowers

To balance out the fridge acrimony, a colleague of mine was telling a story about a speech he gave recently, during which he used this inpromptu metaphor to explain how preaching Christianity to slaves was perceived: "imagine Jesus preaching to a parking lot of cars!"

"Pagan lawnmowers" would be such a cool name for a band, though, don't you think?

Fridge Wars, Part One Zillion!

The forces of Light, after a passive-aggressive face off and a sullen and narrow defeat mere months ago, have regrouped for another skirmish in the endless struggle over control of the sacred location of provisions, the office refrigerator.

Because of the inordinately cold (and zealously policed) temperature settings on said fridge, there will be a mandated defrost to allow carrots and other vegetables to reside without freezing into an inpenetrable mass that must be whacked on a table before they may be consumed individually, as nature meant.

Send all your good thoughts to our brave, if quixote, warrior of the people who will battle on the behalf of sensible fridge users everywhere. Will he be able to forestall the senseless mid-week defrosting? Will he prevail in preventing perfectly fine lunches from being throw away for no good reason? The odds are not in his favor, but we wish him godspeed.

UPDATE: The battle has been delayed, in favor of another sick day. And you thought that the forces of evil never call in sick.

My Friends Blow Me Off For Happy Hour For Such Things

Video here of Stanley Ross ("earns spot at Plug Chicago"), not including our friend A, who nonetheless can be seen for like a nanosecond on the performance sections.

If You Haven't Heard About This

Last week, early voting began in Texas. Republican-spearheaded redistricting shenanigans left the students of Prairie View A&M University, a historically black college, seven miles away from their only polling place. So they organized a march:

More than 1,000 Prairie View A&M University students and supporters marched seven miles to the polls on Tuesday to protest the lack of an early voting place on campus for the March 4 election.

Students, local leaders, civil rights activists and elected officials walked from the campus to the Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead carrying "Register to Vote" signs. The majority wore black shirts with the slogan, "It is 2008. We will vote!"

Following After the march, some students stood in a long line to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, while others filled out new voter registration cards in a building across from the courthouse. Early voting ended at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and some waited for five hours to vote.

They did apparently later open more poll sites.

Your Latest Weather Bulletin

I hereby bestow this latest storm (estimated accumulation: 6 to 8 inches by morning) upon the New York City area, which obviously needs it more than we do. Think of the children.

WHEE!: And more snow on Thursday, according to the weather.com gurus:

The next threat of snow arrives Thursday as a clipper passes through the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota, northern Iowa, Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

St. Ralph To Save US

No doubt after much soul searching, Nader officially tosses his hat into the ring.

I Wonder How That Would Look on the Business Cards

What do you all think? Should I apply for this: "Account Executive/Business Development Superstar."

Advice for the Single Laaadeeeeze of a Certain Age

Does he have a rage problem? Is he potentially closeted? Maybe you should snap him up and stop being so damned picky! Of course it beats being alone.

Stuff (A Certain Yuppie Segment of) White People Like

Take notes.

I Actually Get a Weekend This Weekend!

Happy end of a short (for me, at least) week! Insert here a moment of silence out of respect for the dress. Then queue up your music and see what the universe is trying to tell you today.

1. the delivery man, elvis costello and the imposters
2. adventures in solitude, new pornographers
3. heroine, blonde redhead
4. the lesson, mayo thompson
5. love shack, the b-52s
6. bryte side, pernice brothers
7. from a whisper to a scream, elvis costello and the attractions (completely different band, so no dupes)
8. this is not a love song, nouvelle vague
9. these days (i barely get by), george jones (heh, right there with you, george)
10. running the world, jarvis cocker

My secret message is apparently dance! Then chill the hell out.

8:56: I'm Calling It.

The dress has met its demise. Despite heroic efforts, the damage was too great, the wounds were too deep.

A Rebellion of Cranky Commuters

It warms my heart to confess, I was part of something larger today. I'm not talking about the calls for Change in our political system. No, this was something smaller, yet somehow more profound, encompassing civility, fairness, and the basic premise that we're all in this together--we succeed together or not at all.

It happened like this. I was in a long, slow line of cars in the turn lane approaching the highway on-ramp. Lights turned red, then green, then red again. We idled. We creeped. At long last, two cars decided that this state of affairs was intolerable and roared into the left lane, passed the line of traffic, and attempted to merge into the front of the line.

We've all seen it before, and it is practiced as high art on highways across the greater Chicago area. But today, we rule-followers stood firm to a one and with military precision closed ranks, following bumper to bumper and allowing no daylight between us for car after car.

Finally, the first car got disgusted and performed a kamikaze left-lane turn into the single lane of traffic onto the ramp, touching off a wave of hostile gestures and angry horn blasts. I didn't see what happened to car number two, but I like to imagine him, harrassed by a growing line of hostile through-traffic and obstinate turn-lane folk, having to finally give up and circle back around.

Fellow commuters, I salute you.

Oh, Dear

My coworker--after being periodically barraged all day with my incisive political analysis--called to tell me about this.

Poor Cindy. I always wonder about the timing on the revelation of these things (in this case, since it was 8 years ago). This ought to go over well with the base.

Tired of Me Yet with the Obsessive Election Coverage?

Obama with the win in Wisconsin:

The other thing that doesn't bode well for [Clinton] is that the electorate isn't remaining static. It's moving, and the exit polls suggest it's moving toward Obama. Last week, Obama made gains among white voters and women in Virginia and Maryland. Today, the exit polls show him eroding her core constituencies further: he won among women, among middle-aged voters, among lower-income voters, and among union households.

But I will say that the Obama team has been running a really impressive campaign. The organizing they're doing and the fundraising systems they've implemented will pay returns come November, I suspect.

Indeed.

Why Am I Having a High School Flashback?

Heh heh.

YEEEEEESSS!

Work can continue apace on this, because I have finally found the special plastic box of sewing accessories (as well as, bonus, the button-hole-maker attachment).

Thank you, thank you. I credit my dogged persistence, as well as my oversized winter coat, which gave me the extra fortitude to withstand the attic cold long enough to sift through a few more bags.

Now if I screw it up, I can only blame myself and not technology.

The Complete Jane Austen Reaches the Apex

Ah, well do I remember the beau and I, in the grocery store circa 1995, frantically frantically trying to race through the express lane to get home in time for the next installment of this.

Poor Gillian Anderson, though, in her intro segment looked as though she's been botoxed to immobility. I don't think she could have emoted if her life depended on it.

If I Were a Candidate, I'd Be Looking into How I Could Be on the Beneficial Side of These Voting Machine Errors

Voting machine snafus in NYC means that Obama will be awarded more delegates. Perhaps the key is to be first on the ballot, alphabetically? Or it could be that the voting machine gnomes, reporting to company CEOs, have their own agendas.

Done.

Another conference passes into history. Time to crash.

ZZZzzzzzzzzzz.

Standing Up for Michigan, Part III

Fear not, Michiganders, if you were worrying about twisting in the wind, being disenfranchised, or having to navigate one of those caucuses. If the ducks line up, help may be on the way:

Harold Ickes, a top adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign who voted for Democratic Party rules that stripped Michigan and Florida of their delegates, now is arguing against the very penalty he helped pass.

In a conference call Saturday, the longtime Democratic Party member contended the DNC should reconsider its tough sanctions on the two states, which held early contests in violation of party rules. He said millions of voters in Michigan and Florida would be otherwise disenfranchised — before acknowledging moments later that he had favored the sanctions.

Campaigning in Wisconsin after Ickes' remarks, Clinton echoed his contention that a suitable arrangement could be worked out to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations.

"The rules provide for a vote at the convention to seat contested delegations," she said. "This goes back to the 1940s in my memory. There is nothing unusual about this. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination until June. Usually it takes awhile to sort all this out. That's why there are rules. If there are contested delegations, the convention votes on it."

Ickes explained that his different position essentially is due to the different hats he wears as both a DNC member and a Clinton adviser in charge of delegate counting. Clinton won the primary vote in Michigan and Florida, and now she wants those votes to count.

"There's been no change," Ickes said. "I was not acting as an agent of Mrs. Clinton. We had promulgated rules and those rules said the timing provision ... provides for certain sanctions, automatic sanctions as a matter of fact, if a state such as Michigan or Florida violates those timing provisions."

"With respect to the stripping, I voted as a member of the Democratic National Committee. Those were our rules and I felt I had an obligation to enforce them," he said.

Sounds sensible--it's all a matter of donning the right hat.

Two Thirds of the Way through My Schedule!

Here it is, daylight, and I'm home! It's so so lovely.

It's an intensive experience, overall. Those unfortunate enough not to be muckety mucks of the uber or quasi variety don't get hotel accommodations. Ergo, they (we, poor saps) get to do the back-and-forth commute with family and other obligations in the mix. But I'm getting off easy, because by volunteering for insane morning hours (this morning: arrival at 6:45) and begging not to do evenings, I could arrange not to do 14-hour days. My unfortunate colleague with a few tech skills, however, is doing the 14-hour days, plus commuting, plus juggling family life with a 6-month-old. Did I mention they're living in a rental while trying to coordinate insurance and contractors on a water-pipe rupture? As I left today, he was curled up in a corner sleeping.

Meanwhile, other staff are not expected to work any events at all, with the management excuses on her behalf ranging from "the train commute for her on a weekend is hard" to "her home life is really difficult right now." Indeed.

And so it goes, not unpredictably. I'm sending out the resumes right now.

Confereeing: Exhausting.

Who knew it would take so much energy to sit in a window and chit chat with people? I surely did not. I do enjoy a daily catered continental breakfast, however.

Here's a random ten to end my day and start yours off, if you're inclined to do similar on your Friday. Enjoy your day and your weekend! I expect to surface sometime on Monday. Sigh.

1. crips, ratatat
2. breakin' the law, new pornographers
3. i wanna live, the ramones
4. baby baby, the vibrators
5. heretics, andrew bird
6. the modern world, the jam
7. them belly full, bob marley
8. love is the foundation, loretta lynn
9. deanna, nick cave and the bad seeds
10. stay on the ride, patty griffin

Happy Valentine's Day

In observance of the occasion, I've donned my special red dress. I'd croon for you, but it's probably best if I leave that to the pros.

Hug your honeys, and think of me, confereeing.

Oh, One Last Crucial Bit of Information

I saw a man today with an actual man purse.

Although the dude in question fancies himself a European, with faux accent, he's actually from New York. And no, it's not Toby.

Look at That

Another election blowout. This race is about to get interesting.

He must have a real shot at the nomination, though, because now I'm having commitment-o-phobic thoughts like: wait! what if he disappoints us? He's a politician!

WOW: This is interesting, regarding Virginia:

One out of every five Democratic primary voters were independent — and those voters chose Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, 67 to 32 percent. Seven percent of the voters in that contest were Republican voters who decided not to vote in their own party’s primary – they chose Obama by an even larger margin, 71 to 25 percent over Clinton. Registered Democrats also chose Obama, 59 to 20 percent.

Laura's Winter Truism

One will pay later for half-assed shoveling.

On the Flip Side

Republicans suppress their own votes. At least they apply it evenly as a principle.

Economic Downturn = Higher Credit Card Rates?

Easy on the plastic, kids, because it may start getting more expensive.

Hundreds of thousands of Capital One and Bank of America cardholders have been notified in recent months that their interest rates are going up -- in some cases to as much as 28% -- even though they haven't been missing payments.

Why, you ask? Silly! Because they can, of course.

David Robertson, publisher of an influential credit card trade publication called the Nilson Report, said a number of factors determine rates for plastic, not least the greater risk of delinquencies these days resulting from the credit crunch.

But he said it seems clear that leading banks, having suffered billions of dollars in losses from the mortgage meltdown, are casting about for new sources of revenue.

"They need to raise rates because they can't raise fees anymore," Robertson said. "It's politically untenable."

. . . .

"The card issuers are moving from a risk-management strategy to a revenue-generating strategy," he said.

"Credit cards are consistently the most profitable retail banking product," Robertson observed. "The growth is not there anymore. And with a recession coming down the pike, there's no expectation of more spending by consumers. The industry needs to raise prices to keep profits where they need to be.

100 Years of War? 1000 Years of War? 10,000 Years of War?

This video, a spoof of this celeb-created Obama video, is funny, yet illustrative of the crazy I was talking about earlier.

Guess What?

Give up? More snow!

I cannot wait to drive home. It's going to be such a fun and relaxing time.

You Psychics out There? Use Your Powers for Good

And tell me where in the hell I would put my plastic box of sewing accessories, among which I'm told is a special zipper foot.

Because if I cannot find it, I will have to be holding this together with safety pins. Granted, that may be the kind of edgy design choice that will get you noticed on Project Runway, but I just can't see it flying on the day job.

Foreign Policy Wonkiness While My TurboTax Installs

Obama in Foreign Affairs magazine:

To recognize the number and complexity of these threats is not to give way to pessimism. Rather, it is a call to action. These threats demand a new vision of leadership in the twenty-first century -- a vision that draws from the past but is not bound by outdated thinking. The Bush administration responded to the unconventional attacks of 9/11 with conventional thinking of the past, largely viewing problems as state-based and principally amenable to military solutions. It was this tragically misguided view that led us into a war in Iraq that never should have been authorized and never should have been waged. In the wake of Iraq and Abu Ghraib, the world has lost trust in our purposes and our principles.

After thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars spent, many Americans may be tempted to turn inward and cede our leadership in world affairs. But this is a mistake we must not make. America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, and the world cannot meet them without America. We can neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission. We must lead the world, by deed and by example.

It says a lot about our moment in history that this kind of thing makes me want to weep with gratitude.

Valentine's Day Isn't Until Next Week, But Still

I love it when people find each other.

Peggy and James Mason - Britain's oldest newlyweds - are holding hands and exchanging sweet nothings.

It would be touchingly romantic, were it not for the fact that Peggy, 85 years young, really should have both hands on the steering wheel right now, given that she is in the driving seat of a rather large mobile home which is hurtling down the motorway at speed.

"I love you, James, you know, my beautiful James," she coos, clutching her new husband's hand over the gearstick and shouting over the noise of the engine.

T-Minus 143 Hours Until Conference Hell

And we're experiencing an ever-so-slight lull in the snow accumulation (more coming tonight). In view of the fact that Chicago has blown through almost all of its snow-clearing budget, I suspect my city has similiarly run out of funds, as our north-south streets don't get plowed anymore. Excellent! February, March, and god help us, April should be snowmobiling fun. I'm so proud to be a tax-paying citizen.

Some tunes to soothe me into Friday.
1. stinging velvet, neko case
2. one night stand, the pipettes
3. summer skin, death cab for cutie
4. because, the beatles
5. i want her she wants me, the zombies
6. sweet jane, the velvet underground
7. death of the buddyrevelles, the buddyrevelles (chicago band, friends of friends of friends. clever youtube video here.)
8. accidental death, rilo kiley
9. major crush, stanley ross
10. can't help falling in love, elvis presley

More Scenes La Vida Laura

A recent conversation with a music-expert coworker as I gave him a ride home the other night:

Me: So, there was this interesting special about Stax records on PBS the other night. I kind of liked it.

Him: Oh, yes. I saw parts of that. You know, that one guy who featured heavily? Whoever that was, he had a great voice.

Me: Are you talking about Otis Redding?

Him: Oh, yeah. Maybe that's who it was.

Post-Super-Tuesday Reading

Interesting:

The story of Barack Obama last night was in the small states where hard work and organizing paid off. He's building a new coalition, Hillary Clinton's expanding the old base, and together, they're making a new Democratic majority.

And I [heart] Katha Pollitt, who reads my soul in so many things:

When Obama won Iowa, I was surprised that I was glad. Much as I would love to pull the lever for a woman president -- a pro-choice Democratic woman president, that is --I realized at that moment how deeply unthrilled I was by the prospect of a grim vote-by-vote fight for the 50 percent+1 majority in a campaign that would rehearse all the old, (yes, mostly bogus or exaggerated) scandals and maybe turn up some new ones too. I wasn't delighted to think success would mean four more years of Bill Clinton either, or might come at the price of downticket losses, as many red-state Democrats fear. Democrats have nominated plenty of dutiful public servants over the years -- Humphrey, Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, Kerry . They have always lost (or in Gore's case, not won by enough to not lose).

Michiganders May Get to Experience a Caucus First Hand

The Democratic National Committee is pressuring Michigan and Florida to schedule caucuses so their delegates can be seated at the national convention.

Cool.

She's Looking at You

Feed her. And don't piss her off.

Let Us All Praise the Home Tools Gods

That they may look kindly down upon my parents and bestow in their path the perfect and most economical snow blower. In this way, they could, in good conscience, pass along to me their old one. Thus, in future, will I refrain from tweaking my back in fashion that I did just this very evening.

Alternatively, one of these wovel things could be good.

When Cokie Roberts Sounds Intelligent and Nuanced by Comparison, You Know You're a Hack

Juan Williams, on NPR offering his analysis on Super Tuesday: Obama's performance appears to show that he's the "black candidate" (notwithstanding, one presumes, Kansas, Utah, or Colorado). He wraps up his observations of the race by saying that "they" say Clinton comes in "ready to lead." I don't know about you, but I expect just that sort of incisive commentary on my public radio station.

In contrast, Cokie Roberts does a nice, sober analysis of delegate shakeout and the role of superdelegates.

More News From the Republican Crackup

Huckabee's doing well in the South, McCain is pulling them in in the North. Romney wins states where he's lived or owned houses.

And Dick Cheney's daughter warns that a McCain nomination would be a "sad day" for the Republican party.

Election Hijinks: Chicago Edition

Twenty ballots were cast with "invisible ink" pens:

Apparently, said city election board spokesman James Allen, the poll workers told incredulous voters—including one spouse of an election judge—that the stylus used for touch-screen voting was actually an inkless pen to fill out paper ballots.

It sort of makes you wonder, doesn't it, whether poll workers just get bored:

"I'm incredibly angry, and I feel so dumb," said Amy Carlton, 38, of Rogers Park. "And I am not a dumb person."

Carlton said all the judges at the polling place insisted that they had been trained in the use of the "magic" pens.

"I've voted before," Carlton said. "I was thinking, 'This is crazy,' but when someone in authority insists, what are you supposed to do?

Super Duper Ginormous Tuesday . . .

Hope everybody is cozied up to the TV to watch the returns. I also hope that you're not likewise about to be slammed with yet another winter storm (2 inches, 14 inches, what's the diff?).

As a side note, I'm amazed, although I don't know why, at the inanity of the election coverage on ABC, e.g., Diane Sawyer just strolled in leisurely fashion over to a clutch of cubicles in order to query some poor schmuck at his desk while the surrounding people busily pretended not to notice them.

But, Clinton is performing very strongly in the Northeast, better than exit polls indicated (someone needs to explain to me why, when exit polls are one way we determine if elections are fair in other countries, they're so often way off lately here). She also seems to be carrying a large proportion of the Hispanic vote. Regarding Obama, he carried 86 percent of the black vote in Georgia, and 43 percent of the white vote, which is pretty interesting. Obama is rocking and rolling the youth vote (which isn't coming out in force today), and Clinton continues her strong showing with the seniors.

The talking heads note that the margins on these wins seem to indicate that it indeed will be a race for delegates.

UPDATE: Ugh. I cracked on watching network coverage. They followed up vapid musings on Facebook polls ("Young voters, give us your feedback. What would it take for you to turn out? If I gave you an iPod?") with their table of "experts," including my favorite font of vapidity, Cokie Roberts, and George Will. I'll watch the rest of returns online.

Psssssst. Did You Hear?

Hillary Clinton is "emotional" again.

Truly. Her eyes "glistened."

Me, In Book Form

You're Love in the Time of Cholera!

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Like Odysseus in a work of Homer, you demonstrate undying loyalty by sleeping with as many people as you possibly can. But in your heart you never give consent! This creates a strange quandary of what love really means to you. On the one hand, you've loved the same person your whole life, but on the other, your actions barely speak to this fact. Whatever you do, stick to bottled water. The other stuff could get you killed.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

To All My Fellow Super Tuesday Voting Munchkins

We're living in exciting and historic times, so vote early, vote often! Erik, my advice to you is to color the little circle, lest you find your vote doesn't count.

Polls are tightening as we approach zero hour. Our three states are delivering the largest chunk of delegates. I know, ooooooh.

Bungalowville in the Winter

For those who need to spy some snow.

What Is this Thing You Humans Call "Superbowl"?

Famous writers make Superbowl predictions. E.g., Ayn Rand:

When he saw Bill Belichick in the hallway before the press conference, Tom Coughlin's face contorted into a whine. "It isn't fair!" he shrieked. "You have all the best players!" he whimpered. "What happened to helping your fellow man?!" he mewled. "You ... all you care about is winning!" he sniveled.

The muscular coach set his prominent jaw, and his hard, handsome eyes glistened. "Why, Tom," he asked with a smile, "isn't winning what the NFL is all about?"

Coughlin's face turned bright red as he flapped his effeminate hands in hysterical gestures. By this time, a large crowd of reporters had gathered. "But, but ... your players are the best in the league! Your offense is unstoppable! How am I supposed to go on the field with my weak players or my simple, predictable playcalling?? We'll be destroyed! I tell you it isn't fair! We deserve to be helped! This is social treason!"

Belichick squared his broad shoulders as he stared Coughlin in the eye. The smaller man cowed and threw his hands to his face in a pathetic flail. "Tom," said Belichick, "I bet nobody has been honest with you in your entire life, so let me be the first. I was taught in the ways of strength. Yes, my men will win today. But it's because we've had the courage to act on our judgment, and the fortitude to trust our decisions. Long ago, we were faced with a choice—the same choice you faced. We chose conviction. You chose impotence. And now, today, you ask me not only to cut my wrists and bleed on your behalf ... oh no. You would also have me fund, design, and build the knife. You accuse me of social treason, and yet you beg me to betray myself." The beautiful man laughed a throaty, attractive laugh. "You are a coward, Tom, and a coward in this world deserves nothing."

With a great cheer, the reporters stood in unison and applauded.

Prediction: Patriots 326, Giants –27

Cuteness Personified

We, as a Nation, Need to Rethink Our Time Off Policies

A Japanese firm, staffed by women, offers "heartache leave" for those who have recently broken up:

Staff aged 24 years or younger can take one day off per year, while those between 25 and 29 can take two days off and those older can take three days off, the company said.

"Women in their 20s can find their next love quickly, but it's tougher for women in their 30s, and their break-ups tend to be more serious," Hiradate said.

Ain't it just? Coming to terms with the strong possibility that, given how long your are in the tooth, you may never ever find love again adds at least another day or two to the cry fest.

The company also offers "sales shopping leave." You need a half day for that? I must be efficient, because I can hunt down damn near anything on a lunch hour. Huh.

Well. Speaking of Gout...

I was reading the results of my workplace health screening and getting a little distressed at the red flagged "alert" item vis-a-vis "Uric Acid Level:" "This test is done to detect elevated uric acid levels . . . may form crystals . . . can damage kidneys . . . gouty attacks . . ."

Sounds ominous, doesn't it? I was imagining the lumps on my fingers (my god, that's what it is!) and digging for the old dr.'s number. Until I read it again and realized that I'm slightly under the normal range, rather than over. Putzes. I hate computerized benchmarking.

Do I Know How to Choose My Vacation Days, or What?

Estimates of snow accumulations have been revised up, and it sure looks like we got about 10 inches of snow. We'll see how my back weighs in. Happy Friday, all!

1. shatter, liz phair
2. red light, the dead 60s
3. for lovers only (reprise), southern culture on the skids
4. daisy glaze, big star
5. mama's boy, the ramones
6. the clock, the rogers sisters
7. i never, rilo kiley
8. kingdom of doom, the good, the bad, and the queen
9. (i want to be an) anglepoise lamp, the soft boys
10. open your heart, lavender diamond