January 2009
95 posts
Senators Approve Health Bill for Children →
The Senate passed a bill on Thursday to provide health insurance to more than four million uninsured children, as a newly empowered Democratic majority brushed aside Republican objections.
The vote was 66 to 32, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to support the bill.
President George W. Bush twice vetoed similar legislation. But President Obama is eager to sign the bill as a step toward...
Work always gets in the way of what I’m trying to accomplish.
“They could never make a James Bond movie like any of the Bourne films. Because...”
– Matt Damon, no longer sitting quiet in the corner. (via Vulture)
In the 35-degree rain of a Budapest night
Woman in high heels and fishnet stockings: ... Hello.
My boss, exiting a cab: Uh, hi.
Woman in high heels and fishnet stockings: Are you... into the sex business?
[We all share a look]
My boss: Um, no, we're not into the sex business.
NYT: Aides Say Obama’s Afghan Aims Elevate War →
President Obama intends to adopt a tougher line toward Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, as part of a new American approach to Afghanistan that will put more emphasis on waging war than on development, senior administration officials said Tuesday.
A disappointing change, to say the least.
WatchTrailer for the stop-motion Sundance opener, Mary and Max, a delightfully peculiar looking film. (via cinematical)
WatchA sneak peek of Jon Hamm (of Jon Hamm’s John Hams fame) as Liz Lemon’s ice-cream-making, child-saving love interest from this week’s 30 Rock. (via Vulture)
“While some young people are clearly engaging in risky sexual behavior, a vast...”
– I must applaud the New York Times for having the (sad to say, but in this cultural and journalistic climate) courage to publish an article telling parents not to flip out about teenage sexual behaviors.
But so many people think we’re morally in trouble, in a downward spiral and teens are out of...
Query
Is, “Oh sorry, I really Blarted that one,” a thing yet?
Here’s how to think about this argument: it implies that we should shut down the air traffic control system. After all, that system is paid for with fees on air tickets — and surely it would be better to let the flying public keep its money rather than hand it over to government bureaucrats. If that would mean lots of midair collisions, hey, stuff happens.
Paul Krugman, swatting away arguments...
Whenever on a plane, I dream of the sensation of passing through a cloud. I imagine it being not unlike a hug from Snuggle. Then there are nights such as these in Budapest, where the clouds descend among us like Greek gods out to win a bet, and clouds are not fluffy. They are cold and wet, separating rather than uniting.
Nominations are out
Really? The Reader? You want to prove Ricky Gervais right, huh, Academy?
On the whole, though, 2008: pretty weak year.
2009 & 2010, after the writers’ strike and the current work impasse caused by the actors: a lot of collar pulling.
WatchJust a snippet of Up, showing the trademark child-like rye humor of Pixar. (via /Film)
Obama
Torture done.
Hope restored.
Gauntlet thrown.
Generation Loss
“His son leaving office, if you believe the opinion polls, not that popular right now.”
Wolf Blitzer, questioning (?) how many people do not care for W.
As after the election with all the Lincoln smiling political cartoons, there’s an uncomfortable racial undertone to CNN fawning over how great America is to allow Barack Obama, an African-American apparently, to be elected.
Budapest is somehow not indebted enough to the good doctor to keep me from work today.
“I don’t see what cats have to do with butlers.”
– My Man Godfrey
Making Mom Proud Every Day
Amount of time to walk to restaurant, sit, order, and enter the bathroom: 25 minutes.
Amount of time with fly definitively down: 25 minutes.
Number of times said “Thanks for long coats”: 3.
Improversation (n.):
To start a sentence without knowing how it will end, hoping to find meaning along the way.
