"Married to Joanne Woodward, his second wife, for 50 years this winter, Newman always looked at her like something he'd pulled out of a Christmas stocking. He looked at his daughters that way, too. It was like, all these years later, he couldn't quite believe he got to keep them."
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Quote of the Day
From blogger Ezra Klein on the late Paul Newman -- one of the sweetest things I've seen written about anyone in a while:
Monday, September 29, 2008
Country First?
After the presidential debate last Friday, Joe Biden made the TV news rounds for the usual post-debate spin. Following Biden's segment, Brian Williams, with perhaps a trace of annoyance in his voice, said that NBC had invited Sarah Palin to come on too, and she declined. Rudy Giuliani spoke instead.
Huh?
A couple days earlier, journalists had been allowed 29 seconds in the same room with Palin to photograph her, but they weren't allowed to ask her any questions.
I won't get any points for originality with this observation, but especially after that cringe-inducing Katie Couric interview last week, it's increasingly clear that McCain is afraid to let Palin speak, and why. In each of the three interviews she's given since her nomination (for comparison, Biden has done at least 80 in the same period) she's revealed herself to be woefully out of her league. McCain's response has been to hide her. He's even gone so far as to suggest that the VP debate should be canceled.
This is the person into whose hands John McCain would commit the country if anything bad were to happen to him. He obviously doesn't trust her to give an interview, but we're supposed to believe he does trust her to manage multiple wars and a crashing economy? Does that make a lick of sense to you?
How can he run under the slogan of Country First (and actually bash Obama for "putting politics ahead of country"), and do this: look America in the eye and say things like (as he has repeatedly) Palin has foreign policy experience because her state is close to Russia? That's the kind of thing a low-level staffer would say on cable news and then get fired for because it's so patently ridiculous. McCain knows it's ridiculous. Watch how he nervously plays with his hands when Palin gives a speech and tells her Bridge-to-Nowhere lie.
In his defense, I highly doubt he's planning on dying in office. I'm sure he's thinking, "Wow, I really fucked up picking someone I only met once -- but if I can keep it under wraps until after election day, her job will be done." But jeez. The man is 72 years old and has had cancer four times. I have more insurance on my fucking car than John McCain is putting on the United States of America.
This is a man I used to respect. My parents own his book; my dad spent countless hours building McCain a model of his Vietnam plane that was presented to McCain by a mutual friend. Maybe that's why I'm so angry. McCain's campaign has turned into one giant insult. It's a slap in the face to anyone who thought he might make a good president.
He should, by rights, be disqualified from the presidency. He's unfit. His lack of judgment, his willingness to swindle and lie, and his shoot-from-the-hip theatrics (suspension of campaign!) make George Bush look like Abraham Lincoln.
At the very least, he should recognize his poor judgment and ask Palin to withdraw from the race. But that's political suicide and akin to dropping out himself -- there are no do-overs in this game. His future is tied to hers -- he wants this job, and if he has to foist an incompetent potential-president on America to get it, clearly he'll do it. He is doing it. He continues to run, and he continues to hide her; he continues to look you in the face and tell you she's qualified to be president. All under the banner of Country First.
What a mockery.
There once was a man named John McCain who deserved the plane my father made for him. That man is gone -- and by the looks of things, he may only ever have been a myth.
Huh?
A couple days earlier, journalists had been allowed 29 seconds in the same room with Palin to photograph her, but they weren't allowed to ask her any questions.
I won't get any points for originality with this observation, but especially after that cringe-inducing Katie Couric interview last week, it's increasingly clear that McCain is afraid to let Palin speak, and why. In each of the three interviews she's given since her nomination (for comparison, Biden has done at least 80 in the same period) she's revealed herself to be woefully out of her league. McCain's response has been to hide her. He's even gone so far as to suggest that the VP debate should be canceled.
This is the person into whose hands John McCain would commit the country if anything bad were to happen to him. He obviously doesn't trust her to give an interview, but we're supposed to believe he does trust her to manage multiple wars and a crashing economy? Does that make a lick of sense to you?
How can he run under the slogan of Country First (and actually bash Obama for "putting politics ahead of country"), and do this: look America in the eye and say things like (as he has repeatedly) Palin has foreign policy experience because her state is close to Russia? That's the kind of thing a low-level staffer would say on cable news and then get fired for because it's so patently ridiculous. McCain knows it's ridiculous. Watch how he nervously plays with his hands when Palin gives a speech and tells her Bridge-to-Nowhere lie.
In his defense, I highly doubt he's planning on dying in office. I'm sure he's thinking, "Wow, I really fucked up picking someone I only met once -- but if I can keep it under wraps until after election day, her job will be done." But jeez. The man is 72 years old and has had cancer four times. I have more insurance on my fucking car than John McCain is putting on the United States of America.
This is a man I used to respect. My parents own his book; my dad spent countless hours building McCain a model of his Vietnam plane that was presented to McCain by a mutual friend. Maybe that's why I'm so angry. McCain's campaign has turned into one giant insult. It's a slap in the face to anyone who thought he might make a good president.
He should, by rights, be disqualified from the presidency. He's unfit. His lack of judgment, his willingness to swindle and lie, and his shoot-from-the-hip theatrics (suspension of campaign!) make George Bush look like Abraham Lincoln.
At the very least, he should recognize his poor judgment and ask Palin to withdraw from the race. But that's political suicide and akin to dropping out himself -- there are no do-overs in this game. His future is tied to hers -- he wants this job, and if he has to foist an incompetent potential-president on America to get it, clearly he'll do it. He is doing it. He continues to run, and he continues to hide her; he continues to look you in the face and tell you she's qualified to be president. All under the banner of Country First.
What a mockery.
There once was a man named John McCain who deserved the plane my father made for him. That man is gone -- and by the looks of things, he may only ever have been a myth.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Side Effects
It's so cool to know people who've written books. Most recently: one of my former editors.
Bitch Magazine
I've had a subscription for Bitch Magazine for six years.
I love the articles that dissect ads, TV shows, and other cultural issues. And on top of that, I always get good recommendations for books, and great recommendations for music from the reviews section.
But like many other magazines lately (including the ones I used to work for), Bitch may be closing up shop.
As an independent, feminist magazine, they are extremely picky about what ads they'll run. And they haven't folded to the pressure to have an "editorial" fashion section like Bust disappointingly did a couple of years back.
I'm going to send $25 to Bitch and hope that others do the same. I don't want it to go the same way as Clamor, a magazine I had only just begun to read when it folded.
What independent magazines do you like? Which did you read that are no longer around?
I love the articles that dissect ads, TV shows, and other cultural issues. And on top of that, I always get good recommendations for books, and great recommendations for music from the reviews section.
But like many other magazines lately (including the ones I used to work for), Bitch may be closing up shop.
As an independent, feminist magazine, they are extremely picky about what ads they'll run. And they haven't folded to the pressure to have an "editorial" fashion section like Bust disappointingly did a couple of years back.
I'm going to send $25 to Bitch and hope that others do the same. I don't want it to go the same way as Clamor, a magazine I had only just begun to read when it folded.
What independent magazines do you like? Which did you read that are no longer around?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Quote of the Day
"Hot beverages aren't my cup of tea, but I'm starting to warm up to them."
--Me, to Tom
--Me, to Tom
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Bizarre Quote for the Day
A woman is walking a very large dog, white with black spots, in Downtown Crossing. Two guys observe.
Guy 1: What is that?
Guy 2: It's a Dalmation.
Guy 1: A Dalmation?
Guy 2: It's a Dalmation mixed with a hound.
It was a Great Dane.
Guy 1: What is that?
Guy 2: It's a Dalmation.
Guy 1: A Dalmation?
Guy 2: It's a Dalmation mixed with a hound.
It was a Great Dane.
Resurfaced Species
I love stories like this one, in which 50 years have past since the last sighting of this African species.
They thought it was extinct.
I like it because, in my densely populated life, it seems magical that something could go unseen for half a decade. I guess there is still some wilderness out there.
They thought it was extinct.
I like it because, in my densely populated life, it seems magical that something could go unseen for half a decade. I guess there is still some wilderness out there.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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