Pet Costumes

Target's selection of pet costumes is always good for a laugh.

My personal favorites:

Waterloo

David Frum, conservative journalist and former Bush speechwriter, on what yesterday's passage of the health reform bill means for Republicans going forward.

"We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat.

There were leaders who knew better, who would have liked to deal. But they were trapped. Conservative talkers on Fox and talk radio had whipped the Republican voting base into such a frenzy that deal-making was rendered impossible. How do you negotiate with somebody who wants to murder your grandmother? Or – more exactly – with somebody whom your voters have been persuaded to believe wants to murder their grandmother?"

FrumForum

RIP Alex Chilton

This week's New Yorker has a really interesting article about Justice John Paul Stevens and the current state/evolution of the Supreme Court. The author, Jeffrey Toobin (who wrote The Nine), was also interviewed on Fresh Air this evening - worth checking out if you're interested. I was particularly interested in how the authorship of the majority and dissenting opinions are used as tools to coax swing votes.

New Yorker article

Fresh Air interview

circa 1970
























in 2009

May Releases

This May is going to be a great month for new music. In part to allow myself to keep track of these, but also in case others are interested, I'm keeping a running list:

May 4th - Josh Ritter, Broken Social Scene, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Band of Horses, The New Pornographers, The Hold Steady
May 11th - The National, Gayngs
May 18th - The Black Keys

All of this plus Dr. Dog's new one in April and possible Radiohead and Fleet Foxes albums later this year. 2010 is shaping up nicely.

Doing God's Work

But First, A Little Perspective

A worthwhile read regarding the use of reconciliation in Congress through the eyes of the media:

http://mediamatters.org/columns/201003030032

While the article is a little left-leaning, it's hard to argue with the facts presented. When the Congress passed Clinton's welfare reform bill using reconciliation, no one called it a "gimmick" or "procedural trick." Similarly, when the Congress passed Bush's $726 billion tax cut package (while starting a war on two fronts that was conveniently left out of the President's budget, by the way), the use of reconciliation was barely mentioned. From the article, "The Times, Post, the three broadcast networks and CNN combined for fewer than a half-dozen other mentions of the process over the course of five months, none of which portrayed it as controversial."

Having earned a majority in the House and/or Senate, it's your duty to use that majority to work towards what you've promised - not to posture yourself for re-election or hold back for fear of being voted out next time around. Grow a pair, Dems - you're in office (partly) because voters liked your ideas and thought that you could get something accomplished. So, get it done. And fasten your seatbelts because the media and Republican wharblgarb has just started.

Laurel Canyon Country Store

I hadn't heard of this until we stopped off on our way through Laurel Canyon. Steve Miller was blaring from the stereo and the old hippie behind the counter smiled as we walked in. Immediately, I realized that this is a special place. There was an article framed on the wall that described the history of the store. Apparently, it used to be more of a cafe/hang out/performance area for the locals. And the locals in Laurel Canyon were (and probably still are) quite special; Folks like Jim Morrison, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Frank Zappa, and Joni Mitchell. In fact, Jim Morrison used to live right behind it and sang about it in the song "Love Street." It was also used as a location in "Sunset Boulevard." So...basically, this place rules. Check it out if you're ever in LA.

Kato Kaelin

Saw him this weekend - that alone was worth the trip

He chose...wisely