Leaning a ladder against the wrong wall

2009-11-14T10:51:00.002-05:00

Boomer, the catBoomer the catThe wonderful, wonderful catHe'll growl and hiss, he'll spit and slapYour heart will go pit-a-patWhen you see Boomer, the grumpy catBoomer the catThe anemic, pitiful catHe'll try to growl, he'll try to spitYour heart will go rat-a-tatTaking Boomer to the emergency vetBoomer the catThe wonderful, wonderful catHe'll growl no more, no purrs for youYour heart will break

2009-10-05T18:49:00.002-04:00

999 entries of blog on the wall, 999 blogs, take one down, pass it around ... oh, wait, that doesn't work for thisGentle Readers, post number 999 has arrived and with it, the faint aroma of N-E-W-S! I'll save it for the thousandth post, however.But not to leave you with nothing, I ran the Locomotive Half Marathon yesterday morning and enjoyed their inaugural event. My time was about 7 minutes

2009-08-14T18:44:00.002-04:00

No. 998Post number 998 and I am running race number 98 tomorrow. Coincidence? Discuss. I thought I would have a little more than numbers to announce at this time, but maybe by race number 101 (the U.S. 10K Classic on Labor Day, which was also race number 1 five years ago [and making it 101 is no coincidence]). Ciao for now!

2008-11-29T21:40:00.002-05:00

Putting the 'cell' in cell phonesAnd while I'm posting ....I discussed a news story, the one about a prisoner on death row in Texas who secreted a cell phone (contraban in prison) in an orifice often used for hiding contraban, with my favorite trainer and she wondered what the preferred ring tone is for such devices (after acknowledging that it was no doubt set to vibrate). Her best guess was Cop

2008-11-29T21:24:00.002-05:00

No. 996Yes, I've been away for too long, but I've been busy dealing with a new relationship and I've forgotten how much time one of those can monopolize. For someone who has many, many projects to complete before the 'FINIS' title is cued and called, the time aspect of a relationship is always a challenge. I am, typically, ambivalent. Yes, some of it is enjoyable and some of it is not, but this

2008-03-07T18:17:00.000-05:00

"The nature of freedom of choice is that some people will misuse their responsibility and hurt themselves in the process. We should do our best to educate them, but without diminishing choice for everyone else."Who knew George McGovern could be so perceptive?

2008-02-19T21:04:00.001-05:00

One of the reasons I do not trust Google NewsAnd while we're at it, I don't trust Bill Gates and his foundation, either.

2007-12-21T18:58:00.000-05:00

Who acts as though they have Christmas in their heart all year 'round?The redeemed Scrooge and MaliVai Washington, that's who.

2007-12-21T18:51:00.001-05:00

What wonderful things one can find when searchingThe photos are priceless at this site:

2007-12-21T18:46:00.000-05:00

"If Moses had a committee, we'd still be in Egypt."

2007-11-07T07:45:00.000-05:00

The GentlemanDeliberate Gentle Love Master (DGLM)Steady & mature. You are The Gentleman. For anyone looking for an even-keeled, considerate lover, you're their man. You're sophisticated. You know what you want both in a relationship and outside of it. You have a substantial romantic side, and you're experienced enough sexually to handle yourself in that arena, too. Your future

2007-11-02T07:22:00.001-04:00

Drowsy Driving Prevention WeekI know, I know, it's been a while, but I'm back and bringing you, Gentle Reader, the 411 on drowsy driving. And for those who are too drowsy to get out of bed, the alarm clock that rolls off the night stand and leads you on a merry chase until you turn it off:

2007-10-13T18:17:00.000-04:00

I<3ME4MEA license plate from California seen in Atlanta traffic. To feel better about yourself, do you really need to place this pronouncement above your car's tail pipe?

2007-10-10T22:26:00.000-04:00

I was interested in running Chicago until this.

2007-10-01T18:19:00.001-04:00

SleuthIf it's possible, I appreciate Michael Caine even more these days.

2007-09-22T20:50:00.000-04:00

The ChosenThe title is clever for a list of essential works on Judaism.

2007-09-21T22:12:00.000-04:00

How can you be unfaithful with your own spouse?Quite a coincidence to read that article after watching Random Harvest on TCM this morning. And somewhere, Rupert Holmes is shaking his head.

2007-08-29T20:42:00.000-04:00

Once more into the bracket breachThe last grand slam event is taking place in Flushing Meadows and it's my last chance to win a t-shirt (and not $200 worth of French food, thank you, Jebus), my last chance to put my bracket strategery to the test.Of course, now that one of my semifinalists has lost -- in the first round! -- I have to utter the phrase imprinted at birth upon Brooklyn Dodgers fans:

2007-08-29T20:34:00.000-04:00

Do scorecards exist for prosecutors?If so, Eddie Jordan may receive as low a rating as Mike Nifong. And if New Orleans is lucky, Shirley Franklin will move to the Big Easy when she's done fixing Atlanta.

2007-08-25T14:21:00.000-04:00

SkyMiles and treadmillsI have plenty o' SkyMiles and I'm thinking of putting them towards a ticket to Las Vegas in December and running in the half marathon that begins on the Strip. I've never been to Sin City, never seen the Les Folies Bergere, and it's been a long time since I've played blackjack at a table covered with green felt (has it really been 25 years?!?). So, Vegas entices me with or

2007-08-25T13:41:00.000-04:00

How Doctors Think, orMelodramatic Menopausal WomenFrom How Doctors Think:Attribution errors happen when a doctor's diagnostic cogitations are shaped by a particular stereotype. It can be negative: when five doctors fail to diagnose an endocrinologic tumor causing peculiar symptoms in "a persistently complaining, melodramatic menopausal woman who quite accurately describes herself as kooky." But

2007-08-22T20:31:00.000-04:00

Big Noise from WinnetkaSeriously, where can you hear "Big Noise from Winnetka" anymore, let alone watch Bob Crosby and his band perform it? It's great to have a day dedicated to Ann Miller on TCM. Earlier, it was Jam Session with Louis Armstrong and now, it's Reveille with Beverly with the Mills Brothers, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and an extremely young Frank Sinatra. "Cielito Lindo," "One

2007-08-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

Scombroid fish poisoningA headline I never imagined you, Gentle Reader, would see at mfblogger. I am not, however, surprised to bring you this from the AP headline writers:Miss. health officials seek advice from CDC on whopping cough outbreak"Whopping cough" -- hee!

2007-08-09T08:19:00.000-04:00

Myrna LoyOn TCM, all day today, is the lovely Ms. Loy.

2007-08-09T07:35:00.000-04:00

To paraphrase, Paul Krugman was put on Earth to make weathermen look good.

2007-08-01T07:55:00.000-04:00

Granulocytes R UsGranulocytes are indicated for patients who have granulocytopenia due to marrow failure, or who have a congenital granulocyte function defect, and sepsis or infection unresponsive after 24-48 hours to adequate antibiotic therapy, and are expected to recover bone marrow function (if granulocytopenic). You know me, I love research, so when the ARC called and asked if I would donate

2007-07-25T23:21:00.000-04:00

Detail orientedSo Monday morning, after I pick up my glasses from the floor and toss them on the kitchen counter, I make coffee, toast my brown sugar cinnamon Pop-Tarts, and sit down to enjoy a bit of Raffles on TCM. Pop-Tarts, coffee, and an old movie -- truly a great way to start the day. After the shave and shower, getting dressed, making the day's lunch, I put on my glasses and head for the

2007-07-20T07:32:00.000-04:00

Rachel Smolkin deserves an awardHer article, "Justice Delayed" in American Journalism Review, exposes the failure of Bill Keller, Evan Thomas, Nancy Grace, Selena Roberts, Bob Ashley, and others to follow the rules of journalism: "Be fair; stick to the facts; question authorities; don't assume; pay attention to alternative explanations." In the article, Dan Okrent attempts to explain away his

2007-07-19T07:18:00.000-04:00

No, honestlySuppose your last name was Buck -- do you really want to be arrested while driving a car naked? Do you want to delight headline writers that much?CalifornicationIt's always fun to read foreign writers' observations of American television, especially the marketing of new shows. (While enjoying a chuckle about the lack of fact checking at The Guardian -- "Patricia Keaton [sic]"?). Can a

2007-07-18T07:48:00.000-04:00

5 oh ...... has come and gone and I appreciated the efforts by many to mark the Big Day. My tennis team wore black shirts to commemorate the occasion, my 83-year-old aunt sent me a one-word message ("Prunes!"), and my annual physical went well (nothing like a prostate exam to put the exclamation point on "Happy Birthday!"). Yes, I scheduled my physical for my birthday (so I could hear my doctor

2007-07-10T20:34:00.000-04:00

What's cooler than Chris Isaak at the All Star game?Other than Willie Mays wearing number 24 again, nothing.

2007-07-10T07:39:00.000-04:00

The Band WagonI'll be in the chair again this Sunday, if low iron doesn't interfere like last time, and up next for my viewing pleasure is The Band Wagon.In my classic movie dreams, an AFI rep comes to me and asks for five films that deserve more attention from the voters. Easy:Sullivan's TravelsHolidayThe Band WagonMy Man GodfreyBetween the LinesIf I don't move too much during my musical

2007-07-01T21:03:00.000-04:00

How many tennis players are named after rock operas? Meeting your father's faves (with him in tow!) and handing them a big check for charity must be so satisfying and fun.

2007-06-28T23:52:00.000-04:00

The question that resulted in our trivia win tonight ...What legendary rock band's last studio album was "Division Bell"? No, I had no clue. My only contribution was shooting down a wrong answer ("it's not the Stones").

2007-06-28T23:45:00.001-04:00

Me and NPRA friend sent me a text message this evening to ask if I was involved with the CDC project she heard about while listening to NPR yesterday. I replied, "c'est moi." 1) It's pretty cool to have friends contact you regarding a story they heard on NPR, and 2) It's pretty cool to be contacted by a booth bunny! The coolest is when you hear a friend of yours offer commentary on NPR. Yo, props

2007-06-22T07:07:00.000-04:00

This is my kind of studyAnd while you're visiting nature.com, check out "Ancient disease resistance made us vulnerable to HIV." I don't expect this article to make a dent with Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos and the Perth Group because it is hard to make an impression upon those who choose to be so obstinately hard-headed they risk the lives of many. For the wrong-headed, a final link for those who

2007-06-21T08:24:00.000-04:00

No, honestlyWho knew Toni Tennille has a blog? Reading about her experiences with the touring company of Victor/Victoria has been interesting.And no, it is not titled "Muskrat Blog" or "Blog Will Keep Us Together." If Daryl Dragon writes anything at the site, however, it should be titled "Captain's Blog." Only he and Shatner should be allowed that.

2007-06-21T06:36:00.000-04:00

Tony Blair's speech regarding Britain's media: "It is not a whinge about how unfair it all is."Blair enumerates issues that are similar to what made Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe hot and bothered (or if you prefer, William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli), but in their day, newspapers existed that were more interested in reporting news than making news. Similar outlets do not exist today.Blair

2007-06-20T22:56:00.000-04:00

Bill JamesI enjoy James's work, even if sometimes he seems to be out of step just to be out of step. That's an attitude I can recognize, relate to, and own up to.

2007-06-20T22:50:00.000-04:00

"... the media's ethos of irresponsibility"Truer words ....

2007-06-19T07:56:00.000-04:00

"Autism: Why the Debate Rages" or, How Sharyl Attkisson of CBS News Revealed Her BiasAttkisson writes "Something rarely reported is that while there's no definitive study linking vaccines to autism or ADD, there is also no study definitively disproving a link." Oh, really? From the Los Angeles Times article, "Link to autism continues to erode": Scientists started with studies that looked at how

2007-06-19T07:46:00.000-04:00

HIV/AIDS deniersIt's not the best written blog (by far -- "... he still has defenders which insist ..." -- how can someone write "which" instead of "who" in this instance? that's an extraordinarily bad error), but it can be entertaining.

2007-06-15T18:10:00.000-04:00

Oh, let it be so!The Attorney Who Boarded Planes After a Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Why the Other Passengers Are Likely to Be Able to Recover Damages for Fear of Infection -- Anthony J. Sebok makes a case.

2007-06-15T07:29:00.000-04:00

Father's dayI'm not a father, I'm not going to be a father, and the lack of motility contributed to my failure rate at marriage (2 for 2!), but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the dadly arts that Tony Woodlief writes about.

2007-06-15T00:05:00.000-04:00

"HIV does not exist" defense thrown outIf only they could have also tossed the defendent, defense counsel, and the idiot physicist out a high window. The physicist testified for the defense and claimed she would have unprotected vaginal sex with an HIV-positive man "any time" because HIV doesn't exist, it's a political stunt. I know what's stunted.

2007-06-15T00:03:00.000-04:00

Dark side of the new light bulbsA clever headline from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

2007-06-14T23:57:00.001-04:00

Spot the themeWest Virginia Supreme Court rules driver’s licenses apply to all motorized transport: "ATVs off limits to drivers with suspended licenses"Man fined, banned from motorized vehicles for driving impaired in motorized chairMissing word allows offenders to serve sentences on weekends: "Loophole discovered in drunken driving law"

2007-06-14T07:53:00.000-04:00

"There will come a day when Lebanon is free and Syria democratic." -- Hussain Abdul-Hussain

2007-06-14T06:39:00.000-04:00

Eagle vs. SharkYes, Kiwi cinema! Soon to be at a theater in Atlanta, I hope.

2007-06-12T17:26:00.001-04:00

Fork in pocketOne of my coworkers was wandering around with a fork in his shirt pocket, and the shiny tines inspired me to fashion a shiny tune (with apologies to Chrissy):Got fork in pocketI'm hungry, I'm gonna use itIntention to start ingestin'Gonna fork beans, fork rice, fork a cheesecake!Got hungry, extremely hungryNo reason, just need some greasin'Gonna fork lamb, fork greens, fork some ice

2007-06-12T07:29:00.001-04:00

Take up bowlingA serious question (I think) posed on the USTA Web site at The Final Word:I looked through the rules but couldn’t find where this was addressed. What is the rule on intentionally hitting a player. I understand that it's hard to prove, but how many hard shots at your head/body constitutes a foul? I recently played a match that every time I approached the net my opponent would just

2007-06-12T06:59:00.000-04:00

How to think about the 1930sEasily one of the worst headlines ever, and while the review it refers to approaches that level and would be a complete waste of an HTML page, Alonzo Hamby presents an opportunity to reiterate that FDR blew his chance to pull the US economy out of the Great Depression by deciding to soak the rich and make a significant percentage of the population dependent upon

2007-06-10T20:18:00.000-04:00

Puppetry passing for philosophy? P. Potter pontificates pessimistically As with all his work, Lawrence touched a universal nerve: human vulnerability against forces beyond one's control. "I'm so forlorn, Life's just a thorn/My heart is torn/Why was I born?" lamented Louis Armstrong (1901–1971), speaking for Lawrence and for all of us. Faced with overwhelming social injustice or with recurring

2007-06-09T17:30:00.000-04:00

A former prison doctor's favorite books on the criminal mindI wonder if the DeKalb Public Library has these, especially Killing for Company. And when is Carol O'Connell releasing a new book?!? Oh, a new Mallory is out, DPL just doesn't have it. Dang!

2007-06-08T20:10:00.000-04:00

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ... VAK!Okay, okay, okay, so Djoker didn't win and Rafa did, and I'm not going to win dinner at my "favorite" French restaurant, and I won't have a limo ride to and fro, and I won't see Cindy Lou in her French maid's outfit while Duran Duran plays. At least I had a chance at all of the above. If I had picked Rafa in the semis and Fed goes on to win, I would have finished T33.

2007-06-06T23:51:00.000-04:00

"An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations." -- Charles de MontesquieuVive le blog!

2007-06-06T21:45:00.001-04:00

A 1 in 8 chance is what I haveRafa and Davy put me into position for a possible $200 to spend at my, ahem, favorite French restaurant. Yes, possible companions are jockeying because I'm willing to tempt fate. "noa" and "samtrager" each have a 1 in 4 chance for the Frenchie prize. "Aroddick" would have the same 25% odds as those two ... except for my entry! Go, Djoker!

2007-06-06T21:38:00.000-04:00

"Yeah, we screwed up. To fix it, you'll need to pay us." -- AdobeOkay, not their exact words, but consider this: Internal Error when you use Find/Change in FramerMaker 7.x When you use the Find/Change feature in Adobe FrameMaker 7.x, the application returns an Internal Error message and closes. Solution 1: Upgrade to FrameMaker 7.2. FrameMaker 7.2 provides a fix for this issue. Visit our online

2007-06-06T07:33:00.000-04:00

A Newspaper's PhilosophyYes, the WSJ editorial dept. can often be described as "reactionary" but I love the tale of Grimes arguing for the "radical" label. Even Pinch should be able to laugh about that.

2007-06-05T21:19:00.000-04:00

Just as I suspected ...If my picks in the men's draw of the French Open come through these final 5 days, I will win the Racquet Bracket contest. And I don't want to win. I want to finish second and take home the Wilson tennis racquet, t-shirt, and visor. If I finish first, it's dinner at my favorite French restaurant. My what? The only place that qualifies as my "favorite" French restaurant is La

2007-06-03T23:33:00.000-04:00

Malaria vs. Rachel CarsonThe 500,000,000 figure is similarly "junk science," but I'll agree that Carson should not be celebrated. Ridding Africa of malaria, however, would be cause for joy and it could be done if spraying more than mosquito nets was allowed.

2007-06-03T21:02:00.000-04:00

Kevin Costner states it plainly enough so even a yellow dog could understand it ... but won't"Look, there's a two-party system right now, and you're going to have to pick somebody. But I'm not giving my vote to anybody until right at the end, because I want politicians to keep upping the ante for us. When they don't have to stretch or put anything at risk, they don't. So I'm not a Democrat or a

2007-05-30T22:44:00.000-04:00

50th Anniversary of the 1st Digital ImageIt's an interesting story with a "Where Are They Now" section. *alert -- alert -- spoiler follows* The subject of the first digital image goes on to become a television reporter.

2007-05-30T00:11:00.000-04:00

The insufferable Ms. NPraise the tennis gods that the self-proclaimed "feisty" Lindsey Nelson lost in the finals of the NCAA women's tennis singles championship. Audra Cohen won, quietly, without a "COME ON!" and fist pump punctuating every point. After witnessing Cohen's game up close, the outcome wasn't seriously in doubt--she plays with precision and power that the rest of the field could

2007-05-29T23:00:00.000-04:00

The "Scientific" Perspective ...... on why buildings hit by jets don't fall over like trees. And never mind what the structural engineer says. No, the reporter obviously believes the silver-haired grandpa with the wise eyes. Grow up, Topsy!Some people (e.g., wiggin' conspiracy theorists) just like believing that they're the only ones who really know what's going on. They should leave that

2007-05-20T21:11:00.000-04:00

Could Modern Medicine Have Saved Lincoln?I love the nonsensical that passes for news--it makes all the righteous indignation that accompanies a free press worth it. For example, WaPo speculates that if: 1) Ford Theater was in Baltimore, and 2) time travel existed, then the 16th president could have survived his wounds.To examine the exotic part of these hypothetical circumstances more closely, if

2007-05-16T18:22:00.000-04:00

Bernard Lewis on who's weakI wonder if he announces his Princeton association within the first 5 minutes of meeting him like all Princeton alums do. Alas, I can't take credit for that -- that's Margot's observation.

2007-05-15T00:42:00.000-04:00

The noiveI checked my online dating site tonight just to see what's what, and lo and behold, I have been Viewed. I should promptly change my name and profile. My profile reminds me that it's been 5 years and a few months since I first explored online dating. A kind and exquisite friend recommended it to me, a friend I've not been in touch with for unknown reasons, and she's no longer online.

2007-05-11T22:49:00.000-04:00

Tell me, Tom Teepen ...... how is putting your faith in men of science different than trusting men of the cloth?

2007-05-08T22:31:00.000-04:00

Susan G. Komen 5KAs I sat with my favorite CDC editor today, I mentioned I was running in the Komen 5K this Saturday and that she would be my honoree for the race. She teared up and I was touched that she was touched. A nice moment before we returned to pondering instances of e.g. versus i.e.

2007-05-08T21:35:00.000-04:00

Children 'bad for planet'This just makes me laugh--poseurs want to save the planet from global warming for their "children and their children" and then what happens? The declaration comes from on high that those seekers of carbon offsets shouldn't be having so many children! WHO? Me?A new study to be published in The Lancet is going to publicize a not-so-shocking secret: the staff at the World

2007-05-06T22:16:00.001-04:00

What can I say?Not a Boz Scaggs reference, but an acknowledgment that it's been a long time between posts. I could write about a recent dilemma, where I passed on a dinner invitation because I didn't trust myself to exit the evening without an attempt to extend it. Instead, I ate a sandwich in my pajamas. How that sandwich got in my ... oh, wait. I would rather address a more interesting topic.

2007-04-04T21:47:00.000-04:00

I should not exist ...... and I'm going to sue you because I do. The title of the article is "Better to Have Never Been Born?" and the essential point is this: "The doctor, however, has no such right to bring people into existence. Therefore, when he does, and his actions negligently eliminate choices that families currently have the right to make, he ought to be held responsible for his actions.

2007-04-02T17:50:00.000-04:00

Braves win!Season openers are always so much fun when your team begins 1 and 0. And the Phillies did a nice job remembering their fallen alumni, including Johnny Callison, a guy who loved to throw slow pitchers out at first base after an imagined hit to right field. I may have to replay the 1964 season using Diamond Mind baseball after invoking Callison's memory. While watching 2007 unfold on

2007-03-29T00:48:00.000-04:00

Don't smoke and driveFrom the International Herald-Tribune's story regarding two judges who banned smoking while driving in New Delhi: The new codes are "a very good idea. Traffic is very difficult here, it's frightening," said 18-year-old student driver Ankita Maniktala."Sometimes I don't know which way the cars are going to be going," she said, referring to the accepted habit of driving the

2007-03-28T07:31:00.000-04:00

Bitten by the IPCCNot that Media Matters will concede the IPCC is anything other than the gold standard of consensus.

2007-03-19T23:39:00.000-04:00

AutoAdmitters

2007-03-11T21:09:00.000-04:00

7:44.62During Saturday's race, I kept track of my mile splits (something I can remember to do -- I can never remember to press STOP when I cross the finish line), and something odd happened with two of those splits. Miles 3 and 4 were the same to 1/100th of a second -- 7:44.62. I can see an identical minute and second reading for world-class runners who are on intimate terms with their pace, but

2007-03-10T11:07:00.001-05:00

For this, I'd be up for pay per viewOr better yet, spend my sky miles and charge a front row seat on my AmEx card.

2007-03-10T10:40:00.000-05:00

"Lord, help me be the person my psychiatrist medicates me to be"Coming home from the Silver Comet 10K, I saw that bumper sticker and appreciated the sentiment. Finally!A list of Five Best that I've knocked out. It must be my lucky day -- a personal best in a race and a personal best for an Opinion Journal list. I lied ...I don't believe in moral absolutes -- I think life is much more interesting

2007-03-09T23:04:00.000-05:00

Ron RayTomorrow's run, the Silver Comet 10K, isn't about me running for a personal record. Tomorrow's race is dedicated to the memory of Ron Ray, for his wife and kids. Tomorrow's race is an acknowledgment that the horrible can happen and inspiration can come of it ... again and again.

2007-03-09T17:56:00.000-05:00

Pet SoundsI love lists, so how could I not bring you NARM's Definitive 200 Albums? Of course, they're wrong about their 200, but it's a starting place to create my own!

2007-02-21T06:57:00.000-05:00

Turn, turn, turnSUVs on Mars, Al?

2007-02-20T21:38:00.000-05:00

For love of the gameI love the optimism that is spring training: Boyer looking good in early days. Under blue skies, energetic guys throwing and chasing the ball and preparing themselves to chase their dreams. Nobody's lost a game yet, the players coming back from injury and doubt have yet to discover their new limitations, and fans know this is the year their team can win it all ... if their

2007-02-19T11:24:00.000-05:00

Scientists ... it's always somethingGreg Croft, the ABC News reporter, invokes Armageddon while discussing an asteroid "that may pass uncomfortably close to Earth" in 2036. I suppose he's never heard of Rip Foster. His loss because that book contains hours of pleasure. And the headline writer should be called into the editor's office: "Can Earth Dodge Asteroid Heading This Way?" I'm no

2007-02-19T08:25:00.000-05:00

"Largest ever autism study identifies two genetic culprits"

2007-02-09T20:06:00.000-05:00

Climate of OpinionAs I am most assuredly a contrarian, I was happy to see the Opinion Journal note that some backpedaling is occurring regarding global warming. Hmmm, a lot of -ing going on in that sentence. I especially loved the sentence about policymakers driving the dire predictions ("Al Gore, Kettle; Kettle, Mr. Gore, nonscientist"). I'm also reminded that the latest autism report from CDC

2007-01-27T16:00:00.000-05:00

Sick DazeI rarely take a sick day from work; by rarely, I mean twice in 26 years ... until this week. Ooh, boy, did I need a breather on Monday. Now that I'm finally feeling able to stay in an upright position for more than a few minutes, I can resume all manner of activities, including posting. First up: Go Gators!I realize that Michigan fans were not happy with UF taking over the second spot in

2007-01-15T21:38:00.000-05:00

More from 1927While looking on IMDB for information regarding a second-tier Warner Brothers musical (Melody for Two), I came across Michael Constantine's date of birth. That's right -- Principal Seymour Kaufman turns 80 this year. To a certain generation, ahem, he's known for Room 222, but for the younger set, he's known more for using Windex to treat all manner of ills. As for who else is

2007-01-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

Remind me ...... not to do anything that will bring Dorothy Rabinowitz down on me. And I'll do my best to avoid deserving it as much as Michael Nifong does.

2007-01-03T18:14:00.000-05:00

Should libraries shelve the classics?I know what reporting software can do -- I document it for a living -- but I never assumed public libraries would use data analysis to justify removing the classics because they aren't in circulation. Just because Huckleberry Finn hasn't been checked out -- even once! -- in 24 months, should it be tossed aside to make more room for Dan Brown's latest or *

2006-12-22T22:40:00.000-05:00

The late mfbloggerI was late to work Thursday morning, but I had a good excuse: TCM. Specifically, Love Affair on TCM, the version with Irene Dunne. While waiting for the coffee to finish brewing and before the milk hits the Cocoa Krispies, I have time to flip through channels, and I usually stop on TCM, but I can drift away from Fashions of 1934 or Love in a Bungalow when the time comes for the

2006-12-19T22:21:00.000-05:00

What's in a name?I went looking for Jane Brody's article on boomeritis, a breathless revelation that *gasp* exercise is important as you age! Because if you don't use your muscles *shock* they detoriate! What *yawn* ever! What I found of more interest was Brendan Maher's revelation: eponymous sources. While I'm at it, I'll post this link for all those who ask me about the possibility of a bird

2006-12-14T22:05:00.000-05:00

O-U-C-H!!!NIH studies are echoing Barney Fife and Bill Clinton: "Nip it in the bud!"

2006-12-09T20:39:00.000-05:00

SI interviews Sister AndreaAndrea Jaeger, 25 years ago a teenage tennis prodigy, is now an Anglican Dominican nun. One of Richard Deitsch's comments during the interview? "You'd probably top any list of athletes turned nuns." I wonder how long that list is. I'm guessing it begins and ends with Andrea Jaeger.

2006-11-30T22:26:00.000-05:00

Maybe National Treasure II will explain it Judge Audrey Collins, when striking down parts of the Patriot Act, ruled "provisions remained too vague to be understood by a person of average intelligence and were therefore unconstitutional." No, seriously.I must have missed those two in the Bill of Rights -- The Right to be Understood by a Person of Average Intelligence and The Right to be Not Too

2006-11-27T20:05:00.000-05:00

The classic defense tactic"Yes, they did it, but the real fault lies with [insert institution's name here]. " The defense in this particular case claims that although their clients set a fire that killed three people in a Seton Hall dorm, the school is to blame for not hiring a mob hit man to snuff out the two pyromaniacs before they harmed innocent students. I may have worded that incorrectly.

2006-11-21T07:14:00.000-05:00

An interesting look at Lincoln v. Taney

2006-11-16T18:38:00.000-05:00

Bad movies that are irresistible, part IIII was trying to explain to a very intelligent person what a "good bad movie" is, but I'm afraid the concept can be hard to explain to one who sees "bad" in absolute terms. I believe at some point the question was asked, "If it's bad, how can it be good?"Instead of making a long-winded hash of an answer, I wrote a note with directions that, if followed,

2006-11-11T22:09:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to Richard Hasen for providing "Election Law Blog"