But will it play in Peoria?

I'll admit that was worried before-hand, but I think John Kerry rocked the mic Thursday night.
Afterwards we watched Outfoxed...the MoveOn.org/Robert Greenwald documentary about Fox News was flawed but, nonetheless I think that once Farenheit 9/11 is out on DVD we need to have a double feature viewing party.

Oh, and Barak Obama is definitely the guy to watch. Smart, talented, dedicated to public service and dynamic. It also doesn't hurt that the new face of the Democratic Party is hot.

Oh goodness, Madonna's latest fixation infiltrates Target. And it's for your baby no less. Thanks to Kevin for the link.

You've probably already seen this by now, but if not, conservative Web zine World Net Daily has posted the Ann Coulter column that USA Today summarily rejected for being "unusuable" and "unfunny."
USA Today perhaps felt it was too obvious to even mention that the column was also sexist, homophobic and racially divisive. Here's just a sneak peek at her woefully misunderstood humor:

Here at the Spawn of Satan convention in Boston, conservatives are deploying a series of covert signals to identify one another, much like gay men do. My allies are the ones wearing crosses or American flags. The people sporting shirts emblazoned with the "F-word" are my opponents. Also, as always, the pretty girls and cops are on my side, most of them barely able to conceal their eye-rolling.

Read the rest for yourself and decide if USA Today was being unfair and Coulter really does have a potential Comedy Central career. (Via The Usual Suspects)

Sometimes it's the simplest things that are the most difficult to accomplish. I had to bribe myself with candy and the promise that I could goof off on the Web if I just made myself follow-up on an essay I sent to a big woman's magazine.

So after much procrastination, I finally dialed the number and spoke to the editor, who just as I anxiously imagined, was very curt with a thick New York accent and clearly not enough time for the likes of me. But, even though she claims she already sent me my rejection (they already have an essay - written in-house - that is similar in theme to mine. I wonder if this is code for You suck so bad, I can't even put it into words. Your sheer suckiness amazes me), she asked me to re-send the essay and promised to e-mail back to confirm its receipt.

So now I've had my candy, goofed around on the Web and re-sent the essay. And now I get to go through the whole waiting process again. But I'm only waiting a week this time (instead of the "suggested lead time" of three weeks) because like Mr. Petty told me, the waiting is the hardest part and the longer I have to think about it the more likely it is that I'll lose my nerve about sending it out to other places.

Gah.

Anyway, on to the weekend which includes the spouse's band, Baby Grand at Old I tonight (yay, finally ...it's been months) and then, on Sunday (and again at Old I), the glorious Sufjan Stevens. The rock will surely make up for all the weekend's less-enticing obligations and responsibilities. At least, one hopes that it will....rock'n'roll don't fail me now...

I'm home - sunburned yet refreshed (except for the giant red scrape I've got on my backside, courtesy of falling flat on my ass in the ocean after getting swept up in the tide. I'm probably the only girl alive who's bruised her butt in the ocean, but whatever...).
 
 Well actually, I'm working. But I have the new Rilo Kiley on repeat and tonight's Thrills show to which I am looking forward. So then, I suppose, life is still good. 

From McSweeney's,  but I got it from Boing Boing:

First, there was this -- by John Moe, in McSweeney's, much-blogged already but much funny, too:

# How Are We Going to Get These Dogs Back In?

# Bust an Additional Move

# Seriously, Eileen, Come On

# I Will Now Pass the Dutchie Back to You and Thank You for Passing It to Me Originally Because I Really Enjoyed the Dutchie

# Whoomp! There It Continues to Be

 
Ha....anyway...  I've got my trashy mags, sunscreen and thrift store money on the ready...time to get outta town...

A web-only article in The New Republic reports that all those lifestyles of the rich and the famous rags are, surprise, largely read by the rich crowd:

If when confronted with several celebrity glossies, you pluck Us Weekly from among its imitators and competitors, you're probably rich and well-educated--at least according to Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI), which recently announced that Us Weekly readers' median income per household is a cool $77,967. That's almost a thousand dollars more than the median household income of Vanity Fair readers. The figures are even more surprising when broken down by gender: The median household income of Us's female readers is $83,000. Devotees of Star, which is edited by former Us editor and notorious martinet Bonnie Fuller, are mere peasants by comparison, pulling down a trifling median household income of $45,910.

Huh...so basically, everytime you see a paparazzi photo of Paris Hilton reading the latest issue of US Weekly that's reporting on her latest charming endeavor, then you're seeing the reason why the magazine's median income is skewed so high. God, it's all just so, so meta....

In the world of us not-rich worker bees, it's been ultra-crazy at the place of employment lately and it's going to get worse before it gets any better...nonetheless, I'm getting the hell out of town for a few days ...by noon tomorrow that'll be me you hear humming The Thrills "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)". I may post from there, so until then....

Same sex marriage bill defeated in Congress. Republicans fall short by 12 votes in attempt to amend constitution. (Via CNN).

Jenna Bush, skank? Geez, I just wish someone would leak a Bush daughter sex tape already. Hot girl-on-girl action would be preferable - for political purposes. Things would be much more interesting then. (Via Wonkette).

I'm not much for people lately...I don't mean I'm not much for friends I just don't feel like hanging out in big crowds right now, or just being very social in general. I do not feel like small talk or putting on smiles.

As such this weekend was mostly just about me and Cory. It involved watching movies, sleeping, record shopping and on Saturday night an amazing dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant on the Haight.

I also did some writing this weekend. Finally. Wrote quite a bit (I'm revising a story actually), which is good because I need to write. I can feel the non-work writing gears in my head turning rusty ....they squeak in protest whenever I try to get them to turn. But after a few false starts on Sunday and plenty of coffee, I was finally able to turn out several pages and not a moment too soon because, damn it, it's already July 12th which means there are only 45 days left until the next semester starts again. Only 45 days until I told my thesis advisor that I'd give him a full draft. At this point I'll be happy if I can give him a draft of half my thesis.

To make things even more aggravating I think I have only crossed off one major thing from my summer's to-do list.

When did I become such a lazy, do-nothing, Freaks and Geeks-watching fool?

I haven't been a complete lazy-ass. I've been working out a lot lately. I want to be in the best shape possible come the end of the August because once I'm back in school it'll be hard to maintain this kind of routine. I figure if I start the semester out at the top of my game then it will be easier to maintain. I've even, despite the heat, been running. I need to get some custom-made arches for shoes however because I have a really bad knee thanks to the track and field coach who made us do the long-jump on concrete back when I was in the 5th grade. I'll bet you didn't know that I was a St. Paul Lutheran champion sprinter back in the day? Well we all have our little secrets and one of mine is that I actually used to be somewhat athletic. Anyway, I'm working on recapturing that 11-year-old enthusiasm I once had - you know before my body revolts against me entirely.

Speaking of running (smooth transition, eh?) It's been reported that the GOP is donating big bucks to Ralph Nader's campaign

Nearly one in 10 of Nader's major donors -- those writing checks of $1, 000 or more -- have given in recent months to the Bush-Cheney campaign, the latest documents show. GOP fund-raisers also have "bundled" contributions -- gathering hefty donations for maximum effect to help Nader, who has criticized the practice in the past.

The donations from wealthy Republicans -- combined with increasingly vocal Democratic charges that they represent a stealth GOP effort to wound Democrat John Kerry -- prompted Nader's vice presidential running mate, Green Party member Peter Camejo, to suggest the consumer advocate reject the money that doesn't come from loyal Nader voters. (Via the SF Chronicle)

Nader's camp, by the way, says the money will be returned if the claims turn out to be true.

Nader was all over the news this weekend. Howard Dean is pushing to get him to drop out of the race (via Washington Post, requires free registration) and everyone's making a fuss about how even the Green Party isn't endorsing him.

Personally, my feelings about Nader remain unchanged from 2000. Let the man run, for chrissakes. Ralph Nader did not lose the 2000 election for the Democrats. The Democrats, Jeb Bush and the Supreme Court put George Bush in office. In 2004 the Democratic party and its followers should not be running scared because of Naders. He has a right to run (if he meets all the qualifications, of course, blah blah blah) and if Dems truly think that this man could potentially siphon off enough votes to cost Kerry the election then maybe they need to take a closer look at the party and its platform. I mean, jeez - could it be any more obvious? Stop worrying about Nader and start worrying about what the Democratic party has done for you lately and get involved already, learn about the candidates and issues and, of course, vote.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go settle in for another episode of VH1's I Love the 90s. Priorities, you know.

Mannnn, Weezie - a.k.a Isabel Sanford - is gone.

I need some Northern California (Sacto area preferably) hiking suggestions. Easy to moderate hikes. Please!

Oops, the NY Post reports that Kerry picks Gephardt as running mate....not quite (via the Smoking Gun, by way of Salon)

Happy post-Fourth of July ... it's been a nice weekend so far - mostly lazy and self-indulgent - and the best part is that it's not over yet.

Yesterday we didn't even leave the house until 5 p.m. It was blazing hot by that point, of course, but undeterred we made our way to Dixon to hang out with some friends. There was plenty of good food including fresh corn on the cob and strawberry pie - and afterwards we headed out to the park for some prime people-watching...oh yeah, and fireworks. Thanks again guys for letting us crash your Dixon party....

Today has been a little more productive - but just a little. It's only 11:40 and I've already gone for a walk, had coffee with Kim and done some Web surfing.

I feel like Sophie (pictured, right) though - I'd love to just lay around all day watching VH1's 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever or maybe a Trading Spaces marathon, but, alas, there are task to be accomplished today. Things that need to get done around the house so that the rest of the week isn't hell.

Such is life.

In the meantime, here is a short list of links that I've been meaning to post.

First, a NARAL ad spoofing The Stepford Wives trailer.

And then, for some good bi-partisan balance on the subject, an Alternet story on The GOP's Silent Majority - Republican women who vote pro-choice.

Then, on a much lighter note, the NPR ombudsman ponders if the radio program's CD reviews are too hip and inscrutable - to which I say, if that's the case, why does an NPR feature or review usually translate into increased record sale for the artist?

Then, get scared with this recent James Brown interview that shows how the Godfather of Soul has, at least temporarily, flipped his funky wig.

And finally, some good time-wasting with the Velvet Underground 3D Death Chase game.

Enjoy.

I really don't understand how people can be so horrible to animals. This CNN story about puppies being attacked with firecrackers just sickens me.

I could go on and on about how awful it is the way people disrespect animals but I'm too upset to even get up on my soapbox.