not sure if this warms your heart or not. it's interesting in any case. but it makes me hungry.

just like talking about lobster rolls. mmmmm.

does this count as a good breathing exercise?
"This exercise calms your nervous system. Do it at least twice a day, more often if something upsetting happens or if you are having trouble falling asleep. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your upper front teeth. Exhale through your mouth making a whoosh sound. Inhale through your nose to a count of 4, hold your breath for a count of 7, and exhale with a whoosh through your mouth to a count of 8. Repeat this cycle four times."

Yay lunch!

Was the lobster roll better or worse than the place in Georgetown?  I kinda want another one...

I think real life, not politics, has made you... less charitable in spirit, I'll say.  But guess what - when you are dealing with the rigors of real life and you see other people just slacking, it can be a little aggravating.  You give plenty to those less fortunate, and you shouldn't forget that.

Speaking of real life and making money, I hope you noticed this with respect to the AMT.

More RGIII news: move over Peyton Manning!

Is the USPS using Lena Dunham's definition of self-sufficient?

my lunch was great!

all that time scrimping and saving by bringing in lunch and then i shell out $24 for a Connecticut style lobster roll, new england clam chowder and hot apple cider. but then again, i spent like $150 on our thanksgiving dinner so this isn't exactly scrimp and save week in the food budget anyway.

politics has made me mean. i mean, normally when people ask me for money, i've learned to say 'no' because i don't want to encourage people to bug people for money. but now i'm like, no! and i earned it! and get a job! and get away from me!

it doesn't help when you're at the food trucks - where people are fighting the regulations just to provide a really helpful service and make hopefully enough money to live on. but then again, i was at the lobster roll food truck. we loaded.

gifts for xmas

but not for you because i wouldn't discuss that with you over blog.

i'm thinking of getting my brother an ipad and my parents an apple tv. all my parents ever do is watch their favorite chinese tv show on youtube on their now broken computer. but i think on apple tv you can just watch youtube stuff on your tv, right? do i need to buy special cords or something for this to work?

the other problem is that the living room doesn't get great wifi connectivity but i think that could/should be changed by my brother moving the modem. it gets very bad connectivity in my room as well and that seems silly. if there's no computer anymore, then the modem doesn't need to be in the bottom living room anymore.

my xmas shopping list is going to be pricey this year!

do these strikes ever work?

now fast food workers demanding $15/hour. “In this job having a union would really be a dream come true....” then again, uva workers make a killing so it could happen.

2 powerball winners. but you weren't one of them. =( unless your secretary bought the tickets in a really far away state.

USPS: "We're 100% self-sufficient...." [even as we lose $15.9B per year]

so maybe this was why the clintons were helping the obamas? another bailout coming.

pre-game - i didn't realize this at first but it was done by airport workers. where in the world did they get eggs? did they get that through tsa?

maybe some new workout songs to try out?

that economist article

does this improve our understanding of obesity?

More support for RGIII

Some think he'll beat out Andrew Luck for Rookie of the Year.

Here's a paean to dumplings in New York.

More on the Acela Club at the Verizon Center.  Get excited!

You jumped the gun...

...On my last post, but I have a couple of nuggets.

Would you believe Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the next Batman?

This is an interesting take on the Grover Norquist tax pledge.  I've always thought pledges like this are dumb, but as they go, this is one I could potentially get behind.  It's kinda sad that Grover is taking the heat for this, though.  As the article says, he didn't make anyone sign it.

Neat stat: Notre Dame is the first school to be ranked #1 in the BCS and #1 in the NCAA Graduation Success Rate rankings.

I'm glad I have stainless steel and cast iron pans.  That's the good stuff.

Btw, not to toot my own horn, but I made the same point about the Susan Rice situation already.  I have things to contribute!

Can we declare a moratorium on superhero movies for the next 12 months?

I've created a monster...

So first you start posting stuff from the Wall Street Journal, then you send me something from Michelle Malkin, and then you post what is arguably a "traditional values" column from National Review, and then I discover a Rush Limbaugh tab open on my computer?  I'm so proud...

damn it never occurred to me to look up prescription coupons.

i always thought ke$ha was a good sort. now others think so too.

oh science.

i saw this story: "Everything you need to know about Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World!" and was kinda hoping (i didn't click on it) but that if i clicked on it, there would be a blank page with the word "nothing" written on it.

this was better than i thought it'd be.

girls

this is not the actual reason i dislike the tv show, girls, but it's probably why i dislike sex and the city.

i updated the previous post

to include the word "ending": so it reads:

my causes are "prisoner reading material, ending human trafficking, employment justice and ending homelessness" rather than supporting human trafficking and homelessness. just to be clear.

Thanksgiving menu

I looked at all the ham recipes and I liked the Honey Baked Ham the best. So how about:


Appetizers
Serrano ham and manchego croquettes.

Entree
Honey Baked Ham

Sides
Zaytinya's brussel sprouts
Green Bean casserole
Stovetop stuffing (hey, I like it)
Garlic mashed potatoes
Gravy

Drinks
Bourbon and Ginger Punch

and ......something for dessert!

My Vote

My vote would be for the Polaris Project.  I don't know what those charities say about you, but I'm pretty sure human trafficking is really bad.

I think your solution for the Norway killer is a good compromise.

I wasn't planning on getting my WSJ subscription until the new year (where the deduction will be a lot more helpful).  But you can use it when I do - maybe I can find a monthly subscription until 2013?

I read the article about Obamacare's implementation.  I anticipate reading lots of articles about how we should boycott Florida or Texas or wherever for their decision not to implement Obamacare.  In any case, it seems like an interesting idea, but we'll see how far it goes.

I read stories in the 2000s about how tourism was not particularly affected during Bush's tenure.  I don't know - I think it's a lot of hot air.  Europeans are more liberal and generally prefer the Democrats, but plenty of Europeans still love America (and some hate it).  I think it was just one of those media things (like how the Tea Party is racist) that developed its own momentum.

Graffiato made this list of best Top Chef restaurants.

What's the plan for tomorrow?

B

re: the norway mass killer

there's a point where being nice to your prisoners goes too far. norway is about 5 points past that point.

also, i think the death penalty would be too easy. maybe he should be starved to death while watching video footage of his own complaints.

also, i'm not saying that we should be willing to pay the price of an obama administration for marginally better feeling from other countries' citizens. i mean, those people don't really make policy. but maybe more people come over to america for tourism? i dunno, the popularity of kate middleton probably makes london seem more enticing. also, it may help u.s. tourists from getting "bush sucks" told to them repeatedly. that and $4 might get you something at starbucks.

if you get a wsj subscription, can i use your online credentials? how am i going to know what tax moves to make before the year is over?

what do you think of this?

i already heave karmin's brokenhearted. i thought you were there when i bought it.

so i've got maybe $1500 for charities. these are the charities i've worked with in the past that i think are deserving and as far as i can tell, they are seriously barebones, though i'd be welcome to new ideas.

DC Books to Prisons - this is the most low-budget charity ever. books are all donations. i think they're housed for free in a church. we use paper bags from trader joe's as wrapping paper and honestly, the woman in charge was showing us how to use as little tape as possible while maintaining package security. i really admired their stinginess.

polaris project

The Employment Justice Center

Carpenter's Shelter

So what does this say about me? are prisoner reading material, ending human trafficking, employment justice and ending homelessness the most important causes that i could support in 2012?

Can we please shoot this guy?

Because I really think the death penalty would be appropriate for him.
I was mostly thinking about the $500 leather briefcase and the framed picture of the beard.  I don't think I could pull it off, but maybe that's the problem.  Maybe I have to think that I can pull it off so that I can pull it off.  Some of the Father's Day gifts looked okay.  What does that say about me...?

Is it because single girls don't want to live in squalor?

You can shop as much as you want.  I like going shopping with you.

When you post things from blogs, you should post to the specific link because now I don't know what you're referring to.

What does "better graces" translate to?  Fewer people in the Middle East and North Africa killing us?  (No.)  More harmony in the Middle East?  (No.)  More harmony with European leaders?  Ok, that and a $5 will buy you a latte at Starbucks.

Looking at my recent Youtube history:
1. Jaco Pastorius - "Portrait of Tracy"
2. Incubus - "Dig"
3. Karmin - "Brokenhearted"
4. Ke$ha - "Die Young" (though I believe the hat tip belongs to you)

Oh, and for the record, I am not at all disappointed that a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving beat out X-Factor.

B

which gifts are too cool for you? i don't remember any hipster gifts. i was trying to think of an example but i don't know what one gets for the person who is just too cool for anything. it's like gifts for the person who has everything but who also has disdain for everything.

i got $2 in amazon credit. any songs you'd recommend? do you know anything about spotify?

i love comparing my spending habits with others. it's pretty shocking what women are spending on housing. is it because they earn 70% of what men earn? =P

i don't think you particularly judge me for all my shopping and/or my love for shopping, but in case you come across someone who does - just let them know that i'm improving my community. it doesn't really explain the online shopping though.

i know what we're having monday lunch.

more proof that x-factor is not popular.

you can post uncheery stories so long as you post cheery pictures. like this.

i'm not actually sure you'd like this but i wanted to bookmark this for myself.

and although i'm clearly not obama's biggest fan, i think we are in better graces than with the rest of the world than before. (maybe it helps that people don't like the middle east and europe is falling apart). these little gaffes and maybe greeting obama like a servant don't mean they don't like america. they just might think we're stupid.

Ham recipes

Just some possibilities:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/tangerine-glazed-easter-ham-with-baby-carrots-recipe/index.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/peach-glazed-ham-recipe/index.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/bourbon-honey-glazed-ham-recipe/index.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/honey-baked-ham-recipe/index.html

This is definitely not cheery...

But if Obama can't even keep his promise to a pardoned turkey, then can he be trusted at all?

Here's an idea.  Something tells me the Senate won't be quite as excited (as Paula Broadwell).

I don't think all that crying will help him when he gets to jail.

Here's an interesting take on Obama's recent trip to Southeast Asia.  I think he needs some better advisors.  But I feel like I read so many of these stories in Obama's first term (e.g. giving the Queen an iPod, bowing to some monarch somewhere) that undermine the line that America is back in good graces with the rest of the world.  Is it because we constantly kowtow to countries that don't like us and alienate our allies?

Some of the Fab Sugar gift ideas seemed pretty cool, but others seemed too cool for me.  Maybe that's the problem - maybe I need to step up and be cooler?  (The iPod "speakers" seem pretty awesome, though.)

B

but is this cheery?

10 things i don't get about guys

adorbs

i want cheerier stories

but i will respond that a comparison to catch-22 is still flattering - even if it's anti-war, which catch-22 is. there's no saying whether this new book isn't funny.

also, i feel that i'm demanding a lot from our blog - different sources, cheerier stories. but that doesn't mean you can't also demand things.

protect your cross-bows!

i want to be faster

so tis the season for gift guides. i actually like the suggestions here (also here) and have often found gift guides helpful in coming up with general ideas (clothing!, electronics!) if not the actual gift. but it does seem awfully strange to think, hmmm, i have a guy on my list. what do all guys want? they wouldn't do that for women because it's stereotypical.

this is why window shopping at neiman marcus is fun.

recipes from zaytinya:
shrimp with dill
htipiti
crispy brussel sprouts

very delicious sounding tips for cooking a turkey

couldn't find a place to get deep fried turkey. apparently georgia brown's had it in the past but this year, i'm not seeing any takeout possibilities. we could just eat fried chicken.

Working my way up: Part 2

I read the description of the book, and it didn't sound that interesting.  In fact, it sounded as if the book was just the antiwar elements of Catch-22 with no guarantee of comedic genius.  Catch-22 was funny as hell and a great read (in my view in spite of the antiwar stuff).

Voter fraud is real.

Also, congratulations!  Because you posted an article from Michelle Malkin, you are officially One of Us!  One of us!  One of us!

Because we heard it from the man himself, I thought I'd post the New York Times editorial board's response to Justice Alito's remarks.

Racist word of the week: incompetent.

B

Starting from the bottom and working my way up

As I mentioned, I'm familiar with the FIRE people from my days in college.  They are solid people, and some of the speech codes at colleges are legitimately suppressing speech.

Federal workers are definitely not underpaid.  If nothing else, they're being "compensated" with more job security (or, in the case of DOJ, prestige), and they're "buying" more free time.  But it sounds as though they're also getting paid at a level similar to the private sector.  No wonder they never want to leave... I will reiterate my desire to work in the private sector for as long as I can.

I hate unions - I'm just throwing that out there.  I imagine there are a lot of people who try to raise a family by working at a low-level Walmart job, and I don't envy their obviously formidable task, but I can't say that I want to do anything about it from a policy perspective.  But I kinda object to this whole labor system.  Walmart employees should have the right to come together, but Walmart should have the right to fire them if they do, but maybe collective action in this case should really be an antitrust violation but for the law excluding union activity, but maybe that law is dumb.  I should have left it at "I hate unions."

That OkCupid article was better only in that I could read it at work.  That actually made it worse because it meant that I finished it, and it wasn't that great.  A bunch of atheists met up on OkCupid?  Neat-o.  Them and Tom.  Hooray.

Aww!  But I should still go to the gym and earn that bonus...

I'll comment on the other ones tomorrow, but until then, how to live without irony.  Plus this because it might be relevant (I haven't actually read the NYT piece yet).

Also, at around 1:50 in the morning I took a little break and watched this live version of "Gangnam Style."  I've seen a lot of awesome concert footage on Youtube and elsewhere, but I don't think I've often seen that many people go completely nuts and know all the words and be genuinely happier than ever in their lives to be there.  Also, the regular music video has over 750 million views.  Damn.

B

i don't really believe that papa john or the denny's ceo hate obama because he's black but other people are saying it. it's harder to say mr. red lobster/olive garden hates obama for being black. harder but not impossible.

i beat you fair and square

though it's not 100% that obama beat romney fair and square.
the county with the highest voter turnout.
actually, though, that one was explained away because they had 2 pages of voter cards and they weren't smart enough to count votes and not pages. it doesn't make sense to me but apparently, that one's in the clear.

but ohio

the big list

a new catch-22? that's pretty much the best review i've ever read.

a lot of interesting tidbits here. i tend to like, "Parents and alumni dismiss free-speech restrictions as something that only happens to conservatives, or that will never affect their own children" and "Students were taught in group sessions that the term racist "applies to all white people" while "people of color cannot be racists." Once FIRE spotlighted it, the university dismantled the program." 

apparently fed workers aren't underpaid. as i've told my mother, DOJ could probably pay their lawyers a lot less and people would still flock to them. it's not like there's a dearth of people interested or that people interested are unqualified. 

i actually do have a little sympathy. but the workers need to gain some bargaining power. hard to do when "Wal-Mart, which has 1.4 million workers in the U.S., said it has five million applicants for jobs last year and 20% of those applicants had previously worked for the company."

maybe this okcupid article will be better - probably more SFW since it's a post article...

because you're so beautiful...

RGIII is a captain

He got a promotion during the bye week.  Let's see if the Redskins can get to the Promised Land under his regime.

I enjoy reading Peggy Noonan's blog from time to time.

Are homeless people supposed to use that app?  I don't get it...

These two stories were on Yahoo so you probably saw them, but

1. We eat a lot of sushi, and

2. Both Green Pig Bistro and Blue Duck Tavern were named on this list.

So we should probably discuss.

B

lull in petraeus news means more obamacare reading

also, this but mostly for the comments (read them after the article, otherwise it won't make sense):

Obamacare IS the hope and change:
"I think you’re getting lost in speculating about what Scott (and the Scott’s of the world) would do in an Obamacare environment, by assuming his behavior would not have changed. I knew Scott. The mere fact that Obamacare existed, would have been enough to motivate him. What isn’t explicitly stated by Kristof and is overlooked in your analysis, is that Obamacare, by its mere existence, provides a holistic, positive message about the need for medical insurance and care and, subsequently backs it up by removing economic obstacles. Scott was smart and political. And he was also prudent and a rule follower. Obamacare would have suited him, his belief system, and his health care needs. Everyone needs a kick in the pants when it comes to health issues and Obamacare provides it. You’re assuming the devil is in the details, which sometimes it is. But Obamacare is cultural sea change and will affect our system in unexpected ways that go beyond your simple cause and effect dissection."

Unfortunately, Obamacare is affecting us already in very expected and very terrible ways in a simple cause and effect dissection. 

But then again, maybe you just need to go see a doctor if there's blood in your urine?

"John, I wanted to make one additional comment, as I sell Health Insurance in Washington State (and have lived only 1 mile from the hospital he went to).

First of all, Washington State has significantly stronger State laws than most. Everyone in Washington is GUARANTEED Insurable, so once he got sick all he had to do was go to the Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP). Then his health issues would be covered, done. 92% are accepted for Individual Health Insurance, the other 8% must pay significantly more…yet they waited to get coverage and CURRENTLY have massive health expenses.

So when the author mentioned his friend could not get coverage that is a lie. His friend did not have a good Insurance Broker that could outline all his options then show him how to sign up. If you have any questions please let me know."

Elizabeth draws the line

Despite being Jesse Jackson's kid, I was going to give Jr. the benefit of the doubt about not resigning after misusing campaign financing in buying furniture for one of his houses until he got disability payments. That is, until the statement, "Our sources say that the federal agents want to know where Jackson got $42,000 to pay for the watch he purchased for the woman he was having an affair with." That is a bridge too far.

There are a lot of people in poverty.The surprise -16.9% Asian! We can't let this stand.

Now I didn't read this whole thing because it made me queasy but I was thinking there was some legal loophole that wasn't being explored. Like the judge ruled based on the law but the media wanted to lambast her for being easy on crime. I couldn't find the loophole.

that uva alum link that didn't work from before.

the homelessness app from before.

i think playing monday morning quarterback with limited information about a business isn't really helpful.

Among the retorts to people raising prices or limiting hours: "the company and CEO's have enough money to take it," "rich people sticking it to the poor," "so what, raise the prices!" Very thoughtful. Also, "there are other reasons you're raising prices - rising prices for your food supplies, etc.!" So yeah, it's not Obamacare, it's the terrible economy and inflation, you greedy bad person. Stop blaming Obama!

Also, I think, though I'm not sure, that Papa John was speaking about how much it would cost each franchisee. So attacking how rich Papa John is won't necessarily fix things. 

But you knew that.

also consider this.

Also, one of my "racism is still alive" facebook friends posted something about how terrible it was that there are assassination talks against Obama now. Not saying that it's a good thing. No, it's definitely terrible. But the fact that this is Obama's SECOND TERM seems to imply that it's not because he's black. I mean, wouldn't racists have revolted the first term? What is it about a second term that clearly makes this something that racist people can't stand? "Oh I hate minorities but one term as President I don't mind....I'll wait for the second term to get all up in arms." It also ends with something like "when will white people stop insisting that black people get educated and have personal responsibility?" And this wasn't sarcasm.

haven't read this yet but my facebook friend that posts interesting articles posted this.

and yes i looked at facebook but that's because one of the partners posted something about a job and i figured i'd send the info along to caitlin. i think that makes it acceptable.

Try this on for size

This was a funny but scathing review of Guy Fieri's new NY restaurant.

Chuck Kloisterman may have been involved - however indirectly and unknowingly - in the Petraeus scandal.

Do you want to go to the National Gallery of Art on Sunday?  I would like to see this.

Speaking of going places, when are we going to the Gibson?  Apparently they take reservations if you call in advance.

More of what I want to hear about immigration from the Wall Street Journal editorial page.  I'm so glad I can just point to them whenever the crazier conservative friends I have pipe up on immigration.

Some hope for your Redskins.  Dare to dream!

B

we may need to branch out on our news blogs because i had already half of the things you posted last time. but it's nice to hear your opinion.

saving babies AND watching football? yes please.

so broadwell was petraeus' "biographer" but she wasn't the writer (there was a ghostwriter.) seems like biographer is a pretty sweet job. (aside from the affairs you are required to have with your subject, of course).

protect yourself from the menace of obamacare.

how to clean your clothes

inquiring minds need to know

here's an additional tip from a uva alum

an interesting way to stop homelessness

wouldn't it be funny to be the person who was in charge of the 20,000 pages of emails - trying to determine 'tone' in email? it's like a classic he said, she said. "well, that sounds flirty...."

This argument is getting tired...

...Because it has appeared every time the Republicans have lost an election of some sort, but here it is again, out of the mouths of babes (or at least a college student).  I think I would find this article less bothersome if it weren't so poorly written, but I just don't think that becoming the Libertarian Party is the obvious answer, even if such a party might more accurately reflect my own views.

Which is more embarrassing: being from the Ward 8 in DC (where Marion Berry presides), being from the 4th District of Georgia (where Cynthia McKinney formerly reigned), or being from the 2nd District of Illinois, which will be waving goodbye to its third criminal in a row (Mel Reynolds and Gus Savage being his predecessors)?  I'd say it's a three-way tie for last.

General Petraeus could face charges.  This seems like overkill.

This seems fishy...

This will be my sixth in a row.  It's your turn now, I think... :)

B

Finally...

The Republican leadership must have been reading the Wall Street Journal because this is long overdue.

Does this mean we should re-friend those people on Facebook?

I want to try this place.  Also, when you threw out the newspaper yesterday, did you throw out the one that featured all the places we were thinking about trying?

This is not that much of a reversal, but I'm never EVER moving to California.

B

The TD should not have happened...

...Therefore the Redskins should be awarded the victory and a playoff berth for good measure.  No?  Just a "my bad"?  Oh well.

In the Captain Obvious Piece of the Day, Randy Barnett thinks the Libertarian Party is a mistake and a waste of time.

If I didn't think that it would be packed or that there could be rioting should Mitt Romney prevail, I would suggest going here tonight.

B

I guess Jersey Shore is over after all...

Though the Jersey Shore house managed to avoid some damage.

Should there be a "public service" defense to murder?  This boy probably thinks so (his announced defense notwithstanding).

Only 970,000 miles to go for me...

Karl Rove thinks you should be getting ready for a slightly chillier experience down under.

Jerry Sandusky will be serving Hard Time.

B