I nearly got into it with the cigar guys again today. They almost literally bray their stupid little hates for hours on end. As they were leaving (and leaving a mountain of ash, dead newspaper, and wrappers) one of them said “What, is this Friday?” and I said a bit too loudly “I DON’T KNOW, I HAVEN’T WORKED IN 20 YEARS EITHER!”

One of them emitted a noise about “journalistic integrity” and I laughed directly at him. He thought I was laughing with. I said: “Did you say what I think you said? That’s hilarious!” “Well, it’s just going by the WAY SIDE!”. I told him to go read Mencken from the 20s about “journalistic integrity”. What a tool.

And now, an Ann Landers Moment:

Confidential to Crampy in Carson: If you didn’t drink so many alcoholic beverages every night, you probably would have less problems with insomnia, headaches, and mood swings.

Confidential to Moody in Marin: Your fluctuating “energy level” may be improved by changing the behavior pattern in which you start the day with 4 cups of coffee and don’t eat until 9 pm, at which point you pasta-binge.

Confidential to Hoarse in Harrisburg: If you read more books and listened to less talk radio you’d make more sense and fewer people would yell at you.

hydrozoa is right. I’m a terrible writer. One thing about livejournal as a medium is that no consistency of voice is enforced, so I’m Holden Caulfield Jr. one day and an enraged Abe Lincoln the next. I should be more disciplined.

Got any gum?

Brand Democrat, political.

Optimus Crime, an amusing and instructive blog, syndicated here as opt_crime.

Jazzandblues.org streaming radio

Scharffen Berger Cacao Nibs

even though it’s hosted by “dutchfurs.com” this made me cackle

laminated malignancy is love
brought to you by the isLove Generator

Sing along with Prussian Blue.

From now on I’m getting all my news from the Purple Monkey Dishwasher: purpmonkdish

• ”Friend” who contacts me every three months for tech support.
• Woman who uses me as a stopgap guy to hang out with between boyfriends (please note: this position has been eliminated and there will be no further hiring.)
• Person whose only contact with me is to sing his or her own praises and then ask for favors.
• Unasked-for spiritual advisor.
• Multilevel marketer.

I cooked the big ceremonial meal and it was a hell of a lot of work. Came out well but I’m exhausted. The baby zucchini were particularly good, as was the cornbread dressing.

I couldn’t say Grace.

Hope you’re well.

News updates from all over.

vegemitelover reports that the most notorious bathhouse in Portland, OR now has a sign outside advertising “Free WIFI!”. He mentioned it twice, actually. The boy ain’t right.

Wi-Fi is now available, according to a sign, in both local branches of Der Wienerschnitzel. Corndogs + TCP = PROFIT!

Beer. Bait. Wifi.

The library has an exhibit of children’s art about their heroes. nickjb captured one young artist’s heroic ideal:

HIGH VOLTAGE!