I finished Francis Wheen’s book Idiot Proof, which I really wanted to like. It was billed as a defense of Enlightenment ideals against modern medievalism and stupidity, a cause which I support. And there is a lot of good stuff in there. Wheen doesn’t hold back against his targets, most of whom deserve a good tongue-lashing: New Agers, religious zealots, “New Economy” jerks, and other fuzzy-minded failures.

Unfortunately there isn’t much holding all this together. He had a good thesis, that the Enlightenment ideal of rationality is under attack. However he spends most of the book just ranting at various individuals and groups he can’t stand rather than making a reasoned argument. So what could have been a rallying point turns out to be a list of things this one guy doesn’t like. I’m not sure how the dot-com mania fits in, for example. It was dumb and silly, but just the way businesspeople always are.

Three stars out of five. Pick it up used for five bucks, or check it out of the library, for a few laughs. Not worth $25.

I’d go see these were I in NY.

“Siegfried…mein lieben.. bring me more skin. Young boy-skin. I must be strong again…”

bruisedhips tries for that “Annoying Girl at the Show” hair and gets herself into a supermuddle:

At the Ralphs market:

“Et tu Caesar Salad Kit”

Nice red Italian dressing I assume. Brut.

Kim gets another broadcast email from the Calvary Chapel nut. This one is far “better”, including various rants against Mexicans, homosexuals, black people, and many specific people at the church. Note that the terror perpetrated against him is equivalent to Pearl Harbor *and* 9/11.

Poor Chuck.

http://www.christiananime.net/

what

I..

LOOK FOLKS FOR THE 50TH TIME NO NUDITY. ALSO WE SCREWED UP OUR DOMAIN. ALSO THERE’S NO REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE.

Reading the Times I find that there is a center here locally for the study of the Shroud of Turin. And by “study” I mean obsessively cultish reverence.

Times story is here.

Bethya is a superstar and made amazing food, including but not limited to: real fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, biscuits, green beans, other nongreen beans, corn, and about 37 kinds of pie. I indulged myself as much as I can without, you know, dying.

Les gave me some 21 year old single malt Scotch that he inexplicably doesn’t like. I SURE DO!

South Orange County really is Stepford. Creepy.

In the middle of the party I had to log on because sports news wasn’t updating. Boy, that was annoying.

Gals: Kenn is okay with the size thing but he’s nervous about strap-ons. Look I’m just the messenger here, okay?

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/040527/photos_od_afp/040527171046_nut7zhep_photo0&e=7&ncid=1778

HERE IS A PICTURE OF A SHIP. A SHIP IS WITH A NAVY! THERE MIGHT BE A GHOST IN A NAVY THING. THERE’S SOME GUYS GOING TO GO LOOK FOR A GHOST IN THE NAVY THING. SO HERE’S A PICTURE OF A SHIP! THE NAVY HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF SHIP THINGS. THERE ARE MAYBE SOME GHOSTS IN THE SHIP THINGS TOO BUT THE GUYS ARE GONNA LOOK FOR A GHOST IN THE NAVY BASE WHICH ISN’T THE SHIP. BUT THIS IS A SHIP AND NOT THE BASE OR THE GHOSTS.

I WORK AT YAHOO! NEWS AND MY HEAD IS SO FAR UP MY ASS THAT I CAN SEE LAST NIGHT’S DINNER. THIS IS THE “NEWS”.

ANYWAY OFF TO FIND MY BONG!!