Month: December 2003 (Page 1 of 7)

Ahead to 2004

I wasn’t going to write a year-end post, but I just finished watching Kenneth Branagh’s “Henry V,” and it gave me a burst of energy. 2003 didn’t start out much better than the execrable 2002, but in the last quarter things suddenly picked up. I met someone very special to me, and I’ve been getting quite a few new clients.

Traffic on the weblog has been going slightly upward all year as well. I’m so grateful for the people who continue to come here and read what I have to say. I’m also grateful for the people it’s allowed me to meet, and the charge I get from being able to write whatever and whenever I want. That is a great gift.

All my best to you and yours in the new year.

Giving Andy his due

My abject hatred of Andy Rooney is well-documented on this site. But there was one thing the freak-eyebrowed old gasbag said that was right: when you have the flu, the only time you feel better is when you’re standing in a hot shower.

True, true, true.

UPDATE: Consumer endorsement of the new year – DayQuil. Good stuff, Maynard.

Word of the day

patois

The patois of the “Firefly” universe includes a smattering of Chinese among the English words.

Comic of the Day

Dean Can’t Win

At first I didn’t even want to use those words on this page. But I figure if enough people Google bomb those words to that cartoon, it’s a good thing.

Movie Quote of the Week

“But look now. If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us saintly. But since we see that avarice, anger, pride and stupidity commonly profit far beyond charity, modesty, justice and thought, perhaps we must stand fast a little – even at the risk of being heroes.”

-Thomas More, “A Man for All Seasons”

I’ve quoted this movie more than once on this page. (If you’ve never seen it, or even if it’s just been a while, I would implore you to sit down and watch it. It’s that good.) In my latest viewing, on the fancy new A/V rig, not only the visuals were enhanced, but also the words sprung forth with greater clarity than ever. And the above quote, when More is awaiting execution in the Tower of London, reminded me so much of our times.

I hope we can all stand fast a little.

Shutting up

I have laryngitis. (Although I can’t talk, I can still type – aren’t you lucky!) Which makes my horoscope today particularly funny:

Friends know what’s going on with you no matter what you say or don’t say. Telepathic communication reduces the need for actual speech.

It’s funny how much you miss something when you suddenly don’t have it. I really should be calling some clients and other people, but I can barely squeak out a word, and I should be resting my vocal chords anyway. It is sort of calming, though, in a strange way.

I’m sending you some telepathic communication. Do you know what I’m saying?

I’ll give you a topic…

“Arguing about politics is pointless. No one ever changes their mind.”

–Miss Anthropy, in an AIM conversation with me today

Discuss.

Citizenship

Maurice has conferred upon me the title of honorary Canadian, and David now says I can be an honorary Puerto Rican. That’s cool, considering that for a lot of right-wingers and pundits in this country today, I’m not even an official American.

BONUS LINK: Dubyaspeak.com (be sure to check out the audio clips)

Thought experiment

If Andrew Sullivan weren’t gay himself, considering his politics, would he be crusading so forcefully for the civil rights of gay people?

Mona Lisa Smile

It was beautiful to look at, I’ll say that for it. The 50s production design was dazzling. (Julia Stiles’ hairdo alone had me mesmerized.) But it’s a little sad that American movie studios still manage to make the story of an unconventional woman into such an utterly conventional movie.