Watched the two-hour “West Wing” premiere tonight, which I taped from last night. It was good, generally, but I think it would have been better as just an hour. With two hours, Aaron Sorkin predictably gave in to his tendency to over-emphasize the policy-wonk sections of the story, shortchanging the human side that I love.

I must admit, though, that I’m tremendously entertained with how they’re skewering GWB’s triumphant no-nothing attitude in the persona of James Brolin’s Gov. Ritchie. Let’s hear it for a smart, articulate, thoughtful person in the White House. When exactly did that become a bad thing?

Could the Navy lower my self-esteem any further?

“If they wrote a book about your life, would anyone want to read it?”
-Navy recruiting commercial

Just a thought

Isn’t it strange how we call Saddam Hussein “Saddam”? Isn’t that sort of like Harry Truman calling Stalin “Joe”?

35 questions. (via Tuesday, who kicks some serious ass in her commentary about them)

Related: Al Gore (remember him?) on Dubya’s plans.

Movie dialogue of the week

“I’m a really good handjob-giver.”

-Goldie Hawn, “The Banger Sisters”

Get Into His Head
(idea courtesy of Arthur)

Ladies and gentlemen, I never knew being president would be this hard. I just thought it would be sort of fun, carrying on the family tradition and all that. And think about it, who wouldn’t want to be president? The limos, the state dinners, maybe get your face on a coin. But now, when I can’t get away to the ranch, I just spend my days in all kinds of meetings where everyone is mad at everyone else. It’s frustrating and not fun at all, and I don’t think people are really listening to me. It’s not like in Texas, where talking over good barbecue could solve a lot of problems. And everyone’s always quizzing me all the time – my nerves are shot. Don’t get me wrong, Dick and Don and Condie have been great. But it’s just too much. Maybe if we can get in there and get Saddam, things will calm down. I hope so.

Warning: Mature Content

My friend John (aka variously Jon-Jon, Nigel, and Khalatan III) has separated his weblog – christened with the only weblog name I wish I had thought of myself – from the better-known Diaries. I suggest regular visits to both.

There are things that I really want to say, but don’t feel comfortable writing on this page. Know what I mean?

Went to see “Notorious C.H.O.” with Jon-Jon and Matt today. The word for Margaret Cho is brilliant. She manages to write a hilarious show (my jaw practically ached from laughing) that also means something, and perform it with heart. Her facial expressions alone are worth the price of admission. To those easily offended (especially by sex), a warning: do not attend this movie. Everyone else, go there now.

Part of my current obsession with “The Big Lebowski” comes from the fact that Jeff Bridges seems to be channeling my father in the movie. The way he talks, how he reacts to things, even the way he sits reminds me so much of my father, it’s eerie.

And now I stumble upon Jeff Bridges’ official web site, and it’s just like what I would imagine my father would have come up with on the web. Most of the text is written in Bridges’ own hand, and it’s just a beautiful melange of stuff. I highly recommend a visit.