Bill Bennett, former drug czar and author of “The Book of Virtues” and several other self-righteous screeds, apparently is quite the gambler. The Washington Monthly says his losses (at things like the $500-a-pull slots) over the last 10 years are in the neighborhood of $8 million.

As I’ve said many times before, I believe most of the world’s problems are caused by people who think they know what’s best for someone else.

Confidence

This caper drama wants to be “House of Games.” Well, I know “House of Games,” and “Confidence,” you’re no “House of Games.” (If you haven’t seen HoG, see it.) Still it’s a capable diversion, with Dustin Hoffman’s creepy/funny turn as a kingpin the highlight. When Hoffman’s onscreen, the movie wakes up.

Recommended, if you’re just looking for something to pass the time.

Does anyone ever ask to borrow one of your CDs so they can burn a copy of it, or ask to install some of your software on their computer? It’s a weird situation because on the one hand you’re not losing anything, and your friend is gaining something they want.

But I find myself thinking, “I paid for that. Why should they get it free?” Does that make me a bad person? It’s not even the piracy thing, which I’m also against, although I have been guilty of it a few times myself. It also seems different somehow from loaning something to a friend. Does anyone know what I’m talking about here?

Sometimes I think it’s irrational for me to be irritated and conflicted. But if someone’s asking for a copy of software that cost me several hundred dollars, it gets my back up.

Saw Angelique Kidjo at the Barrymore last night. What a fantastic concert. She is so infectiously joyful, and the music is so wonderful, you can’t leave without a smile on your face. She sings mostly in a couple of African languages, so you really focus on the music and how it makes you feel. By the end of the concert, about a third of the house was on their feet, huddled close to the stage, dancing. Her albums are great, but nothing prepares you for the live experience – her voice has extraordinary power.

If you want a taste, here’s an MP3 (2.8 MB). Let me know what you think.

You Didn’t Ask, Part Deux

My former colleague, John Mosey, in an e-mail to me about something else, said,

BTW did you just out yourself or did I read it wrong?

I assured him that he didn’t read it wrong. I also said I was a little surprised at the lack of comments on that post; when I posted photos of myself for the first time, I got 19 comments. I thought maybe I was being too oblique about it, based on Mosey’s reaction. But I guess it just means it’s a non-story.

Mosey also asked, in his inimitable fashion, if I was going to “go all militant” now and make every post about being gay. I assured him that I wasn’t. Other people can and do write more cogently about gay issues, so I leave it to them. But I just wanted to be able to write honestly and personally about gay topics when they come up in the larger culture.

OK, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Questions for pro-war people

1. If we don’t find any WMD in Iraq, and the chances dwindle with each passing day, why did we go to war? Wasn’t Saddam’s imminent threat to the world the reason? Let’s cut through the posturing and historical revisionism. Aren’t you even a little bit skeptical of the administration’s case for war?

2. Would you be OK with the U.S. installing Ahmed Chalabi, a man who left Iraq at age 11, was convicted of embezzlement in Jordan, and has no support within the country, as the new president of Iraq? Shouldn’t the Iraqi people themselves choose their own leaders?

3. What about the money we’re spending – $75 billion initially, for a war and occupation/rebuilding effort that could cost $550 billion over the next 10 years. Is that money well spent? Gulf War I cost $80 billion, but we only paid $9 billion of that. We had allies then.

4. How do you feel about the possibility of moving on to Syria, and then possibly to Iran? What justification will you require before supporting military action against those countries?

My pick for American Idol final two? Ruben Studdard and Kimberley Locke. I’ve always liked Ruben, but Kimberley has gotten better and better each week – her “Where the Boys Are” tonight was one of the best American Idol performances ever. As Paula Abdul would say, phe-nomenal. And watch for Garth Brooks wannabe Josh Gracin to get the pop culture boot tomorrow night, preserving the boy/girl balance yet again. (Not that he doesn’t deserve to go.)

Nik’s Restaurant Reviews

“Home Depot has fucking great hot dogs.”

-Nicole N. Soper

Quote of the Day

“We spend most of our time standing in the middle of the river, trying to get it to flow in the other direction.”

–Amanda Foley