For those of you playing at home...

Entertainment Weekly's done an article listing 24 romantic comedy cliches.

This is stupid of me, but it actually warms my heart to see that I didn't use any of them while I was writing My Girlfriend's Boyfriend. I may have come close a few times, and there's one near miss, but nah: None of em.

This is creepier than The House of the Devil

And that's pretty darn creepy.

(Blame Viper)

Things that make you realize just how old you are

I don't recognize half the artists--at least--on the "We Are The World" remake. Which (to me) is pretty low in the goosebump factor.



Still, I hope it makes a lot of money.

I think I see just one little flaw in that approach

Looks like President Obama is counting on Americans to act like adults after the health care "summit."

Nascar.
"Reality" shows.
"It's snowing here, so therefore there is no global warming!"
John freaking-Edwards.

Adults.

Yeah, good luck with that, Mr. President.

If it's a holiday, it must be time for Amy

I still don't understand how I ended up on Amy Ephron's "One For The Table" mailing list. But in her Valentine's Day "issue" there's a story about "My Best Date" by a woman named Anna Harari (I think she's a restaurant critic).

It's actually pretty great.

Actually I find it kind of exciting, as words go

Finally, something on which I completely disagree with Rachel Maddow. For the most part, I love her wonderful sanity and the way she slams people who deserve to be slammed.

But tonight, she devoted the first segment of her show to presenting a case, somewhat in fun but with a serious undercurrent: That the reason this country can't get a grip on the changes that need to be made to the filibuster form of obstruction is because the word "filibuster" is

"the most boring word in the English language."

I respectfully disagree. Not about the need to reform the obstruction, I've been convinced that abuses have made that imperative. But about the word. And it's not just because it reminds me of a great West Wing episode, "The Stackhouse Filibuster."

Break down the word: Filibuster.

Filly-Buster.

Filly: A young (under the age of four) female horse.

Informal usage: "A lively, high-spirited girl or young woman."

Buster: "Originally a nickname ...from the word bust."

Secondary: A good name for a pet dog, or a cartoon rabbit, or a 1920s comedian, or a happy nightclub singer, or a comic strip character, or a make of footwear.

These are all things that I like, most most especially the lively; high-spirited young women and the word "bust."

Maybe "filibuster" excites me as a word because it connotates all that.

This is the kind of thing that makes me wish we could return to feeding Christians to the lions

Tennessee Mosque Vandalized After Local TV Station Airs Irresponsible Report On ‘Homegrown Jihad’

That's the way to upset the teabaggers...

Put it in the comics, where you know they'll read it.

Clearly, I'm going to need some popcorn

The White House has just released its letter inviting Congressional leaders to the health care summit on February 25th, sharing some detail about who will attend and how the summit will work.

The session will begin at 10:00 a.m. and be broadcast live in its entirety…

The President will offer opening remarks at the beginning of the meeting, followed by remarks from a Republican leader chosen by the Republican leadership and a Democratic leader chosen by the Democratic leadership. The President will then open and moderate iscussion on four critical topics: insurance reforms, cost containment, expanding coverage, and the impact health reform legislation will have on deficit reduction.

Since this meeting will be most productive if information is widely available before the meeting, we will post online the text of a proposed health insurance reform package. This legislation would put a stop to insurance company abuses, extend coverage to millions of Americans, get control of skyrocketing premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and reduce the deficit.

It is the President’s hope that the Republican congressional leadership will also put forward their own comprehensive bill to achieve those goals and make it available online as well.

And about the Republicans "It's a trap!" meme...

Well a man can dream, can't he?

I leave it to you to decide just how large...

...a grain of salt you want to take this with, bearing in mind that it comes directly from The Democratic Party...but I think it's worth reading. It's a record of President Obama's accomplishments thus far.

'scuse me...someone needs to say this

Attn, East Coast pundits...

IT'S JUST SNOW, YOU PUSSIES! STOP ACTING LIKE YOU'RE IN KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA!

Thank you.

Blackpool TARDIS

Blackpool TARDIS
Originally uploaded by willhowells

The way the inside is supposed to look, damnit.

He noticed.

Obama ... Charges GOP Wants To Kill All His Initiatives

No, Mr. Knoller, that's what we want.

Obama Says Bipartisanship, But What He Wants Is GOP Surrender
by Mark Knoller

Sometimes I think it would be great to have this Democratic warrior that people like Knoller keep warning us against. Where is that guy?

This isn't me, though, 'cos, see, I never...

...look at astrology sites, so...

And people wonder why I turn to the Saw movies for relaxation and something my brain can enjoy

When this is reality, can you blame me?

Palin Considering 2012 Run, Defends Limbaugh's Use Of 'Retard'

All of a sudden, watching a movie where somebody might have to gouge their own eyes out doesn't seem so crazy, now does it?