Y'all don't know what it's like, bein' male, middle-class and white. http://www.twoglasses.com Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:00 EST This blog is still good for something, no? How 'bout an Emmy Couch!? Entertainment http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002604 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:00 EST "Quick, Canada! Write "Don't"!" -- Jonathan Chait, reacting to news of a man who drove 12,238 miles around the continental U.S. to spell "Read Ayn Rand" with his Google Earth GPS track. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002603 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00 EST Our tomato plants are finally starting to bear fruit, and in addition to the wonderful, tasty, ripe orbs that will soon be ours, they've decided to throw a little beauty our way... Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002602 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:30 EST How is it possible that more than two thirds of the regular season is behind us? Seriously, it seems like opening day was last week. Maybe it's the fact that Tracy and I have had an unusually action-packed couple of months, or the fact that, until quite recently, I was unusually busy and engaged at work, but I've never seen a baseball season fly by like this... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002601 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:45 EST "Defense spending is white collar welfare." -- Bob Cesca, pithily summarizing a problem that gets far too little attention. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002600 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:30 EST I've noticed a very strange style of writing that's been popping up in emails, status updates, and online comment threads with increasing frequency of late. You've probably seen it too, especially if you routinely come into contact with right wingers or other crazy people. It looks like this: "Help me with the new math....Republican = Racist? But Obama + Jeremiah Wright= President (and NOT a racist)? Media + Public= Whatever The Media Decides...what I would love to see is....All of us fighting against the PREDATORS WHO ARE HURTING OUR CHILDREN..." Culture http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002599 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:30 EST This: "Senate Republicans on Thursday rejected a bill to aid small businesses with expanded loan programs and tax breaks, in a procedural blockade that underscored how fiercely determined the party's leaders are to deny Democrats any further legislative accomplishments ahead of November's midterm elections." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002598 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:30 EST "It's like I'm sitting here at a bar having a beer with two unicorns!" -- Fridge, on the oddity of being in the company of not one but two female Rush fans. Entertainment http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002597 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:30 EST "Mainstream journalism in America largely consists of the worship of the rich and powerful by the gutless and the stupid." -- Sir Charles, speaking the sad truth about the Fourth Estate Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002596 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:30 EST "They're a huge source of joy, but they turn every other source of joy to shit." -- an unnamed psychologist describing the effect children have on the lives of their parents Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002595 Sun, 30 Jun 2010 13:00 EST I don't care how well-endowed you are; doing the Superman stance in front of a urinal is just completely uncalled for. Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002594 Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:45 EST Jogging, Paul Allen, Kronenbourg, Globish, Fratellis, Poetry, Soccer, Yankees Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002593 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:30 EST The 2010 NBA Draft kicks off in just a few minutes. Aside from the always compelling stage presence of The Commish, I'm watching this year mostly to see what kind of trades and jockeying for position go down as opposed to really caring about which college stars go where. It's all about setting the table for what should be a blockbuster summer of free-agent action. Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002592 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:30 EST Forbes magazine came out with their annual survey of America's Most Disliked Sports Figures on Friday. No, I didn't know they had an annual survey of America's Most Disliked Sports Figures either. I mean, they're a business mag, no? Anyhow, it's an odd list. Here are the top ten, along with my thoughts... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002591 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:30 EST Memo to Ray Ray, KG, Truth, Rondo, Big Baby, and Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson: Please apply boots to Laker ass. Thank you. Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002590 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:45 EST "Who could have predicted that a cranky, leaderless movement with no real goals and driven mostly by an inchoate sense of persecution, aggrievement, and Sarah Palin hero worship would eventually turn in on itself and splinter into a thousand embittered little pieces?" -- Kevin Drum, on the flailing, foundering and increasingly unpopular Tea Party "movement" Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002589 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:30 EST I can't promise I'm going to watch a ton of the World Cup this year, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to see all of the United States' matches and maybe a few other big name matchups down the road. (Note: I may need some pointers as to which those are.) This is about as close as any sport gets to a true "World" Championship. Time I started paying attention. Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002588 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:15 EST Contract negotiations between Darrelle Revis and the Jets are not going well. Revis is apparently demanding that the Jets make him the league's highest-paid cornerback - specifically pointing to Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha's $15.1 million as the mark to beat - and the Jets are rumored to be low-balling him... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002587 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:30 EST This morning, I ran the Iron Horse* 5K, part of an annual running event held right here in town that also features a 10K and a half marathon. This is the second 5K road race I've done. Last year, after an 8-week "No K to 5K" training program that my company's fitness center ran, Tracy and I did the Celebrate West Hartford 5K. That was quite an accomplishment, but I'm starting to think it was just the beginning of something bigger. After those few weeks of excruciating knee pain last year, I came out the other side finally able to run for extended periods - you know, like, more than 10 minutes - for the first time since JV soccer. This year, I've been running fairly regularly. I've got over 60 miles under my belt since the start of the year, most of that racked up in the two months since the cold weather left us for good. I routinely run between 2 and 3 miles now, and my normal pace has settled in at right around a 10-minute mile. I won't be trying out for the Olympics any time soon, but for a guy who's 41 years old, 41 pounds overweight, and has battled exercise-induced asthma his whole life, it ain't bad... Fitness http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002586 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:45 EST For a nation that likes to run our mouths incessantly about our vaunted freedom making us the envy of the world, we sure do like to give our police officers a hell of a lot of unfettered authority over us. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002584 Tue, 24 May 2010 12:00 EST Good news on the DADT repeal front: "President Obama has endorsed a "don't ask, don't tell" compromise between lawmakers and the Defense Department, the White House announced Monday, an agreement that may sidestep a key obstacle to repealing the military's policy banning gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002583 Mon, 24 May 2010 07:30 EST Somewhere, the writers of Battlestar Galactica are throwing back a few celebratory glasses of champagne and heaving a huge, collective sigh of relief. No longer will they be remembered as the greatest screwups in television writing history. That honor now rests squarely with the writers of Lost. Entertainment http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002582 Sun, 23 May 2010 11:30 EST The Bloody Mary is entering the bloodstream, blueberry pancakes and bacon are incoming, and I'm on Hour Four of a particularly fascinating morning on the internets. Would you like some Slices of Toast? I thought you would. Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002581 Fri, 21 May 2010 19:15 EST Interleague play kicks off this weekend, and the Yanks have invaded Citi Field for 2010's first Subway Series with the Mets. Normally I look forward to seeing our cross-town rivals from the AAAA league, but with the Yankees once-dominant (minus Javy) rotation in a top-to-bottom tailspin, I'm tempering my expectations. Still, should be fun. If you're sitting around watching some ball this weekend, drop in the comments and say hi. Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002580 Tue, 18 May 2010 12:20 EST "The main difference between the far right and far left is that the left locates the golden age in the future." -- John Judis, making a distintion which seemed obvious the moment I read it, but which I'd never seen stated so clearly and explicitly. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002579 Mon, 17 May 2010 18:30 EST Kevin Drum, on Obama and Civil Liberties: "I am, fundamentally, an admirer of Barack Obama. I like his temperament, I like his worldview, and I like his management style. As I've said before, he has a habit of disappointing me just a little bit on an almost routine basis, but most of the time that doesn't interfere with my basic admiration. The one exception has been his attitude toward civil liberties and terrorism. His early ban on torture was profoundly welcome, but aside from that he's mostly continued Bush-era policies with only minor changes and then added to them things that Bush and Cheney could only have dreamed of. In this one area, I feel betrayed." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002578 Mon, 17 May 2010 18:30 EST Supreme Court good: WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has ruled that teenagers may not be locked up for life without chance of parole if they haven't killed anyone... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002577 Sun, 16 May 2010 12:30 EST Hey all, just sitting here in the office, waiting for Fridge to get here and hoping Tracy's bout of dizziness and nausea subsides (we think she may have a mild case of Meniere's Disease, as this is the fourth time this sudden-onset dizziness thing has happened to her in the last eight years or so). I figured while I sip my post-run Bloody Mary and let the birds get their exercise in, I could crank out a few Slices of Toast, maybe liven this place up a bit. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002576 Sat, 01 May 2010 10:30 EST "I think he is scum. But he is American scum, and he has rights." -- John Cole, giving a Civil Rights 101 lecture to his readers on the merits, or complete lack thereof, of allowing the president to authorize CIA assassinations of American citizens Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002575 Sat, 01 May 2010 10:30 EST "In red America, families form adults; in blue America, adults form families." -- Jonathan Rauch, pithily summarizing one possible explanation for the seemingly paradoxical inverse correlation between yammering about strong families and actually having them. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002572 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:00 EST "I think humane and rational conversation is important.. but there are also a lot of liars and idiots in the world and subjecting them to scorn and mockery is part of what you've got to do in life." -- Matt Yglesias, responding to a concern troll about the "tone" of his commentary. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002570 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:00 EST Tracy left the closet door in the office slightly ajar last time she was in there, and it drew the girls' attention this morning. I tried to come up with a "closet/lesbian" joke, but failed. If you have a good LOLCaption, share it with us in comments. Parakeets http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002569 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:30 EST Via John Cole, I see that Tom Friedman, who has been relatively quiet of late, decided to hit the crack pipe with a vengeance yesterday: I’ve been trying to understand the Tea Party Movement. Sounds like a lot of angry people who want to get the government out of their lives and cut both taxes and the deficit. Nothing wrong with that - although one does wonder where they were in the Bush years. Never mind. I’m sure like all such protest movements the Tea Partiers will get their 10 to 20 percent of the vote. But should the Tea Partiers actually aspire to break out of that range, attract lots of young people and become something more than just entertainment for Fox News, I have a suggestion: Become the Green Tea Party. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002568 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:30 EST "Other people's babies are generally quite uninteresting." -- Slate's David Plotz, discussing the upcoming documentary "Babies" in this week's Political Gabfest. Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002567 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:00 EST We have got a lazy Saturday in progress here in the Shire. It's cool and rainy outside, so yard work is off the agenda. FedEx is supposed to deliver Tracy's Wine of the Month today (third try) so we can't leave the house. So here we are, stuck watching baseball, goofing around on the internet, and just chilling. With so little on the agenda, I would be remiss if I didn't at least crank out some Slices of Toast! Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002566 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:30 EST "Why can't it be a day where we take a moment and we stop and we acknowledge the role that God has played in the formation of this country and its laws? What's so promotional about religion there?" -- FOX News' Megyn Kelly, assailing yesterday's court ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002565 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:00 EST We're groovin' on a Saturday afternoon here in the Shire, just me and the birds watching some Yankees baseball. Tracy just got out of work and is headed over to Savers for her semi-annual splurge. If I don't hear from her by eight o'clock my instructions are to notify the state police and organize a search party... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002563 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:00 EST If John Ensign were a Democrat, CNN would have spun off a new channel dedicated solely to covering his unfolding scandal. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002562 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:00 EST Regurgitated news and commentary with a side of snark and a dash of anger. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002559 Sat, 26 Mar 2010 13:55 EST Well lookee here. It appears that the U.S. government is poised to sell back its $25 billion stake in Citibank for $33 billion, netting a cool $8 billion in profit. You know, looking at that development, as well as the recent news that AIG is poised to pay back almost all of the $182 billion we dumped into them, it almost seems like the bailout wasn't a huge, deficit-exploding giveaway that would enslave generations of American workers. Huh. Who knew? Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002558 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:40 EST I just emailed NPR's Morning Edition with the following: "Erick Erickson once referred to Supreme Court justice David Souter as a "goat f*&king child molester". He opined that conservatives have less free time than liberals because "we don't abort our kids, and we have jobs because we believe in capitalism." Oh, and he once asked of conservative voters "At what point do they get off the couch, march down to their state legislator's house, pull him outside, and beat him to a bloody pulp for being an idiot?" This question was posed after a legislator supported a *water regulation* Erickson didn't agree with..." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002557 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:35 EST This is the first major liberal policy victory of my adult lifetime. We've had political victories, to be sure, but for thirty years we've been playing defense on policy, trying to fend off right-wing attempts to tear down what our side created. I cheered until my lungs burned when Clinton won, but his policy "wins" were small and dubious. I was over the moon when Obama won, but all the while I knew that his victory was just a door to the actual opportunity to do some good. This, though? This is the real deal. Finally, our side has put a truly significant "W" on the board. Feels pretty damned good. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002556 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:45 EST Ladies and gentlemen, behold my new ride. The Townie, by Elektra. 21 speed, fat-ass tires, shock-absorbing front fork, a couch cushion of a seat, handlebars that feel like they were built for a chopper, matte black front to back, and, oh yeah, a kickstand. Damn if I didn't find myself grinning like a little kid riding this bad boy around the neighborhood tonight... Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002554 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:45 EST OK, Basketball Gods, I know it's a lot to ask for, especially considering the wonderfully generous gift you gave me yesterday when you bounced the Jayhawks, but could you maybe find it in your hearts to send Duke packing today? That would really be the cherry on top of my four-day-weekend Sundae. Just consider it... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002553 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:00 EST Well, today is the Big Day; the day we decide if we're finally going to take that first lurching heave towards joining the rest of the civilized world in recognizing health care as a basic human need that people should be able to expect and count on rather than just another commodity to be doled out capriciously by the Invisible Hand. I say "first" because the bill before the House, despite it's ginormous size and far-reaching scope, is only a necessary first step. It will put us on the path to being a more just society, but we'll still have many years of walking to do. And I say "lurching" because, well, this sure hasn't been pretty or graceful, has it... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002552 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:00 EST We're through the first round and - lo and behold - thirteen of my Sweet Sixteen teams and all of my Elite Eight teams are still alive. Currently in third in both the TwoGlasses pool and Greeketology (ranked by best possible score). Although, in the latter pool, the two sheets Nick D has ahead of me feature Xavier and Maryland as champions, so I think I'll just promote myself to first place there. (BTW, what is the point of playing multiple sheets in a free pool? I don't get it.) Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002551 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00 EST Greetings, college hoops fans. It's another gorgeous day here in the Shire and we're getting warmed up for Day Two of the opening round of Tournament action. Tracy and I just got back from a deserted Liquor Depot - it's fun shopping for booze at 10:30 AM on Friday morning - and a quick snack stop at the grocery store, and we are officially good to go. Fridge is due to arrive in a little while and I'm sure he'll be adding his usual sparkling enthusiasm to the proceedings. Should be a great day... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002550 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:30 EST The Big Dance tips off in about an hour, and here at Casa de Toast we are ready. For the first time ever Tracy has taken the first two days of the tourney off with me, which should add to the fun immeasurably, and Fridge is coming up for tomorrow's games. I need to tidy up the living room, rotate the cushions, bring the 'keets downstairs, and then it's wall-to-wall ball... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002549 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:45 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. - After years of fruitless searching that have often left Democrats and progressives in despair, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid finally found the elusive pair of glands that many suspected had either atrophied to microscopic size or had never existed in the first place. The shocking and unexpected finding of Senator Reid's balls was announced to the world earlier today in the form of a letter to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-eally Big Douchebag) wherein Reid performed a metaphorical surgery that resulted in the creation of a second point of egress from the Minority Leader's rectum. Reid's strongly-worded letter offered both a rousing defense of the Democrats' healthcare reform bill as well as what appears to be an iron-clad commitment to finish the job using the reconciliation process. In addition, Reid excoriated McConnell and his party for their mendacity, hypocrisy, demagoguery and generally bad moral hygiene. Shortly after McConnell's receipt of Reid's missive, bystanders report that Comity and Decorum were taken by ambulance from the Capitol Building to Georgetown University Hospital, where they are listed as in serious but stable condition. Stay with us for more gripping details as the story of Senator Harry Reid's startling testicular discovery continues to develop... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002547 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00 EST This interview feels like it's been ten years in the making. In all the time I've watched (and mostly loved) Jon Stewart's work on The Daily Show, I've had two complaints: 1.) His knee-jerk need to pay lip service to "both sides are the same" bullshit memes and, 2.) His habit of going soft on his right-wing guests... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002546 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00 EST Stuff. And then, for good measure, more stuff. Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002545 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:00 EST Oscar night! The Superbowl of the awards show season is here. We will be tuning in to CNN's Showbiz Tonight at 7:00 PM to watch their red carpet coverage. Apparently that's the only game in town this year, unless you want to watch Oscar.com's Facebook webcast which - me being me - I most certainly do not... Entertainment http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002544 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:30 EST Filibuster, healthcare reform, Republican donors... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002543 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:00 EST Poor, sad little wingers. They keep running shit up the flagpole but reality steadfastly refuses to salute. (Of course, Glenn Beck will cite this as evidence that ACORN controls the court system.) Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002542 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:20 EST Wow. It's been a while since I've gone over a week without posting (aside from vacation breaks, of course). To what do I ascribe this apathy? I dunno. The world of politics feels like it's ground to a halt. The world of mainstream sports has taken a back seat to the Olympics, and while I enjoy The Games immeasurably -- seriously, ask Tracy; I imagine she can't wait for the closing ceremonies tonight; I've promised her days of HGTV when this is over -- I don't have a lot to say about them. Except Night Train rocks and curling is far more interesting than I imagined and Lindsey Vonn is a great skier but she sure seems to crash and get injured a lot. And other than that? Well, Crackbook is hurting my output as well. Hell of a lot easier to one-click-share an article, write a one-sentence blurb, and be done with it. And as long as I'm there doing that, check Mafia Wars, Farmville, and maybe play some Desktop Defender. I think there's a map or two left that I don't have the high score on... Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002541 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:00 EST Miscellaneous linkage and stuff. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002540 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:00 EST "No one likes paying taxes obviously." -- Scott Brown (R - Thanks Massholes), empathizing with the deranged sociopath who flew a small plane into an IRS office yesterday. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002539 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:20 EST Via Andrew Sullivan, a probing analysis of Obama's defense of the stimulus bill from Rush Limbaugh: "I know we're not supposed to talk about Adolf Hitler but this administration is making it really, really tough to ignore some facts out there. ... [T]he "Big Lie" was an expression coined by Hitler. And the "Big Lie" is exactly what all of liberalism is. ... This is how the OSS described Hitler's psychology: "His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or a wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong" -- hello, George W. Bush and the Republicans!" Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002538 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:00 EST Jonathan Chait, responding to Greg Mankiw's list of demands for GOP cooperation with Obama's deficit reduction commission, writes the following: "On a pure policy level, I'd be happy with a straightforward compromise that reduced the deficit with a half and half mixture of tax cuts and spending cuts, and made the tax code neither more nor less progressive." With the usual caveat that I was not an economics major... What the fuck? Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002537 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:30 EST Woot! 2010 Winter Olympics in the hizzy, y'all! Let me hear ya say Brrrrrrr! ("Brrrrrr!") Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002535 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:00 EST Benen, in a post titled "Understanding Bipartisanship": "As recently as 2006, when Republican policymakers controlled the levers of power, it was the duty of elected officials to stick to their principles and work on the agenda they presented to voters. In 2010, with Democrats controlling the levers of power, it is the duty of elected officials to compromise on their principles, scale the agenda they presented to voters, and govern in such a way as to make the rejected and discredited minority party happy." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002533 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:20 EST Friends! Readers! Countrymen! At long last, America's Highest of Holy Days has arrived. Gather ye upon thy over-stuffed furniture. Gaze with wonder upon mountain ranges of snackies and munchies and ill-conceived calorific goodness. Wade without care into mighty rivers of fermented beverages of all flavors and hues and percentages of alcohol by volume. And above all, fire up your flatscreens and prepare for football's furious finale... the Superbowl... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002532 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:30 EST This morning on Morning Edition: A fawning profile of Seattle area Tea Party organizer Keli Carender, aka Liberty Belle. This afternoon on All Things Considered: A fascinating and insightful interview with right-wing blogger Andrew Breitbart. Of course, as we all know, NPR is the left-wing equivalent of FOX News. Totally one-sided. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002530 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:30 EST Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and my personal favorite, Kings of Leon. Those are the artists that dominated the nominations for the 2010 Grammy awards. Personally, I call that a down year for music, but your mileage may very well vary. Of course, the Grammys are about the performances and pageantry more than the awards anyhow, right? Right! So please join us on the Couch for a little Sunday night awards party. Let's give this weekend a good send-off. Entertainment http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002529 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:30 EST "Obama is a terrific speaker and a very smart guy. He really showed up the Republicans in the now-famous give-and-take. But we knew that. What's now in question isn't his ability to talk, it's his ability to lead." -- Paul Krugman Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002528 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00 EST Reading this, it occurred to me that I can't even remember what it's like to not follow politics obsessively. It actually strikes me as bizarre that most of my fellow citizens go about their lives with something approaching complete disregard for what's going on in Washington. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002527 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:00 EST We can haz leadurship nows? Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002526 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:30 EST And the Year of the Suck continues. In a stunningly boneheaded move, the Obama administration is planning to call for a three-year freeze on discretionary federal spending. If this sad attempt to mollify the unmollifiable by doing the one thing that government should never do during a recession (yes, we're still in one) strikes you as completely at odds with both sound policy and smart politics then pull up a chair, pardner; I'm buying the next round... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002525 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:00 EST It is Championship Weekend, and Fridge and I are reviving our old tradition of getting together at his place for the games. Tracy and I should be bound for the CT shore no later than 1:00 PM so we can get a little Mariokart in with the Fridgelets before banishing them to the basement come kickoff. (That's the theory, at least.) There will be wings and pizza and beer (oh my!) and, of course, there will be football; football like this Jets fan hasn't seen in over a decade... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002524 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:00 EST If you're upset by the lack of influence and access that corporate America has in Washington, here's a little sweet relief for you: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court threw out a 63-year-old law designed to restrain the influence of big business and unions on elections Thursday, ruling that corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress. The decision could drastically alter who gives and gets hundreds of millions of dollars in this year's crucial midterm elections..." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002523 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:30 EST Less than 48 hours after the idea surfaced, liberal House Dems are saying they'll put the kibosh on the "pass the Senate bill" shortcut. Unless Pelosi pulls off some kind of stunning end run around them - and I don't see how it's mathematically possible - that means HCR is pretty much finished. It'll probably be a decade before we get another serious run at it. (I won't say "a generation" because the status quo will blow the rest of the economy out of the water well before that.)... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002522 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:00 EST I don't have the time or energy to write a long, thoughtful post about the MA special election aftermath - Heh, really, when was the last time I wrote a long, thoughtful post about anything besides football? - so I'll just hit the low points... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002521 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:45 EST By special request from the World's Greatest Wife... Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002520 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:10 EST By special request from the World's Greatest Wife... Entertainment http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002519 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:30 EST NFL playoff action kicks off with the first game of the divisional round in just about half an hour, and we are stoked here in the Shire. Chores are done, errands have been run, ample food and drink supplies have been laid in. To top it off, we've both got Monday off, so we can really go all out for two full days of pigskin paradise. Let's take a look at the games... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002518 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:30 EST I realize that using a disaster to score political points is tacky, but when I heard a Haitian structural engineer on NPR this morning attributing much of the destruction to the fact that "people are allowed to build whatever they want" I couldn't help but think that Haiti might have been better off with a meddling socialist/fascist/totalitarian government that does outrageously oppressive things like, you know, enforce building codes. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002517 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:00 EST "PLAYoffs?! You kidding me? Playoffs?" No, coach, I'm not kidding you. It's NFL Playoff time, baby! The most unpredictable and exciting post-season in pro sports kicks off half an hour from now as the first of four wildcard games gets underway in Cincinnati. Grab your favorite beverage and a snack or three and let's get ready for some football right here on the Virtual Couch. Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002516 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:00 EST Random stuff that caught my attention... Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002515 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:00 EST Nick Baumann, filling in for Kevin Drum at MoJo, has a nice post up that gives non-Nutmeggers the low-down on just who this Richard Blumenthal guy is and why Dems are giddy at his chances to slide into Chris Dodd's seat next year: "[Blumenthal]'s visible -- he's always in the news, taking on "bad guys" and suing corporate villains. And he has a job in which it's really easy to be on the side of "the people." I grew up in Connecticut. When people had a problem with a company, they seemed just as likely to go straight to the AG's office as they were to call the Better Business Bureau or their state representative. And when you complain to the AG's office about a problem and they end up doing something about it, you remember it. Blumenthal has two decades worth of individuals who his office helped, and two decades worth of suing companies like Countrywide that were the focus of populist rage. Those companies hate him for it, of course, but ordinary people tend to like him -- a lot." Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002514 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:45 EST "He was charged with no crime, and broke no law. He always argued that he had done nothing wrong. But the job that he adored was gone." -- CT Senator Chris Dodd, describing the plight his father, former CT Senator Thomas J. Dodd, faced at the end of his career. Politics http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002513 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:00 EST Random stuff that caught my attention... Miscellany http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002512 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:16 EST We have reached the final week of the 2009-10 NFL regular season and, in the AFC at least, the wildcard race remains very much up in the air, with a whopping seven teams fighting over two spots in the post-season. Among those teams are my beloved-yet-ever-exasperating Jets, who, as the NFL talking heads like to say, "control their own destiny". A win against the Bengals at home tonight and Gang Green - recipients of a dubious Christmas gift in Indianapolis last Sunday - will see their season continue next week, either with a rematch against Cincinnati (please) or a trip to snowy Foxboro (please, no). A loss tonight would end their season regardless of what transpires in the early games... Sports http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002511 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:30 EST A year and a decade have come to an end. If that ain't meme time, I don't know what is. I'm dusting off the same meme I've used for the past few years, but I'm going to add a twist: I'll answer each question for both 2009 specifically and also for the aughts where appropriate. And I may add, subtract or tweak a question or two. Enjoy... Memes http://www.twoglasses.com/index.html#002510