A simple explanation for something I've wondered about:

Why, some wonder, is the U.S. closer to the Iran-backed ISCI and Badr Brigades than it is with the Sadrites? Why does this make sense? Two Baghdad political veterans have ruefully pointed out to Abu Muqawama that while Sadr has more popular support, the ISCI crowd have something more valuable: they speak English. One former State Department veteran with whom Abu Muqawama spoke a few months ago pointed out that former Iraq honcho Meghan O'Sullivan was particularly vulnerable to falling under the sway of those politicians who didn't just speak in that confusing gutteral language where they write from right to left in co-joined letters. Ergo: they speak English, so they must be our friends! Hoo-ray, democracy!

what a great idea. drawers in stairs.

Bush: Iraq is returning to normal.

Oh thank God, finally, Mission Accomplished.

Excellent work Mr. President.


What a whack job. He is clearly determined to stick rusty nails in our psyches to the very end.

double secret probation extra-constitutional backside-fakie occupation without end "treaty"

I'll have one of each and a Pecan Catfish Meuniere and a Alligator Pie and a Crawfish Stuffed Puff and a Cajun Duck Po-Boy and a Pheasant, Quail & Andouille Gumbo and some Grilled Chicken Livers w/ Pepper Jelly to go.

i've tried a lot of boxed and premade foods, because when skinny is out i am not fussy about what i eat, if i make anything at all. these are really the only ones i've found that don't taste like something from a box. they are very yummy and we always have them in the cupboard. even skinny eats them. i recommend the agra peas & greens and the punjab eggplant. make a side of rice and dump it on top and dinner is ready. i finally got a rice cooker after wanting one for years, so this even becomes easier.

John Hughes

ralph 2008 "pick a winner"

digby on mccain

greenwald on the media facade

Dick Cheney, who in 2005 told us that the insurgency was "in the last throes, if you will," was asked last week about polls showing that two-thirds of Americans don't think the fight in Iraq is worth it. Cheney's response: "So?"

(And Act 2, where Lieberman corrects McCain)

The 71-year-old McCain's recent misstatement that al-Qaeda terrorists were being aided by the Iranian regime -- quickly corrected by Sen. Joseph Lieberman in a whispered aside -- might have been simply a senior moment. Or it might have reflected an intention to do something precipitous about Iran's growing stature in the region. Either way, scary.

hey ok

fetch, fetch, fetch...

via atrios

The reaction of some of Mr. Clinton’s allies suggests that might have been a wise decision. “An act of betrayal,” said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton and a friend of Mr. Clinton.

“Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Mr. Carville said, referring to Holy Week.

District B13 is sort of a French Escape from New York. The ending is a little soft but this chase scene is not too shabby.

Kurt Vonnegut's already been there.

no firepole?!

im sure everyone will be knee-deep into ncaa bracketology all weekend but they might want to pause saturday night to catch jean renoirs The River on ovation tv despite the commercials and the outsized logo. or they could rent the criterion collection version.

and on the other end of the pop culture scale (or at least in my visual spectrum) futurama returns with a new movie on comedy central sunday night.

and somewhere in between those two poles lies the Wizard of Oz which runs on tcm saturday night and sunday afternoon.

oh yeah, East of Eden is on pbs in new york on saturday night.

REEL 13 film descriptions
March 22: East of Eden and Imaginary Heroes

Reel 13 Classic: East of Eden (1955) 115 min.
Based on John Steinbeck’s novel and directed by Elia Kazan, East of Eden is the first of three major films that make up James Dean’s movie legacy. The 24-year-old idol-to-be plays Cal, a wayward Salinas Valley youth who vies for the affection of his hardened father (Raymond Massey) with his favored brother Aron (Richard Davalos). Playing off the haunting sensitivity of Julie Harris, Dean’s performance earned one of the film’s four Academy Award nominations. Among the movie’s stellar performers, Jo Van Fleet won the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress.

and i want to check out at least a few minutes of Somersault starring abbie cornish tonight at 10 on sundance channel. i thinks shes got some, uhh, talent. and jane campion agrees!

the end of history.....channel.

Stingray Killed By Woman In Speeding Boat

MacPro techno lust

asp me no questions


was anybody ever stung by an asp? i was in 1st or 2nd grade by my home in dallas. i think my mom put bactine on it and gave me an asprin.

Verizon and AT&T Score in 700Mhz Auction:

Amidst frenzied media coverage and hopes for changes to the nation’s wireless infrastructure, the 700MHz auction came to a close this week after raising $19.59 billion. Much like a political election, the incumbents won, and talk of change will likely remain just that — talk. Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Vodafone, won the majority of the C block with a bid of $4.74 billion and AT&T picked up 227 licenses in the B block of regional licenses, the FCC said this afternoon.

pretty good doubleheader tonight on ifc starting at 9 (i think), l'auberge espagnole and its sequel, russian dolls. a little contrived and self indulgent at times but generally engaging even if the characters are not.

and antonioni l'avventura is on sundance as well.

Arthur C. Clarke, science fiction writer, prophesier of geosynchronous orbit, and all around visionary, passed away yesterday. He was 90 years old. Here's his wikipedia page.

And here are some interesting excerpts from his diary written during the filming of 2001: A Space Odyssey.