The Legal Department here at work has created a helpful chart for your information. Tell your friends. I’m sure they already know…
And, before you go any further:
Okay, I have a minute. I need to get an op-ed written before I leave for my softball game today — since it’s the Ellipse, we’re hoping that nothing crazy happens and we get to play. It is the President’s front yard after all. The upside is it’s not 106 degrees. So there’s that — but I did just want to say bye before heading back South for a few days. It’s not glamorous but I get to hang with the family in the mountains at a yearly reunion and that’s affirming. It’s nice to be reminded where you come from. Lately, I’ve been given to dangerous thoughts about what actually makes people valuable and what things are important in the long run. I’ve been having these Nick-from-The-Great-Gatsby moments and it’s been tearing at my soul because, like Nick, as attracted as I am to sophisticated (which I’m not sure is the right word because that’s evocative of something besides nouveau riche and I’m pretty sure the latter is what I’m dealing with here) thoughts and lifestyles, I, too, recognize the nagging truth behind the shimmer: that it’s hollow and shallow and ultimately leads to bad things. Carelessness always does. Just ask Daisy. In any event, my colleague — a brilliant lawyer who’s also a cool guy — tells me that it is actually morally erroneous to care about other people’s wants and needs and forget your own. It’s logically problematic because it assumes you don’t have as much right to life and health etc. So I’m chewing on that. And letting the ugly fall away. Amazing how you can just avoid it if you want…feels good.
So, here are some things in the vein of The Great Gatsby and other great works of fiction:
Speaking of Gatsby, this is fabulous. In a really sad and weird way.
I didn’t live in Athens, Ga. for a while because it sucked. The great chef Hugh Acheson gets it. And, seriously, if you’re ever down that way, you must try Peaches. And really any other place on this list. I’ve been to them all. Where do you think I got my affinity for a good Makers and Ginger? Duh.
Maybe my favorite dessert. You can get the little ready made sponge cakes, some cool-whip and fresh strawberries and make a poor-man’s version pretty quickly. But the cornmeal thing is interesting. Very Southern.
Speaking of morality, here’s why free enterprise is a moral good.
This will be one of those things I go back and watch every time I’m in a bad mood. Just how he has to think about if he loves anyone is comedy gold.
When the irony turns against you, you have trouble. But it’s about g*ddamn time.
Heh. Yeah, the flashy rarely delivers.
I accidentally took this this morning standing on the metro platform. I kind of love it.
Now, have some music. This was a fave from my college years I happened to hear while watching some baseball at a place in my hood. I saw them play (at The Georgia Theatre in the Acheson piece) when this song came out in 1994. One of many great shows I saw in that town.
And God Bless you Muse for being awesome and loving The Olympics. Can’t wait…
