Right, moving on, hooray for Corey happy hours! I have missed thee..

Also, hooray for Saturday poker games and birthday parties! I think it’s time I started taking pictures again..

Also, I had this whole post on an ex-boyfriend and how he used to laughingly (and bitterly) recite his belief that women were essentially all harpies who would do anything to “get that man!” and how I still think he overdoes it but that there is some evidence to suggest that some young women today are taught that destroying competition is necessary to get what they seek in this regard and that I’m pretty sure fucking up other women is actually putting the focus in the wrong place when it should be on developing the relationship with the man in question and how I find it delicious when these same women are successful in “getting that man!” only to discover they’ve fought long and hard and done terrible things to win a cheap plastic trophy that breaks the first time you drop it. But that would just lead to a rambling run-on sentence so I’ll refrain. Also, feel free to mix and match gender pronoun and descriptors up there cause it works both ways.

Finally, let’s all just start sending in outrageous street views for fun.

And, on a related note, just a reminder…

Got this from the Nerd-American in an email with the subject line: “Great bill, or greatest bill?”

This article was posted by someone I know this morning and it reminded me of something: back over the summer my former landlady used to give me her old Vanity Fair magazines to read and I read this piece with interest because to that point I felt really lukewarm about Groupon. It was the next coming of Christ according to all the hipster kids but it smelled funky to me, primarily because it started to feel a lot like spam in my inbox. Their deals never appealed to me, visually or otherwise. On the contrary, I signed up for LivingSocial at the same time and they seemed to have it going on. So I was curious why Vanity Fair was all bunged up about Groupon going public. The photo spread was awesome though. I’ll say that. So, I’m glad I had a business sense that turned out to be correct. And, just to drive the point home, here’s a breakdown of the difference between the two companies. Looks like we can expect a Google version any day now. Which also reminds me: money is quite the motivator.

The Coach is all jazzed about this but I told him it’s already been done and would be hard to top. One of the best animated films I’ve ever seen. The music is transcendent.

Cheers,
Sarah

(Sorry for not calling you last night family but I didn’t want to worry you. Also, shoutout to my friend Bay who convinced me not to freak out by telling me the story of his mother and a .357 magnum. “She couldn’t even lift it. It was like a Dirty Harry gun.” All I needed was someone to make me laugh to back me off the ledge and you came through for me. Again. You are a good man and a good friend. There are others who could learn a few things from you. But who are we kidding? That kind of grace is innate and can’t be learned. Although Tucker Max is apparently gonna give it a try. How incredibly fitting for this scenario in ways I won’t go in to. I think Max has years of unhappiness awaiting him — maybe a lifetime because I’m not sure psychoanalysis can cure a sociopath — but I commend him for the effort. I guess. When I can be bothered to give him any consideration at all.)

All of this comes on the heels of some thinking I’ve been doing about death. I know, I know. Not trying to be a drag or anything. In the literary world they call this kind of thing “Thanatopsis.” Great poem about it here. (So live, that when thy summons comes to join/The innumerable caravan which moves/To that mysterious realm where each shall take/His chamber in the silent halls of death,/Thou go not,/like the quarry-slave at night,/Scourged by his dungeon; but, sustain’d and soothed/By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,/Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch/About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.) And the reason I’ve been thinking about it because I found out a guy who was roughly my age passed away unexpectedly this month. I did not know him well. Had only had two or three proper conversations with him. He was in my master’s program and here, living in DC. He was married only recently and the last time I saw him he told me that his life was great and perfect. “Finally coming together,” I think is what he said. And now he’s gone, with people leaving him messages on his Facebook page like some morbid funeral home guestbook. I recently re-watched this film (it’s one everyone says they hate if they’ve seen it but it’s actually better than common consensus) and it poses the question: what would you do if you found out you had a week to live? So, I’ve been approaching my life with that thought in mind. It’s leading to some interesting realizations. Most revealing is the dismissal of the ridiculous advice of those who say they live this way all the time as an excuse to do whatever the hell they want (see Tucker Max above). There’s nothing of life in there. Nothing satisfying, no real joy. Just a going through the motions. So, I’m working that one around in my brain a bit…

Anyway, I’m exhausted and, speaking of moving through the motions, that is pretty much what I’m about today at work — a big week for us as we’re looking at launching our new website tomorrow and that’ll be the completion of a huge project — and I’m barely aware of my surroundings. So, in an effort to just focus on what needs to be done, I’ll leave you all to it with a few diversions. The first goes out to my sister Juli because it’s music i know she’ll dig. Can’t wait till the album drops in April. This song is phenomenal. The second was posted by my dance teacher and is so hot I blushed watching it at home by myself. Dance is the thing, people.

And, while we’re at it and if you have a few hours:

So, I’ve been thinking…Pavlov was right. If you treat an animal (or person. ahem.) a certain way for long enough, they come to see certain cues as having certain meaning. That’s not really the fault of the poor wretched beast that’s being experimented on, right?

Because you gave me a twitter virus, I’m stealing this picture and posting it without your express consent. Because it’s hilarious…

From Facebook:

“Stephen Colbert threw Herman Cain’s hat into the audience. Guess who caught it? — at Mt. Pleasant, SC.”

“While it warms my icy libertarian heart to see so many people opposing government regulation of the internet, I would just like to point out: The same people that you don’t trust to regulate the internet are the same people in charge of our education system, our energy policy, a significant portion of our health care system, our military, our tax laws, and various other things that impact our daily lives. Just something to keep in mind.”

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for today. I’m thinking I might go hang out and have a beer with a bunch of libertarians at Redline in Chinatown after work. It’ll be a total nerd hangout. With beer. And when I have a little more time I’m going to write about critical thinking versus getting help with your homework and how I think that’s the true cause of the brain drain. But not today lovelies. Instead, I give you some new music I’ve just been exposed to via Ali P., an amazing video where animals sound like cockney barkeeps, and an apology to my Twitter peeps. I was haxored. I just got this in an email:

Twitter believes that your account may have been compromised by a website or service not associated with Twitter. We’ve reset your password to prevent others from accessing your account. You’ll need to create a new password for your Twitter account.

Done. Screw you and your magic weight loss program Power Slim.

I was gonna get all useless and long-winded but instead, I’m just going to give you Friday music (the first is number 3 in my Top 5 favorite songs of all time and the second because one of the work boys reminded me of this song because he asked if i was “gathering my chi”) and ask that you enjoy the holiday weekend. Peace.

“For the first time I can remember, Mitt Romney said something last night that actually made me want to applaud. And what’s more, I feel like he actually MEANT it: “President Obama wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him. This is such a mistake for our Party and for our nation. This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision. I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success.”

Amen to that. Envy shouldn’t be used as a driver of social policy. It’s the only one of the seven deadly sins that doesn’t feel good, even for a little while.”

I think Romney is a good candidate. He is a shrewd businessman, our economy is in the crapper, and we need someone who knows how to get us started down a path of something like fiscal responsibility. Also, I think he can win. And I’m ready to have this “progressive” (most laughable misnomer ever) mindset wielding a little less control. Because your version of progress leads to a future I’d prefer not to inhabit. Talk about Idiocracy…

So, let me get back to it. Here are a few diversions:

This is why David Brooks is misguided. It’s pretty offensive to suggest that all women care about is the “size of a man’s wallet.” Look, goldiggers are out there, on both sides of the gender divide. But some of us still believe in that old-fashioned ridiculousness known as love. You know, borne of mutual interest, values, life purpose. When I meet people like Brooks and realize that to them this makes perfect sense, I try really, really hard not to laugh. Or cry. Because I think misery is a hard thing to predict and I’m pretty sure rich people still commit suicide…And, Mr. Brooks, if this was all suggested to point out how absurd Santorum is for believing in the societal benefits of strong marriage unions, you even more misguided than I thought.

Excellent advice.

My friend Lynnsey posted this and I think it’s a nice primer as we move into the Lenten season here shortly. She and I are thinking of going to New Orleans — she wants to hit Mardi Gras but I’m more partial to Jazzfest. We shall see. Either way, this book is homework.

This is also homework. I’m not sure why, but wine seems to be becoming a hobby lately. Grandpa would be proud.

Anytime I can post a clip from the British version of The Office, I will. And it’s timely. I love Gareth.

Finally, today’s jam. Take note, cause it’s true.:

The best is the knowledge that, since it’s all about “sides” with you fucking people, our side has Mark Steyn. And yours? Alan Colmes.

Money quote: “I was a callow pup in my early twenties, with no paternal instincts and no great empathetic capacity. But I understood that I was in the presence of someone who had undergone a profound and harrowing experience, one which it would be insanely arrogant for those of us not so ill-starred to judge.

There but for the grace of God go I, as we used to say.”

I got zip people. Except that Sunday should be a good football day (Rise up dirty/angry birds!!!), I’m starting to finally feel like a dancer again (I can hold my releve without falling), and I watched these two dudes on the metro this morning who were both exceedingly handsome but had that weird mask of cruelty on their faces that was only thinly hiding their insecurity. I hate that look. Especially on men.

Anyway, I’m over being angry at everyone today because I forgot to pay a friend the $3 I owe her and it made me realize we all can suck. I guess I just don’t want to be tied to the damn whipping post anymore, by anyone. I’m sorry you’re sad. Let’s talk about it. I’ll buy you a beer. But if you try to hurt me I will not hesitate to bring the hammer. You should know this going forward.

We got our first coaches email for softball so, in that grand tradition, here it is for you. They really do make the season that much better. I never had a chance of even approaching their brilliance as the flag football coach. And I’m comfortable with that.

Dawgs,

Thanks and Go Dawgs

And, for no reason at all except that I recently re-watched Role Models, here’s Beth by Kiss for your Friday music. Enjoy your weekend rockstars.

Also, random phone pics cause I binge and purge: