If you find a bunch of empty liquor bottles stashed around the White House, they're, um, Betty Ford's.

They lost loved ones. Everybody loses loved ones. PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY and being related to one does not make you special.

Tens of thousands of people have died in traffic accidents since 2001--their families don't expect to have the roads shut down and special memorials erected at every cloverleaf and they certainly don't expect to have the Constitution suspended and have hundreds of other motorists rounded up and detained indefinitely so they can feel that Justice Has Been Done.

The 9/11 families were flattered and stroked and put up on pedestals because the Bush Administration needed someone on whose behalf it was okay to invade Iraq--someone who, if you questioned the War On Terror, you could be accused of betraying.

Barack Obama yesterday basically told Americans they have to stop being a bunch of selfish, self-absorbed crybabies. Grow up. Grow the fuck up and start being worthy of your country.

Let the Republicans actually filibuster. This is the best time to call them on their bullshit bullying bluff. Make them stand there and prevent anything from getting done while the economy collapses. Make sure every single American who loses their job between the day the bill is introduced and the day it is passed, knows that it was the Republicans who could have saved it and didn't.

The Republicans have gotten away with their bullshit for as long as they have because they've been directing their efforts at Nancy and Harry, two spineless gastropods if there ever were any. They're used to getting what they want with minimal effort.

But I don't think they know who they're up against. Obama has gone out of his way to include the Republicans in his plan and they have turned their noses up at it. In other words, they have given Obama all the cover he needs to be able to start taking charge. "Look, I tried to be Mr. Bipartisan but the Republicans wouldn't have any. Now we're going to do it our way. You had your chance; you blew it." And they walked right into it.

Go get 'em, Barack!

in my life and I left behind friends every time I moved. Many of these friends, I wish I had known better.

It would be nice if everyone got to stay in the same town they grew up in and have easy access to all the people they care about, all the time, but capitalism has made herculean efforts to ensure that neither of these is possible. We are scattered, and geographically isolated even in our own towns.

Also, sometimes you'd like your friends to know stuff about you although you could never tell them face to face. 25 things is a reasonable way to do that.

it seems to me some fairness is in order. I don't know who you are or where you stood for the past eight years. So if none of the following applies to you, please disregard. That said, if you are one of the people who:

-accused critics of the Bush Administration of being "Bush Haters," as if there was not ample reason from day one to not like the guy or his policies

-voted for him because he's the kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with; and/or

-otherwise gave Bush chance after chance after chance for almost eight years despite his fucking up everything he ever touched

Then please shut your piehole about Obama until he's had more than a month to do stuff. You gave Bush all the rope in the world despite obvious reasons why this was a bad idea and now that he's hanged everybody, you've courageously adopted a zero-tolerance policy with his successor--someone you are goddamned lucky to have in office, especially given who the alternatives were.

was a miserable, sick, mangy, underfed, unloved wretch. Sure, they were stray dogs--but I'm talking miserable, sick etc. COMPARED TO NORTH AMERICAN STRAYS. I'm talking about Thailand and Cambodia here; I assume it's the same in Laos and Indonesia.

Dogs are not treated well in that part of the world. What if she gets loose? In America, a stray dog will probably be treated reasonably well by whoever finds her--that is, the culture here views dogs favorably and it is considered abnormal for someone to treat a dog badly. And if it's the pound, there is at least a possibility that someone will come along and adopt her. In Southeast Asia, forget it.