As much as I enjoy reading Joe's writing, I had to stop at the point when he writes of how Rove and Boehner have cooked up a strategy for the fall. I think sometimes that my head will quite literally explode from the sheer gall of these guys, especially when coupled with the unwillingness of veterans like Kerry and Murtha to call these guys out. I do not and cannot understand why those who volunteered to serve insist on taking some nonexistent high ground. This faith in the American people to see through the lies, subterfuge, and cynicism is as maddening as it is futile. What kind of seasoned politician has yet to realize that they won't see through it, don't want to see through it, and are seemingly incapable of discerning the difference between words and actions?

My highly-decorated and heroic older brother served two tours in Vietnam, and when I visit with him and his pals at the American Legion Post bar, they do not use such quaint terms as "having other priorities" and "college deferments" to describe those who not only chose NOT to serve, but pulled every string and hid under every rock to avoid being called. (And by the way, it is universally acknowledged here that Purple Hearts are never, ever "handed out.") Check out Boehner's biography on the House site (http://johnboehner.house.gov/bio.asp). Out of high school in '68, he gets his Bachelor's degree nine years later, which seems to beg for some accountability of his time, especially if he is going to formulate some plan to slime those who were over there.

Rove was born at the end of 1950 which seems to me to be a prime draft-age birthdate. I've often wondered if veterans like Kerry and Murtha are holding back out of loyalty to other Democrats who did not serve, but it's the chicken hawks who should be called out. If I could advise these guys, I'd tell them to be "accidentally" caught on tape referring to these guys with a "meow;" similarly, use an exceptionally vulgar term that is generally accepted to refer to a man whose courage can be irredeemably impugned. (Think: "-whipped.")

Because, really, this shit has got to stop.

Hmmm. While on some level I think it's admirable to avoid having your kids exposed to a lot of the racism or violence that is in old cartoons, books, etc., it does make me wonder. Were Kaufman and Healy turned into gun-toting racists by these images? If not, then where's the problem? I know that these things can make us a bit queasy, but the implication that pop culture is going to be the sole framer of your child's worldview is a bit precious. Poor little darlings, all alone in the world, with no other steadying influence around -- you know, like parents.

This has always struck me as analogous to the Reagan-era panel on pornography. Their findings were (after seeing every image imaginable) that porno can warp a person, although, somewhat miraculously, those on the panel emerged unscathed, still capable of having good old-fashioned lights-out heterosexual relations.

I have never been a big Bourdain fan, as I thought his show was a bit precious, what with the hyper-self-awareness ("Can you believe what I'm doing now?") and the constant (threatened?) hint of bad-ass behavior that we never really saw. I found him much more enjoyable in this interview than I ever had before, though he earns no points for beating up on Rachael Ray. Like her or not, she's a sweet little kitten who -- come one now -- really has no role in the destruction of the American palate. It seems easy to beat on her, but let's save our bash-the-pixie comments for Katie Couric.

Now, a thanks to "cosmique" for a nice little treatise on Bay Area dining habits. While on vacation in California, we sat next to someone at a restaurant in Point Reyes Station who used a crystal on a string to divine his meal. The fact that we were the only ones who seemed aware or amused by this nonsense (yes, it is) still amazes me.

I don't have much contact with vegans; no one in my circle seems to have that much discipline. As someone who waited on tables for over twenty years, though, I can tell you that they can be the dreariest people to wait on (NB: "to wait on," not "in the world," or "as people"). First, you must deal with their contentious proclamation (as if the food we offered was designed for the specific purpose of poisoning them), and then the time spent trying to devise a menu that caters to their self-imposed dietary restrictions. Every place I worked had a menu in the window; why would some people look at this and think, Yeah, I can have my needs only minimally met here, meanwhile ensuring a miserable time for all involved? While those in the hospitality industry should be aware of all times that we are there to provide service and customer care, I have never seen people so completely unwilling to cooperate as I have with vegans. I have never experienced this with vegetarians, who often adopt a "let's you and I figure this out together" approach, and thereby create an air of good will and bonhomie.

That's a bit further afield then I intended, but essentially Bourdain has it right. The ceaseless insistence that others indulge you can be wearying.