Did you vote for Bush too?

I have a sister who says she's an independent, but all her long life, has only voted for Republicans

Likewise, I have a neighbor who says he's a libertarian, but all his life has only voted for Republicans.

A libertarian is a person who hasn't the backbone to bear the blame for Bush. And an independent is too often someone who wants us to believe that they're judicious.

That customer reminds me of Billy Crystal's parody of Fernando Lamas, when he said, "It's better to look good than to feel good and darling, you look mahvelous."

Imagine injecting some radioactive iodine into that woman's noggin. You'd see one neuron chatting with another.

"Bo," one would say.

"Tox," the other would say.

Back and forth, forever and ever.

This is off-topic and so I'll make it quick: Given the amount of time that Republicans devote to sex (Clinton, gays, their remarrying, etc.), there are erotic and homoerotic undercurrents in most of their positions, to which they're oblivious. And their relationship with Rush is one of submission. Have you ever heard his callers? They couldn't be more sycophantic. And many pined for Fred Thompson, like I once pined for Tommy Adams when I was 14.

I've been called a twit many times, so wit is wonderful.

Impressive analysis.

You're right. I wish you weren't.

I read your post about boys acting like girls and I went to the local high school to see if you're right.

You are!

The boys were wearing necklaces and earrings and had highlighted their hair. Naturally, being a good American, I had to take a flame thrower to them. I'd give you the details, but the police are at my door. They probably want to give me a medal for keeping gender pure. Gotta go!

Your heroine,

Bigguns

I think Republicanism is largely about submitting to authority:

Bush knows best.

Rush knows best.

Daddy knows best.

Remember when Republicans were so atwitter about Jimmy Carter's cardigan? And remember when all the MEMBERS of the Republican party swelled with pride at Bush's carrier Mission Accomplished crotch shot? There's a website devoted to Republican pols caught in bathroom stings and pantyhose and seducing children. It's the party of oppression and regression.

I believe in the Domino Theory. If their earlobes fall to femininity, the rest will soon follow. I'm thinking of going nuclear? Got any weapons grade plutonium?

There's just one thing that worries me about you. You're a guy. And Broadsheet is the Sea of Estrogen. Hanging here is, well, girly. Whus up with that? Do you need some reprogramming?

dee lb: Yep, I've seen them. They're all drang. No sturm. To a degree, you don't even see serious artists. They're off wrasslin' with some black canvas or blank paper. Even in public, they're likely still wrasslin', so they shuffle into rooms with no ado. Or you don't even see them because they're too busy watching you. You're their grist.

ArborVitae: The only thing that I think was monstrous about Amelie was the measure of her responsibility. Are you applying "monstrous" in the dictionary's initial definition of "gigantic" or something abnormal? I think you applied the latter, but I think the former is more applicable. Amelie walked and worked with eyes wide open. She saw the suffering that surrounds all of us and she intervened. That's a life well lived. I admired the character and the movie, even if the movie likely prompted people to project into her, rather than getting off their damn couches and emulating her.

If the film makes that point and "it's a shame that so many people miss it," then make your point. How does the film assert that?

Damn, I'm more cynical than most, but what I saw in the film was a woman who watched and intervened. Who even watches nowadays? Nearly none. We're cocooned in cell phones and MP3 players and we pass suffering unscuffed. Again, Amelie did what she did because she first saw the suffering. And then she chose to intervene, but it was the seeing that positioned her to intervene. It was a film about seeing and Ms. Tautou was perfectly cast, with her Anime eyes.

Amelie, the charcter, and Amelie the film, are confections. I sweetly concede that. And they're certainly French confections. Ever bit into a French confection? Many of them, a gourmet might say, would make the case of having your cake, but not eating it too.

And "monstrous" is a monstrous word, eh?

I especially like this line: "I think the film balances adoring Amélie and making fun of her."

I agree and your germane examples nearly force agreement.

And this is what I like about the Internet. Occasionally, you cyber-bump into someone who has steely reasoning beneath their words. It's a pity one has to fight past trolls and pedagogues to reach the wizard.

Ms. Streep says that she always imagines some secret about her characters, thus fleshing out an inner life.

I do the same thing when I write: I write backstory that no reader ever gets to read. It isn't just bees that have secret lives, you know.

Rove and me in a dark alley.

My fear is that is so doughy that it would be like fighting a golem.

...chemical and behavioral corollaries between OCD and romantic obsession:

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/true-love.html

If I ever met the woman who wrote this article, I'd genuflect before her brain.

This is just the latest twist on faux babies. People have been breeding flat-faced dogs for centures to mimic the face, eyes, and weight of babies. Unlike flat-faced dogs, these substitutes don't shit. It's not for me, but billions of people have replacement babies.