Semi-random thoughts

● My plain black leather skirt has died--after about 10 years and many, many wearings. I had it even before I started going out as a woman, when I was just wearing a few things at home when my wife was elsewhere. One of the seams is coming apart at the hem. But I'm told it isn't worth trying to repair it because the leather has dried out and the stitches won't hold. So I'll have to get a new one.

● Sometimes when I pull out the stem of an apple before eating it I have the urge to throw the apple and duck for cover.

● Mary Carillo must be broadcasting one of the tennis tournaments from down-under. I'm getting a lot of hits on my blog from people searching for "Mary Carillo lesbian" or something similar.

● My blog was Google's top choice for "protest HRC" a few days ago. Wow! But now I've dropped down to sixth.

Plat du jour

I wonder if s/he knows EVENPAR1?

Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Marion Jones thinks she shouldn't have to go to jail, that her fall from "American hero to national disgrace" and the loss of her unfairly obtained medals, wealth, etc. is sufficient punishment for lying to investigators about her steroid usage and check fraud.

It's absolutely amazing what celebrities think they are entitled to. Jones' loss of all that stuff just puts her where she should have been had she not cheated as an athlete--it doesn't start to make up for her violation of the law.

I hope the judge throws the book at her.

UPDATE: It sure looks like the judge wants to.

Headline of the day

Man, 75, Hurt While Riding Pet Buffalo
You can't make up this kind of stuff. No one would believe you.

Semi-random thoughts

● It's a scary thought that 40% of all DVDs are sold in Wal-Marts. I'm proud to say I've never set foot in a Wal-Mart.

● WQXR played something by Englebert Humperdinck (the composer, not the singer who used his name) other than his opera Hansel and Gretel--a first for me, at least. He's a classical music one hit wonder, as far as I know.

● I really can't complain about the Wisconsin football team losing to Tennessee in the Some-Commercial-Entity Bowl. They played pretty well, the game was close all the way, and it was very entertaining. They just came up a little bit short. If they can find a decent quarterback next year they should do quite well--outside of that position it's a pretty young team.

● I still hate Vista.

Plat du jour

It's God's will that they only have 6 characters on the vanity plates in Virginia.

Movie micro-reviews

The Savages: Excellent. Philip Seymour Hoffman is great--yet again.

Atonement: A marvelously made movie of a ridiculous story. (Memo to Keira Knightley: Eat something!)

No Country for Old Men: Super! I saw this several months ago at the New York Film Festival.

Plat du jour

For whom?