Book Lust

A very worthwhile defense of books and reading by Timothy Egan. Go read what he has to say; it’s not long.

And any of Egan’s books are worth reading (I own three), especially The Worst Hard Time, a National Book Award winner.

A hypothetical situation

Just take three minutes out of your busy life and go read what Jesus’ General has written and watch the video.

And always let FUBAR be your expectation when experts act.

Best line about the meaning of life, so far

When asked the main aim of his life, Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine, said:

“To be a good ancestor.”

Quoted in The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner.

Worst president ever

“Among all Americans, 19% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 77% disapprove.”

American Research Group

This is an all time low approval rating for an American president.

Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

On Wednesday evening, February 20th, the full Moon over the Americas will turn a delightful shade of red and possibly turquoise, too. It’s a total lunar eclipse—the last one until Dec. 2010.

The Sun goes down. The Moon comes up. You go out and look at the sky. Observing the eclipse is that easy. Maximum eclipse, and maximum beauty, occurs at 10:26 pm EST (7:26 pm PST).

NASA

[Reposted from yesterday.]

And the winners were…?

“The 80th Annual Academy Awards will be presented Sunday. But how well do you remember the 65th through 79th editions? * * * * You have 5 minutes.”

Another great challenge from Mental_Floss.

Duke City Perks

The movie, “Love Ranch” directed by Taylor Hackford, starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci, is hosting a free boxing event on Monday February 25 at Tingley Coliseum on the Expo New Mexico grounds. Doors open at 7 am. Come early as seating may be limited. Step back into the 70s, catch Hollywood’s eye and be part of the filming. Come looking your 70s best. Special prizes will be awarded for best 70s hair, best 70s wardrobe and best 70s car. The boxing event will consist of three bouts over a 12-hour period starting at 8 am. Willy Villanueva will headline against Lorenzo Estrada, Archie Ray Marquez against Ceasar Valenzuela and a final bout with Joe Cruz against Jose Garcia. “Love Ranch” will be filming a staged boxing match at the same time, with stars Sergio Peris-Mencheta and Bo Brown as they face off in a climatic scene with Joe Pesci and Helen Mirren. Those in attendance will be part of the filming.

Albuquerque City News

“‘Love Ranch’ is a fictional story that draws on many truths about Nevada’s extremely successful Brothel Industry. Charlie & Grace Bontempo (Joe Pesci & Helen Mirren) are a husband/wife team who own and run one of Nevada’s first legalized brothel ranches.”

Two legends

Enough of that politics crap.

Who would have thought these two legends ever performed a duet?

Thanks to J.D. for the link.

Forecast: Ugly with increasing ugliness until November

So the question isn’t whether Obama will be relentlessly pelted by the sprawling appendages of the Right-wing edifice and its media allies with the most grotesque, bottom-feeding, substance-free, personality-based attacks. Of course he will be — ones as ugly as, if not uglier than, anything we’ve seen yet.

Up until now, Obama has received relatively sympathetic treatment from the two-headed right-wing/media monster because he’s been the anti-Hillary, and hatred for her resulted in affection (or at least restraint) towards him. Once he’s no longer the anti-Hillary, but instead becomes the only thing standing between John McCain/GOP power and the White House, he’s going to be the target of all of that bile and much, much more. As the Right begins to believe that he very well might be the enemy this Fall, and they thus pressure the media to begin its attacks, this week one got a small glimpse — a tiny fraction — of what is to come.

Glenn Greenwald

And, as Greenwald reminds us:

What our political establishment relies on more than anything else is keeping Americans distracted away from what they are really doing and focused instead on how Mike Dukakis looks in a helmet and whether he’d want to murder his wife’s rapist; on blue dresses and penile spots; on the inspiration for Love Story and who invented the Internet; on how John Kerry looks in windsurfing tights, on how manly George Bush’s brush-clearing is, and whether Nancy Pelosi’s scarf-wearing means she loves the Terrorists. That’s how our Beltway culture remains indescribably broken and corrupt without much protest or backlash.

Winning streak

Obama’s ten consecutive victories since Super Tuesday.

Louisiana: +21
Nebraska: +36
Washington: +37
Maine: +19
Virgin Islands: +82
DC: +51
Maryland: +23
Virginia: +29
Wisconsin: +17
Hawaii: +52

Look at those numbers. We’ve got white states, we’ve got “black” states. We’ve got southern states. We’ve got western states. We’ve got northern states. We’ve got cheeseheads. We’ve got caucuses. We’ve got primaries. We’ve got rich states. We’ve got working class states. We’ve got Blue states. We have Red States. (We’ve got the start of a Doctor Seuss rhyme here…)

You know what we don’t have? A single close contest.

kos, who thinks it’s over and only wants the race to continue to strengthen the party in Ohio, Texas and maybe Pennsylvania (the next primaries).

A whole lotta lines

How about this John McCain? Whoa! My gosh. Doesn’t he look like the old guy at the barber shop?

McCain looks kind of like a Wal-Mart greeter.

McCain is the guy who is always early for the early bird special, that’s what he looks like.

McCain — he looks like a mall walker, ladies and gentlemen.

McCain looks like the guy at the supermarket who is confused by the automatic doors.

McCain looks like the uncle who pretends to remove his thumb.

David Letterman (who’s 60 himself)

Best line of the day every day

“Remember, never take no cutoffs and hurry along as fast as you can.”

Virginia Reed, Donner Party survivor

The Donner Party was rescued on February 19, 1847. The Edge of the American West had a good little piece on it yesterday.

Big Retail Chains Dun Mere Suspects in Theft

The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating and harrowing article about stores pursuing “suspected” shoplifters with civil actions — some of which amount to little more than extortion — when criminal charges can’t be brought. The article, which every shopper should read, begins:

After Miami handyman Glenn Rudge was accused of shoplifting an $8 set of drill bits at Home Depot, he thought he’d settled the matter when he showed his receipt to prosecutors and they dropped the charge.

But a few weeks later, a law firm hired by Home Depot began sending him letters demanding first $3,000, then a total of $6,000, implying he’d be sued if he didn’t pay it.

In an escalating battle against theft, retailers are going after anyone suspected of shoplifting, turning over their names to lawyers and collection firms, who pursue the suspects for stiff penalties and split the take with the retailer.

Best rhetorical question of the day, so far

“If you think age isn’t a factor in the presidency, would you vote for a candidate who was 100-years old and healthy?”

Scott Adams

To which I add my own question: At what age would you disqualify someone? 90? 80? 72?

Best line from Leno last night, so far

“He ran Cuba for almost 50 years. And political analysts are now debating what kind of changes the Cuban people will hope for. I’m gonna guess: term limits.”

Jay Leno

Oscars 2008 — Best Supporting Actress

Today is the second in NewMexiKen’s five polls leading up to Sunday’s Oscar presentations. Like yesterday, this poll will run for one day (until Thursday morning).

You are being asked to pick who you think will win. If you don’t know, like Anton Chigurh you can always flip a coin.

[POLL REMOVED. BEING CONSOLIDATED ON ONE PAGE.]

As this is written there have been 16 votes in the poll for Best Supporting Actor.

• Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men” received 11
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Charlie Wilson’s War” and Tom Wilkinson, “Michael Clayton” each received two
• Hal Holbrook, “Into The Wild” received one
• Casey Affleck, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” received no votes