Librarians, Guns, and Money

So this is some great news: Laura Bush is going to the Middle East this month to promote... are you ready? Treatment of breast cancer!

Isn't that just the grooviest? Cause we all know how high on the list breast cancer is of the things that might kill a woman living in the Middle East right now. I have a feeling that a lot women in Iraq or Lebanon would be pleased as punch to live long enough to have the privilege to die of breast cancer.

Mrs. Bush should maybe try promoting "treatment of getting blowed to bits by an IED*." Or perhaps "treatment of getting shot at your daughter's wedding by American paramilitary troops."

The best part is that this trip is an attempt by the Bushes to "improve their image in the Arab world." They're sending in the big guns! When all else fails, call in the librarians!

I hear the next goodwill tour is going to feature Lynn Cheney in East Africa, talking about the medical concerns associated with obesity.

*"What's the difference between an IUD and an IED?"

"One kills Chinese babies; the other kills Iraqi babies!"

We also would have accepted, "Whoa, catch me having sex with your daughter again."

-cough.

baseball, sandwiches, and dancing

I remember vividly my 22^nd birthday; specifically, telling everyone how excited I was to be a palindrome, how it had been 10 years and a day since I'd been one but I hadn't really appreciated it when I was 11. And, of course, how after that year, I wouldn't one again until I turned 33.

It's everything I'd hoped it would be.

I had a nice birthday (Friday was the exact day). Thursday I went to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; they had an installation from an artist I'd read about in the New Yorker several months ago, and was intrigued by: Olafur Eliasson. But I had completely forgotten that he had a show in SF before Thursday night. It was a retrospective of his work, encompassing the 15 years I think. Very, very cool. Lots of interactive stuff and beautifully recreated indoor natural phenomena.

The birthday proper was very low key, which is a good thing. I made my favorite sandwich for both lunch and dinner (fried tofu, avocado, tomato, lettuce, carrot). I had salt and pepper ridged Kettle chips. I listened to the baseball playoffs. I took a nap. And, to top it all off, I went dancing. A perfect way to end a nice day.

Movie news: did anyone else know that the Coen Bros' next movie is an adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy book??? And, if so, WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME??? I can't imagine being more excited for a movie than I am for this. I thought I was excited for Darjeeling Limited... but it turns out that was just the illusion of excitement compared to "No Country for Old Men." This is supposedly a return to form for the Coens: working with their own script, the combination of hilarity and violence... I literally can't wait.

Otherwise, things are good. The new job is kicking my ass somewhat, but it's okay. I go through the "I can't do this"s sometimes, but I'm just trying to commit as many hours outside the job as possible to get ramped up. And I'm learning a lot, so that's good.

Oh yeah, and I'm moving! I found a crazy place in Oakland: it's a converted warehouse with five other people. The room is small and dark, but it's super cheap and everyone tells me it's in the best neighborhood in Oakland. And it's month to month, so if it doesn't work out I can always move again (every few months seems to be the pattern these days). I just decided I needed to get closer to the cities, where the action is. We'll see how it all works out.