Hec, should you ever want to branch out from music writing, might I suggest "How To Compliment A Woman?"

Brilliant idea. Can you imagine how many would be purchased by SO's of clueless men? Brendon wouldn't get one though because he does a good job in that area. My girlfriends enjoy his compliments too.

Hecliments is a word for a reason, y'all.

House slash photoshopping: [link]

Hecliments is a word for a reason, y'all.

There should be Heclimints, for when Buffistas have bad breath....

There should be Heclimints, for when Buffistas have bad breath....

and low self-image.

I shall stuff your mint-hole with mouth freshening self esteem!

Nora, despite my regular kicking of the Refresh button, I got nothing from you yet.

Jilli, JZ says you must must must watch the movie All This And Heaven Too. Not only is it a lush period b/w 40s melodrama starring Bette Davis and filled with fine costumes. But it also has a cool creepy Halloween scene where children are made to cry because of the horror story. Also Charles Boyer and his "sex eyes" (as she puts it). Plus strangle-cam. What more can one ask from entertainment?

Cutie Em! [link]

, and at that point, well, it gave me a new perspective on how much easier it is to stand on your high horse when things like an extra five bucks on chow won't break the bank.

Yeah. I'm working in my head on a post for my Mommyblog about just such a thing. Principles shouldn't be a luxury, damn it, but I can't afford to vote with my pocketbook these days.

One therapist said, "Nine year olds like you to sit around looking at them and admiring them."

Nine was... (thinks) Grade 4. My attention whore period either came early (before school age and memory) or late (think destructive late teen habits). At nine, I was annoying and bookish (hobbies: handicapping and reading sci-fi/fantasy), still thought Piers Anthony was worth my time (I WAS NINE, what the hell did I know?), and generally a smart-ass, but pretty ego-free.

I think it takes off about four eps in, with the episode between Linda Cardellini and James Franco's characters where she breaks out laughing at the end (to not reveal plot). Also the faux-beer party, the D&D episode, the liberal use of Styx for dramatic effect, the ambiguous gender episode (particularly that actress) and both the disco and punk themed eps were great. Plus, there's the enduring genius of Bill.

We watched the pilot and the faux-beer party last night. I can see both why critics adored it, and why it didn't take off with the ratings. It's a little too realistic for comfort, like watching actual gut surgery on the medical channel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEXY MARRIED FENCER WOMAN AMYCH!

It's been quite the year for you, one of many transitions, and I hope those transitions lead to every birthday from now on being better than the last.

It's a little too realistic for comfort, like watching actual gut surgery on the medical channel.

It's not all excruciating recognitions of humiliation though. The D&D scene is probably the most positive gaming scene ever put on TV or film.

[wrong thread]

Yeah. I'm working in my head on a post for my Mommyblog about just such a thing. Principles shouldn't be a luxury, damn it, but I can't afford to vote with my pocketbook these days.

You never could really. That is, depending on how well off you are you can choose to skip some products or vendors that are bad for the environment/society/humanity/etc. But the problems are structural. Just about everything is made in a harmful way one way or the other. The point is to do what you can to push for change, (obviously it will vary with available time, energy and money.)

But nobody can be perfectly pure. Even somebody who goes "back to the land" on a "self sufficient" homestead (which would be my personal version of hell - city boy thank you very much) can't pass the "what if everybody did it test". We are all part of a system; even if we choose to fight it, we can't escape being part of it; yes we have agency; we make our society; but we don't make it exactly as we please.