Cindy, your b-day story reminds me of listening to the radio this morning--the show hosts were commenting on their news guy's rather cranky attitude, and all they said was, "Five words--nine year old's birthday party."

Another request for Buffista opinions on the earrings I'm getting for the almost-14-y.o. niece for Christmas. I've decided to go for quantity instead of quality, as per y'alls suggestion from a few days ago, but I still want ones that don't look like my sister (who's into beading) might have made them. How about these?

The first pair since's she was born in March, the last because I always like getting Xmas earrings for the holidays, and the second because I think they're pretty and something a 14-y.o. might really like.

Mozilla is not nearly so discerning...

And wait a minute, men are battered by nature? How's that again?

Metra is running now. It's been shut down for two hours, though, so seriously backed up. They're saying the shooter is dead, 3 others critical and one shot in the foot.

Kathy, I like the first two. I might get them for my niece (14 yrs old, we have her in the family grab). I'm less sure about the third. How old is your niece, again?

Cindy, your b-day story reminds me of listening to the radio this morning--the show hosts were commenting on their news guy's rather cranky attitude, and all they said was, "Five words--nine year old's birthday party."

Same deal here, only it was an eight year old's birthday party. Few people around here have parties at home, any more. But although I love avoiding the pre and post-party cleaning, it gets expensive, and it's in a lot of ways more exhausting to watch out for the kids in a public party place. At least in my own house, I know they're not going to get lost or taken.

and picking it apart is just too easy -- nobody with any chops does too many fart jokes, for example, they're cheap. its like working blue, it's crap.

I disagree that blue humor is inherently cheap or something only bad comedians do.

Office shooting -- yikes.

Jesus -- 33.

Christopher Hitchens -- married with kid(s). (I can't actually speak to his gay-ness or lack thereof.)

I think that's all I've got.

Blearg. I'm reminded that I can only eat pizza sparingly. And of course, I ate one slice too many because I was STARVED. So now, 6 hours later, food sounds gross and I feel gross.

Ah well, if I get hungry late tonight I can make an omelet or something.

Oh yeah -- all of those earrings are cute, Kathy, and enough of a range to hit her exact taste.

I disagree that blue humor is inherently cheap or something only bad comedians do.

Blue can be good, but so much of it is cheap. That's why I said too many fart jokes.

Good comedians can work blue and do good work and get laughs. Bad comedians can do bad work and get laughs because its dirty.

And its easy to go for the dick joke. It'll almost always work. It can certainly serve a purpose with a bad house or an off night, but without some additional layer of sophistication to the jokes it is cheap to let it become your whole act.

Isn't he gay?

In college, yes. Since he became a professional wingnut lapdog, no.

[eta: Or so I've heard, I should say, not knowing the man personally.]