Guess I should just avoid anything to do with religion at my desk from here on out.

Stick to porn.

I envy you your intimate acquaintance with nifty things like that. Plus, the Smithsonian at your beck adn call!

I revel in it...or used to when more interesting stuff happened on the steps than the martial state will allow now. Groups of every stripe and spark. I learned so much about things I'd never have access to otherwise, just be taking a walk! (Now I guess the Buffistas have become my Capitol steps. Fair trade.)

The Smithsonian is the rockingest. Seriously. There is a fantastic orchid show coming up that I am salivating for. This weekend, we saw Happy Feet (which ironically caused me to want to open a vein) at the IMAX and the Botanical Garden had the most beautiful and intriguing exhibit of architectural models of local landmarks covered in botanical stuff (think the Rose Parade only much smaller and non-movy). It was fascinating and the detail was extraordinary. It caused us to run out to the Jefferson Building of the Lib. of Cong. to see the actual detail we never noticed before.

I love it here...no question.

Fred, did you stroll by the Capitol? It really is a glorious day both meteorologically and metaphorically out there.

Kyle Chandler isn't actually from Chicago. I think he's from Georgia (originally) and then New York - where he really grew up.

That's ridonkulous, Kathy.

I have no idea who those people are.

Ah, that explains it. OK then.

Happy Birthday, ita!!!

From an article in the NYTimes about the difficulty of teaching Middle School kids:

In New York City, almost every kind of experiment is under way. At Intermediate School 211 in Canarsie, students of all grades are grouped into academies with themes like business and cultural arts based on their interests rather than their age. The principal, Buffie Simmons-Peart, confiscates explicit romance novels with airbrushed covers, saying they have a “dumbifying” influence.

Holy crap. A professional fight is breaking out in my email (I'm just cc'd for admin reasons.) But...holy crap. Veiled insinuations of slightly shifty motives and....yikes.

A professional fight is breaking out in my email

Email wars! Now with extra bcc!

What's the matter with a little dumbification! Also, I think that airbrushed covers are probably goign to turn out to be nicer books than un-airbrushed. Friends don't let friends read ultra-cheapo romances!

Kyle Chandler isn't actually from Chicago. I think he's from Georgia (originally) and then New York - where he really grew up.

Really? I wonder what kind of mushmouth he is when he's at home! Probably you could enter him in a Knowle-Rohr-off with poor Robert Patrick, plus a bunch of contestants chewing on taffy.

I have no idea who those people are.

The Office (US).

Ah. No, don't watch it.

Betty/Henry 4EvAH!!!1!