First Looks category archive

Spring cleaning.

Addendum:

Of course, the cat waited until I was done to throw up on the carpet.

Folex is wonderful.

You do know that all cats have the same first name. “What is it?” you may ask.

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Off to drink liberally.

Now on Tuesdays for Norfolk (still Thursdays for Virginia Beach) to make it easier for persons with commitments on either day to catch at least one per month.

Drinking Liberally is a gathering place for liberals. Socialize and laugh in a friendly atmosphere.

When: 6 p., Tuesday, May 7.

Where:
Lola’s Caribbean Restaurant
328 W 20th St (map)

Details here. Meetup page here.

Shaun Mullen reviews the standings.

He is not optimistic. Nor am I.

America is first by some measures, all of them negative: These include infant mortality, incarceration rates and anxiety disorders, as well as a gulf between the rich and everyone else that accelerated during the Bush Recession as the economy tanked and unemployment soared, but CEOs and their corporations pocketed record stock dividends and profits. But by other measures, including life expectancy (despite by far the highest health-care costs in the world), as well as obesity, child poverty, commitment to infrastructure development, broadband access and arts funding, America ranks dead last or nearly so.

Some days, as I consider the looting of America, I’m glad I’m old and won’t be around that much longer.

Read the rest.

Via Classic Arts Showcase.

Afterthought:

Really, watch it. It’s magnificent.

At the Guardian, Hadley Freeman contemplates the rise and fall of cosmetic surgery “procedures” and wonders what’s to come.

So what next, female trophy body part hunters, what next? My money’s on “an enviable back”, followed by a rise in “back lipo”. Trying to spot the next trophy female body part is like playing whack-a-mole on a woman’s body, and it’s a lot more painful for the woman than it was for the mole. Since spending time in LA during Oscars season, I thought I’d heard of all possible forms of plastic surgery, ranging from toe-shortening (can’t have talons crawling out of your Jimmy Choos) to lip lifting (for that crucial Joker look).

What people are willing to have done to themselves can really be quite gruesome.

Everyone, it seems, Angela Hill is sorry to say:

Of course, you then have to apologize for overapologizing, and then apologize for that and …

Even comedian Bill Maher slammed “apology mania” in an op-ed to The New York Times, mocking celebrities, athletes and politicians who too often offer forced, insincere mea culpas.

“When did we get it in our heads that we have the right to never hear anything we don’t like?” he wrote, calling for an amnesty “on every made-up, fake, totally insincere, play-acted hurt, insult, slight and affront.”

The resident curmudgeon in my local rag has a beef with, well, actually, everyone and everything, but today it’s with folks who keep tooting their own horns on the Faceborg.

Spring fever.

Mr. Dick Destiny suggests a visit to Whitemanistan:

Off to drink liberally.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us and talk about anything in a relaxed atmosphere.

Because of a special event at our regular location, we will be meeting at Harold’s this week, which will cut my drive time by about two-thirds.

When: Thursday, April 25th, 6 p.

Where:
Harold’s
4445 Virginia Beach Blvd. (just east of Barnes and Noble at Pembroke)
Virginia Beach, VA (map)

More here.

The watering hole wars intensify, as fake IDs become better.

Apparently, no bars are held.

“Screening at the front door for underage drinkers is probably one of the most difficult things to do in this business,” said Mike Vitucci, owner of Murphy’s Irish Pub and Caffrey’s Pub in the Marquette University neighborhood, and the Whiskey Bar and The Belmont Tavern in downtown Milwaukee.

I bought a book.

The juror is out.

I have been glancing at the news from time to time throughout the day. I see more details about what happened in Boston yesterday, but no hint of who or to what end.

Others are dwelling on what happened. I shall not, for they say it better (or worse) than I.

Accordingly, “no speculation” continues in force.

Editing a podcast that I’ve been preparing for off and on for a couple of months.

Regarding the Boston bombings, what Stephen D. said.

And I’m certainly not going to subject myself to a bunch of talking heads on television playing “what if.”

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When I first saw the headline, I thought it was the other Georgia.

Damn, I should have gone to an Ag School.