Okay, I'm headed to North Carolina shortly, so this will be the last posting for a while. If Brad or Helena want to pick up the slack, I'd appreciate it. When I get back I'll try to throw some more reviews up, especially if I get the chance to catch some films or books during the detox time.

So I'm adding to the list. In addition to a shamrock shake and perfection, I also want this phone. Fortunately, at the going rate of edwardian unplanned obsolescence, I should break my existing phone in a few months and need to upgrade. Yay!

Yesterday, while on a hunting trip to Fuddruckers, I noticed something they called their "2004 Burger" which consisted of a burger topped with an egg, topped with two slices of sausage. It was actually almost too much for me to handle. Almost. The one problem is that consumption of the good morning...er...2004 burger has left me in litle mood for the same tasty treat today.

Of course, given my hectic work schedule, I actually don't have time to worry about silly things like fast food. Instead I must concentrate on work, then dry cleaning, then packing, all before 1:30 so that I can hop on the metro to travel back to Virginia.

My vacation is only hours away. Thankfully.

Once again, that damnable murphy struck again. I awoke at seven thirty, prepared to pack and decided to check my e-mail. I was shocked, SHOCKED, to discover that the server had crashed. At that exact moment a co-worker called to inform me, so I stepped him through rebooting the box, while dressing and coming in. So I've been here for two hours now.

Stupid star-crossed life! It's almost as if someone is deliberately timing the server to crash for when I have the least ability to handle it. At least nothing melted this time.

You'd think murphy, an Irishman, would give people a break on St. Patrick's day. You'd be wrong.

All I want is perfection. To see every day. Is that too much to ask? I think not.

I just want a damn shamrock shake. Right now. Can anyone help me?

I've been super-busy at work. Not much to report, but head over here for some Waxman fun.

This article is amazing. Officials knew for months that there was lead in the water? I can't imagine this level of incompetence...someone must have known that this would come back to bite them. Wow. Here's the important section:

That last paragraph is priceless: when presented with two different options, the EPA official in charge decided the best course of action was to do neither. Clearly this guy was one of those people always looking for option "E", "none of the above" on his standardized tests.

As for me, I say bring on the acidic water. Maybe it'll burn through some of the idiotic brains around here.

I just blew a perfectly good evening. On the "silver lining" side of things, I did spend even more time cleaning the house. It's a pity no one was here to appreciate it. The same thing happened twice last year...exactly the same situation. To quote Mr. Bat, "Grr."

I'm looking forward to the time off at the end of the week. Only a few days, but any respite from routine is good in my book. Today was perfect: clear blue skies, plenty of warm sun and just a bit of a breeze. Tonight a cold front moves through and returns the district to the chilly hell of last weekend. Combined with my vanishing bahama plans, and you've got the recipe for moving down. My impromptu vacation to Nags Head couldn't come at a better time.

At least I've been able to keep my finances in check: with the exception of last Thursday I've gone over a week without any significant cash loss. If I keep this up through next week, I could be on my way back in black. I didn't anticipate that Chiaotzu would take such a significant chunk of change from me. Yeah, I still revel in my naivete.

Spinsanity does it good. Read. Enjoy. Laugh. Cry. Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

So I tossed $10 to Kerry's campaign. You should too.

I've said all along I think Dems will unite in the end to defeat Bush and regain control of Congress. While I may not be eager to go door-to-door for Kerry in the same way that I did for the good doctor, every nickel counts. So if you're not enthusiastic, you don't have to be...just open your wallet anyway.

And, no, I'm not a heretic. I just want to win, bad.

Why do I still think the WaPo has the edge over the NYT? Well, for starters, we've got David Broder, Washington Post cub reporter, who is finally starting to take the gloves off. In fact, that Frank fellow is sounding an awful lot like a certain doctor from Vermont.

You have to read the whole piece to get the focus, but when the Dean of the Press Corps endorses Barney Frank's ideas, you get the sense that a sea change is starting to occur in Washington. The GOP deficits apply to money and ideas equally...

So Kevin pointed me to this hilarious article in the NYT (yeah, yeah, free reg, blah blah blah) which partially redeems it for dropping the ball on so many other occasions. Essentially, the Times figured out the government made a fake "news report" and then hawked it to different news outlets as actual news. Let's roll the tape:

Priceless. Be sure to read the whole article. It's very damning of this sort of approach to news ethics. I don't often feel that the government engages in overt propoganda (mainly because average joe civil servant doesn't want to lie for the bushies) but in this case, through the beauty of "private-sector outsourcing" the government handed its responsibilities over to a private firm who had no such squeamish qualms about being ham-handed and duplicitous. We need to fight back.

So this site used to allow you to browse Calvin and Hobbes cartoons. Very cool, except that I figured things would go south as soon as someone realized how illegal this was. Sure enough, by today the site is no longer publishing pictures. Good thing I snagged one before they shut it down.

I just realized that old reviews tend to slip behind the archive wall quickly if I post a great deal of reviews. You can still see them, of course, by going to the origins section and choosing to search for a name. But I'm not sure people know that. For instance, there are tons of movie reviews. But no way to get to the old ones unless you go back in time using the wayback machine provided. Any thoughts, kids?

Okay, time to go write some more on my other site. Of course I'm not linking to it...that would defeat the whole pseudonym business!

Yeah, that's right. The latest articles box is full of seven reviews. No, they're not long. Remember, I don't like reviews (movie or otherwise) that dwell on plot, setting or characters. Instead, I just want to know if I should see the movie, read the book or eat at the restaurant. And my reviews say all that in the first sentence. For people who want to know any more details, there's a second paragraph, but I only write that for the purpose of avoiding any confusion. (Sometimes bad puns have a way of getting people to think the opposite of what they should.)

I need to clean up a bit in the house, but overall everything is fairly spotless. My desk is barrent save for the tax form I'll mail tomorrow. The DC form already went through and was processed last week, netting me a cool benjamin in the process, which was instantly sucked into the Maw of Money Eaters, namely, my AmEx blue payment. At least I can sleep secure that each dollar has been spent in a worthwhile exercise, namely, in providing my friends with a good time all around.

I'm sure, one day, I'll look back and realize that all the petty problems I deal with on a day to day basis, whether its finding a new housemate, paying bills, or working late at the office one evening, will seem as petty as they actually are. The trick, all things considered, is to realize that everything is temporary. This doesn't mean one should run up huge credit card debts, but still, denying the ability to have fun now for some sort of future "goal" seem too longsighted. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. I could have a fire burn everything to the ground (Oops! I really need to purchase renter's insurance one of these days...) I could be fired for drug use at work. Of course, I'd have to develop a habit first, but you get the picture. There are a million different ways in which I could lose most of my net worth.

Do I really care about those possibilities? Hell, no. They've done studies to show that people driving cars are acutely aware of risk management from a control perspective. People realize that putting a seat belt on, or having an airbag, will help them survive a crash. They don't view driving slowly, or with respect to the weather conditions, in the same manner, because there is no risk factor they can appreciate. It's kind of like driving quickly through rain until you start to hyrdroplane. As soon as that happens once, you typically slow down. Of course, this is an idiotic way to mitigate risk, because chances are the first time you hydroplane could be your last. But without the feeling of rubber missing road, or belt-clicking, there is no way for average people to comprehend risk.

If one were to apply that to money, or socializing, it's quite easy to see on a day to day basis that it's far easier to go out every night, to arrange meeting with friends, to busy oneself with occasions over nothing. A Very Merry Unbirthday sounds like a great idea 364 days out of the year. Of course, if ones friends grow tired of such an approach, it could tail off. Fortunately, I'm not in that position yet. However, when I do go out I tend to wish to pay for things, despite my looming credit card bills. (Ask Helena...I tasted her wrath several times for being too generous (aka a sucker) when it came to purchasing food and spirits for friends and supporters. Call it the "wonderful life" theory: the idea that some day, all the debts I never owed but paid anyway, all the small kindnesses, the door-holding, the general niceness, will be paid off in spades. Maybe I'll be holding a hat open and make a million dollars after trying to commit suicicde. Maybe I'll claim to have seen an angel. Regardless, self-interest and generosity are not, conventional wisdom aside, exclusive domains. I do expect to be paid in full for my acts. Not today. Not tomorrow, but eventually.

That's why I think I am somewhat skeptical of trusting people I don't know well. If I'm going to go out of my way to be nice, it would be pleasant to believe that the person receiving the generosity knows where he or she stands with me. If one breaks trust, it's incredibly difficult to rebuild again. I remember a person from college who helped me out in a jam, after she'd dropped the ball before. I was eternally grateful for her support, but if we were both backs to the wall, I'd probably remember the first instance over the far more relevant second.

I forget, but I never forgive. Fortunately for most, my memory is atrocious.

werkz advice: a great place if you can get a table.

Bistrot du Coin is the sort of French place you'd love to be a regular at, if only to score a table on demand. It heats up quickly, with conversation and wine flowing equally quickly. The food is sumptious, making one wish to stay permanently, though I never have. Be sure to snag a table on the second level if possible, with a view overlooking the entire establishment. If you're extremely lucky, you can snag a window seat on the first floor, but in the several years I've lived here I've never been so fortunate. Getting placed in the middle of the first floor inevitably leads to crowding, spilled beverages and slow service. Try to avoid it. If the night is wearing on and you need to get your game on, head upstairs to the vintage foosball table which, while not tournament quality, certainly adds a little competitive spice to any evening. BdC is a place I'd hit at least every other week, if I could be sure I'd make it in the door. Maybe one day I'll break down and make reservations...but until then, good luck will just have to smile on me.

werkz advice: not to be missed, at all times.

I've been somewhat remiss in reviewing my local bar/restaurant/club, Cafe St. Ex. It's been in existence for exactly a year, as of this weekend. Originally, Saint Ex. (named after the French WWI pilot and author of "The Little Prince") lured local district denizens inside with cheap bottles of "the champagne of beers". Later they moved more upscale, but continued to have cool beats pounding throughout the summer, fall and winter in their downstairs area called "Gate 54". With the addition of several outdoor tables and a smoking ban until 11 in the post meridiem, St Ex moved from good to great. Plus, it's only three blocks from the 'werkz itself. Whether you're in the mood for a great burger and fries, a fancier dish, or just friends and fun, St Ex has your desire on the menu.

Read this article in the Washington Post. Is there anyone left who honestly thinks the New York Times has the best interests of the American people at heart? If the NYT had written this article it would've been an example of the "so-called liberal media" (SCLM). Yet the WaPo has lately, over the past month, published a revision of its standards on anonymous sources, and started to go after the administration in piece after piece. All we need to do is get this piece from A10 to A1 and we're in business. Let's roll that tape:

I couldn't have put it better myself. Three cheers for the best paper in the country!

It isn't yet, of course. But after having e-mailed back several people about the room, it feels later. All, of course, are temporary summer people, which is mildly disappointing, if only because it means I'll be going through all this again in a few months. On the positive side, several applicants look cool and hopefully I'll manage to get someone interesting to join the 'werkz for the summer.

I managed to throw in a few more records into Chiaotzu, bringing the total to about half of my collection. Of course, this excludes the numerous bits of Brad's collection that I desperately need to get ahold of. This involves either a lengthy trip to the familial estate, or some computer shenanigans. Either way isn't very accessible to me right now, but my meager work so far has already yielded a good playlist of late night tunes that fit a minor chord mood.

Not that I'm in one, of course. In fact, I feel particularly good, like noon on a blue sky day. All I need is some late night e-mailing or writing of any sort to keep up the flow. Oh, I threw up another review while I was at it, and I think I might cough up a couple more before the evening is through. Damn. My music player even segues smoothly between songs, a frosty cold disc jockey with purpose. Time to do some more slacking before I punch out some more words.

werkz advice: a good middle of the road anime.

"Ninja scroll" is one of those anime pieces that reminds you there's a healthy middle ground between miyazaki love and utter tripe. Sure, NS doesn't have tons of great backgrounds, or very dynamic characters, but it's a good medieval-themed piece, akin to "Ghost in the Shell" in its bloody battles, unnecessary clothes-baring mments and frequent deaths. Go rent a copy today.

I'm still updating the newer stylesheet. If you want any input at all, head over to here and tell me what you think. I'm currently considering pulling out the "recent article" section and either placing it outside the main window so that it scrolls down with you in firefox, or removing it altogether. So what do you think? Yeah, I know, I should either be wasting money out or sleeping. But I'm about to, trust me...

So Thursday night I saw an old friend, from back in the day. Although I haven't seen her in several years, she hadn't changed a bit, which was nice to see. Sometimes years slip by and people slip away only to return a little bit less themself, which makes me wonder if I ever really knew them to begin with, which reminds me that, of course, I never knew them. At one point she asked if I'd seen some people on a recent trip and I replied in the negative to each one. I just don't bother remembering most people, like overplayed tunes on the radio I skim through to get to the good songs. I'm aware I skipped them, but I only heard a few seconds of audio and I probably couldn't tell you what the song actually was. I just know I didn't want to listen to it.

Regardless, we hung out at a couple of french places (BdC and StX), which were both very enjoyable. I somehow managed to score a navy blue "Delirium" hat during the process. Any vintage-inspired logo resembling a pink elephant is cool (yeah, when I was a kid I remember watching Disney's "Dumbo" and loving two scenes: one with the crows, and the other with the pink elephants!), but I fear the hat may be slightly too feminine for me to ever wear. Oh, well. Perhaps I can give it to someone as a gift? (No, not you, Deborah. I still have your birthday gift to purchase...)

Friday and Saturday were a wash. However, today I did manage to finish up my taxes, clean up the house somewhat, hook up my housemate's Genesis system (we now no longer have a vcr connected...we're using pure, unfiltered TiVo for our recording needs) and avoid replying to the few roommates requests I received today. I'll deal with them tomorrow. I also managed to burn almost 75 discs into Chiaotzu, using a newer, faster ogg-ripping program. Yay! The only negative is that I don't listen to the files while I'm ripping, so I've had to play actual cds instead of ogg files the whole day. And I've still got over 200 to burn. Ugh. At least I made a sizeable dent in it today. Plus I managed to catch some rays, which will be in short supply tomorrow, if the weather.com people are correct. But they never are.

The house seems a little colder now, with the sun setting several hours previously. Regular readers should check the latest reviews that I've just posted, both books and movies. I've been somewhat delinquent of late with these, but that's simply because work has been busy and I haven't had enough non-social time to spend with Chiaotzu, which is good for my mental state, but very bad for my wallet. Thursday alone set me back a great deal, as did my idiotic decision to do a "I'll pay for this place if you pay for the next" followed by a trip to DG (between the french love, that is) where the tab was, as usual, severely depressed. I suppose I should be grateful.

Tomorrow I plan to continue my streak of doing nothing at all. Perhaps this will mitigate the looming March 27th financial disaster, as my blue comes due. Or wait...perhaps I can whore myself out again? I almost forgot to e-mail my invoice for Wednesday evening out...another item for tomorrow...er...today. Now it's almost time to pack it in, at least once I get a few more dozen albums burned in.

werkz advice: worth seeing in the theater.

David Mamet's latest, "Spartan" is a thriller set around the abduction of the President's daughter from her college. I must admit, I was told in advance that there was a "huge twist" at the end. Well, if I already spoiled it, let me retract it, because there was no huge twist at the end. In fact, there were few twists at all during the entire movie, which was somewhat disappointing. The story itself was gripping and I was never sure how things would turn out in the end, but when they did end, it wasn't hugely surprising. Val Kilmer plays his role well, although the usual Mamet over-writing occasionally shines through. (If Mamet had written "Clerks" I'm sure it would've seemed so over-the-top no one would've enjoyed it.) Despite the oh-too-clever script, or perhaps because of it, Kilmer's character is the only one viewers get close to. In the end, however, we are no closer to understanding what makes him tick. It'll be good in the theaters, but also good on video.

werkz advice: not worth it.

The new book "Eragon" by a youthful author, is a typical fantasy full of warriors, dragons, dwarves and the occasional elf. I've never been much of a fantasy reader, but unless there's something new or interesting, I'm even less enthusisastic. In this case, almost every chapter seems like something written somewhere else, with a formulaic plot, one-dimensional characters, and obvious foreshadowing. Worst of all, the book is only the first part of a series, and by the time I finished I was ready for the book to end, not for things to keep going. Save your money and time. And yes, I know Helena, you got this book for me. I'm sorry I didn't enjoy it.

werkz advice: very entertaining. buy it for you, or a kid.

I'm not a huge horror fan. But Clive Barker has paid his dues in that department. So I was startled when I received a book he wrote, for children, that was both fun to read and imaginative. The plot is somewhat complex, in a Lewis Carroll sort of way, but the characters are memorable and the setting is very interesting. The only negative is that the book is merely the first of a series, and so none of the plot lines get to play themselves out fully. An excellent adventure for any age.

'werkz advice: will be just as good on video, but still worth seeing.

If you're bored, "Starsky and Hutch" is entertaining. It never takes itself too seriously, which is good, because the laughs come fairly regularly, although it never becomes too hilarious to think straight. Overall, a decent film in a soft part of the movie schedule. Stiller and Wilson both play their parts well. Enough said.