I just saw Lost in Translation. A perfect movie, from start to finish. It made me want to take a trip, to pick up a plane ticket and just jet, to increase the random factor of my everyday existence a hundred-fold. It's those times, when you're up late, can't sleep and are pleased to discover notes slipped under your door that make life worth living. When you meet and greet disposable friends faster than you can throw them away with no chance of recycling. When you run into the Girl with a Pearl Earring and she manages to stop time for a single instant, even if she doesn't remember the moment later. When you make a series of horrible mistakes which only end up adding clarity to your previously muddled mind. When you finally hit rock bottom and get the Girl right before the credits, leaving everyone wanting more.

The rest of life is just choosing carpet samples. And they're all burgundy.

Nicely, the psychohistory of the Lycos 50 appears to be backing Howard Dean over General Clark. Draw your own conclusions, but I think this marks a specific turning point in the race for the Democratic presidential primary process. The new numbers out of New Hampshire, along with the lowering of expectations in Iowa (plus Joe and Wes pulling out there!) should al combine to give Dean the electoral triple-crown: DC, NH and Iowa victories.

When DC rolls around, and Dean wins, the press will hold it up as a triumph of Dean's ability to connect with southern and African-American voters. Throw in an Iowa victory and he gets the "liberal midwesterner" voters. Add the "cranky independent" New Hampshire voters and Dean starts to look unbeatable. My prediction is that Lieberman will drop out before the Feb. 3 date, as will Gephardt (after an Iowa loss) and Edwards. If Dick manages to beat Dean in Iowa (he's running neck-and-neck right now with Howard) then he'll stay in along with Kerry and Clark. We'll see if I'm right.

Evidently, some other people have noticed that the Boondocks was pulled last week. The strips are funny, regardless of Condi's sexual orientation...it begs the question of why the Post is so sensitive to something that shouldn't be an issue at all. I'd like to think I was responsible for this, but I didn't e-mail Taegan, and I won't flatter myself to think he read my site.

after a quarter century, let me just say that i have the best friends in the world. you know who you are. two new faces/names: sigourney and jodie. anyone who makes a cake for me on my b-day is priceless. and sigourney, well, she's priceless and irreplaceable.

then i came home and fought with my two housemates in a great ps2 game. my life is close to perfect. it's that final push to perfection that drives me on from day to day.

So the Washington Post isn't running the Boondocks this week because they found the theme of insulting Condi Rice offensive, but you can head over to ucomics and check it out. For those too lazy, here's today's strip: