Month: March 2013
Beef Stroganoff is Rocket Science, Too
So a rocket scientist died, and the New York Times, in some kind of effort to be witty and ironic, led off her obit with this: She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job and took eight years off from work to raise three children. ‘The world’s best mom,’ her son Matthew said. And it wasn’t that we didn’t get the joke, it’s that it wasn’t funny, so when Twitter reacted by mocking the outdated notion that it’s somehow incompatible with rocket science to know how to cook (career women being All One Thing, and … Continue reading Beef Stroganoff is Rocket Science, Too
Beef Stroganoff is Rocket Science, Too
So a rocket scientist died, and theNew York Times, in some kind of effort to be witty and ironic, led off her obit with this: She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job and took eight years off from work to raise three children. ‘The world’s best mom,’ her son Matthew said. And it wasn’t that we didn’t get the joke, it’s that it wasn’t funny, so when Twitter reacted by mocking the outdated notion that it’s somehow incompatible with rocket science to know how to cook (career women being All One Thing, and housewives … Continue reading Beef Stroganoff is Rocket Science, Too
Sunday Morning Video: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Concert
Live In Gainesville, FL, in 2006 with special guest Stevie Nicks: Continue reading Sunday Morning Video: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Concert
Sunday Morning Video: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Concert
Live In Gainesville, FL, in 2006 with special guest Stevie Nicks: Continue reading Sunday Morning Video: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Concert
More on Patience
Because you are all brilliant and are keeping the comment thread going on John Kass’s column*, there’s something I want to ask, in all sincerity: Is there an age after which you no longer have to grow and change and work and learn? Because like 90 percent of the frustrating conversations I have with my fellow rapidly-approaching-middle-age humans revolve around how they’ve never learned a skill or changed an opinion and they think it’s cute not to have done so. I’m not saying you have to WANT to text, or code, or spend all day playing Candy Crush on Facebook … Continue reading More on Patience
Saturday Night Music: Easter Parade
Judy and Fred are as seasonal as I get for Easter: Continue reading Saturday Night Music: Easter Parade
Saturday Night Music: Easter Parade
Judy and Fred are as seasonal as I get for Easter: Continue reading Saturday Night Music: Easter Parade
Friday Guest Catblogging: Cam and Robert Observing a Suitcase Being Packed
These are my friend Kevin’s kitties looking pitiful for classic feline reasons. They all hate suitcases. Cam is the tabby and Robert is the black beast. They shouldn’t pout: they have a good home after being adopted by Kevin from the Louisiana SPCA. Picture by Kevin and post title too. Continue reading Friday Guest Catblogging: Cam and Robert Observing a Suitcase Being Packed
The beginning and the end (Abby, Part 1)
HOLDEN: I know this sounds pretentious as hell, but I like to think of us as artists. And I’d like to get back to doing something more personal – like our first book. ALYSSA: Well when are you going to do that? HOLDEN: As soon as we have something personal to say. The term “Spring Break” has been a misnomer around my house for years. Since I stopped taking Easter Vacation trips with my folks somewhere around age 15, the “break” usually meant a chance to catch up on work, take on a part-time job or find some other thing … Continue reading The beginning and the end (Abby, Part 1)
Friday Night Music: Sweet Georgia Brown
It’s March Madness time. In between being blinded by Oregon’s green uniforms and the day glo yellow worn by Michigan, I found myself hummingSweet Georgia Brown. But not your common garden variety version, instead it’s Oscar Peterson’s manic semi-crazed arrangement of the venerable tune: Continue reading Friday Night Music: Sweet Georgia Brown
Friday Night Music: Sweet Georgia Brown
It’s March Madness time. In between being blinded by Oregon’s green uniforms and the day glo yellow worn by Michigan, I found myself humming Sweet Georgia Brown. But not your common garden variety version, instead it’s Oscar Peterson’s manic semi-crazed arrangement of the venerable tune: Continue reading Friday Night Music: Sweet Georgia Brown
Friday Ferretblogging: Claire vs. The Sick Edition
So Claire decided to get whatever hell-flu-cold-plague is going around Casa Athenae again this week (I went to a conference over the weekend and brought back my third virus in two months, WTF) and Mr. A and I have spent most of the last couple of days anxiously watching her. She’s perked back up, is eating on her own and kicking the ass of her favorite toy, so I think she’s going to be just fine: A. Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging: Claire vs. The Sick Edition
Traditional Procreative Concept
Start breeding or get divorced, ladies: Attorney Charles Cooper, the former Reagan administration official arguing in support of Proposition 8, stressed that recognizing same-sex marriages would “sever (marriage’s) abiding connection with its traditional procreative context.” In turn, Justice Elena Kagan countered with the example of elderly couples and others who marry, despite being past child-rearing age. “There are lots of people that get married that can’t have children,” Breyer added. Yeah, but they’re not REAL families. They’re not families with 2.5 kids and a dog and a white picket fence. They’re not families with soccer practices and PTA meetings. They’re … Continue reading Traditional Procreative Concept
Who Will Speak Up for Christianity in an Age of Rampant Girl-on-Girl?
If only it had a champion, such as the Tribune’s John Kass: I’m not opposed to same-sex unions. Americans have the right to equal protection under the law, and same-sex couples should be able to expect the same tax benefits and other considerations allowed to those of us who are now being called, in some quarters, “opposite-sex couples.” As far as I’m concerned, Americans have the right to do as they please as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. America is all about liberty and freedom. But this all comes now during the season of Lent, … Continue reading Who Will Speak Up for Christianity in an Age of Rampant Girl-on-Girl?
The beginning and the end (Abby, Part 1)
HOLDEN: I know this sounds pretentious as hell, but I like to think of us as artists. And I’d like to get back to doing something more personal – like our first book. ALYSSA: Well when are you going to do that? HOLDEN: As soon as we have something personal to say. The term “Spring Break” has been a misnomer around my house for years. Since I stopped taking Easter Vacation trips with my folks somewhere around age 15, the “break” usually meant a chance to catch up on work, take on a part-time job or find some other thing … Continue reading The beginning and the end (Abby, Part 1)
Friday Ferretblogging: Claire vs. The Sick Edition
So Claire decided to get whatever hell-flu-cold-plague is going around Casa Athenae again this week (I went to a conference over the weekend and brought back my third virus in two months, WTF) and Mr. A and I have spent most of the last couple of days anxiously watching her. She’s perked back up, is eating on her own and kicking the ass of her favorite toy, so I think she’s going to be just fine: A. Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging: Claire vs. The Sick Edition
Friday Guest Catblogging: Cam and Robert Observing a Suitcase Being Packed
These are my friend Kevin’s kitties looking pitiful for classic feline reasons. They all hate suitcases. Cam is the tabby and Robert is the black beast. They shouldn’t pout: they have a good home after being adopted by Kevin from theLouisiana SPCA. Picture by Kevin and post title too. Continue reading Friday Guest Catblogging: Cam and Robert Observing a Suitcase Being Packed
More on Patience
Because you are all brilliant andare keeping the comment thread going on John Kass’s column*, there’s something I want to ask, in all sincerity: Is there an age after which you no longer have to grow and change and work and learn? Because like 90 percent of the frustrating conversations I have with my fellow rapidly-approaching-middle-age humans revolve around how they’ve never learned a skill or changed an opinion and they think it’s cute not to have done so. I’m not saying you have to WANT to text, or code, or spend all day playing Candy Crush on Facebook (fuck … Continue reading More on Patience
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Sin On Wheels
WatchingJustified the other night made me think of this trailer trashy image. It is also featured on the cover of a journal, of all things, that a friend gave me a few years back in tribute to PFT: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Sin On Wheels
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Sin On Wheels
Watching Justified the other night made me think of this trailer trashy image. It is also featured on the cover of a journal, of all things, that a friend gave me a few years back in tribute to PFT: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Sin On Wheels

The Passion ofSt. Sebastian Fat Tony
FromAlbum4 Times sure do change. When not installing Bush in the White House (and telling us to “get over it”) Scalia would spewinsults andhatred without much concern or thought…and itturns out that’s the problem right there. Not that his brand of hatred will ever die out, but it’s nice to see it on the losing end for at least this week. Continue reading The Passion ofSt. Sebastian Fat Tony

The Passion of St. Sebastian Fat Tony
From Album4 Times sure do change. When not installing Bush in the White House (and telling us to “get over it”) Scalia would spew insults and hatred without much concern or thought…and it turns out that’s the problem right there. Not that his brand of hatred will ever die out, but it’s nice to see it on the losing end for at least this week. Continue reading The Passion of St. Sebastian Fat Tony
Another Huck Upchuck
I’ll start by apologizing to my fellow NOLA blogger Jimmy Huck for borrowing his blog name for this post but, hey, it fits Mike Huckabee’s latest hissy fit: Though some conservatives are shifting course and backing gay marriage – like Bill O’Reilly and Sen. Rob Portman, for example – Mike Huckabee remains adamant that if Republicans change course they will lose the support of evangelicals. Republicans may begin to support gay marriage in full force, Huckabee said, “And if they do, they’re going to lose a large part of their base because evangelicals will take a walk.” “And it’s not … Continue reading Another Huck Upchuck
Quote of the day: 3D edition
It comes from the great film director Danny Boyle: “I don’t use 3D, I’m a spectacle wearer, so I hate going to 3D movies because you have to wear two pairs of spectacles, which makes you feel like even more of a prat. You know how everybody feels a bit of prat wearing 3D spectacles? You as a spectacle wearer feel a double prat.” Continue reading Quote of the day: 3D edition
Another Huck Upchuck
I’ll start by apologizing to my fellowNOLA blogger Jimmy Huck for borrowing his blog name for this post but, hey, it fits Mike Huckabee’s latest hissy fit: Though some conservatives are shifting course and backing gay marriage – likeBill O’Reilly and Sen. Rob Portman, for example – Mike Huckabee remains adamant that if Republicans change course they will lose the support of evangelicals. Republicans may begin to support gay marriage in full force, Huckabee said, “And if they do, they’re going to lose a large part of their base because evangelicals will take a walk.” “And it’s not because there’s … Continue reading Another Huck Upchuck
In Which We Just Become a Kerryblog Again
Guys.There is news about him EVERY DAY. WASHINGTON (RNS) Secretary of State John Kerry is calling for the release of an Iranian-American minister from a Tehran prison, a welcome step for advocates who had accused the State Department of being “AWOL” on the case. “I am deeply concerned about the fate of U.S citizen Saeed Abedini, who has been detained for nearly six months and was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs,” Kerry said in a statement released Friday (March 22). “I am disturbed by reports that Mr. Abedini has suffered … Continue reading In Which We Just Become a Kerryblog Again
In Which We Just Become a Kerryblog Again
Guys.There is news about him EVERY DAY. WASHINGTON (RNS) Secretary of State John Kerry is calling for the release of an Iranian-American minister from a Tehran prison, a welcome step for advocates who had accused the State Department of being “AWOL” on the case. “I am deeply concerned about the fate of U.S citizen Saeed Abedini, who has been detained for nearly six months and was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs,” Kerry said in a statement released Friday (March 22). “I am disturbed by reports that Mr. Abedini has suffered … Continue reading In Which We Just Become a Kerryblog Again
Quote of the day: 3D edition
It comes from the great film director Danny Boyle: “I don’t use 3D, I’m a spectacle wearer, so I hate going to 3D movies because you have to wear two pairs of spectacles, which makes you feel like even more of a prat. You know how everybody feels a bit of prat wearing 3D spectacles? You as a spectacle wearer feel a double prat.” Continue reading Quote of the day: 3D edition
Album Cover Art Wednesday: Fragile
I introduced this feature with tongue firmly planted in cheek. It’s time to get real. Very few artists are as intimately associated with a band asRoger Dean is with Yes. He has done 23 covers for the prog rockers, andFragile was the first: Here’s the LP via the magic, such as it is, of YouTube: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Fragile