the incredible Liberty Film Festival. As with last year, Attila the Hub and I got all-event passes. If possible, this year is loaded with even more good stuff. We started with a cute spoof of Fahrenheit 9/11 by Rick Nyholm entitled Fellowship 9/11. Needless to say, it takes a few gentle jabs at the Lord of the Rings movies—while savaging Moore. What's not to like?

Posted by: Attila at 12:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 79 words, total size 1 kb.

They liked my ookey melodramatic backstory, and they think it should go back into the book.

Though I'll have to re-write it in the first person to match the rest of the material. Or, I can re-cast the other parts in third, though semi-hard-boiled American mysteries are usually in first.

Posted by: Attila at 11:25 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 58 words, total size 1 kb.

That I was carrying a frightened child around in a dystopian environment, surrounded by violence and violent expressions of sexuality. I had to protect myself and the child at the same time.

But in the dream I had money. What does that mean?—that I'm more afraid of societal decay than I am of being broke?

Or that I'm still shitting gold bricks at the prospect of parenthood?

Note to self: What to Expect the First Year is not appropriate bedtime reading.

Posted by: Attila at 11:05 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 89 words, total size 1 kb.

up right now about politics, economics, fractals, and human physiology.

UPDATE: I mean, Dave Price (Tall Dave) does.

Go. Now.

Posted by: Attila at 04:42 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 30 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Sure, give Dean all the credit

Posted by: TallDave at October 20, 2005 07:10 AM (giBEj)

2 Oh, shit. I just did The Thing One Musn't Ever Do, didn't I?

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 20, 2005 10:08 AM (LNv50)

3 I thought that was wearing white after Labor Day.

Posted by: TallDave at October 20, 2005 10:16 AM (giBEj)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

for adoption, Attila the Hub wants me to look into getting a crib or bassinette and a basic layette, since placement can take anywhere from . . . ten minutes to ten years.

(What we're being told is a year or two, but our profile is pretty desirable. And sometimes kids fall into the agency's lap rather suddenly, so my husband's correct: we should be prepared.)

If you hear about an unplanned pregnancy in your community, let me know. And if you hear about any good deals on cribs in Southern California, I'd love to hear about that as well.

Terrified right now. Just so you know.

Posted by: Attila at 04:27 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 117 words, total size 1 kb.

1 yay! for finally getting through the whole process to the REALLY hard part As for cribs etc. There are only about a billion kids resale shops in and around our area. Worth a look. And the Rose Bowl Flea Market usually has a few nice ones for a reasonable price.... What about a car seat? You probably want to pick up one of those too if you don't already have one, since if you have to go pick the baby up, you'll need one to get him/her/them home

Posted by: caltechgirl at October 20, 2005 10:32 AM (/vgMZ)

2 Oh, I got one of those a long time ago.

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 20, 2005 10:52 AM (LNv50)

3 Margi is preggers, but I don't think she'd sell

Posted by: beautifulatrocities at October 20, 2005 12:54 PM (3RkbF)

4 How about a long-term lease? I'll have to ask her.

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 21, 2005 12:08 PM (x3SIT)

5 This is the best news I've heard in a long, long time. Congratulations, to you both.

Posted by: k at October 21, 2005 06:19 PM (6krEN)

6 Congratulations! Parenthood is terrifying, but don't let that stop you from being deliriously happy, too!

Posted by: Debbye at October 21, 2005 08:21 PM (6XQtq)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

And this one's a honey!

Via My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.

Posted by: Attila at 04:08 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 17 words, total size 1 kb.

For those who can tolerate a little porn, check out this post. Then read Bullwinkle's comment below it.

Are the pictures offensive? Is the remark?

In a heterosexual context, how does your relationship with the opposite sex inform your opinion?

Posted by: Attila at 11:35 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment
Post contains 48 words, total size 1 kb.

1 The pictures? Not offensive. Not original. The remark? Stupid, not original, and offensive. Your bonus question? Hmmm. I don't think it makes a difference. The way you feel about it is just a reflection of you. One's personal experiences are too narrow a sample to generalize/extrapolate. But that doesn't stop people from doing just that, of course. I assume you believe Bullwinkle spends a lot of time moose-turbating?

Posted by: Darrell at October 19, 2005 11:59 AM (gtoU7)

2 1) No. 2) Not offensive to me personally, just stupidly immature. 3) I have to step back from myself a second to consider that one. How? Well for the first question, I dearly love the female form and female sensuality. But for those who fear that softcore porn "objectifies" women, I'd have to say not necessarily. Is it the depiction or is it the viewer? I'd have to say it has much more to do with the viewer and their ability (or lack thereof) to relate to the opposite sex. In the complete absence of porn, I think certain men would still objectify the women around them.

Posted by: Desert Cat at October 19, 2005 08:09 PM (xdX36)

3 The Cotillion women had a spirited discussion about this (off-line, of course). Some were more bothered by the porn, and some more by the remark. Some felt that the pictorial showed men don't care if a woman's bustline is enhanced. (Which, of course, many don't. They just don't want to know about it if it is.) I rather imagined that with most of those pictures, the man's eyes gratitate closer to the model's hips--but I could be wrong. Neither the pictorial nor the remark bothered me very much, so I was wondering if I'm a freak as a female, and what my readers (male and female, libertarian and hard-right) would think.

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 19, 2005 08:24 PM (LNv50)

4 The pictures are not offensive. The remark is ignorant.

Posted by: chuck at October 19, 2005 09:08 PM (R/J3m)

5 I sort of understand how the remark could have bothered people who don't know me but nobody who actually knows me would think a thing of it. It's hard to hear irony when you're reading it. It's also hard to believe that women don't understand that for the majority cases it's a reversal of the male/female roles. FOR THE MOST PART* guys wants a woman with a hot body, women look for men with a nice car, job, and bank account. Considering the fact that I rarely ever drink and don't sit around "moosterbating" like some would like to think and the pictures were actually collected for me by Bullwinklette so I could go fishing I think the whole thing has been blown out of porportion. *Before someone jumps down my throat over this read, re-read, lather, rinse, and repeat until that part sinks in.

Posted by: bullwinkle at October 19, 2005 09:14 PM (mFhpu)

6 Well, I don't think you are a typical woman...Isn't that why you blog? And why we read? I wouldn't use "freak".... I'll share a not-too-secret "secret" of the male sex. We all think about sex the first time we meet a woman. We think about having sex and imagine what you would look like naked. Then we go on from there--maybe place our coffee order or take our orders for the day. That's the way our brains are wired. The process may stop if we decide we are not interested. Of course, it can start again if we see something we like-- like the fire in your eyes, your smile, your unique expressions, or a line or curve on your body. There. Not all guys will own up to it at first, but it's always the case. We start out thinking that we're the only ones that do this. We learn otherwise. Women have told me that they don't think this way, and I don't have any evidence to dispute it. Many men learn to treat women well in spite of this. But don't think for a second it isn't there. Maybe women should tell us now and again "Thank you for not being a jerk!" It would be something...

Posted by: Darrell at October 19, 2005 09:28 PM (TrG9D)

7 I rather imagined that with most of those pictures, the man's eyes gratitate closer to the model's hips--but I could be wrong. Perceptive. 'Specially the nice derriere. It's hard to hear irony when you're reading it. Naw, it's just one of those dumb guy things we normally never let outside the locker room (where the Cotillion can't masticate it to death.) We're not supposed to let on that the yakking and needy communication part gets to be a bit much sometimes. I think it's a bit ironic that some women should get so exercised at the revelation that men seem to enjoy just looking at attractive, sensual women, when they themselves spend so much time and energy obsessing over their own appearance.

Posted by: Desert Cat at October 19, 2005 09:57 PM (xdX36)

8 Not offended by the pictures, but not very turned on by them either. She's not my type, I go more for the "girl-next-door" look than the Barbi look. It's about as sexy as an anatomy textbook: fun to look at but not what I get my rocks off on. Not offended by the comment, either. It wasn't terribly classy, but I'm sure it was a joke and jokes aren't always classy. As a flaming hetero, I appreciate all sorts of things about women. I enjoy seeing them in all manner of dress/undress. I've had many very good friends that were women, and appreciate their different perspective and sense of humor: I think most (but definitely not all) of my female friends would take a comment like that in context asnd see it for the joke it was. Quite a few of them would be ready to follow it up with an equivilent joke about men.

Posted by: Seth Williams at October 20, 2005 12:50 AM (gZ11W)

9 Hey. That's an idea. I could start a category on "dumb guy humor," alienate a bunch of people, generate a few minor blog wars, and watch my traffic go through the roof! I think we're on to something, Seth.

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 20, 2005 04:32 AM (LNv50)

10 First off as you can imagine the pictures weren't offensive. No straight male is going to tell you he is offended by a relatively classy photo shoot of an attractive woman. the comment was an off hand kind of thing that you might hear if a group of guys were standing around. there is atleast one in a group that feels the need to say something witty or off color. That being said I do agree with Beth but I also understand one thing. Its his blog and he can do and say what he wants. It is part and parcel of his personality. Beth knows that her style just as his style may alienate some people but when you begin to take your blog so seriously that it doesnt convey your personality then what you have is a bland product that not even you the blogger is comfortable with. Id save the porn for a porn site. They are not all that hard to find. Just look in the comments section of some of my old posts. Those spammin ba$%ards.

Posted by: Lanceredstaterant at October 20, 2005 08:20 AM (w9wO1)

11 Here's my answer.

Posted by: bullwinkle at October 20, 2005 09:18 AM (mFhpu)

12 Let me ask something, why is it that the multitude of catalogues and the avalche of advertising is never condidred to be demeaning to men? Think about it...in those Martha Steward-esque pubs(Domestications, Chadwicks etc on the catalogue front & the innumerable "living" magazines published monthly always make it looks as if no man would ever be allowed to tread in those areas? Yes, they treat the men as objects, either as reproductive accesories tossed out when the sperm is delivered so one can have he perfect nursery or just imple ATM to dispense the cash necessary to buy the perfect bed set with matching shams and dust ruffle. Woe betide the male in said houe that leaves the seat up accidentally or *gasp* leaves an item of clothing on the floor to mar its perfection! Those showpieces trumpeted as ideals are just as plastic as the hussy of the second and jsut as damaging to the "family", for exactly the same reason. But guess which one will be dispalyed on a coffee table?

Posted by: MunDane at October 20, 2005 09:34 AM (Bi4Gu)

13 I understand. But I'm really sorry that my post renewed a conflict that I thought was over. Why? Because I suspect that on days other than Fridays, you might still enjoy some of BW's blog. And that when he isn't on the defensive, he might like yours. I hate to be the hippie, here, but think we're better off figuring out why we have such different reactions to sexy pictures and ironic remarks. If I've done my job right, you're both now a lot more angry at me than you are at each other

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 20, 2005 10:40 AM (LNv50)

14 I hope Hubby doesn't feel too bad about that

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 20, 2005 11:20 AM (LNv50)

15 No, YOU didn’t get what I was talking about. I get the whole idea that men looking at naked women makes us beasts and leads to the downfall of the modern family, allows Robert Byrd to be re-elected in WVa, makes baby Jeebus cry and, frankly, makes the whole women’s movement sound like the Greens talking about the IC engine. The fact is both the home decorating magazines and the mainstream skin mags appeal to exactly the same feelings in the opposite sexes. Both are appealing, using highly ornamentalized and airbrushed photos, to the reproductive centers of the brain. Both completely leave the reality of the world in the dust, and treat the flesh-and-blood members of the opposite sex as mere clutter, unworthy of notice. Men look at the women in Playboy or FHM or the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit Issue with a sort of “Wow…she is pretty gorgeous. I wish my wife/girlfriend/blow up doll looked like her” attitude. Forgetting, or worse disparaging, the real life they have for the fantasy. They occasionally say, inside, “I wish my significant female other looked like this.” Even worse when they blame their significant other for NOT looking like that. Run that by Beulah Mae. Which is exactly what women do with the decorating magazines. Look in any one of them. Some room, bereft of people, that there is no way that it could be part of a normal house. Then they go and list the things that are shown in there, as if you could make it look like that with a normal home life. Nope, those photos of that Colonial four poster bed with 7pc Egyptian cotton (440 thread count, dontcha know!) comforter set never make any women, ever, look at their Mervyn/T.J. Maxx/Target bed set and say, “I wish my bedroom looked like that!” Even worse when they blame their significant other for NOT making enough to support purchasing the like from Sferra Bros, the pig! Both hold real life in a sort-of contempt, a “well, I guess I have to settle for this…” malaise that creates topics for daytime talk shows and employment for Wymyns Studies professors. The craving for this artificial perfection presented in those men’s magazines has long been decried. But take a look at those rooms featured in decorating magazines. Usually they present the same style of lighting, the same kind of glossy, flaw free unrealistic object in soft focus. But like I said, one will be displayed on a coffee table, or at least openly in a home. The other, is sneered at at best and called criminal at worst.

Posted by: MunDane at October 20, 2005 03:00 PM (KqTqH)

16 Heh, yep. Men get objectified too, but for a completely different reason. Measured by our purchasing power and status. Doubt it? How many of you women would honestly consider marrying and subsequently supporting a starving artist sort, even one that was handsome and treated you like a princess? If you're honest, that skinny wallet will stop you cold every time. Men and women are looking for different things, but for essentially the same reason. There's no sense in pretending it's apples and oranges. It all goes back to optimizing the chances of one's offspring in the gene pool.

Posted by: Desert Cat at October 20, 2005 08:24 PM (xdX36)

17 My husband was broke when I fell in love with him! (But he wasn't when we married.)

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 21, 2005 12:32 AM (x3SIT)

18 Important difference.

Posted by: Desert Cat at October 21, 2005 05:45 PM (B2X7i)

19

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 21, 2005 11:33 PM (x3SIT)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

We're down to four finalists in the "dishy conservative guys" competition. Naturally, I didn't vote because I don't approve of this sort of thing. Still, I'm hoping Beth posts more pix.

'Cause how can it hurt?

Posted by: Attila at 08:57 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 44 words, total size 1 kb.

. . . to a President's legacy?—the selection of a Supreme Court nominee, or how he conducts foreign/military policy in light of a threat from abroad?

It's a serious question. Not a rhetorical one.

Please discuss.

Posted by: Attila at 10:57 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 44 words, total size 1 kb.

on the success of the Iraqi election Saturday: "I can remember when Afghanistan was a quagmire."

Indeed.

Posted by: Attila at 05:14 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 21 words, total size 1 kb.

Right. Fucking. Now.

Posted by: Attila at 04:50 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 13 words, total size 1 kb.

A smart-ass guy in med school blogs his experiences.

Via Ilyka, who's off getting her cyber-gender reassignment surgery at present.

Posted by: Attila at 11:38 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 22 words, total size 1 kb.

Big Box Mart is the first short JibJab has made that doesn't strike out at both sides of a given issue. It's a provocative little piece about trade, and how our addiction to cheap goods affects the American economy. It's protectionist, sure; however, the butt of the joke is called "Big Box Mart," which implies not just the reflexive lefty hatred of Wal-Mart, but also criticism of the "bix box" stores such as Costco (where my "enlightened" friends go to save money).

Posted by: Attila at 03:45 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 94 words, total size 1 kb.

but you can't blow out a fire.

[/Peter Gabriel]

Posted by: Attila at 09:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 25 words, total size 1 kb.

. . . they'd pick someone of Indian extraction. Or a black man.

As a little girl I was mystified by the appeal of Sean Connery: he looked to me like Richard Nixon, with that prominent nose. I just didn't get it.

Years later, I understood that it was the accent, and the way he carries himself.

But when I was seven years old, I had trouble seeing how he could be considered good-looking.

Posted by: Attila at 06:39 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 88 words, total size 1 kb.

Via con Dios.

[Feel free to correct my Spanish, but I think the sentiment is clear.]

Posted by: Attila at 05:42 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 7 words, total size 1 kb.

According to my insomnia book, aspirin may be a sleeping aid. Although it doesn't help with the onset of sleep, it assists with "maintenance." I'll give it a shot tomorrow night, and perhaps I won't wake up after three hours.

I need to leave in a few hours for the West Side, where I'm going to be attending a few service meetings for my church group. Fortunately, they have coffee there, and fruit/bagels.

I liked being a calm, seemingly happy person with minimal dark rings under my eyes. Now I get to be ugly and bitchy again. Oh, bother. Still, as problems go, these aren't what I'd call Big.

Posted by: Attila at 05:24 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 121 words, total size 1 kb.

"I was not being sarcastic; I was merely being a bit ironic. You were being sarcastic, and that isn't nice."

This is the next level, after the "I didn't imply; you inferred" argument.

Posted by: Attila at 05:05 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 39 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Further proof that writers never leave the sandbox! Their vocabulary does grow, though...

Posted by: Darrell at October 15, 2005 03:08 PM (YJmNO)

2 James Thurber penned a great, very funny article about that, "The Porcupines in the Artichokes."

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 15, 2005 06:52 PM (LNv50)

3 As long as you don't read "The Darlings at the Top of the Stairs" before you adopt!

Posted by: Darrell at October 15, 2005 08:51 PM (rAwQd)

4 It's okay: the kids are only armed with blackjacks, golf clubs, and .32-caliber "automatics." My husband and I have awesome martial arts skills—and much bigger guns.

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 16, 2005 03:59 AM (LNv50)

5 Not to mention you don't sleep! Hidden blessings everywhere!

Posted by: Darrell at October 16, 2005 08:20 AM (DGAEA)

6 I used to sneak out at night when I was a teenager. It was easy to do. My child won't have that luxury

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 16, 2005 03:46 PM (LNv50)

7 Please excuse me for going off-topic...Sox Win! Too long a wait not to share! Feel free to celebrate with me, even if you are an Angels fan. You are a good mom! Get used to hearing those words....Excuse me if I take some happiness from them, too! I'll start my prayers now!

Posted by: Darrell at October 16, 2005 09:10 PM (zseM/)

8 Thank you. I'm not terribly good about following sports, but i know my husband is really thrilled. First time in nearly half a century, no?

Posted by: Attila Girl at October 17, 2005 01:44 PM (LNv50)

9 Yep, their last appearance was 1959 against the Dodgers. You have to go back to 1917 for their last Series win. We'll forget about 1919...

Posted by: Darrell at October 17, 2005 09:22 PM (vPWaJ)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

. . . the cutest kids in the world.

Except for my nephews, of course—and in that case my perception is doubtless related to my biologically determined role as the Warrior Aunt who will need to destroy anyone who gets in their way. Woe be unto the first girls who break their hearts, once they become [gasp!] teenagers!

My nephew will be in Midsummer Night's Dream this year, and I'll be checking the audience, monitoring who claps and who does not. I may have to pistol-whip a few folks.

Posted by: Attila at 11:54 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 92 words, total size 1 kb.

. . . of Miers, in the form of an infamous takedown of NRO by Beldar.

Posted by: Attila at 11:31 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 20 words, total size 1 kb.