. . . on Jane's work to help the people of Yemen.

She has an English translation of it up on her site.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 05:06 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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We flew back in Wednesday evening, and spent the day yesterday getting re-acquainted with our home—in as physically passive a way as we could manage it.

I did end up going to a clinic while I was in Honolulu. Actually, I was taken there by a husband who didn't like it when I tried to throw up into the hotel trashbasket. (Nothing happened, since my tummy was empty at that point. The incident may not, however, have been the erotic high point of our relationship.)

Now I'm on Tamiflu and an anti-nausea medication. I still have the flu, but the symptoms are easing up at a rapid rate, so I'm semi-functional aside from being very tired.

Posting may be sporadic until the last of the virus has been driven, screaming, from my body.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 12:05 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Odd. I would have sworn I'd be in Slytherin.

You scored as Ravenclaw. You have been sorted into Ravenclaw- you value intelligence, and love the chance to use your cleverness (and maybe even show it off- just a little). You're keen and incisive, and you just love a challenging problem to solve. Ravenclaw 85% Gryffindor 75% Hufflepuff 60% Slytherin 55% The Hogwarts Sorting Hat! created with QuizFarm.com

Via Mikal.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 11:38 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Looks like a couple of high schools are trying their version

HARTFORD - Reprimands did not work. Neither did detentions or suspensions. Frustrated over their inability to stop high school students from cursing aggressively, educators and police officials decided it was time to get tough.

In November, they authorized police officers assigned to two of the city's public high schools to begin issuing tickets to students who hurl expletives. The fine: $103.

The officers have issued about 60 tickets to students at Bulkeley and Hartford High Schools in what several experts think is the first such effort in the country. There are already signs that the new approach may be working, some teachers and principals said. Fights have decreased, classrooms are calmer and there is less cursing in the corridors.

"Has it gone away completely? No," said Zandralyn Gordon, the acting principal of Hartford Public High School. "It is helping a whole lot."

Posted by: Darleen Click at 12:02 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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what my German Shepherd, Misty, was thinking when she saw I caught the cat in the kitchen trash can, yet again. *

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Tammy of A Mom and Her Blog is hosting this week's dance of The Cotillion. As usual, the offerings of writing runs the gamut of topics from gun rights to the reason for the season.

Well worth the read!

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Yes. Attila the Hub finished the Honolulu Marathon yesterday, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research. I cheered him on at mile 5, and near mile 25—along the final incline below Diamond Head.

Based on his projected time of arrival, I had a few hours to kill in that second location, so I ate breakfast (Starbucks coffee, string cheese, cut-up papaya from the local ABC mart). Then I joined with a couple of the locals in cheering the runners up the hill. We clapped and clapped as thousands of people ran, walked, and limped by, and because I'm rather stupid I didn't stop yelling even after it became clear that I was losing my voice. I was having too good a time with my bilingual friends, who taught me how to cheer the runners on in Japanese. (No. I don't remember the phrase I yelled out hundreds of times, exhorting the Japanese to "keep going," because I have a mind like a sieve. However, I'm told I got the pronunciation better than a lot of round-eyes do.)

And when Attila Hub came up the hill I jogged alongside him, even though I was wearing tennis shoes—not running gear. I even tried to sprint to the finish line, though I didn't make it, of course: he was running downhill by then, and he's a good deal taller and fitter than I am. No matter: his sister cheered him over the finish line, quickly repositioning herself after offering some encouragement at the 21-mile mark.

I didn't realize that supporters have to dress as though they are themselves running: wear the proper shoes, for one thing. And train a bit. I guess that means a minimum of four 20-minute workouts during the week, when I'll be cheering, clapping, and jumping up and down. Then there will be a "long cheer" on Sunday afternoons, wherein I'll hold a sign, act excited, and yell for two hours straight. This will take place in my backyard, of course, and ensure that the neighbors continue to give us a wide berth.

Walking along the course early yesterday morning, I passed by the finish line, so I got to see some of the top-50 finishers—those who managed to complete the event in the first few hours. They all looked svelte and young. Whassup with that?

Now I have some sort of vicious mini-bug, so Attila the Hub is sightseeing around the island with his sister while I cough in our hotel room, read a little Richard Miniter, and doze.

No matter. There's a beautiful view from the balcony, and my fever seems to have gone down. In a while I'll go out again and walk by the water. It's safe here: it just doesn't get cold like it does at home. Being sick in paradise is better than being depressed at home.

There is that lovely moment when you know you're getting better, but still need to take it easy. And avoid coughing very wetly on other people.

Sightseeing tomorrow, if I'm up to it and the cough eases up.

Congratulations, Honey.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 06:03 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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No, I haven't read all the posts and cross-posts; I'm on vacation. But I do like Darleen's summary of the current blogstorm.

I continued to call myself a feminist right up to the point that some self-proclaimed leaders of the women's movement publicly justified William Jefferson Clinton's exploitation of Monica Lewinsky. Then I backed off for a few years.

Since I've started blogging I've used the label on occasion—to distinguish myself from conservatives of the LaShawn stripe—but I generally like to remind people that the word feminist has about as many interpretations as there are people hearing the word.

What do I mean when I say it? I mean sexists are icky. That's all.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 05:29 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Banner on CNN.com -- Gov. Schwarzenegger denies clemency for Tookie Williams.

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Right Wing News puts up a list of 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes of 2005.

Yet there's 3 weeks left in the year and Pelosi still has access to a microphone.

Posted by: Darleen Click at 07:07 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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the groundbreaking comedian whose profanely personal insights into race relations and modern life made him one of Hollywood's biggest black stars, died of a heart attack Saturday. He was 65.*

However the rollercoast of his life and the ebb and flow of his career, Pryor was rock-solid funny, something a lot of flash-in-the-pan "comedians" put second to shock.

IIRC the first time I saw him was as a guest on The Glen Campbell show back about 1969 or 70. He was one of my faves of the show, along with another little known (at the time) comedian, George "Wonderful World of WINO" Carlin.

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Kerry says American troops are terrorists, Pelosi and Murtha call for immediate troop withdrawal starting Dec 16, but that's not what concerns Democrats

...Democratic colleagues see him [Lieberman] as undercutting their party's efforts to wrest control of Congress from the GOP next fall.

Posted by: Darleen Click at 08:02 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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to describe the institution of marriage as a "right"

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"... a crass product of merchandised morality from Disney and Walden Media, a media company owned by Christian evangelist billionaire Philip Anschutz. ... In keeping to a PG rating, not to mention placating his Christian paymasters, Adamson makes war seem a pretty bloodless and painless affair *"

"... DEATH to Christmas!!!!*"

"...You oppressed them, so give a part of Europe to the Zionist regime so they can establish any government they want ... Why do they insist on imposing themselves on other powers and creating a tumour so there is always tension and conflict?*"

"... When it comes to pushing the multicultural, anti-Christian agenda, you find Jewish judges, Jewish journalists, and the American Civil Liberties Union, at the forefront ... It is the ACLU, which is overwhelmingly Jewish in terms of membership and funding, that is leading the attack against Christianity in America.*"

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Joy: Are you panicking?

Attila the Hub [blandly]: Sure.

Five minutes later:

Joy: Are you still panicking?

Attila the Hub: No. I stopped.

Joy: Well start up again! If you respected me, you'd panic. At least make yourself useful, and try to figure out what I'm going to forget, so I can remember it!

Posted by: Attila Girl at 07:50 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Darleen's on duty, I see. Cool.

I'll be leaving tomorrow morning at an obscenely early hour and flying to Hawaii to accompany my husband to a charity fundraising event for a few days.

If anyone has on-the-ground information about the weather conditions in Honolulu, let me know. Otherwise, I'm just going to pretend that I'm going to the East Coast in the summertime (that exotic humidity thing), but I'm taking a jacket in case the wind off the sea chills my thin California blood.

I might check in one more time before we head out, but I'm going to try not to make this another "pre-trip all-nighter," so we'll see. And naturally, I'll at least try to say hello from the land of Five-O. I'll be pretty busy out there, however—and I know you're in good hands.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 04:21 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Little Miss Attila is going to be taking a few days off and has asked me to keep her spot warm... chase out the dustbunnies, alphabetize the cd's ...

Actually I'm going to see what booze she keeps in the cupboards and what magazines are tucked waaaay back in the closet.

In the mean time, let's discuss the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death and the legacy of The Beatles. I confess, I'm a bit agnostic about the Beatles. I was in jr high at the height of their popularity, but I wasn't a fan. Yes, I liked much of their music, some of the popular tunes have passed into classics; however, I can't really read so tedious a piece of writing without wondering if either I'm missing something or if once the full-of-itself Baby Boom generation passes into oblivion, so will go The Beatles. I do like the music but stuff like this makes me shake my head:

Nobody ever pushed the possibilities of rock & roll like John Lennon, and nobody in the music's history has really mattered as much. [...]

He was also self-important enough to believe that he could wrestle with the times he lived in and make a difference -- and the difference he made was immense. [...]

when Lennon applied his hurt and vitriol to his music, the result was transcendent. [...]

Two hundreds year later and much of Beetoven's work is widely recognizable. Sixty years plus hasn't faded swing. Where will the Beatles' work stand in 2163?

Posted by: Darleen Click at 01:05 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Apparently, there's reason to think we're all on the take. If we are, I hope I get my check soon, since the rainy season is starting and I need new tires.

I'm ready, eager, and willing to sell out. I just need a buyer.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 04:49 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Apparently someone claimed to have a bomb, and this led to the Air Marshall discharging his weapon. At least one person injured.

UPDATE: Not injured. Killed. What a horrible business: having to shoot a man who might just be mentally ill in order to protect other people's lives. Awful. I feel for this poor woman. Of course, if my spouse were mentally ill I wouldn't let him/her near an airplane without his/her meds; flying is stressful even in the absence of a bipolar condition. But we don't know the dynamics of their marriage, and in any event it's an awesome and terrible thing.

Via Goldstein.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 12:14 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Ed Driscoll interviews Breitbart, and presents his thoughts on why non-leftist filmmakers might save Hollywood from itself. But it sounds like he regards it as a bittersweet propsition that might "Balkanize" the flim industry.

He may not realize just how much of a scarlet letter openly conservative filmmakers are wearing. And even those who are not "out" still have to avoid discussing politics with their colleagues, who at the very least begin to regard them as "odd," and become less enthusiastic about working with them. Naturally, the taboo about libertarian/conservative viewpoints increases the degree to which actors are insulated from any viewpoint that might smack of a "redstate" perspective.

In L.A. there is often very little desire to find out what different intellectual angles might be on political topics. And this is killing the legacy media, film, and television. Other than that, of course, it's all working out fine.

(h/t: Glenn.)

Posted by: Attila Girl at 01:07 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Yes, we don't want the industry becoming "Rush Limbaugh" films vs "Air America" films....So let's keep just making "Air America" films! Makes sense! Sounds fair. Let's just "bomb" Hollywood back to the stone age...one "bomb at a time! What if they made "Syriana" and no one saw it?

Posted by: Darrell at December 07, 2005 11:36 AM (y1mG+)

2 You think someone might watch that?

Posted by: Attila Girl at December 07, 2005 12:58 PM (zZMVu)

3 Not me! What is the price of oil? One crappy movie after another!

Posted by: Darrell at December 07, 2005 03:23 PM (z29ab)

4 The market will take care of things.

Posted by: beautifulatrocities at December 07, 2005 04:43 PM (+k8oU)

5 That, and ever-cheaper movie technology.

Posted by: Attila Girl at December 07, 2005 04:45 PM (zZMVu)

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