. . . they were advertising "dead vaginas," that would be disturbing. But I suppose all is well.

Posted by: Attila at 02:16 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Does this sound stupid, incredibly stupid, or outrageously stupid?

Joy McCann

Snail-mail address

August 15, 2005

Ms. Publishing Contact
Boutique New York-Based Publishing House
Los Angeles Outpost

Dear Talent Scout Lady:

You may recall that I met you a few months ago at a publishing industry meeting, wherein you were the featured speaker. I appreciate very much your stopping by to talk to us.

As I mentioned when we all made our initial introductions, IÂ’m working on a mystery novel. Because IÂ’m expecting to finish the first draft in January, IÂ’m sending around a few initial inquiries to a couple of contacts in the book publishing industry. Enclosed are the outline and a few sample chapters. My goal is to combine a murder mystery with a true novel in the tradition of Dorothy L. Sayers: in the process of solving the puzzle, the heroine comes to terms with who she is, and gains some direction in life.

The story takes place in the world of magazine publishing, where IÂ’ve worked since the late 80s. ItÂ’s set primarily in Santa Monica, the town I lived in from the age of 12 to 18.

I’ve had a handful of articles published—mostly in consumer magazines—as well as one poem. I also maintain a weblog, and contribute to one of the most highly ranked blogs, Dean’s World (edited by Dean Esmay).

Sincerely,

Joy McCann

P.S. Kill me. Kill me!

I promised someone that I'd get it onto his desk for review on the 16th, so the real letter will go out within, say, a week after that. Unless I'm lucky and get finished off in a terrorist attack. Or the package gets lost in the mail. Or I vanish in the Bermuda Triangle.

Posted by: Attila at 01:16 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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Hop on over to Conservative Bloggers Who Support the Gay Judge Roberts. And dance merrily onto the bandwagon.

Posted by: Attila at 01:05 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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. . . is hell.

(Via Green.)

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. . . prefers the "plug-in drug."

Who knew?

(h/t Goldstein)

Posted by: Attila at 12:30 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Sissy Willis provides a few fascinating tidbits from Michael Yon's energetic reporting about the front-line efforts in Iraq—including a description of one of the ruses our guys used to flush out Iraqi "insurgents." I'll have to start monitoring Yon's website. In the meantime, drop by Sissy's place for a terrific digest.

Posted by: Attila at 12:17 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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1 Thanks for the nice words. Michael Yon rules!

Posted by: Sissy Willis at August 10, 2005 12:36 PM (bQsW1)

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had a nice little article in the Atlantic this past spring that I somehow missed. It's a short summary of the Social Security debate, and it highlights the problem I've always had with Social Security: if this is something that we give to impoverished seniors, why do we also give it to the rich?

Is it simply an inefficient government-run pension fund? Or is it a social service for the poor? If the former, why not make it efficient? If the latter, why not means-test it?

Because, as O'Rourke points out, everyone wants to have it both ways. Which is a human nature problem, really.

Posted by: Attila at 10:37 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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. . . is gone, and it's an all-star cast of guest-bloggers: Totten, Althouse, and McArdle.

Take a look.

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. . . and click on the "click for Cathy" button as often as possible in the next week and a half. This will raise the visibility of the cancer clinic that is providing care for his sister, and it won't take up much of your time.

Thanks!

UPDATE: Chris reports that they are now getting 5000 clicks an hour, and the number is rising. I love these grass-roots actions! He warns that we might crash the system, but if we can't get through at one point we can just do it again the next day. And this is not a fundraising campaign: clicks only; not money.

And now there's a shortcut on my sidebar, to save you time!

Via Goldstein.

Posted by: Attila at 07:10 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Attila, the Hun...E. Thank you!!!!

Posted by: chris Muir at August 09, 2005 08:33 PM (g/gbg)

2 Yes. I'm an electronic marauder

Posted by: Attila Girl at August 09, 2005 09:31 PM (RGWNz)

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Mark Steyn just put his head on a stake:

. . . [Cohen's] first thought, on learning the name of President Bush's Supreme Court nominee, is of hanging chads.

Leave aside Cohen's careless assumption that the 2004 election was "all about" the Supreme Court: I happen to be writing this in a taxicab stuck in traffic in Central London, where bombs are going off, and it seems to me last November was a little about all that loud exploding stuff, too. If the Democrats hadn't been so hung up on chads and the court, they might have had something to say about that.

Leave aside, too, that it was the Democrats who were trying to "hang enough chads." The Republicans were happy to have the election decided on -- what's the word? -- "votes." It was the Democrats who introduced us to the Four Chads -- Swinging Chad, Dangling Chad, Hanging Chad and Dimpled Chad -- at a time when, to most Republicans, the Four Chads were that vocal group who'd headlined the party's A-list $3.95-a-plate celebrity fund-raiser. It was the Dems who demanded the election be decided by chad diviners interpreting the subtle, indeed undetectable indentation of the dimple as a decisive vote for Al Gore. America has chads in its politics because Democrat lawyers put them there.

He forgot the Fifth Chad, the "pregnant chad." But, yes: it was not the GOP that wanted to change the rules after the game had been played.

What's more hilarious to me with respect to all this handwringing about the Supreme Court is that the venerable O'Conner voted with the majority, and against reading chads like tea leaves (and therefore manufacturing votes). Now she's a saint, about to be replaced by the nutjob Roberts. But then, she was part of the right-wing cabal that "selected" George W. Bush.

Steyn's main point is pivotal: if the Democrats want to be relevant, they might want to start addressing the fact that large numbers of people want to kill us just for being [American, British, Australian, Italian, Joo-ish, and so forth]. The issue is not chads: it's bombs.

Posted by: Attila at 07:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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...will be calling LaShawn soon, begging her to change her mind. Asking for a chance: "Please, ma'am." Can you imagine?

If you're playing catch-up, it started with this statement from Ms. Barber:

One of my advertisers is a group called Americans For Rice, and IÂ’ve been asked by several people where I stand on the Condi-for-president meme. I wouldnÂ’t vote for Condoleezza Rice for president of the United States. First, I donÂ’t think women generally have the sensibilities to run the country. Before you jump all over me, itÂ’s important that you know I donÂ’t care what you think. YouÂ’re reading this blog, so you obviously care what I think, so there it is.

The question is not whether we will have a female President. The question is, when. And who will it be?—some Reno-esque hack selected in a smoke-filled back room because we were overdue for a chick Chief Executive? Or a qualified woman of principle? Someone who can carry on the legacies of other successful female heads of state? (The examples usually cited are Maggie Thatcher and Elizabeth R. There are plenty of examples, however.)

I just finished Bush at War, and one of the things that jumps out of its pages is the role Rice has played in this White House, especially since 9/11. She was essentially an uber-Vice President, running meetings that even Cheney attended and far outranking the Chief of Staff.

Those who argue that one needs to have run for public office in order to take on the highest office in the land ignore the fact that there are exceptional individuals out there to whom the conventional rules simply do not apply. Dr. Rice is one of them.

Bush was drafted by the GOP. And if we're lucky, Rice will be drafted by Bush. She is his logical successor, especially in a time of war.

Furthermore, as Secretary of State she is making contacts now that will be invaluable when she transitions into the role of President herself.

The time has come. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Posted by: Attila at 05:02 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Sorry, but I'm going to have to side with Volokh on this one. While I'm generally no fan of the ACLU, I support a few of the lawsuits they've brought: there have been a few that have helped to keep the government honest.

And the Fourth Amendment has been particularly fragile in this country for some time, especially in light of the governmental abuses brought about by the so-called War on Drugs. If we're going to have bags searched in subway stations, I'd like a little clarity on how to square it with the Constitution. And I'd like some limits set.

After all, as a lot of us have been pointing out since approximately 9/12/01, if we shred the Constitution while conducting the War on Terror, the terrorists will have won. Just because it's a cliche doesn't mean it isn't true.

Posted by: Attila at 04:19 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Women's Wall Street has a fascinating summary of Chanel's life—and her influence on women's fashions.

These days we tend to think of her as a "luxury designer" because most of us cannot afford clothing that comes from her particular company. But her influence made women's garments more humane for real flesh-and-blood women to wear.

My mother used to put on a little black cocktail dress, spritz on a little Chanel No. 5, and go out to parties in the 60s. And I wore that same cocktail dress myself—decades later—until it finally fell apart and I had to replace it.

And if I ever have money again, I'm going to get a little spritzer of No. 5 for special occasions. It'll bring back good memories, and serve as an homage both to my mom and to the woman who made it okay to wear jersey fabric.

Posted by: Attila at 01:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A pellet gun is too mild. I've seen some egregious behavior by paparazzi.

Too bad it's illegal to discharge a pellet gun in Los Angeles County—at least, so I've heard. Perhaps the law can be re-written to exclude those who cross the line in pursuit of celebrity photos? (There is a line, you know.)

UPDATE: Locals react.

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. . . Al Franken feels truly dreadful about the Air America funding scandal.

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Off to beddy-bye. Visit the Pirate early and often.

I'll be getting this place back to normal (whatever that means) over the next few days.

Don't eat any wooden pickles!

Posted by: Attila at 04:29 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Well Mateys, its been short and fun, but yee big boss be comin back soon so I best be on me way. Bonus points to those who can guess who's song was used in this post's title. I'll give you a hint, he didn't write PinaColadaBerg. Thanks again to Little Miss A for giving me the keys to the ship for a few days, hopefully I didn't crash it into anything too bad, and with that I be on me merry way to Buccanear Days with a bottle of rum and more wenches!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho.......

Posted by: the Pirate at 09:15 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Since I have the run of the place for a little while longer.....

I am deeming myself supreme overlord and winner of The "Name My Business" Contest.

Thank you, thank you everyone. Yes I know I am that wonderful, your heartfelt congratulations can be left in the comments sections, checks can be made out to 'Cash'.

Posted by: the Pirate at 08:48 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A common site on my blog are Lindsay Lohan references, today is more different, because Lindsay was golden today. First off she hired a trainer to help her gain weight....how dumb do you have to be to not know how to gain weight? Geez its called B-E-E-R! On top of that she wants to gain weight because:

"I'm working out with a trainer and eating healthily I want my boobs back."

Turns out uber-Brazillian Babe Gisele is a bit nutty too when it comes to things being clean, of course she has a lot more time on her hands to do that sort of thing than most of us. I would offer my services as house boy if she so desired, more so becuase its hard to find someone more anal retentive than myself and it would be a great personal self-esteem boost.

Of course eveyone's favorite boxer, the greatest fighter in the world Iron Mike Tyson may be doing some adult filmmaking. He does know he needs to go more than 3 rounds right?

Posted by: the Pirate at 03:52 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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But it certianly helps and you'd agree wth me if you caught the 'Civil Rights' March in Atlanta over the weekend. The whole crowd was out there for it...Barbara "BA's Favorite Rep." Lee, Maxine "Over My Dead Body" Waters, Nancy "Pants" Pelosi, John Conyers, Jesse Jackson and many many more. Out there, literally and figuratively, with the Bush is a racist, Blacks who work for him are tyrants, Republicans are thieves, the GOP will go out of their way to steal elections and keep people Democrats from voting and so on and so forth. Even when there is published evidence that while both sides try election deception, its the Democrats who do it far more and far worse.

Posted by: the Pirate at 01:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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