If I die someday as a quarter of the woman you were, I'll be content.

I didn't agree with every word that came out of your mouth, but you were the real deal—and when I felt you stated things too strongly, I knew it came from passion, not personal vanity.

Stefania has more.

Sorry I'm late. Ciao, Bella.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 10:26 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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"Twenty thousand is kind of a lot of mail to have in your 'in' box. You might want to throw some of it away."

But if I throw it away, that'll guarantee I'll need it soon—no?

Posted by: Attila Girl at 10:09 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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This isn't for martini people so much as it is for gin-and-tonic types.

1) Start with Wet.

2) When you can't afford Wet any more, drink Tanqueray.

3) When you can't afford Tanqueray any more, drink Beefeater.

4) Stop there. If you can't afford Beefeater, you can't afford gin.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 10:05 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Better to have a Campari. Or Whisky. Not necessary both at the same time ;-)

Posted by: Lifecruiser at September 12, 2006 09:20 AM (9fTBB)

2 What kid of sicko brings up an Italian aperitif when we are reminicing about a memorable Gin Experience? By the way, that super-secret "mystery" flavor is bitter orange peel, chinotto fruit, and rhubarb--the red color from a ground up insect, the cochineal. Hope I didn't spoil it for you.

Posted by: Darrell at September 12, 2006 11:51 AM (tiH1q)

3 That's "kind" not "kid." Blasphemy causes hurried typing. And no proofreading.

Posted by: Darrell at September 12, 2006 11:55 AM (tiH1q)

4 You forgot the kind in the blue bottle. Sapphire? I'm not a fan of gin, but the bottle is very cool looking.

Posted by: Kevin at September 17, 2006 02:58 PM (++0ve)

5 No; I didn't forget it. But Bombay Sapphire is more of a martini gin: it has a stronger taste than, say, Tanqueray. I'd put them on the same level as far as quality is concerned. I'd drink Sapphire in a gin and tonic because I like a strong juniper flavor, but you're better going for the smoother styles of gin for this application. Trust me, here: I've done research, so you don't have to. I can also verify the English claim that gin and tonics stave off malaria. I've been drinking them several nights a week for over a year, and during that time I haven't contracted malaria once.

Posted by: Attila Girl at September 17, 2006 07:34 PM (LEEsJ)

6 My strong political opinions transfer faithfully into the world of gin. Therefore, it's without any reticence that I tell you that Bombay regular (i.e., non-saffire) has a more powerful gin taste because the saffire has far more botanicals which renders it too fragrant and herbal. As a fellow gin aficianado commented, saffire is for metro-males, but I don't cast aspersions on anyone who enjoys gin. That stated, the most important variable when making a martini is not whether or not to use vermouth, etc., but the amount of time the gin stays in the ice, stipulating that you truly love the taste of gin. Here, forthwith, is an inveterate gin drinker's recommended methodology, honed and refined over the past three decades of indulgence. The mixer, glass, strainer, and long spoon are in the freezer; measure the gin (I use at 4-5 ounces per drink). Put regular sized ice cubes in the mixer (not those pellet sized cubes, nor, for the love of God, any smaller sized pieces. Pour the gin into the mixer, and, watching your wristwatch, stir vigorously for no more than 14 seconds, then quickly retrieve the glass form the freezer, and pour rapidly into the glass---and, before it's empty, STOP. Do not fall prey to the bartender's ignoble habit of trying to get every last drop out because by that time, it's mostly water and you're effectively diluting your drink. Vermouth is optional, but I believe that the fledgling dipsomaniacal writer, Malcolm Lowry said it best in that regard: just let the shadow of the vermouth bottle pass over your mixer. Cheers! Philip Mella, Editor ClearCommentary.com

Posted by: Philip Mella at September 18, 2006 01:33 PM (8HN5p)

7 I like to make sure there's a vermouth bottle in the same room I'll try your technique. Thanks for stopping by!

Posted by: Attila Girl at September 18, 2006 05:22 PM (LEEsJ)

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Thanks, K, for letting us know. If you hadn't called, I might have gotten right into my car five years ago, oblivious to the destruction until I heard about it on the way to work.

After all, I don't usually do media before I leave the house. At least, I didn't then. Now I generally at least check my mail before I'm out of here, so I at least see the Google News headlines. Still no old media, though.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 09:31 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Yes. Blogs certainly existed before then, but I think the huge involvement/interest in "citizen journalism" is directly linked to 9/11. No one is content to get his/her information filtered through a large institution any more: we want to make up our own minds.

Glenn has more.

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The first half of Pathwas beautiful, though grueling.

When I think of the ad revenue ABC forfeited by running it without commercials, it occurs to me that they paid off dems such as Sandy Berger to attack the production, to make sure that the buzz would justify taking that loss. Insty live-blogged it a bit, and links a few reactions, sharing a few thoughts of his own.

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. . . ABC News. Like, television network news.

They now have the blogger market, which . . . you know, if you have us, you have everything.

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"Empty out your trash bin every once in a while. You have 200 items in there, including pictures, videos, and applications."

I was very hurt by that. But then, I'm sure the tough love did me good.

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I was under the weather, sleeping in the living room that night, and woke up to K's voice on the answering machine talking about the Pentagon and WTC. By the time I turned on the radio in the master bathroom, it had all happened, and both towers were gone.

I went back just looked into Attila the Hub's eyes. He crossed himself; it had been the only time I'd seen him do that when he wasn't praying, or at church.

And so it began.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 08:49 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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"I'm trying to lose weight," I tell him.

"Yeah? What are you doing?"

"I haven't figured it out. I'm certainly not willing to exercise, or to eat any differently."

He looks at me for a moment. Finally: "well, good luck with that."

Is that insensitive, or what?

Posted by: Attila Girl at 06:50 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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She called me names, and she called her dad."

—"Anything, Anything" (Dramarama)

This isn't a zeugma, but it is a syllepsis. I adore it. Here's another one, a true zeugma. Do you recognize it?

"Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,
Dost sometimes counsel take—and sometimes tea."

Posted by: Attila Girl at 04:33 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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. . . when members of my writing groups criticize my punctuation. One woman hates my semicolons, and another doesn't like my colons.

I believe they would like me to write simple, declarative sentences. Subject does verb with predicate. All rather short. And simple. Containing, perhaps, the occasional comma. And a sentence fragment for dramatic effect.

Look for me in South Florida. I'll be writing. Fishing. And hanging out in bars.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 04:02 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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. . . was a hybrid between Michael Connelly and Jane Austen, with a little Dorothy L. Sayers thrown in.

What I've produced is more like a "Scooby Do: Where Are You" script, crossed with Sleepless in Seattle.

Not the level I wanted, but who cares? All that matters is finishing.

I should make the time to wash the dishes. And blame my problems on other people. But first, maybe I'll have another nap.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 07:28 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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She's produced a pretty comprehensive analysis of the flap over ABC's The Road to 9/11, and points out that the 9/11 Commission Report is a public document. Anyone can read about the Clinton Administration's difficulty in dealing with the CIA.

Censorship. Creepy.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 08:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Less so with laws these days, now that the "porkbusting" bill (the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparancy Act, S. 2590) has passed the Senate. Unanimously.

Sleep tight, Stevens and Byrd. Don't let the bloggers bite.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 10:13 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Come on—bring it."

Hey! What kind of snakes were they? But don't tell me too much. Not yet.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 09:41 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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. . . and here I have 1000 words. Wowie-kazowie.

Of course, it's all dialogue, which means it goes on for pages and pages. And, naturally, I'm going to get busted in writer's group for writing too much dialogue.

Even after I add the action in around the spoken words, it'll still be "ring around the collar." I've tried soaking it out, and scrubbing it out.

Yet it's enough. Enough for today.

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If my protagonist, while driving a bit crazily—as is her wont—maneuvers around "a slowpoke Latino," is she a racist?

Please advise. Myself, I had trouble keeping a straight face when I was told that the phrase "sounds racist."

I wonder if it would be sexist to introduce a smart blonde female character.

One isn't supposed to notice anyone's physical characteristics, ya know!

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. . . completely butch, courtesy of Ace. I just blundered upon it. That's the best way.

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is being mischaracterized. And he'd prove it, if only those exculpatory documents hadn't been stolen.

Both the Clinton Administration and the Bush '43 Administration made mistakes in the War on Terror. If The Path to 9/11 makes 'em both look bad, it's probably balanced in that regard.

Insty's right, though. Berger, at least, should STFU.

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