I so want this on a t-shirt, and a coffee cup, and maybe even on a rubber stamp so I can put it on everything I send to my bank. [via]

Trying to watch Treasury Secretary Geithner on Meet The Press this morning, but can’t do it. He doesn’t fill me with confidence, and just seems too shifty in his mannerisms for me to trust. Then again I’m not sure I could trust anyone trying to tell me that billions trillions of my tax dollars are needed to return the banking industry to a place where they can pay million dollar bonuses without scrutiny, jack up consumers for 30% on consumer debt, and loan our savings on massively overvalued collateral without risk. Avoiding for the moment the role of government in a capitalist economy (because I’m sure Kip has addressed that issue better than I ever could), what if trillions of tax dollars were spent to break the endless cycle of debt for American consumers? I’m sure that’s too simple, because debt, like heroin and pecan pie, will always exist and always be tempting as a quick and easy fix. But just, what if? Like an America that can elect a black man as president.

Finally coming to the realization that next weekend I’m going to miss my first Crew Classic since I moved to San Diego in 2001.  I arrived too late in the year for the 2001 regatta, but made it in ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, and ’08.  It’s not a bad thing necessarily – we’re going to be in Vegas and I’m sure we’ll have a great time.  Just a bit of sadness at missing an opportunity to hang out with the alums and cheer at a sport where Cal usually does really well.  It’s been kind of a symbolic start of spring for me (the first weekend of April)  and the local alums always host a great tent.

We found out last week that another local pizza place has bitten the dust. The group is still fighting for survival, but the local outlet, and thus delivery to Casa, is no more.

Not that I want to rush the new administration, but will you hurry up and finish the bank bailout you can give some attention to the businesses that matter?

Forget that whole “redefining marriage” thing.  It’s done and done and we have gone and redefined marriage:

1 a (1): the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage b: the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock c: the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage

[via and via]  Thank you Merriam-Webster.

I won’t purport to be an expert on the intricacies of the New York bar, but how can any professional or other contractor, whether it’s attorney, accountant, or plumber promise to invoice their client every sixty days, then expect the client to roll over and pay when the service provider goes seventeen months without providing an invoice or statement?  Yes, that’s rhetorical.  It’s also absurd.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!  Spent Saturday morning browsing the vendors for the festivities at Balboa Park and Sunday evening with friends eating corned beef, cabbage and Guinness.

This morning is just the wearing of the green and the drinking of the coffee (no-Irish, at least until I get some work done).  I was going to leave it at that, but KipEsquire had us rolling on the floor laughing by sharing this on Facebook, so I’m passing it on here.

Thanks Kip!

Even as a McDonalds alum and general devotee of drive-though dining when necessary, something about the McGangBang just strikes me as wrong.  [via]  It’s not the price – I love the economy of merging two otherwise OK items off the dollar menu.  It’s certainly not the tastes, even though I generally avoid beef, but more importantly because it has mayo and cheese, both of which rock as far as flavoring.  It even has lettuce on it, which makes it healthy, right?  Do I have to admit to myself that my drawback with an item of food is solely it’s name?  Am I really that hung up on a simple label?

He’s still here. One sleepless night waiting for the Hershey’s Kisses to pass. One ER visit when His Clumsiness ripped up his dew claw. Destroyed books, unpacked gym bags and  hidden insoles are offset by his random efforts to keep us safe from ghosts and other unseen terrors.  He earns his keep by combining his natural skill as a dustmop with a Hoover-like suction that eliminates falling food before it can hit the ground.  It doesn’t hurt that he was there for the wedding too and pretty much every other major event in our lives during the last year.  One year ago today Diego came home with us, and we haven’t regretted it for more than a minute or two at a time ever since.

Generally I think the civil rights movement (particularly the gay one) is in kind of a kumbaya coma, led by a group of lobbyists afraid that confrontration will upset their cocktail plans, and too happy to protest at friendly buildings because the consequences elsewhere might not be quite civilized.  *holds pinky in air*  Then I see signs of life, and have hope.  Whoever you are, thank you.