Still single? What's the matter with you? - CNN.com

The short answer is that if she had wanted to get married, she should have done so at least ten years ago. It is now, alas, too late. The usual lament one hears is "where are all the good men?" The answer which I'm positive she doesn't want to hear is: the good men are back in her twenties, where she left them. I shouldn't have to tell her. If she is the least bit perceptive and honest with herself she already knows this. If the thought of never marrying bothers her (and it does) then this though keeps her up at night, wondering "what if..."

That's right -- it just hasn't happened yet. Single women aren't screwed up (well at least no more than anyone else out there), we don't need to register for self-improvement seminars or undergo eight years of psychoanalysis. There's nothing more we should or could be doing and nothing we need to change. It just hasn't happened yet.

She goes on to repeat the plaintive mantra, "It just hasn't happened yet" over and over. This may be hard to hear, but since she is a scientist (PhD in psychology) the math speaks for itself. It isn't going to happen. The only realistic set of choices she has left now are whether she is going to be the cool aunt that everyone will secretly believe is gay, or whether to stockpile cat food. Who knows, though. She may find the love of her life next week. Hope springs eternal, they say. I'll buy a lottery ticket next week, too.

Two More Reasons Why College Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be

Truer words are rare to read or hear. I'm such a different student today than I was back in 1983 that I find it had to believe that I'm actually the same person. That comparison is absurd, of course. I'm not the same person at all. Nineteen year-old schlubs for the most part don't have a clue. I didn't, and the vast majority of those I've known haven't either. No crime of course, but knowing who we are is the most powerful knowledge one can have.

The students who have come to college after a hitch in the military or working for a few years know why they are in college, why they are taking a particular course, and what they want out of it, in ways that kids fresh out of high school seldom do. Apart from that, quoting my wife, "Henry James wasn't writing for nineteen-year-olds." Neither were Aristotle, Milton, or Adam Smith.

The reason why I was suspended from college (academically) back in 1984 was a direct result of my age, nineteen, and my maturity level, poor. The reason why Phi Beta Kappa keeps trying to sell me pins now is also a result of my current age. Rather, it is the result of what I've seen, done, talked about, experienced, read, and been, since 1983.
I find myself sitting in class thinking about my fellow students. I want to tell them to take this seriously, that there are enough hours in the week to study and party and watch Adult Swim. Alas, those who would heed the advice don't need it, and those who do would give me that blank look that says "If it's too loud then you're too old."
An aside: my daughter said that to me the other day. She is 10.

As I always say: read it all and chase down the links for context.

I would have thought that they had it first

Slashdot Technology Story | Space Station Astronauts Gain Internet Access

The ISS finally got their internet installed. Their ISP must be Comcast.
I would have thought that a space station would have been the first place wired up; irony must rear its snarky head . . .

Olbermann Tells Us What He Really Thinks

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Olby: Massachusetts suddenly turned racist!

It's not just Olbermann, either. What Olbermann is what many, many, lefties really believe to be true. Any sign of conservative or even libertarian beliefs are considered evidence of deep-seated racist, misogynist, and knuckle-dragging ideology, and is to be loathed.
He's just saying what they all think.

The Film Adaptation of The Hobbit Is Moving Along

This is nothing less than the best news I've heard from Hollywood in ages.

The lack of Texas accent makes all the difference

It is apparent that as long as one avoids the Texas accent, almost anything can be said by US presidents and it isn't likely to be criticized. Am I the only one who finds the paradox of a man accepting a prize for peace spending his allotted speaking time defending war unexpected?
I'm all for the destruction of our enemies, but I prefer the hypocrisy free spin myself.

"Such is the weight of he prize. Suddenly and forever, Obama is in the company of Gandhi, King, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama."

Let's not forget Yassar Arafat, either.

"He won it, in the eyes of the Nobel committee, for changing the U.S. approach toward the world. The panel cited his efforts on nuclear disarmament, climate change and diplomacy."

If I remember, he was nominated far before he even took presidential office. Perhaps the "panel" should have cited his intent, not his efforts. I for one intend to enter both powerlifting competetions and marathons next year. Perhaps the prize committees for both will award me the first prize medals for my "efforts" as well.

Urban Dictionary's Word of the Day

The Urban Dictionary is daily stop for me. Today's word is truly hilarious. The Booty Text.

The lazy, low-commitment version of the booty call.

Irony is best. Well, best after "to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." Here I thought that a booty call was already low commitment, not just low effort. A whole way to feel even cheaper than one though possible.

NPR reporter pressured over Fox role

Wow, I'm actually a bit impressed by this, though not pleasantly. NPR is concerned that another network seems to have a political bias? Pot. Kettle. Black.
Is there anyone who listens to NPR who can with a clean conscience and without taking drugs say (or believe) that NPR doesn't have its own political bias? I don't know about the drugs or conscience, but apparently Dick Meyer from NPR doesn't (or can't) detect any bias there.
Is Fox biased? Sure. Biased like ABC/CBS/NBC/MSNBC/NYT/LAT/NPR. Of course it isn't bias if one agrees with a particular worldview, its just-you know-the truth. Keith Olbermann isn't biased, he's just right. Speaking truth to power and all that. No bias to see here, just move along.
I can't decide on the diagnosis: hubris or tone-deafness.

h/t to Politico

Packers-Ravens

I managed to score two tickets for the Packers' Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens. A good friend is going with me and I'm under the impression that yes, alcohol will be a factor. It's supposed to be coldish there: high of 27, low of 18, wind about 5-10mph. Snow in the morning. Yeah, I'm going to freeze. I'll report in later with charming anecdotes.

Update: Charming Anecdotes:  It was cold, fun, and Green Bay won.  Sorry to the Ravens fans behind us, but I think we were gentle.

Good Heavens

Imagine my surprise when I looked at my Sitemeter stats (yes, I do that) and found I had had a visitor from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. What on earth is anyone from there doing here?