A case of the reallys

In a NYT article today regarding Condoleeza Rice's damage control of an alleged raping of a Japanese girl by a US Marine, she is quoted as saying, "Our concern right now is to see that justice is done, to get to the bottom of it, and our concern is for the girl and her family. We really, really deeply regret it.”
The newsworthy point from the NYT perspective is the rape accusation, and I think rape is among the most heinous crimes and should carry the harshest penalties. But what is newsworthy to me about this news item is the reallys. You know where I'm going, but let's play it in slow motion.
Regret. Sincere regret is a nice sentiment to express and clearly indicates the speaker's feelings.
Deep regret. Deep is a meaningful modifier, indicating more than just your everyday regret. What happened must have been pretty awful.
Really deep regret. Well, shit, this regret is more serious than we thought. More than just deep? This person's regret must be interfering with daily life.
Really really deep regret. Goddam. This person can probably barely walk for all the regret they're feeling. I'm starting to feel bad for them!
Condie stopped at 2 reallys, which is a tremendous display of moderation. One more really and we might have had to forgive her for doing that bullshit she's regretting in the first place.

La Bamba, Amen

Last Saturday night I went to a synagogue out in Bethesda and paid $10 at the door for the privilege of buying a $4 glass of wine and watching other people (not a lot) dance to what I can only assume is the latest and greatest of Israeli music. Aside from learning that there is a genre of Israeli music called mizrachi (which someone told me is Arab), the redeeming value of this event was the presence of Bamba peanut snacks. When someone mentioned this to me the name rung many pleasant bells in my head associated with my highschool trip to Israel, but I couldn't remember what the hell it was. Then I tore into a pack, and while I still didn't really remember the taste from way back when, the taste is good. Peanut butter, and very delicate. Including the bag I had that night and the bag I took for the road that I ate today, and generously valuing the night of music and dancing at $2, that means I got my Bamba for $4 a pop. It's lovely running into old friends. I would next like to reconnect with Men's Pocky.

Whack it creatively!

Who couldn't benefit right now from a good whack? Let's take a minute to refamiliarize ourselves with a bright mind who has played a pivotal role in some of our pasts, and who is sure to show up in many of our futures. Let me know if you want to go in on a Creative Whack Pack.

Making fun of people

In a group email today the writer of the email mentioned that he needed to "get the download" on such and such a situation. Cracked me up. It reminded me of a site I found a while back with all the mistakes people make. For a long time I said "for all intensive purposes" instead of "intents and purposes," and I also had to make an effort to take up "just as soon" rather than "just assume." I wonder how many phrases I still have wrong. Funny.

Entertainment News

I've been watching The Wire on Netflix. I'm not a cops n robbers kind of guy, but this is more than just a mystery solved every episode. Shows the human side of the criminals, shows the good guys fucking up every now and then, and of course it has a good bit of swearing and a nice sex scene every few episodes. My main complaint is the damn theme song (see the most recent season 5 version here, though I'm only up to season 3). It's a full minute and a fucking half. 90 seconds is too long for a theme song. Even the most engaging theme songs are only half that time, and the Wire's theme is far from engaging. But for clever mofos like myself, I just flip on the 8x fast forward button and we're through that shit in no time.

My other news is a little catch I made going about my daily business of rotting my brain through televisory stimulation. I watched We are Marshall (2006) (again on Netflix) a few weeks ago, about the regrouping of the Marshall football team after nearly the whole squad dies in a plane crash. One of the nice specialty touches was one of the football players is having a bit of trouble, and a teammate advises him to watch his opponents knuckles when in the three point stance on the line. If the knuckles are white, he says, you know the opponent is leaning forward and ready to pounce on you. Nice. Then a few days ago I happen to catch the middle portion of Any Given Sunday (1999) (on TBS or TNT or some shit), and they use the exact same bit about watching the knuckles. Well I might have to rerate We are Marshall for stealing that shit. Finally my excessive TV watching pays off, and these assholes get outed on this highly read blog.

Links passing for blogging

I don't mind. It's funny when you go here.

in bed with Howl

Today I am once again ill. Here is what's in or near my sickbed:

1. Kleenex
2. Tea
3. P.G. Wodehouse novel (doesn't matter which one, they're all the same)
4. Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
5. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen
6. Self-pity
7. Thermometer (oral)