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– ALMANAC SAYS –
Gymnast Mary Lou Retton born, 1968.

– PICTURE OF THE WEEK –
Esteban, Tia, and Tau pursue Mendoza’s galleon in the Condor.

– QUESTION OF THE DAY –
How many goats would you be willing to take on in your current house or apartment?

A combination of factors have changed my mind about the troop surge. However…

By “combination of factors” I suppose I mean a flurry of op eds, critical objections, and other articles, sometimes coming from Republicans and experienced generals in addition to Democrats and progressives, as well as the pervasive, stubborn “brute force” strategy that seems to be the only way this administration can work out any equation.

Somebody was saying something about celebrity deaths coming in threes. This month we’ve had:

• Gerald Ford
• James Brown
• Saddam Hussein

2. Saddam Hussein.

Although I have much more incentive to have very clear, articulable thoughts about Saddam Hussein than Gerald Ford… my exposure to him, his relevence to our times, his infamous record… I have an easier time discussing and considering an ex-president with a (relatively) unremarkable administration that was finished before I was born.

– ALMANAC SAYS –
China’s giant pandas added to the endangered species list, 1984.

– QUOTE OF THE WEEK –
“Majority rule only works if you’re also considering individual rights. Because you can’t have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for supper.”

[Yes, the year is randomly determined.]

Ah, 2000. 1999 – 2000 was one of the great years, and kicked off with one of the last and greatest of the Crawford’s New Years Eve parties. At the time I had an immense crush on a girl I still know, and yes I was able to kiss her at midnight.

Part of the noir reading list I put together for my thesis with the help of Robert Polito and Jeffery Allen. As such, it was “required reading.”

I read The Postman Always Rings Twice prior to The Maltese Falcon, mainly because the former was shorter.

– ALMANAC SAYS –
Today is St. Vincent’s day.

– NEWS OF THE WEEK –
Comet McNaught, visible in the southern hemisphere, is the brightest comet to be viewed in forty years.

– QUESTION OF THE DAY –
If you were to produce your own yearly almanac, what would you name it?

Since I’m awake.

Another fiery political thing.

I like talking politics with Gemma, and we agree probably 80-90% of the time. If I may be so bold, however, there is one issue where my disagreement is becoming more and more emphatic in the recent weeks.

I usually don’t post on the weekends, and I certainly don’t post at 3 AM, but I just finished watching William Lustig’s Maniac and now I think I’m going to have to sleep with all the lights on and episodes of Taxi on all night.

I didn’t post until late yesterday because my internet was down for most of the day. You can read the post here. Or you can punch “Page Down.” Your call.

– ALMANAC SAYS –
Law raised salary of U.S.