Give me some credit

The goddess and I occupy a peculiar place in American, consumer-mad, debt-addicted society: we only owe money on one thing -- our home. Beyond that, we actually have some savings put away in various categories.

As a result, nearly every day our mailbox holds a form letter with a Delaware return address, and "0%" in bold, 36 pt. type just visible under the envelope. Yes, it's a credit card come-on, which is promptly shredded and tossed. (Apparently those who don't need credit are the most appealing prospective customers.)

So today, in what was apparently an act of sheer desperation, I was sent a solicitation to apply for the Chase Professional Woman's VISA. There was a snappy illustration of the card, which displays anonymous pantyhosed legs with a dangling briefcase.

Nothing else has worked, so I suppose I can't blame them. Still, pretty funny.

Funny things the Moppet says

To her mother, in the morning: "I don't want to go to Ikea, mommy. I don't want to go to Ikea." (A sentiment daddy can certainly endorse!)

In imitation of you-know-who: "That is not acceptible!"

To no one in particular: "I'm Belle the Cucumber." (Methinks we need to limit the intake of Beauty & The Beast and Veggietales!)

Today's two of three

Three posts today, to celebrate being back in business (which owes mostly to Firefox giving me back the Blogger tools I was used to in the Windows world. I can do links and pictures again, hurrah. *two lonely hands clapping*)

A few things I'm digging lately--

Anna Broadway's Sexless blog. According to Rolling Stone, she's "Fire, Brimstone and Brains." (RS, how clever and original thou art.) Soon to be a book! Then, a can't-miss Broadway musical! (Really, how can you miss with lyrics like these?)

Next, there's colleague Jason's Next To Last Song. Everything you read here is true.

And how can I leave out the wacky exploits of our interns? Check out The Internment Camp, What We All Want and Houch.

Finally, no one likes to hear this, but most of the music I'm digging right now isn't even officially released yet -- these include:

Nickel Creek's "Why Should The Fire Die"
"Takk," the latest from enigmatic Icelanders Sigur Ros
The should-be-huge "Plans" from Seattle's Death Cab For Cutie
and of course, "Z" from the soon-to-be-internationally-famous My Morning Jacket.

A human face on the situation

NYC's famously smarmy Gawker usually has little redeeming usefulness (though since I'm in the magazine biz I read it anyway.) However, today they had a great post pointing out the neo-colonial approach of major media organizations to third-world crises.

As they put it, starving African children -- no human faces. Rich white anchor -- human face!

Read it here: "And Such A Nice Human Face".

I'm back, by the way.