Run Forrest Run

Hang on, I never really liked that movie. Let's try that again:

Run Devil Run

Much better.

So, I just finished the first 20-mile run of the season. The last few miles were rough, but the most important skill in running a marathon is being able to run the last six miles when you feel just awful. So today was good practice! The Pogues and The Clash provided the soundtrack--nothing like angry, politically-tinged Anglo-Irish punk rock to keep you motivated on the road for all those hours.

I picked up strawberry yogurt instead of plain at the store yesterday, but went ahead and made the tandoori chicken marinade anyway. We'll see how it turns out--hopefully it won't be a disaster. Maybe a little sweetness among all the onions, garlic, and spices will be a good thing? There were also no eggplants to be found in town, so I used zucchini to make the eggplant relish recipe from the Moosewood Cookbook, a recipe of which I'm quite fond. It turned out pretty good! I can hardly tell the difference.

Don Young seems to be getting deeper and deeper into it--hope he has a good pair of wellingtons. The Senate has asked the Justice Department to investigate one of his suspicious highway earmarks, and Jack Abramoff, the convict for whom he claims never to have done any favors, had over 120 contacts with him and his staff over a 25-month period. Maybe he just wanted to see Don's Hummel figurines.

Incidentally, this comes as a surprise to no one:

Bush administration officials from Vice President Dick Cheney on down signed off on using harsh interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists after asking the Justice Department to endorse their legality, The Associated Press has learned.

Link

I can't believe they're still equivocating, after this issue has been in the news for 6+ years. "Harsh interrogation techniques" are what any normal person would call "torture." Immoral, unethical, and, dare I say it, illegal.

On a lighter note, I just took the last of the chocolate mint cookies out of the oven . . . mmmmmmm.

I always loved Iron Man, the armored avenger who wore a tin suit to take on bad guys and hide from his own demons. And now he's fighting the evil that is open source software--bizarre.

What a relief!

"I feel like a soldier, But I look like a thief!" should follow, as any Clash fan knows, but I'm actually relieved that I am familiar with most of the purported 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time. I think it's indicative of my cultural literacy. I can't argue with their #1 pick, as I've been laughing at it since junior high . . .

Apparently, the recession makes your identity cheaper on the black market. Which makes sense: since people have less money in their bank accounts, it should be cheaper to fraudulently access those accounts. N.B. "Identity Theft" is also a great song by Nellie McKay.

Acting on good advice, I got Soft Claws for the cat. So far, I've managed to glue a total of one soft claw onto the ten front claws that need 'em. But I'm a marathoner--I have patience, and I will get him shod.

It's still cold but sunny, and I still need to run after work. Headed to Wasilla this weekend for some birthday luau goodness. More to come.

Did you pay attention in high school English?

From today's USA Today, a newspaper, that, if it were a breakfast cereal, would come with a lame toy and have an easy-to-solve maze on the back:

Thomas Stuckey, an FAA regional chief of inspectors, was given unspecified new duties four days after testimony before Congress focused on violations and other problems at Southwest Airlines, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said.

Granted, I didn't hear it with my own ears, but I'm pretty sure a government spokesperson wouldn't mention a work reassignment and a pending investigation in the same paragraph. Just a hunch.

Here, I'll fix it for you:

Four days after testimony before Congress focused on violations and other problems at Southwest Airlines, Thomas Stuckey, an FAA regional chief of inspectors, was given unspecified new duties, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said.

Better?

They're selling postcards of the hanging

The Pulitzer Prize judges gave an honorary award to Bob Dylan today, citing his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." Good work, recognizing the best songwriter of the last century--it's only 40 years overdue.

All Right Now

I'm happy that the Stanford women are headed to the NCAA Finals for the first time in a loooong time. Unfortunately, the men got knocked out by Texas in the Sweet Sixteen round, but still a good year for both basketball teams.

Can't believe I have to report for jury duty tomorrow. Grumblegrumble.

It's feeling springlike, sunny and somewhat warmer (and muddy). I gutted it out for 18 miles today--I don't know if I've ever slacked off more in training for a marathon. Oh well--thank goodness for muscle memory. At least I know my legs can carry me for 26 miles in Oklahoma City next month.

You should all check out my friend Kathy's site, which has some amazing photos!