Links, and a Meme

[selenak]

To get the politics out of the way first: not having been able to watch the debate itself, I was glad to find both a transcript of the real thing and a translation into snark, the later being immensly entertaining, and, when I compared individual points, amazingly faithful, though I wish the snark version were the genuine thing. I mean, between:


Lehrer: New question. Senator Kerry, two minutes. You just - you've repeatedly accused President Bush - not here tonight, but elsewhere before - of not telling the truth about Iraq, essentially of lying to the American people about Iraq. Give us some examples of what you consider to be his not telling the truth.

Kerry: Well, I've never, ever used the harshest word, as you did just then. And I try not to. I've been - but I'll nevertheless tell you that I think he has not been candid with the American people. And I'll tell you exactly how.

First of all, we all know that in his state of the union message, he told Congress about nuclear materials that didn't exist.

We know that he promised America that he was going to build this coalition. I just described the coalition. It is not the kind of coalition we were described when we were talking about voting for this.

The president said he would exhaust the remedies of the United Nations and go through that full process. He didn't. He cut if off, sort of arbitrarily.

And we know that there were further diplomatic efforts under way. They just decided the time for diplomacy is over and rushed to war without planning for what happens afterwards.

Now, he misled the American people in his speech when he said we will plan carefully. They obviously didn't. He misled the American people when he said we'd go to war as a last resort. We did not go as a last resort. And most Americans know the difference.

and

LEHRER: You totally just called BUSH a liar, there, boy. Want to elaborate?

KERRY: I never said “lie.” But sure, I’ll give some examples. He said there were nukes: turns out, no nukes. He said we’d have allies: not so much. He said there’d be planning: clearly not. In conclusion, liar, liar, pants on fire.

which would you prefer?


Speaking of snark, hobsonphile wrote a great essay on Londo/G'Kar for ship_manifesto. If you, oh faithful reader of these ramblings, have ever wondered why I'm all agog over two middle-aged aliens, look it up.

Also: grabbed from skywaterblue, the "five fictional people I'd love to have dinner with" meme. Which, btw, automatically excludes some of my fannish loves like Avon (would think I'm a waste of his time), Bester (maybe ditto; also, I'm a mundane), Magneto (definitely ditto; and with the non-mutant thing...), or Darla (what, do you think I'm suicidal?).

1) Jean-Luc Picard. He'd provide intelligent conversation in a wonderful voice, and could placate waiters frustrated by the fact I don't drink alcohol by a little chat on wine.

2) Londo Mollari. Yes, you're all so surprised. Mind you, depending which point in Londo's life this is, this could either end with him passing out on the table or with me getting poisoned by a political enemy who is trying to get at Londo, but hey - witty conversation and great charm before that would make it worth it. And a rich variety of food would be guaranteed. (Londo not being one for a diet.)

3) Jadzia Dax. Because as opposed to some other fictional characters I love, she'd make me lose my nervousness very soon (she's good at that), she'd know all the menus and a lot more besides, and she's be an inexhaustible source of stories.

4) Bilbo Baggins. No, not Frodo or Sam, or Merry or Pippin, Bilbo. I wouldn't go all protective on him, knowing he's not destined for the Überangst, and would just enjoy the good company. Okay, him smoking would be a downside, but hey, it's just for one evening. Also, he'd help with the dishes afterwards.

5) Mr. Wednesday, aka Odin. I'd have to pay attention so he doesn't con me into anything, but again, great conversation and much charm.

Comments

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

LEHRER: You totally just called BUSH a liar, there, boy. Want to elaborate?

KERRY: I never said “lie.” But sure, I’ll give some examples. He said there were nukes: turns out, no nukes. He said we’d have allies: not so much. He said there’d be planning: clearly not. In conclusion, liar, liar, pants on fire.

*g* Nicely condensed.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*g* That's what I thought.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

*ponders how to wrangle an invitation to this dinner* :)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Will you help Bilbo with the dishes?

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Sure! :)

[ion-bond.livejournal.com]

Would you try to have dinner with all of them at once? Hmmm. I think Picard and Bilbo would get along famously, but Wednesday might get pissy if he wasn't the center of attention. And then you could ALL get poisoned by Londo's enemies.

Do you mind if I friend you?
(Just let me know if you'd rather I shoved off.)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Either dinners a deux with each of them or a dinner with all of them would do. Good point about Wednesday, but between Picard's and my own interest in myth and history, I think we could devote enough attention to him.

Also, if all of us get poisoned by Londo's enemies, Wednesday still survives and can tell the tale of our demise to the next bard writer he meets. (Odin did come up with poetical inspiration, among other things, after all.)

And no, I wouldn't mind at all - hello and welcome!

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fun dinner to me. Very interesting choices.

[muffinmonster.livejournal.com]

Oh, speaking of Odin, have you read Douglas Adams' "Dirk Gently" books, especially the second one, "The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul"? I finally got around to reading them the past week, and the plot and idea behind Tea-Time reminded me quite a bit of "American Gods". I must admit that the books were also so confusing that I'll probably have to read them a second time before I can hope to have understood them, but they're very amusing, Douglas Adams style, obviously ;)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't. Thanks for the tip!

Say, are you in Frankfurt next week? I'll be there for the Book Fair, and maybe we can meet?

[muffinmonster.livejournal.com]

Hmm, also nächste Woche ist eher ungünstig, da ich am Dienstag Vorlesungsbeginn habe und dementsprechend wohl erstmal mit dem typischen Semesteranfangsstress beschäftigt sein werde. (Wird wohl leider auch dieses Jahr nichts mit einem Besuch auf der Buchmesse.)

Wann fährst Du denn zurück nach Hause (bzw. nach Frankfurt)? Hättest Du vielleicht Lust hier eine Zwischenstation einzulegen? Muss ja nicht über Nacht sein, ein Nachmittag mit Kaffeetrinken und einem Eis zwischendurch wäre ja auch schon nicht schlecht *g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Morgen nach Frankfurt, am Sonntag zurück nach München. Das mit dem Zwischenstop ist nicht so einfach, aber vielleicht könnten wir uns am Sonntag auf dem Bahnhof treffen?

Nebenbei, es ist wirklich ein Jammer, ich hätte nämlich eine freie Karte für Dich, und die sind ziemlich teuer...

[muffinmonster.livejournal.com]

Gnrl... Jetzt hast Du mich natürlich ganz schön gereizt, ich hatte ja eh schon die ganze Zeit darüber nachgedacht... Und es ist sowieso eine Schande, dass ich noch nie auf der Buchmesse war! ;) Wie war das nochmal, als normaler Mensch darf man nur am Samstag und Sonntag auf die Buchmesse? Das ginge ja eigentlich, am Wochenende habe ich ja Gott sei Dank keine Vorlesungen. Oder könnte ich in Deiner Begleitung auch an den anderen Tagen rein?

Hmm. Also, ich könnte mir wohl den Freitagnachmittag freinehmen, falls sie mich dann reinlassen, und Du Dir die Besuchermassen an den öffentlichen Tagen nicht antun willst ;) Sonst ginge natürlich auch der Samstag oder der Sonntag. Ich würde dann versuchen, an dem Wochenende noch Sabine (drhyde) zu besuchen, die in Frankfurt wohnt. (Ihr habt Euch auch schon kennengelernt, sie war damals mit bei der Lesung in Worms.) Freitag könnte ich wohl frühestens gegen halb drei da sein, morgens habe ich leider eine sehr wichtige Vorlesung, die ich auf keinen Fall verpassen kann.

Alternativ, falls Du Freitag keine Zeit hast und am Wochenende nicht auf die Messe willst, könnten wir uns natürlich auch so irgendwo in Frankfurt treffen, und ich frage Sabine, ob sie Lust hat mit mir an einem der öffentlichen Tage auf die Messe zu gehen. Das wollten wir eh schon immer mal machen. Nur so als Angebot, da ich von einer Bekannten, die Buchhändlerin ist, weiß, dass das Fachpublikum die Messe an den Wochenenden normalerweise wie die Pest meidet ;)

Was meinst Du?

[illmantrim.livejournal.com]

loving the snark - that would have boosted his points some I think!