The United States Seven Deadly Sins of America

After the liberal talk radio network Air America Radio expired, my usual routine of listening to The Ron Reagan Show at the end of the day was over. So, while seeking out something else to provide background noise, I stumbled upon The Karel Show, on Green960 out of San Francisco (I have to do this on the computer, as there are only conservative talk radio stations in Las Vegas). I recognized Karel by his picture, but I'd no real idea who he was.

It turns out he's a long-time California radio personality, and a writer, and has something of a tumultuous employment history. His program is at turns entertaining, off-putting, funny, irritating. . .I'm really not sure what to make of it yet. The production values seem kind of low, like they're still working the kinks out, and Karel himself--an out gay man who makes no bones about it--is rather mercurial. But when he has a point, he really has a point.

[Excerpt]

A Sinful Nation

. . .on a recent Saturday afternoon [I] found the Brad Pitt/Morgan Freeman movie Se7en on IFC. I've seen the film a few times, but it's so well acted and directed that out of the 546 channels it seemed the best option.

Well, that was a bad idea. Because as I watched the film and watched Kevin Spacey's killer kill his way through these medieval constructs I realized that these seven "deadly" sins are not only no longer "sins," but have replaced the very fabric of our nation. America is "Guilty!" as charged of almost every one. . .

Read on at: Huffington Post

Obesity Epidemic Plateauing?

Photo from New York Post

Hey, finally some good news. We Americans are fat, but we're not getting any fatter! Apparently, they forgot to survey my household. . .

[Excerpt]

Obesity Epidemic In America Shows Signs of Plateauing

The obesity epidemic that has been spreading for more than a quarter-century in the United States has leveled off among women and may have hit a plateau for men, as well, federal health officials reported yesterday.

While the proportion of adults who are obese remains high at more than 30 percent, the rate in 2005 and 2006 was statistically unchanged from the last time government researchers took a national snapshot two years earlier. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Lazy Sunday

Photo from Wikipedia

We're wrapping up the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in a very special way at our house: another Thanksgiving dinner! I mean, what the heck, the 21.5 pound turkey was only $6, and none of us feels quiiiite fat enough yet. So, the big fancy-schmancy dinner was at friend Lesto's house, and the low-frills version is over here.
As a consequence, I will likely only get a post or two up today. I know, no big loss, right? I've perused a few of my favorite blogs, and found them to be remarkably light for the last four days. And you should see my SiteMeter (a service that tells you how many visits you get each day) graph for the week. It's plunged lower than George Bush's, Dick Cheney's (and yes, Congress') approval ratings! I hope everybody comes back after the tryptophan and starch wear off. . .

Labor Day Laziness, On and Offline

Image from ArmisteadMaupin.com

Yes, Labor Day, the holiday supporting work by not doing any! I have to say, it is very welcome. Unlike the Other Half, who works for an airline, and gets the occasional three, four or even five days off or more in a row, I have the type of job most Americans have. Or is that "US Americans?" Miss Teen South Carolina has invaded my brain.

Anyway, my job has many plusses, but one of the minuses is that the odd three-day weekend is rare indeed. It's actually hard for me to believe it's Monday. It sure feels like a Sunday, and it's almost over at that. But other than some housework and errands, it has been a nice lazy day.

I finished a book that I feel like I only just started, Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin. It's a sequel of sorts to the six-book series, Tales of the City. I heartily recommend anything by the author, and particularly the original series, and the televised versions.

It was great to catch up with the characters, but the many years since the last book, the three miniseries with cast changes along the way, and the knowledge that Michael is based somewhat on Armistead made it hard to focus on just who the characters were. And the ending, though a bit upbeat, left me feeling melancholy.

So, I signed on to the blog, fired up the Internet, and found--well, not much of anything. The news is sort of on hold, as are most of the blogs, so I am not alone. Actually, I sort of am alone, as very few readers have found me today. Maybe we all just needed a break. I'm sure when Countdown with Keith Olbermann starts in a few minutes, even Mr. Olbermann is probably away for the day. [Ed: Updated to say, the program isn't even on tonight]. Now, if I could just sleep in tomorrow.

I'll be back later this evening, if only for a couple of nice frivolous posts. I have a few fun things backlogged, even if they're (as usual) apropos of nothing. And as they say, "no news is good news," right?

Oh, and don't tell me that Bush's "surprise" visit to Iraq was news. I've seen enough of these photo-ops to recognize them by now, with or without a plastic turkey.