Publicist: Patrick Swayze dies at 57

Oh, Johnny Castle. I'll never find a boyfriend as awesome as you ;_;

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get together a game plan to harass my dad into getting a full physical ASAP.

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oh that subject line is unintentionally incredibly tasteless, isn't it? D:

Man, I am done with people dying. Do you hear me, world? DONE.

Moveon.org is passing this video around today and I'm struck anew with how much there was to admire about Teddy Kennedy, Senator. Teddy Kennedy, Playboy, maybe not so much, but the Senate lost one of its greatest members last night. I keep thinking about not only his political career, but stories from people like Joe the Biden and Orrin Hatch and the 9/11 widow they interviewed on NPR this morning about how gracious and caring and open a man Kennedy was behind the scenes. I'm going to miss his bluster and his big Irish head.



And y halo thar shoutout to Lolhio Senator Sherrod Brown. Good on you, sir, for repeatedly turning down the Congressional healthcare plan until we have a comparable one of our own. So let's actually get that comparable one, yeah?

PS
I did not win the jackpot. :(

Poll #1440691 Favorite John Hughes movie
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 21

Yes, I'm making you choose just one:

I'm ljishie at Twitter, btw. I promise not to crosspost but this could be my new The Meme for posting random and bizarre crap at all hours, so, you know, beware. Or rejoice that it's not on your flist instead! (How's that username for an example of stunning creativity, btw? Sigh.) Anybody have one they want me to follow? Mine's basically just a virtual geek- and starfucker right now.

Over the last few days, I've been skulking around Harry Shearer's HuffPo post about New Orleans and can I just say how much I freaking love that he's getting into well-reasoned debate in his comments? SO SO MUCH.

If you're of a certain age - an age that sees very little that is hip or retro about the nightmare fashions we wore in the 80s; seriously, nightmare - odds are pretty much even that you had the same folder I did when you were growing up. And if you didn't, you wanted it like you had never wanted anything else in your life. (And if you didn't, dude, I don't even know you.)

You know the folder I'm talking about: MJ standing against a wall, looking ridiculously adorable in a horrible yellow sweater, a fake record sticking out of the top of the thing like you were carrying your spelling papers and some seriously funky kick-ass pop down to Mrs Campbell's room like a grown-up kid who got to change classes instead of sitting in the same boring room all day long.

My mom found mine just last weekend in a bunch of stuff at her house - well, she found two, actually, because my sister and I had the exact same everything - and brought it down. We laughed ourselves sick over the childhood drawings and school papers tucked inside. At one point I looked down at the folder in my lap and it was like I was six, seven, eight years old again. Michael Jackson truly was my first Fake Celebrity Boyfriend, even before I understood what that meant exactly, and the only ringtone I've ever purchased in my life was "Thriller" (still my default ring btw). He turned out to be an incredibly fucked up individual, a man to pity or revile or both, but the impact of his music and his performances was and is undeniable.

Last year for my birthday we went to Cleveland and visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Amid the geeking out I was doing over Bruce's guitar, Keef's stupid top hat, Run's Adidas, and Elvis' jumpsuit, there was this moment when I looked into a display case and just kind of had this moment of total shock. It was one of the gloves - that glove - and a besequined white poofy sock that looked like the ones we wore two pairs at a time, all slouched down and ridiculous-looking. It was kind of embarrassing to see, I mean, that's what we swooned over? Seriously? In a case, under a spotlight, it looks like the sad old sock once worn by a ridiculously talented but weird man that it is. But at the same time, it was so thrilling to have it right there in front of me.

It's been a long time since Michael Jackson was someone I admired, but the news yesterday still felt like a punch to the gut. I guess you never really do get over your first crush, do you?

So, I've basically spent the last day or so fighting with myself over this auction and I have not yet plunked down my hard-earned money for one of my very own. Nor do I plan to! Yay for possessing a modicum of self-control!

But oh how nice it would look on my desk. And how Nearest Cubicle Neighbor would envy it! I can even very nearly justify the purchase to an almost-not-entirely-unbelievable-and-ridiculous degree! Um, but I did fork over money probably better spent on, like, food and gas and rent and insurance, on an armful of overpriced used books today, so...

Okay, seriously. It should be physically impossible to be this much of a complete and utter nerd.

AND APPARENTLY I HAVE TOO MANY TAGS DDD:

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OMG Arthur C Clarke died today? ;_______;

:(

I was packing up some stuff from my bureau last night and found the Rolling Stone that was published the week after he died.

...I may have cried a little bit. But only a little bit! Seriously, as sad as it is that he's gone, it's still such a thrill to be able to listen to the music he created while he was here. (As well as the music he didn't get to finish: I'm hoping that Dhani and Olivia Harrison still have some unfinished tracks up their sleeves.)

Anyway. Not a perfect guy (er, still sadfacing over that deflowering story D:), but one I miss very much.

And now it's time for chocolate and All Things Must Pass.

(Yes, that's right. The All Rolling Stones, All The Time juggernaut is taking a hiatus today.)