Angloesque

Reply to Ignorant Americans or Lonely Europeans? in International JoeUser Forums

I just love these massive generalizations--on both sides of this blog in particular. I want to argue, but where do I start? The use of the term "average American," the open-ended, semi-rhetorical, unanswerable questions staged as rhetoric, the idea that we "average Americans" are oblivious to world affairs, the suggestion that the "average European" can't name most of the nations of Africa, the fact that the author seems to think s/he's speaking for th

Reply to Excuse me ma'am, but is your breast ticking? in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Bras are already uncomfortable enough without sticking explosives, weapons, or other pointy things in them. -A.

Reply to Thumpers Mum was right in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I never knew a deer could be so freaken smart All the ones in my neck of the woods are freakin' stupid, what with jumping on the road in front of cars, so clearly there was a reason Bambi's mom made it to the silver screen. Too bad she died: intelligence and acting ability, that's more than most Hollywo

Reply to "Don't Waste the Pretty" in Personal Relationships JoeUser Forums

I hadn't heard this "don't waste the pretty" phrase until I read this last night--and then I heard it twice today. Reminds me of all the self-help books in Bridget Jones: The edge of reason (not the stupid movie; the book). I suppose there will come a time when I'll read them, but I'll always pretend it's for my own cynical amusement, not self-help. Somehow I can't stand the idea that someone is profiting off my weakness (and in this case, particularly

Reply to I used to dress nicely in Misc JoeUser Forums

You shop at Wal-Mart? I'm going to have to reconsider our e-friendship. Grr. -A. (tangent: Don't you hate it when someone only picks up on a tiny bit of your article and misses the entire point? People like that make me sick!) -A2.

Reply to WOO HOO! Harry Potter VI is coming out in July! in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I have an idea how it is going to end... Want to hear it? No.... I think that Harry (near the end of the last book) gets killed by Voldemort; however because of his rela

Reply to WOO HOO! Harry Potter VI is coming out in July! in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Wow. Typing is not working out for me tonight. I had to delete that last message. Let's try again: My roommate sent me an email entitled "WOO HOO" this morning about the book coming out. A common sentiment expressed by all good and true and loyal HP fans. <img src="../images/smiles/smile.gif" b

WOO HOO! Harry Potter VI is coming out in July! in Current Events JoeUser Forums

All dignity aside--I'm delighted that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is getting released in the U.S. and the U.K. on July 16. 12:01 a.m., of course, though I intend to have my order into Amazon or some other site so that it will be delivered to me and I won't have to wait for our local bookstore to restock. So seven months.... That's gonna se

Reply to "Merry Shitmas" and other whoopsie-daisies in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I hope you managed to enjoy that sunshine for those few minutes at least. Somehow enjoying the sunshine wasn't the first thing on my mind, given the timetable. <TABLE cellpadding=8 width="95%" align=center bgColor=#FFF394 class="

Reply to Holiday Correctness in Politics JoeUser Forums

Hmm. That sounds trollish. I only meant the application of political correctness to the holiday season. Something like that. -A.

Reply to Holiday Correctness in Politics JoeUser Forums

Wow. I have never loved this season more than when I read stuff like this. -A.

"Merry Shitmas" and other whoopsie-daisies in Blogging JoeUser Forums

My aunt (in law) sent us a Christmas package--very sweet of her. In it, she included candy, a little sled knick-knack, and some wooden blocks with letters and pictures on them, the idea being that they're supposed to spell out "Merry Christmas." They don't. Hence the blog title (they do spell that). * This began promisingly: A few minutes ag

Reply to And she lived happily ever after. in Personal Relationships JoeUser Forums

OMG OMG OMG !!!!! Yup. You pegged it. Have you been there before? Silliness. And stupidity. I actually posted this over there and am waiting to see how badly I get flamed. Perhaps I shoudl borrow your flame-retardant suit? (Still of my favorite blogs, btw.) <TABLE cellpadding=8 width="95%" alig

And she lived happily ever after. in Personal Relationships JoeUser Forums

Once upon a time there was a Bride. Bride got engaged to Groom. As soon as the ring was on her finger, Bride knew she wanted to get married at the rooftop restaurant where Groom proposed: under the stars, with a string quartet and Pachabel's Canon in D and a fluffy tulle gown and a seven-course dinner of lobster and baby cow. When she contacted Rooftop's ma

Reply to Kicking and screaming, we enter the cellular age in Gadgets & Electronics JoeUser Forums

555-1212? I knew I could call you if I ever needed any information. -A.

Reply to Very Little Beats The Smell Of Coffee In The Early Morning in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Ahhh, Kona coffee. We had that on our honeymoon. Good stuff. I want to know what the 90% is that's not Kona coffee, though. On Kauai, we went to a coffee plantation and brought back a bag of it. I preferred to to the Kona, though it's now gone. And alas, we're back to buying the fair trade coffee now, which is okay but not quite the same. I read this as I made my latte this, er, afternoon. <img src="../images/smiles/smile.gif" border=0 ALIGN="

Reply to Kicking and screaming, we enter the cellular age in Gadgets & Electronics JoeUser Forums

Arms, legs, and mouth inside the car all the time. Also don't honk the horn too loudly--that really irritates other drivers. So what's your number? I know a telemarketing company who needs a few new ones..... -A.

Giuliani "hurt" by Kerik scandal in Politics JoeUser Forums

Yahoo! news is running this headline: "Giuliani Hurt by Scandal Around Former Top NY Cop," referring to Bernard Kerik. The beginning paragraph begins much in the way a backpage teaser on a Harlequin romance novel might: "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Illicit affairs, mob ties, a secret love nest. The hijinks of Bernard Kerik, disgraced just as he aspired to join President Bush

Reply to Blogging with more than our minds in Blogging JoeUser Forums

There are few people on this board for whom I might succumb to drama, if drama means coming to their defense. Mostly I just wish we could all just get along. *sigh* -A.

Reply to Sometimes Judges get it right... in Politics JoeUser Forums

Oh, and I love that the guy's lawyer has to do homework about why he shouldn't be sanctioned. That just makes my day: Lawyers working without pay. -A.

Reply to Sometimes Judges get it right... in Politics JoeUser Forums

While I think the handrails ought to be fixed . . . hooray that one judge has his head screwed on correctly! I can't believe the guy's made a living off of lawsuits. THAT is what's wrong with America's legal system. Sue for change, maybe, but not for a living. Eeeeeediot. -A.

Reply to Shoving help down a family member's throat in Home & Family JoeUser Forums

Well, maybe if they weren't serving Fried Chicken in the MORNING, he'd still be around now, wouldn't he? (sorry, couldn't resist). I have to admit that this story is just too bizarre for my logic to comprehend. I heard it third-hand, from my mom from my grandparents, so I'm sure there are some issues wi

Reply to Just say NO to a Division 1-A College Football playoff in Sports & Leisure JoeUser Forums

What kid wants to freeze his nuts off in Montana in December? If I were a guy, I'd raise my hand. I'd play football in any weather. Doing it in the cold would make me feel even tougher. Plus, Montana in December is beautiful. After the game you can go hang out at a hot springs. <img src="../ima

Reply to Shoving help down a family member's throat in Home & Family JoeUser Forums

Danny: Yeah, you'd think my grandma wold get the hint by now. But she doesn't. Fortunately, this time our calls won't fall on a deaf ear at her insurance agency. TW: Isn't that a great quote? I wish I'd written it. Best wishes to you and yours, too. Raven: Last year my students debated elderly drivers, but they had a hard time justifying adding these kinds of tests to elderly drivers and finding a suitable age to do so, since it varie

Reply to Jury recommends execution for Scott Peterson in Current Events JoeUser Forums

It's cheaper on the taxpayer for the guy to sit in prison than to go through the zillions of appeals for decades until they finally kill him, if it even happens. Therefore, I'm in favor of the cheaper method. And I'm fairly sure that the small number of deaths as a result from capital punishment don't serve as much of a deterrent, so that makes it something of a lame duck. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it (I wasn't on the jury, I wouldn't know), bu