And you know that how?

Though I try to understand, I have to admit that I don't know much about the current health care debate. I'm aware of the concerns on each side, but I know that I don't know enough to formulate an opinion or be an advocate one way or the other. Is the current proposed plan going to magically fix all of our lives? Probably not. Would it help improve some huge pitfalls? Most likely. That's about as far as I can go.

However, this video has given me courage. I realize now that I have too long hidden my ignorance. Knowledge isn't necessary for misplaced indignation and yelling (hence, "misplaced"). You can just say whatever you want as long as you are loud enough to hide the fact that you don't know what you are saying. It is time to become an ardent supporter of that which I will never fully understand. Where do I get me some cardboard and markers?

For sale: big watermelon, never eaten

Time for some recipes that helped use up a seemingly insurmountable amount of melon. In general, I find that recipes that list things in separate steps are intimidating and hard to read. Therefore, I'm going to pass my laziness off as an attempt to help, by making extraordinarily short recipes. Think of Six Word Memoirs, but without the artistic merit.

Watermelon gazpacho
If you were going to be a truly good cook, you would pick all the seeds out, or at least start out right and get a seedless watermelon. This is really easy to make if you have a Cuisinart (thanks, Mom!). It's also a perfect summer dish, especially for those who may be tomato-challenged. Enjoy, and watch out for a watermelon growing in your stomach after you're done.

Ingredients:
3 cups watermelon
1 cucumber
1 red pepper
1 small onion
2 tbsp lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp parsley/cilantro
salt+pepper
red wine vinegar

1. Put ingredients in Cuisinart.
2. Put what comes out of Cuisinart into fridge.
3. Eat.




This next recipe sure does take a pretty picture, which is all that matters in life.


Watermelon Soda
some amount of club soda
some amount of watermelon juice
some amount of sugar

1. Juice your watermelon by letting it sit in a colander for a while, or by doing it wrong and impatiently and mushing it up with a spoon. Add sugar to taste.
2. Put ice in a glass and pour however much club soda you want.
3. Add some juice/sugar mixture to taste.
4. Drink it. Feel cool for making your own soda. If applicable, feel lame for calling it pop.

We can't all marry Liza Minelli

Right? Taking into account the Arrested Development sign, Liza must be an effective political negotiating tool. Clicking through the whole slideshow, I really can't decide which one is my favorite. However, as with most things in life, it brings me great relief to see that others can tell when no one else knows what's going on. And that it's hilarious once you start to take pictures.

One Fish, Two Fish, Girl Fish...wait a minute...

Since I now spend 2.5 hours in the car every day, coming across cool things on the radio has brings a lot of excitement to my day. I should mention that my definition of excitement is rooted in the fact that if a truck doesn't try to run me off the interstate, it's been a fairly good trip.

Most of this excitement and happiness comes from NPR, though there are other sources that I'll outline eventually. I had to share this story I heard on the way home today, about the prevalence of gender-bending male bass fish in the U.S. Now that I've thought about it, I am reminded of a terrifying primetime special I saw on XXY syndrome in humans, in this case caused by a bee sting (watch out, guys!). However, I burst out laughing when I first heard the fish story. No, I don't think it's ridiculous. However, I do think that these "intersex" fish are going to make the population of bass fishermen highly, highly uncomfortable.


Going back to our literary theme from last time, perhaps the male fish would feel more in touch with themselves if they picked up Middlesex. While I can't come up with one for this book at the moment, please continue to post your own haikus! If you're more into rhyming, do like Ted does and try a limerick, or whatever other kind of poetry floats your boat. Just keep an eye on the fish underneath.

A song that's too good to pass up.

The wind gently blows/As I read in the summer

Book reviews: too long?
Short and sweet in haiku form
Leaves time to read books.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Jean Dominique Bauby
Man of Elle has stroke
Writes book by blinking one eye
Heartbreaking, quite good.

Saturday - Ian McEwan
Rich man, lengthy thoughts
Angry fight, turns tables yet
does nothing - letdown!

Atonement - Ian McEwan
Affair, then child lies
Lots more story, no real end
Sensing a theme here.

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Clones in the future
Efficient, set, but happy?
Good, short, Savage read.

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
You think high school sucked?
Clones become organ donors
Strange: was there a point?

I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle
Nerd woos hot prom queen
In grad night redemption race
Sweet, funny, great read.

Cat's Eye - Margaret Atwood
Woman reviews life
Smart, Canadian Mean Girls
With paintings; insight.

Behind the Scenes at the Museum - Kate Atkinson
Tristam Shandy-style
memoir; large family tree
through years. Funny, smart.

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
Vampire/human love,
Smut for middle school girls, but
Ashamed to say: good.

Now please share your own
To share what's good and what's not
May the best post win.

Slightly related -
Best paper headline ever
On teacher's firing:

"Poetry teacher told to take a haiku."