Like a lot of people, I have become rather cynical when it comes to both politicians and the internet, but I'm still intrigued by Gary Hart's blog: "The Internet is clearly the most important new medium to help increase people's involvement in a 'primary of ideas.' It's an amazing tool for people to share ideas, talk about their concerns and their dreams, and debate the many important policy ideas that will affect our country's future."

I'll be watching to see what develops...and to see what other politicians join us in the blogosphere.

I spent the night at my sister's place in scenic Nashua, N.H. It always feels like a reprieve from my life--to be a daughter, a sister, instead of just me. I think we tend to forget the simple joys of the sleep-over once we're not 12 anymore. It's nice not being at home, where there are bills to pay, and calls to return, and responsible, grown-up type things to do at all times. Like blogging at midnight. Yeah, like that.

And I got to watch the Villanova-Colorado game with my sister's boyfriend. Okay, part of the game. Men seem to be not so enthralled with women's sports. 'Nova squeaked past Colorado 53-51. Now, prior to their defeat of UConn, I didn't like 'Nova for many reasons (okay, two reasons): They beat BC, and their ultra-slow-mo playing style drives me nuts. I love basketball because it's so fast-paced. They just run the clock down. I'm way too impatient for that. I can't wait to see them play the Lady Vols, who push the tempo at all times.

For all my friends in Denmark, I saw Connie Nielsen in Basic today. Connie is one hot Dane. However, she cannot pull off a Southern accent to save her life. There are a few accents that cannot be faked well: Southern, Scottish, and Southern Californian (I also feel that northern Ohioan is tough--luckily, few attempt that one). If you weren't raised in those places, don't try to pull it off. In addition to Connie's misguided vocalizations, the script was just basically misguided. A little tip to all the screenwriters out there: After the 45th twist in the plot, the audience is lost. And no longer cares what happens to your Dane sporting a poorly rendered Southern accent who did however have a few fun moments kicking John Travolta's ass. If only she would have knocked him hard enough to convince him that a sequel to Battlefied: Earth was really a Very Bad Idea.

In these troubled times, I think it's necessary to reflect on the important things: I'm wearing happy socks today.

Too much is never enough...
...when it comes to Amber Jacobs and BC basketball. ESPN.com has put up it's Top 10 moments from the women's tournament so far...and the last minute shots of Amber Jacobs make up two of their favorites...as does Becky Gottstein's missed foul shots at the end of regulation against Vandy.

BC faces UConn on Sunday, and I'm already gearing up. What an upset that would be.

The New Face of War?

My dad likes to send me links to Air Force news about women in the military. I don't know why he does, because I've never been in the military, nor shown any interest in ever joining. Maybe he does because he knows I'm a self-identified feminist, and, bascially, I dig chicks playing sports or sporting guns. Maybe he does it because he's cool. Either way, when I saw "POW video reopens gender debate" on msn.com this morning, it made me think of him.

Kari Huss asks if the new face of war is a woman's face, since we as a nation are unaccustomed to POW videos including a woman with a child at home. Huss writes, "It was...a reminder of the new face of war — one in which women are playing an ever expanding role closer to the front lines, adding to the debate surrounding their role in the military."

There was never any debate about women in the military for me; if a woman wants to fight, she should be allowed to fight. I was raised right next to Wright-Patterson AFB, so I've always had an understanding of military life, even if I never actually lived it. My dad works on base and just recently retired from the Reserves. In all honesty, I'm so glad he's retired right now, as glad as I am that a friend of mine can also no longer serve. I will admit that, selfishly, I don't want them to fight; I don't want them to die. But really, I don't want to see anyone killed--man or woman--and I don't understand the notion that somehow it is worse if a woman is killed in combat.

Jim asks: If you could have time but no money, money but no time, which one would you choose? If you could have pride but no lover, lover but no pride, which one would it be?

Clearly, that's no money and no lover.

Wow. Put it that way and it's kinda depressing. I gotta stop listening to my iTunes.

She Shoots, She Scores: Part II

Amber Jacobs does it again. She nailed the shot under the basket to beat #4 Vanderbilt in the last seconds of OT. BC is going to the Sweet Sixteen, baby.

Yes, I was screaming and jumping up and down in my living room yet again. My heart was pounding, I was pacing the room, and I couldn’t catch my breath. It was like I was playing the game. Being a fan is hard work, people.

(I should also mention the incredible play of Becky Gottstein and Clare Droesch—did you see Clare sink the shot after twisting her ankle? And then Cathy Inglese puts her back in, limping around the court. This is one tough team. And did I mention they’re going to the Sweet Sixteen?)

I'd like to thank the Academy...
...for keeping me up way past my bedtime. Was it worth it to see Barbra Steisand say, "And the Oscar goes to...Eminem?" Um, yeah. What I wouldn't give to hear what Marshall's acceptance speech would have been. (On a side note, my mom called me at the commercial and asked why the guy who accepted the award didn't thank Eminem. "Uh, Mom? Eminem's real name is Marshall Mathers. He thanked him, like, five times.")

Conservative Academy, my ass. They gave statues to Eminem, Michael Moore, and Roman Polanski. Since Moore was the only one attending, however, the Academy got off easy. I loved Moore's speech, if only because it was exactly what I knew he would say, and I loved Adrien Brody for laying one on Halle Berry, if only because it's what we'd all like to do. (For more highlights, check this.)

I can't get over the fact that Eminem won. I'm going to go around all day saying, "Oscar-award-winning artist Eminem..."

You know how the music in a movie can just affect your mood the entire day? The Moonlight Mile score was amazing and inspired my new iTunes "sad songs" playlist:

School Night Ani DiFranco
Most of the Time Bob Dylan
Not Dark Yet Bob Dylan
Highway Patrolman Bruce Springsteen
Falling Silent in the Dark Catie Curtis
A Long December Counting Crows
Time After Time Cyndi Lauper
Resting Here With Me Dido
Faithfully Journey
Borrow Me Lori McKenna
Tuesday's Gone Lynyrd Skynyrd
Then So It Is Melissa Ferrick
The Letter Natalie Merchant
A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum
Wild Horses The Rolling Stones
Good Enough Sarah McLachlan
In Need Sheryl Crow
Riverwide Sheryl Crow
All I Want Is You U2

And yes, I've been spending too much time with my iBook.

She shoots, she scores!

Amber Jacobs sinks a 3 and then knocks back a 2 to beat ODU 73-72 in the final seconds of the BC-ODU NCAA first-round match-up. Was I jumping up and down and screaming? Um, yeah. And my dog Sam didn't understand why. BC is finally showing what it can do. Of course, they didn't have to let it get so close, but I'll let it go.

March madness, baby, March madness.

So this is it. My first post from my new iBook. Life is good. Okay, life actually isn't that good, but my iBook is sweet. It's the little things, people. Snood for OSX is kinda freaky, so they need to work on that beta a little bit longer. And I haven't installed my OfficeX yet, but all things in due time. Blogging first.

So I did it. I bought a new 14-inch iBook. It's so freaking cute I can barely stand it. I probably shouldn't have bought it, but I figure I'm doing my part to help boost the American economy. Because we're at "war," I need to buy a lot more stuff. Which is why I hit the stores last night and got the Daredevil soundtrack and Ani's latest, Evolve. The jury is not in yet on either one of them, but they sound good so far.

You know when you're watching a show, movie, etc., and something keeps nibbling at the back of your mind? Watching Children of Dune this week has been like that. First is was Leto: Where had I seen him before? Who did he remind me of? Turns out, he reminded me of Knox, aka Josh Charles. I'm also really liking Duncan Idaho, but I think that's just because he's a cool character. You know how I dig the strong, silent types. But then I find out in his bio that he's "widely known" for his short-lived role as Sydney's boyfriend on Alias. The mind remembers things even when our consciousness doesn't, it seems.

I just couldn't resist when I saw this on msn.com this morning.

I finally saw White Oleander this weekend (after finally finishing the book a few months ago). I think I'm developing a little thing for Patrick Fugit--not however, like this person. I have standards, people.

I also saw the first part of Children of Dune last night. My roommate watched with me, lured by the promise of Susan Sarandon. Her final determinatiion (after a valiant hour of watching): "I'm not smart enough for sci-fi." Suspension of disbelief can be hard for some people. It's okay.

And yes, I basically sat on my ass all weekend and stared vacantly at the TV. You got a problem with that?

Losing my art
Caption writing is a lost art. I don't know where I lost it, so if you see it, let me know.

Speaking of stuff that makes me want to weep openly or at least break things: Senate bans partial birth abortions. This really only increases the likelihood of my never sleeping with boys again. "New Republican Legislation Endorses Lesbianism!" Why does no one ever make that the headline?

Because I'm having that kind of day...week...year...life. Whatever. Happy Cloud 9 Day!

"That's where you go with the intention of drinking away the rest of your lives together, the Cloud 9 hotel. You agree to meet when the one of you who went on the wagon falls off again. One of you always leaves the other behind at the Cloud 9. That way, while you're struggling to pull your life together so you can die with something more tangible than shame in your pocket, in the back of your mind you can believe that there's someone back at the Cloud 9 sprawled in a comfy chair trying not to put the bottle down because when it's set on the end table it blocks the HBO."

Word Geeks Unite!
The Plumb Design Visual Thesaurus is wicked cool. It's fascinating to see the relationships between words. An excellent way for those of us who write to waste our time, searching for the ever-elusive inspiration.