Great column in Slate about the Valerie Plame story. I couldn't agree more - and it makes me sick that not ONE news organization thought it newsworthy enough to report that a White House official had made such a suggestion. How is that possible?

They say the preppy look is back. But I have to ask - did it ever really go away?

I don't know what's more distressing - the results of this survey about women over 40 -- or the fact that it was published in AARP's magazine.

Sometimes I REALLY don't understand my husband. We lived together for three years before we got married - and during that time we established some habits that continue to this day (we've been together now about 15 years.) We still have separate checking accounts (we have a joint account but it's rarely used) but even more bizarre than that -- we have separate laundry baskets. He does his -- and I do mine.

I think it started when we realized our opposite (the operative word in our relationship) preferences in towel usage. He insists on using a fresh towel every day after a shower; I use a large bath sheet and will go several days using the same towel. Hence, the separate laundry bins.

To make a long story short, as I was leaving to make the shuttle to VA Thursday morning, I threw my towel in his basket. I come back tonight and I find the towel - unwashed - back in my laundry bin. He says he didn't have enough room. Now, given the number of towels he goes through every week, this shouldn't surprise me. But it does. I think he just doesn't want to wash one of my towels. After 15 years, don't you think that's strange? Maybe he's trying to tell me something. Will have to analyze this to death and then confront him - say after we've both had a long day and are both cranky and then we'll get to the bottom of it. I'm sure of it.

I can't believe it's been almost a week. I know I should be outraged about something but all I am is tired. Way too much to do. Just got back from spending four days in VA trying to help my parents and brother deal with the aftermath of the accident. Luckily, it's now mostly dealing with insurance companies - not that there's not plenty of outrage to come from that. Just glad they're both doing okay. My brother goes back to work Tuesday - and my dad just has to take it slow. We'll see how that goes...

I'm tired of the California recall. And why should anyone be surprised that cameras were allowed in this hearing. I'm not outraged anymore - I'm just bored with all of them.

I think Gray Davis should buy everyone in the State of California an hallucinegenic of some kind. Yes, even the youngsters. And double doses to Republicans. Then when everyone comes down off the trip, we can just say maybe it's the drugs talking. That's where I am anyway.

My dad went by ambulance to Mt. Vernon Hospital around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. I haven't been thinking too much about blogging since Saturday morning. But I'm thankful I have Outrage.com to come home to. My father was released from the hospital tonight - not sure why - but that's my own fault for not heading to Virginia right away. I never thought I'd be the kind of "adult child" that wouldn't drop everything and go running. But both my dad and my mom said to wait - there was nothing I could do while he was in the hospital, my sisters and brother are nearby (my brother lives with my parents) and there would be plenty to do later -- so everyone, including me, said.

Well I've just spent the last three hours trying to find out where all of the "hardware" the hospital ordered for him is tonight. Because it certainly isn't with my dad. He has pneumonia - the result of two fractured ribs sustained in a car accident that was completely the fault of the other driver. My dad grew up indoctrinating us with the mantra "there's no such thing as an accident." And I believed him. Well this one was - and nothing short of a magic wand -- or the other driver actually paying attention -- could have prevented this one.

But the runaround my mother, my sister and I have received tonight from a health care service provider has been beyond outrageous. If the hospital bed doesn't arrive, my dad will have to sleep sitting up in a chair. Odds are he's back in the hospital by the weekend. And don't even get me started about the hospital "care" he received. I knew this when Kevin's parents got sick -- and died -- of cancer a few years ago but I am now more convinced than ever that anyone who is against healthcare reform in this country has either never been a patient in a hospital -- or as never cared about anyone they know that has. It's an outrage of epic proportions.

How the once mighty have fallen. I sat in a room at AOL headquarters in early 2001. They wanted us to give them our content and pay THEM $8 million. This couldn't have happened to a better group of people. (Note: thought this had published Thursday night - went to draft instead.)

As Hurricane Isabel approaches the DC area, the federal government has shut down - but what strikes me as bizarre is that the entire Metro subway system is...closed. Maybe I'm spoiled by the New York City subway system, but I can't imagine what would happen here if the MTA decided to close the subway in anticipation of a storm - by the time it reaches DC there's no telling what type of storm it will be. I keep shaking my head about it, trying to figure it out.

I love a good storm as much as the next person. And in fact we had rented an oceanfront cottage just north of Kill Devil Hills when Hurricane Charlie rolled through in 1986 - it was wild riding it out. The wind is so strong the rain feels like tiny little daggers hitting your skin. Hurricane's are very...loud. And then when the eye passes over, it's so quiet you think you've died and gone to heaven. Or at least that's what I thought at 24.

Bush contradicts Cheney and flat out states that Hussein was not tied to 9/11. So how is it that 70 percent (give or take a few) of Americans polled think that Hussein was directly involved in the events of September 11? How is there that much confusion over this?

Just when you think this story (registration required) can't get any better. I won't get too deep into it until I hear what the Supreme Court has to say but how ironical is it that the hanging chad may now work for the Democrats, or at the very least, Gray Davis. Stay tuned...

Six-figure book deal for Jayson Blair. The outrage continues...

Boy if this headline isn't the understatement of the millenium - and yes, I know we're only a few years into it. Believe me, I know.

Major high and major low this weekend. Saw Springsteen (yes, again, and I'm not done yet) on Saturday night with my mom, my older sister and my nephew - plus a few friends. He was great. Especially all his digs at Dick Cheney.

But all thoughts vanished right into the air Sunday morning when the phone rings and it's my dad - who had just been in a pretty bad accident. He and my brother were hit while on the GW Parkway. They're both okay - except my dad has two rib fractures and he's in a lot of pain. My brother was banged up but appears to be feeling better. The car's likely totalled but the insurance machine is just now taking over.

I can't begin to share all of the thoughts that went through my mind - and the only thing that keeps me steady is knowing that it could have been so much worse. But that doesn't help either one of them deal with the pain they're in now - specially my dad. I'd do anything to switch places with him - but my mom tells me there's no point in thinking like that. And I know she's right - but it doesn't stop the feeling.

The hardest part? Going to the wrecking yard where the car had been towed - and seeing my dad's glasses lying on the floor behind the driver's seat. I lost it a little then. Today, I keep imagining the impact that would cause the specs to fly. Hopefully that mental image fades - but not completely. It reminds me how lucky we are that they're both still here.

More evidence in this article of the police state that was once known as America, courtesy of Donald Rumsfeld.

Listening to children read the names of WTC victims was not easy emotionally. It turns out it wasn't easy period as I drove into work this morning. I wish the NY radio stations had kept quiet and had just let the names be read - though I guess it's too much to ask for a few hours of air time. It's weird going about business as usual today because I remember so clearly what happened September 11, 2001 and what it was like from my office in midtown - three blocks from Grand Central and two blocks from the U.N. But I still can't imagine what it must have been like for people living and working in lower Manhattan, though the transcripts from that day give an inkling.

Another question - is anyone looking for that Captain that wrote a letter to the president - from which he quoted so extensively in his speech Monday night? I'd like to know exactly who he is.

Not that I've had a job recently that pays overtime. But I'm still glad to hear the Senate blocked Bush overtime regulations for the people who will be affected. Who knows where this will end up but it's nice for the Democrats to stand up for something -- and win. Where's that $87 billion going to come from again? (Don't worry - that question just keeps popping into my head every so often. It helps to write it out so don't be surprised if you see that question frequently. Since I'm thinking it frequently. Just another sign that if it's up here - finger pointing to temple - it eventually makes its way here.)

Too much news today. I haven't quite figured this one all the way out yet but why sue an airline because a group of fanatics decides to turn their jetliners into a missile? To claim that negligence played a role here is disturbing. I could see if every airline but United and American had armed air marshalls, impenetrable doors and air tight security systems. No airline had this prior to 9/11. Given the judge's rationale, I hope every gunshot victim -- and the person using the gun - goes ahead and sues the manufacturer of the weapon -- and the bullet makers too for that matter. Because any reasonable person could anticipate a scenario where the gun takes someone's life. If it's possible, I guess they're all liable, right?

This also comes at a time when more than half of those eligible haven't filed for compensation from well-endowed victims' funds. So whose got it together enough to sue? But I digress.

I can't imagine what it must be like for the survivors or the victim's families - but I was in New York City that day and I'll never forget seeing the walking wounded as we all walked across the 59th Street Bridge. The court decision includes the Port Authority - which lost more than 40 employees on 9/11 - Boeing and the WTC building owners. That this somehow should have been prevented rests not with businesses - who are really victims in this too - but with our elected officials and a beauracrtic system that failed all of us. If this is about blame and anger, can't we place that blame and anger where it rightfully belongs? How will suing American, United and the Port Authority resolve anything?

I wasn't upset that Bush chose not to attend 9/11 ceremonies at Ground Zero. There are a lot of factors that go into scheduling decisions for public officials - believe me this is something I know about. But I am upset that he's chosen tomorrow to push his own agenda - whether it's for more police state power for the Patriot Act or plans to visit soldiers wounded in Iraq at Walter Reed. I can't stand listening to him - reading what he said today (registration required) isn't much better - but at least I don't have to hear his voice.

It's a continued effort to connect 9/11 and his ill-conceived invasion of Iraq -- in order to convince people that by invading Iraq we've dealt with the 9/11 terrorists. It's an insult to every soldier that's served in Iraq - and it's an insult to every American who can put two and two together. Not to mention an insult to the victims of 9/11 and their families. His actions are manipulative (registration required), opportunistic, deceitful and shameful - and if I were a soldier, or related to one, I'd refuse to acknowledge his presence. Wait, now I want to tell you how I really feel about this.

Britney Spears never really bothered me before - until I read this article. What kind of zombie planet does she live on? Has she read 1984? And more importantly, I can name 12 people (who I see every day or am related to) that offer far more intelligent opinions. But you don't see them quoted on MSNBC, now do ya?

Her comments are the sort of thing that most people just brush aside. But I can't. Because it's that kind of mindless, vapid, infantile pablum that's keeping people from being as outraged as I am about what's happening to our government and to our republic. I've known for some time that my worst character flaw (okay maybe not my worst, but it's definitely in the Top 10) is that crazy people make me crazy. And this is just crazy talk. So why does the Fourth Estate continue to give play to this sort of nonsense, when they should really be reporting -- and not offering opinion or regurgitating someone's press release? Sigh.

When you produce a fictonal account of something like 9/11, you'd better be prepared for a review like this one. And juxtaposed with this review of Ric Burns' documentary of the WTC, The Center of the World, makes you wonder why Showtime bothered at all.

Warren Zevon was one of my favorites. He was on my list of famous people I'd like to have a beer with. I think I'll enjoy a sandwich instead.

Back on May 16, I used the word schadenfreude in a post (I was very proud of myself) after seeing it in the Washington Post. Now MSNBC has followed suit in this article about France.

For those of you who have no interest in checking the May archives, it means "enjoyment obtained from the trouble of others." If I were the leader of a country that had opined against invading Iraq, and I received Bush's request for assistance, I would be laughing my ass off. Except it's not funny when U.S. soldiers continue to be killed on an almost daily basis because no plan was effectively executed to rebuild Iraq after we bombed the shit out of it.

And I also note that had anyone in the White House been reading my blog they would have known full well that guerilla warfare was the next phase of engagement. I told anyone willing to listen that this war would not end when we said it would. For my loyal six readers, I salute you. What could those dunderheads at the Pentagon be thinking if they don't wake up each morning and say to themselves - Self, I wonder what's outraged Ellen today. I love the fantasy world I live in. Really I do.

Eliminating the celibacy requirement for priests (registration required) reminds me of the Shakers. That sect has dwindled to a handful due to...forced celibacy and no new members.

What would be so terrible here? Celibacy/no marriage was necessary in the early days of the RC church - I'll grant you. When you own that much property, you need to make sure it stays in the family. That doesn't apply in the 21st century. If the Vatican doesn't have enough legal means to protect its assets, they should throw in the towel and be done with it.

And in the interest of full disclosure, it is my hope that if priests are allowed to have sex and marry (and no the two are not mutually exclusive), the Vatican might realize that women priests won't be so terrible after all. And who knows what impact it will have on the pedophilia problem. But I am not holding my breath. These letters can be summed up in the closing salutation: Fraternally yours in the Lord. Sigh.

Bush said today that the gigantuan - my own word that's somewhere in between gigantic and gargantuan - deficit is "nobody's fault" in clips from an interview shown on the Today show today. How is $400 billion - with a projected deficit of $1.4 trillion - TRILLION - no one's fault? But then he went on to say that responsibility for the deficit can be broken down this way: half is due to the recession; a quarter is due to the war on terror; and the remaining quarter? due to "tax relief." So if it's HIS tax relief plan - isn't he to blame for the deficit?

Bush claiming credit for improved economy? Isn't that sort of like claiming the war was over in Iraq? Economic indicators that say we're more productive with fewer workers makes little sense to me - there have been too many stories I've heard over the past 12 months from people feeling abused and frustrated. Will be watching for today's unemployment numbers.

I don't begrudge elected officials receiving a COLA. It's more about timing for me. The only thing that tempers my outrage over the Congressional pay raise is that they at least had the decency to restore raises to federal workers at the same time. (I have family who are federal employees.) But for the rest of us, particularly those of us who continue to search for full time employment more than a year after being laid off, it makes you wonder what exactly our representatives are doing to earn their raise.

If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck and it smells like a duck - it's a duck, right? Boy, this one stinks to high heaven.

Back on April 8, I mentioned this position and how I wouldn't want to ever have this job. It's September. Multiply that by 10.

Does ANYONE tell the truth anymore? If the Houston school system is any indication, maybe we need a Sarbanes-Oxley Act for our educational system too. Just when I think it can't get much worse...

Went to see Springsteen for the second time on Saturday the 30th - completely forgot about this until I saw this Salon article. At each concert (at least in NJ), Bruce makes a short speech about the need for all of us to demand honesty from our elected officials. He's very careful to point out that it's "not a Democrat or Republican, or a conservative or liberal issue - it's an American issue," as he puts it. And I believed him. Until Saturday.

That night, he followed up with a plug for Al Franken's book - "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right"- before breaking into Land of Hope and Dreams. I haven't read Franken's book yet - but non-partisan he isn't.

Is it me or does MoveOn.org and Meetup.com seem to be everywhere lately?

I don't know which is more telling - Arnold's admission that he made stuff up for Oui magazine, that he doesn't show up for last night's candidate debate or that he was pelted with an egg while working a crowd in Long Beach. I'll let you know when I figure it out.

So there's another outbreak on a cruise ship. Is there a pattern here somewhere? Or is this pretty typical - and was just underreported for years? Either way, best of luck to those Regal Princess passengers leaving for Canada tomorrow.

I've been writing for a blog that's focused on November 2004. I almost forgot that there are a couple of races worth talking about this year. This race is one of 'em.