Meme’d

Got tagged by Greg.  So:

1. Name a book you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies:

I gave several copies of Hell In A Handbasket as holiday presents.  But I actually put up a whole list of books I liked not long ago, so I refer you there.

2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music:

Believe it or not, the theme to I Dream of Jeannie
I was in music school for a while in my 20s, and our composition course
was just getting to rhythmic variations on a simple theme, changing
melody but maintaining the basic bounce.  And we had all these
hifalutin examples in Beethoven and whatnot.  But later I was back in
the dorm, and the lesson was still in my head as I flipped on my tiny
TV, and on comes a rerun… and sure enough: doooo-dit,
doo-dit-da-doo-dit, etc.  Sure, it’s a pedestrian example.  But
suddenly I was hearing rhythm in a new way.

3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue:

Spinal Tap.  And anything by Monty Python.  And Galaxy Quest.

4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief:

The regulars on any of the CSI
shows, especially the leads.  Even when their characters may have
little arc in a given scene, or are forced to spout dense science and
make it sound almost casual, or sometimes are given nothing on the page
beyond (off his look) and then "let’s go."  And they make it rich
enough that even though I’ve stood right there, watching them do lines
I wrote, knowing damn well what I contributed was not much and not all
that great… and they made it good.  I still believed it in the final show.

Most of the people over there are pretty brilliant, in every department
of the show.  But the actors… man, those people can bring it. 

5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with:

The Yellow Submarine cover art.  But in real life.  Like a real submarine and all.

6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life:

1984, unfortunately.

7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh:

Galaxy Quest: "That was a badly written episode!"

If you haven’t seen it, see it.  One of the great comedy scripts ever.  Waaaaay underappreciated.

Libby trial: prosecution implicates Cheney

Think Progress has MSNBC’s video: Fitzgerald’s opening statement contained a great deal more than anybody was expecting: claims that Cheney himself was directly involved, and that Libby destroyed evidence.

This means exactly nothing yet, of course.  It’s early in the game, and
Cheney’s not on trial here.  But there’s also the court of public
opinon.  (Actually, the public already despises the guy.  I should say
"the court of media opinion.")  This might get interesting.

Firedoglake is where you should go for all things Libby and Plame.  Always has been.

And while you’re there, keep sending your love to Jane.