The fall and rise of Melina Reilly

I didn't get where I am today by reading romance novels. That's why I'm reading The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.

Actually, I bought the Reginald Perrin Omnibus, which is the Poms' way of selling you several books within one book binding.

I surfed over to the author's Web site and was interested to read more about how Reggie Perrin got started. Initially an idea for a one-off television drama, David Nobbs decided to keep the idea and turn it into a book after the idea was rejected by the BBC. For the uninitiated, Reginald Perrin is a fortyish marketing executive who decides he must escape his suburban existence. But before he does, he continues to pretend to take his job seriously. Here's a shortish clip here featuring his two sales executives.

I was fortunate enough to see the lead, Leonard Rossiter, on stage at the National Theatre in The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, a play I found rather dated but worth seeing for Rossiter's performance. He was certainly more than a one-hit wonder.

Senator McCaskell lets the chips fall where they may

I don't know if the salary cap bill suggested by Senator Claire McCaskell would work. But I'm not remotely convinced that any TARP bailout, economic stimulus plan, or anything similar will work either. (They seem too much like throwing good money after bad, but what does a liberal arts major know.)

But you still have to admit that it was refreshing to hear a politician refer to the proponents of corporate greed as idiots.

See Claire in action here.

Thoughtful parting words from GWB to Obama

I understand that it is now tradition for a departing President to leave a note for the incoming Prez. Needless to say, considering who just left, there's been a lot of guessing what advice GWB's note might have contained.

Over at Salon.com, a few readers decided to publish what they thought the note probably contained:

1.
They told me to stay away from the red button, so it must be importanticant.
Just thought you should know.

2.
Dear Pretzeldent,

When you speak to the nation from behind the big desk, you don't actually have to wear pants. It's TRUE! They can't see you from the belly down at all.

Dad did it, I did it, and you know Billy Boy Clinton did it (don't worry, we had the chair re-upholstered since then). The A/C don't work so well in the summer so this is good to know.

Also, Marilyn Monroe was an alien. Nancy Reagan, too. Heh. Gotcha! It's just Marilyn.

Good huntin' and don't work too hard,

-W 43

3.
See Colin was wrong about the Pottery Barn rule. I broke everything and I don't own it...you do.
-- Debt free

4.
Dere Brock,

I never figyured this one out in ate years, but mebbe you can. Clintin left me a note sane that if I ever needed an antser to a hard cwestchin, I'd find it in the corner of this offis.

5.
"Presidentulating's hard. Don't be afraid to take a little vacation every other month or so."

6.
My dear B.O.,

Before you hold me accounterable, I just thought I 'd like to let you know I have a copy of your Kenyan Birth Certificate.

BTW - I put super glue on the seat of your chair.

7.
Howdy Barack -

Enjoy the gig. Me & the boys hooked you up with some sweet new executive powers. Don't be afraid to use 'em and abuse 'em!

8.
Dear Brock:

I votted for you. Dont tell Dick or he'l beat me up agin.

You're bigest fan,

George W. Bush, numb. 43

P.S. I votted for Al G. and J. Kary to!!!

9.
Dear 44

"whenever I've gotten into a jamb or in over my head. I always call my dad and he fixes things. My national gaurd career, my business career, you name it, he'd get me out of it...should have used him more during the last eight years. Here's his number: 000-555-5555. Give him a call, he can make bad business deals or AWOL go away with equal skill.

Love ya, GWB.

10.
Dear Incoming President Osama

Don't forget that Wensday is Prince spagetty day. Laura always let me get an extra meatball, but it makes you kinda gassy. Maybe you should stick to the regular serving.

11.
Dear #44:

Pardon my mess.

And after the war crimes tribunals, would you kindly pardon me, too?

12.
"The whiskey's in the potted plant to your left."
(PS: Don't tell Laura.)

13.
Barack,

If Cheney refuses to leave office, the directions to his undisclosed location are written on the back of the mirror in the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom. Oh, and don't forget, Wednesday is garbage pick up day. I forgot that once and had to go to war with Iraq.

14.
Dear Barack,

I bent Laura over on this desk.

Yours, George

15.
I know you love a challenge...
...so I left things as messed up as I could.

There are quite a few more over at Salon.com, but these were some of my favorites...

Jerry Jones flips

Much to my embarrassment, I cannot identify a single football player in this ad. All I know is that none of them can sing. Can anyone help me out?

Uh oh...jobs equal Democrats!

A friend of mine sent me a link from the Web site townhall.com. To call the site "conservative" is an insult to my sane conservative friends.

Anyway, the link was to a story dated Jan.16th. The author claimed that Obama's plans to create jobs was dangerous, because if he created any federal jobs, these employees would most probably vote Democrat. This would make it more difficult for Republicans to eventually "retake the White House".

As they say over at Private Eye: Shome mistake, shurley? Especially when you realize that the author of the Jan 16th story was/is a career politician. What's in his wallet, I wonder? In other words, who was paying his salary when he was Ohio's state treasurer and mayor of Cincinnati? (Yes, I know the difference in state and federal funding, but his own resume adds to the idiocy of his argument.)

I am personally feeling cautiously optimistic about the next four years. Part of me feels a bit sorry for a new President with an unprecedented stack o' disasters waiting in the IN tray, but the overall mood seems positive, even from those who are blunt about a future with a lot of challenge and sacrifice.

My service today was a few hours spent down at the cat shelter, helping with vaccinations and similar. I managed to stick myself with a needle, so no worries about my developing feline leukemia in the next 2-3 years. Remind me to booster myself in three weeks, okay?