I bought my first present

Yeah. So I totally bought my first Christmas present. But shhhh! Don't tell Nelly!

"Western-Backed"?

Maybe you've heard about the protest going on in Lebanon right now. So far I have heard the current government of Lebanon (the one being protested) referred to as "western-backed" about a half-dozen times. This is from the New York Times and NPR (my main news sources).

I wonder why they don't refer to the ruling coalition in Lebanon as the "democratically elected government". Yes, they're also backed by France and the USA, but that's not why they are currently in power.

Hezbollah is making a power-grab in Lebanon. They couldn't get power in the elections (possibly because the system is set up so that no one group will dominate; possibly because the majority of the electorate doesn't want them to...) so now they're trying to take power by mob rule. This isn't about the west. This is about Hezbollah vs. the rule of law in Lebanon.

Holiday Shopping

Okay, I've denied it long enough. The holiday shopping season is upon us! Run for your lives.

This season (as with many before) I am struck by a vicious ennui. I really don't want to go shopping for presents. I also don't want to pick out presents. Because picking out things that I want is very difficult for me.

Secretly, I want a Wii. And the Zelda game. Oh, and might as well toss in an XBox 360 with Gears of War. Because, you know, that's what I am into.

The problem is that what I really want is a bunch of video games and I feel like I really can't ask for a bunch of video games. (I seriously can't ask for a Wii as they are apparently sold out everywhere). So then I have to think, what do I want that's not a video game/video game system/video game system accesory? Which is where it gets difficult.

Meanwhile, you people out there who want gifts need to get busy on figuring out the stuff that you want and letting me know. Cause I am not psychic. And, when confronted with the dizzying array of stuff at the local Bed Bath & Beyond, I cannot be trusted to make a rational choice regarding your present.