Joaquin_de_la_Mesa
Joaquin_de_la_Mesa is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.
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Obama Hung From Tree
"I say if you're that outraged, find out who did it. Tell every student, they are going to be given a lie detector test." Take it easy, Josh. Do you really want college presidents administering lie detector tests to their students? I'm sure George W. Bush has been burned/hung in effigy a few times. Should we be administering lie detectors to find out who's responsible? Re: Maher, that dude is rapidly moving up the List of People You Don't Want to Be on Judgment Day. He just passed Jerry Springer and the Farrelly Brothers. You've got to be a smug jerk to make the elimination of Religion -- not a religion, but ALL religion -- your cause. Every culture on earth comes up with a religious system. It's as natural as eating and reproducing. Maher needs to work out his personal identity issues on his own, not foist them on the people in the form of a proganda film. Seek help Maher.— October 3, 2008 1:48 p.m.
Note to Trailer Park Patriots
I guess I don't see the equivalence between sailing into a harbor to put an ambassador in Japan and surprise attacking a harbor and killing 2500 men. As for Islam hating us, it's all about us being non muslims. The Koran states: "Fight (with weapons) those who do not believe in Allah and the last day, and force them to convert." And other such ideas. The irony is, our oil consumerism has funded their efforts to destroy us.— September 15, 2008 10:12 a.m.
Tele-Visiting
Wow. Thanks, David, for the recipes.— August 18, 2008 10:11 a.m.
Tele-Visiting
If I say PLEEEAAAAASSSSSE, will David share the recipe for pecan bourbon cake? It sounds so yummy.— August 15, 2008 4:33 p.m.
Tele-Visiting
Sounds like a fun party. But I quit on Project Runway when it became clear that the final three are pretty much pre-selected. Remember that tall bearded dude from L.A., Santino? He made four horrible outfits in a row, but they kept him around because he was good TV, and willing to say snide things about other people. Look at the fine print at the end of the show. It says something to the effect of, judges make their decisions with input from the producers. That's lawyer speak for The Fix is In.— August 15, 2008 2:33 p.m.
we call it OB
If tolerance is your middle name, you're going to have tolerate these newcomers too, Trevor.— June 30, 2008 4:14 p.m.
The Little One
"I often wonder," says Jen, "why people who have kids push others to do the same." Push is such an ugly word. I prefer encourage. The answer to your question, Jen, is we encourage you to have kids because we've found so much joy and fulfillment in it, and we want you, our childless friends whom we love, to experience that same joy and fulfillment. Bear with us, we mean well. BTW, there's more to that joy and fulfillment than the happiness of watching a three-year-old dance around the living room or receiving a hug from said three-year-old. There's also the joy of learning to live your life for others. The joy of becoming less and less self-centered and more and more devoted to other people, the joy of learning the meaning of the old expression, "It is in giving that we receive." While we're discussing things we wonder about, I wonder why someone would refer to a thing someone purchased as an "addition to the family." Families are made of people, not consumer items. Finally, regarding the opening quote, it doesn't take into account the fact that people with babies were once people without them and therefore they have the more informed view point.— May 9, 2008 2:45 p.m.
The Little One
Some tools, automobiles for example, leave rather large carbon footprints, don't they? They've also been known to suck bank accounts dry (thereby making it impossible to take extended vacations.) People who prefer tools and toys to children may not cry over that fact at the end of each day, but they will at the end of their last day on earth. If you don't want kids, fine. I think you'll regret it, but what the heck, you're a big girl (though not as big as you used to be :)) and can weigh the risks yourself. But please, don't name your car like that misguided lady at the car wash. Don't name your furniture, shoes, kitchen utensils, or crescent wrenches either. Nothing says, "I should have had kids" like naming inanimate objects. --Joaquin P.S. A single hug and "I wuv you Mama Babawewa" from a little Barb or David is better than any extended vacation ever was. Believe me, I've had both. P.P.S. I wuv your column.— May 8, 2008 4:16 p.m.
The Little One
The other day I went to Home Depot and bought a crescent wrench. It was the 12-inch model by Husky tools. In the self-checkout line, I noticed a man buying the same model I was buying. We exchanged smiles. He broke the silence by saying, "I've named mine Willie. What your tool's name?" "Uh, I have a bunch of children that have names. I don't name my tools." "You're missing out," he said. "Tools are way better than kids. They never talk back, they don't make messes, and they don't do ridiculous things like smile at you like and say, 'I love you DaDa.' Tools don't wear cute clothes. Tools don't keep you young and teach you to be less selfish. Tools don't sing and dance spontaneously. Tools don't awe you every day with their growing minds and imaginations. Tools don't say funny things that make you laugh. Tools don't..." Willie the Crescent Wrench's Dad broke into tears at this point, stumbled out to his pickup (named Burt), drove home, and drank himself into a stupor.— May 8, 2008 12:08 p.m.
Below the Fold
Again with Lebowski. For the life of me, Shepherd, I can't figure out what a man of your intellectual parts sees in that movie. Is it better than 85% of what comes out these days? Sure, but is that saying much? To me, it seems like the Coen Brothers trying to hard to imitate themselves. Kitsch on top of kitsch. And, to paraphrase a criticism you've made of other films, how many times can "Shut the f$$K up, Donny" be funny? That said, let me echo your frustration with the lack of people-driven stories. If My Favorite Wife or The Awful Truth were remade today, they'd have to involve international espionage or at least some serious spousal abuse.— April 24, 2008 10:58 a.m.