Howdy. Life sure is hectic these days. I've been spending a lot of time on the thoroughfare away from my office and computer.

Random thoughts:

I think I've figured out why I find it difficult to relate to the characters on Big Love. It's got nothing to do with polygamy as such. It has to do with the fact that living alone has made me too idealistic about relationships between men and women, husbands and wives. For years I have found myself shaking my head in wonderment when I hear a man being invited somewhere and told to bring his wife, or when a guy speaks of taking his wife somewhere. I still hear older guys inviting someone to dinner and saying that they'll tell their wife to set an extra place at the table. I always want to say, "You mean you'll ask her, right?" Now, I'm not a Republican, but I am an old fashioned, martini sipping, 1928 Prayer Book Episcopalian whose attitude to change can be summed up by the words of Al Swearingen: "I don't want anything done that can't be undone five minutes after this fiasco concludes." It's not that I'm "Mr. Sensitivity" or anything, it just sounds jarring. It's like when I hear adults complaining about kids with long hair. I mean, what the fuck? Have I been put in a time machine and taken back to the 1950's? Similarly, when I hear Nicki on Big Love tell Bill that he "gives" Barb "too much power" or when I hear husbands like Bill and others speaking of "giving their wives" an allowance, like they're children, I have the same bewildering "what the fuck" experience. Don't husbands and wives sit down together and discuss their finances and as partners decide how much they have to spend on what?

Jon Stewart wears the nicest, most tastefully understated suits of anyone of TV, IMHO. Great ties too.

Stephen Colbert is fucking talented.

I think Bill Maher is rather stupid. For the most part, so are his guests. There are exceptions, however, and last week, Jason Alexander and Reza Asian proved to be such. It fell to "George Costanza" to tell Maher why adults raping children is bad. Jason, the father of two boys, explained why we mustn't confuse mere physical capability with emotional and psychological readiness. Of course, this argument assumes that men actually do develop emotionally beyond the age of 14. I know of women who think the jury's still out on that.

In a related matter, Larry King should stick to interviewing other old farts like Himself. He just doesn't get what younger people say to him. Watching Larry is painful - not "Mind of Mencia" painful - but pretty fucking painful all the same.

My God, The Sopranos is a great show.

That is all.