Notes

Matt Bai in the New York Times Magazine says that the problem isn't lobbyists, it's politicians. I'm sure he's a smart guy, but -- really? Ya think?

My laptop's long-duration battery appears to have died. Worked yesterday, not today. Won't accept a charge. The short-duration one, which hasn't been used since I got the long one last July, is slowly, grudgingly charging. (I do not want to hear Oh yass, you should have been swapping batteries.) But I do want to know why a battery that's eight months old died. Isn't that a little - abrupt?

Some commentors think Obama and the Democrats can't get their mojo back, can't rekindle the fierce energy of now. Others are amazed - amazed - that people thought electing both a President and a Congress that was Democratic was enough. Didn't they know that the people had to remain involved? Um...isn't that the job of politicians? Other than taking bribes and junkets?

Had huevos rancheros this morning. Not too bad. Spicier than I remember.

Daughter wants to go to the karate studio today to pick up sparring gear. Oh, she added casually, and it costs about a hundred dollars. What???? Can't we just pay like fifty and let you get banged around a little bit?

We did get her passport application in, though. Kind of tough to leave the country without one, I hear. Unless you're on Air Force One -- ie, a politician or a lobbyist.