Mister Archive

I wasn't kidding cpratt. I truly am "Mister Archive":

I must confess, though, to being dead wrong about the "it'll be cool" part. It was 108 that day. And neither the bookstore nor our flat had air conditioning, as you may remember. After the reading, while everyone was eating the spicy lentil and spinach dish I'd prepared, we took turns "wearing" bags of frozen vegetables on our heads.

There's Pith in That Patriotism

This comes from a Washington Post story about a speech Barack Obama gave in Colorado Springs -- a Republican stronghold -- in which he advocated national service:

Obama did not shy from partisan controversy as he spoke here of Sept. 11, 2001, and Americans' readiness to serve after the attacks.

"We were ready to step into the strong current of history and to answer a new call for our country, but the call never came," he said. "Instead of a call to service, we were asked to go shopping."

I don't know whether Obama himself wrote that last sentence -- he seems to be writing more of his speeches than any candidate since Woodrow Wilson -- but whoever did deserves a reward. Repeat after that Master Card campaign: "Priceless."