THIS MODERN WORLD

Let’s not overlook my other big project of the year. I’m told the Mayor should be showing up in bookstores a bit ahead of schedule, so if you have kids, especially on the younger side (4 or 5 is probably the ideal demo, but it can go a few years in either direction), please consider picking it up. As I’ve mentioned before, some unpleasant experiences with major publishers over the past few years led me to sign up with Ig Publishing, a very small operation out of Brooklyn. This is relevant for a few reasons: (1) they let me do the book right, and I’m extremely pleased with the final product; (2) I got a very minimal advance, and related to that, (3) did I mention they’re a very tiny company? The point of (2) and (3) is that sales of this book, unlike any other I’ve ever put out, will have a real and direct and immediate impact on my life, and on the lives of some people who supported and trusted me. It would be nice to earn a few dollars on this myself, and more to the point, it would be nice not to lose money for them.

And it’s a great kid’s book, if I can say so myself.

You can pre-order it here or here. And there are a few more sample pages up on the “official” Mayor site.

Dreams and memories.

And that’s all you get from me.

Democrats may well blow health care reform … again.

President Obama’s ability to shape the debate on health care appears to be eroding as opponents aggressively portray his overhaul plan as a government takeover that could limit Americans’ ability to choose their doctors and course of treatment, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Americans are concerned that revamping the health care system would reduce the quality of their care, increase their out-of-pocket health costs and tax bills, and limit their options in choosing doctors, treatments and tests, the poll found. The percentage who describe health care costs as a serious threat to the American economy — a central argument made by Mr. Obama — has dropped over the past month.

Ruben Bolling does a masterful job of laying out the basic dynamic here. I’ve mentioned it a time or two myself. But if Democrats do manage to blow this opportunity, at this particular moment in time, then there’s no longer any room for debate: apart from providing a half-assed bulwark against the ever-increasing lunacy of the right, they’re entirely useless.

How have I not seen this film sooner? Caught it last night on HBO. The Yes Men are what Sacha Baron Cohen pretends to be — true social satirists working in the medium of fearless public pranks. The Halliburton Survivaball had me doubled over with laughter.

Was talking to the longhaired guy with the beard earlier; said he liked this photo and I should put it out there … this seems like the day for it …