THIS MODERN WORLD

Anybody have an extra ticket to one of the U2 shows in the upper Northeast corridor — New York to Boston, say? Spring or Fall, doesn’t matter. Happy to pay face value, just don’t want to deal with scalpers.

Last summer at the Democratic convention I shared a cab with Jason Bateman on the way to some party after we’d both done Air America bits. Neither of us had any idea who the other was, which led him to riff on the moment of recognition we would each eventually have when we realized, oh, it’s that guy. Somehow group hugs were invoked, if I’m remembering correctly. I guess you had to be there.

Well, I have no idea if Jason Bateman has to this day ever seen a Tom Tomorrow cartoon, but Jason, if you’re out there, I’ve had my moment of realization.

I’m always incredibly reluctant to add anything new to the short list of tv shows I watch on a regular basis, but at the suggestion of my very smart wife, I finally gave Arrested Development a try, and it really is one of the most brilliant shows on the air right now. If you’re not watching it, you’re missing a show of sublime absurdity.

Sharp catch from blogger Mark Kraft:

The ACLU today released a memo signed by Lieutenant General Ricardo A. Sanchez authorizing 29 interrogation techniques, including 12 which far exceeded limits established by the Army’s own Field Manual. More specifically, it points out that Gen. Sanchez committed purjury when testifying before Congress.

From Sanchez’ testimony of May 19, 2004:

U.S. SENATOR JACK REED (D-RI): General Sanchez, today’s USA Today, sir, reported that you ordered or approved the use of sleep deprivation, intimidation by guard dogs, excessive noise and inducing fear as an interrogation method for a prisoner in Abu Ghraib prison. Is that correct?

SANCHEZ: Sir, that may be correct that it’s in a news article, but I never approved any of those measures to be used within CJTF-7 at any time in the last year.

That is absolutely refuted by the newly released memo, which says:

Presence of Military Working Dog: Exploits Arab fear of dogs …
Sleep Management: Detainee provided minimum of 4 hours sleep per 24 hour period, not to exceed 72 continuous hours.
Yelling, Loud Music, and Light Control: Used to create fear… (Sanchez’s wording, not mine.)

Sanchez is clearly guilty of perjury, and should face the wrath of Congress… and the Senate should determine the guilt of his boss, Donald Rumsfeld, while they’re at it.

From the Times:

WASHINGTON, March 29 – Maher Arar, a 35-year-old Canadian engineer, is suing the United States, saying American officials grabbed him in 2002 as he changed planes in New York and transported him to Syria where, he says, he was held for 10 months in a dank, tiny cell and brutally beaten with a metal cable.

Now federal aviation records examined by The New York Times appear to corroborate Mr. Arar’s account of his flight, during which, he says, he sat chained on the leather seats of a luxury executive jet as his American guards watched movies and ignored his protests.

The tale of Mr. Arar, the subject of a yearlong inquiry by the Canadian government, is perhaps the best documented of a number of cases since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in which suspects have accused the United States of secretly delivering them to other countries for interrogation under torture. Deportation for interrogation abroad is known as rendition.

…to those of you who’ve sent items from the wish list lately. New books, new tunes, new movies…life is good…

Now if only I had a little free time…