Apr 29 2009

Previously:
Ahead:

Obama’s First 100 Days: A Complete and Utter Failure

Published by John Scalzi at 9:10 am

Why? Well, I’ll tell you.

1. I’m continuing to go bald.

2. I haven’t lost any weight since January 20.

3. I AM STILL AGING.

4. In March, one of my cats (or more — conspiracy!) peed in the corner of my closet.

5. My hot chocolate this morning was distinctly unsatisfactory.

6. Last week, after four years of service, my beloved Vans sneakers — the ones with bats on them — ripped, making them unusable, and Vans doesn’t make them any more.

7. Rosario Dawson has not phoned my wife to get clearance from her for a sanctioned night of Grainy-Sex-Tape-Posted-to-BitTorrent-Worthy Debauchery™ with me.

8. I was not transformed overnight into a ninja spy with mega awesome secret LASER POWERS.

9. I still have to brush my own teeth; no one else will do it for me.

10. I have not been provided a 2010 Mustang. I mean, really. It’s not like I’d hold out for a GT. The V6 Premium package would be just fine. I’m not greedy.

President Obama has had 100 days to address each of these issues of vast national importance. How many of them has he tackled? Not a one. This is the change we can believe in? I don’t think so. I did not vote for Obama just to have ripped sneakers, unsatisfactory beverages and no spousally-approved hot sex with Rosario Dawson in my bitchin’ new muscle car. There’s a word for the emotion I’m feeling right now, Mr. President. And that word is: Betrayal.

Yes, I understand that President Obama has said that sacrifices need to be made by each of us. Fine. In the spirit of this national sacrifice, I will still brush my own teeth. But Mr. President, you have to meet me half way. Where are my ninja powers? And my Mustang? And why are my telomeres still degrading, meaning that every day I look more and more like Ernest Borgnine? This is not the America I want to live in, Mr. President. You have to do your part, too.

And the fact is, he hasn’t. Not a single one of the items above, which Mr. Obama agreed to solve when he and I met in my mind on that hot sunny day last August when I was trapped in a car with the windows uncracked, has been resolved. You can’t tell me I haven’t been patient. The dude has had 100 days with the entire apparatus of the United States government at his disposal. It’s not like he has other things to do. These things should have been dealt with, quickly, forcefully, fully. But they have not. And now look at me. I’m a middle-aged balding man smelling of cat pee. And it’s all Obama’s fault.

For shame, Mr. President. For shame.

And thus, for your first 100 days, Mr, President, you earn a richly-deserved F. But I still have hope that in the next 100 days, you will stop doing whatever distracting things you are doing and finally focus your attention on the things that really matter; specifically, that thing about Rosario Dawson. America needs that one. Yes it does. Desperately. Oh, and the Mustang, too. Thank you.

133 responses so far

133 Responses to “Obama’s First 100 Days: A Complete and Utter Failure”

  1. Bryanon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:21 am

    He hasn’t fixed my leaky shower like he promised either.

    A fine piece of writing. Well done.

  2. Jon Hansenon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:21 am

    To be fair, the feline lobby is a powerful one in the Democratic party, so it’ll probably take a while to get things moving on that one.

  3. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 9:24 am

    I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE EXCUSES.

  4. Matt Staggson 29 Apr 2009 at 9:27 am

    But have you tried rubbing the cat pee into the bald spot?

  5. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 9:29 am

    No. President Obama was supposed to hire me someone to do that. OBVIOUSLY.

  6. RLWon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:29 am

    Man I feel your pain… No joy on my Jet Pack either!

  7. Doug from Tallyon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:32 am

    Oh CRAP! I’m going bald TOO! My cat wakes me up at all hours of the night for her “wet food” fix! Will the madness never stop? When will the President quit worrying about such minor issues as global terrorism, universal health insurance and a moribund economy to fix MY problems? Sheesh. And to think I voted for the bum.

  8. Johnon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:33 am

    I have seriously never wanted a Mustang as bad as I want one now.

    Gt with a Track Pack. omg. want level is ridiculously high.

  9. Kelly Nortonon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:34 am

    You must at the bottom of the list cause I’ve gotten Rosario Dawson and the Mustang.

    I’m still bald though. So he gets a D from me.

  10. Romeo Vitellion 29 Apr 2009 at 9:37 am

    I would hold out much hope on the cat front (Obama’s a dog person) and the Rosario Dawson thing seems kind of unlikely too (Michelle Obama has veto power over that for some reason).

  11. Icepickon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:40 am

    Somehow you failed to mention lowering the retirement age to 45, fully funding 8 weeks of vacation per quarter regardless of employment status and picking up the cost of my kids’ college education.

    Which I totally understand in light of the whole Rosario Dawson thing. Good luck with that, we’re all rooting for you.

  12. MikeTon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:42 am

    John, it’s not just about you. Apparently there’s a fairly long list on that Rosario Dawson thing. But if my wife asks, I’m not on it.

  13. ntscon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:42 am

    On the other hand, I’ve lost 10 pounds since 1/20/09, am not balding, the hair on my head isn’t grey and my wife is fine with Rosario, provided she does windows and other light housework.

    It’s my wife’s cat that pees in corners, mine just kvetches about the state of the dinner bowl – which is my problem. They aren’t allowed in the bedroom, so mine sits outside the door and rattles it until I fix the dinner problem.

    Why does my spell check know how to spell kvetches?

  14. ntscon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:45 am

    And my former employer lowered my retirement age by almost 10 years and my state doesn’t give unemployment to people who were unlucky enough to be eligible for a pension. Only state employes and police can double dip here.

  15. Katieon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:45 am

    I asked President Obama to make you look more like Ernest Borgnine, so at least one of us got what they wanted.

  16. Markoon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:46 am

    On the same note, I must point out that I have not as of yet received my flying car and solid gold house.

    You know what would be awesome? If Krissy read this post, and (knowing the likelihood of the Rosario Dawson scenario coming to pass) told you to knock yourself out if Rosario offered, no clearance required. It wouldn’t change reality one lick, but it would add +20 to her (undoubtedly already stellar) Cool Spouse rating…and you could strut about with added spring in your step, and tell folks that you have your wife’s explicit approval for debauchery with Rosario Dawson.

  17. ytimynonaon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:51 am

    Hmm… thumbs up for this one, methinks. I dunno about Rosario Dawson, though. I mean, she was great in RENT, but…

  18. KatGon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:52 am

    Well the cat pee thing was your fault because you fed them actual tuna. They were high. Obama needs to institute a kitty rehab bill.

    Seriously, no one who reads this blog is in the entertainment industry and could get in contact with Rosario Dawson about this? Help the poor President out, here!

  19. Paulon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:56 am

    Shh, John, he’s working on your rocket car to the moon. Priorities, man.

  20. Keithon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:56 am

    Oh c’mon, Our esteemed President is only superhuman, not God. Just this morning I saw him rescue two dogs from a tree, cleaning up street litter in East Boston and then signing a treaty against the abuse of sonic death monkeys with East Timor. You ARE on the list for the next 100 days.

  21. Mark Terryon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:01 am

    Maybe he can squeeze in the telomere thing. Although you know, if your cells stop dividing, man, the telomeres sorta stop degrading, so there’s a possible downside to getting your wish.

  22. Adam Lipkinon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:02 am

    I believe that the comment thread has inadvertently identified the real lapse on Obama’s part: he has completely and utterly failed to initiate the much-needed Rosario Dawson Cloning Program. It’s a vital first step en route to achieving the necessary number of spouse-sanctioned nights of pleasure.

  23. Bearpawon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:05 am

    I don’t know her, but I’m guessing that Krissy finds the Rosario scenario hilarious.

    (probably best not to ask why, John.)

  24. Stanon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:21 am

    About a month ago, I was woken by the sound of an engine revving. A few moments later, the phone ring. As soon as I answered, a woman started purring “This is Rosie, is John there?” I told them they had the wrong number. The phone went dead, then the car sped off.

    I was drowsy and forgot or I would have told you sooner. Or lied and say that I was you.

  25. Colbyon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:25 am

    He hasn’t turned the 40 hour work week into a 32 hour work week, with the same pay as if you worked a full 40 hour week.

  26. Sarcastroon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:28 am

    I was just hoping Obama would nationalize Ford and force them to put a modern suspension on the Mustang. Only reactionary right-wingers would want so conservative a rear suspension as the covered wagon-derived solid axle setup in the Mustang. Liberals like turning!* So they need an independent rear suspension like all those Europeans have. And springs with progressive rates obviously.

    But if the government is going to hand out sportscars I think we have a better chance of getting Pontiac Solstices at the moment. It’s got IRS sure, but in a move to appeal to conservatives Pontiac did put a truck transmission in it… and let a drooling troglodyte design the top.

    * As opposed to conservatives whose views on the subject were once perfectly enunciated by the Iron Lady, Margeret Thatcher, who famously said “This lady is not for turning!”

  27. Argonelon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:29 am

    I still haven’t gotten my pony. Which given more thought is probably a good thing. I don’t have a very big yard and really don’t want to clean up after a smaelly beast like that. My ferrets make more than enough mess.

  28. Kurt Roithingeron 29 Apr 2009 at 10:29 am

    the rosario dawson thing would buy my vote for life. heck, i’d settle for halle berry (short0-haired halle, though.)

    (thank god my wife doesn’t read this blog…)

  29. Charles K, Bradleyon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:30 am

    I’m still waiting for my Jessica Beal clone from Obama!!! I bought that horriable movie Stealth just because of that shot of her in the bikini!! Who was that lucky bastard in the shot with her? Obama needs to address this problem and leave the swine flu stuff alone.
    John, I’m waiting for your sequal to Zoe’s Tale, called Jessica’s Tale, diffintenly not YA!!!!

  30. Jim Wrighton 29 Apr 2009 at 10:35 am

    I already had a mustang* so Obama gave me two free games and a couple of blu-ray movies with the new PS3 – so, you know, I’m good. Also, he made it sunny here in Alaska today. Really, asking for anything more would just be greedy.
    ___________________________
    Technically the Mustang is my wife’s car, but she does let me drive it once in a while. Yesterday, in fact, she let me drive it over to the car wash…

  31. PCon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:35 am

    Sounds like we’re all invited to a tea party at Scalzi’s place.

    Will we be having jam yesterday or jam tomorrow?

  32. Joyceon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:35 am

    Regarding #9, be thankful. Having someone else brush your teeth means you have much bigger probleams than the rest of the list.

    Perhaps it is a feline conspiracy. Our cat Fluffy has started hocking up hairballs, since Ophelia (our 18 year old cat) died last fall — she who loved to leave hairballs wherever we might step throughout the Clinton and Bush administrations.

  33. Sarcastroon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:35 am

    Gotta love youtube.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ-M0KEFm9I

    “THE lady’s not for turning.” My bad.

  34. Sithon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:39 am

    He still hasn’t delivered on my faultless, bugless, security holeless, BSOD less, Windows OS

  35. MasterThiefon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:44 am

    John, you’re missing the big picture. Where the hell is the faster-than-light travel, terraforming, and direct mass-energy conversion technology we were promised?

  36. Roger E.on 29 Apr 2009 at 10:46 am

    Wow. Even bringing up #7 would would net me a frying pan to the head in my house.

  37. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 10:46 am

    MasterThief:

    First things first, man.

  38. ciskoon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:47 am

    We know what Ernest Borgnine does to look young, right? Right?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEhKZNQlJrY

    For the record, Ms. Dawson declined to comment.

  39. Betsy Dornbuschon 29 Apr 2009 at 10:59 am

    I think the solution here clearly is to clone the President. There’s just not enough of the man to go around.

    With proper marketing, we could erase our national debt and get people to actually buy stuff again:

    World Leader

    Three easy payments of 39.95, S&H included.

    Act now and get a clone of the First Puppy, absolutely free.

    See our website for Other Amazing Offers, like a First Family and/or the handy Press Secretary.

    And then there’s the refurb version of him on Craigslist:

    Used World Leader, proven track record, slightly gray but really still really tall. Ex. cond. Wardrobe included. $100 OBO.

  40. Christopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 11:13 am

    Emma Samms hasn’t thrown herself at me yet, either.

  41. Cassieon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:18 am

    This is the real problem with the Democrats – they want you to think that only they can provide you with sufficient… (I cannot believe I’m writing this) Rosario interaction when what you truly need is to be a capitalist and go into business with the least amount of constraints to clone Rosario yourself.

    Do not depend on the government to do what you should be able to do yourself.

    So if you want Rosario – get her yourself.

    [going to confession now]

  42. alexon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:24 am

    Cheer up. Maybe Rosario Dawson has a thing for Ernest Borgnine. Um, in which case she’d probably just go phone him up… so, ah, never mind.

  43. eviljwinteron 29 Apr 2009 at 11:27 am

    You wingnut!

    I’M the one who gets spousally approved sex with Rosario Dawson.

    All this is pending Tony Stewart’s agreement to compensate my wife for one night in a similar deal.

    However, if Shirley Manson volunteers to take over for Rosario, John, you may stake your claim.

    Oh, and you have to floss yourself, too, dude.

  44. Dr. Philon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:30 am

    This just went up in the last day or so:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/

    Didn’t see any Rosario Dawson, though.

    Dr. Phil

  45. Steve Burnapon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:37 am

    Did you donate? The ninja powers only went to people who donated over $500 to the campaign. (Which reminds me: if you’re wondering where the Meiville ARC is, I’ll have it back on your nightstand tomorrow.)

    I’m not sure what you had to donate to get the Dawson thing, but I suspect it was *way* out of my league.

  46. Bearpawon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:38 am

    Colby, many folks would be delighted if Obama turned the 40-hr work week into a work week in which one only had to work, you know, 40 hours. (Likewise with the same pay.)

    At this point, the whole FTL thing seems about as likely.

  47. Doug from Tallyon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:39 am

    Well, what if McCain had been elected and this was the end of his first 100 Days?

    1. I’m still balding and starting to LIKE it.

    2. Cat still wakes me up in the middle of the night for her “wet food” fix; now acts as part of the “universal health care” plan rammed through Congress, keeping my blood pressure up to suitable levels.

    3. Souped up Model T has YET to arrive.

    4. Told by government to brush my own damn teeth–just can’t bite whom I choose to with them.

    5. Not sure what the heck I’d do with Rosario Dawson, even if private industry could provide her.

  48. Johnny Carrutherson 29 Apr 2009 at 11:42 am

    That sounds about right to me. Think of it this way; we only have to deal with him for another 1361 days.

  49. Bearpawon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:45 am

    Steve Burnap: If you count both primary and general donations from my spouse *and* myself, we may have qualified for the ninja powers. I wonder if we can split it.

    (I’m not fond of heights, so she can have the dancing along rooftops thing, especially if I can have the ability to hide in shadows.)

  50. ytimynonaon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:50 am

    In regards to cloning: everyone in my university got a spam e-mail from a “Scarlett Johannson” saying she would like her DNA back. Apparently, cloning her was a big part of someone’s plans.

  51. Bobon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:51 am

    Rosario Dawson hasn’t called me either, so I’m guessing her phone is broken. Which is totally Obama’s fault, too.

  52. RobWon 29 Apr 2009 at 11:55 am

    Ah, but he did fix that problem where you were trapped in a car with the windows uncracked on a hot sunny day last August. It is no longer August, it is now April. Mission Accomplished.

  53. Andrewon 29 Apr 2009 at 12:00 pm

    “I did not vote for Obama just to have ripped sneakers, unsatisfactory beverages and no spousally-approved hot sex with Rosario Dawson in my bitchin’ new muscle car.”

    I get the Rosario Dawson thing. I get the bitchin’ new muscle car thing. What I don’t get is the sex with Rosario Dwason in your bitchin’ new muscle car. Have you seen the back seat of a new Mustang.

    I speak from experience; go for a vintage 1968 Mustang. You could have small orgy in the back seat of that thing. If you get the V8 (a 289 cubic incher), you get plenty o’muscle; again I speak from experience.

    Cheers
    Andrew

  54. MattMarovichon 29 Apr 2009 at 12:04 pm

    I was promised punch and pie.

    I have no pie and the only punch I got this morning was from my wife who gave it to me when I complained I didn’t wake up to a tasty pie.

    This is clearly a sign that our President is no good.

  55. nathanon 29 Apr 2009 at 12:21 pm

    I think you need to cut the President some slack. Consider the alternative. Had McCain won, you’d have had multiple visits from Michele Bachmann, who would have sat at the end of your bed lecturing you about the dangers of Grainy-Sex-Tape-Posted-to-BitTorrent-Worthy Debauchery™.

    And I’m betting he would have delivered on that. Oh! The humanity!

  56. Catherine Shafferon 29 Apr 2009 at 12:23 pm

    I have it on good authority that Rosario and many others have phoned your wife, only to be turned down. She’s mean and totally unfair. And Rosario *would* brush your teeth for you, if only Krissy would let her.

  57. Ellieon 29 Apr 2009 at 12:23 pm

    Where is my 1950 Jaguar XK 120 in hunter green with the cream leather interior? Is it too much to ask?

    I agree with the failing grade and that our president is no good.

  58. hugh57on 29 Apr 2009 at 12:27 pm

    Is anyone seeing vids @ #33 and #38? I’m just seeing white space where a YouTube vid would be. Not sure what’s blocking it.

  59. MattMarovichon 29 Apr 2009 at 12:33 pm

    I am also seeing nothing but vast expanses of white.

  60. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 12:38 pm

    hugh57:

    I have an e-mail in about those YouTubes. I’m curious as to what’s going on myself.

  61. JimmyJoneson 29 Apr 2009 at 12:40 pm

    good points. I still had to pay my mortgage, the neighbor down the street still went through forclosure and I still had to pay taxes (although I now have some serious tax shelters so next year wont be near so bad).

    What I have learned/benefited from:
    learned of a new dog breed I have never heard before.
    learned how important teleprompters are.
    learned that I am not the only one who has had back taxes that I hoped would go away.
    learned that I health care wont change at all.
    learned that being a community organizer is a valid experience building task.
    learned that they can make a chia pet in any shape.

  62. hugh57on 29 Apr 2009 at 12:45 pm

    John @60: It must be Obama’s fault!

    Seriously, thanks. I can now quit looking for settings to screw around with. :)

  63. jamson 29 Apr 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Yo, John! Since I work at Ford’s, I’d appreciate your getting the Mustang regardless…

  64. Matton 29 Apr 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Videos should be fixed now, sorry for the bug. Is that better?

  65. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 1:26 pm

    Matt:

    Indeed looks better. Thanks! Next up: Option for me to allow or disallow media embedding on comment threads (because sometimes I might not want).

  66. Adam Rakunason 29 Apr 2009 at 1:28 pm

    My garden is still unweeded, my cast-iron skillet is losing its patina, and this ice cream? More ice than cream.

    Mr. President, have pity on the working man and bring me a creamier fudge ripple.

  67. Josh Jasperon 29 Apr 2009 at 1:28 pm

    Personally, I blame Bush.

  68. Vincenton 29 Apr 2009 at 1:36 pm

    WHERE’S MY FLYING, FTL PONY THAT SHOOTS LASER BEAMS OUT OF ITS EYES?!?!

  69. Matton 29 Apr 2009 at 1:43 pm

    John:

    Right now it’s an all-on or all-off thing, but just like you can moderate or edit comments you can make something be a link instead of a full embed. (Just remove the www from http://www.youtube.com.)

  70. hugh57on 29 Apr 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Matt @64, John @65: Yep, they’re there now. Thanks! :)

    Next up: Option for me to allow or disallow media embedding on comment threads (because sometimes I might not want).

    At first, I thought that’s what this was.

  71. ciskoon 29 Apr 2009 at 1:50 pm

    @65: John, I just pasted a link into the comment, I wasn’t trying to embed.

    Embed. Dawson. Mmm….

    What was the question?

  72. Pam Adamson 29 Apr 2009 at 2:13 pm

    I too was concerned, especially since issue #2 has not yet been dealt with, about the problems with you and Ms. Dawson actually in the Mustang. Apparently, Krissy is looking out for the both of you in prohibiting any such event.

  73. George William Herberton 29 Apr 2009 at 2:32 pm

    Ah HAH!

    The first rule of Secret Ninja LASER POWERS Club is to deny that there is a Secret Ninja LASER POWERS Club!

    Ergo, you actually have just OUTED YOURSELF as a successful member of Secret Ninja LASER POWERS Club!

    This entire tirade has been a monumentally unsuccessful attempt to distract us from your new Secret Ninja LASER POWERS – obviously implanted as a field test for Stargate Universe. See, not only have you failed to deceive us, but you have leaked critical fan base information about the upcoming show you’re consulting on.

    Your Fu is WEAK! But your LASER POWERS strong.

  74. Fletcheron 29 Apr 2009 at 2:46 pm

    Obama has also failed to rebuild America’s shattered foreign image by providing me with a clone of Scarlett Johansson. The Saudi king gets a bow, Chavez gets a handshake, and yet I do not get a sultry supermodel of my very own. Clearly this is unfair in the extreme and you must all secede from the United States and elect a President who will fulfill his giving-me-Scarlett Johansson-clones obligations.

  75. suzanneon 29 Apr 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Not just any f, but an upper-case, F in a dark shade of maroon.

    Whoa. You must be serious.

  76. pizzangston 29 Apr 2009 at 3:16 pm

    I’m sure we’ll recover from the recession, but what about static cling? Priorities, Perez.

  77. Cat Vincenton 29 Apr 2009 at 3:17 pm

    Interestingly, rumour has it that Rosario Dawson was recently seen with John Scalvi…

  78. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 3:21 pm

    I’m disappointed too. Obama has clearly not repaired our trade relationship with Australia, because my expected shipment of Craig Horner with optional Utter Devotion to Me has not arrived.

    Honestly, can’t they even get to the negotiating table? OMFSM.

  79. Warren Terraon 29 Apr 2009 at 3:21 pm

    Next up: Option for me to allow or disallow media embedding on comment threads (because sometimes I might not want).

    The idea of a Whatever thread that allowed embedding of, say, LOLcats (including even potentially submissions by people willing to make images that could risk them the wrath of Chang, who is not Chang!) could be rather daunting …

  80. afurricaon 29 Apr 2009 at 3:22 pm

    A V6 Mustang? (helpless spluttering)

    Dude. DUDE. The V6 Mustang is a goddamned travesty. A car that heavy with an engine that small? It’s fine for around town, but once you get on the freeway, it’s like driving through silly putty.

    A V6 Mustang is just…decorative. Seriously, what’s the point of a muscle car with no muscle? It’s the equivalent of buying one of those touristy Strong Man t-shirts and saying “Look, I worked out!”

    It’s…it’s…I think I need to go lie down. Lay down? I just don’t know anymore.

  81. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 3:24 pm

    afurrica, if you were a REAL Mustang owner, you would throw down.

  82. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 3:42 pm

    Seriously, if anyone’s really wondering about that, the mnemonic I give to people is that the one with an I in it, ‘lie’, is the intransitive one. So you can lie down, but you can’t lie anything else down. You lay other things down (such as the law, your sword, your burden of sin, etc.).

    The annoying part is that ‘lay’ is also the past tense of ‘lie’: I went, I lay down, and sleep came into me. Past of ‘lay’ is ‘laid’: he laid down his machete, his labrys, and his flensing knife; then he lay down and slept.

    I tried. I really did. I couldn’t resist. Sorry all. I’ll be over here now.

  83. Blue Neponseton 29 Apr 2009 at 3:46 pm

    I was promised a delicious cake.

  84. Astridon 29 Apr 2009 at 3:59 pm

    Yeah, my hamster’s hut still has a hole in it, thanks for nothing Obama.

  85. N. O'Brainon 29 Apr 2009 at 4:29 pm

    $10,000,000,000 in new Federal debt is just not enough!

    More more faster faster!!!!!!!!!!

  86. Damonon 29 Apr 2009 at 4:33 pm

    It’s weird how I see Vans twice in one day.

    Slickdeals has a 20% deal for Vans:

    http://www.slickdeals.net/permadeal/20275/Vans-Shoes-20-off-your-entire-order-plus-free-shipping

    John, I typed “bats” into Vans’ search bar and found “Bat Trails Sk8-Hi” shoes in stock. Were yours different?

  87. Mark Horningon 29 Apr 2009 at 4:37 pm

    Re point number 10;
    I say you hold out for the pretty blue one with the drop top. Nothing like a Mustang Convertible.

    But you have to be a man, and make Obama provide you with a stick shift, no wussy auto-magics for my autohors.

  88. Sarcastroon 29 Apr 2009 at 4:40 pm

    Afurrica@80, And what a V6! While Nissan gets 320 horses out of a 3.7, Toyota gets 280 out of a 3.5 and even Hyundai can squeeze 300 out of a 3.8, poor Ford is sitting there with a 4 liter mill that barely ekes out 210 ponies.

    The Cologne V6 is, however, slightly more modern than the rear suspension. The engine dates from 1964. Suspension… 1864.

  89. daveryon 29 Apr 2009 at 5:05 pm

    What about sentient robots?!?! I want my sentient robots! Even if they do eventually overthrow their human masters.

  90. DonHoon 29 Apr 2009 at 5:08 pm

    DAWSON?? Damn, I TRIED to help you out, amigo. You’ll be getting a call from Rosie O’Donnell soon. Just make something up….

  91. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 5:21 pm

    DAWSON?? DonHo, why would you think John would want to have sex with James Van Der Beek?

  92. Eddie Clarkon 29 Apr 2009 at 5:43 pm

    Xopher @ 78:

    The lack of Craig Horner is your fault, not Obama’s. While he is Australian, the show is filmed in New Zealand (hence the awful faux-american accents. We’re really not very good at them). I’m sorry to say you misaddessed your import request.

  93. John VPon 29 Apr 2009 at 5:54 pm

    Until I read your rant I was quite satisfied with O’s 100 days. You see, we used to have quite zero infestation around here. Around the neighborhood, thronging front doors, shooting up like hoodlums, oozing along, old noughts, new zilches, middle-aged nadas — piles and piles of them, clogging troughs, blocking roadways, tornados of zeros in a big blow — gosh it was awful.

    But with the bailouts and the stimuli and the budget deficit there’s been a tremendous clean-up. I think it’s Homeland Security guys, sneaking around at night, who hauled off the last of the zeros last week for use in a new trillion-dollar estimate or pronouncement or something. It was such a relief to be able to go for a walk again, BREATHE again.

    Such short-lived relief. Now that I know what you’re going through, I shan’t be able to sleep.

    Not that I was expecting to sleep much, what with Rosario Dawson coming over, and all.

  94. shawnkeeleron 29 Apr 2009 at 5:57 pm

    Van’s sneakers should be sold pre-ripped! Those puppies are prime time now. Wear them until your heels are bleeding… Then, and only then, is it apprpriate to get a new pair.

  95. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 6:06 pm

    Eddie, they promised to nab him when he was home for a visit!

    Hmm. Looks like I’ll have to reorder. Can you put some cute gay Kiwis in the box too?

    (The accents don’t bother me. It’s clearly not taking place in America, so vaguely fantasy-somewhere-or-otherish accents seem perfectly suitable. I don’t understand why they take all these Ozzies and Kiwis and force them to put on American accents, instead of their lovely (and often sexy) Antipodean accents. I guess they have to be easy for Americans to understand, but that doesn’t require more than a bit of shading, surely? At any rate, it certainly doesn’t require that they actually sound American.

    I never understood this on FarScape, either. It was a proudly Australian production, but still they faked American accents—on alien characters! Gigi Edgley started out with an Australian accent, but went more and more American as the series progressed, ending with a distinctly mid-Pacific (!) sound. Meanwhile Claudia Black sounded Australian (at least to me) from the very first to the very last. The only one I really found horrible was a guy on the Earthbound episodes in the fourth season, who was clearly supposed to be American (the worst kind, in fact), but was clearly not, and just as clearly had not been adequately dialect coached. Now THAT was cringeworthy.)

  96. cofaxon 29 Apr 2009 at 6:43 pm

    The only one I really found horrible was a guy on the Earthbound episodes in the fourth season, who was clearly supposed to be American (the worst kind, in fact), but was clearly not, and just as clearly had not been adequately dialect coached. Now THAT was cringeworthy

    Indeed. If you ever watch Spooks/MI-5, the American accents on that range from lol-worthy to just wrong enough to be like nails on a chalkboard. So much else in that show is so good, it’s bizarre to me that they can’t get better dialogue coaches.

    While we’re making wishes, I am disappointed in the President because he didn’t give me that season 5 of Farscape, the five entire seasons of Firefly, and another three seasons of The Sarah Connor Chronicles I wanted.

    And a pony.

  97. izanobuon 29 Apr 2009 at 8:35 pm

    I totally second the whole “where are my 100 more episodes of Firefly” thing. Sniff.

    But on the plus side, Scalzi, at least you *have* a cat…

  98. Eddie Clarkon 29 Apr 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Xopher:

    re Antipodean accents: yes, I found out that North American boys rather like them in my year in Canada *grin*.

    Oh and Obama sucks btw. He’s done nothing for me! Or anyone in New Zealand. Where’s this new world order I was promised!

  99. Miles Archeron 29 Apr 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Not exactly related, but I think I saw you with a hot chick at a nightclub in Amsterdam* NL on Saturday. Perhaps you’ve got permission for some extramarital nookey.

    *I wasn’t taking any drugs except alcohol

  100. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 9:17 pm

    *note to self: visit Oz and NZ before you’re too old to enjoy it*

    *note to self: ship has sailed :-( *

  101. Markoon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:17 pm

    This may get me burned at the stake for heresy, but in retrospect, I’m kind of glad that Firefly got the axe from the idiots at Fox after that one glorious season. That way, they went out before they had a chance to jump the shark on us…or keep us riveted for four seasons, and then drag a huge deus ex machina out onto the stage.

  102. Eddie Clarkon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:26 pm

    Marko – Obama is to blame for the end of Battlestar Galactica, too!

  103. Eddieon 29 Apr 2009 at 9:35 pm

    My 289 V8 mustang has a blown head gasket. I blame Obama. I am sure it has nothing to do with it being 43 years old.

  104. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 9:37 pm

    The end of BattleStar Galactica was glorious! That would be a huge accomplishment if Obama was to blame.

  105. JimmyJoneson 29 Apr 2009 at 10:29 pm

    At the risk of being labeled racist, which I am not:

    It was once said that a black man would be president “when pigs fly.” Indeed 100 days into Obama’s presidency… Swine flu.

    I found it cute. I dont think it is offensive, at least I did not mean it that way.

  106. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Leaving aside whether it’s offensive, it’s kind of a weak joke.

    Also, if you ever have a situation where you have to preface by saying “At the risk of being labeled racist, which I am not,” it’s probably best to left it unsaid and avoid the trouble entire.

  107. JimmyJoneson 29 Apr 2009 at 10:56 pm

    Weak to some, knee slapping funny to others. Anywhere else I would not have prefaced it with anything, but I know there are sensitive people here.

  108. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 11:10 pm

    JimmyJones, I wouldn’t have thought that joke was racist if you hadn’t said “at the risk…” The combination of that, you being a self-confessed troll, and the memory of your claims not to be homophobic, makes me think maybe you ARE a little bit racist. Or more.

    I know there are sensitive people here.

    Yes, you do. You come here to poke them and see what trouble you can stir up.

  109. John Scalzion 29 Apr 2009 at 11:14 pm

    You know what, what I would like is for the conversation to route around the topic of the last few posts and to pretend it’s not even there. If we can’t, I’ll just go back and zap everything from comment 105, because I don’t actually want to have to deal with it.

  110. JimmyJoneson 29 Apr 2009 at 11:46 pm

    Well I guess if the new Star Trek sucks we can blame Obama

  111. Xopheron 29 Apr 2009 at 11:47 pm

    Indeed, BattleStar Galactica is one of the few series I loved that I don’t wish would come back, or go on longer. They really finished the story, in a really beautiful way. Some sadness that I don’t get to watch new episodes, but all love entails loss, and all good things must come to an end.

    So if Obama’s to blame for the end of BSG, go Obama! Personally I’m all ready to blame him for the imminent cancellation of Dollhouse, my current fave.

  112. John H.on 29 Apr 2009 at 11:48 pm

    I, too, give Mr. Obama an “F”.

    All I asked for (in return for my vote) was a beautiful country house in rural Ohio, a great family, a loving wife, the ability to write amazing science fiction novels, and several cuddly hyper-dimensional pan-galactic beings to masquerade as my pets. I even compromised and said I’d be willing to accept some Borgnine-esque facial features, if it would help seal the deal.

    Perhaps I was expecting too much from Obama’s first 100 days. But a man has to dream…

  113. Xopheron 30 Apr 2009 at 12:00 am

    I just want to settle down with a cute Kiwi.

    (No, get that funny-looking brown fruit* out of my bed!)
    ___
    *literal meaning only

  114. Eddie Clarkon 30 Apr 2009 at 12:20 am

    Actually, the primary meaning in new zealand is the plump flightless bird, Xopher. Look it up on wikipedia :P.

    Obama’s probably to blame for them all being endangered, too.

  115. TransDutchon 30 Apr 2009 at 6:55 am

    JimmyJones

    Having seen a sneak preview, I know that the new Star Trek doesn’t suck. And while I am sure Abrams will be given most of the credit, and Obama won’t get the credit he so obviously deserves, the complete and total non-suckage may help some forget Obama’s failure regarding Rosario Dawson.

  116. Jay Blancon 30 Apr 2009 at 7:47 am

    You should have voted for Charles Atlas! If he’d won, then right now you’d be 14.2857143 times the man you are!

  117. Xopheron 30 Apr 2009 at 7:56 am

    Eddie, I know about the bird, but it doesn’t exist here. For the record, I don’t want one of those in my bed either.

  118. Markoon 30 Apr 2009 at 8:30 am

    Feh. I saw that sneak preview, too, and that new Star Trek movie is total subliminal liberal agitprop. (Watch the Terrorist Fist Bump between Kirk and Spock at 1:14:33, and the appearance of Ensign Hopenchange at 1:22:00.)

    What America needs now is a movie with positive conservative role models. I’d like to see a starship captain with the restraint of Rush Limbaugh, the diplomatic tact of Ann Coulter, and the intellectual curiosity of Sarah Palin. I’ve always considered Kirk to be too much of an effeminate, indecisive, over-thinking pinko commie. (The actor’s a great Thespian, though.)

  119. Lizzieon 30 Apr 2009 at 9:10 am

    I’m wondering if anyone else got the “jam yesterday or jam tomorrow” quote…

    Yay Lewis Carroll!

  120. Jeanineon 30 Apr 2009 at 9:13 am

    Where is my robot maid? I really need a robot maid! and flying car? I was promised…

  121. Stephanie Bon 30 Apr 2009 at 9:38 am

    When you know you read too much of Scalzi’s Blog: you have a dream that you are in REI and they have green vans with skulls on them, and Scalzi really wants them so you take a photo and email it to him.

    Yes, I know you said nothing about GREEN vans. Or Skulls. Or that REI would actually carry Vans. I can’t explain my dreams.

  122. Kurt Roithinger's wifeon 30 Apr 2009 at 9:52 am

    Hoo boy…you are sooooo busted, mister!

  123. Mingoon 30 Apr 2009 at 9:53 am

    Bro: Here’s what your country can do for you: http://www.ebay.com (Item number: 310136233021). You asked! Good work—I’ll be checking in from time to time…

  124. Stephanie Bon 30 Apr 2009 at 10:07 am

    LOL KR Wife @ 122. :) I like the name. Maybe I’ll change mine to Todd Stull’s GF. :)

  125. Xander Opalon 30 Apr 2009 at 11:07 am

    Nicely done, especially without biting your tongue. Your wit, sarcasm, and subtlety remain tops.

    There’s just one problem– the President still hasn’t returned my requests to clean my kitchen up.

  126. 60 in 3 - Health and Fitnesson 30 Apr 2009 at 11:21 am

    Vote for Moot in 2012! He may not fix the economy, but the new White House website will have a rocking /b channel! Plus I’m pretty sure if any president is going to get you Rosario Dawson, it’s going to be him.

    Gal

  127. Viabajaon 30 Apr 2009 at 2:12 pm

    Go the distance – all of us deserve a GT500! Not the new one. But a 1967 one. My request to the Obama administration has gone unanswered.

  128. George William Herberton 30 Apr 2009 at 2:55 pm

    I recommend not lusting Mustangs anymore.

    Have one, it’s the daily commuter. The rear end not having a real suspension is just to annoying for true lustworthyness. Which is truly annoying – the car with an aluminum or CF body, and a multilink or dual A-arm or even McPherson rear suspension plus a little stiffener across the back bay would be kick ass.

    New lust object: Nissan GT-R. Saw one last week. Passed it verry slowly after pulling over behind it for a while and appreciating it. It’s theoretically as tall and long and wide as the ’stang – but next to it, it felt smaller, and much much MUCH more cool.

    And the 4 wheel drive and 540 horses (out of a 3.8 l V6, to all you cylinder wankers) certainly don’t hurt…

  129. Steve Burnapon 30 Apr 2009 at 3:47 pm

    Viabaja: No, it should be exactly like the 1967 one, but it should run off of electricity not gas.

  130. Joe The Wizardon 30 Apr 2009 at 4:47 pm

    So true. Where’s my mufuggin’ Rosario at?!

  131. Rodgeron 01 May 2009 at 3:56 pm

    Good lord god, what a fantastic piece. Great read. :)

  132. George E Martinon 01 May 2009 at 8:52 pm

    For the “purists” who decry the Mustang’s rear suspension, let me say that my 2008 Shelby GT500 is a real fun drive! It does all of the corners I want to do at speed just fine.

    Given its stoplight to stoplight gas mileage (you pay a gas guzzler tax on the car) it might not be a great commuter car. But then, I didn’t buy it to be a commuter car.

    #5828 of the 2008 coupes.

    George

  133. cccHon 04 May 2009 at 2:43 pm

    He delivered Wolverine (Hugh Jackman in tight jeans, yum!), so he gets a D from me. Now if only he can do the same with Viggo Mortenson in something…nekkid….

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