In Absentia

Staying West is going on a little hiatus for a couple of weeks.

(Unless I decide to live-blog Tangiers...which is a very real possibility, I guess.)

Be back soon.

Without Further Comment #16 (Yo! That Iceberg White Dude totally got called out, yo! Edition)

"The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley presents his compliments to Vice-President Albert Gore and by these presents challenges the said former Vice-President to a head-to-head, internationally-televised debate upon the question, 'That our effect on climate is not dangerous,' to be held in the Library of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History at a date of the Vice-President's choosing.

"Forasmuch as it is His Lordship who now flings down the gauntlet to the Vice-President, it shall be the Vice-President's prerogative and right to choose his weapons by specifying the form of the Great Debate. May the Truth win! Magna est veritas, et praevalet. God Bless America! God Save the Queen!"

I would like to have seen Montana

Admiral Josh Painter: What's his plan?
Jack Ryan: His plan?
Adm. Painter: Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan.

This is truely a happy day. The Times is reporting that actor-turned-senator-turned-actor Fred Thompson is exploring running for President in '08. Let it be known: Staying West will vote for any actor from The Hunt for Red October, regardless of party affiliation!


If more than one Red October actor runs, I'll vote by order of theatrical billing (You hear that, Baldwin?!?) As far as the whole notion of actors running for higher office, I believe Thompson said it best himself:

Admiral Josh Painter: This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it.

Without Further Comment #15 (Snowball's Chance edition)

“The people who denigrate lottery players are like 10-year-olds who are disgusted by the idea of sex: they are numb to its pleasures, so they say it’s not rational,” said Lloyd Cohen, a professor of law at George Mason University

(the NYT)