Martha Stewart, anyone?

She doesn't drive me crazy. She just reeks of rich bitch housewivery. Which is boring and annoying.

Sorry for being such a hata! ;)

I was going to watch the movie but Dance with a Stranger was on IFC.

And we did watch the rest of it. How could you not? It was just brilliant. There's definitely some serious craftsmanship - not an admirable one, but whatever - in fitting so much information into so few lines and scenes. Foreshadowing hits like a mallet to the head. Subtext is shoved in your face. Martha gets bitchier and bitchier. Go get 'em, Martha! Throw that pot at your best friend! Embarrass your daughter! Hire an assistant! Smash your husband's testicles! Give 'em hell you FUCKING WASP NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!

you FUCKING WASP NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!

But she's not! She's Polish and Catholic!

The final scene reminded me of the scene in Soapdish when Sally Field goes to the mall in order to get noticed by her fans.

"Oh yes, Martha, because everything you do is so perfect."

Thing is, I usually am a big fan of powerful women. My mother evinces a certain degree of power, at least in her marriage to my father (e.g., she's the one in control of financial matters). My surgeon (whom I have a close relationship with) is a female who takes control in the operating room. When I was getting my first degree, my favorite professor was a woman who was a combination of kind and tough, who quietly commanded respect from the moment she walked into the classroom. With Martha Stewart, I feel it's a case of I'm better than you, you uncultured, unwashed, disgraceful excuse of a human being. And I'm not at all cool with that.

I see a difference between Martha Stewart and Miss Manners [Judith Martin], who some might compare to Stewart, that is palpable. Miss Manners might seem to be, on the surface, every bit as snobbish as Martha Stewart, but she isn't. She advocates proper manners (updating them for the 21st century if the case calls for it), but doesn't look down her nose at people who don't succeed at following through with her advice. In fact, she finds it admirable when people simply attempt to act properly in social situations. I get this feeling from Stewart that if she saw any one of the millions of American women who try out one of her arts & crafts projects but fail miserably at it, she would emit an evil cackle and smile smugly, thinking to herself, These silly mortals -- what do they know, anyway?

Having said that, though, it is important for you to know that I find Martha's shows (both the syndicated one and the one on the Food Network) almost addictive. I know for sure I'd never try anything from those shows, but it can make for interesting viewing. One of the partnerships I thought was most interesting was the special episode of Martha's cooking show where she had Cook's Illustrated chief editor (and host of that show "America's Test Kitchens") Christopher Kimball on as the guest. Kimball is the male Martha in that he is incredibly snobbish (almost unbearably so), so you could see how well they worked together.

Y'know, if Christopher Kimball were ever indicted on anything, I think I'd feel the same way I feel about Martha Stewart being indicted, but that's not saying much since I don't really feel much of anything about that. Hmmm.

*will be v. disappointed if another post is added below*

(And the story about her snubbing Nicholson Baker in U & I is awesome)

Oh well. Was only a moment.

I too quite enjoy Miss Manners. I love that our local newspaper carries her syndicated column for three days out of the week. We certainly need it with some of the boors we have around here.

Pleading ignorance on the whole Nicholson Baker affair. I'm going to have to Google this one.

My landlord grew up in Martha's hometown, so obviously we all love her at my house.

Verdict reported in Martha Stewart case

(New York-AP) -- A source tells The Associated Press there's a verdict in the Martha Stewart case.
Extra security has shown up outside the Manhattan federal courthouse where the trial was being held.
A jury has deliberated three days in the case.
The businesswoman is accused of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators about a perfectly timed stock sale.
Stewart's former stockbroker is also on trial.
Earlier today, the judge told jurors they had enough evidence to warrant convicting the broker, Peter Bacanovic, on a perjury charge.

AP v3604 ra 1nt--
AP-Martha Stewart (Tops)

Stewart convicted on all counts, broker guilty on all but one

(New York-AP) -- Martha Stewart is guilty on all of the charges against her.
The verdict came today from a jury in New York -- in the third day of deliberations in her trial.
Her former stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, was convicted on all but one count.
Stewart was convicted of obstructing justice and lying to the government about her sale of ImClone stock. Prosecutors said she had sold the stock after receiving word that ImClone's founder was dumping his own shares.
They said Stewart and Bacanovic had concocted a cover story to make it appear that they had a pre-existing agreement to sell the stock.
Stewart -- who has made a career as the person to turn to for tips on homemaking and gracious living -- will almost certainly see jail time. The charges carry up to 20 years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines, Stewart will probably get much less than that.
Sentencing is set for June 17th.

http://www.erikstormtrooper.com/da_trash.jpg

(New York-AP) -- Here is the text of statement issued by Martha Stewart following today's guilty verdict. It appeared on her Web site:

Dear Friends:
I am obviously distressed by the jury's verdict but I continue to take comfort in knowing that I have done nothing wrong and that I have the enduring support of my family and friends.
I will appeal the verdict and continue to fight to clear my name. I believe in the fairness of the judicial system and remain confident that I will ultimately prevail.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement I have received from thousands of supporters. It is your continued support that will keep me going until I am completely exonerated.
Sincerely,
Martha Stewart

source: www.marthatalks.com

U.S. Feb. Payrolls Rose 21,000, Less Than Forecast

March 5 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. employers added 21,000 workers in February, less than the lowest forecast, and the unemployment rate held at 5.6 percent as more Americans gave up their search for a job...
"This sure doesn't paint a pretty picture for consumer spending going forward," said William Quan, director of research at Mizuho Securities USA Inc. in Hoboken, New Jersey, whose forecast of 80,000 was among the lowest in the Bloomberg survey. "If this continues, people could be revising down their growth forecasts for the second half of the year."

Shiite reject interim constitution

BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 5 (UPI) -- Five Shiite religious parties refused to sign an interim constitution Friday despite the belief the governing council had unanimously approved it.
The document was apparently rejected by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani -- who does not sit on the council but commands broad respect among Shiites -- because he wants a rotating presidency of five members: three Shiite, one Kurd and one Sunni. This had been rejected previously by Bremer, who has to balance the concerns of minority Sunni and Kurds about Shiite power.

Bush Ads Anger 9/11 Families

WASHINGTON - President Bush's new campaign commercials drew a sharply negative reaction yesterday from families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and from a firefighters union that supports Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry...
The ads brought several victims' relatives to tears and triggered angry allegations that Bush was exploiting others' misery for political gain. The commercials are running in 17 states, including Pennsylvania, that are expected to be battlegrounds in the election.

"Using my dead friends and my dead brother for political expediency is dead wrong," said Chris Burke, whose brother Tom died in the North Tower. "It's wrong, it's bad taste, and an insult to the 3,000 people who died on Sept. 11."

Air Force One phone records subpoenaed

WASHINGTON -- The federal grand jury probing the leak of a covert CIA officer's identity has subpoenaed records of Air Force One telephone calls in the week before the officer's name was published in a column in July, according to documents obtained by Newsday.
Also sought in the wide-ranging document requests contained in three grand jury subpoenas to the Executive Office of President George W. Bush are records created in July by the White House Iraq Group, a little-known internal task force established in August 2002 to create a strategy to publicize the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

And the subpoenas asked for a transcript of a White House spokesman's press briefing in Nigeria, a list of those attending a birthday reception for a former president, and, casting a much wider net than previously reported, records of White House contacts with more than two dozen journalists and news media outlets...

The subpoenas underscore indications that the initial stages of the investigation have focused largely on the White House staff members most involved in shaping the administration's message on Iraq, and appear to be based in part on specific information already gathered by investigators, attorneys said Thursday.

Typical apologist horseshit.

So, is she goin' up the river, then?

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

5hhhhhhh!

Martha Stewart, attractive Polish lady