Apt. 11D

Spreadin' Love

The more that I read about Sonia Sotomayor, the more I like her. Her critics are floundering around looking for an angle, but end up looking like assholes. Here's some good blog commentary that I've read today: Sam Crane, Megan McArdle, Amanda Marcotte, and Scott Lemieux.

The Duck Man. (via Flea)

Landing Strips

It took me a few seconds to process this commercial. I'm slow. This commercial (via Sullivan) is a lot more obvious.

Spreadin' Love

Home decor, Jersey style. A couple of years ago, I went around the area taking pictures of the worst McMansions in the area. Should I post them? Will I get sued?

The best unbuilt buildings.

Random note: I'm really impressed with Sotormayor's likability factor.

If academic papers had comment sections.

Attics and Basements

When we were curled into our city apartment, I longed for an attic and basement. A place to put the shit. Old school files, winter clothes, the present from the in-laws that wasn't quite ready for the Good Will, a half used can of paint, and the old lamp. We had the shit piled high in the closets in the city, and I longed for the space to carefully organize the shit into bins and shelves with labels.

Question of the Day - Team Kate or Team Jon?

I'm starting to return to normal. One of the crappy things about being on the bad side of 40 is that drinking booze when you're sick actually makes you sicker. I know. Crazy. In the past, when I had a sore throat, drinking tequila was nothing. It burned away the germs. At least that's what they told me. Now, it nearly put me in the hospital.

So, I spent most of the past two days eating Wendy's in front of the TV pretending that I was an unemployed loser. Oh, wait. Anyway. I was able to catch up with Keeping Up with Kardashians and Jon and Kate Plus 8.

The only reason to watch Jon and Kate is to witness their marriage unravel on TV. Very entertaining. Even the New York Times is watching. The joke at SNL last week was: Two new shows coming up. Jon Plus 4 and Kate Plus 4.

Question of the Day: Team Jon or Team Kate?

Spreadin' Love

Still sick. The links for the day are rich and trashy.

Want to buy the Ferris Bueller house? Anyone? Anyone?

Love this picture of Dooce.

Ashton Kutcher may stop Twittering. Fingers crossed. 

The discussion about Sotomayer's nomination is so silly that I believe that it fits in well with today's link fest. (There are some bloggers who are absolutely fantastic on the SC. I'm going to link to the good debates about her, but not do it myself. For what it's worth, I think that how much money she made last year = a dumb issue.)

Hazel, Like Me

Spreadin' Love

I have a terrible cold today. Actually, the correct pronunciation today is "code." I can't breathe through my nose. Ugh. My level of intellect is around the level of a Kardashian re-run. So, just a few more links.

There was some excellent back and forth between Andrews and McArdle this weekend, and Megan's revelations about Andrews' financial dealing made the New York Times. Good work, Megan (aka "the blogger).

Sotomayer. Gotta learn more. Reaction from LGM.

Andrew Sullivan: Republicans are way kinkier. 

Spreadin' Love

1001 rules for my unborn son. Rule 325. When excusing yourself from the table, you need not give a reason. (Thanks JT)

The Mystery of Declining Female Happiness

In today's Times, Ross Douthat discusses a recent study by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, "The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness." Stevenson and Wolfers found that while male happiness levels have increased over time, women's happiness levels have dropped. This finding holds true across income/race lines.

Looking to find a compromise between feminism and conservativism, Douthat blames the rise in single parenthood and inadequate work-family policies. But the authors clearly shoot down these hypotheses. (see page 17). One should really read the paper that one is citing.

In the conclusion of the paper, Stevenson and Wolfers discuss their own explanations for the findings. They say that perhaps woman are more sensitive than men to big social shifts, such as the decline in social cohesion. Perhaps our expectations are now too high about what we can achieve, and we are inevitably let down by reality.

Interesting paper.