T.G.I.F.

It is Friday. It is July. Half of the people you need to talk to about your projects are on vacation and the other half is leaving at noon. You, however, are in the office for the duration of the day. Sounds like it will be the perfect afternoon for you to read this article from Slate called "Fix Your Terrible, Insecure Passwords in Five Minutes" and then proceed to, well, fix your terrible, insecure passwords!

Round-Up of Books Recommended by Slate in June

From Slate: Books, music, movies and other things Slate liked in June.

Republicans Attempt to Tweet

During the Presidential race, John McCain admitted that he was computer illiterate. Since then, Republicans have been working on their technology skills, including Twitter.

Slate reports that Iowa's Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has been scolding President Obama on Twitter: "'Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us 'time to deliver' on health care. We still on skedul/even workinWKEND,' wrote Grassley in the shortened vernacular of the form."

Well. It appears Republicans have not completely mastered this form of communication.

Flu News Round-Up

Slate gathers together the A/H1N1 flu stories from this morning's newspapers.

Slate's Job Loss Map: Scarier than Swine Flu Map

From Slate: The economy is bleeding.

Slate Summarizes Sunday's Headlines

A look at what's in today's major U.S. papers from Slate.

Be Like FDR

President Franklin D.Roosevelt's favorite cocktails are exactly the same as your favorites.

Okay, technically all I know is that they are exactly the same as mine, but perhaps you will agree with me and FDR. According to Slate, the President's number one cocktail was the Martini made with gin, of course, because it's not a Martini if it's not gin.

Vodka drinkers: Please do not ask for a vodka Martini. It is a drink that does not exist. If you are too embarrassed to say "I want a big glass of cold vodka, straight-up", then re-think you drink.

The President's number two choice in cocktails was the Old Fashioned. He enjoyed his Old Fashioned with bourbon. This is likely due to geography. FDR was from the East, where bourbon is the popular mixer. Wisconsin prefers brandy. In my opinion, bourbon is perfectly fine in an Old Fashioned, although asking for it deeply confuses Wisconsin bartenders. To expedite delivery of said drink - and delay in the delivery of cocktails is never desirable - I order the brandy version in the Dairy State.

This news settles matters: A biography of President Roosevelt is going to be added to my reading list. I seek recommendations on this topic.

George W. Bushisms

"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office."—President George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008.

Heavens to Betsy! Abducted from the Oval Office! Security will surely improve when Barack Obama is President. Wait. No Oval Office abduction. It was just the ramblings of that silver-tongued decider, your President, George Bush. For more quotes, check out The Complete Bushisms on Slate. Depending on your mood, you will either laugh or despair.

"We want our teachers to be trained so they can meet the obligations, their obligations as teachers. We want them to know how to teach the science of reading. In order to make sure there's not this kind of federal—federal cuff link."—At Fritsche Middle School, Milwaukee, March 30, 2000.

How cold is it?

Daniel Engber, writing for Slate, says it's time for weather forecasters to stop reporting the wind chill. I like hearing about the wind chill factor. It's adds Steven King-like elements of dread and horror to the story of winter weather.

Two horses, seen over the rail fence, are unconcerned about about Bernie Madoff, bear markets, or wind chill.

Slate's Best Books of 2008

From Slate: More ideas for your books-to-read list.

T.G.I.F.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the bossa nova and Chris McGowan, writing for Slate, discusses this music's origin, development and current popularity.

Click through the Elis and Tom Amazon link below and listen to some samples of the bossa nova; perfect Friday afternoon music:

T.G.I.F.

Christopher Hitchens

Writing in Slate, Christopher Hitchens pours cold water on America's electoral glee. Okay, okay, we get it Mr. Hitchens: people hate America, the economy is in tough shape, there is no god, etc.

Governor Palin Says She's Got First Amendment Rights, Dang It