Benazir Bhutto

I am dumbstruck and dismayed.

Long, long ago — seemingly in another life — I met and photographed Benazir Bhutto. She was a young woman then (as was I), but she had already been Prime Minister of her country.

She was amazingly charismatic, eloquent, and ferociously intelligent. She seemed like a beacon of hope, especially for women, in a region that had suffered tremendously.

I have not followed the controversy surrounding her political career, so I can't speak to that. But I admire her courage in returning to Pakistan in the face of serious personal threat. And I mourn the brutal destruction of a person who carried such potential to contribute to the greater good.

[Update: For some grim photos and an eyewitness account, go here; ~ this is what political violence does.]

All aTwitter

Cripes. So somebody kewl like Kelly is using Twitter. Hence, I must learn about it and use it myself. So I go and set myself up a Twitter account (tovish). And then I try to get my phone to receive the tweets.

The first verification message showed up just fine. It asked me to send my name. Which name? My twitter name? My phone name? My real name? I try all of them. Nothing works.

I start the verification process over again. Now I can't even get the darn first verification message.

And may I add, the Twitter help system is RIDICULOUSLY BAD.

And, apparently, I am deeply uncool.

Merry Christmas, all!

[Update: Now it's working, apparently. Except I can't delete all the junk messages I sent by accident. It says it's deleting them, but noooo... Grr.]

iTunes Meme du Jour

I never do these, but what the heck...

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it makes you look.

If someone says "Is this Okay?" You say:
"Stoned to the Bone, Part 1" - James Brown (Well, James Brown is definitely okay...)

How would you describe yourself?
"Girlfriend" - Alicia Keys

What do you like in a guy and/or girl?
"Going to the River" - Taj Mahal (Apparently, the depressive type.)

How do you feel today?
"The Shape I'm In" - The Band (Not so hot, really.)

What's your life purpose?
"In the Garden" - Bob Dylan (Thanks a lot, Bobby, lay it on me why don't ya.)

What do your friends think of you?
"Little of Your Time" - Maroon 5

What do your parents think of you?
"Tuesday Heartbreak" - Stevie Wonder

What do you often think about?
"Chan Chan" - Buena Vista Social Club (Okay, your guess is as good as mine.)

What do you think about the person you like?
"It's Me, O Lord (Standin' in the Need of Prayer)" - Charlie Haden and Hank Jones (Always.)

What is your life's story?
"Ziggie Stardust" - David Bowie (I'm such a rockstar.)

What will you dance to at your wedding?
"All I Really Want" - Alanis Morissette (I don't think so, but it would be unconventional.)

What will they play at your funeral?
"Eight Days A Week" - Beatles (Not the worst choice.)

What is your biggest fear?
"Southern Man" - Neil Young

What is your biggest secret?
"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) - Stevie Wonder (So true.)

What do you think of your friends?
"Bad Things" - Jace Everett (This cracks me up.)

What do you think about your past?
"Set Them Free" - Sting (An excellent idea.)

What is your future going to be like?
"Bring Me to Life" - Evanescence (I can hope!)

What do you see in the person you like?
"The Consequences of Falling" - k.d. laing

What will the song be for you and your spouse?
"The Hoochie Coochie Coo" - Taj Mahal (Yeah, baby!)