Wondering what happened to those old J. Peterman catalog writers? 2006

They're apparently working at Woot now:

Product Info

Paper Tiger

An hour out of Grenoble, Maigny wheeled the Citroën to a halt at a checkpoint high in the Alps. A groggy soldier in a tan garrison cap slouched toward the car, exhaling clouds into the frigid, fading light of early evening. Behind him stretched the darkening peaks of the Italian Alps. This was the moment, Maigny thought, his racing mind suddenly stilled by urgency. He had to get into Italy, to let Le Moineau know his cover had been blown. The entire Resistance could very well depend on it. And these papers had to get him across the border.

“Your papers, please,” the drunken Italian soldier muttered through the open car window. He was just a boy, Maigny could see now. Couldn’t be older than 16. If Mussolini was forced to draft raw, rustic youths like this, then his poisoned dream of a new Roman Empire must be tottering over history’s grave.

“Here you are,” Maigny airily replied, with the casual composure of a Vichy businessman. “I think you’ll find that everything’s in order.” He presented five packages of HP Premium Plus 4×6 Photo Paper to the confused Fascist teenager. That’s right, thought Maigny; look it over, take your time, allow yourself to be seduced by the luxurious glossy finish. Imagine the rich, intense color possible with this premium paper. You’ve never seen anything like this back on the sheep farm in Abruzzi.

“Che cosa è questo?,” the soldier finally said. “I need to see your papers. Identification papers. Immediately.” One hand moved to his revolver. Maigny gulped.

“Certainly, certainly. I just thought that perhaps a man like you deserved a small gift, in appreciation of all your hard work defending the Duce. Please, accept this HP Premium Plus 4×6 Photo Paper as a token of my thanks.”

At last, a light went on in the Italian youth’s head, reaching him through the two-ply haze of liquor and boredom. His eyebrows rose and he quickly slid the paper into his knapsack. After a furtive glance around for any superior officers that might be watching, the soldier unhitched the metal gate across the road. With a sleepy wave, he welcomed Maigny to Italy.

Warranty: 90 days

Features:

• High gloss
• 4×6 with perforated tab
• 11.5 mil
• 280 g/m2
• 75lb
• 45 sheets (times 5)

(Thanks to Joe for the linky goodness!)

Vidal 2006

Note to you: read this interview with Gore Vidal.

Note to self: read more Gore Vidal books.

Lovely weekend! 2006

What a gorgeous day it is outside. I'll be heading out into it soon, but I just woke up half an hour ago. It's been an intense week for my brain at work - good but busy - and I guess I needed the dreamtime; I slept for over 10 hours.

Not much news to report. Life is good, I've been relaxing in the evenings, having fun tramping about town with my sweetie, trying new restaurants & bars, seeing the occasional concert, watching Top Chef, cooking and trying to make myself pack a lunch more often, being depressed by the news, trading CDs with lala.com, playing computer games (Geneforge lately), writing Discardian, and making slow progress on my home to-do list.

Hope things are good with you!