I loved his acting. I loved his philanthropy. Hell, I loved his Balsamic Vinaigrette and his salsa.

Moment of silence for one of the all time coolest guys ever, Paul Newman.

David Foster Wallace died a few days ago, and I’ve been reticent to post this moment of silence. I know very little about the man other than the voracious appetite that people smarter than I am have for his work.

However, I do know a little bit about fighting mental health issues. Depression is a serious illness, and Wallace, like many other geniuses before him, succumbed to it. Depression is beyond rationalization or logic, a difficult notion for those who are capable of putting words to the indescribable.

Life itself, though, is too great a thing for one mind to comprehend. At some point in every person’s time here, we give up trying.

Some become pleased with what they have.
Some come to accept the limit of their understanding.
Some offer everything beyond their comprehension to God.
And some, unfortunately, lack the capacity to bear the weight.

When a person of genius takes their own life, I would like to believe they were so humbled by the vastness of the universe that they succumbed to their own futility. A comforting thought, but a silly one. Truth is, no matter how big you may understand life to be, when you suffer from depression, the sadness is always bigger.

David Foster Wallace surely still had a lot to say about our world. To his legions of fans who are rereading everything he wrote, I promise to pick up that copy of Infinite Jest* and try again.

Moment of silence for David Foster Wallace.

*A coworker pointed out this article. I share something in common with the writer:

In his honor, I plan to, once again, crack open Infinite Jest, make it about 15 pages in, then give up (again) and start reading that copy of Star (again).

Because, as mothers always say, if you can’t say anything nice…

John McCain has a fascinating story, and while I don’t agree with his stance on just about everything, I firmly believe that he really does consider himself a public servant. He had the audacity to stand in front of the RNC and vow for more transparency, which was a direct slap to the Bush administration. In fact, lots of slaps to Bush with references to change. To face the Republican party and demand that they reassess their policies to reflect the 21st century was ballsy. Finally, as presidential candidates always do, he threw a few good words to Obama; the words he used, though, were incredibly respectful and came off as honest.

Good for you, John.

Now to put the “dump” in “brain dump.”

I know you’re really only calling for “change” in an effort to steal the word from Obama.

The “Raising McCain” song is just embarrassing. And as I type this, they’re playing “Barracuda.” Not sure I get that one.

What part of Obama will lower taxes for 95% of Americans does he not understand? Or, as Republicans are wont to do, is he only speaking to the richest 5%?

John says I shouldn’t have a bureaucrat standing between me and my doctor. Well, currently, I have a corporation standing between me and my doctor. Either way, it sucks, but at least more people have access to healthcare under one of those scenarios.

McCain’s rhetoric skills are weak. The Obama/McCain debates may be like Kennedy/Nixon.

One thing the RNC and the DNC have in common — lots of white people who can’t dance.

Since when does John McCain know what information technology is?

I also Twittered a few things during McCain’s speech.

Bonus thought!!!

From last night: If Sarah Palin is an advocate for families with special needs children, then why doesn’t she believe in universal healthcare?

In a world… where a singular voice can embody an entire industry…, one man stood alone. As the movie makers threw bomb after bomb at him…, he rose up… to make all of those terrible films sound… interesting. That man… was… Don… LaFontaine.

Moment of silence for “Thunder Throat.”

P.S.: Watch this.

Too much is at stake this election, so I’m fighting dirty.

UPDATE: Okay, so it’s not real. I don’t care. But this one is real.