I went out for a ride and I never went back

Ah, "Hungry Heart", by Bruce Springsteen, whence this post's title comes from. It attempts to capture the restlessness of the male spirit. You know, Giuseppe Verdi may have written the opera with the line "A woman is as fickle/as a feather in the wind" (for you philistines, it's probably the only bit of opera you can recall off the top of your head). But really it's men who are the changeable ones. You have fun for a while and then decide to move on. Why am I saying all this, here on the blog dedicated to Ms. Abbi Tatton, co-host of the internet reports on CNN's The Situation Room? It's because I think I might be moving on too. The time away recently was nice and I don't feel like going back, and I'm not sure if I will. This isn't to say I don't still think Ms. Tatton is the beginning and end of all that is good and holy in the world. But I might be getting tired of sorting through three hours of tv every day to wring out a post. That sounds horrible, I know, but it's true. Yes, I have so much I could write about: Ms. Tatton's Iron Maiden comments; how she looked in her tan skirt (hint - great); guessing her age, her background, her shoe size. Not to mention the fact I had promised a special event this weekend. It wasn't that big a deal; just a certain milestone on here. Maybe we'll still reach it. But I gotta say I think things are winding down. I know: you will be tempted to run out to those bastards at Abbi Tatton Rulez for your Abbi fix. Well, they wouldn't know a good post from a hole in the wall. I'll probably post a few more times, sporadically. But just know that whims come to ends eventually, and so must the one that made me start this blog.

Even Abbifans get the blues

It's been almost two days since the last update here on the site devoted to the lovely, talented Ms. Abbi Tatton, co-host of the internet reports on the CNN show The Situation Room. Why? Well, yesterday I attended a work-related party at a Cuban restaurant downtown that was supposed to end at 8. While there, the new owner of the place announced that to celebrate his new acquisition, all drinks and food would be on the house till closing. So naturally,we sort of got waylaid. And today? Well, aside from the fact that my tape once again ran out (I still don't have the knack for taping a three hour show on a tape of indeterminate SLP length), I'm just plain tired. You heard me: I'm tired, and I don't feel like updating. I'm sorry, Ms. Tatton; even whims to dedicate a blog to you can wax and wane over time. I'm sure my enthusiasm will return. But right now, I'm taking a break, and all who want to know more about Ms. Tatton will have to read the transcripts at the CNN website. And remember: absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I hope this post finds you in good humour

Welcome, to the one and only site dedicated to the only truly worthwhile activity in this life: praising the one and only Ms. Abbi Tatton, the fairest of all newscasters (and everyone else actually). She co-hosts the blog reports on CNN's show The Situation Room. In between doing that, she finds time for being the prettiest, smartest, and sweetest gal around. Quite a feat, huh?

So the regular process on here is for me to go through describing the day's segments, highlighting all notable aspects, all for your reading enjoyment. Good deal huh? So to begin: they had the briefest of teasers today as the camera panned by Ms. Tatton (who was mostly blocked by her co-host Jacki) as they came back from commercial right before the first segment. It started about 4:57, and was named Inside the Blogs. Ms. Tatton got to start; she usually doesn't. Today she had a white jacket that was open, not buttoned; I feel sure that's the first time I've seen her try that look. She also had a black top and black pants on, creating a nice contrast. No jewelry this time, either. The topic was Pat Robertson's remark. The first blog she quoted was Think Progress, who suggested Robertson read his own site's "Thou shall not murder" quote. She then noted CBN, and read off a quote about the Bible and the "sovereignty of nations" as illustration of more of Robertson's oddball remarks. Ms. Tatton then moved to Norbusiness (I think that's right), which named the top ten oddball remarks. Here, Ms. Tatton paused to explain that she didn't mean to gang up on Robertson, but she'd had an extremely hard time finding blogs in support. She did cite one she'd found, Erik's...Hmm..., who said "amen" to it. And finally, she showed us Captain's Quarters, which called it "insanity."

It was a jam-packed turn, but the nicest thing was the obvious good humor (humour?) that Ms. Tatton was in (inspiring this post's title). She tilted and tossed her head, as if to express her awareness at the silliness of her topic, smiling cutely throughout. Quite a nice sight.

That good mood continued for her second turn, in the second segment. This came around at, oh, maybe 5:46, and was called The Situation Online. Jacki started with the most popular stories on CNN.com, and Ms. Tatton picked up the theme with the story of the nun who got in trouble for dancing. Here Ms. Tatton showed a picture of it at The Huffington Post while recounting the story for us. Hearing the sweetly innocent Ms. Tatton explain how the nun had "wrapped her legs around a missionary" caused me to raise my eyebrows. Again, she had a sly smile and a would-you-believe-this manner that was very charming. She ended by quoting The Coalition of the Swilling, which wrote, "Paging Julie Andrews." Ms. Tatton passed it back to host Wolf Blitzer with a shake of her head and a bemused, "Dancing nun, Wolf..." that clearly told of the fun she was having.

So hopefully now you can see why watching Ms. Tatton is one of my favorite things. She warms one's heart, for sure. Well, now I bet you can't wait till tomorrow's segment, right? I never can either. And don't forget: special day coming up soon. It's no big deal really, but I think it'll be fun. See you soon.

So good to be back

It's the kickoff of another week, filled with hope and promise of repeated sightings of the loveliest tv correspondent ever, Ms. Abbi Tatton, co-host of the blog reports on CNN's show The Situation Room. Ms. Tatton's parts usually are on towards the end of each hour, especially the second and third (but it's not set in stone). Seek her out; you'll be glad you did.

And me? Like the top of the blog says, I seek only to extoll the virtues of Dear Abbi. I could extoll all my life long and never really scratch the surface of those virtues, either. Oh, but how I'd like to try!

So let's get to it. First off, I forgot to mention last time that I noticed they have somewhat of a teaser by showing the two hosts on the screen along the wall as they're coming back from commercial. Friday's was just them standing there, and today there wasn't one. But I'll try to keep my eyes peeled for them from now on. Ok, the first segment, called Inside the Blogs (they alternate names), came on about 4:57 and was about the security measures in the London tube (mind the gap!). Only people who've been to the London tube will know what I'm talking about there. Anyway, after a long bit by the other host Jacki, Ms. Tatton got her turn. It was striking to see her bare neck, unadorned by necklace. Not that I'm complaining about seeing her neck. She cited Going Underground's Blog, which noted the security steps being taken in the Tube (is that supposed to be capitalized?), and then told of the new charity Freedom Bags, which sells clear backpacks to assure your suspicion-free travel comfort. Londonist, Ms. Tatton pointed out, questioned whether letting people see you're carrying an iPod is really a way to feel secure. And so Ms. Tatton handed it back to host Wolf Blitzer. As he thanked them, we got a nice sideways view of Ms. Tatton's sparkly, whitish shoe. Very royal-looking, if you ask me.

For the second segment, this one called the Situation Online (which came on at 5:44), the topic was an Australian model who got busted for drugs in Indonesia. Ms. Tatton compared the story to that of anoher Australian who'd been convicted of drug smuggling, showing us updates on her from Talk Left, which she described as following the story closely. She then called up HappyScrappy, naming the site then drolling saying, "obviously wins the blogpost name of the day there." Love those side comments. She showed how the site was comparing coverage of the two women and postulating reasons for the difference.

Were Ms. Tatton locked away in some foreign jail, I'd definitely put together a team of international adventurers to rescue her. I'd burst into her cell in a blaze of smoke and fire, and shout, "I'm here to rescue you!" Then she'd go, "Aren't you a little short for a blogger?" And I'd go, "I'm 5'6, what can I say?" Of course, Ms. Tatton is even prettier than Princess Leia. Actually, I bet the guards would spring her on their own, just for a smile from her.

Well, that was a nice start to the week. Be sure to tune in this weekend; I've got something special planned! It's not much, just my way of continuing to celebrate all that is good and beautiful, i.e. all that is Ms. Tatton. But we've got 4 whole days to go before then - what a wonderful thing to look forward to, don't you think?

Please forgive my appalling lateness

I must start by begging for forgiveness for being so late with this post. Ms. Tatton deserves a lot of things, not least of which is punctuality. I could list excuses as to what happened, but they'd just be that: excuses. Actually, I always thought that kind of line was silly - I mean, what's wrong with having a good excuse? I could have been in a car accident or something. Not that I was. Ok, I'm getting off-track here.

The right track is talking about the wonderful Abbi Tatton, co-host of the blog reports on CNN's The Situation Room. I should start paying attention to see if she ever makes appearances on other shows. Although I hope not on American Morning since I like to sleep in.

So let's get to the long-overdue posting. The first segment, called the Situation Online, consisted of Ms. Tatton and her co-host Jacki conducting an interview with a podcasting priest. Can you imagine the pure, unadulterated joy of having Ms. Tatton ask you a question and then wait smilingly for your reply? How warm the sunlight of her attention and curiousity must feel. I bet when she's out to eat with a friend (or with Beau, her Speculatively Existent Beau), she leans forward with her hands clasped together, elbows on the table, intent and engaged in conversation. What a gal. Anyway, the site was CatholicInsider (following on the report of the pope's recent trip). After Jacki's intro (with a very pretty sideways glance from Ms. Tatton), our subject got things underway by asking whom the site operator was trying to reach with his site; the answer was non-Catholics. Then she asked how many listeners he got, and that answer was (or sounded like) 15,000 per podcast. Unfortunately, there was a dearth of shots of Ms. Tatton (or Jacki) during the actual interview, even during the follow-ups. Tsk tsk. Finally, Ms. Tatton asked what kind of equipment one needed to do podcasts; the answer was less than $100 worth. Jacki also got in some questions and then wrapped it up.

The second segment was called Inside the Blogs (funny how they can't seem to decide which title they like better - personally I like Inside the Blogs due to its pedigree from the previous show). Here we got a full view of Ms. Tatton, so I'll take the opportunity now to describe the notable things about her appearance (well, everything's notable really). During the first segment, we found that Ms. Tatton chose to accessorize with red. She had a red top underneath her white jacket-type blouse, she had the red necklace that I am pretty sure I noted on her in an recent post, and she had a previously unseen (or unremarked-upon) red bracelet on her left wrist. From the way the light gleamed on it, it looked smooth and not grooved (if that makes sense). All three reds were the same - a true, simple red - which must have taken some doing to get the same hue. The red theme looked good - if Ms. Tatton were a fire engine, she'd be the prettiest one. People would be setting their houses on fire just to have her pay them a visit. Also, when they showed the two interviewing the podcast guy, one could see the tied belt ends hanging down in the back of her aforementioned blouse. It made a lovely accent for her outfit.

So the second segment, we got to see her legs and feet, which appeared to be in those slipper-shoes that have been fashionable of late, although it's just too hard to say. Substantively, the segment was about Cindy Sheehan. Ms. Tatton cited Power Line and their referencing people in Crawford who didn't support Sheehan. Then she picked up the story of MoveOn.org's pushing more protests, and Scout Prime's picking it up. She also noted another site's "Talk to Her" post without saying what the site was, before returning to Scout Prime and noting two pictures on it, which illustrated her point that some protesters were pro-Cindy and some were anti-Bush.

For the third segment (my my, three whole segments! how nice!), Jacki brought the topic around to the overturn of the word "mate" in the Australian parliament. Ms. Tatton clearly defended her British Commonwealth portfolio at CNN, saying, "I couldn't let Zain Verjee have all the fun with this." She quoted a blogger from Perth named (in the best guess of the transcript) Hami, which I can't find online; sorry. That person called the ban unaustralian. Ms. Tatton again showed another blog's comment without citing it specifically ( and also tossed off some down under slang like "pollies" for politicians), then ended on Digital Retrograde, which compared the thorough Australian-ness of "mate" to the Southern "y'all." Here, Ms. Tatton reached new heights of charm by saying the word "y'all" (perfectly well, too), and immediately protesting, "See, I can't make that noise; I just can't say that word" while breaking into a slight shy laugh. Sigh, what a sweetheart she is. She's just so cute! And like I said, she pronounced the word just fine.

Well, that was it for the week, and not a moment too soon, since we're about to start a new one. What magical wonders lie in store for us there? Only time will tell. Actually, time will just go by; you'll have to come back here so I can tell.

Roll me out into the street

Well, I'm not proud of what I've done. You see, I post here because I am drawn in by the gravitational pull of one Abbi Tatton, co-host of the blog segments on CNN's The Situation Room. I am but a poor boy, looking up at that great big gleaming white mansion that is Ms. Tatton's lot in life. I'm not jealous; I will live vicariously through knowing that she is prospering. My blog here - actually, it belongs to the world - is just my way of giving back. But today I won't be doing much giving.

That's because - I cringe just to say this - I didn't even think my tape might run out, especially since I rewound it a ways. But it did run out, and (here's where Fate takes the knife and just twists it) on a day with just Ms. Tatton reporting. I think that's the second time in a row I missed out on the pure, wholesome goodness that is a solo Abbi segment! And I call myself a blogger for Ms. Tatton! I should be dunked in a vat of cold water; pelted with eggs; Ms. Tatton herself should tie me up and whip me while forcing me to say, "I'm a bad blogger! A very bad blogger!" Ok, scratch that last one. But you know what I mean. I can just hear those bastards at Abbi Tatton Rulez laughing at me. Well, they can sod off. I may not be perfect, but I try. That can't take that away from me.

So anyway, I'll post from the transcripts, and you'll just have to take your prettiest sock and make a puppet and pretend it's Ms. Tatton. The topic was the Gaza pullout. She started with Joe Settler, about protesting the move, and then On the Face, with a less favorable impression of the protesters. And that was it. Oh, I forgot to mention that the whole show was truncated due to the BTK sentencing coverage, hence the brief appearance.

So obviously we have no way to know what new bracelets or necklaces Ms. Tatton displayed. A whole visual realm, lost forever. How sad. But tomorrow I promise I won't make the same mistake. Now who knows which mistake I will make. Ms. Tatton must roll her eyes and say, "Why did I have to get the world's most inept blogger?" I'm sorry, if I've hitched my ill-fated star to yours. I'll unhook it right away.

Welcome back

Today's post title is extremely lame. However, the subject of the post certainly isn't. She's Abbi Tatton, co-host of the blog reports on CNN's show The Situation Room. Her segments can appear pretty much anywhere within the 3-hour show, although they are slightly more common in the 2nd and 3rd hours. But like sifting river mud to find gold is worth it ( or so I hear), so too is watching the Situation Room waiting for a different kind of gleam: that of the sparkling, radiant Ms. Tatton. Gee, the stuff that comes through my fingertips when I'm posting.

Today's segment had some interesting camerawork: as host Wolf Blitzer was introducing the first go-round, an anchor could be seen on the screen behind him, with a "Do I look at the camera or don't I?" look on her face. Then they didn't cut away quick enough and we got Wolf walking up to the camera lens a la David Letterman. And during Ms. Tatton's turn, her co-host Jacki could be seen in view. Jacki, as if you don't already get more turns than Ms. Tatton; now you're getting in her shots! Nah, no complaining about Jacki; we like her. I guess Ms. Tatton is just too rare and special a treat to be enjoyed as often as others. Sorry for the petulance.

In the accessory watch, Ms. Tatton had her necklace with the square silver ornament again - I think I have pointed out in previous posts that the square appears to have somewhat rounded corners. The mystery of its significance endures. My latest guess I'll throw out: when Ms. Tatton turned 18, her parents bought it for her as a symbolic expression of her passage through the "gate" of adulthood. Like I said, I'll take that guess and throw it out. She also had a wide, white bracelet. The white was quite white - it reminded me of a white plastic deck chair - you know, the kind that stack into each other. It seems like it may have had ridges, but it's too hard to really see. But I don't recall seeing it before, so that's fun. Tracking Ms. Tatton's accoutrements is a true delight.

For her first turn, she addressed the Able Danger story. She noted Powerline, which had written that anonymous sources were not to be trusted, and Intel Dump, which said that the story didn't pass the "smell test." Ms. Tatton then quoted from an anonymous post on that second site, which turned out to be from the person behind the story to begin with.

The second segment (called The Situation Online, while the first was Inside the Blogs) was about the Gaza pullout. Ms. Tatton cited one Israeli blog, Balagan, which was sad, and one Palestinian blog, Raising Yousuf, which was hopeful. CNN is definitely getting their international news quota in thanks to the dear Ms. Tatton. Good show.

Well, this post seems like it was over quick. I can't promise I'll post tomorrow - I know, I'm horrible. I'm a pretty poor excuse for a blogger. Ms. Tatton deserves better. But I'll keep trying, I swear.