Vaguely Artistic makes some really cool collage art work.
The Eggcorn Database is a collection of commonly misused phrases; like “beside manor” instead of “bedside manner” or “vintage point” when they really mean “vantage point.”
I remember several years ago on the gayindy mailing list one of the troublemakers on the list accused someone else of “acting in an unethical manor.” Which made me laugh, because I pictured a giant estate house where in every room someone was behaving badly.
I love weird coin-operated arcade machines. From the guys who created Monty Python, here’s a whole site celebrating them: The Under the Pier Show.
I’m getting ready to convert my blog over to the Movable Type publishing system, from Blogger. MT is much more customizable and robust, and I’ve learned how to bend and shape it to my will in creating IndyScribe, so I’m hoping the transition will go smoothly in moving this blog. (Oh, it never does, does it?) I have something like 2,000 posts over a 5 year period to convert over, so there’s a lot to do.
So if things appear screwed up here for a bit, that’s why. Please mind your head, pardon the dust.
House Democrats in Indiana were concerned about two bills that threatened the rights of Hoosiers; a bill that created an “Inspector General” position for the Governor’s office, which would allow the Governor to appoint his own prosecutor and basically screw up the balance of power between government branches, and a bill requiring voters to present a driver’s license at the polls, which would prevent poor Hoosiers who can’t afford a driver’s license or state ID card from being able to vote.
So they walked out of the House and refused to hear 130 some bills, which killed many of them.
Now the Governor Daniels is calling Democrats terrorists, and accusing them of “car-bombing” his pet legislation, and refusing to apologize for his inflammatory rhetoric.
Of course last year Daniel’s precious Republicans pulled the same “car-bombing” stunt themselves, walking out of the House and killing legislation because they were insisting that their Pro-bigotry and Pro-hate bill on equal marriage rights should be heard. So what Indiana Republicans are saying is that bigotry and hatred are good, and protecting the rights of Hoosiers is bad.
You know what Governor Daniels? If Democrats are “car bombers” then you’re a giant doody-head. (Originally my language was much stronger, but then I decided I shouldn’t try to be a bigger jerk than him).
According to the fun folks at News Hounds, the syndication site that produces Bill O’Reilly’s columns are threatening their site because they linked to one of O’Reilly’s articles — this one on Buster Bunny.
“Creators Syndicate demands that you immediately cease and desist from your unauthorized use of the link to Bill O’Reilly’s column on his website.”
Wow, I wonder if I’ll get a letter?
If you’ve never seen it before, check out The Memory Hole on you free time sometime. They publish on their site information that’s been “Lost” by the goverment — for example, the website of the US Commission on Civil Rights has been purged of 20 reports that didn’t meet the agenda of the agency’s Republican majority. The Memory Hole recovers 19 of the inconvenient reports.
The site is also the favorite of whistle blowers everywhere, and people go to great lengths to give them secret information exposing corruption and fraud in business and government.
Very entertaining to read what other people don’t want you to see.
Because they need the bodies, and they can’t risk any more people getting out of service by taking advantage of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Congress is planning to repeal it. I feel so much better that they’re not going to discriminate against me anymore, but only because they hope to get me shot at. Now we’ll be able to fight and die for our country and all the married folk in it, but we won’t be able to enjoy the right to marry ourselves. Hmm. Taxation without representation.
A press release from the organization Outserve SDLN:
Congressional lawmakers today announced legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act is scheduled to be introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) on March 2nd. The proposal is already supported by a bi-partisan coalition of Congressional representatives, including Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) among others.
Announcement of the bill follows release of a new Government Accounting Office (GAO) report analyzing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The GAO report conservatively estimates the gay ban has cost at least $191 million since its inception in 1993.
I got a call from the nurse… my cholesterol is down from last time I had it checked. It’s 181, which is considered normal. All my other bloodwork is good, too, including my potassium and calcium levels, so the doctor is quite happy with that, and I need to keep eating healthy and not let anything get worse.
181 – total cholesterol (optimal: below 200)
133 – triglicerides (optimal: below 150)
110 – LDL (optimal: below 100, Near Optimal: 100-129)
44 – HDL (average: between 50-60)
So I still need to lower my LDL and raise my HDL cholesterol a little bit.
The echocardigram shows my pulmonary valve stenosis is now considered moderate, which is worse than before. The mitral valve prolapse is apparently the same. So I need to go see a cardiologist. They’re setting up an appointment for me at Methodist downtown. I’m not sure if that means anything at all, or if it’s any sort of problem. I guess I’ll find out from the cardiologist when I talk to them.