Happy Birthday!

To Blogdad Jay and his Mom!

An interesting proposition

T1G asks, if you were building a house for the Almighty, what would you include?

"Last night, I watched that house makeover show. I don't remember the name of it, but it's host is way too wired, or slightly insane. They go around destroying people's houses, and then remodelling, or rebuilding them. It was alright...

Anyway, during one of the commercial breaks, it looked as if they were going to rebuild a church, which got me thinking. How would they hide their project from Him... do they make some special bus? And, if Gott were to have a house built, what special appliances, or features, would he desire?"

What do you think?

What would you put in a house for the Lord? What would you leave out? What would God need in his own house?

Weird Quiz O' the Day

YOU ARE THE NILE

At 4145 miles from your furthest extremity to the Mediterranean Sea, you outdo the Amazon to become the world's longest river. The piranhas hate you.

Beneath you lies an underground river with six times your volume. You kept this remarkably quiet for several thousand years. In fact, you're full of mystery; your source wasn't discovered until 1862. You're also full of water. And crocodiles. And nuclear pharaoh machines that run on light and can see through time.

Which Extremity of the World Are You?
From the towering colossi at Rum and Monkey.

found here

I got nothin'

Two grants coming up.  Kicking my ass.  Plus I have to give a final tonight.

New House episode on at 9pm EDT and PDT...

Oh and WTF with President Weasel on last night's 24? Thoughts? Theories?

I feel sooooo sorry for Mrs. Logan. No wonder she's clinically depressed. What a Schmuck.

While I'm busy...

Michael Yon is in the UAE preparing to return to Iraq.  And he has some interesting things to say.

Keep them in your thoughts....

Fellow Munuvian and all around great guy RP and his Viking Bride are in the process of having their third babe today, after much stress and the preeclampsia carousel.  Sending best wishes and prayers in their direction!

He's Here!

RP and his Viking Bride have welcomed a new Boy Child into the family. Mom and Babe are both well.

Hooray!

It's Tartan Day!

The day to celebrate one's own Scots Heritage!
As for myself, we're Scots and Scots Irish in my maternal grandfather's line, and are evidently from Clan MacDuff, and this is the MacDuff hunting tartan

Here are this year's participants:


(Mmm, Haggis! denotes a new post!)

If it's not Scottish, it's crap!

Hell Officially Frozen Over!

I agree with something said on Kos and Atrios....
From this article:

"Sitting in the oncology ward at Children's National Medical Center on Jan. 19, retired Adm. Joe Sestak and his wife, Susan, awaited the doctors' verdict about the condition of their 5-year-old daughter, Alexandra.

She had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last summer and given three to nine months to live. The Sestaks lived for four months in the ward. They watched as their daughter survived three surgeries, and as she endured chemotherapy.

But that winter day, doctors told the Sestaks that Alexandra had done remarkably well and that, although the cancer could reemerge, she could resume living like a healthy girl.

Relieved and grateful, Sestak, who retired as a three-star admiral Jan. 1, after 31 years in the Navy, began thinking about what he wanted to do next.

...

"He's running because he has a personal ax to grind with the Navy leadership," [Rep. Curt] Weldon [(R), PA] said. "When you treat people like dirt, that's an issue."

Weldon [also] attacked Sestak's decision to continue owning a home in Virginia while only renting in Pennsylvania and questioned why Sestak did not move back to Pennsylvania when he was working at the Pentagon. Weldon commutes from Pennsylvania each day.

Weldon also suggested Sestak should have sent his daughter to a hospital in Philadelphia or Delaware, rather than the Washington hospital. Sestak said that as soon as doctors give his daughter the all-clear, he'll buy in Pennsylvania."[emphasis mine - Ed.]

Jesus, you don't attack a man for where he chooses to treat his five year-old daughter's cancer!  That is BEYOND the pale.

No, I'm not going to link to Kos or Atrios, I don't need the trolls.  You can find the links here.

The thing is, both sides do this and I am F***ING tired of it.  There's no reason to deal these kind of low blows.  Toot your own horn, explain why your opponent's policy platform is wrong, and let it go at that.  That should give the voters plenty of reasons to make their decision.

Or maybe there's just nothing worthwhile to say.  In which case, my mother taught me to shut up.

Strange Sightings

(title lifted from here)

On the freeway this morning I drove by two unusual vehicles....
One of these:

Turns out it was a "studio vehicle," no doubt on its way to a shoot somewhere;

and the delivery van from this place, which was of course, featured on this show.

Blue Monday....

Your Lucky Underwear is Blue

You are caring and extroverted. You've made relationships your number one focus, and your lucky blue underwear can bring some balance to them. You thrive in one-on-one situations. You are a good listener and a natural born therapist. Sometimes you let the concerns of others become too important in your life, leading to stress and worry. If you want more balance, put on your blue underpants. They'll help you take care of yourself first.

Found here

Happy MuNuversary to me!

One year ago today I hung up the Blogger training wheels and jumped full time to the MuNuvian intergalactic star cruiser.

In honor of that, a new look around here.

Between the blogrolls, buttons and pics, it was just getting too damn long to scroll down, so now we have 3 columns....

At the top, rotating banners are back, so refresh for your favorites.

Also, there's a new random scrolling quote for your amusement. Taking suggestions for new additions!

In the Left sidebar:                                   In the Right sidebar:
About Me                                                      My Blog Family
SuDoku                                                         Bloggers I've met
Hockey Whoopass Jamboree                    My Blogroll
Lots'a buttons                                               BFL Blogroll
(be sure to click the black/red flag)          Tartan Blogs Blogroll
Clock                                                             Code Red Blogroll
Calendar                                                           MedBlogs Blogroll
More info
Search
Recent Entries
More buttons
SiteMeter etc.
Munuvian Blogroll
Cotillion Blogroll
Categories
Archives
Copyright and Disclaimer

That's Reassuring...

You scored as Natural Causes. Your death will be by natural causes, though not by any diseaese, because that is another option on this test. You will probably just silently pass away in the night from old age, and people you love won't realize until the next morning, when you are all purple and cold and icky. So be happy, you won't be murdered. Natural Causes 80% Posion 80% Suicide 67% Bomb 67% Gunshot 60% Disease 60% Suffocated 47% Accident 33% Drowning 27% Stabbed 27% Eaten 20% Cut Throat 20% Disappear 13% How Will You Die?? created with QuizFarm.com

From Disappearing Ben

Did I mention?

Scroll down a bit.
Look on the left sidebar.
Click the Black and Red flag. Especially if you're a South Park fan or an anti-Tomkat apostle.

Xenu is your friend....

Round-Up

Evidently Miller's Time is just a metaphor for time on your hands.....

From Miller's Time, a Bear Flag League roundup....

Happy Birthday!

To Velocidude!

Feel better soon, my friend!

Dell capitulates

Of course it only took about 30 blogposts all over the b'sphere, a couple of mentions by the big dogs and (what probably did it) a threatened lawsuit.

Dell was wrong.  But they evidently made it good when Dana backed them into a corner.  Between my own Dell horror story, and this one, don't ever by a freaking Dell.  I won't do it again.

Congratulations, sister.  You beat them down.  And double-check the length of the warranty.  If it's a completely new box you should have a new warranty...

...Contact, it's the answer, it's the reason, that everything happens...

3, 2, 1

Go to Wikipedia and look up your birth day (excluding the year). List three events, two births and one death, including the year.

On November 10:
Events:
1766 - The last Colonial governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, signs the charter of Queen's College (later renamed Rutgers University).

1871 - Henry Morton Stanley locates missing explorer and missionary, Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika saying "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

1938 - Kate Smith, on her weekly radio show, sings Irving Berlin's God Bless America for the first time.

Births:
1483 - Martin Luther, German protestant reformer (d. 1546)

1775 -The Continental Congress passes a resolution creating the Continental Marines (later renamed the United States Marine Corps) to serve as landing troops for the recently created Continental Navy.
Ok, that was technically not a birth, so how about my favorite movie helicopter pilot? (bonus points if you know the movie...)

1932 - Roy Scheider, American actor

Death:
1982 - Leonid Brezhnev, ruler of the Soviet Union (b. 1906)

seen everywhere, first here

Oh, and more bonus points if you know what the title of this post means

More to come

Of course, as is usual, I have lots to talk about but no damn time.

Watch this space for my thoughts on body image, insomnia, and maybe immigration (if I feel like raising my blood pressure...)

Office Vocabulary

Basil posted this, but I have the original memo...

TO ALL EMPLOYEES:

It has been brought to the management's attention that some individuals have been using foul language in the course of normal conversation between employees. Due to complaints from some more easily offended workers, this conduct will no longer be tolerated.

The management does, however, realize the importance of each person being able to properly express their feelings when communicating with their fellow employees. Therefore the management has compiled the following code phrases, so that the proper exchange of ideas and information can continue unabated.

Old Phrase	New Phrase
No f*cking way	I'm not certain that's feasible.
You've got to be sh*tting me	Really?
Tell someone who gives a f*ck	Perhaps you should check with ...
Ask me if I give a f*ck	Of course I'm concerned.
It's not my f*cking problem	I wasn't involved in that project.
What the f*ck?	That's interesting behavior.
F*ck it, it won't work	I'm not sure I can implement this.
Why the f*ck didn't you tell me that sooner?	I'll try to schedule that.
When the f*ck do you expect me to do this?	Perhaps I can work late.
Who the f*ck cares?	Are you sure it's a problem?
He's got his head up his a$$	He's not familiar with that problem.
Eat sh*t	You don't say.
Eat sh*t and die	Excuse me?
Eat sh*t and die motherf*cker	Excuse me, sir?
What the f*ck do they want from me?	They weren't happy with it?
Kiss my a$$	So you'd like help with it?
F*ck it. I'm on salary	I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
Shove it up your a$$	I don't think you understand.
This job sucks	I love a challenge.
Who the hell died and made you boss?	You want me to take care of this?
Blow me	I see.
Blow yourself	Do you see?
Another f*cking meeting	Yes, we should discuss this.
I really don't give a sh*t	I don't think it will be a problem.
F*ck you	How nice.
F*ck you sideways	How very nice.
He's a f*cking pr*ck.	He's somewhat insensitive.
She's a ball busting bitch.	She's an aggressive go getter.
You don't know what the f*ck you're doing.	I think you could use more training.

Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask....

...about the Super Adventure Club, according to Tommy Boy himself!

Be sure to turn up the sound and click ALL the links.

Courtesy of Samantha B.

Welcome to California

So as not to be outdone by all the redneck, hillbilly, and Texan jokes...

You know you're from California if:

1. Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.

2. You make over $400,000 and still can't afford a house.

3. You take a bus and are shocked at two people carrying on a conversation in English.

4. Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.

5. You can't remember . . is pot illegal?

6. You've been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.

7. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian!

8. You can't remember . . . is pot illegal?

9. A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.

10. Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.

11. Unlike back home, the smug bastard at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney. 

12. Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment.

13. You can't remember . . . .is pot illegal?

14. It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH."

15. You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cell phones or pagers.

16. It's barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather related accidents.

17. HEY!!!! Is pot illegal????

18. Both you AND your dog have therapists.

19. The Terminator is your governor.

20. If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license away. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one.

via an email from the CaltechMom!

Revenge: a dish best served scampi-style

Don't screw with Ellison... or his friends:

It was early 1977, and my friend Mel was getting ready to move away.

Mel was one of the first friends I made when I moved to Sweat City in 1974, there to begin my career at the Great Corporate Salt Mine. He, like I, worked in Baytown, at a research facility set in the fringes of a monstrous oil refinery and chemical plant. He, like I, was a Jew from the Northeast, adrift in this land of Texans.

[...]

But put all this aside for the moment. Mel lived in an apartment complex in what was then considered West Houston - a hellacious commute to Baytown, in fact even more hellacious than my own. And it was the fashion, back in those days, to have Asshole Neighbors.....

Read all about how the Asshole Neighbors got everything they so richly deserved here....

Having a Spaz...

Seems the Brits are up in arms because Tiger Woods, in a post-Masters interview, said that he "putted like a Spaz".

See, in Britain, they call children with Cerebral Palsy "spastics".  Spaz being a derogatory form of the above.

But then again, Tiger, you've got no reason to worry, after all, these are the same folks who call their smokes "faggots".

I hate you guys. Especially [Comedy Central]

Just 20 minutes after showing Mohammed in the group shot at the end of the opening credits of the episode, CC pulls a hypocritical BONER and refuses to show Mohamed handing a "salmon helmet" to Peter Griffin in part 2 of South Park's "Family Guy" spoof.

Comedy Central has confirmed that this was a network decision, but somehow I can't help but think this is all part of the plan.....

Predictably, Michelle Malkin, OTB, Captain Ed, Wizbang!, and the Jawas are all over this.

Two thoughts:
1.  LOVED Bart Simpson working with Cartman.  Hell yeah!
2.  You can show Jesus getting pooped on but not Mohammed at the front door?  WTF?

Would you rather....?

Found here

*Barefoot or Shoes? BAREFOOT.  And I wear Birkies when I can get away with it.  MUST be able to take my shoes off under my desk or a table

*Tea- Sweet or Unsweetened? SWEET!  I was always a no-sweetner girl until I moved to NC where you pretty much can't get it without sugar.  The sweeter the better, I say.

*Clothes- fitted or loose? Loose.  PJs and no bra if I can get away with it.

*Fish- fresh water or salt water? Not the biggest fish fan, but that which I will eat is all salt-water: Tuna steaks, Salmon, Scallops, Clam Chowder...

*Gravy or plain? Pass the gravy.  I usually get it on the side because I like the taste of my food and I can dip in or add it as I please.  For mashed taters, I usually go without and add cheese and sour cream instead

*House- spotless or lived in? Lived in.  I only lose things when I tidy up.

*Solitude or people? I would have to say people. But there are definitely moments when I need to be alone

*Beer or alcohol? I can't drink except on rare occasions thanks to my wonderful medication, but when I do it's almost ALWAYS a floofy girly drink.  With an umbrella or a fruit garnish.  So yeah, alcohol.

*Fiction or non-fiction? Fiction.  I love mysteries and interesting characters

*Weather- hot or cold?  Cold.  Definitely cold.  I love it when it rains or snows.  I love walking in the snow.  I love sleeping under a pile of blankets with the window open for some fresh air.

Better than a Hobby

Go here.  Scroll down.  Laugh.  Refresh.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

note:  The management apologizes if you actually agree with this stoopid moonbattery and wish to add a sincere message of your own.  NOT!!!

P.S.  Look for Mohammed....
h/t Beth

It wasn't a DC-8, I assure you.

Headline:

Tom Cruise flies off in vintage plane as Holmes awaits baby

Friday Dumb Meme

Do you have:

      (X) your own cell phone... DUH.  Since 1996.  10 years of being in touch.
(X) a television in your bedroom....Oh HELL YES.  Can't sleep without it.
(X) an MP3 player...I am attached at the hip to my iPod shuffle.
(X) a photo printer...Yes, but it's still in the box.
() your own phone line....  Nope, one house, two peoples
( ) TiVo or a generic digital video recorder...Working on it
(X) high-speed internet access...Can't live without it
( ) a surround sound system in bedroom...No.  Too cheap.
(X ) DVD player in bedroom...See above.  Can you say White Christmas?
( X) at least a hundred DVDs...Cheaper than going to the Movies.
(X) a childfree bathroom...Unless the dog-child counts.
(X ) your own in-house office...Where my printers and my sewing machine live.
() a pool...  I wish
( ) a guest house...As if
( ) a game room...  If we had another room.  Does the living room count?
( X) a queen-size bed or larger...Oh yeah, King size. Of course, it's for two people and a stretchy dog...
( ) a stocked bar...Only if that means 2 bottles of wine, and a full bottle each of rum, Kahlua, and Baileys.....
(X) a working dishwasher...Oh, Hell yes.
( ) an icemaker...I used to.  Until we moved here.  First freezer I've had without one.
( X) a working washer and dryer...Couldn't Live without them
(X ) more than 20 pairs of shoes.. DUH
( ) at least ten things from a designer store...Designers don't make clothes that fit me.
(X ) expensive sunglasses... Prescription only.
() framed original art (not lithographs or prints)..
(X ) Egyptian cotton sheets or towels....Wedding presents are nice.
(X) a multi-speed bike...Two actually.
( ) a gym membership...I refuse to spend money to kick my own ass.
( X) large exercise equipment at home...Me and my elliptical.
( X) your own set of golf clubs...In my Dad's garage.
( ) a pool table...I wish.
( ) a tennis court...The first place we lived after we were married had one.
(X ) local access to a lake, large pond, or the sea...Hello, this is LA. The beach is right here.
( ) your own pair of skis...I fucking hate skiing.
(X) enough camping gear for a weekend trip in an isolated area...Yes, if you like sleeping outside a tent.  The army was good to us.
( ) a boat....When I'm rich.  Until then, I'll use Bill's :)
( ) a jet ski...no way
( ) a neighborhood committee membership...My landlord does.
( ) a beach house or a vacation house/cabin...When I retire.
(X) wealthy family members...Yep.  Both of us.
( ) two or more family cars...No.  Does the bike count?
(X) a walk-in closet or pantry...My closet is bigger than some bedrooms.
( ) a yard...Nope, but a nice balcony.
( ) a hammock...No.  No trees.
( ) a personal trainer...See above regarding Gym memberships
(X ) good credit...I rock.
(X ) expensive jewelry...I'm married to a geologist.  Need I say more?
( ) a designer bag that required being on a waiting list to get...As if.  Fuck No
( ) at least $100 cash in your possession right now...HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAA
(X) more than two credit cards bearing your name (not counting gas cards or debit cards)...Oh yeah.  A lot.
(X) a stock portfolio...Yes, whatever is in the retirement fund....
() a passport... getting there.
( ) a horse...No.  My niece does, though.
( ) a trust fund (either for you or created by you)...No
(X) private medical insurance...Thank You Jesus!.
() a college degree, and no outstanding student loans ...Give me a month.  Just one more month.

Do you:
( X) shop for non-needed items for yourself (like clothes, jewelry, electronics) at least once a week... Doesn't mean I buy them, though.  Shopping is fun.
(X ) do your regular grocery shopping at high-end or specialty stores...Yes.  Trader Joes ROCKS
( ) pay someone else to clean your house, do dishes, or launder your clothes (not counting dry-cleaning)...does my Husband count?
(X) go on weekend mini-vacations...Those are the only kind I can afford.
( ) send dinners back with every flaw...That's my mother, not me...
( X) wear perfume or cologne (not body spray)...Yummy smelling=GOOD.
(X ) regularly get your hair styled or nails done in a salon...Starting next week, it's coming off.
( ) have a job but don't need the money OR
( ) stay at home with little financial sacrifice...Again, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
( ) pay someone else to cook your meals...No
( ) pay someone else to watch your children or walk your dogs...I wish.
( ) regularly pay someone else to drive you taxis...Hell no.
( ) expect a gift after you fight with your partner...The fact that he remembers what we were fighting about is a miracle

Are you:
(x) an only child..Thank Jesus!
( ) married/partnered to a wealthy person...Nope, and I could care less.
(X) baffled/surprised when you don't get your way...I ALWAYS get my way.  Dammit.  Respect my Authoritah!

Have you:
( ) been on a cruise...No
(X) traveled out of the country...Canada.
(X) met a celebrity...Several of them.
( ) been to the Caribbean...Not yet
( ) been to Europe...It's on the list.
( ) been to Hawaii...DH wants to go.  Maybe I'll go meet Dog....
(X ) been to New York...Loved it.
( ) eaten at the space needle in Seattle...No, didn't make it to Seattle
( ) been to the Mall of America...No.  Skipped that on PURPOSE
( ) been on the Eiffel tower in Paris...No.  See above.
( ) been on the Statue of Liberty in New York...It was still closed when I was in NYC.
( X) moved more than three times because you wanted to...Fresno to Pasadena to Fresno (briefly) to Carrboro to Chapel Hill, across town, and back here to Pasadena.
(X) dined with local political figures. In Fresno, at USC, and at Caltech.
(X) been to both the Atlantic coast and the Pacific coast...I've lived near both, too!
Did you:
( ) go to another country for your honeymoon...Nope, but we went to the ocean.
(X ) hire a professional photographer for your wedding or party ...The bastard.
(X) take riding or swimming lessons as a child...When I was allowed to swim....
(X ) attend private school...In college.
( ) have a Sweet 16 birthday party thrown for you....Fuck that.

That makes 43.  Eat it Benny :-P

Better Late Than Never

From Peep Boy:

You Are an Easter Egg

You're so sweet, you don't need candy. You much prefer the taste of artificial coloring instead.

Evidently I am unique.....

Tried that Face Recognition site everyone else has been to...
Here's my results:
55% Angelina Jolie
54% Jodie Foster
53% Monica Belluci
53% Molly Ringwald
51% Emma Watson
47% Mira Sorvina

Yeah, I guess I just look like me....

Idiots!

I'm gonna freakin' puke next time I hear one of these news-chickens refer to dook as "an Ivy League school".

Last time I checked, dook competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (a.k.a. the ACC).  Same as they have for the last 40+ years.  Ivy League Schools are so-called ONLY because they compete in the ACTUAL Ivy League.

Yes, the name is synonymous with excellence in education, but that doesn't mean that a school with a reputation for fine academics and located on the East Coast is AUTOMATICALLY an Ivy League School.

Sheesh.

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

On April 18, 1906, just after 5 AM, the peaceful slumber of the citizens of San Francisco was shattered forever.  A masssive earthquake, still one of the largest ever recorded, crippled the entire region.  The quake was felt hundreds of miles away, and nearly burned the entire city of San Francisco to the ground.

More on the "great quake":
Wikipedia
The Beeb
SF Museum
USGS

A Thought Provoking Read

If you have never read the sometimes insane, always insightful blog of my one and only blog-child, Let The Finder Beware, you could do worse than to start reading it today.

Paul some interesting musings on the decades of our lives, and the moral and cultural changes that define them to us.  Part I is here, and Part II here.  Drop by and share your thoughts!

Memo to Keith Olbermann: Go back to ESPN. Now.

I used to like Keith Olbermann.  I thought he was really funny, and some of the stunts that he pulled with his SportsCenter colleagues (especially Dan Patrick) are classics in TV history.

Then he decided to be a serious journalist.  Or something like that.  And got his own show on msnbc (the conflicted network).

Now he votes Michelle Malkin as "The Worst Person in the World".  I'll admit she's often over the top and takes positions that even her fellow Conservatives sometimes scratch their heads at, but NONE of this qualifies her as the "worst person in the world".

Michelle and I don't always agree, but there's no doubt she is a loving and devoted Mom and Wife, a thoughtful intellect, and above all a law-abiding tax-payer.  Sure, she broadcast some phone numbers, THAT WERE ON A PRESS RELEASE.  It's not like she used some clandestine cabal to obtain them.  They were published and publicly available.  Who did she rape or murder?  When did she plot a terrorist attack?

This Guy, now, he might merit "world's worst", or This Guy  or This Guy.

Yet another example of the "Unhinged" left, throwing words around like they don't mean anything.  Or maybe Olbermann is simply too ashamed to admit that he doesn't ever look outside his own backyard.

Expose the Left has the video.  Flap has the press release in question.

The saga of the bathroom ceiling

Some of you may know the story of my leaky tub fixtures.  Some of you have even seen for yourself the story that I am about to tell.  I promise, the end is worth it....

It all started in the master bath.  Which is nice enough as bathrooms go.  Except for two things.  First, the incredible geometry of shutting the bathroom door if one is already seated upon the throne (don't try it unless you're a contortionist.  Good thing DH and I are not in the least squeamish about calls of nature in front of each other).  Second, you could not get the water to run completely from the tub faucet.  Despite all the leverage you could put on the diverter, half the water always fell from the showerhead.  This was a unique problem to say the least.  But, as it is not our shower, and therefore not advisable to undertake major plumbing repairs, even though we pretty much know what  we're doing, we just dealt with it.

For several months.  As it turns out, it has been a problem for years.

So one day recently I was cleaning up the house before some guests were to arrive.  I took a shower, and then went downstairs to make sure there were hand towels and enough TP in the downstairs bath.  And I stepped into a puddle.  I looked up, and sure enough, a long crack in the ceiling, water still dripping from the plaster.

First thought:  OH SHIT!!!.  Second thought: Wait.  This isn't enough water to be from the drain.  And it doesn't smell like my shampoo either.... Hmmm.

So we call the landlords.  And so begins the process of finding the cheapest competent plumber.  A parade of the ass-crack brigade passes in and out of my house.  In the door, up the stairs, and into my bedroom.  Which means I have to clean.  Every day.  For a week.  Finally, they decided to go with one guy, and he came back later that afternoon and solved my problem.  Yay!

Turns out that the diverter was jacked up and the connections from the fixtures to the main water pipe were corroded.  Yes, they did put in cheap pipe.  I suspect my house was built by illegal day laborers too, but what the hell.

Anyway, the water was coming from the pressure surge when the faucet was turned off and the water fell back through the corroded connections on its way from the showerhead down.  Or so he tells me.  New fixtures, no more leak.  Yay!

So now it was time to fix the ceiling downstairs...

It's worth clicking the extended... really.

Read More "The saga of the bathroom ceiling" »

Catching up

I got Meme'd

Six weird things about me.... Hmm, what can I say that I haven't already....

1. I hate nitpicky people. You know, the kind who argue over every little detail even though there's nothing to be gained, simply because they are disgruntled. I hate that.

2. When I sleep, I have to put my feet out. Even in the dead of winter, at least I have to know I can put them out. Which is sometimes interesting as the dog often likes to sleep between where my feet are and the edge of the bed.

3. I have to have background noise when I'm working. White noise, music, TV, doesn't matter. It helps me concentrate.

4. I am really sensitive to hydrocarbon smells: smoke, exhaust, oil-based paint, etc. Just the smell can make me lightheaded and panicky. I guess I inherit this from my Mother....

5. I am super ticklish. My poor husband has to put up with me.

6. I can be really patient with anybody except my mother...

Tagging people.... Hmmm. How about Ben and blogsis Rave?

TomKat stars in "Oklahoma!"

Ok, not really, but this made me laugh my butt off...

Wonder if Shirley Jones thought the same thing....

Say Anything... about WalMart

One of my favorite "original content" bloggers, Rob of Say Anything, was one of two bloggers to take part in this year's Wal-Mart media conference, and he has some interesting things to say about what wasn't reported by the "big media outlets" that were also present.

I'm no fan of Wal-Mart, but I think they deserve a fair shake in the press for what they actually do and don't do, as any corporation should.

Start at the top and scroll on down.

BTW the other blogger at the conference was Tom Forbes of Palousitics, and you can find his wal-mart blogging here.  Again, just scroll down for more!
h/t Jawa Mike

How Moonbat Dipshits Get Elected...

From an email from CaltechMom (who broke her foot yesterday....)

Caution! These people Vote

A guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: "Free to good home. You want it, you take it." For three days the fridge sat there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided that people were too un-trusting of this deal. It looked to good to be true, so he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50". The next day someone stole it.
These people Vote!
===============================================================
While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was North because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the North?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, (and has for sometime), she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff"...
She ALSO votes!
===============================================================
I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Pacific."
He ALSO votes!
===============================================================
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was moving".
She ALSO votes!
===============================================================
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car. It's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk. .
My sister ALSO votes!
===============================================================
My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.
He ALSO votes!
===============================================================
I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head?" I explained that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned.
My friend ALSO votes!
===============================================================
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?"
SHE ALSO votes!
===============================================================
To those who understand ~ No explanation is necessary.
For those who don't understand ~ No explanation is possible

It seems like it can't have been that long ago

13 years ago today I was curled in a ball in my Mom's recliner, cuddled under a blanket and drinking hot tea. I was at home sick, and watching CNN. The ATF had held the Branch Davidian Complex under siege for 51 days before raiding their compound, killing 76 people, including the Davidian's leader, David Koresh.

I remember the whole screen erupting in flames as the buildings caught on fire, and wondering why in hell someone would ever think of doing that....or did the ATF do it? Turns out they set themselves on fire. Silly, really.

Two years later, I was home again. Maybe it was Spring Break. I don't recall. But I was watching again as the helicopters swirled around the Murrah building in Oklahoma City and firefighters rushed to save whoever they could. I remember thinking it was the "Arabs" because of the recent attack (first attack) on the World Trade Center. When we found out it was two white guys with an axe to grind we were flabbergasted, but in a way, not really surprised. Especially after the link to the Branch Davidians came out.

Fast forward 4 years and one day. College now, in fact it was my senior year and I was deep in the throes of choosing a grad school and planning a wedding. DH and I were in our bedroom in our apartment (with the only working TV). I was watching the news and he was writing a paper. Breaking News! Shootout in a Colorado HS! At least 12 people dead, including the stupid bastards who did the shooting. In later days, as we learned more about the lives of the two shooters, we were sobered by the fact that this could have been us. Some of you will recall our own "trenchcoat mafia" and the rumors of their weapons and intentions....

My own prayer is that we get through today and tomorrow without yet another somber anniversary.

Many touching remembrances of the OKC bombing across the web today, particularly this one, this one, and this one

Ignore the man behind the curtain

And the HUGE list of categories in the post below. Scroll down for more new stuff. Somehow between the post editor and MuNu, something hiccuped. Not sure what the deal is.

Even if we don't always agree

We're with you Michelle. Those who would seek to intimidate you are the worst kinds of cowards and hypocrites.

h/t imao

The National Anthem of the South

PLAY FREEBIRD!!!!!!!

props to Beth

A question for the readers

The ladies of The Cotillion have been having an interesting discussion about the internet and pRonoRgaphy (being hyper vigilant about assholes looking for smut here, sorry).

Several recent articles seem to indicate that because of the free availability of otherwise taboo sex (like child r@pe) on the internet and the anonymous ability to set up a liason, otherwise "normal" (whatever that means) men (and women) are doing things that they would never otherwise dream of.

Has the internet increased sexual perversion or merely made this kind of thing more visible?   Has internet availability caused men (and some women, to be honest) to pursue sexual gratification in ways that they would otherwise not? (and I'm not talking about Cybersex with another consenting adult here, or Cybercheating or anything like that)

What about censorship?  Does censorship of pornography impact the rest of the net?  Do you think that pRon has actually improved the internet (supposedly pRon was behind the development of modern chat rooms, user groups, hi-speed vid capabilities)?

I'm interested to hear your views, especially from the guys.  Clearly men and women view pRonoRgaphy and sexual issues differently...

Gee. what a surprise...

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

h/t fellow night owl Deb

Lefty Morons get it WRONG again

Go here quick before they take it down!

You know the whole flap about Michelle Malkin? Well, these assholes tried to do the same thing with some prominent Righty Bloggers and supposed-Righty Bloggers.

Except the contact info is pretty much all wrong. Poor Jonah Goldberg of Forest Park, GA....

And Rusty Shackelford? Umm, that's a pseudonym you morons.

h/t Rachel, who found it here

Bow before Steve-O!

Cook and Brew-meister extraordinaire Steve-O displays another talent: Brilliant criticism.

He links this fabulous Ann Coulter column, then synthesizes it into something beautiful of his own. Especially with regard to the oft heard cry of "hypocrisy!":

"Ann is right about hypocrisy, too. We live in a country where mouth-breathers and slackjaws accuse people of hypocrisy whenever they criticize any action they themselves have taken in the past. It's sad that the average person has a tiny brain, and that such stupidity passes for logic. Ann tears that argument apart pretty well this week.

An accusation of hypocrisy is a tool a sub-par mind uses to excuse bad or stupid behavior. If I jumped off the Empire State Building, does that mean I lose the right to tell other people not to jump? Of course not. It may seem otherwise to you, if you move your lips when you read and you find butterfly ballots confusing, but to an intelligent person, it's obvious that it's ALWAYS okay for ANYONE to advise you to avoid stupid behavior.
...
True hypocrisy involves an element of dishonesty. Falling short of perfection does not make you a hypocrite.

If you want to do something stupid or immoral, don't be a whiny little boy and say, "You're not perfect, either." Be a man and say, "I know I shouldn't do this, but I'm doing it anyway, because I don't care if it's right." Or "because I'm weak." Or "because I'm an addict." Don't hide behind a child's favorite lame argument."

Read the whole thing!  It is a thing of beauty.

Thom Crews: Moron

Like we needed MORE evidence:

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' choice of a Hebrew flavored name for their newborn daughter has speakers of the language scratching their heads.
Baby Suri's name can be traced to a Hebrew word meaning "princess" or "noblewoman," but by such a circuitous route that the connection is lost on most Israelis. Since the birth Tuesday in Los Angeles, bemused Israeli TV and radio presenters have debated the word's origins.

"Nobody here has ever really heard of it," an announcer on Israel's Army Radio said during a discussion Thursday. The Yediot Ahronot newspaper agreed in its half page splash on the celebrity birth.

"We seem to have learned a new Hebrew word and from Tom Cruise, no less," said a Channel 2 TV anchorman.
...
Suri is a pet name for Sarah," Koor told Army Radio. "The Ashkenazi Jews of Poland and Hungary pronounce it Suri."

In ancient Hebrew, Sarah is the feminine form of "Sar," or lord. In modern Hebrew, the word means a Cabinet Minister.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA. Idiot.

I believe the name they were looking for is Sarai. That was Abraham's wife's name (in the bible) before it was changed to Sarah. Which means Princess, according to most baby books.

If Michelle Malkin and Allahpundit had a love child...

It would be the first "full-service conservative Internet broadcast network": Hot Air!

Drop on by to see what the buzz is all about.

What's the difference...

...between and Brown Noser and a Sh*thead?

Depth Perception

So weird I had to post it...

Paper Dolls Traits and Tendencies: Paper Dolls don't do well when separated; they need regular physical contact to keep in sync. If forced to remain apart for a stretch any longer than eight to ten hours, they can sometimes feel untethered, or even dizzy. But once reunited, all it takes is the simple brush of fingers, or a surreptitious foot-on-foot press under the table, and all is right with the Paper Dolls once again.
Paper Dolls is a Sea Sleepers pose. A possible alternate Sea pose you might enjoy: Sixth Posture of the Perfumed Forest.
Health Note: Ginger pills, available at any health-inspired market, can sometimes calm the jitters that come when unforeseen factors force two Paper Dolls apart.

via the "Pinching Koala and Tree"

Who is more foolish?

The Fool?  Or the Fool who calls the Fool a Fool?

Be sure to watch the video.  Found here.

FWIW...

This weekend we did a lot of catching up on nothing.  Watched a lot of TV, mostly just veging around.  Saturday night we watched a very interesting show in HBO.  It was a documentary, entitled "Rosie's Family Cruise" and it spotlighted the initial "R Family" cruise for gay families put together by Rosie O'Donnell and her partner Kelli. I was quite surprised at my reaction to it.

Now I know what a lot of you think of Rosie.  She'd probably agree with you.  And yeah, the documentary was a bit over the top on the self-promotion side since it clearly was made in part as an advertising ploy for future cruise bokings.  Yes, I disagree with her politics and her constant insertion of her foot in her mouth, and I'll never understand her crush on Tom Cruise, but clearly her family is important to her.  And not just as a political tool.

Surprisingly, we enjoyed it.  And you know what?  It wasn't preachy.  Or political.  Well, scratch that.  There was one brief scene in which Rosie and Kelli were discussing the defense of marriage act and how it had been voted down.  But that was just 2 minutes out of 90.

Read the rest in the extended...

Read More "FWIW..." »

Big Time!

RightWingSparkle just got a huge "promotion". Check out TexasSparkle, hosted by the Houston Chronicle.

I missed it yesterday

April 24 is Armenian Martyr's Day.

Read my post from last year.

Millions of people died because of their Christian faith in a well-planned and mercilessly executed attack. Never forget.

And you thought Jack Bauer was special....

Alton Brown doesn't reduce sauces. He demoralizes sauces.

Alton Brown's blender has four speeds: 'stir', 'mix', 'frappe', and 'plasmify'.

Alton Brown can eat just one Lay's potato chip. If he ever bothered to eat food he didn't make himself, that is.

Alton Brown's cakes don't rise. They ascend.

read all of of them!

found here

Speaking of Jack Bauer....

Was anyone else happy to see Dr. Romano with both of his arms back?

BTW, according to the 24 site, his character's name is "Graham" and he is a "power broker"... and may have had something to do with the plane crash that screwed up the previous president....

Guess I soaked up the culture like a biscuit in butter....

Dixie Royal

You are 84% true Southern! You are pure belle or gentleman! You know your Jones Soda, Nehi and RC colas, your Moon Pies and sweet potato pie; you'd absolutely die without air conditioners in the summer, and you've seen Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes (or read the book!). Your grandmother lives in an antebellum home and has a cook who makes the best fried chicken and asparagus casserole and summer squash and everything else in the world. And you know the taste of honeysuckle and the feel of grass between your toes. You are blessed.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 60% on Southerliness

Link: The Southern-ness Test

from the Displaced Southerner..

I've heard this before

That the blogger.com captchas aren't always so random....

For example, I just got this one when commenting at a friend's site:
"GWOWWMD"....

Make of that what you will....

It's gone!

I've been talking about it for weeks, and I finally did it.  Of course, I would have done it sooner if I had been able to get an earlier appointment.

What am I talking about?  Well, I got my hair chopped off.  It was down to the middle of my back and she chopped off over a foot, which is going to Locks of Love.

Pictures of both the old and new hair when I get them uploaded.  Yay!

Meme-Stealing: The new, fun sport everyone is trying!

1. Were you named after anyone?
Yes. For My father and my mother's friend who died

2. Do you wish on stars?
Absolutely.  When I see them.

3. Do you like your hand writing?
Hell yeah.  I'm the only one who can read it.  That's cool.

4. What is your favorite meat?
Pig: barbecue (Eastern NC, please) or roasted or carnitas

5. What is the most embarrassing CD on your shelf?
Hmmm, I don't know about the CDs, but I do have Backstreet Boys and N*Sync on my iPod

6. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you?
Yep.  I give nice presents

7. Are you a daredevil?
As if.

8. When was the last time you cried?
This morning, reading this.

9. Did you ever tell a secret you weren't supposed to?
Yeah, but only good secrets, like if somebody is pregnant or has a great new job.

10. How do you release anger?
Turning up the volume, flinging inanimate objects.

11. Where is your second home?
At my Mommy's house

12. Do you trust others easily?
Yes. Unless I feel creepy about people.  I generally have a pretty good radar for assholes and thugs.

13. What class in college do you think is totally useless?
Useless for me:  Game Theory.  UGH.   Useless in general?  PE.  Christ, if you aren't physically active by the time you graduate HS, why bother?

14. Have you ever been in a mosh pit?
Not in a "real" one

15. What do you look for in a guy?
Consideration, Good sense of humor, loyalty, cute ass

16. Would you do a bungee jump?
HAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA.  No.  or parachute either.  But I would go parasailing or hang-gliding....

17. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Peppermint or Cookies and Cream.  Both together is even better.

18. What is your least favorite thing?
Snakes.

19. How many people do you have a crush on right now?
Just one.  He knows who he is.

20. What do you miss most right now?
Free time.

21. What are you listening to right now?
The lab tech running some experiments in the main lab

22. What is the weather like right now?
Cloudy and 65.  Probably gonna rain

23. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Our business manager

24. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Eyes and Smile

25.Favorite drink non-alcoholic?
Dr. Pepper

26.Favorite alcoholic drink?
Cosmopolitan.  I'm a big cranberry fan

27. Haircolor?
Brown, tending to Auburn

28. Eyecolor?
Brown/Green Hazel

29. Wear contacts?
Yep.  24/7/365

30. Last movie you watched?
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

31. Favorite day of the year?
Christmas!

32. How many people have a crush on you right now?
At least one.  At least he better :)

33. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings.   I don't have time to waste on downers.  I have been known to throw a novel across a room when I dislike the ending or the character I like best gets killed off.

34. Summer or winter?
Fall.  But I love winter.  Bring  on the cold.

35. What book/magazine are you reading at the moment?
Trying to start Freakonomics

36. What's on your mouse pad?
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger

37. What did you watch on TV last night?
Dog the Bounty Hunter, TAR, Top Chef

37.Favorite Smell?
Baby powder, Chanel 22, roses, orange blossoms, freash baked bread

38. Do you regret ever breaking up with someone?
Maybe a little.  Only because I should have done it sooner.

39.Favorite actor/actress?
Hmmm.... I don't have one where I go "I must see X because so-and-so is in it"...

found here

Makes me Sick.

First of all, it's vandalism, plain and simple.
Second, it's a felony to deface a beautiful historic building.

I walked/rode by this building every day for 6 years, and it was always a pleasure to see the young men and women of the various ROTC groups doing training or ordering the colors. Except of course, when I was laughing at them for wearing their uniforms wrong ;)

I also never saw a single moment of disrespect, and often people would stop to watch and give respect as the colors were raised or lowered in front of the building.

The building was orginally scheduled to be demolished last year as part of UNC's Master Plan, but was given a new lease on life thanks in part to UNC's naval alumni.

I can't help but wonder if this signals the end for the old building after all.

During WWII the Naval Armory at UNC was the main training site for all naval aviators in WWII, including Ted Williams, President George HW Bush, and President Gerald Ford.

Michelle and Blackfive have more. Here's the story from the N and O.

On a side note, the most grafitti I EVER saw on campus during my 6 years in Chapel Hill was "Duke #1" sprayed on the brick walk in front of the Health Sciences library in 1999-2000....

If you're gonna be racist...

Know your audience....

"Well, apparently, there are a couple of girls in Wee One and the little friend's class who have been picking on the friend because of her "Chinese eyes."

I am quite sure everyone out there can just about imagine how well that goes over with me.

My mother is Asian, thus, I am half Asian. From Mom I inherited my complexion and dark hair and eyes, but not my stature. My father was Anglo. He was also a brawny man in his day with a large-boned frame and broad shoulders. Unfortunately for me, I inherited from him that large-boned frame. When I was growing up he frequently referred to me as "stout" and my father was not much of a beer drinker.

In any event, unless one is in the know or has more than a provincial outlook of those around them, few actually recognize my Asian features for what they are. Where I grew up in Louisiana it was not uncommon for people to ask or assume I was Creole or high yella, as it was referred to. Here and around South Central Texas, the grand assumption is that I am just Hispanic."...

Read the rest of what happened to Christina today and how she put the other mom in her place...

If you're in Austin...

I'm jealous!

Have a wonderful time, y'all!

We want you...

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