This story is starting to get national attention. Presumably, that's why Perry said what he said: Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday defended his actions in the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, calling him a “monster” and a “bad man” who murdered his children. Specifics? Sure… “Willingham was a monster,” the governor said. “Here's a guy who murdered his three children, … Read More
Melt The United States
Think about how vast the United States is. Leave out Alaska and Hawaii and just focus on the lower 48. Think about how expansive it is, how long it takes to travel from one end to the other. That's about the size of the Arctic polar ice cap — during warm months — for the end of the last century. Even … Read More
“Anyone Can Be Killed”
Francis Schaeffer was the father of the modern Christian Right. An world-renowned evangelical in the 1970's, he was mentor to young religious "upstarts" like Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, Pat Robertson and James Dobson — men who, in the 1980's, would combine their religion with conservative politics and bring it to the masses in the exploding media age. Francis died in … Read More
Here’s A Halloween Hootenanny For Ya!
Instead of trick-or-treating, how about piling those kids in the pick-up truck and taking a trip down the road to Canton, NC (near Asheville)? Here's what you can expect (image from their website): [NOTE: The website has been changed recently to include a burning fire background, rendering this page virtually unreadable. Still, the text shown here remains the same.] From … Read More
You Really Don’t Know Clouds At All
This phenomenon seen over Moscow last week isn't an alien spaceship, or some secret military weapon: It's this… a circular cloud gap (or punch-hole cloud) made bright by the setting sun.
Lesson Not Learned
WSJ: Wall Street On Track To Award Record Pay Major U.S. banks and securities firms are on pace to pay their employees about $140 billion this year — a record high that shows compensation is rebounding despite regulatory scrutiny of Wall Street's pay culture. Workers at 23 top investment banks, hedge funds, asset managers and stock and commodities exchanges can … Read More
Latest Update On The Execution of Cameron Todd Willingham
Looks like Texas’s Republican Governnor Rick Perry is digging a deeper hole for himself. The Houston Chronicle adds some more details about how Perry disregarded doubts of Willingham’s guilt. Three days before the execution, Willingham’s attorney alerted Perry of a new arson analysis that cast doubt on the conviction. The ultimate analysis came from a respected arson expert, Dr. Gerald … Read More
The New GOP Website Launch
It's buggy and ugly. It crashes. But Marc Ambinder compiles the other things wrong with the launch: Top Ten Reasons Why The GOP Website Relaunch Is Fizzlin' 10. In a section devoted to "future leaders," there were none. 9. In the subsequent rush to get up a "future leaders" page, they choose "you." 8. The last GOP accomplishment cited on … Read More
The Seventh Sense Silly Legal Advice Corner
Q. I have a restraining order filed against me. Can I still "poke" that person on Facebook? A: It depends on the terms of the restraining order, but the answer is probably "no". A Hendersonville woman was arrested for virtually “poking” someone on the social networking site Facebook. Shannon D. Jackson, 36, was arrested Friday, Sept. 25 for allegedly violating … Read More
Drunk Guy At Supermarket
Like a turtle on his back:
Am I The Man Of Your Dreams?
A colleague brought this story and website to my attention: In January 2006 in New York, the patient of a well-known psychiatrist draws the face of a man that has been repeatedly appearing in her dreams. In more than one occasion that man has given her advice on her private life. The woman swears she has never met the man in … Read More
Signs From The Marriage Equality March
More here. BONUS: 2010 California Marriage Protection Act PSA
Marriage Equality Ad Running in Maine: My Extended Family Version
This one is special because it stars my in-law's family. The woman in this ad, Yolande Dumont (who we all call "Memere") is the mother of my brother-in-law. She's a pistol. I haven't seen Raymond (her son) in years, but he's looking well and happy with his partner and their son. Marital apartheid's days are numbered. We just have to want it … Read More
The New Scarlet “A”
A proposed new Oklahoma law will require the details of every abortion to be posted on a public website. Mothers — or would-be mothers, rather — will be prompted to answer 37 questions that range from her marital status and race to how many times she's ever been pregnant. The website will cost about $200,000 a year. Doctors and physicians … Read More