This just in - thanks to Karl H:

NEW YORK—In a stunning reversal of their long-stated reluctance to take it, members of heavy-metal band Twisted Sister announced Monday that, after 24 years of fervent refusal, they are now willing to take it. “I acknowledge that we promised not to take it anymore, but things change. The world is a different place today, and with that in mind, we would like to go on record as saying that, starting right now, we are going to take it,” read a statement released by the band’s lead singer, Dee Snider. “To clarify, we would still prefer not to take it, but as of now, taking it is an option that we would be open to. That is all.” Bassist Mark “the Animal” Mendoza also stated that, in regards to what he wants to do with his life, he no longer solely wants to rock, but would instead prefer doing other things, such as raising a family and working as a claims adjuster in Rye, NY.

There are many reasons why I hate Bill O’Reilly. This old clip is just one of them. Strangely though, I get the feeling that recently O’Reilly has been distancing himself from his ultra-right wing propagandist past - perhaps he realizes that the sun is setting on his neo-con spin masters?

I watched the entire VP “debate” and was fuming through most it. A debate is supposed to be an argument between two (or preferably more!) people where their interactions are formally structured. At its most basic, to *win* a debate, a participant should at least answer the questions directly…
Read the rest of this entry »

I felt old. Most of the people at the show had big black X’s on their forearms indicating they weren’t old enough to buy the beer and liquor which was still flowing pretty freely at the two bars at Terminal 5. My wrist was decked in the coveted blue band, but I only bought one round. None of us wanted to leave the rail and possibly lose our place in the front along the gate - we had gotten there early and camped out on the left side of the stage.
Read the rest of this entry »

Most Americans are aware that they don’t elect their presidents directly, but just to straighten the process out in my own head I jotted down some notes as I read about it. The election of a US president is indirect, where some group of folks are entrusted to vote on our behalf. The process is described in the Twelfth Amendment to the US Constitution. The “Electoral College” is a term not mentioned in the constitution but enshrined in Title 3 of the US Code which is a compiled set of the laws passed by Congress over time. The number of electors is determined to be equivalent to the total membership of both Houses of Congress plus three for Washington DC. The size of the Senate is fixed at 100 members, and the size of the House has been pretty much fixed at 435 members since 1911 (Public Law 62-5). In 1961, the 23rd amendment granted Washington DC 3 electors as well. The total number of 538 members is apportioned by population based on a mathematical formula and the decennial census such that it models the distribution of the American population in the various states. Candidates for elector are nominated by their state’s political parties and may not hold federal or state office. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure a simple majority in the electoral college of 270 votes or more.

Twenty-third_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
U.S._Electoral_College
United_States_Code
United_States_congressional_apportionment
Twelfth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

I have to admit that my first reaction when I saw these pictures was “that’s gotta be photoshopped”, but upon further investigation it appears to be the real deal.

Pam and Warren Adams rebuilt their home in February 2006 after Hurricane Rita destroyed it the previous year. Hudspeth said that the couple hired a contractor to build a home that could withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Warren Adams watched over every step of the construction to make sure it was done correctly.

Back in 2006, astronomers working on the Supernova Cosmology Project found something in the Boötes cluster that they had never seen before. It exhibited a brightening to magnitude 21 and dimming down to magnitude 26 over a 200 day period which might suggest a supernova, but the strange object did not behave like any other known supernova. It had a spectra which was unlike any other cataloged in the vast Sloan Digital Sky Database, and it wasn’t even in any known galaxy. Sky & Telescope had the best synopsis and provides a link to the research paper. Gotta love mystery objects…