Medicare Fraud: Reforming our way to bankruptcy, from Reason.com.
The Battle of the Books: Lowry vs. Franken, from the National Review, courtesy of Mark A.
Holy Matrimony: What's really undermining the sanctity of marriage?, from Slate, courtesy of Kris.
THE FTAA FRAMED MICHAEL JACKSON!
Even I can admit that this is way scary. "If you're a fan of Ayn Rand -- or are looking for a boinkable protege you can shag on the sly -- you might want to check out The Atlasphere, a new online dating and networking service dedicated to 'connecting admirers of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.' " (from Reason's Hit & Run)
Dyke attacks US war coverage, from the Guardian, courtesy of Mark A.
Listen to Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog, from Fresh Air on NPR. Here he is, being a publicity whore for PETA.
Alarms Sounded On Cost of GOP Bills, from the Washington Post.
Liquor law bites the hand that wrote it, from the Salt Lake Tribune.
The deadliest sin, from Boston.com. "Here are three propositions that sit together uneasily: 1) The United States is a deeply religious country. 2) Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. 3) Americans are the fattest people in the world."
Magazine-ripping library patron: 'I'm not a rabble-rouser,' from Boston.com. "The patron, John Callaghan, was offended by the cover of a recent issue of The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian magazine, that pictured two bare-chested men leaning in to kiss each other. Outraged that the library was using taxpayers' money to carry the periodical, Callaghan tore off the cover and took it home." Yeah, that's just like how I frequently take things that offend me to my HOME. Whoa.
From the "surrounded by idiots" department: our mortgage broker sent us paperwork yesterday; he used three different property addresses throughout (two of which were incorrect), and I was listed about 30 times as "Michele M. Parsons Jr."
Some ugly cross photos: accident at Palmer and double series points for Speedo-wearers and Bart Wellens congratulated at SuperPrestige #3 by man wearing a leather thong.
Spam rage vigilante, from the Scotsman, courtesy of Mark A.
The Union Label: Is allowing gay marriage the same as endorsing it?, from Reason.com.
UCF clinic diagnoses rare Foreign Accent Syndrome, from eurekalert.com. Weird, but apparently true.
Curse of Youth: Two new Dallas papers are keeping tabs on the little futhermuckers, from the Dallas Observer.
Mark A is en fuego today. This is all his stuff:
Dying wish seeks Bush's 2004 defeat, from the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Soros's Deep Pockets vs. Bush, from the Washington Post. "Asked whether he would trade his $7 billion fortune to unseat Bush, Soros opened his mouth. Then he closed it. The proposal hung in the air: Would he become poor to beat Bush? He said, 'If someone guaranteed it.' "
The Surveillance Camera Players: completely distrustful of all government.
Saddam May be the Most Dangerous Man in the World... But Hillary is the Most Dangerous Liberal in America! This pack of cards depicts "52 Most Dangerous Liberals in America." Says Mark A: "This screams 'stocking stuffer.' "
A simple reality, from Boston.com. "... as one liberal political consultant put it yesterday, 'If marriage is so sacred, why don't they outlaw divorce?' "
Love for Sale, from the New Yorker. "An M.B.A. brings marketing methods to the mating game."
The Marketplace Players present "Miss FTAA," from public radio show Marketplace.
Cambridge may counter wait-and-see approach on certificates, from Boston.com. "While other cities and towns appear prepared to wait, the liberal-leaning Cambridge City Council will consider a proposal Monday night that would immediately authorize the city clerk to issue marriage licenses to gay couples."
In IKEA we trust, Swedes tell pollsters, from Boston.com. Yeah... those are MY PEOPLE. "Swedes trust IKEA, purveyor of affordable assemble-yourself furniture and Swedish meatballs in 22 countries, more than their own government, politicians, media, or trade unions, according to a new poll."
Iraqis are driven crazy in Baghdad, from Reuters, courtesy of Ilana.
Trade in beer cans for a bike!
Massachusetts court rules ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, from Boston.com. Woohoo! I hope the voters/legislature don't wreck this like they did in Hawaii. And here it is again: Privatize Marriage: A simple solution to the gay-marriage debate, from Slate.com, by Cato's David Boaz.
From Brad: "Also featured on the NEBC/CycleLoft site was this photo, which appears to be what happens when cyclists go to prison."
Going at the Changes in, Ya Know, English, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.
The Season of the Heirheads, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel, who says, "Makes me glad I don't have cable."
For those of you who haven't purchased a Mr. Winkle calendar (samples of Mr. Winkle's work available), check out Monthly Doos, courtesy of Jennie.
Skien Journal: Where East Meets West Warily, She Makes Them Laugh, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel, who wishes to draw our attention to tandoori reindeer.
Check out this letter on Hamilton world's. "If you want to know why bike racing has not become more popular in the states come to a race and listen to 6 hours of 20-year-old Erasure and Wham playing on the loudspeakers and you'll understand."
Woman crashes car into DMV, renews license, from Boston.com, courtesy of Craig.
PETA Upset That Girl Scouts Teach Violence Toward Wildlife, from the PETA site.
Democrat vs. Republican money map, from FundRace 2004. "Looking at money contributed as a proxy for votes, we have taken a stab at showing which party dominates different areas of the country."
Commence Skimming, from CityPages. "Start reading. Now. Or. Whatever." A tirade against sub-heads.
A life stranger than fiction, from the Daily Telegraph, about Amy Tan.
Loving the Bush Haters, from the Weeky Standard, courtesy of a frightened Mark A.
Knitting factories, from Boston.com. " 'Stitch 'n' Bitch' sessions create tightknit groups."
Getting too many credit card offers? Call 888-5-OPTOUT.
Toys 'R' Us ad riles anti-drug campaigners, from AP.
'The Simpsons,' back from the pit, from MSNBC.com.
General Clark's Battles, from the New Yorker.
Mom Finds Out About Blog, from The Onion.
McDonald's anger over McJob entry, from BBC News.
The grace period has ended, from Boston.com. "For a while we tried to be nicer to one another. Now we need to learn our manners all over again."
'It would be laughable, were it not so pathetic,' from The Guardian. "Reactions to (Bush's) pro-democracy speech are mixed." Courtesy of Mark A, who also sent Bush not helping hopes for democracy, from the Daily Trojan.
The Professional Provocateur, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel, who noted the strange questions that the interviewer asked Noam Chomsky.
Governator's race: porn to run, from The Guardian. "The story of Arnold Schwarzenegger's race to become governor of California is to be turned into a porn movie starring one of his fellow candidates."
Making men drool, from the Evening Standard.
North Bay: Bolinas supports nature bid, from SFGate.com. "The measure, submitted by a woman who wears burlap and paints her face with chocolate, advises the Bolinas Community Public Utility District to adopt a policy defining the town as 'a socially acknowledged nature-loving town because to like to drink the water out of the lakes to like to eat the blueberries to like the bears is not hatred to hotels and motor boats. Dakar. Temporary and way to save life, skunks and foxes (airplanes to go over the ocean) and to make it beautiful.' " The measure passed with 67% in favor.
What's Conservative about the Pledge of Allegiance?, from Cato.org.
Club for Caucasians stirs up Oakley; High school student surprised her idea turned into 'big deal,' from SFGate.com.
Soldier Accused as Coward Says He Is Guilty Only of Panic Attack, from The New York Times.
Chefs flesh out new serving plates, from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. (This item will -- almost certainly -- only be appreciated by people from Hawaii.)
Americans Demand Increased Governmental Protection From Selves, from The Onion.
Karl Rove Ensures Republican Elected As Student Body President, from The Onion (scroll down to News In Brief).
Check out the Meatrix, from Mark A.
Essex County Velo Miffed as Colavita-Bolla signs Mark McCormack. Includes references to the other Mark.
Pampered Anonymice: Why does the Washington Post shield useless sources?, from Slate. "When did the Post start protecting the right of economists to speak in hushed, off-stage tones about the patently obvious?"
The Sea in Me Blood, from Common-place. Includes excellent links to a quiz that will determine your pirate name and a Gangsta-to-Pirate dictionary.
NPR, the mating call. (Scroll down to "It's All I Listen to in the Car.")
A "Sponge"-Worthy Gay Icon?, from E!Online.
US Sperm Exports Explode; Canadians Upset, from Marginal Revolution.
Girls pummel man who exposed himself, from CNN.com, courtesy of Ed. These aren't just any girls -- they're Catholic school girls.
Rumsfeld Doesn't Know if He's Lost His Mojo, from Reuters, courtesy of Cam. Check out the photo.
Matt Svatek: Wolverine double?