Turnabout is fair play

Assange's Swedish sex crimes file is leaked online

As I keep saying, "pirates" is too nice a name for them

They're thugs.

SKorean crew recount beatings by Somali pirates

Sounds reasonable to me

1-armed man wants Maine to allow him a switchblade

UPDATE: Maine legalizing switchblades for one-armed people

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today people look to rodents for indications of an early end to winter. I doubt it's going to happen this year.

Wikipedia lists over 20 groundhogs making predictions last year, and there was (as usual), a division of opinion. Apparently their prognostication record over the years is not so good. So I'm going to take any forecasts for the next few weeks with a non-governmental recommended amount of salt.

I may eat some pork sausage to celebrate, however.

My performer friends sometimes ask the weirdest questions

Any advice on how 2 make a cake splatter more & further when you hit it with a mallet? It needs 2 fly EVERYWHERE!

Stormy Leather asked this on Twitter. She got three serious replies.

EDIT: She got a lot more responses on Facebook.

I ♥ NYC

From the NY Times' Metropolitan Diary column:

While waiting for the next shuttle from Times Square to Grand Central, I notice an ad for an international bank. The billboard shows a Joe Six-Pack type on his recliner in front of the television, can of beer in hand, but has an ecological theme. The caption reads, “Recycling one can saves enough energy to power a television for three hours.”

Directly below the caption, four graffiti writers in succession have weighed in, the first chiding:
“1) ‘One CAN save’
“Or
“2) ‘One SAVES.’
“Never ‘One can saves.’ ”

Beneath which, the second explains:
“They’re talking about an actual can.”

Beneath which, a third comments:
“I love a city where graffiti’s about grammar.”

Beneath which, the fourth adds simply:
“Word.”

Plats du jour--guest submissions

Since Joanne sent me these right together, I assume they're related.

More bad news for the Somali thugs

5 Somalis brought to SKorea to be tried for piracy

And there's also this, not that it's that important except to the two men:

NATO says Danish warship rescues 2 from pirates

It must be a very slow news day in Indonesia

Blind orangutan gives birth to twins in Indonesia

Rare tiger gives birth to 3 cubs in Indonesia

Sometimes I go to museums

Two weeks of TFLNs

(203): I'm going to knit you a pair of furry handcuffs. And you said that knitting class was dumb.

http://tfl.nu/7di2

(619): So the same day I accidentally bought waterproof mascara is the day I accidentally had shower sex. The world is finally on my side.

http://tfl.nu/rosc

(732): his mom gave me my lost underwear folded up along with the rest of my christmas present. tell me this cannot be happening.

http://tfl.nu/ib1o

(617): We've been broken up for 7 months. His mom sent me a card with a brochure inside titled "How at Risk for STD's are you?"

http://tfl.nu/sgk0

(952): pouring popcorn down my shirt before we went to the bar was the best idea ever. it was delicious and convenient.

http://tfl.nu/mkyj

(817): I have been drinking at the bar so long today that I literally just found a spiderweb from my leg to the bar.

http://tfl.nu/lubl

(330): the bar tender told me i could keep an air matress in the backroom.

http://tfl.nu/2arl

(360): I need someone to get my backpack from the bar before class tomorrow. I have to give my students their papers back.

http://tfl.nu/kpg0

(914): something isn't right. i offered to be his sex slave and he declined..

http://tfl.nu/wloj

(484): i'm duct taped to my bed with a condom in my hand. something went wrong

http://tfl.nu/1mot

(636): i don't think my dad can get all that mad since he got arrested for almost exactly the same thing last weekend

http://tfl.nu/jil2

(920): Yelling drunk tank or bust at a cop, not a good idea

http://tfl.nu/0m14

(704): It was tug of war between me and the cop. He wanted the beer, I wanted the coozie.

http://tfl.nu/rp9b

(202): just when i thought we would make it home without incident he tried to walk a police dog

http://tfl.nu/w6qp

(807): at least the cop wrote "happy birthday" on the ticket.

http://tfl.nu/odip

(931): On the bright side since it was a Tuesday you weren't even in jail for the long! that could've been worse!

http://tfl.nu/2usg

(773): She was knocking on the tree demanding to be let in

http://tfl.nu/bue7

(479): When I came in she was screaming "boundaries!" at the cat because it was trying to eat her pizza rolls.

http://tfl.nu/83jv

(717): so he woke up after being passed out and yelled that he had brought back moon rocks for everybody...

http://tfl.nu/6y77

(313): well on a positive note i hear those vitamins you take while pregnant do wonders for your nails

http://tfl.nu/6yhu

(973): searching "dave" under the university of pittsburgh on facebook was not exactly how i hoped to find my baby daddy

http://tfl.nu/5ech

(330): Just wondering did you put mouse traps and brownies on my porch?

http://tfl.nu/ae8u

(352): Should we discuss the rug burns on my back or just save that for a separate conversation

http://tfl.nu/era3

(781): There is a pink thong attached to a bottle of svedka hanging from my ceiling fan..is this yours?

http://tfl.nu/3112

(859): there is laundry and salad ALL OVER my car, i need context

http://tfl.nu/uw18

(303): The dentist told me I have super glue on my teeth. I'm not blaming you I just want to know how that happened

http://tfl.nu/m273

(805): WHY are the edges of my bra charred???

http://tfl.nu/czt9

(330): I really want to know why half of my kitchen floor is missing.

http://tfl.nu/hw5t

(321): I just found a thank you note I apparently wrote to my bed last night for letting me borrow the comforter.

http://tfl.nu/jrqc

(605): woke up with the bag of wine duct taped to my shoulder.

http://tfl.nu/fadr

(414): Woke up to pictures of me cooking wings with a blow torch.

http://tfl.nu/js8y

(540): I found a sock full of anal beads in my dryer. At least she washes them.

http://tfl.nu/t9kz

(843): We had phone sex and he came in his sink. i will never eat off one of his plates again

http://tfl.nu/w71h

I ♥ NYC transit

Automated announcement: Bus operators are protected by New York state law. Assaulting a bus operator is a felony.
Guy sitting behind bus operator, loud: Hooray!
Bus operator: Scaring me is a misdemeanor.

--Brooklyn

From Overheard in New York

Number 4 for Wal-Mart

It's been a long time since I posted about the dangers of shopping at Wal-Mart, but here's another one:

Walmart shooting leaves 1 dead, 2 deputies wounded

And yay Malaysia! (Europe prefers to play it safe)

(though I'm not at all happy with some of Malaysia's religious policies)

EU force says piracy raids endanger hostages

Yay South Korea!

South Korean raid frees hostage crew from pirates

Semi-random thoughts

• I discovered I can set the level of sensitivity of my pop-up blocker. Now it's on High. Much better.
• In previous years the 1098 tax form showing the mortgage interest I paid was sent with my January bill, and I failed to notice it a couple times. This year they sent it in a separate letter. Bravo, CitiMortgage.
• At the moment I'm writing this the recent visitors map shows hits on my blog from three different cities in Africa. This is a first.
• I am now officially old. I just got my first Social Security check, er, direct deposit.

Plat du jour--guest submission

Sixteen grandchildren is a lot for a grandmother.

Found by Joanne, as usual.

Public service announcement

Estimated taxes are due tomorrow.

Micro movie review

Black Swan: A beautiful mess

Headline of the day

Evangelist claims bird deaths could be connected to repeal of military's gay ban

This was the headline used in the Gay Politics Report newsletter.

I suppose this qualifies as an animal headline.

Internet privacy infringement alert: Spokeo

Some wise person said years ago that there's no such thing as privacy on the internet. He was right, of course, but there are things you can do to decrease the ease of discovery of details about your life.

A friend of mine sent out a warning about a data aggregator, Spokeo, that makes it far too easy for anyone to learn all kinds of things about you that I think should not be in the public domain. She also gives instructions for removing yourself from their directory. I'll just quote her e-mail.

There is a website called Spokeo which purports to be a new "white pages" phone book, but it is much more. It provides nearly everyone's private information to anyone who accesses the site -- your name, your age, your family members' names and ages, where you live, what your income level is, what the value of your home is, and (for a small fee) much, much more personal information about you, your family, and your background.

Fortunately, there is a remedy:

Go to www.spokeo.com and find your listing (by name and, if necessary, location). Copy the URL of your listing, then click on the "Privacy" link on the lower right of the page. Then paste the URL in the appropriate field; send it to your e-mail address; type in the Captcha code; check your inbox and then follow the instructions on the confirmation e-mail to remove your listing.

Thanks, Jill.

I've done it, and I suggest you do it, too.

(I do hope the estimate of the value they had for my apartment is accurate, though.)

This week's TFLNs

(631): Just found a 7-11 receipt for new years eve at 1:30 am apparently we felt the need to buy three jars of pickles and a gallon of milk does this ring any bells?

http://tfl.nu/xi2s

(330): Slept on the counter again. Mom covered me in an apron.

http://tfl.nu/yv9g

(518): my mom just asked if she should wash your furry handcuffs with the lights or darks

http://tfl.nu/8135

(314): I just found out my mom named me after her fake ID from college...

http://tfl.nu/a15y

(414): The meeting is at the same hotel we go to for sex. Avoiding eye contact with all the staff there.

http://tfl.nu/497c

(910): He skyped me to learn how to roll a joint and for us to masturbate together. And you said a long distance relationship wouldn't work.

http://tfl.nu/wbkv

(714): All he wants to do is masturbate while I sit there with my big toe up his ass that is not even the worst part of it.

http://tfl.nu/eanx

(443): does it count as a threesome if she tried to blow the dude who was passed out next to us?

http://tfl.nu/0adv

(778): I JUST WANT TO WATCH PORN BUT THE CAT IS JUST SITTING HERE LICKING HIS BALLS. I CAN'T DO IT.

http://tfl.nu/jn8b

(252): I've decided to tape numbers to the bottom of my heels corresponding to the number of drinks I can safely consume in them.

http://tfl.nu/kwke

(570): So the bar isnt gonna put that broken window on my tab. appaerently they want cash

http://tfl.nu/zmae

(816): why does my status of facebook already read REHAB 2011

http://tfl.nu/szze

(918): Woke up with my foot jammed into a VCR

http://tfl.nu/fkjm

(512): Opened my wallet to find a slice of ham with a phone number written on it in sharpie.

http://tfl.nu/3ijz

(949): Did you ever get our sex tape out of the rental car before you returned it?

http://tfl.nu/e2vj

Plat du jour--guest submission

Another one found by Joanne

Thugs lose one, win one

Crew uses safe room to foil Somali pirate attack

Another 10 days of TFLNs

Now I'm really caught up.

(646): Watching dad use Doritos to illustrate exactly where to locate the clitoris. How's your family christmas going?

http://tfl.nu/kahl

(208): Grandma just handed out bail money... it's officially christmas

http://tfl.nu/3mqp

(901): I woke up tied to the door handle with reindeer patterned socks. You can tell it's Christmas.

http://tfl.nu/166i

(540): The only thing I really remember is repeating "I hope I still have a job on Monday". Oh and pulling my boob out of my dress.
(703): So I take it the company Christmas dinner went well then...

http://tfl.nu/ildr

(+44): i've officially fucked a sailor, a policeman and a biker. I've never noticed my Village People fetish until now...

http://tfl.nu/kqc9

(905): Couple in the hotel room next to me keep fucking. When I hear her get close I call the room wait for them to stop and hang up. If I'm not getting any tonight then no one should.

http://tfl.nu/b27t

(214): I don't know why people felt they couldn't use the toilet with me passed out in the tub. I shut the curtain. It was like being in another room.

http://tfl.nu/9wgv

(763): After 12 shots he decided to show us knife tricks. You can figure out how it ended

http://tfl.nu/x97c

(920): She wore that goddamn strap-on all night. When she was playing guitar hero it kept getting in the way but she just wouldn't take it off.

http://tfl.nu/r6m3

(302): This is one of those times where I really wish my vagina could tell me what happened last night.

http://tfl.nu/kdws

(210): Not quite sure what happened last night. I'll drive your dresser over to you later.....

http://tfl.nu/qwdm

(817): I woke up this morning peeing out bubbles . I smell like baby wash . What the hell happened .

http://tfl.nu/sz0c

(604): You were mounting an escalator last night, shouting "I have no health insurance" at people

http://tfl.nu/m3p8

(646): just so you're aware of it in the morning: you tried to slide down the railing on a snuggie. twice.

http://tfl.nu/48r0

(304): You spilled spaghetti on the floor, and kept telling the noodles to "settle down" as you tried to clean it up

http://tfl.nu/adeo

(319): Yes, she did suck your dick in the bathroom to wake you up.

http://tfl.nu/ktvf

(204): You insisted that you sleep on the bear rug instead of the couch. You said it was lonely and you kept on petting its head.

http://tfl.nu/a92s

(913): You insisted on drinking champagne out of the dog bowl

http://tfl.nu/bt6t

(651): That was around the time you tried to kick me out for being rude to your fish.

http://tfl.nu/pnvl

(859): How did you get the entire couch up on it's side and into the bathroom?

http://tfl.nu/dl3d

(619): surgery went fine. i cant breath out of my right nostril though. lets not eat peas anymore when we are drunk.

http://tfl.nu/u5eo

(352): Just rolled over and found your boyfriend in bed with me. Is mine at your house?

http://tfl.nu/bc2r

Plat du jour

The peanut ones are my favorite kind.

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 7 (and last)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Micro movie review

The Illusionist: Sad, little story by Jacques Tati. Hard to follow, since there's no dialogue. Marvelous animation.

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 6

LGBT

(336): They're watching TV in bed. The Golden Girls to be exact. Aaaand I just heard them singing along with the theme song. I love living with gays.

http://tfl.nu/wrv2

(978): i will be the first lesbian to ever fail women's studies.

http://tfl.nu/qg5x

(818): At a Jewish lesbian wedding. I stick out like a sore, uncircumcised penis.

http://tfl.nu/iwbw

DRINKING

(702): she passed out facedown in my lap while I was playing piano. 11 years of piano lessons finally paid for themselves.

http://tfl.nu/b0kq

(214): So I just learned that my father was teaching me rules for drinking games when I was 5.

http://tfl.nu/y0zl

(727): My dad just told the waiter to keep the pitchers coming until someone passes out.

http://tfl.nu/gjqc

(706): My chemistry professor just asked me if I ever found a ride home from the bar last Saturday

http://tfl.nu/gbim

(262): some drunk guy just paid $3 for each cig that i picked up off the ground. the cigs that he threw on the ground. I might just follow him the rest of the night

http://tfl.nu/wjmk

(727): Hey for future reference vodka can not be substituted for water when shaving your legs

http://tfl.nu/d5ya

LGBT and DRINKING

(314): I drank myself into bisexuality again.

http://tfl.nu/eg45

Semi-random thoughts

• I find it absolutely amazing how frequently websites' default choices are not what I would choose. Facebook does this constantly, Myspace (I still look at it occasionally) and Citibank's website are pretty good (or rather, bad) at it also.
• Wisconsin had its chances to win the Rose Bowl, but came up a little short. Still, it was a good game to watch.
• I have finished the evening with a beer when I went out the last couple times. It goes down nice and smooth, yet I haven't found I need to run to the bathroom before I go back to CDI to change.

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 5

BDSM

(616): He kept spanking me and talking about biomedical science.
(1-616): Aw, you fucked a pre-med? you're moving up in the world!

http://tfl.nu/0fvx

(530): Then he took his girlfriend's fuzzy handcuffs and locked me to their bed. Key is in an unknown location. He's surprisingly idiotic, for being premed.

http://tfl.nu/8sey

(812): Please do NOT set off the smoke alarm when I am tied to the bed like this...

http://tfl.nu/q2aq

(508): He keeps whispering to me that he can't wait to tie my hands up with my wig?

http://tfl.nu/6st9

(903): Handcuffed. To. Steering. Wheel. Fuck.

http://tfl.nu/yv47

(647): I'm handcuffed to the toilet. Don't ask

http://tfl.nu/g6ag

(519): What part of i'm handcuffed to an oven do you not understand?

http://tfl.nu/srza

HALLOWEEN

(901): My costume is made up of 4 inch heels and a firefighter costume I'm borrowing from the dramatic play area of my Pre-K classroom. I told you I could still be slutty on a teacher's salary.

http://tfl.nu/r2s3

THE MORNING AFTER

(937): Not complaining, but why is there a Russian chick downstairs making latkes?

http://tfl.nu/r1tf

(859): Please tell me the foreign boys in the kitchen this morning were yours.

http://tfl.nu/gzj7

(913): The house is trashed, there is porn scattered everywhere like an easter egg hunt and the blow up doll is sleeping on the couch downstairs. someone covered her up.

http://tfl.nu/odda

(847): I dont know why the TSA people are looking at me wierd. I mean there is no way i am the only hungover college girl here with nine tally marks on her hand and last nights glitter on her face

http://tfl.nu/ydcz

To all the glob-readers: Happy New Year!

And Happy New Decade! (for those who know there was no Year 0)

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 4

SEX

(413): she asked me if i can do her a favor, came over, and gave me head then left. i still dont understand how that was a favor for her.

http://tfl.nu/r8ko

(518): I found the perfect eye liner, it passed the blow job test, no smudging!!

http://tfl.nu/03oq

(480): A-plus on my thesis. I deserve the blowjob to end all blowjobs. And I wanna wear a crown while you do it.

http://tfl.nu/wob5

(517): I can't believe you just thanked me for a blowjob on my Facebook wall...

http://tfl.nu/myki

(508): i've hooked up with him and three of his roommates and not a single one of them knows about it..think its safe to say i found the silver lining in a boys inability to communicate

http://tfl.nu/vubl

(846): he rubbed his balls on my face to wake me up.. this friends with benefits thing is getting out of hand.

http://tfl.nu/15lw

(502): How is it possible that i have sex with a guy and he makes YOU breakfast

http://tfl.nu/g6rv

(814): Her parents walked in on us. So for my birthday they bought me a blow-up doll with their daughters face on it. I don't know what to think right now.

http://tfl.nu/xg11

(617): mom came into my room and asked to borrow some condoms. We have gotten to the point where it's not awkward anymore.

http://tfl.nu/p0bd

(519): Bruises. Everywhere. Table sex is dangerous

http://tfl.nu/zfcd

(817): he just made me do "this little piggy" to his toes.

http://tfl.nu/jo0i

(206): She told me to stuff her like a turkey. She actually yelled happy thanksgiving.

http://tfl.nu/y8c3

(860): i have now been nicknamed the screamer on the first, third, fourth, & six floor by all the ra's. only two more floors to go before i cover the entire dorm.

http://tfl.nu/uzjb

(315): Im about to have a threesome, Ill pay you twenty bucks to go clean my room. Just throw it all in the closet.

http://tfl.nu/7a74

(402): I have now hooked up with 8 of the Apostles. I have no idea where I'm going to find a guy named Bartholomew.

http://tfl.nu/1b9c

(720): I think I should receive an honorary Heisman... I mean, I did sleep with two of the finalists

http://tfl.nu/iudi

(907): HE COULDN'T FIND IT! WHAT KIND OF QUARTERBACK CAN'T FIND IT?!

http://tfl.nu/krsv

Snow 1, Shovel 0

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 3

WALKS OF SHAME

(850): it's like a walk of shame rule, you always run into someone who saw you wearing that yesterday

http://tfl.nu/fl8q

(530): Walk-of-shaming home from Brooklyn in a Jesus costume that has "what wouldn't Jesus do" written on the robe.

http://tfl.nu/c8em

(706): What did you wear last night? Because I'm pretty sure there are atleast 4 Facebook statuses about your walk of shame.

http://tfl.nu/pbev

(240): just gave another girl i passed on the walk of shame a high five

http://tfl.nu/swbm

(727): Of course my walk of shame coincided with the alumni marathon on campus. But, I did get a thumbs up from the woman handing out water.

http://tfl.nu/rvne

(716): My walk of shame was far more interesting today. He's moving and was cleaning out his apartment, so not only was I carrying my clothes, I also walked away with 4 bottles of cheap wine and a jar of ragu.

http://tfl.nu/wnz4

(734): Walk of Shame today included voting.

http://tfl.nu/glwh

(541): New handbag passed the ultimate test. The walk of shame. I had a bra, tights, skirt, shirt & sweater in it and you couldn't tell. yessss.

http://tfl.nu/x43e

(814): Walked by a shop giving away free donuts this morning. Best walk of shame ever

http://tfl.nu/615b

Semi-random thoughts

• SmartTix's new(?) print-at-home e-ticket feature does not seem to work when you order tickets for more than one show at a time. It worked fine when I was ordering a ticket for only one show.
• For some reason margaritas just don't agree with my corset. I don't have any problems with vodka or gin drinks, but margaritas just sort of sit there, going down very, very, slowly.  
• Warning to all commercial tweeters: I did not join Twitter to see ads. If you reply to a tweet of mine with an ad, I will report you for spam.

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 2

WHAT DID I DO LAST NIGHT?

(360): tell me why there is a bowl of oatmeal from starbucks in my purse

http://tfl.nu/pqsg

(+49): The vomit I understand but how is there seaweed in my bed?

http://tfl.nu/pvwt

(214): I just got this text "hi this is Julie, I met you last night in the bathroom. You asked me to text you and remind you that you ate an entire lime, because you figured your sober self in the morning would be confused."

http://tfl.nu/qcvq

(514): I was told u were the one who could explain to me why i woke up in the running shower, still in my dress and heels

http://tfl.nu/u0pv

(+44): Just found a picture of me licking the bouncers ear last night

http://tfl.nu/2ujl

(540): Woke up to a huge puddle of water in the living room floor, apparently I made an indoor snowman.

http://tfl.nu/z7nz

(315): I woke up on a futon in some strangers house. They were eating pizza and told me everything was going to be fine.

http://tfl.nu/7gi6

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

(443): Please tell me how you drunkenly remembered your social security number when we were checking you into the ER.

http://tfl.nu/iqvs

(936): the paramedic just looked at me like "you again?"

http://tfl.nu/8dlf

(303): Note to self: never do anything I don't want to explain to a paramedic

http://tfl.nu/n8k4

(605): Has now officially visited every ER in this city in one semester.

http://tfl.nu/t8vg

(416): Escaped ambulance. Meet me at your apartment.

http://tfl.nu/mdg4

Micro movie review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1: More of the same, but no more fun and games at Hogwarts for Harry. It's all pretty serious now, even if it's pretty clear where everything is heading. I'd sure like to have Hermione's purse.

Catching up on the TFLNs, part 1

It's been over two months since I posted any Texts From Last Night. There are a large number of good ones, so I'm going to break the posts up, sort of by subject.

WHAT YOU DID LAST NIGHT

(425): You were walking around with a baby carrier pretending your vodka was a baby. You tried to get pictures on santas lap

http://tfl.nu/o5dz

(650): You tried telling the RA that girl you brought home was your mom...

http://tfl.nu/m3m8

(250): you kept saying "no santa, im not having sex with you. it's not your holiday".

http://tfl.nu/bzic

(818): Then you ran outside and said you were gonna give the snowman a blowjob

http://tfl.nu/xjl4

(215): If you're trying to piece together your night, I can tell you where those tassels came from.

http://tfl.nu/hl9i

(845): You said "It's ok guys, I know I'm not really a turtle" and then tried walking on the lake.

http://tfl.nu/r8rw

(715): I walked into the garage and you were telling the bikes that you were not that drunk.

http://tfl.nu/tfhs

(202): you came home soaking wet, and when I asked where your umbrella was, you pulled it out of your bag and were so proud you kept it dry.

http://tfl.nu/e7cu

(864): and then we had to stop you from trying to pour shots through your nose with the neti pot.

http://tfl.nu/9hr6

(415): You kept trying to hail an ambulance

http://tfl.nu/adc4

(512): I don't think the cop knew you were on ecstasy until you asked for a back rub.

http://tfl.nu/cojk

Micro movie review

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest: Very nice, but lacking the suspense of the first two. Don't bother if you haven't seen them.

Yawn headline of the day

Pilgrims, clergy come to Bethlehem for Christmas

Festivus greetings!

To all those who observe Festivus, have a happy one.

If you'd like to sing a Festivus song, see my previous post.

Another one for the thugs

Somali pirates hijack ship using guns, grenades

Plat du jour--guest submission

Dn that.

Another one found by Joanne.

Micro movie review

The King's Speech: You'll enjoy it royally.

I'll give him an "A" for creativity.

Inmate seeking kosher meals cites Festivus belief

Semi-random thoughts

• I've finished my last mandatory continuing legal education class for the biennium! Now I can renew my registration and be a lawyer for another 2 years. And I even have an extra hour of CLE that I can carry over to the next biennium.
• When I set up my account at the Office of Court Administration, so I could renew my registration as a lawyer online, I had to enter the sum of the digits of my social security number. That's a new one. One of my friends commented that they seem to be into numerology at OCA.
• My new strategy for not eating between meals: I wear my corset nice and tight.
• I once posted that I'd never have to refill my Metrocard in the subway again. I was wrong. Last night I lost my automatically refilling EasyPay card. I reported it missing, and the MTA person said it would be 10 to 15 business days before my new one arrives. Only a monopoly could get away with such poor customer service.
• L'Oreal discontinued my favorite lipstick. But I was able to find 7 tubes online. Assuming they all arrive safely, that should keep me nice and colorful for quite some time.

Headline of the day

Baby Jesus Removed From S.I. Ferry Terminal

Plat du jour--guest submission

Quite apropos in this weather.

Another one from Joanne.

I really think this is true for a good number of voters

Source

Every once in a while Dilbert comes up with a good one

Source

Yes, I'm still posting animal headlines

Cowboy on horseback lassoes runaway reindeer

Plat du jour--guest submission

Found by Joanne.

Somali thugs win one

Somali pirates hijack US-operated ship, crew of 23

Rant of the day

My space heater has two settings, "Low" and "High." They should be marked "Useless" and "Incinerate."

[Correction] It wasn't Wal-Mart. But still don't shop there.

HT to @Sarahgoat on Twitter. Original source from  @jamiepinkham

Plat du jour

Not to be confused with BIFFY.

Somali thugs lose another one

US Navy: Merchant sailors foil pirate attack

Semi-random thoughts

• The eight word Thanksgiving greeting my stockbroker sent me was followed by 283 words of fine print legalese disclaimers.
• I was actually rooting for Boise State to beat Nevada. I'd have loved to see the Wisconsin offense steamroll over them in the Rose Bowl.
• One of these days I will catch up on everything, and post more often. The obstacle today was all the time I spent fixing my wife's computer. It looks like her user profile got deleted somehow. When nothing I tried restored it, I ended up creating a new user for her, but it's not the same. And it was a big hassle to do it, because there was only the one profile on the computer, and I had a great deal of difficulty getting into safe mode.

Another classy flash mob

First there was this.

HT to @bunnywunny on Twitter.

And as I've also said before, I love it when parents tell their kids the truth

From Overheard in New York:

Father: I don't even want to know how many calories this burger has.
Young daughter: What's a calorie?
Father: A calorie is a unit of flavor.

--Five Guys Burgers, Brooklyn

Or as an old friend of mine is fond of saying,

Calories are nature's way of making things taste good.

I've said it many times before, I ♥ NYC

From Overheard in New York:

Religious promoter: Jesus is the eternal savior! Only He can save you from the doom that you see in the movies that destroy New York!
Passerby: May I ask where you're from?
Religious promoter: Um... Union City.
Passerby: Go the fuck home!

--Times Square

Living with wild turkeys VIII

Wild Turkeys Invade, Take Over Part Of Staten Island

Plat du jour

Headline of the day

Catholic bishops: More exorcists needed

Especially if the exorcists can remove pedophilia.

Plat du jour

Brown house? I don't know.

From the Jumping the Gun Department

From Capital Tonight:

Andrew Cuomo responded to the Rev. Al Sharpton’s criticism of the lack of diversity on his transition committee by noting he has yet to name said committee.

Happy anniversary--to me!

Twelve years ago today I first stepped out into the world as Caprice. It's been the best 12 years of my life.

Animal headline of the day

Cat blamed for starting fire with toaster oven

Since so many of my headlines of the day involve animals, I'm starting a new category.

Headline of the day

Smoking chimp rescued in Lebanon, sent to Brazil

I wasn't aware that Brazil is a good place to go to stop smoking.

(Why do so many of my headlines of the day involve animals?)

Bad headline of the day

Jonathan Bing Beats Out Paul Niehaus in Close Race for East Midtown Assembly Seat

Bing got 65% of the vote! In Manhattan a Republican getting 34% is unusual, but that did not make the election "close."

Bing is my assembly member, BTW.

Headline of the day

New Jersey School Fire Blamed On Squirrel

This sounds suspiciously like "My dog ate my homework."

This is great, but it doesn't help Spain's pickpocket problem

Spain may upend name game in gender equality push

See this and this about my pickpocket experiences there.

Plat du jour--guest submission

Another one found by Joanne

Somali thugs thwarted this time

Pirates abandon ship after crew hides in safe room

Headline of the day

Ga. couple find escaped buffalo in swimming pool

You don't see an obituary for an octopus every day

Paul, the WCup predicting octopus, dies at 2 1/2

Come to think of it, I don't remember ever seeing an obituary for an octopus before this.

Plat du jour--guest submission

Found by Joanne

Somali thugs active again

Pirates seize 2 ships off Kenya

I sure hope they can take these ships back quickly.

Most crazy phenomena don't work--but some do



-from xkcd

End bullying and suicides

I am wearing purple today in memory for those who cannot, because they were bullied and tortured to the point that they thought there was no other choice but to take their own life.




From GLAAD:

What is Spirit Day?

The idea behind Spirit Day, first created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, is a simple one, not dissimilar to the idea of "Spirit Week" held in many high schools, and can be summed up in three words: Everyone Rally Together.

Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it's also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them.

Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

As one of the event's Facebook pages says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple."

Wearing purple on October 20 is a simple way to show the world that you stand by these courageous young people and a simple way to stand UP to the bullies. Remember those lives we've tragically lost, and show your solidarity with those who are still fighting. 'Go Purple' today!

For those who have been waiting patiently for more TFLNs

(312): You can't keep basing your relationship off of the fact that you both love ramen noodles

http://tfl.nu/bowu

(270): The water bill last month was outrageous. We have got to stop fucking for hours in the shower

http://tfl.nu/ihik

(919): Just mindlessly walked into the mens bathroom. My vagina has now become its own independent being, looking for penises. I'm just along for the ride.

http://tfl.nu/6akp

(856): My TA just asked me why I was late to class. How do I say because I was having the best orgasm of my life in Arabic?

http://tfl.nu/h7hc

(412): I got head to The Nanny. Officially gay.

http://tfl.nu/hmq3

(850): I know i'm the slutty cousin, but be honest. have you ever got your nose ring caught on a guy's zipper?

http://tfl.nu/y2i2

(780): I puked in the coffee maker. I wouldn't make coffee tomorrow morning if I were you

http://tfl.nu/csm9

(970): She left scratches down my back from her wedding ring. Her husband seems like a nice guy though, judging by the scratches it had to be at least a carat.

http://tfl.nu/yazk

(513): walmarts paint section shouldnt be open at 3am

http://tfl.nu/e35n

(978): Somehow after we left in 3 different cars to all go to different places we still all ended up in the emergency room

http://tfl.nu/x49g

(845): What hospital were we in last night? Insurance needs to know

http://tfl.nu/y6wb

(817): I hid my booze in my old Sesame Street lunch box. Big Bird might be disappointed, but I feel Oscar the Grouch would approve.

http://tfl.nu/17gc

(845): no. you're not making a beach trip out of my abortion.

http://tfl.nu/fs9l

(360): Only mom could turn an abortion day into a shopping day

http://tfl.nu/ru8t

(708): You were competing with my dog to see who had the stronger bark....

http://tfl.nu/9a89

(303): you cried when she wouldn't let you have her bathroom rug.

http://tfl.nu/8hzl

(541): You slow danced with your carpet steamer last night.

http://tfl.nu/2m2y

(202): I took the chef home. His dick even tasted like garlic

http://tfl.nu/pd64

Living with coyotes XVIII

Coyote Snatches Dog In Northern NJ

Even a college newspaper should know the correct use of "alleged"

Man admits allegedly killing girlfriend

Happy Triple Day!

It's 10/10/10.

Headline of the day

Man accused of castrating dog without permission

What's the big deal? Lots of dogs are castrated all the time, and I doubt any of them gave permission.

TFLN time

(+66): A monkey stole my iPod. This was not in the fucking study abroad brochure

http://tfl.nu/u013

(202): just ran into my gynecologist at the liquor store... i think she's found the source of my problems

http://tfl.nu/fumh

(705): i just ran into my boss at the liquor store. we didnt exchange words, just nodded in mutual understanding.

http://tfl.nu/t3vj

(518): so i had a dream that andrew cuomo ate me out. guess who i'm voting for?

http://tfl.nu/nqhg

(416): I just shaved my vag with a razor my dad left when he was here a few months ago. Too hungover to think about the Freudian connotations

http://tfl.nu/ujgo

(+61): She keeps stunt undies in her bag, 2 sizes too small. She leaves them behind so the guy thinks he was luckier than he was...

http://tfl.nu/7mx1

(608): He said he wanted to see my room, not my womb. It's a common mistake.

http://tfl.nu/cs4d

(905): the pic of her and her boyfriend fell off the wall as we were fucking.

http://tfl.nu/6bmb

(303): I lost my phone so I put sticky notes all over my roommates body asking her to wake me up at 7:00 AM.

http://tfl.nu/5j68

(508): this morning your mother said to me "sorry to have to meet you like this, in my sons bed" later she said "you never know whos gonna be in there. its scary sometimes"

http://tfl.nu/1j0f

(303): Thank GOD those kids were having a lemonade stand, I didn't have anything to wash down my plan b with.

http://tfl.nu/dbx0

(215): The stripper from Delilahs paid the desk clerk to find out my room #. Either Im doin something very right or she's doing it worng.

http://tfl.nu/fp0t

(856): it took you forty minutes to realize it was a gay bar.

http://tfl.nu/5cy5

(817): All I remember is holding on to the elevator asking it politely to stop spinning

http://tfl.nu/qcnv

(586): so apparently the car got towed with me passed out in the back seat.

http://tfl.nu/q1ic

(613): You kept asking who was the good cop and who was the bad cop, you said you only wanted to talk to the good one

http://tfl.nu/l60l

(617): When the cops came you just told them you'd go to your time out corner.

http://tfl.nu/g7ai

(904): Dude, the cops never think it's as funny as you do.

http://tfl.nu/0tan

(412): Why are there maracas in the dishwasher?

http://tfl.nu/o2j7

(303): Whoever put the tambourine in the dryer is a douche. Worst hangover wakeup ever

http://tfl.nu/gvxq

U.S. wealth distribution--it's probably not what you think

Fact: The bottom 20% of the people of the U.S. have almost no wealth (0.1%). (Actually, the bottom 40% have almost no wealth (0.3%).)  The top 20% own 84%.)

Fact: Most people think the bottom 20% own 3 to 5% of the wealth.

Is it any wonder there is such outrage against government programs against poverty? People think poor people aren't really poor.

Source: http://www.good.is/post/americans-are-horribly-misinformed-about-who-has-money

Original paper: http://www.people.hbs.edu/mnorton/norton%20ariely%20in%20press.pdf

Plat du jour

I guess spelling isn't one of her super-powers.

Joey Ramone hits new heights

NYC forced to move oft-stolen Joey Ramone sign

Headline of the day

Segway illustration

Segway Chief Dies in Segway Crash

Lots of TFLNs

(703): Using what I learned in my global terrorism class last semester to sneak booze onto my cruise. thanks college.

http://tfl.nu/9le9

(608): May have caused an international incident. More details after we taxi in.

http://tfl.nu/2att

(661): Note to self: don't jizz on a surface cleaned with Tilex. It WILL turn purple.

http://tfl.nu/553h

(260): It got awkward when the girl working at planned parenthood continued to hit on me, after she knew about my STDs.

http://tfl.nu/yz88

(724): I told him I don't date guys unless they play a musical instrument. So, he's here and he brought a kazoo.

http://tfl.nu/korz

(310): While he was going down his phone rang and he answered saying I'll call you later I'm eating.

http://tfl.nu/umg8

(646): So, we're going at it on the sink when a German kid walks in and starts brushing his teeth. I love hostel sex.

http://tfl.nu/jc5g

(908): you fell asleep spooning with his golden retriever. im not sure if thats more degrading for you or the dog

http://tfl.nu/njtd

(314): You were pretty committed to that cat costume. Between pukes, you would meow and assure people that you just had a hairball you couldn't get out...

http://tfl.nu/a1pv

(609): You kept saying thank you to the automatic toilet as it flushed your puke.

http://tfl.nu/1rx3

(516): Found your pants in the mailbox
(646): What were my pants doing in the mailbox?
(516): I don't know but there's postage on them

http://tfl.nu/6yt8

(754): I Apparently saved a picture of the Eiffel tower in between 2 pics of his dick. It appears to be the same size. I fucking love Paris.

http://tfl.nu/pib9

(205): Thanks for putting the blue stuff in the toilet, it made me throwing up this morning more enjoyable.

http://tfl.nu/h65h

(310): It' a whole new level of walk of shame. I'm carrying his sheets since I have a washer/dryer.

http://tfl.nu/9xay

(517): found her sleeping in the closet. woke her up and she said she was camping.

http://tfl.nu/l6f0

(850): I found her sitting in the shower having an argument with the dolphins on the shower curtain.

http://tfl.nu/8aml

(508): I feel compelled to tell you that I woke up this morning and found an entire corn on the cob in my purse. Ive decided not to question my drunken behavior anymore, and to just accept it as my lifestyle.

http://tfl.nu/gqi2

(615): Just found a quarter that has been stuck to my boob since at least last night.

http://tfl.nu/5pdk

(610): I woke up with $100 in my pocket and I was so excited until I found an atm receipt for a $500 withdrawal. Not as exciting.

http://tfl.nu/w8rn

(908): Found a cheerleading trophy in my shower this morning. Explain.

http://tfl.nu/ncmc

(817): I woke up with a random mailbox in my room with a note that said "this should probably be returned. Happy Thursday!"

http://tfl.nu/bikn

(919): Also, I had a dream I had a ray gun and woke up holding my dick.

http://tfl.nu/djhd

(406): Apparently my gaydar only works on americans. Frenchie capris has two topless chicks in our kitchen making him breakfast.

http://tfl.nu/9556

Living with bears XLIII, or Headline of the day(Take your pick)

Montana: Woman Wards Bear off With Well-Aimed Zucchini

Ahoy! It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

It's been over a week since I posted some TFLNs

(954): Now there are two cop cars. If I go to jail I just would like to thank you for making me wear boxers.

http://tfl.nu/re05

(281): His bond is $50,000..margarita Monday might get cancelled

http://tfl.nu/gplx

(850): my boss made my mugshot into an 'employee of the month' poster.

http://tfl.nu/974x

(805): my roomates packed me a lunch. it had bread, cheesewiz, a can of refried beans and a condom with a note that said "good luck on your first day". im not even gonna pretend to be mad.

http://tfl.nu/gbnx

(214): Matt is in the hospital again. the night nurse text me asking not to bring the boombox again. is it sad or awesome that they are starting to know us?

http://tfl.nu/e7z7

(785): So, how do I go about conveying: I'm sorry, yet very glad she is having my abortion. Via text msg?

http://tfl.nu/npo8

(718): it's sad when i round the corner and the dog goes directly for the liquor store

http://tfl.nu/b87c

(450): I'm customer of the month for a 3rd time now at the Wine store. I've achieved so much in my life

http://tfl.nu/01gr

(613): I knew I was in the wrong bar when "I have a daughter your age" was some random's pick up line.

http://tfl.nu/g6vr

(510): Ran into my prostitute at Costco yesterday. She was with her boyfriend, I was with my kids. Awwwwkward.

http://tfl.nu/2xfe

(312): I just noticed that my shirt smells like coffee after eating out a Barista

http://tfl.nu/d26q

(417): He introduced me to his parents as the girl he made out with on Thursday night...

http://tfl.nu/cdml

(343): His parents had a bottle of captain morgan on the table for me when I went for dinner. I feel accepted

http://tfl.nu/gnt2

(973): not to mention it took an hour of antique roadshow to calm my dick down

http://tfl.nu/e11q

(919): Just found a "how to get laid" book on the dresser and am now a victim of method number 16 corollary 7.

http://tfl.nu/xclk

(815): Why do you keep getting laid in MY dreams

http://tfl.nu/1l19

(314): You need to tell your booty call to take some sudafed or something. I swear I thought you were humping Kermit the frog last night

http://tfl.nu/nbdz

(902): you were on ground yelling about how close the floor was to your face.

http://tfl.nu/e2jp

(778): You made a "martini" bagel. Took a bagel dunked it in vodka and put olives in it

http://tfl.nu/gf74

(215): I woke up with my keys safelty pinned to my thong. It's gonna be a great day.

http://tfl.nu/v175

Semi-random thoughts

• The first thing one should do after getting a new laptop nowadays is to take a piece of opaque tape and cover the webcam. (Just about all laptops seem to have them built in now.) If you accidentally turn on the camera at the wrong time, or a hacker gets in, your actions could be viewed and recorded anywhere in the world. Don't trust an indicator light to tell you when it is in operation. If a hacker can get in, I'm sure they can turn off the light almost as easily as they can turn on the camera.
• The cost of my health insurance is going up 15% for the coming year. :(
• Burlesquer Nasty Canasta gave me a CD of Bhangra music, which contains the music she used for her Christmas number. I liked one of the other songs even more, Big Drum Small World by the Dhol Foundation. I started up a Pandora station with it, and it's really great. It's basically just instrumental, kind of Indian New Age.
• Not that I've really done a study of it, but it's my impression that the "anti-incumbent wave" people keep talking about is much more prevalent among Republicans than Democrats--which stands to reason, as the Democrats control the federal government right now. Thus we've seen a number of Tea Party candidates eliminating Republican incumbents in the primaries. But I'm predicting that except in districts where there's a strong Republican majority, the Democrats will beat the Tea Partiers in November, keeping Congress in good hands.

Public service announcement

Estimated taxes are due today.

Question of the day

From the Associated Press:

A New Zealand air force Orion airplane was on standby to fly to the U.S. McMurdo Station science base on the north Antarctic coast to pick up the man, said Matt Vance, a spokesman for government agency Antarctica New Zealand.

Isn't the entire Antarctic coast to the north?

My last post on the mosque (maybe)

From the Metropolitan Diary column of the NY Times:

Dear Diary:

I was in a taxi, late for a doctor’s appointment, when the driver turned around and, with a serious gaze, asked if I was American.

After I told him I was, he asked if I was from New York. Again I replied in the affirmative.

“So tell me,” he asked, “what do you think of the mosque being built downtown?”

Eager to reveal that some New Yorkers believe in religious freedom and civil rights, I exclaimed, “Well, you know, it’s not just a mosque, it’s a whole community center as well, and I think it’s fine for them to build wherever they want.”

I waited for his approval, but he shook his head and said, “Well, I am a Muslim, and I think it is a very, very bad idea!”

Expecting a philosophical explanation, I asked him why.

Clearly agitated, he explained, as though it were obvious: “Because of the parking situation downtown! You can’t find parking anywhere near there!”

Stephanie Lazar

That taxi driver is a true New Yorker.

It's 9/11, again

It's been four years since I blogged about the attack(s) on the World Trade Center, and my experiences in them. Up until now I thought my last post expressed everything I wanted to say on the subject. But recent events have changed that. First, there was the controversy over the "ground zero mosque." Then there was the announced, but subsequently "suspended," Koran-burning in Florida, which has gotten itself enmeshed in the "mosque" brouhaha.

As to the former, as many others have pointed out, the proposed Islamic community center is neither at "ground zero" (a term I hate), nor is it essentially a mosque. It's a couple blocks away and around the corner from the World Trade Center site--it certainly does not overlook it, as some critics have claimed. And, while it will contain rooms where people can pray (similar to hospital chapels, I think), religious observance is not its primary purpose. It's a community center.

Disregarding the facts, some outspoken family members of those killed in the attack have opposed it, calling it disrespectful to their loved ones. (Some family members do support its construction.) The right wing media have made it an issue, and many politicians, primarily but not exclusively Republicans, have come out against it.

But even if it were a mosque, I would have no objections to placing it there. The terrorists who destroyed the Trade Center hated the freedoms America stands for, including freedom of religion. It is not disrespectful to the people who died there to have a center dedicated to the exercise of a religion--even if it's the same general religion of the people who killed them. On the contrary, it is a monument to the committment of our nation to one of our fundamental freedoms, freedoms that the terrorists were willing to commit suicide to try to destroy. The Islamic cultural center shows the world that we truly believe in the right to freedom of religion.

However, some Americans don't really believe in it. Thus we have Koran-burnings. Started by the minister of a quite small church in Florida, the planned observance of 9/11 with a book-burning has exploded into a world-wide mess. At least one person in Afghanistan has died protesting against it. A U.S. general and President Obama have spoken out in opposition to it. It's not worth getting into all the contradictory statements of the people involved, but the minister at least at one point thought he had traded his cancellation of the Koran-burning for the relocation of the Islamic cultural center. As of this writing he is planning to meet with the imam behind the center's construction. As the minister has termed Islam "of the devil," I can't imagine what they would discuss.

Needless to say, I am opposed to the burning of the Koran, or any religion's holy books. It's not that people in America don't have the right to do such things--we have freedom of speech and expression here. But we have (at least I thought we had), enough respect for the right of people to have differing beliefs that we refrain from such actions.

It's disrespectful to burn religious books. It's not disrespectful to build religion-based community centers. Those are my thoughts on the ninth anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center.