They're Comin' Out of the Woodwork

Obama is the Antichrist/Hitler/BiSexual. CNN and Fox actually gave these boobs airtime!!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Unusual Suspect

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Funny Political News
Joke of the Day

Colon-free Kitty

Matzel is back home, sans a body part. He seems to be doing well, and has attracted the attention of his curious brothers. For a few days, he'll be enclosed in a large dog cage to keep him from moving around too much, because his incision is literally the length of his trunk. I was surprised at the size, until I saw what they took out.

The pictures below are of Matzel in his new abode, and Lemur keeping him company. Wiley was laying on my lap.


As I was paying for his operation, one of the techs came out - a woman who has been working with him for years - and said that she thinks he lost at least 2 pounds (the equivalent of about 30 lbs for humans) just in the size of the colon. Then whispered: "you want to see it??" I had to promise I wouldn't pass out (as if) and lord o' mighty, it was impressive. I guess when you consider the xrays, it's not so surprising. After a initial "holy shit", I said, "this is totally blog-worthy, will I seem really odd if I ask for a picture." She said yes I would, but go for it. So I did.

Sadly, it was hard to photograph. They removed a good 7-8 inches of colon. This thing literally looked like some kind of parasitic alien from a sci-fi movie. Indeed, adding to the geekiness of taking a picture, my first thought was "oh my God, it's a goa'uld!!!" (alien evil doers from Stargate SG-1, for the uniformed ;-) The pictures below don't do it justice.

Here's the original xray, followed by two views of the dead alien/colon:

Happy Fat Tuesday!!

Lemur Antics

Lemur's been keeping me entertained while I work in the study. What a doofus!

He obviously takes after his other two "mothers" (Jaime and Alicia ;-)

Click on the first picture and look at his face up close - sure to get a laugh.

What the Bloody Hell??

This was in the NY Post today. Apparently they haven't gotten the memo that this ain't 1809.

Here is the email address for the editor is you'd like to complain: letters@nypost.com

The Real Facebookers

Why Facebook Is for Old Fogies
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009

Readers Digest version:

1. Facebook is about finding people you've lost track of.
2. We're no longer bitter about high school.
3. We never get drunk at parties and get photographed holding beer bottles in suggestive positions.
4. Facebook isn't just a social network; it's a business network.
5. We're lazy.
6. We're old enough that pictures from grade school or summer camp look nothing like us.
7. We have children.
8. We're too old to remember e-mail addresses.
9. We don't understand Twitter.
10. We're not cool, and we don't care.

Battlestar

I downloaded the new "Cylon Detector" app for the iPhone and checked myself out. As suspected, I'm a cylon. Explains a lot.

Wiley however, was detected as human. Again, no big surprise ;-)

Yep, too much time on my hands.

Congratulations Jim McKenna!!

Jim was selected as a Fellow of the AAAS. If you want to send him a note of congratulations, here's his email address --

Here is the press announcement (I've only included the Anthropology section):

AAAS Members Elected as Fellows

In November, the AAAS Council elected 486 members as Fellows of AAAS. These individuals will be recognized for their contributions to science and technology at the Fellows Forum to be held on 14 February 2009 during the AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago. The new Fellows will receive a certificate and a blue and gold rosette as a symbol of their distinguished accomplishments. Presented by section affiliation, they are:


Section on Anthropology

* Susan C. Anton, New York University
* Claude Bouchard, Louisiana State University
* Daniel E. Brown, University of Hawaii
* Marian Dagosto, Northwestern University
* Robert G. Elston, University of Nevada
* Carol R. Ember, Yale University
* Charles F. Hildebolt, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology
* Stephen A. Kowalewski, University of Georgia
* Steven R. Leigh, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
* Jeffrey K. McKee, Ohio State University
* James J. McKenna, University of Notre Dame
* J. Michael Plavcan, University of Arkansas
* Matthew J. Ravosa, University of Missouri
* Audrey Smedley, Virginia Commonwealth University
* David G. Smith, University of California, Davis

Explains A Lot

My de-evolution fun (previous post) was cut short when my father sent me the following story. A new Gallup poll shows that less than 4 in 10 Americans believe in evolution.

On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution: Belief drops to 24% among frequent church attenders
by Frank Newport, Gallup.com
February 11, 2009

I feel I must quibble with the wording of the report tho' -- since I don't think "believe in" applies to a time-tested set of scientific evidence in the same way that 'belief' in creationism does. And to harp further, it is only "belief" (dare I add "blind"...) that works for creationism, because any degree of critical thought shows the innumerable flaws in the idea...beginning with the presence of two Creation stories in the Bible, the lack of agreement between those two stories, the fact that time periods are described as days before there was a Sun, and so on, and so on, and so on. (I know, I know -- my trip to the Creation Museum clearly did not take hold).

As I become older and increasingly intolerant, I'm starting to think that they (the big They, you know, Them) should make everyone of voting age take at least 1 biology course (taught by an actual biologist) and one course on Biblical Exegesis - not for the theological component, but so they learn how to read ancient texts for what they are!! Only after receiving an "A" in each are you allowed to cast a vote.

Harsh, I know, but COME ON?!! Less than 4 in 10??!!!!

D-evolution

In honor of Darwin's birthday, here's a fun little tool that will let you 'devolve' yourself into an Australopithecine, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and Homo heidlbergensis. My results are below:

Made Me Laugh

Robot babies with Uzis riding Roombas - how can you NOT laugh ;-)

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Future Shock - Roombas of Doom

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Funny Political News
Joke of the Day

Fun Bone Stuff

I recently found a few fun bone-related goodies. The first is a toggle for necklaces. In the past I always included a small metal skull bead at the end of any necklace I gave as a gift. From here on out, I might be using these bone clasps from Absolute Crystal.com.

Turns out there's a bunch of skull n' bone stuff on Overstock.com. Including this bedspread. I mean really -- pink AND skulls, does it get any better?? Sadly, sold out. I also found these cute flats - alas, they only come in size 6. Who wears size 6??

Scary Prospects

Today's Israeli elections make me nervous. There's a new ultra-right wing nationalist group - called "Israel Our Homeland" Party - who believe no Arabs can be trusted and make no bones about saying so - including Arab Israeli's. They are so extreme, they make Bebe Netanyahu look like a reasonable choice. Which he's not. Sadly, it seems quite likely that Bebe will win, and the ultra-nationalists will get a big showing in the Knesset.

Iran better be paying particular attention (which also scares me, since their president is a few chickpeas short of a falafel). Syria can't be resting easy either I would think.

Just about the time Jimmy Carter says we can have peace in the region (I've 'captured' the book, but have not yet read it), along come these elections. I'm worried.

Obama Snowball

Compliments of Mike:

Oh Shit (Literally)!!

Poor little Maz. A few days ago I took him to the vet because I noticed he wasn't lifting his tail when he went to the bathroom and was afraid the arthritis in his hips was getting worse. The images below show quite a different problem!!

Matzel has suffered from something called megacolon for years. He's on medicine for it. However, because he's had several rounds of being impacted, the nerves in the region are deadened.

This time around, he wasn't really acting sick (indeed, quite the opposite at times, playing with his 'brothers' rather rambunctiously only a few nights ago). The vets and I audibly inhaled when we saw the xrays below.

He had 5 enemas, and meds to clean him out. Today he's back to his usual sweet pink-nosed self. Tomorrow he goes in to get his fluids checked, and Monday he will have a subtotal colectomy. Apparently for about 6 weeks he'll have to get used to the sensation of eating and going to the bathroom very soon thereafter. The end of the intestine expands a bit after awhile, and he'll eventually get back to going about 2-3 times a day.

He'll have to be enclosed in a small area until that happens. Yesterday I bought a big dog cage, so he can at least be around me and the other cats while he recoups.

Poor little guy. Prepare to cringe, here's a side and top view of just how impacted he was. Yes, what you're looking at is all poop!!

Vitriolic Veep

What an utterly reprehensible human being. Seventeen days after Obama takes office, and Cheney is back on the stage spewing his vitriol (with a few bold faced lies tossed in for good measure -- "61" detainees returning to terrorism for example).

Here is the Politico interview. I'll likewise post Olbermann's eloquent (non-rant) statement on the matter, and Jon Stewart's spot-on comedic take, once they become available.

Cheney warns of new attacks
By JOHN F. HARRIS & MIKE ALLEN & JIM VANDEHEI
Politico.com, Feb 4, 2009

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Why Are You Such a Dick? - Audio Tape

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Important Things With Demetri Martin
More Funny Videos

Klingon Caper

Here's a pretty amusing story (compliments of Mike H.) for all you Star Trek fans. Apparently a man robbed stores with a Klingon bat'leth. I made the "action figure" to the right to illustrate both the bat'leth and a Klingon skull.

Pic Shows Man Robbing Stores With Klingon Sword
TheDenverChannel.com
Feb 4, 2009

25 Random Things

This Facebook message has gone viral. Since I don't have George Bush to complain about anymore and thus not much to write...I figured I'd put my list here as well:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Write 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. Tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.

1. I hate the feeling of suede.

2. I have an unnatural affinity for all things Mac.

3. I have virtually no memories of my childhood.

4. I once laughed in class and a giant bugger flew out of my nose, in front of all the students.

5. I love the taste of aspirin.

6. I have no depth perception. Yet am a great parallel parker. Go figure.

7. I really really want to winter over at McMurdo Base, Antarctica.

8. Bananas used to make the insides of my ears itch. I outgrew it.

9. I flunked my French quals 5 times in grad school, until they finally lowered the departmental requirement to match my highest score. So where was my home base for many years working in Jerusalem -- a French monastery!!

10. I really hate the sound of chewing.

11. I was once the target of a ring tailed lemur stink fight. (I was trying to catch them with a net to take blood samples so I deserved it).

12. Spiders have no business being on the same planet with me.

13. I've always wanted to be an astronaut. Still do.

14. I had to wear a patch over my right eye for a few years as a kid, and don't much like pirate stuff as a result ('cept maybe the skull 'n crossbones thing ;-)

15. When I first heard the song "Pink Cadillac" I thought one of the verses went: "in love with a Peking man" - and sang it as such for ages until a friend heard me and stared in disbelief.

16. I make all my own jewelry.

17. I can't watch enough Stargate SG-1.

18. I like Perry Como music.

19. I haven't balanced my checkbook since 1985.

20. I can't sleep without noise. Actually, I can't much sleep, ever -- but definitely not when it's quiet.

21. The night John Lennon died...I had no idea who he was.

22. I once held a baby aye-aye, and it still ranks as one of the coolest moments of my life.

23. I have a giant birthmark on my elbow that a classmate once named "Bertha" and used to say hello to every day in Geometry class.

24. I have an unnatural affinity for all things Mac. (did I say that already ;-)

25. I can recite entire Star Trek episodes.

Be Careful What you Cite

This is pretty funny. A nice cautionary note about citation.

And even more impressive...I actually have a skeleton action figure to match the story (sort of ;-)

Peer reveals 'cello scrotum' hoax
BBC.com
Jan 28, 2009

Sinister Hand Wine

To celebrate the inauguration, I opened a bottle of one of my favorite wines -- Sinister Hand. It is an Owen Rowe wine from Washington state, I first tried at my sister's. I've made a tradition of picking up a few bottles each Christmas when I'm visiting family. Since it's not widely known (and because this has been a boring weekend and I don't have much else to write about ;-), I thought I'd blog it.

The story of the label goes: The Sinister Hand label is a family crest - a depiction of a severed left hand that tells the story of a rowing competition among O'Neills and O'Reillys (Owen Roe was an O'Neill). Whoever touched land first after rowing across the lake was rewarded with the land he touched. Lagging behind, one of the kinsfolk grabs his sword and cleaves his hand and pitches it ashore to touch land first. He won the land and eventually ruled over it as king.

The version available now is the 2007 variety. It is quite good, but I think previous years have been better (2004 or 2005) in particular. Try it if you can -- and when next at my house, ask me to open a bottle...assuming any is left ;-)