Odds and sods...

* If this article is indeed true, then I'd say Mel Gibson is a lock to win the Thespian Batshit Insanity Award (Non-Scientology Division) for 2006.

* Alton Brown's got a new series, Dining With Asphalt, and it's going on my DVR as we speak.. In the meantime, I've been eating and enjoying his take on White Castles, except you can actually eat them without turning your intestines into a federal disaster area. The prep method (Windows Media) is a lot of fun, too.

* What's the largest thing in the universe? Surprisingly, it's not Chris Matthews' head...

Odds and sods...

* The $20 million trip to the ISS got an additional $15 million spacewalk option. From the article:

A NASA spokeswoman, Melissa Mathews, said the agency had not been informed by Russia about any intention to sell EVA’s.[sic]

Man, how much fun would THAT have been, to suit up and head out while Ground Control collectively dumps themselves? And using an apostrophe to indicate plural? For shame, NYT, for shame...

* I saw Clerks II yesterday, and endorse it wholeheartedly. Maybe it's because I was a twentysomething vulgar scifi geek from Jersey when Clerks came out and now I'm a thirtysomething vulgar scifi geek from Jersey but Kevin Smith really speaks to me. Anyway, it was funny, revolting, and surprisingly touching in spots, and much, much more successful at it than the basically unwatchable Click was.

* Look, I know the subject of stem cells is more technically complicated than what Congress is used to, but you would think they'd be more factually accurate than progressive rock bands.

(By the way, the veto was bullshit, and the song is terrible.)

Say it ain't so...

Proving that no matter what the news, life goes on, especially if "life" is "celebrity stupidity", Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro split up. Man, as if Rock Star: Supernova wasn't edgy enough.

This story, the shuttle's return, and Barbaro not croaking was the only news today that didn't make me want to stick my head in a sensory deprivation tank...

Odds and sods...

* Saw that Starbucks came out with a strawberries and cream (sorry, crème) flavored drink. Look, I'm all for free market, but don't dump Quik into coffee and tell me that shit's gourmet...

* Everyone's favorite Texas Virginia resident might run for his house seat after all. Love the GOP official quote: "If it isn't overturned, Katy bar the door!" Is it customary for party officials to talk like pro-wrestling announcers? Boy, I hope the sweet science of politics doesn't turn into a pier-six brawl.

* And as an antidote for that *shudder* story link yesterday, here's an adorable baby panda pic.

You want to read something REALLY scary?

I was checking out the website of Adam-Troy Castro, one of the guys on my reading list and generally one of my more-liked authors. Haven't read much of his, but what I have read (i.e. Clearance to Land, Playing With Dogs, Locusts) has kicked the crap out of me, in a good way.

He posted a short story called My Sex with Ann Coulter.

I know what you're thinking, ha-ha, how cute. No.

Let me tell you, this is some warped shit. This would make Stephen King cry and Chuck Palahniuk gag.

This one, might, just might, mind you, make the Rude Pundit blink.

If you check it out, as Harlan Ellison once wrote, don't thank me for the tip.