Odds and sods...

* Word of advice: if you're getting your teeth pulled, go for the general anesthetic. I just had the novocaine and it was really uncomfortable, but was worse than the discomfort was the disgusting sawing, drilling, and cracking noises. At least it wasn't a prostate exam.

* New toys from Apple! Yayyyy! The Intel-based Mac mini is a strong candidate for my replacement system, whenever I get it, but what seemed strange to me was the iPod Hi-Fi. A dedicated iPod stereo dock for $349 doesn't seem like a huge seller to me. But then again, Steve Jobs is a billionaire, and I'm not.

* So this Wired columnist thinks that Starbucks' self-heating latte tastes like canned hummingbird vomit. That's still a step up from the office coffee at my last job.

* When a neutron star meets a gas cloud. Wasn't this a Neil Diamond song?

They call me yuckmouth, cause I don't brush...

Ah, to grow up on Saturday morning cartoons in the seventies, where smartass cartoon characters would try to shame you into basic hygiene. Well, Mr. Smartass Cartoon Character, I do brush. Even floss now and then.

What I didn't do was keep up on dental visits, which is why I'm getting two wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow.

Fortunately, I've learned how my immune system works thanks to television and comics.

You know, I wonder if the Cavity Creeps are related to those little cartoon critters that gave people VD in all those old movies in health class...

Man, I feel cheated...

You know, I've talked about curling before (the sport, not the hairstyling technique), hell, I even emailed New Jersey's curling rink for information.

Well, I got to see hours of curling on end during the Olympics.

And it's fucking boring.

I think the reason it looked so interesting to me was because I only see it every four years.

So someone please remind me in 2010.

Actually, except for short-track speed skating, I really had no use for the winter Olympics. I didn't even watch a lot of hockey; I was too annoyed that the pro version was on hiatus.

But Bode Miller failing was really, really great. And I think everyone should laugh at him. Hey, if he doesn't care, why should we?

Mornin', Nevsky!

Found a diary on Kos that might interest Nev; his rep, Virgil Goode, has been implicated as taking bribes from the same contractor that bribed Duke Cunningham.

The diary on Kos also features a picture of Katherine Harris that has been enhanced to reveal her inner beauty...

Thoughts on being the liberal in the office...

I'm the token leftist in my office, and as such I do engage in debate with my colleagues regarding political matters. They range from centrist to right-wing, however, they're generally respectful of my views and are interested in learning my perspective. It's at times that I need to calm down (a trait I share with my brother), although I have to admit they do enjoy pushing my buttons for precisely this reason. I give them a good show.

One of the things I've learned is that it's simple to find common ground. My friends are all social libertarians, especially concerning drugs and sex. Hey, they're young (I'm in my mid-thirties, the office old fart). So, it's easy to rail against puritanism and ridiculous drug laws.

Similarly, I've found that a good sure-win topic is Medicare Part D. Everyone thinks it's absolutely abysmal. Another recent one was the UAE port fiasco; that had my right-wing friends bringing it up and shaking their head.

The war is harder to argue against. My friends seem to respect the approach; i.e. going in there and trying to reshape the Middle East is better than doing "nothing".

The one place I've absolutely clashed with them to the point of heated debate (not a fight, as we're all friends) is the death penalty. I'm against it purely for pragmatic reasons: I don't think it serves as a deterrent against violent crime, and the possibility of an unjust execution exists. However, usually I end up at the bar with three people asking me at the same time if I don't think child molesters and murderers deserve to die, and I usually end up putting on a show.

But all in all, it's surprisingly good-natured, and we get good discourse out of it.

If I only can find the time to get to dKosopedia and brush up...

Moron and Sauron - America's odd couple since 2000.

One's a C student who hates horses and the English language! The other...will shoot you in the face.

And now, you can buy even MORE stuff mocking them!

Brought to you by sixthdoctor, now entering my third year in shamelessly trying to make a buck off the criminal incompetence of the Bush administration.

Dick Cheney's other hunting partners.

What?

Are there ANY qualifications for advertising?

Fifteen minutes into the Super Bowl, and you've got the Whopperettes, which was jaw-droppingly bad, and the new website name for Diet Pepsi. OK, that is NOT a diet soda website name to me. That's a website for...something else.

Let me put it this way, there is NO WAY I'm typing "brown and bubbly" into Google when I'm at my job.

And thank God they don't make Mello Yello. I can see it now...

"Like a refreshing golden shower...what's so funny?"

Odds and sods - dog ate my homework edition...

Yes, I know. I wish I could say I've been fighting crime in an alter ego, or bettering humanity via means unknowable and profound, but the truth of the matter is that I've just been a lazy turd.

* One of the things that has been taking a lot of my time recently is, of all things, Magic: The Gathering. Yes, that game. Turns out an offshoot of my poker circle was once heavily into it, and have now dragged me into their circle of addiction. So now we hang in local bars and discuss whether multiple attacks with Pestilence renders all its damage at once or during seperate phases. We've gotten some odd looks. Huh. Like people never saw nerds before.

* I respect all those bloggers that are even capable of talking about politics these days without collapsing in paroxysms of apoplectic rage. I had to turn away from the whole Alito situation; I couldn't handle it. The elections are going to be a lot of fun.

* Hey, there's a curling rink in New Jersey! Who knew? Now if someone just sets up a candlepin bowling alley I'd be in obscure sport heaven...