David McNett (Nugget)

I'm totally going to buy this book. It's like Tufte meets xkcd.

MLP courtesy the big picture (link with excerpts from book)

2007: Seven Things We Should Pretend Never Happened.

Neocons on a Cruise: What Conservatives Say When They Think We Aren't Listening

Johann Hari has been doing some mingling among America's 24% -- The 24% that still supports the President.

From time to time, National Review - the bible of American conservatism - organises a cruise for its readers. I paid $1,200 to join them. The rules I imposed on myself were simple: If any of the conservative cruisers asked who I was, I answered honestly, telling them I was a journalist. Mostly, I just tried to blend in - and find out what American conservatives say when they think the rest of us aren't listening.

It's a long read, but I found it quite interesting (in a distressing, unsettling sort of way).

As she explains the perils of Republican dating, my mind drifts, watching the gentle tide. When I hear her say, " Of course, we need to execute some of these people," I wake up. Who do we need to execute? She runs her fingers through the sand lazily. "A few of these prominent liberals who are trying to demoralise the country," she says. "Just take a couple of these anti-war people off to the gas chamber for treason to show, if you try to bring down America at a time of war, that's what you'll get." She squints at the sun and smiles. " Then things'll change."

I spot the old lady from the sea looking for her suitcase, and stop to tell her I may have found a solution to her political worries about both Muslims and stem-cells.

"Couldn't they just do experiments on Muslim stem-cells?" I ask. " Hey - that's a great idea!" she laughs

MLP courtesy of Leto: Petition Aims To Oust Man Behind Tubing Restrictions

There's big backlash against new limits on alcohol on the rivers in New Braunfels. On Feb. 12, the New Braunfels council voted to limit tubers on the Comal River to one six-pack-sized cooler.

Tubers on the Guadalupe would be limited to a 12-pack.

Supporters say they wanted to cut down drunkenness and clean up the river, but now, a new recall effort would oust the council member behind those restrictions.

Council member Ken Valentine was the driving force behind this cooler limit on the rivers. On Saturday, residents unhappy with that decision spent five hours gathering signatures to recall Valentine's position and remove him from office.

It takes 221 signatures for a recall petition. They got 570.

The spokesman for the petitioners is named Robert E. Lee III.
The Onion should just close up shop. They can't compete with shit like this.

Oh, and don't mess with Texans.

Submitted for your amusal: Debian Bug report 177244, wherein the OSShole armchair legal bridgade leaps to defend The Boss from infringement. Be sure to read down to the subsequent followup and consequent resolution.

Biden on Blitzer:

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The worst possible thing we could do is what the Democrats are suggesting, and no matter how you carve it, you can call it anything you want, but basically, it is packing it in, going home, persuading and convincing and validating the theory that the Americans don't have the stomach for this fight.

BLITZER: All right. You want to respond to the vice president, Senator Biden?

BIDEN: No, I don't want to respond to him. He's at 20 percent in the polls. No one listens to him. He has no credibility. It's ridiculous.

Not the most mature of responses, but nonetheless a well-targeted one. (mlp courtesy of Eschaton)

I read the whole article at CBSNews.com, and it was pretty interesting, but it didn't really explain why China was planning to put a Japanese flag on the moon.

Aren't we so clever.

http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/50539:

The smartypants over at GM are running a contest to "make your own" commercial for the gas-guzzling Tahoe SUV. People are giving them just what they deserve.

These are likely to be yanked sooooooon, so get 'em while they're hot!

The inimitable Fred Reed writes:

"When you consider the ease with which drugs go into the US, and get delivered to every small town, at prices you can’t refuse, you realize that the Warn Terr couldn’t keep the Queen Elizabeth II from coming across the border on wheels. With a marching band in front. Criminal enterprise is far more efficient than government. Though probably less criminal."

His New Year In Guad missive is a great read and a refreshing perspective from a US ex-pat.