Who is it?
That never lets you down.
Who is it?
That gave you back your crown.

     Bjork ("Who Is It")

While on my way to work I came within centimeters from crushing a fairly large garden snake. Sixteen, maybe eighteen inches. The fool thing was heading right into traffic and at a considerable clip. So I jumped off my bike, waved off traffic and pestered the thing back into the bushes from whence it came.

Every time I see a dead animal on the road, I dislike cars just a little bit more.

But now I think the snake was an omen because I'm at work today when this happens:

10:13 AM *ella*: still want a shipping job?

And so in two weeks I will be working in Harvard Square.

I'll be making less money for half the year but more during the other half and even better, it isn't commission so the check will be consistent.

I'll be commuting 1.5 hours each way but who cares. It'll get me away from this god-forsaken black hole computer.

I'll be paying $200/mo. in MBTA fees but ...uh ...I'll have an all-access pass to take the T and commuter rail anywhere I want. That's gotta be good for sumthin'.

I'll have to learn Spanish. That's an upside, not a downside. Always wanted to be bilingual, just never had nobody to be bilingual with.

WEEKENDS OFF! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I haven't seen a club in two years.

So ...yeah. A much-needed kick in the ass for my so-called life.

And a much-deserved thanks to Ella who essentially got me the job.

Just so this ugly little fact doesn't get lost in the melee, THIS is a blastocyte.



A blastocyte is what embryonic stem cells are harvested from. This structure is comprised of roughly 100 cells, give or take.

This is what Bush doesn't want "killed" in our quest to cure trivial things like cancer and diabetes.

George Bush hasn't got a clue what he's doing. He asked me what state Wales was in. I said, "It's its own country next to England, Mr. Bush."

I thought, "You twat."

     - Charlotte Church

First he swears like a sailor at the G8, then he feels up Merkel, now this.

Ella: Dad's gay??

Ow++.

          RENE

There's never been a black painter in 
art history that's been considered really 
important, you know that?

          BASQUIAT

[annoyed] Are you a writer or a white writer?

          RENE

I may be white but I'm a nigger.  You ask anybody.

OK, new rule. Only once per month. Twice, MAX.

Hey, guess what? Psychedelic mushrooms make you happy. No shit.

The researchers say psilocybin is not toxic or addictive, unlike alcohol and cocaine, but that volunteers must be accompanied throughout the experience by people who can help them through it.

We know. It's called an "afterparty."

From CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration, called to account by Congress after the Supreme Court blocked military tribunals, said Tuesday that all detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and in all other U.S. military custody around the world are entitled to protections under the Geneva Conventions. [...] Snow insisted that all U.S. detainees have been treated humanely.

humane adj. 1. marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals

And for a little contrast, a description of one interrogation technique employed at Guantanamo:

"The prisoner is bound to an inclined board, feet raised and head slightly below the feet. Cellophane is wrapped over the prisoner's face and water is poured over him. Unavoidably, the gag reflex kicks in and a terrifying fear of drowning leads to almost instant pleas to bring the treatment to a halt. According to the sources, CIA officers who subjected themselves to the water boarding technique lasted an average of 14 seconds before caving in. They said al Qaeda's toughest prisoner, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, won the admiration of interrogators when he was able to last over two minutes before begging to confess. 'The person believes they are being killed, and as such, it really amounts to a mock execution, which is illegal under international law,' said John Sifton of Human Rights Watch."

Wouldn't it be nice if George W. were treated humanely, too?

Back to Tony Snow, cocksucking Whitehouse shill-whore:

"We want to get it right. [...] It's not really a reversal of policy [...] The memo that went out, it doesn't indicate a shift in policy."

Yes, and we've always been at war with Eurasia. I know this part already.

Steven Bradbury, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, told the Senate hearing that the Bush administration would abide by the Supreme Court's ruling that a provision of the Geneva Conventions applies. But he acknowledged that the provision -- which requires humane treatment of captured combatants and requires trials with judicial guarantees "recognized as indispensable by civilized people" -- is ambiguous and would be hard to interpret.

You mean like the Bible?

Eraser, Yorke's don't-call-it-a-solo solo is due to be released the day after tomorrow. Of course that means anyone with an internet connection and the will has it yesterday.

I'm listening to it for the first time right now. Some observations.

They will call this the best album in the last ten years and they will be right. I bet you a wooden nickel Bjork had an orgasm when she heard it.

Shit is going to hit the fan.

Ever get turned on by someone's intelligence?

Two to go.

You've heard of 40oz of Freedom? Only one is really necessary.