People may ask, "Paul are you actually planning to play the Anthem of Russia at your wedding?" And that answer is: yes. Yes, I certainly am.

"What do I want? Well, I want it all to stop. Our way of life is under attack. I truly believe they are trying to destroy this country. It's just hard to say who 'they' is."

CATCHING UP:
* Good read on science and its affects on global culture.
* Obama invites Republicans to a public summit on saving health care reform. Again, great idea. So of course Republicans start making excuses on why they can't show.
* The less-funny part of this story is that, just last year, a whole bunch of Americans thought she should be president. And, to this very day, a bunch still believe it.
* Google explains that the US needs better internet service.
* Huh. Study suggests Botox 'affects the ability to understand the emotional content of language.' (Courtesy selki.)
* Wow. Sunday's Super Bowl was the most-watched TV show ever. Eat it, M*A*S*H!
* Nice! xkcd on the difference between real science and TV science.

Marvel continues to throw things at the wall to see what sticks, but the return of the savage magazine format could be worth checking out. It certainly could feed my pulp needs.

Going to make the epic hike to the grocery store, wish me luck all.

"All of this underscores both (a) the total incoherence of the 'tea party movement' and (b) how it is, at bottom, nothing more than a cynical marketing attempt to re-brand the right wing of the Republican Party under the exact same policies and principles which defined it for the last couple of decades. As I've noted before, there are many individual participants in this "tea party movement' with valid populist grievances against the sleaze and corruption of both parties in Washington, but it's all being directed towards a pedestrian goal that has nothing to do with any of those sentiments: namely, the re-empowerment of the Republican Party in completely unchanged form. Palin last night righteously condemned the Wall Street bailout even though she (like Glenn Beck) supported that bailout. She wears the banner of 'freedom' and 'individual liberty" even as she mocks the notion that our laws and Constitution - the instruments by which we restrain government power - ought to limit what the President can do in the name of national security; cheers for the omnipotent Surveillance State; and demands that her religious beliefs form the basis of government intervention in people's lives. She rails against government debt while supporting the policies largely responsible for its explosion: namely, limitless increases in military spending and endlessly expanded wars and imperial policies (primarily in the Middle East and oh-so-coincidentally aimed at Muslims)...

"I think it was clear from the start that the populist and anti-Beltway rage fueling these gatherings was being diverted (absurdly) into standard Republican dogma, by the same party that ran the country with virtually no restraints for the last decade. And a large faction of this movement from the beginning was driven by the same ugly nationalism, Christian fanaticism, and Limbaughian hatreds that have long shaped the American GOP Right. There's a reason why the Bush-revering Fox News embraced it from the beginning. But whatever else is true - whatever authentic elements once existed here - it is now nothing more than a vehicle for rejuvenating the standard GOP, draped with even more neoconservative extremism and religious fervor than drove it for the last ten years. That's why Sarah Palin is their most beloved leader."

Just got in from shoveling. Depressingly, I was mostly clearing off what our housemate actionjbone cleared off yesterday; snow had drifted in overnight to reclaim its territory.

About half the neighbors were outside, half chatting, half working. Gave what cab info I had to a Californian trying to figure out how he would be able to get to the airport with the above-ground Metro down. Passed a lady trying to walk to Shoppers to pick up strep throat medicine for her munchkin (Yes, she called ahead to make sure they were open. I was half-tempted to join her, but my wallet was back at the house.)

Spoke to Z. on the way back to the house. Told her that lilmymble and I were working on getting her over here, but we didn't know yet. Our neighborhood is relatively unplowed. Strathmore is clear, and there's footpaths from there to here (five minute walk) so, maybe? I'll call cabs in a few, but I'm not optimistic. lilmymble might be heading out later, so, fingers crossed in that regard. I fear we're just going to miss the weekend with little Z. though, which makes it hard to work up the energy to shovel.

Oh, and, we were supposed to be doing some quality shopping for the wedding, but that's pretty unlikely at the juncture. Eep.

SATURDAY NEWS:
* How to actually solve the terrorism problem.
* Huh. The homogeneity of the Republican party nationwide.
* "On a full range of issues, McCain has switched to reflexive opposition."
* A movement for more real debates in Washington. Oh, yes please.
* Interesting. Connecting this bad winter to last year's El Nino.
* The quest for Earth-like exoplanets.
* Top ten invasive species!
* Tom Shales on the deathknell of NBC.
* Heh. Turns out Iran loves Lost.

"If I had the power to have one statement of fact be universally recognized in our political discussions, it would be this one: the fact that the Government labels Person X a 'Terrorist' is not proof that Person X is, in fact, a Terrorist."

FRIDAY NEWS:
* Great read: why are Republicans so afraid of trials for terrorists?
* "The myth of Washington bipartisanship and the art of true compromise."
* A woman's tale of confusion and betrayal in Iraq.
* "In a role reversal, China is flexing its political and economic muscle against the United States by threatening sanctions against American companies."
* Examining the new populism (a.k.a. the Tea Baggers.)
* Hee. Corporation announced it will run for Congress.
* You know, modern society is pretty crazy.
* Why is Pluto changing colors?

(Possible) new animated series: Young Justice League.

I'm all for new versions, and DC has a long history of awesome cartoon shows. But, we'll see.

"Here we are, almost four years later with a new party in power, and the President's top intelligence official announces - without any real controversy - that the President claims the power to assassinate American citizens with no charges, no trials, no judicial oversight of any kind."

THURSDAY NEWS:
* Why the plan to close Guantanamo backfired.
* Bad news for health care even if nothing gets done. And people still need better information.
* MGK on the campaign finance ruling.
* Tony Blair says he has no regrets over Iraq.
* Joel Achenbach asks, how did we lose the moon?
* Whoah. Examining the doors of time perception.
* Interesting read: rethinking the theater in our society.
* Jon Stewart takes on Fox News. On Fox.

Things few other people other than me care about:
WotC doesn't renew the Star Wars license.
* Team Fortress 2 propaganda posters. (Also, hee.)
* Is this the zombie apocalypse minis game I've been dreaming of?
* Whenever people note how many toy soldiers I have, I should just point them here. Or here.

CATCHING UP:
* Analysis: the long-term effects of the deficit on America's global power.
* Good read: this is why the world makes fun of us, people.
* The CIA and the targeting of an American citizen.
* Added pressure: rebuilding Haiti before the rainy season.
* 'The pros and cons of a YouTube democracy.'
* So. Why aren't conservatives funny?
* The New Yorker interviews Neil Gaiman.
* Robin D. Laws on why he doesn't like 3-D movies.
* Ooh. Raimi set to take on The Shadow.

Previously, on Lost...

( LAX )

Pennsylvania's most famous rodent has spoken, and yes, six more weeks of winter are upon us.

Oh, and the Oscar nominations are out, but I care even less this year, if that's possible. I also challenge anyone to explain how more best picture nominees is better, since they still only pick one winner.

Apparently the way to find awesome gothy club clothes is to a.) be a girl, and b.) be in the U.K.

"Most of what she said was just standard right-wing boilerplate, but there was one claim in particular that deserves serious attention, as it has become one of the most pervasive myths in our political discourse: namely, that the U.S. Constitution protects only American citizens, and not any dreaded foreigners."

And later:

"It is indisputable, well-settled Constitutional law that the Constitution restricts the actions of the Government with respect to both American citizens and foreigners. It's not even within the realm of mainstream legal debate to deny that. Abdulmutallab was detained inside the U.S. Not even the Bush DOJ - not even Antonin Scalia - believe that the Constitution only applies to American citizens. Indeed, the whole reason why Guantanamo was created was that Bush officials wanted to claim that the Constitution is inapplicable to foreigners held outside the U.S. - not even the Bush administration would claim that the Constitution is inapplicable to foreigners generally."

Yesterday marked the three-year anniversary of a day that will live in infamy, when an American city was brought to its knees by a bunch of weird advertisements for a cartoon that features a talking meatball.

Tell the tale to your children, so that they might pass it along to their children. Teach them well and let them lead the way. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Do not let Boston's example be forgotten, lest their sacrifice have been made in vain.

Movie to watch for: The Losers. Yes, it's based on a comic book. No, that's not why it looks interesting.

Another reason to dig MGK: he loves Tank Girl.

Speaking of movies, this story cracks me up: "Twelve is the worst movie at Sundance because it represents in every way possible the consistent squandering of opportunities for up-and-coming authors, actors, screenwriters, and directors who aren't already established."

WHAT WE NEED MORE OF:
* Obama plans to sack moon shot, among other NASA cuts.
* Radiation safety not keeping up with the times.
* Ooooh. New evidence on the colors of dinosaurs.
* How should we handle invasive species?
* The migration of the critters of Madagascar.