Today's Mighty Oak


Alright, let’s see what we have today.  First up, in case you forgot, the TEA party didn’t actually care about deficits.  They were just racists.

Also, Debra Messing is not messing around.  Good for her, a fuck Susan Sarandon.

Brett Kavanaugh, who is incredibly anti-gay, won’t say on the record his opinions about same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws.  But his court writings reveal he’s as far, if not further right, than Scalia.

In that vein, 16 states are petitioning the US government to let them fire workers for being gay, after that executive order was struck down.

The Russo Brothers put out an awesome video that goes over all the deaths in the MCU:

Kipchoge broke the World Record in the Berlin Marathon this morning.  Dumb Runner, always spots on, weighs in.

I wrote a while back, at least I think I did, about the article ‘the epidemic of gay loneliness,’ and a recent Savage Love column looks at that as well, a good read for everybody.

In case you need some positive news, a heartwarming letter from a gay man’s little brother went viral.

Okay, that’s all for now, but I’ll be back soon!



Real quick update, let’s see what we have today.

First up, The Tea Party doesn’t understand satire.  Or play video games, but probably not understanding basic concepts is the core problem here.

The future of Jell-O shots:

Also from 3D printers: human livers!  Good for after all those Jell-O shots….

Remember the gay soldier who got booed at the Republican debates?  Here’s a great, in-depth telling of his story.

That’s it for now, have a great one, and I’ll be back with more in 2014!



Let’s see what I have today.  First up, the writers at io9 have to go and spoil science fiction with facts and science.  Sadface.

Nerd nostalgia:

Verizon was fined by the FCC for charging customers who worked around their ridiculous tethering fees.

This is amazing:

I’ve seen these events before, kind of a cool idea to get some closure.  The Brooklyn Cyclones have a “Trash Your Ex” night where you can take reminders of you ext to be destroyed.

The video for the new single from Matchhbox 20:

This has been floating around the Internet, but holy crap.  There are no words to describe the fury (and that some at the church, and even Mississippi’s governor have expressed as well).

Awesome t-shirt:

Thanks for reading, I’ll be back soon!



Couple more updates for you today:

Crazy use of homeland security money.  Sigh.

My friend Patrick discusses his license plate, and how it made him a celebrity.  Fun story.

Unplggd has a cool article about how to keep your earbuds.  Neat idea.

Here’s the duet with Siri:

This deserves its own post, but what the hell?  Stealing babies from people you deem are unworthy?  What the crap, Catholic church?

A fantastic headline for Occupy: We’re Here, We’re Unclear.

And as much as I don’t like his writing, Charles Mudede tells us to stop comparing Occupy to the Tea Party:

Total rubbish. If the members of the Tea Party were about deficits and big government, then they should have gone nuts under Bush. No such thing happened. They only went nuts when the president became black. There is nothing more to them than that.

I tend to agree.

And Paul Constant follows up with the inevitable usage of Godwin’s Law:

Don’t these people see an echo of the swastika in their new power symbol? Don’t they realize that the early Nazi Party was (among other things, obviously) also overtly anti-capitalist?…Don’t they know that the early Nazis tried to garner sympathy with street rallies and marches?

One month in, conservatives still have no idea how to respond to Occupy Wall Street and it is freaking them the fuck out.

They’re talking about the hashtag buy the way, the way Twitter is searched, aka, the number symbol: #

And one more political quote for you, this one from Conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan (as seen on The Daily Show, not sure where it came from first):

Bush and Saddam – One Trillion dollars and thousands of US lives.

Obama and Qaddafi – One Billion dollars and zero US lives.



Just remember folks, the TEA Party is only concerned with economics.  Except when they’re racist and try to take their community back to segregation.

Now, the strange thing of course, is the people pushing for this, are from New Jersey, and moved to North Carolina recently before being voted onto the school board.  I find it confusing, and of course, saddening.



Hello there everybody, another clearinghouse type article here for you, so enjoy the wonderousness that the Internet has to offer:

This apartment must have been so, freaking expensive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg9qnWg9kak

Craigmod takes a look at the current state of eReaders and how we need to move forward.  I really like the idea of collaboration between eReader and their documents.

This was passed around before, and I can’t embed it, but check out how these athletes entertained the crowd during a rain delay at a baseball game.

Looking for Halloween costumes?  Or just a little something for your alter ego?  Look no further than the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.


PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. – Discover more animation and arts videos.

I saw this last year, but forgot to post it.  How cool is it that the White House now has a Seder?

This is being billed as London’s Eiffel Tower.  I don’t see it.  At all.  It’s being built for the 2012 London Olympic Games, which more and more, a looking like a disaster (see: the ugly logo):

Would you like to see stories from The Bible acted out by Legos?  Really, who wouldn’t?  Check it out here.

T-shirt war:

I kind of love this Lost alarm clock!  However, I think it would get really annoying every morning.  Also, it only takes batteries, no plug, which is just strange.

Scientists can use giant magnets to make humans ‘less moral.’ So if someone comes up to you and asks for a shady favor, while holding giant magnets near your ears, just say no!

This is a little sad and a little frightening.  Watch out Stephen Colbert:

I’m fairly certain this is better than any lawn gnome ever.

With the recent relaunch of ChatRoulette, here’s an interview with its creator, a 17 year old Russian boy.

This is pretty awesome, a self-sufficient waterfall that creates energy and works as an observation tower for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.  London take note, Brazil is doing it better (but I still won’t go there because of the tornadoes of fire):

IGN has an awesome article refuting the claim that video games can’t be art.  I generally like Ebert and love reading his writing, but this is one thing he’s wrong about.  Make sure to check it out.

Just remember kids, cleavage is wrong.  Especially when it is on a puppet.

Want to hack the internet a little bit to get more traffic to your site?  Try this linkbait generator.  Currently it reads for me: 8 ways Star Trek can save your life in a Plane Crash

Here’s a fun link to sports team’s logos from Middle Earth, I’m partial to this one:

Mennonno sapiens has a great article about the Tea Party.  Check it out if you have a minute.

And we’ve found the primordial ooze.  Cool:

May I introduce you to Butch Bakery.  Kind of awesome.

Or maybe you need to create your own warning sign.  Do it here

That’s it for now, but I’ll be back soon with more.  Have a great one everybody!



A few, mostly nerdy things to catch up on.

First of all E3!  Here’s a cool recap from Nintendo, that I can’t embed.  Also are interviews about Epic Mickey, Lost in Shadow (which I first heard about from PG+) and Super Scribblenaughts.

I’m also excited about the new Zelda (Skyward Sword), Kirby’s Epic Yarn, and Metroid: Other M.  I’m somewhat excited for the new Goldeneye, and I think it’s an awesome throwback, but I was never really good at the first one, but I can see the nostalgia and potential.

I’m not a  huge fan of the new art style for Zelda, although I can appreciate that it was inspired by Monet (no, really), I think I just need to get used to it:

And here’s the trailer for Kirby:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK4gKc9OuTk

Also, how awesome is this orange(ish) 3DS:

The new Donkey Kong Country looks great, but again, not one that I’ll pick up, but here’s some info in case you’re interested.

The new Professor Layton looks awesome, although I still have to play the second in the series:

And likewise, I’m not if I’ll pick up Mario Sports mix, but it does look interesting, if a mini-game fest:

Ok, nerd mode is now off.  How about some fun news:

The Tea Party canceled their convention, or at least, pushed it back.

And The Pope can be brought to court, at least theoretically, thank goodness!

And for some brevity, Airpocalypse performed on America’s Got Talent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkdva4SNCcw

That’s it for now, have a great one everybody!



And I’m back, just like I promised, although with a much more media-intensive entry than I thought I would.  Enjoy!

I don’t watch The Simpson’s that often, but I know a lot of my friends do (I’m looking at you, Brad).  Can someone explain this to me:

I know, I’m very needy.

Updates on the oil spill, first the sad comedy:

And some more sad, angering news:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

You know what will make you feel better after all that depressing news, fun movies about the Arenas!  First off, this awesome tribute, set to music from The Chronicles of Narnia:

And now, a time-lapse of the building of the Consol Center:

And also to make you feel better: just remember, you could be at home (or the DLLCC) playing the Furry Card Game.  I kid you not.  Click over if you dare, and have some mind bleach on hand.

Here’s my first part about Star Wars: Did you know when The Empire Strikes Back was coming out, there was a special 1-800 line you could call to get “hidden” messages from the characters?!  And that it was so popular it broke AT&T?!  Now you can listen to them, and I suggest you do!

I can’t believe I’m about to write this sentence: but I think I’ve found something that was made worse by the addition of lightsabers!  I know, hard to believe, but why mess with what is perfect already:

It’s been mentioned elsewhere, but I’m going to grab a newspaper and smack PennDOT on the nose, “Bad PennDOT, bad!  You need to make it wider, not taller!  Wider!

Have you met Gary and Elaine?  They live in a catalog.  Go check it out!

Andrew Sullivan links to an awesome quote from tinfoiler:

“When my son Hunter asked me why it was okay for Bristol Palin to have a baby before she was married, I told him that God has special rules for special people.  God knew that Bristol could become very rich from having a baby, so He granted her a pregnancy.  Since she is the daughter of Sarah Palin, and the name Bristol Palin can be rearranged to spell “Orbit Plans” she is pretty much an angel, at least by the official bible definition.  And that pretty much makes her son like a Jesus, technically speaking.  This is just more proof that the blessed Palin family has wonderful and holy plans for true Americans.  After explaining this to my son, he told me that he wanted to be sex-educated at a public school so that he could have a Jesus baby too.  I smacked him in the mouth and told him that sex education is only for liberals and atheists. As good Christians, we should be ashamed of sexuality and our bodies, unless you are chosen by God, like Bristol Palin,”

You might also want to check out Tea Party Jesus:

Woot! was bought by Amazon, and as amazing as that it, it pales in comparison to the letter sent to the Woot! employees, I really think that this actually went out.  Knowing Woot! it just seems to fit.  Here are some of my favorite quotes:

Other than that, we plan to continue to run Woot the way we have always run Woot – with a wall of ideas and a dartboard. From a practical point of view, it will be as if we are simply adding one person to the organizational hierarchy, except that one person will just happen to be a billion-dollar company that could buy and sell each and every one of you like you were office furniture.

Q: Where can I get one of those vuvuzelas?
A: Are you even paying attention?

They’re not looking to have their folks come in and run Woot unless we ask them to, which incidentally you can do by turning off the bathroom lights and saying the word “Kindle” three times; a helpful Amazon employee will appear in the mirror.

Q: Is Snapster leaving? A: Are you kidding? He’s out the door about ten seconds after that check clea- that is to say, Snapster will continue as Woot.com CEO, just like before, and the rest of our staff’s not going anywhere either. Woot and all ourvarious sites will continue to be an independently operated company full of horrible, useless products and an untalented jerkface writing staff, same as it ever was.

And finally today, I would just like to brag a bit.  Ginny over at That’s Church asked for a motivational poster, and I happened to have a few free minutes (I was off of work that day), so I quickly threw one together and sent it over.  If you don’t read her blog, you really should ,nothing else makes me laugh on such a consistent basis, and she cares so much for Pittsburgh it hurts sometimes (why we love her!).  I of course, complain that I wish I had more time, things I would change, but as my friend said, “shush!”  Here’s the post, and here’s my work:

As always Ginny, your wish is my command!

That’s it for now, have a great one everybody!



Well I’m back.  Well I never really left, so here’s a giant update for everyone, enjoy!

I somehow missed this commercial the first time around, and I really like it:

For all the music folk out there, Slate has a cool article about playing in tune.  I remember going to a concert of Catham Baroque in College, they had major issues because where they were performing was a cold space, except the floor was heated.  It wreaked havoc on all their instruments.

Also in Slate, an article about the AP Styleguide and how changes are made.  I need a new one, I’ll have to check out their store to see if the 2010 version is available.

And again in Slate, a cool article about PowerPoint.  It can be awesome, it really can be, just don’t do what most people do!

The first part of Star Wars Uncut is up.  The project brings people from all over the world to do small segments of A New Hope and then splices them together:

Star Wars Uncut “The Escape” from Casey Pugh on Vimeo.

Also, I’ve watched this video a couple times, and it’s amazing, an Octopus steals a diver’s camera while it is still on.  The diver chases and finally gets it back:

octopus steals my video camera and swims off with it (while it’s Recording) from Victor Huang on Vimeo.

Want to know what kind of hell happens to your mind when you stay inside a Wal Mart for 24 straight hours?  Read the hilarious report here:

An employee yelled “Shut up!” to me after I stood in the middle of the lingerie section and screamed “Spring Break!” at the top of my lungs.

I know it’s over, but I meant to post this while the contest was going on, but this Lost video was made by a local guy.  It didn’t end up winning, although when I watched all of the finalists, I really liked it the best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiKABfaQsbY

Ok, some more about Lost.  Here are the characters are summarized by cats:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-DShnvNNv0

And Sally Wiggin (yes, that Sally Wiggin) talks about what the finale meant to her.

There was a theory that the eruption and subsequent ash cloud of Mt. Eyjafjallajokull would cool us down a bit, or maybe even stave off summer.  Sadly, it’s been warm here.  Read the article here, and I’ll be glad that my friend Kyle was finally able to make it back from Europe after all kinds of delays getting there (and the possibility of becoming stuck)

NASA captured this amazing photo of clouds over Africa:

I fully realize that this would probably clog anyone’s arteries in about three seconds after putting the first bit in your mouth, but it still looks really good: pancake, cheesecake, pancake, strawberries whipped cream.  I’m assuming the strawberries make it healthy, right?

Let’s play a fun game.  It’s called “Imagine.”

Here’s a good follow up:

Maybe the national media wouldn’t be blindsided by things like Arizona’s new anti-immigration law or Virginia’s racially tone deaf governor if it took attacks on gays and lesbians seriously, if the media saw them for the outliers they are, and stopped giving politicians like Brewer and McDonnell a faith-based pass when they attack sexual minorities. Because governors and legislators who attack sexual minorities today invariably go on to attack other minority groups tomorrow. Hate is hate is hate.

And also on that note:

Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV)
When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.

Moral of this story, don’t celebrate a win before the game is over:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb2UME1fBYo

Hold on.  they can’t be serious.  Apple is saying they are more open than Adobe?  Excuse me while I go catch my breath from laughing.

Want to see some cool sand art?  Here’s an example, and here are the rest.

Well this is awkward:

Aussies are safer in a strip club than a church, suggests new government data. According to the latest figures compiled by the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 1600 people were charged with committing a range of 27 offences in the state’s “places of worship” in 2008. Astonishingly, the data showed only 282 people were charged with the same offences in adult entertainment premises.

I think I have a new favorite blog, it’s called The Big Caption, bringing together images and typography

Thanks Newsweek.  And in other news, the Gulf: oily

I’m angry at Arizona for so many things, including their ban on willingly creating a human/animal hybrid (How will I amass my Centaur army now?!), but this is always heartbreaking, Arizona is now firing or moving teachers that don’t speak English properly, which makes sense to me (granted, how they frame that bill and everything associate with it was kind of underhanded), but I’d like to bring attention to what ope of the Secretary of Education’s advisers said:

Teachers should speak good grammar because kids pick up what they hear

And thanks to Jezebel for putting together this awesome guide to traveling in Arizona:

Thank you, that is all.

Ok, it’s cool, but the bicycle wheel is just showing off:

Gravité from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.

I’m just going to go ahead and declare this a total win:

This also rocks a lot, and continues the Star Wars theme (if not a bit creepy and direct):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snp3rHDHwPg

Ok fine, one more Star Wars related item:

Need some help picking some colors?  I haven’t played around with it, but this site was suggested to me, let me know how it works!

This is just amazing, check out the art installation that puts you into a dry pool.

This ad is awesome, one because it’s the first motion-sensitive billboard that I’ve seen, and second, the format works great for the venue.  A coworker of mine is in D.C. this weekend and even though I’ve never been there, I recommended the Spy Museum, I’ve only heard people rave about it, next time I’m down in Washington, I’ll have to check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc1FeR54F-Y

Just because it’s funny:

I don’t want to say I told you so.  But I told you so (well, at least maybe).

Student newspapers at private schools are sticky business, I should know.  From where I stand, the school is in the clear to do this.  Should they?  Well that is another matter entirely.  My heart goes out to the writers and editors, I know how hard it can be, without the administration threatening the jobs of faculty members (good grief).

For your reference (full size here):

Panera is testing a “pay what you think it’s worth” store, and if it works (the money goes to charity), will open more.  It’s fun, since I’m writing this in a Panera.  With moronic teenage girls running the bakery counter.  I’ve heard them argue about the unfairness of driving, and how they are stapling napkins.  I’m not sure why either.

Ever want to know how the stop sign was created?  Slate investigates here.  And here’s what would happen if a corporation had been charged with making it:

And Slate takes a look at this year’s Clio Awards.

This is amazing, and the first building reminds me of Myst Island.  I know, huge nerd, but we all knew that, didn’t we?

Projection on Buildings from NuFormer Projection on Vimeo.

This is worth a read.  I never realized that Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was made into a political controversy.  Sigh.

Good gravy, this might be a record for me!  Hope you enjoyed it, catch everyone soon!



I’m working on getting more pictures up, including my massive collection from URU, so hopefully those will be up sometime in the foreseeable future.  But of course, probably not!

Did you know there are still tea parties going on?  I didn’t.  And apparantly there will be one on Wednesday at Boyce Park, at the ski lodge.  Good lord.

A new book is coming out, entitled Secular Sabotage: How Liberals are Destroying Religion and Culture in America.  Fair enough.  However, as this article at Slog points out, I feel that someone is about to lose their job, since this quote appears on the dust jacket:

“Wake up, America! The secular minority has cut the brake cables on America’s In-God-We-Trust-Mobile™! Not even all 43 of our Christian presidents can save us now.” — Stephen Colbert, host of “The Colbert Report”

That makes me very happy.

Former Catholic bishop of Pittsburgh and now Archbishop of Washington, D.C. (which, I don’t think I knew there were such things as Archbishop…it’s a very impressive title) is on the crusade to stop marriage equality.  Which is nothing new from the Catholic Church, although I do have to say, the picture of him is a bit scary.

And in support of marriage equality comes this video from Ireland:

Which is very well put together, although I do have to confess, I can’t tell if Irish names are male or female most of the time.  Not that it matters, but to a dumb American like me, I feel like I’m missing at least something.  Oh well, moving on.

If you want to read the first chapter of the first of three parts of book 12 of the Wheel of Time (whew!), check out this post at Dragonmount.  The prologue will be available later for purchase as an e-book.  An interesting choice.  While Robert Jordan was alive, it was customary to  release the prologue before the book was released.  Interesting to see the change, I wonder if we’ll ever find out if it was deemed successful or not.

A new commercial is out there for the movie 9.  I can’t find it on youtube or else I’d post it here, but I am very excited for it.  If you want to see the short film it is based on, I’ll put that below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IQcMeNh7Hc

That’s it for now, back to image editing for me!  Happy Labor Day!

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