Random Thoughts -- Kids at Work, Maine Marriage, 401(k)s, Milk, and What I'm Over

Today is bring your kid to work day, so there are lots of kids running around at work today. Though the idea is to give kids an idea of what their parent does all day, where I work, they have programs and demonstrations for the kids. This is not what the work day is like for their parents. If they made the kids sit in my office and watch me read folders all day, they would never go out in the world looking for a real job. They have to fool kids into thinking life is a carnival ride or they would become depressed at the thought of growing up. They just need to learn that eventually, nobody will tell them what to do and they can have sex.

Maine is holding hearings on marriage equality this week. Shane is originally from Maine and we have land in Maine that we’re planning to build a house on for our retirement. Shane has lots of family in Maine and we’ve spent lots of time up there. I’ll be surprised if marriage equality passes. Though it votes Democratic, it still strikes me as conservative place. I do think Mainers (speaking in generalities) do have a more of a respect for personal privacy and that what is your business is not the government’s business. Fairness is important to them as well. They also like to be thought of as independent. You never know, but I’ll be surprised if it passes anytime soon.

I DVR 60 Minutes and they had a story on about people’s 401(k)s going down the toilet. Interestingly, I had not seen the story prior to writing the caption I posted for this week's New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest. My caption is about someone afraid to open their statement, and in the 60 Minutes piece, they interviewed someone who had received their statement, but had not yet opened it out of fear. He opened it on camera and it had gone down.

I finally got to watch Milk this week (Shane bought the blu-ray disc). Sean Penn (Academy Award Winner for this role) and the entire cast were amazing. I think the film did a great job showing how an ordinary person can become great. It was very inspiring. Dustin Lance Black (Academy Award Winning Writer) and Gus Van Sant (Academy Award Nominated Director) and everyone did a great job presenting an important part of our history.

In no particular order, these are the things and people I’ve had enough of this week:

Miss California and her Bible

Dick Cheney and his 2 cents (I love Secretary Clinton's comment though)

NOM and Gathering Storms

Susan Boyle and her eyebrows.

The "Torture Worked" Excuse

Marc Thiessen wrote a column for the Washington Post defending the torture policies of the Bush administration, claiming that the torturing worked. Thiessen served in senior positions in the Pentagon and the White House from 2001 to 2009. He basically states that the techniques garnered information that saved American lives.

Of course, the effectiveness of torture is beside the point because the policy is immoral. What he doesn’t explain is how many new terrorists were recruited out of a sanctioned torture policy. How many Americans and others died because terrorists made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) because Americans torture? How many suicide bombers killed themselves and untold others over the hate created by this policy? They should be ashamed for even trying to defend such actions.

Has "The Office" Jumped the Shark?

Is it just me, or has this show gotten seriously not funny? I just watched last week's episode and it was just so bad, I am strongly considering removing the series from my DVR record list. The only thing mildly funny about last week's show was mouth catching cheeseballs. However, this episode was easily the worst show they have ever done. And they have been getting steadily worse all season. Is it me or is it them? It's them, right?

I was a huge fan of this show, but the story line of Michael quitting and running his own company is horrible. They seemed to have totally given up on making the story anywhere near believable. I am hoping next season, Jim will wake up and it will all have been a bad dream. They need to do something. It is not good.

Should the Bush Administration Be Prosecuted for Torture Policy?

With the declassification of Central Intelligence Agency memos on the torture policies of the previous administration, there is more and more call for the prosecution of those responsible for the placement of that policy. Should we not look back and forget that the U.S. Government implemented a policy that broke international law? Hell no!

President Obama should signal to the world that what was done under the Bush criminal administration was wrong and that is not what this country is about. The damage that was done to this country's reputation by the photos from Abu Ghraib prison was tremendous. And that, apparently, was just the tip of the iceberg. Knowing what was done in the name of keeping me safe made me ashamed to being an American. The people that said it was OK should know they were wrong. They should, at a minimum, be made to stand before a judge and explain themselves. I love my country and I don't want anyone thinking what these criminals did was acceptable.

This will show the world that the United States owns up to its mistakes. It will also show the world plainly, this is no longer how we operate. Thankfully, the thugs are out. We can only move on knowing the full truth and that there are consequences to breaking the law.

A Storm Is Gathering! Auntie Em! Auntie Em!

There was a storm gathering over the Potomac this morning. . . And I
was scared. There are hateful, bigoted or just plain ignorant people
that believe their imaginary friend, God, doesn't like the horrible
sin of loving someone of the same sex. They think it is OK to not
give these people the same rights as they have because it will change
the definition of a word. Dictionaries will gave to be changed, and
that is cumbersome.

There's a storm gathering and many people may get wet. The wind will
blow. The sky darkens. Baby Jesus cries. His followers don't get
that love thing he was all about. What if Jesus were a gay? He'd be
pissed. He'd want equal rights with all the sinners.

Maybe these deeply religious people should go to a storm shelter . . .
A deep hole in the ground and wait for the storm to pass. It looks
like a lenthy storm -- maybe several years. We'll let you know when
the storm passes. Take lots I'd supplies and you'll be fine. We'll
let you know when the blow is over.

Pat Robertson Talks about DHS Bowels

The Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) reacts to a report on right-wing activities released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Feel free to call CBN's phone lines and tell them what you think. Every second they are talking to you is a second they can't get hold of some crazy old womans's Social Security. If you happen to jam up their phone lines, good for you!

CBN Main Switchboard (757) 226-7000
24-hour Prayer 1-800-759-0700
Shop CBN Product Ordering Questions (805) 549-2500

Miss California's Gay Flap

As you have likely heard, there has been a big hullabaloo over the answer Miss California, Carrie Prejean, gave in a question by Perez Hilton about marriage equality during the Miss USA pageant. There were several things about this that I found interesting.

I do think it took some guts for her to say what she said on national TV when asked the question by an openly gay man. The way she said it, though, was hardly coherent. She claimed the answer cost her the crown. It should have. Content aside, it was hardly an eloquent response. In addition, what a bitchy thing to say about the actual winner. I guess in Carrie's mind, Miss NC didn't deserve to win.

The sad thing about the clip, to me, was the crowd cheering her answer. Are they cheering her brave response? I don't think so. They are cheering that gays shouldn't have the right to marry. Why would anyone feel the need to cheer that? I understand the crowd that would go see a beauty pageant in this day and age is likely to be on the conservative side. However, I can't understand that they hate so much so that they feel the need to cheer the proposal that a group of humans shouldn't have a basic civil right. Maybe it is just my bias that everyone against gay marriage is against it because they are disgusted by homosexual acts. When will I understand they are just trying to save my soul?

Another thing. They still have beauty pageants? This was televised on the national TV? I had no idea it was even on. I have been known to watch a beauty pageant now and then, but usually to make catty remarks. These women must be a little embarrassed to parade around in their bathing suits being judged on their looks. The concept does seem to be fading away. It is all very JonBenet Ramsey.

Another another thing. What the hell was Perez Hilton doing there? The moment I heard those people cheering against marriage equality, I would have stood up and left the building. On second thought, maybe I would have stayed to make sure Carrie Prejean didn't win.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #190

I got my 401K statement 2 weeks ago, but I can't

seem to drum up the courage to actually open it.

The above is my entry for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest for week #190. Let me know if you come up with a caption too. Mine is the sort of subtle humor the New Yorker is seeking, i.e. not that funny. Click on the link to enter your caption.

The above cartoon is from week #188. Below are the three captions chosen as the best submitted. My submission was, once again, not among them. Luckily, I'm not bitter.

"This song goes out to the one that got away." Submitted by Elisa Narsu, Basking Ridge, N.J.

"And every year they return to my piano to spawn and die." Submitted by Frank Bruno, Sacramento, Calif.

"Any requests before I tell you about tonight's specials?" Submitted by Brian Shuman, New York, N.Y.

My caption was, "Remember folks, this is a goldfish bar, so don't be koi." I know puns are the lowest form of humor, but I thought that was kind of funny.

Sunday Morning Run on the National Mall

I went for a run this morning (before I went to the Nats game) and took my iPhone with me. I made lots of stops for photos and here's a sample of what I saw. I start out at my house near Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. I run toward the Capitol and down onto the Mall. I stop and visit Abe at the other end of the Mall and run back home.

On the Mall running toward the Washington Monument.

The World War II Memorial


The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Looking back down toward the Washington

Monument in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Climing the steps to see Mr. Lincoln. A group of children

on the right were singing the "Lullaby of Broadway."

The Lincoln Memorial

From the top of the steps at the Lincoln Memorial.

On the path going back toward the Capitol.

An Earth Day exhibit.

Preparing for the Earth Day Concert on the Mall.

The U.S. Capitol

Flowers outside the Botanic Gardens

More flowers

Lots of flowers were blooming. Some of the tulips were a bit past their prime.

More tulips

Still outside the Botanic Gardens

In front of the the Capitol

Getting ready to climb back up Capitol Hill

On Capitol Hill and heading for home.

The Nats Break Our Hearts. . . Again!

The game was neck and neck until the top of the ninth inning.  It was a tie score -- 4-4.  The Florida Marlins had the bases loaded and Cody Ross hit a bases clearing double.  The final score was 7-4... The Marlins came from behind and beat the Nationals for the third game in a row.  Below are some photos from the game.  

The Nats stretch before the game.

The National Anthem

One of several times the Nats had the bases load.  

George and Teddy mingle with the crowd.

The Nats let another one slip away.

Nats Update

Bottom of the 5th and the Nats are leading 2-1. They are playing the Florida Marlins, which came from behind to beat the Nats the last two games. We're hoping for the best.

At the Nats Game

The game just started and we're not losing yet. Yea!

Geranium Hat

I tried to take a self-portrait with my iPhone as sat out on our steps
enjoying the flowers I just planted. I also got a haircut today. I'm
ready for warm weather. I inadvertently made it look like I was
wearing a geranium hat.

Porch Geraniums

It was a beautiful spring day and I did a tiny bit of gardening. We
usually don't like to plant too many flowers before Mother's Day,
because it has proven too tempting in the past to some looking for a
gift for their mom.

Hypothetical Question -- Which One Food Would You Choose?

You suddenly become allergic to all food to the point of death. Your doctor tells you this is very expensive to cure. They can only afford medicine to allow you to eat one food. You must choose the one food that you will eat for the rest of your life. Eating any other food will cause a painful death. It can be any food because they would add the needed nutrients to whatever food you choose in a way that doesn't alter the taste. What is the one food you would choose to eat for the rest of your life?

For me, this would be an easy choice. It would be McDonald's Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake. Is there anything sadder than hearing the slurp of the last bit of a McD's milkshake mixing with the air at the bottom of the cup as you desperately move the straw to suck every drop? I think I could happily eat nothing else for the rest of my life. I know they are bad for you, but I have to treat myself once in awhile.

In case you weren't sure how bad they are for you, Men's Health magazine recently did an article about the worst fast foods and they named the McDonald’s Large Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake as the worst milkshake. The article went on to say you would be better off ordering two Quarter Pounders than downing this gut-busting shake. They suggest ordering the reduced-fat ice cream cones as a much, much healthier choice. Sorry. The cones don't compare to the heavenly goodness of the shakes.

Tell me what your one food would be to eat for the rest of your life?

Sometimes Being a Bitch Is All a Woman Has to Hang Onto

Judy Parfitt was amazing as Vera Donavon in the movie, Dolores Claiborne. This clip is a well-deserved tribute to her. This clip and many others are always available on the sidebar of this blog.

Weatherman Predicts High Pressure Front in his Pants

Though my sense of humor has not graduated the sixth grade, I really do feel bad for this guy. I love how he leaves the shot one way and has to franically run back the other. Check out Failblog.org for more examples of people being human.

Random Thoughts -- Teabaggers, Taxes, Chimp Photos, the Lottery, and Movies

Today, there will be a bunch of protests against taxation WITH representation. These people are basically just sore losers and whiny. I love how MSNBC constantly refers to them as teabaggers. The only people with a legitimate gripe are the people in DC who have to pay taxes and actually have no voting representation in the government.

Speaking of taxes, we already got our refund. Yea! I know Suze Orman would scold us for not having enough deductions and getting a healthy refund each year, but I think it is a good way for us to actually save some money.

I wonder how long before the National Enquirer or the Weekly World News or an organization of that caliber get hold of the sealed photos of the chimp victim. I bet they will be published somewhere eventually.

I’ve decided to stop buying lottery tickets. I know that someone has to win, but the odds are that it won’t be me. The odds are even lower now that I’m not playing. Take a look at the crowd at a baseball stadium, where there may be 20,000 people. Out of just that many people, what is the actual likelihood of being the one person out of all them to win something? Now, multiply all the people in that stadium by 4,000 baseball stadiums filled with 20,000 people.

I’m looking forward to Grey Gardens on HBO this weekend. It looks really good to me.

I haven’t been to the movies in weeks, and there isn’t any movies out that I’m interested in seeing. Doubt was the last one we saw. Since we got our 50-inch plasma TV, we enjoy staying home and watching movies. Milk is next on our Netflix, but I can never remember to send the discs back.

Burger King Ad Offensive ?

Burger King has a hot potato on its hands with its new whopper ad. According to the Associated Press, Mexico is protesting what it says is "a whopper of an insult."

An advertisement for Burger King's chili-flavored "Texican" burger that has run in Europe shows a small wrestler dressed in a cape resembling a Mexican flag. The wrestler teams up with a lanky American cowboy twice his height to illustrate the cross-border blend of flavors.

"The taste of Texas with a little spicy Mexican," a narrator's voice says.

It seems to me the ad is more of an insult to little people than Mexicans, but I also find the ad kinda gay. A cowboy answers an ad to live with a short professional wrestler. Nobody thought it would work out, but they seem to be living quite happily. They just need to add some small romantic touch, such as a hand on the thigh. Why not piss off the religious right while their at it and show a bedroom scene? The want ad does say one room.

New Yorker Cartoon Contest #189

The human porcupine gene is deeply recessive and very

rare, but I must warn you, when it does happen, the

births are quite painful and the children are not very popular.

Another Monday means another New Yorker Cartoon Contest. The caption under the cartoon is my very long entry. Click on the link above to enter your own caption. I'd love to hear some of your ideas.

The Endless Woods

In David McCullough's biography of John Adams, the author described Adam's wife, Abigail's trip from Boston to DC. He noted her description of the "endless woods" between Baltimore and Washington, meaning the last leg of the trip seemed endless and all there was to see was woods. The photo above was taken on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, where there are still some woods left between the two cities. Even though I'm sure we ran into lots more traffic on our way to DC than Abigail had to endure, I'm sure we made much better time.

Easter Egg Rolling Backup

We ran into lots of traffic on our way back to DC after our Easter
celebration. We went to my sister's house about an hour north of
Baltimore.

Raising Chloe from the Dead, aka Heimliching My Dog

What better day than Easter to talk about a resurrection of sorts. Back in March, I posted the complete list of the 100 Facts about Me, and number 7 was that I performed the Heimlich Maneuver on my dog. The dog's name was Chloe and above is a watercolor of her that was done by my friend Elaine.

I got Chloe at an animal shelter in 1995 when she was about 4 months old. The incident took place during the second night I had her. It was in the middle of the night and I heard a noise that woke me up. I turned on the light and saw Chloe near my bed unconscious. I nudged her and she didn't wake up. I picked her up and she as limp as a rag.

I looked down her throat, but did not see anything. I stuck my finger down there deep and could feel something hard, but could not reach far enough to get a hold of it. I knew she had been chewing on a piece of rawhide, so I held her upside down and squeezed her stomach.

I was panicking at this point. I only had her for a few days, but I couldn't believe this was happening. Suddenly, out came the slimy rawhide and the next think I knew, she was looking at me and walking around like nothing happened. Needless to say, she never was given rawhide pieces to chew ever again.

Chloe lived 11 more years. We had to have her put to sleep in 2006, and as far as I know, she is still dead.

"He's Alive!" by Dolly Parton -- Happy Easter!

Although I'm an atheist, I do recognize good music and an amazing performance. This is one of my favorite Dolly tunes. This is from one of those country music awards shows in 1989. I remember seeing this live on TV and also remember seeing the shots of the audience after the song giving a prolonged standing ovation and close-ups of audience members wiping away tears. This version cuts off at the beginning of the ovation. I have to admit that the song gives me goosebumps. It is very theatrical.

Happy Easter!

Raining in Baltimore by Counting Crows

I love this song and I couldn't find an official video, but I did find this that someone made with black and white photos that provides a very literal interpretation of the lyrics. It is a rainy, gloomy day in DC, but at least it is a Saturday and a day off. I hope this doesn't make you too depressed.

7 pm Update: Since I posted this, the sky cleared up and the sun came out. It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon!

"Who Will Love Me As I Am?" from Side Show

I didn't get to see the Broadway version of Side Show in 1997. I saw a Signature Theater production in 2000, which was amazing. Signature Theater is a local theater in Arlington, VA, which has put on some high-quality musical theater.

Side Show tells the true story of the conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton who made their living appearing in circus freak shows. They also starred in the movies Freaks! This is a photo of the pair from that movie.

If you want to read about their later years and death, follow this link.

What I love about this song featured in the show is how it relates to anyone who feels like an outcast. I didn't come out until I was in my 30s. I was afraid of not being accepted by the people I loved. I think lots of gays can relate to this song. Anyway... I like it.

The clip above is from The Rosie O'Donnell Show and features Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner. This clip is another that is always featured on my sidebar in favorite Broadway Shows. There are clips from all my favorites.

Washington Post Style Invitational Week 812: Rx-Rated Humor

If you hiccup, blink and urinate at the same time,

your bellybutton will switch from an innie to an outie.

This week's Washington Post Style Invitational challenge is to come up some "false medical or physiological fact," like the example above by Andrea Kelly. The artwork is by Bob Staake.

As always, the winner gets the Inker, the official Style Invitational trophy. Second place winner gets "a fabulous book of paper dolls of 'George H. Bush and His Family,' dated 1990 and featuring pictures of many family members, including a youthful-looking George W. and little-girl granddaughters Jenna and Barbara." It goes on to describe W. wearing only a T-shirt and his tighty whiteys. Ewwww.

Go to the link above for specific on entering. If I come up with something, I'll post it here. Let me know if you have any ideas too.

Chicken Keeping Too Complicated? There's a Magazine for That!

We went to the Barnes and Noble recently and took a gander at the magazine rack. Good Lord! It looks like everyone who has lost their jobs in the bad economy has decided to start a magazine. There are magazines on any and everything. I would imagine that Hobby Farm magazine isn't exactly flying off the shelf in the DC metropolitan area, but I could see where it might have some appeal nationwide.

Flying Disc magazine, on the other hand, seems to be quite a niche market. I would love to sit in on their editorial meetings and listen to them pitch ideas for articles. How about another article on disc golf? Jeez, we covered that in the last six issues. Do we have any more photos of dogs catching discs?

Now, there are lots of magazines related to horses. This one was the oddest I saw. I guess there is a sport that centers around shooting things while on a horse. I would think this would scare the bejesus out of the horse, but I suppose they get used to it. I'm sure they have lots of confused readers that must think that the horse is doing the shooting, which explains the cover photo. Another thing, doesn't that horse look a little lopsided?

This is my nomination for the most boring magazine ever. Oh Joy! My new issue of Watch Time is finally here. Don't these people know about porn?

We're Not Talking Raindrops On Roses or Whiskers on Kittens

I realize it is a bit self-indulgent to do a blog entry on your favorite things. I'm not Oprah after all. Who cares what my favorite things are, but this is my blog and it is all about me. Basically, just having a blog is self-indulgent, so why not go the whole 9 yards?

I'll start with food. I love cinnamon! For breakfast this morning I had Post Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal with Cinnamon Clusters.

I had it everyday this week in fact. I love this cereal. There is just something about cinnamon that floats my boat. I remember as a child making cinnamon toast, which consists of regular toast with butter covered in a sugar/cinnamon mixture. It is awesome. I need to make that again and soon. My favorite candy is Hot Tamales. When I have a big box, I will eat them until I am sick. I cannot stop. It seems I love anything with cinnamon, but the best thing is French toast. Actually, I love almost any food that is red -- and by red, I don't mean apples or tomatoes, but things with red dye, such a fruit punch-flavored sodas and cherry or strawberry-flavored candies. This includes any red jelly bean, Starbursts, Twizzlers, etc. I could live on artificially red thing and die a happy man.

If Iowa Can Do It, Why Not Here In DC?

What with all the news about Vermont yesterday and Iowa last week, I totally missed the big news in my own backyard. The D.C. Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Of course yesterday's vote did not make it so. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month and it has to be approved by Congress, under Home Rule. It seems to me that Congress could be the big stumbling block here.

The council voted unanimously on the measure yesterday to recognize marriages performed outside of D.C. I'd be quite surprised it is approved by Congress. Even our progressive President says he is against same-sex marriage, so it is hard to see how Congress will approve such a law. The U.S. Congress isn't exactly as forward thinking as Sweden (or Vermont or even Iowa).

The article in today's Washington Post adds that D.C. Councilman David Catania plans on submitting legislation soon to legalize same-sex marriage for the District. Currently, D.C. does recognize domestic partnerships, but perhaps soon I could be a legally married man.

Interestingly, Shane and I haven't taken advantage of becoming domestic partners yet. We have wills and other legal documents that give us many of the rights that DP offers, but we haven't taken the time to get a DP yet. Maybe we'll be able to skip that step and just get married soon, if he'll have me.

Thank the VT Legislators that Voted for Equality

The Human Rights Campagin (HRC) is asking we thank the Vermont leaders that supported equality!

Vermont has become the first state in the country to enact marriage equality through its legislature! Not only that – it passed with a two-thirds majority!

The HRC is also warning that right-wing groups are about to slam the leaders who made this victory possible, in the hopes that they can intimidate legislators everywhere into opposing marriage equality.

All of us, across the country, must show our support. Send a thank-you note to the courageous leaders of the Vermont Legislature that made marriage equality possible – make sure they know, beyond a doubt, that they did the right thing. You can do just that by clicking here.

Horray for Love!! Horray for Iowa and Vermont!!

What could be gayer than Barbra and Judy singing a medley of songs about love? This is in honor of Iowa and Vermont passage of same-sex marriage. Horray for them!

Pass the Granola! Vermont Overides Veto!!!

By a vote of 100-49 the Vermont House of Representatives has overridden Gov. Jerk Douglas' veto! Marriage equality comes to Vermont! Vermont is the fourth state to approve same-sex marriage!!!! Vermont joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa as the four states that permit marriage for everyone.

Of course, marriage and the basic rights that come with it are still not recognized or permitted on a Federal level, even in these four states, but let's not poo poo this important victory.

When states like Iowa start seeing the light, we can only hope the rest of the country will come to their senses.

Way to go Vermont!!!

Take Action! Contact These VT Legislators Now!

The vote to override the Vermont veto of same-sex marriage occurs today. Contact these Democrats that voted AGAINST S.115 (We need their support to override the veto) We just need to convince a few more Democrats to do the right thing.

Kenneth Atkins, D-Winooski kwa138@aol.com (802) 655-1280

Sonny Audette, D-South Burl. (802) 862-4236

Clem Bissonnette, D-Winooski clembi@comcast.net (802) 655-9527

Cynthia Browning, D-Arlington cynthiab@sover.net (802) 375-9019

Tim Corcoran, D-Bennington tcorcoran@leg.state.vt.us (802) 447-0929

Michel Consejo, D-Sheldon mconsejo@wildblue.net (802) 524-0305

Debbie Evans, D-Essex ekevans@aol.com (802) 878-4317

Richard Howrigan, D-Fairfield (802) 827-6513

David Potter, D-Clarendon shadmtn@msn.com (802) 438-5385

Robert South, D-St. Johnsbury vtrepsouth@gmail.com (802) 748-0873

Jeff Young, D-St. Albans City jeffeyoung@yahoo.com (802) 524-5284

The vote is today! Take action now!

Getting Angry Baby?

I love this movie! It is Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. This clip and others from my list of favorite movies are located on the side of my blog, along with favorite Broadway shows, TV series and books (I don't have clips from the books though). Each movie listed has a clip -- either a scene from the film or the preview. I don't usually like watching movies multiple times, but this is one that I can watch over and over. This is by far Taylor's best performance and even more amazing considering she was in her early 30s when she played Martha.

Gun Owners Most Likely to Die from Suicide

The recent shootings at a civic center in Binghamton, NY, the police killings in Pittsburgh, and the father that killed his five kids in Washington state got me to thinking that maybe the U.S. has too many guns. I went over to the Nation Rifle Association (NRA) website to get some consolation. I was shocked to find people advocating for less restrictive gun laws. That didn’t seem to make any sense. Are they crazy? It turns out that yes, they are in fact, crazy.

I was amazed to find that one of the arguments for less gun control by the NRA included a story about the recent mass murders in Australia (where there is tight gun control). Their point was that the Australian mass murderers didn’t use guns to kill lots of people, but fire. Because some crazy people set massive fires, the NRA crazy people thought that justified not imposing gun controls because murderers will still kill people. And who wouldn’t want to be shot to death rather than burned to death? You have to love their logic.

But what are the facts? The statistics below are from the Brady Campaign website.

Gun Deaths and Injury - The United States Leads the World in Firearm Violence

In 2005, 30,694 people in the United States died from firearm-related deaths – 12,352 were murdered; 17,002 killed themselves; 789 were accidents; 330 died by police intervention, and in 221, the intent was unknown.

An additional 71,417 people were shot and survived their injuries -- 52,748 people injured in an attack; 3,190 people injured in a suicide attempt; 14,678 people shot accidentally, and 801 people shot in a police intervention.

In 2004, firearms were used to murder 56 people in Australia (not including the 173 people that died in the bushfires who would have preferred to have been shot, according to the NRA), 184 people in Canada, 73 people in England and Wales, 5 people in New Zealand, and 37 people in Sweden. In comparison, firearms were used to murder 11,344 in the United States (the number of bushfire murders is not know at this time in the U.S.).

In 2006, there were only 154 justifiable homicides by private citizens using handguns in the United States.

We have this argument in my very own house regularly. Shane wants to have a gun for protection, and I know that one night when I can’t sleep and I’m wondering around the house in the dark, he will wake up and shoot me thinking I’m a prowler. We don’t have a gun and we will not be getting one.

If I had just a nickle for every dead body that resulted from guns each year in the U.S., in 2005 I would've had $1,534.70. That's a lot of nickles.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #188

Remember folks, it's a goldfish bar, so don't be koi.

This is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest cartoon for this week. Click on the link to enter. That's my entry under the cartoon. Let me know if you come up with any captions also.

The Beloved Sing the Sun Rising -- Another Great Running Song

Here's another one of my favorite songs to listen to while running.  The beat on this one is infectious. 

Style Invitational Week 811 -- Rock-Bottom Lines

This week's challenge at the Washington Post Style Invitational is to come up with a sign that would indicate that the economy couldn't get worse.

The example they came up with is this: McMansions still lie vacant, but crowds gather at the grand opening of HooverVillas on the Potomac.  (Get it?  I guess you have to be familiar with Hoovervilles from the Depression.)

Winner gets the Inker, the official Style Invitational trophy. Second place receives a Nunchuck, which is not one half of a pair of nunchucks but a junky little toy consisting of a trigger-activated thing that "catapults nuns up to 15 feet!" -- the nuns being four tiny nun-shaped objects with their hands in the air. Warning: The package specifies that it is "not suitable for children under 3 years"; presumably it's okay for children 3 and older to shoot toy nuns.

For more information on entering, click on the link above.

Here's one idea from me:

Suze Orman's new book is a how-to guide on suicide. 

Let me know if you have any ideas.