This Should Go Without Saying

Besides the obvious reasons, do yourself a favor and do not shop at TJ Maxx.
Not because of the obscene use of the double "xx". Not because the wares are sub-ghetto.

Because they mess with your credit/debit card after you make lame purchases of shitty socks and underware.

I'm just sayin'.

---

Classic

I was bored and feeling somewhat down this morning for a bunch o' reasons but this cheered me up.

---

Proof Positive the Government Lies & Gets Off on Instilling Fear

TSA knew 'dry run' terror alerts were bogus [via Raw Story]

The Transportation Security Agency's national security bulletin issued was based on bogus examples that were combined to give the impression of ominous terrorist plotting, CNN reports.

"That bulletin for law enforcement eyes only told of suspicious items recently found in passenger's bags at airport checkpoints, warned that they may signify dry runs for terrorist attacks," CNN's Brian Todd reported Friday afternoon. "Well it turns out none of that is true."

So let's see -- American's denied/delayed/unreasonably searched/forced to travel without adequate moisturizer: check. False terror alerts issued through major media outlets: check.

Thanks government! You're doing a hell of a job fighting the terrorists! We're really kicking ass in this War on Terrorism®.

Update: Haha, I couldn't even get through my morning coffee without bumping into another example of how fucked up the government has gotten with regard to paranoia, travel & "terrorism":

The Bush Administration recently demanded that air carriers collect broad personal information, including a traveler's sexual orientation, by threatening to turn planes away from Europe, and the European Union caved in.

... If you think I'm being alarmist, ask yourself why the government would be collecting information about someone's sexual orientation if they had no intention of ever using it.

Good times, I tell you.. Good times.

---

Owch!

How Madison Avenue Is Wasting Millions on a Deserted Second Life [Wired]
I don't know if "wasting millions" is how I'd describe corporate investments/entry into Second Life. I mean, hell, they "waste" millions on advertising too..

My avatar in a t-shirt designed by moi, bunnies sold separately

---

Tastes I've Aquired

Wow. I was surprised to see how many foods I consider to be my "favorite" are on this list. A 'century egg' I'll give you that..But, Lapsang Souchang? Really? Is it that difficult to enjoy? Capers? Kimchi? I feel gastronomically out of touch.

List of acquired tastes, From Wikipedia

---

Mii

This isn't entirely accurate a depiction. In reality my hair is darker.
Oh, and I have prehensile digits and opposable thumbs.

---

Wow. My Ringtone Matches the Music Clip That Plays on MySpace Page

How...moderne.

---

summer 2007

If you look closely (aka click to enlarge) it looks like i'm strumming the power lines)

self portrait

Open Letter to the Person Who Took My Watch Just Now at the Gym

Dear Scumbag,

Thanks for appropriating that nice silver Tag Heur men's sportswatch that you found on elliptical machine #1, you complete and utter piece of shit. Not only was that watch a dear gift to me from a loved one, it was also the last "nice" thing I owned. I removed it upon commencing my warm-up, and absentmindedly forgot to grab it when my trainer interrupted me to start working out. As soon as I realized I left it there -- about 25 minutes later -- it was gone.

I go to that particular gym at least 3x a week and have become friendly with many of the staff and regulars. It makes me sick to think that from now on I'll be exercising in the same space as some skanky, sneaky, shitty thief who sees an (obviously) nice item that does not belong to them and feels compelled to take it.

I hope you get a skin infection from my watch and your fucking hand rots off. And I hope the negative karma you've incurred for taking my watch which was a gift comes back in the form of an early death. GET IT? YOU'LL RUN OUT OF TIME PREMATURELY. HAHAHAHA, bitch!

And while I'm cursing you, I hope I find out who you are cause you're going to be the first person I assault in my lifetime.

RIP, watch. I'll miss you. We had a lot of good times together.
And to the ugly, out-of-shape wannabe THIEF who knicked it, fuck yourself.

---

Brack is Back

The first time I recall "black" being referenced as a trend pointing to a deeper psychology was in the [awesome] film, "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover" by Peter Greenaway. The French chef is going on about why people like to eat "fings which are black"; it having to do with their desire to ingest/conquer death or something. Anyway, great film. Watch it.

Regardless, brack is the new brack again.

---

Nightmare Fodder

This would be a sure-fire way to give that special kid in your life a potentially scarring psychological episode that would feed night terrors for a decent amount of time. [via UneasySilence]

---

Looking for Some Action

via Pink Tentacle

---

Polygonum multiflorum

or "Fo Ti" is a root/herb of Chinese origin. I've been taking it for years as a supplement. I think back in college I read somewhere that it was good for "male vitality" (ahem). I've never had a problem with my "vitality" but I figured hell, it can only help, right?

Anyways, back to Fo Ti -- it's also known as Chinese Knotweed (heh heh) or he shou wu (何首乌), named after the first man known to have ingested it. Who lived to be 132 years old. (And also had his his gray hair turn back to black, apparently.) I looked further into this alleged "elixir of life" and discovered that it is known for benefits other then the aforementioned.."vitality". The stuff is even better then I originally thought. [from Drug Digest]

• In animal studies, unprocessed fo-ti has showed some ability to improve memory, affect immune function, and protect the liver from toxins. All these effects are probably due to antioxidant properties of unprocessed fo-ti.

• ...processed fo-ti contains protein-sugar complexes known as lectins. Because they attach to specific arrangements of carbohydrates on cells in the body, lectins act like antibodies, but they do not cause allergy symptoms like most antibodies do. The lectins in processed fo-ti may affect fat levels in the blood, helping to prevent or delay heart disease by blocking the formation of plaques in blood vessels. Plaques are accumulations of fat and other cells that restrict the size of blood vessels and limit the flexibility of their walls. In animal studies, processed fo-ti also reduced the amount of fat that deposited in the liver. It may also protect the liver from damage by toxins such as dry cleaning fluid. Processed fo-ti may also have immune system effects.

and here's the fine print:

• However, both unprocessed fo-ti and processed fo-ti have some similar effects. Both have been shown in animal and human studies to lower blood levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and raise the levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Antioxidant effects are believed to be involved, in addition to lectin’s activity. Although early results look promising, more studies are needed to prove the cholesterol-lowering effects of fo-ti.

---

The Headlines Get Gnarlier

The past couple of weeks have been marked by a gaping lack of "real news" (not that I'm complaining). Shapeshifter got married, Bush is still an idiot asshole 'leader' of epic proportions, superficiality can be rewarding, and the odd, gross headline have come across my monitor lately.

In continuation of the slow, lame news stretch, here's more gross and pretty useless information.

Larvae Take Up Residence on Man's Head
Jul 17, 11:35 PM (ET)

CARBONDALE, Colo. (AP) - Doctors thought the strange, bleeding bumps on Aaron Dallas' head might be from gnat bites or shingles. Then the bumps started moving.

A doctor found five active bot fly larvae living beneath the skin atop Dallas' head.

"I'd put my hand back there and feel them moving. I thought it was blood coursing through my head," Dallas told the (Glenwood Springs) Post Independent.

"I could hear them. I actually thought I was going crazy."

Rest of the story here. [MyWay News]

---

One of the Gnarlier Headlines I've Read

Rugby player finds rival's tooth buried in forehead [AFP via RawStory]
An Australian rugby player who went to his doctor with severe headaches was amazed to find he'd been living with an opponent's tooth embedded in his forehead for months, it was reported Tuesday.

---

Because Religion isn't Divisive Enough These Days

Pope: Other Christians Not True Churches [via myway]

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.

This is really one of those important reassertions that needs to be made - especially in such tranquil times as this. It's really not enough to just have all Christians thinking that other organized religions are godless cults; what we need is in-fighting between members of the same faith.

Thanks Benny!

---

Euphilotes battoides allyni

Rare butterfly makes comeback on L.A.-area beaches [LA Times]

The tiny El Segundo blue has returned to two locations where it has not been seen in decades. Scientists are surprised at the resurgence.

I shall endeavor to shoot and capture a specimen.

*With my CAMERA* LOLOLOL (mwah-mwah)

---

Is This Really Something that Needs a *Petition*?

http://www.ivpnewmedia.com/10thst/tifts/pr.html

That's more than sad. Normally, I don't go for online petitions, letters to Congress people, etc. but something about this struck a chord in me.

I'm all for the men & women who've represented our sad nation during the past few years of war getting all the mental health care they need or want.

The kickin heavy metal video is a nice touch.

---

Sunday Morning

Looked nothing like this:

---