Now THAT is what I mean when I say ROBOT

This thing reminds me of that scary doll's-head-with-mechanical-spider-legs in "Toy Story"--I don't know if I want to give it a skritch and a cuddle or run away screaming.



If they could change the pulsing buzz it makes to a steady drone, it would sound exactly like an swarm of angry wasps.

The sun came out, the birds began to sing

Okay, normally I don't go for this sort of inspirational video, but omg, this is GREAT STUFF: A Gulf War veteran who's been disabled, in pain, and putting on weight for 15 years begins a workout program called "Yoga for Regular Guys," created by a professional wrestler turned horror movie actor with the name of a card sharp. Nine months later, a miracle happens! No, it's not a baby. Watch and see.

Run away! RUN AWAY!

I love bunnies. Like, it's stupid how much I love them. I've never owned one. Whenever I've been tempted to get one, my sister reminds me that the cats would totally kill it.

True enough, I guess. Until now.

This is a regular-sized bunny on top of the largest bunny in the world.

Alleluia, He is risen!

I'd love to give credit to the artist for this, but I can't remember where I found it.

Happy Easter!

Speaking of knitting...

I've been asked why I don't blog about my knitting. Mostly it's because there's not much to say about it. I knit all the time, but lately it's been nothing but scarves, which I don't even wear, and which make for really boring posts, even for people who LIKE reading about knitting.

But I aim to please. So, for those who are interested (all two of you), I present my new blog about knitting (and sometimes crochet): Masturknitter.

(Edited July 24, 2008 to update blog name.)

Mrgragrargleblarblelglglarbleblgrbl!

I am so gonna knit me a murloc.

(Pattern here, courtesy of wingedkamui)

Booby hatch

The new owners of a former mental institution in West Virginia have opened the 19th-century Gothic Revival building to the public, offering guided tours with various historical themes, and they plan to host special events throughout the year.

They've got some folks all riled up, though, because they're reusing one of the building's previous names: the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Which is totally awesome. But apparently some people's feelers are hurt:

Scott Miller, director of Mountain State Direct Action Center, said one former patient burst into tears after seeing the name on a sign.

"It's not just that I'm a liberal and I think it's not a good idea; it's seeing people physically hurt," he said. "That's about all I needed to know."

Well. As a liberal who happens to have my very own mental illness, I say this: Dag. Lighten up.

Oh, the joys of retail!

I used to work in retail. For a short time, I even considered opening my own shop. But I bought a house instead, and I've never looked back.

For all of you who dream of going into business for yourselves, let this video serve as a cautionary tale.




I totally dig that gnome, though.

Expelled from "Expelled"!

It's not just a Good Friday, it's a GREAT Friday.

A happy Holy Week story for atheists everywhere, courtesy of PZ Meyers.

Pure, unadulterated joy

It kind of makes me want a cigarette, though.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Now, if you don't mind, I've got to go do my hair.

Irish I were drunk!

Catholicism is one of my hobbies, so I gave up drinking for Lent this year. I don't, however, actually believe in God, so my resolve has wavered.

Okay, the atheism had nothing to do with it. My resolve wavered because I really like drinking. So I gave up giving up drinking for Lent.

I'm a drunkard, but I'm a really lazy, inefficient one. Last week I was driving home from work and thinking "Damn, I really want a drink, but there's no alcohol in the house! Damn!" And the whole time, I'm driving past various grocery, convenience, and liquor stores, but I'm too lazy to stop to buy something to drink. So I get home and spend the rest of the evening STILL thinking, "Damn, I really want a drink, but there's no alcohol in the house!"

So is that more pathetic or less pathetic than being the drunkard who stops for the drink?

Scary things

I have a phobia of driving over bridges spanning water. I have to face and overcome this phobia almost every day, which keeps it tame and controllable. Even if I were completely at its mercy, though, I could manage to live a reasonably normal life and most people would probably never even know I had a phobia.

Other people are not so fortunate.

One Minute to Nine

Today: The North American premiere of "One Minute to Nine" at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.



Director Tommy Davis says on HuffPo: "The film has found itself playing around the world with great reviews from the press....In Switzerland people appeared to have seen a film [that] critiqued George Bush, the US Justice System and the treatment of women around the world. In Poland people found a film that runs counter to the current political showmanship of modern documentary films. In Mexico the audience treated the film like a suspenseful mystery with a tragic ending. And now it's time to see how the film will play at home."

Still among the employed

I got another job, hooray! So now I can buy the circular kitchen. Except I can't because I heard back from the manufacturer and it's not yet available in the US. Maybe I should write back to them and ask for a quote in Euros, and a shipping cost estimate.