A scary but interesing column about America's drift toward a fascist theocracy--it might be a bit extreme, but it's definitely something to think about.

R. Crumb said the current trend reminded him of McCarthyism which is I think probably more accurate. Certainly there's a similarity in stifling dissent by labeling it unpatriotic. Though as Betsy's longtime tagline ("We have always been at war with EastAsia.") pointed out, the permanent state of war on terrorism is a splendid door for fascism.

This *was* fucking L&O. Except without Lennie...man, I missed him, too.

Anyone see last night's South Park? I'm definitely going to check it out when it's rerun this weekend--it mixes the Sony PSP and the Schiavo case in one very crass, but according to Salon, hilarious ep.

People need to stop sending me work. Don't they know I have some very important slacking off to do?

I think fascism is a pretty big stretch. I am concerned about the corporate consolidation of the media, the voting machines with no paper trail, and politicians wrapping themselves in patriotism and religion.

From the make-a-doll website -- this is Chibi!Teppy (and yes, my hair does look basically like that right now): [link]

They've given the pope last rites. [link]

This sounds odd, but I'm interested in seeing all the pomp and circumstances surrounding the election of a new pope -- the white smoke, and all...and I'm kinda wondering what all will happen at my school when the pope dies. More masses? A day off for mourning?

sort-of Juliana: [link]

The hair needs to be red and I need to lose an few inches off of my tummy for it to be really accurate.

I'm trying to remember what my sister and brother went through at their Catholic high schools when JPI and his predecessor both died--I think that they had memorial masses at the schools, and the new popes were announced over the intercoms, but that was about it.