What cracks me up about the flag-burning amendment is that burning is the proper way to dispose of a flag that is too worn or damaged to be displayed.

Yeah, I always think of that, too.

And I get extremely annoyed at people who let their flags stay out in the rain, or up at night with no lighting. If you're going fly the flag, follow the rules.

Timelies all!

Congrats amych and (new) DH!

Trying to figure out why I'm still feeling unsettled about the house buying. I guess I was expecting something more formal, so that I know this is our house. G is very zen about all this but a)he's been through house buying before and b)he's got enough stress at work that worrying about the house isn't even registering. Argh...

I don't even understand the rationale. In this country you're allowed to exercise all sorts of freedom of speech against any and all branches of government short of what may be construed as threatening behavior. So you can burn pictures of the president and even print superimposed supreme court justice faces on naked bodies.

So what is the deal?

"Hey, you, the liberals are coming and they HATE AMERICA! Don't you want to PROTECT AMERICA from the LIBERALS? I do!"

I have to admit, when I saw they were trotting this puppy out again I found myself thinking "I thought they had gay marriage for that now." But apparently not.

Congratulations, Sheryl! It'll feel like your house eventually, I'm sure.

But outlawing flag burning doesn't outlaw saying "I hate America." You can sell T-shirts with that slogan, even if this amendment passes.

Yeah, but... but... it's not like BURNING! the FLAG!

Burning. The Flag.

...there, see? Get it now?

Oh, THE FLAG.

I'm such a maroon.

Also, congrats Amych!!!

Don't you feel better now, Wolfram?

In dinner news, my chicken wasn't defrosted yet, so I had to have double chocolate pudding and banana instead.

Huh. The Library of Congress subject headings list does not list a death date for L. Ron Hubbard. Pope John Paul II has been updated with his death date, but I guess the LoC is taking the Scientologists at their word that L. Ron has just stepped out for the moment and will be right back.

I wonder if L. Ron goes/went by that name because of Tolkien's Elrond.

I wonder if L. Ron goes/went by that name because of Tolkien's Elrond.

His name was LaFayette Ronald. I'm thinking he doesn't need Tolkien to start abbreviating.

He's Buddy Bell. With a name like that, you pretty much have to be baseball manager.

His real name is David Gus Bell, and he's a member of a three generation baseball family. His father was Gus Bell, who played for the Reds for many years. Buddy was an all-star for Cleveland and Texas. His son, David Bell, currently plays for the Phillies.