Okay, this *has* to be fake, but I don't think it is: World Beard and Moustache Championships. The companion, which seems even MORE like it has to be fake (but I don't think it is): Beard Team USA's blog. The blog has a little of everything -- competition results, a little controversy on the "Imperial Moustache" category, and some fashion commentary.

You tell me: real, or not?

If it's not fake, it should be. (hee, hee "The fake beard championships", sorry).

I don't care if it's real or not, this guy's hair is awesome.

Arthur, my moustache is touching my brain!!!

t /Tick

My desktops (primary monitor only)

Work: [link]

Home: [link]

I rarely see my work desktop, because it is almost always covered up by a Java IDE.

It's also possible that reading the Sunday paper has made me numb to seeing news stories that aren't news.

Ah. I couldn't tell you the last time I read a Sunday paper, so I'm coming from the opposite end.

But I hate the disclaimer of "not science fiction" very much. It's bad enough for books. This is just stupid.

Dear self,

It is not appropriate to tell a client, "WILL YOU JUST GO THE FUCK AWAY?!"

Take a smoke break before your head implodes.

Love,
shrift

Yikes. This just gets scarier and scarier...

FEINSTEIN: I just want to ask some others. If you don’t want to answer, then don’t answer them. Can the President suspend the application of the Posse Comitatus Act?

GONZALES: Of course, Senator, that is not what is at issue here. This is not about law enforcement, this is about foreign intelligence –

FEINSTEIN: I understand. I’m asking the questions. You choose not to answer it?

GONZALES: Yes, ma’am.

FEINSTEIN: Okay. Can the president suspend, in secret or otherwise, the application of Section 503 of the National Security Act, which states that no covert action may be conducted which is intended to influence United States political processes, public opinion, policies or media? In other words, can he engage in otherwise illegal propaganda?

GONZALES: Senator, this will probably be my response to all of your questions of these kind of hypotheticals. Questions as to whether or not — can Congress pass a statute that is in tension with the President’s constitutional authority? Those are very, very difficult questions, and for me to answer those questions sort of off the cuff, I think would not be responsible. I think that, again —

FEINSTEIN: Okay, that’s fine. I don’t want to argue with you. All I’m trying to say is, this is a slippery slope. Once you do one, there are a whole series of actions that can be taken and I suspect the temptations to take them are very great. And we are either a nation that practices our rule of law or we’re not.

OK, so he's refusing to say whether the president can illegally use military troops as a domestic police force. He's refusing to say whether the president can us illegally propaganda on the American people.

[link]

And the administration also refused to say whether the warrantless domestic spying program has been used against journalists or politial opponents: [link]

Um... is this still a democracy?

Okay, does anyone think there's something we're not getting here? Besides the WTF of not noticing. I mean, dogs don't just go and do that.

I wonder how long it had been since the dog had been fed.

You tell me: real, or not?

I haven't followed the link yet, but if it's fake they've been faking for years and years. I remember seeing photos from this competition when I was a kid.

The Muhammad cartoon thing is insane. I think the publishing of the cartoons was highly inadvisable, but rioting/kidnapping/etc. over a cartoon? I thought the prohibition on images of Muhammad was to prevent worship of him. How is this not a variation on idolatry?

Um... is this still a democracy?

You think it *has* been, since the joke that was the 2000 election?