If anyone is looking for an X-mas/Solstice/b-day gift for me, here's something to consider: [link]

From time to time you'll see one of these on eBay....

I'm kind of stumped by that one.

Why stumped?

I'm being very careful about I read and where I find it. I promise!!

I'm kind of stumped by that one.

I am pretty sure I have never gone looking for it.

Also:

Dear Boys in Bands,

Oh my god, you're not allowed to be on livejournal.

/o\,
shrift

ooo. mmm. Really?

5 hours north of NYC.

I saw fireflies last night!

OK, I live in a scary ass place.

There have been three fires in the hills around me so far this year--and that's just the ones I can see out my windows. People have died in this state from wildfires so far this year, and it's damned hot and dry. The governor has asked for a ban on private fireworks for the upcoming Pioneer Day festivities, ie, supposed to be a celebration of the Mormons arriving but is really an excuse for hootin' and hollerin' and blowin' stuff up.

I was just reading some news commentary on that proposal, and I'm expecting to see Paul Revere riding by shouting To Arms, To Arms! Maybe some barricades across some streets with people waiving their personal pyromania materials and shouting defiance. We have the right to blow stuff up! Lightning causes more fires than fireworks! How dare you infringe on our rights, you intrusive Communistic Liberal Big Government, you!

My god, people, the state is a tinder box! "Of course it's dry and a fire hazard, it's always like this" is not an argument in favor of playing fire Russian Roulette like normal! Really, they're saying "It's only a few irresponsible people who burn down houses and set the west mountains on fire, I'm a very responsible pyro and my liberties should not be infringed upon."

I'm waiting for someone to say, "Hey, I'm a very safe driver when I drive 100 mph on the freeway, that speed limit infringes on my liberties." Oh. Wait. I have seen that commentary. Last week, on the car pool lane story.

And to think these people don't even have beer to blame their idiocy on.

Painting - originally estimated to sell between 300-500 pounds sells for over 200K lbs because: it's a Titan - or believed to be one.

Painting - originally estimated to sell between 300-500 pounds sells for over 200K lbs because: it's a Titan - or believed to be one.

Oh yeah, I read about that. It's probably worth a whole lot more.

Apparently two people in the auction knew what it was, and one of them had a budget of 200k....

I've been loving being back in the land of fireflies.

Did I not link?

I meant to!

And now lot 403: the Old Master worth £5m. Do I hear £300?

That's the actual headline from the Guardian.

Ugh Connie. We see that in Florida all the time too. Signs all over that we are in a serious drought and burned out sections lining the highways, and people driving I-95 flicking cigarettes out the window.