I am experiencing bizarre mood swings. I'd take a personal day tomorrow, except that would just mean I'd be stuck with annoying painter guy. Man, this is not good. I mean, it'd be fine for office work, but for teaching it's bad.

Hay you guys. Say you have been painting a table with spray paint (outside, safely) and even managed not to get any of it on your clothes! But now you are done and realize you have it all over the spray hand.

If I wash my hands in acetone/nail polish remover, will I die of some kind of poisoning?

(The can label says it contains toluene, xylene, and all the other fun and deadly -enes, but doesn't say what's the best method for getting them off.)

Note: I do not own any paint thinner or turpentine. So it's acetone, ignore it for a week, or sudden trip to Home Depot.

I soak my fingers in acetone for something like half an hour to remove fake nails. It won't kill you. At least not anytime soon.

I guess the question is whether acetone + [whatever is in the spray paint] will kill me.

I watch ER! I know these things are deadly!!

I would think you would be okay as long as you don't clean up near an open flame.

good ventilation would be good. and Nail polish remover - might not be strong enough - there are stronger versions of acetone out there.

Gud, you flatter me. I do not have the kind of space I would need to keep a fire going in my evil laboratory. I did not even buy enough paint, and will have to go back for more (not today)!

Although, folks, if you're ever in the market to paint a table with spindle-legs? Use spray paint. Much less agita and opportunity to get paint in your hair. It's a gateleg table, which means it actually has six spindles, two swinging arms, and a box construction on the underside, and I got almost all of it painted with a single spray can. I think I'll do the top with regular paint and a brush. As soon as I have puttied its blemishes.

The Pooch Portal, the perfect gift for the dog lover you despise. I bet the people who buy those are like the people who buy drum sets (or other such noisy toys) and give them to SOMEONE ELSE'S kids.

Hay you guys.

Hay is for horses...

This sounds like an Onion headline. But it's not.

Lesbos Residents Sue Gay Group Over Using The Term "Lesbian"

ATHENS, Greece — A Greek court has been asked to draw the line between the natives of the Aegean Sea island of Lesbos and the world's gay women.

Three islanders from Lesbos _ home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love between women _ have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name.

One of the plaintiffs said Wednesday that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians.

"My sister can't say she is a Lesbian," said Dimitris Lambrou. "Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos," he said.

The three plaintiffs are seeking to have the group barred from using "lesbian" in its name and filed a lawsuit on April 10. The other two plaintiffs are women.

Also called Mytilene, after its capital, Lesbos is famed as the birthplace of Sappho. The island is a favored holiday destination for gay women, particularly the lyric poet's reputed home town of Eressos.

"This is not an aggressive act against gay women," Lambrou said. "Let them visit Lesbos and get married and whatever they like. We just want (the group) to remove the word lesbian from their title."

oh man, I just found out that the guy who manages the bar where we our having our big benefit show on Saturday died earlier this week. He was quite the neighborhood Character. Very crusty and cranky but always super sweet to us. I don't know the details. He seemed like one of those guys who was maybe a lot younger than he looked but who knows?