I love the Onion:

WASHINGTON—African-American man Barack Obama, 47, was given the least-desirable job in the entire country Tuesday when he was elected president of the United States of America. In his new high-stress, low-reward position, Obama will be charged with such tasks as completely overhauling the nation's broken-down economy, repairing the crumbling infrastructure, and generally having to please more than 300 million Americans and cater to their every whim on a daily basis. As part of his duties, the black man will have to spend four to eight years cleaning up the messes other people left behind. The job comes with such intense scrutiny and so certain a guarantee of failure that only one other person even bothered applying for it. Said scholar and activist Mark L. Denton, "It just goes to show you that, in this country, a black man still can't catch a break."

sarameg, you're right, that's a phenomenal trip, and you will kick yourself if you don't go. Go for it!

I have a crush on Michael Weatherly. I can't believe he's the same guy from Dark Angel. USA shows 3 NCIS episodes a day and I started and can't stop.

sara, I hope that's a yes. On both possibilities.

Oh, sara, that would be the awesomest! FUN!

USA shows 3 NCIS episodes a day and I started and can't stop.

Yep. In one of today's episodes there were some nice Weatherly arm scenes.

EXACTLY!

But all told, the cost of...well, a lot. So unless they are feeling really generous, it is financially irresponsible if not impossible. But... when this was first proposed (at the Folklife Fest, which had this country as a focus,) there may have been noises. I think it is all part of my parents' plan to spend any inheritance, of which I totally approve (not because it might benefit me, because I think they should enjoy themselves!) Anyway, I'd love to go. Nepal and Bhutan are at the top of my dad's Dream Trips (Tibet is #1) and I'd love to be with him for it. Plus, my current passport is sadly unexercised. And I'd really fucking like to see that part of the world.

Ooh, that would be awesome.

I can'T believe I'm googling airfare to Kathmandu.

This is one of the tours dad has looked into (pdf): [link]

sara! Totally awesome trip!

I love my theater peeps. A director friend of mine is already organizing a one-night-only, entirely-queer-cast reading of Merchant Of Venice on December 9th, with all donations going towards the fight against Prop 8. Bayistas, expect to receive tons of info.

People! Educate me about Alabama. In a sea of red, there's an unbroken belt of counties, passing through Montgomery, that went for Obama, often by pretty big margins. Roughly the same band of counties went for Kerry and Gore as well. What distinguishes this band? Is there a higher proportion of African-Americans in this part of the state? (And if so, why such a neat horizontal strip?)

I have also learned today that Alabama has the longest Constitution in the world. So that's nice.