The power tools have been going for 20 minutes now. I've been up since before 7, so no big deal to me, but isn't before 8 a bit early for the major noise?

All this so they can raise my rent even more, I suppose. ::shudder::

Thanks for the xkcd explanation. Every now and again he sails completely and totally over my head.

Oh, come on. "See the tree how big it's grown, but friend, it hasn't been too long, it wasn't big."

"Having My Baby" is certainly in the Top 40 in hell.

I think "We Built This City" is unfairly rated because of the meta. It's a complete sell-out for the band, but in and of itself it doesn't get anywhere near "Butterfly Kisses" land.

Obama will be the first president to attend a White House seder.

Last night, the White House released President Obama’s schedule for the remainder of the week, which included participation in the White House Seder on Thursday:

"On Thursday, President Obama will participate in an event at the White House where he will discuss the need to enhance the quality of healthcare afforded to members of our Armed Forces and our Veterans. The Press Secretary will brief in the afternoon. President Obama and his family will mark the beginning of Passover with a Seder at the White House with friends and staff."

The Jerusalem Post notes that Thursday’s event is “believed to be the first White House Seder attended by an American president.” Yesterday, Obama also issued an official White House letter with his “warmest wishes to all celebrating the sacred festival of Passover.” “Chag sameach,” he added.

Wow -- I'm really surprised this is a first.

Wow. I'd thought I'd remembered reading about Truman doing something like that, and I was sure I'd remembered Clinton.

Michelle Obama's cousin is a rabbi. I wonder if he'll be there.

I was just wondering the same thing, Hil. It makes sense that with a family connection you might do that.

The Jerusalem Post's story has this:

"I'm really happy to hear about it," said Steve Rabinowitz, who once led a staff Seder in the Clinton White House but didn't know of any White House Seder in which the president had personally taken part before now. "It's been an extremely open White House to all faith communities, certainly including ours." ...

Though Passover starts on Wednesday evening, Obama will be hosting the second Seder, on Thursday night, apparently so that those in attendance can celebrate with their families on the first night.

The guest list was not immediately available, though it is likely to include top Obama advisors David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel, both of whom are Jewish, as well as some of the key Jewish donors to Obama's presidential campaign.

Rabinowitz said that though he hadn't been invited, "I'm only sorry that I won't be there to see the president and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel say at the same time, 'Once we were all slaves. Now we are all free.'"

How much do I love this president?

Easter Bunny knit dissection

Describing this delightful Etsy item, Bill sez, "Apparently the Easter Bunny was killed in a tragic accident at a Peep factory and he donated his body to science. Finally, an answer to mystery of the origins of Easter eggs!"

Zak Efron song from High School Musical 2, with the music replaced by Wuthering Heights. I am finding it hysterical.

Oh, so funny. I am having visions of early teen me emoting that song into her hairbrush. I also kind of want to see those scenes redone to The Hills Are Alive.

Basically, everyone needs to suck it up and get with the fucking program, is what.

This is my workplace right very now. Except I'm on vacation. But they all still need to be doing that.

They're using Dogs to help track whales.

I read that as "weasels" first and wondered why we needed to track them...

Did I mention vacation? Because I'm on one. Well, staycation I guess. Bottom line - no work!