Fingers crossed for it's nothing, Austin

Happy Queen's Birthday, Australia (except WA)!

Happy Queen's Birthday, Australia (except WA)!

Funnily enough, WA is about the only part of Australia that hasn't reached Tuesday yet. You'll be sending the Queen a belated birthday card again this year, Mr Rot.

Like Billytea says, this is North Korea we're talking about. Normal rules don't really apply. China is potentially the best able to exert some sort of pressure, assuming they were of a mind to. But even then, a lot depends on what NK's endgame is here.

China isn't likely to be able to help either. They're currently furious with North Korea; NK is not acting in China's interests here. (NK's nuclear program is very likely to send Japan and South Korea down that path too.) They get away with it because they are one step away from being a failed state. If the North Korean government collapses, millions of refugees flood into northern China.

You'd think that'd make Kim Jong Il etc mindful of China's wishes, but no. They're taking Chinese aid with one hand and slapping them in the face with the other. And the threat of a failed state on their border stops China from doing anything about it.

If that's how NK treats its friends, you can imagine what chance its enemies have.

Hey, erinaceous's new project has publicly launched: [link]

Man, I'm trying to wean myself off snacking and cut back my caloric intake. I'd forgotten how hard the first couple days are.

I want a Pop-Tart in the worst way. I don't even LIKE Pop-Tarts.

Crazy quilt with actual squirrels:

[link]

I tried to watch the Tony's but they kept having musical numbers and I kept having to change the channel.

Next to Normal is a musical about, I shit you not, bi-polar disorder, electric shock therapy, and the death of a child.

Take your meds before you go.

I just watched the opening number from the Tonys.

I'm not nuts about the Spanish in West Side Story but they've done a pretty decent job integrating it-- I loved the mash-up with Guys and Dolls-- worked surprisingly well.

And I always have loved Hair. That and West Side Story were the first musicals I had records of. Oh, and Man of La Mancha.

Treat Williams in the film version of Hair is wonderful! And I'm not bothered by the hippie antics-- it's all contextual.

Oh, and Liza may be an icon, but she's an icon whose voice has gone so far south. I just wish she would stand up there and accept her dues without actually opening her mouth to sing any more.

I looked at the CNN website this morning and I'm wonder how they got a picture of my dog.

[link]

I don't know what the article is about, but that picture looks EXACTLY like my dog.