I have a short day today since they are letting us go at 3:00 (and feeding us pizza for lunch) and Monday off, but I have nothing more exciting than chores and catching up on TV planned.

I have the same, except substitute "pizza for lunch" with "have very difficult come to Jesus meeting with my junior staffer regarding an official complaint about her behavior". Ugh.

Mostly, I find it ironic that parents are protesting a "stay in school" speech by...pulling their kids out of school. Classy!

It's stories like this that make me sad that TDS is on hiatus right now.

This is possibly one of the best legalize-gay-marriage ads I've seen. [link] Although the first ten seconds or so seem more like one the Maine tourism ads.

I heart my home state.

The Obama school speech has just blown up in my district. The school board is debating it tonight - the proposal on the table is that the speech be shown only at middle and high schools, and then only in social studies classes, with a parental opt-out form sent home in advance.

I should note that my school district is overwhelmingly poor and minority, and there is a high drop-out rate. I can't think of anything better than having the nation's first black president tell my daughter and her first-grade classmates that education can lead to success in life.

I find myself hoping Obama will release a "Don't jump off a cliff" speech to see how many people will do just that out of spite.

It's the Decatur Book Festival [link] weekend, and I'm being a venue captain for two days. Tomorrow's authors at my venue include Charlaine Harris and Chelsea Yarbro on vampires; Sara Gruen; Karen Abbott; and Lee Child. The big draw for my area Sunday will be Kathy Reichs.

From Daily Kos: We Cannot Allow the President to Indoctrinate Our Children

A speech that a US President gave to America's school children:

PRESIDENT REAGAN: Well, thank you very much. Please, be seated. You know, this is a real treat for me, having you here, and to have in a little while the chance to answer some of your questions. Let me also offer a special hello to those of you who are watching on C-Span, or the Instructional Television Network. Thank you for inviting us into your home or your school today ...

And that is a vision that goes beyond economics and politics, it's also a moral vision, grounded in the reverence and faith of those who believe that with God's help, they could create a free and democratic nation ...

Because you see, the taxes can be such a penalty on people that there's no incentive for them to prosper and to earn more and so forth because they have to give so much to the government ...

There was talk about having a gun ban in California. It didn't go through. But I got a letter from a man in San Quentin Prison. And from the prison he wrote me the letter to tell me he was in there for burglary, he was a burglar. And he said, "I just want you to know that if that law goes through, here in San Quentin there will be celebrating throughout the day and night by all the burglars who are in prison."

So this is yet another example of It's OK When Republicans Do It....

That sounds excellent, Ginger!

I thought so, Tommy. When I wasn't all "Are you all very stoned?", that is. Ben is Glory, too, right?

Excellent idea, Matt.

Once again I find myself exceedingly embarrassed for my country and the logical pretzels that a large portion of the populace is bending itself into.