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.

I think a lot of people are really really angry that other people with different ideas won an election in their country. I also want to provide a little benefit of the doubt, but I can't help but think there is some racism in there too.

After the speech turns out to be about staying and school and that sort of stuff, I'll be waiting for the back slaps about how the concerned citizens got him to back off giving the "real" speech.

I think Clovis should hire this girl....

Girl says "I want to be a 'corrupt official' "

BEIJING - A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl has become a media darling in China on her first day of school by expressing her aspiration to become a 'corrupt official' when she grows up, state media said on Friday.

The young student stated her aspirations in a televised interview that was posted on a southern China website, leading bloggers to describe her comments as 'a reflection of social reality,' the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

'When I grow up I want to be an official,' said the girl, whose face was blurred to protect her identity.

'What kind of official?' the interviewer asked.

'A corrupt official because corrupt officials have a lot of things,' she replied.

Awwww....

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

TDS needs to never go on hiatus, ever. Inevitably something happens when they're off that they really, really needed to parody.

Girl says "I want to be a 'corrupt official' "

Unfortunately, this is going to be translated by the powers that be as "I want my parents visited by the re-education police".

I am wearing a Threadless shirt at work. I think we've decided to make Fridays really casual. My co-workers say I look more natural and like myself in a T-shirt. So one week I'll wear T-shirts all week.