We are off at noon, which is lovely except 1) I haven't gotten an email saying preview is available (which would be ok since coworker and I went through each update with dev, but there were some changes, and we want to make sure those fixes are in) 2) I have an 11-12 which I run and is currently pretty critical, and I can see it running late, and then I'll update a spreadsheet after. 3) I have another spreadsheet to update and send out because of the meeting that won't happen on Monday.

I will probably leave at 2.

Happy Birthday Sean and thank you for so many years of being such an excellent friend.

Happy B'day, Sean!

It's a great week for birthdays--both my best friend and my big brother. Quality company.

I am feeling the pain of being a project manager now. Another project has stolen a test resource who I really needed for the next month. We're hiring a new tester but the hiring process just started and there's no way we'll get someone in time. So I'll be stuck trying to explain it to the client! stupid promotion into a position or responsibility.

From Cracked.com, 5 Lesser Known (Completely Ridiculous) American Civil Wars

It's ludicrous to imagine modern-day Iowa pulling a gun because a neighboring state disagreed about where the border should be. But the 1800s were a different time. For instance, when Missouri decided to resurvey the border with what would soon be Iowa (in a way that would, of course, make Missouri bigger) shit hit the fan.

Missouri sent in a sheriff and tax agents to collect from the settlers in "Iowa," and were met by a pitchfork-wielding mob that chased them back to Missouri. In retaliation, Missouri Governor and professional dumbass Lilburn Boggs, a trigger-happy guy who would later make it legal to kill Mormons, sent the militia to occupy the border. They were met by the, um, eclectic Iowa militia. According to one observer, they were, "...men armed with blunderbusses [basically antique shotguns], flintlocks, and quaint old ancestral swords that had probably adorned the walls for many generations. One private carried a plough coulter over his shoulder by means of a log chain, another had an old-fashioned sausage stuffer for a weapon, while a third shouldered a sheet iron sword about six feet long."

The Iowans managed to take the Missouri sheriff hostage. Meanwhile, after being beaten by what was the worst-armed cosplay convention ever, the Missouri tax agents figured they'd need to find another way to collect. So, they cut down a bunch of honey bee hives as partial payment to have something to show their bosses.

They also cover "The Utah War (The United States v. Utah)". Where a rag-tag band of rebels Mormons try to fight the Empire....

A random quote from another war:

The Michigan militia would have none of that shit, so 50 or 60 of them attacked the survey team in what would be called the Battle of Phillips Corner. Shots were fired. Nobody was killed, but they took nine of the survey team prisoner.

Now that pissed everybody off. Both sides started rapidly building up their militias in preparation for all-out civil war. Ohio raised 10,000 men. A Michigan newspaper then welcomed them to enter the Toldeo Strip and find "hospitable graves" there

Heh.

Happy birthday Sean! I hope this is a better year.

Horse Cosplay

It’s a problem that we’ve all faced from time to time: you and your horse have been invited to a costume party, but your horse has nothing to wear. Thankfully, a Costa Rican company called The Horse Tailor offers custom-made outfits for horses. Among other options, your ride could go as a bumblebee, Batman, a leprechaun, or the Pink Panther (pictured above).

I dunno - the "Pink Panther" looks like a horse covered in pink cloth.

eta: Actual site: [link]

I can't link directly to Bat Horse, but you can find it under Costumes / Movie Costumes.

Where did everybody go?

Hey, it's Friday! And there's a three-day weekend!

Oh, my god, screw you, Friday. You are Tino's Day.

I'm here! I'm in between 6th graders. The incoming 7th graders are visiting today and we have to give a little presentation about what we do.

Where did everybody go?

Australia. My visa ran out! Plus, all my stuff is here.