Okay, the phrase "Black N Bluegrass" just made me happier than anything all day.

I just saw it reported. And they're expecting another tsunami.

Is it possible to have one and not have a tsunami? Oh how I wish... how I wish...

But I shall complain anyway: if the government shuts down, my little group of contractors have been determined to be eligible for the "skeleton crew" and we shall be working. Which makes no sense, because none of the people we work with will be here.

In DC, there's a certain cache that comes with being deemed essential. But you don't even get that to soften the blow.

I have to say, when that NYT article started saying furloughed people would have to shut down their BBs for the duration, I felt a moment of raw envy. But that's easy for me to say, not being in that situation.

Jesse, did the headache go away?

Not yet! Woo hoo. If it were worse, I'd be worried, but as it is, I'm mostly annoyed. And currently nauseated from the handful of painkillers I have taken so far today.

Is it possible to have one and not have a tsunami?

Yes: if the earthquake is centered lower in the crust, I believe the chance of a tsunami is lessened.

In DC, there's a certain cache that comes with being deemed essential. But you don't even get that to soften the blow.

No. And it's stupid: I'm not essential. I manage a historic preservation program and do environmental planning. None of what I do is mission-critical. Useful, sure, but not essential to the continued functioning of the organization or service to the public.

Yes: if the earthquake is centered lower in the crust, I believe the chance of a tsunami is lessened.

Well there's some good news.

China Mieville pitched a marxist Iron Man: it got rejected.

[link]

ETA: weirdly enough, my work webfilter thinks China Mieville's website is pornography. MERF.

Okay, I just checked -- the Black N Bluegrass girls are based in Northern Kentucky (which, for all intents and purposes, is the south side of Cincinnati).

The Cincinnati Rollergirls' varsity team is the Black Sheep, and the junior varsity team is the Silent Lambs. We've got tickets to see them in a couple of weeks.

Do I live in a great city, or what? Not one, but TWO roller derby teams!

mr. flea has been told to report in on Monday and shut things down, if it goes there. He may not bring his government-issued laptop home. He notes that a colleague said they were practically half shut down all the time anyway - a lot of their important support people are retirees who work half-time, so there are always things that have to wait until the day so-and-so actually works. Some of what they say about government efficiency is true, it turns out.

Jesse, we're good. mac is making another big stride with his therapy and continues to have virtually no behavior problems.

I got over my low level depression wave of 2 weeks ago and got the ok from my psychiatrist to up my meds that week of my cycle.