1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs
4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

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• The Secret Lair Blood Drive
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• Let’s blame Satan!

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The Seven Weird/Random Things Post

Chris and his wife get a new pasta-making attachment for the new Kitchen Aid mixer. While she’s away, Chris decides to try making pasta with no clue what he’s doing.

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• Ramble On
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UDTV: Making Pasta

photo credit: thomwatson

We elected our first black President this week.

On the same day, we in California denied the civil rights of a segment of the population. The irony is not only palpable, it’s repugnant.

The language in Proposition 8 was, and I quote, “Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry.” Period. That’s it. Do not pass Go. The wording implies that there is a right, and then seeks to remove it.

I wonder if “those queers” will be able to drink from the same water fountains after the next election if the bigots have their way.

Here’s how the chips fall:

States whose constitution bans same-sex marriage and other kinds of same-sex unions (such as domestic partnerships, etc): Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida

States whose constitution bans same-sex marriage: Alaska, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi

States who have statutes banning same-sex marriage: Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and North Carolina

All this because some people don’t approve of who other people have sex with.

These are not evil people. All they want is the right to be with the person they love, and be recognized as such.

This morning, I heard a fundamentalist black minister claim that there was no parallel between racial civil rights and homosexual civil rights. I was astounded, yet somehow, completely unsurprised. It’s sad how often people who preach love and compassion are the first to condemn people that they fear.

America should be different. America is better than this shameless unapologetic ignorance.

All men are created equal, except those who don’t own land.
All men are created equal, except if you’re a Catholic or a Jew.
Or if you’re a nigger.
Or a chink.
Or a woman.
Or a jap.
Or a spic.
Or if you’re a fag.

Or…

All men are created equal.

Which is it, America?

[special thanks to J.C. Hutchins and Kris Johnson]

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Which is it, America?

Additionally, Mahalo has great election result pages for every state.  Check out the full list:

• Alabama Election Results 
• Alabama Exit Polls
• Alaska Election Results 
• Alaska Exit Polls
• Arizona Election Results
• Arizona Exit Polls
• Arkansas Election Results
• Arkansas Exit Polls
• California Election Results
• California Exit Polls
• Colorado Election Results
• Colorado Exit Polls
• Connecticut Election Results 
• Connecticut Exit Polls
• Delaware Election Results 
• Delaware Exit Polls
• Florida Election Results 
• Florida Exit Polls 
• Georgia Election Results 
• Georgia Exit Polls
• Hawaii Election Results 
• Hawaii Exit Polls
• Idaho Election Results 
• Idaho Exit Polls
• Illinois Election Results
• Illinois Exit Polls
• Indiana Election Results 
• Indiana Exit Polls
• Iowa Election Results 
• Iowa Exit Polls
• Kansas Election Results 
• Kansas Exit Polls
• Kentucky Election Results 
• Kentucky Exit Polls
• Louisiana Election Results 
• Louisiana Exit Polls
• Maine Election Results
• Maine Exit Polls
• Maryland Election Results 
• Maryland Exit Polls
• Massachusetts Election Results 
• Massachusetts Exit Polls
• Michigan Election Results 
• Michigan Exit Polls
• Minnesota Election Results 
• Minnesota Exit Polls
• Mississippi Election Results 
• Mississippi Exit Polls
• Missouri Election Results 
• Missouri Exit Polls
• Montana Election Results 
• Montana Exit Polls
• Nebraska Election Results 
• Nebraska Exit Polls
• Nevada Election Results 
• Nevada Exit Polls
• New Hampshire Election Results
• New Hampshire Exit Polls
• New Jersey Election Results
• New Jersey Exit Polls
• New Mexico Election Results 
• New Mexico Exit Polls
• New York Election Results 
• New York Exit Polls 
• North Carolina Election Results 
• North Carolina Exit Polls 
• North Dakota Election Results 
• North Dakota Exit Polls
• Ohio Election Results 
• Ohio Exit Polls
• Oklahoma Election Results 
• Oklahoma Exit Polls
• Oregon Election Results 
• Oregon Exit Polls
• Pennsylvania Election Results 
• Pennsylvania Exit Polls
• Rhode Island Election Results
• Rhode Island Exit Polls
• South Carolina Election Results
• South Carolina Exit Polls
• South Dakota Election Results 
• South Dakota Exit Polls
• Tennessee Election Results
• Tennessee Exit Polls
• Texas Election Results 
• Texas Exit Polls
• Utah Election Results
• Utah Exit Polls
• Vermont Election Results 
• Vermont Exit Polls
• Virginia Election Results 
• Virginia Exit Polls
• Washington Election Results 
• Washington Exit Polls
• Washington DC Election Results
• Washington DC Exit Polls
• West Virginia Election Results 
• West Virginia Exit Polls
• Wisconsin Election Results 
• Wisconsin Exit Polls 
• Wyoming Election Results 
• Wyoming Exit Polls

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2008 Election: Exit Polls and Election Results

This is the brain child of Kris Johnson, a mild mannered fellow who farms a small plot of land in one of the flyover states…Indiana, or Pennsylvania, I believe. He started it last year when he decided, in defiance of generations of Finnish genetic heritage, not to shave for a month. This was the final result. “Henceforth,” he declared, “let the eleventh month be a time of contemplation, when, razor free, all men shall attempt to get scruffy and look like Chuck Norris on a bad day.”¹

And so, in a fit of solidarity, I shaved off my hard-earned whiskers. (Before, after) This month, I’ll be joining some of my friends as we see what happens when we allow ourselves to get funky wi’ the facial hair. Or lack thereof. Take your pick.

I’ll be posting pictures regularly. No…wait…come back. They’ll be small. There, there…stop trembling. It’ll be alright.

Oh, brave new world that has such things in it.

It’s cold in here.

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HoNoToGroABeMo: Day 1

1. I’m paraphrasing, of course.

As you are no doubt aware, I am the issue of solid Dutch stock‚ the prosperous Van Pelt family of St. Paul. Mine was a comfortable and happy childhood, and I spent much of it in the devoted service of the Great Old Pumpkin. For him, I cultivated an annual pumpkin patch. I also evangelized him in the community, relating the tale of how, every year on Hallowmas Eve, the day when the spiritual most strongly encroaches on the substantial, this mightiest of gourds would rise to revel across the world with the most sincere of his adorers. My neighbors were understandably skeptical; after all, not once had this superbeing ever chosen to grace my pumpkin patch or any other place in our town. I vowed that I would coax him into my backyard, and I set out in the manner of a learned man to discover how I might do this.

So, get out those Elder Signs and watch out for the fish-men…it’s story time.

And for more great stories, check out Escape Pod, Pseudopod, and Pod Castle.

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The Great Old Pumpkin

Is this a trend? Some sort of diabolical plan aiming toward making you listen? A vast conspiracy involving some of the most popular podcasters in the world today¹ whose goal is making you our willing minions?

You have to ask?

Go forth and listen.

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What’s this? ANOTHER episode? So soon?

1. Or, at least, the hosts dropping the names of some of the most popular podcasters in the world today. Same diff, right?

The Secret Lair returns with a full hour of dual-Lair goodness. Overlord Johnson reports in from the Cleveland Lair, while Overlord Miller is breaking in the furniture at The Secret Lair West. Chris has discovered that Los Angeles has some very interesting quirks, but he and his family are beginning to adjust.

It is merely a coincidence that The Secret Lair West is located somewhere near the Angeles Forest, where fires raged in early October. Even if the source of the blaze could be traced back to the Lair (which it most certainly cannot), there is absolutely no evidence to corroborate rumors of a magma transduction conduit breach.

Listen now!

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Lepers are the new Zombies

[via Genrewonk]

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…by it’s cover

A picture for the Angeles Forest Fire, from our balcony in Woodland Hills. Taken at 6:45 AM.

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Angeles Forest Fire