RelentlesslyOptimistic

Cool contemporary Japanese art

Via Neatorama: Hisashi Tenmyouya creates art using traditional Japaneses elements and styles with modern themes.

This is one of many - click the image to visit the gallery.

Waiting

Ingmar is arrestingly beautiful. Our other dog is attractive, but it’s Ingmar people regularly stop us to ask about on our walks. She’s tall, and more slender than most boxers, with the typical muscular shoulders, alert stance and expressive face of the breed. What sets her apart, I think, is a beautiful brown brindle coat with stripes of glossy black. As she’s aged the black fur is what’s turning white, and her face is taking on a ghostly, ethereal look.

We used to joke that when she died we were going to have her stuffed because her coat was just too beautiful to waste. Those jokes haunt me now as we wait for her to die. A week ago the vet found a large tumor in her pelvis. It turns out to be both inoperable and of a type that won’t respond to chemo.

As recently as Thursday she seemed mostly fine, trotting on her walk, excited to meet people. On Friday she stopped eating, and by Saturday afternoon she didn’t want to move from the makeshift bed we’ve created in my office so we can sit with her through the day. Now she’s still upstairs in her usual bed, and I wonder if she will get up.

Update: Ingmar had a great day Sunday, and died Monday about 8:30 AM. Thanks for all the support and love from her friends.

World Down Syndrome Day

Via Aim High Enough

Down Syndrome International (DSI) has officially earmarked 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD). The date was chosen to signify the uniqueness of Down syndrome in the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome and is used synonymously with Down syndrome.

For my favorite brother-in-law.

Perfect bike rack

From Dangerblog comes this INOUT Designers bike rack. Perfect for those places that don't have room on the sidewalk for a bike rack.

WTFWJD?

Lifted whole from Kos at  Daily Kos:

From Newsweek's Periscope:

"Right now, I wouldn't vote Democratic if Jesus Christ was running." Judy Deats, a Texas Republican, who is standing by Rep. Tom DeLay in his re-election bid despite the fact that his association with lobbyist Jack Abramoff has made him vulnerable to political opposition for the first time in more than 20 years

I'm glad she realizes that Jesus would be a Democrat.

Heh.

Title from Going Jesus, image from Mad Magazine

More signs of Spring

Maybe it's just that I have more time to pay attention to it, but the emergence of Spring seemsmore prominent this year. Last Friday I saw my first forsythia of the season, and today after the weekend's rain I saw a lilac with leaves on it.

This understory tree (magnolia?) has only stark, dry branches, without even buds. Only the white flowers provided any sign of life. I couldn't smell any fragrance, but it was pretty chilly.

I also caught this lily (or iris?) pretending to be crocus until I got close.  There's also starting to be a slight green tinge of buds on trees. If the weather cooperates, I bet that within a week or so we'll have that sudden explosion of green as the leaves begin to open.

   
   

Impeach the motherfucker already!

Dan Savage has launched a new blog: ITMFA, or Impeach The Motherfucker Already. Readers of his sex advice column are split on whether it's likely to be a successful change agent or simply a way to share our dismay at the lack of Congressional action over the repeated "way worse than a blowjob" acts of Bush. But many aren't waiting for the buttons and lapel pins that Savage has ordered, and have created their own shirts and bumper stickers.

Dan's Savage Love column has been a source for new words before, most notably by defining santorum, the name of the homophobic senator from Pennsylvania, as "the byproduct anal sex. (the full definition at the link includes the words foamy and fecal, is much more graphic, and not at all suitable for work)"

So you know when to put on your tin foil 3M Velostat hat

Dvorak Uncensored: Finally! Research Into Remote Sensing of UFOs.

INDIA DAILY: Scientists are working on remote sensing devices that can allow sensing of extraterrestrial presence.

"This provides early warnings for UFO watchers..."

This Is Why You're A Temp

Lifted whole from Joe. My. God. (even the title)

"I'm sorry but her voicemail isn't working and I'm really too busy to write down your phone number."

Because their lips are moving: Fox News on Iraq

In an "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" kind of way, this was lifted entirely from Sisyphus Shrugged, in part because of the terrific title:

Oceana has or has not always been at war with itself

Sisyphus notes that these are presented in the order in which Fox broadcast them.

"We don't want these $15,000 yahoos down here making laws."

The title is a statement made back in the mid-80's by a now-forgotten advocate of a proposal to double the salaries of Missouri Legislators to $30,000.

It's clear that the yahoo filter needs work: Atrios mentioned this St. Louis TV station story describing HCR 13 as one which would "name Christianity the state's official "majority" religion."

That's not how I'd characterize it, but there's no comfort in that. The bill's summary "Resolves that voluntary prayer in public schools, religious displays on public property, and the recognition of a Christian God are not a coalition of church and state." Oh good. And war is peace, yada yada. The resolution was voted out of the House Rules Committee with a recommendation that it pass.

That's one of seven bills or resolutions Missouri Legislators have introduced with "Religion" as the subject, addressing such urgent problems as allowing the display of religious documents and recognizing the right to pray on public property, and letting public schools offer Bible classes. On the hopeful side, maybe this is the year that Missouri will ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

For those outside the Midwest, remember that we're the ones who gave you John Ashcroft. And we're sorry.

Via Daily Kos

First crocus of the season

It seems so sudden - I just saw my first daffodils poking up tiny green sprouts yesterday, and suddenly here's this whole clump of crocuses blooming in Midtown. Note the completely dead brown grass surrounding them.

Patriot Act passes Senate: Because if we all pay off our credit cards, the terrorists have already won.

The Senate has approved a new and permanent version of the Patriot Act by a vote of 89-10. The Register had this lovely quote:

"Civil liberties do not mean much when you are dead." Senator James Bunning (R-Kentucky)

Meanwhile, John Dvorak pointed to other news on the security front:  Homeland Security was notified and a hold put on a retired couple's account because they paid too much on their credit card bill.

Are we safer yet?
 

Image from The Heretik

Do you sing in the morning?

If so, this fun MIT art project blender is for you. Its speed is controlled by the pitch of your voice. The movie is great fun and well worth watching.

Kelly Dobson: Blendie

Via Eyebeam reBlog