Can't read law news anymore...

It's a shit show, for real. Terrible rulings/actions the past few days. Kentucky ruled that the State Bar can restrict an attorney's public expression; South Dakota is trying to remove a judge who called cops racist for profiling Indians; the 9th Circuit ruled adversely to homeowners seeking just compensation for regulatory takings....


...ugh....Just a bad week.

So, let's tone this down a notch, with an Emo Alpaca.

Bring it, cruel world...

h/t Jonathan Ivanco

.d.s

Sighday is here...

Couldn't come a second too soon, either.

Long, weird, wild week. Like a microcosm of Bipolar disorder: Ups, downs, never level...often in the same day. Holy shit, am I exhausted.

No one describes it better than the Man in Black.

Trent Reznor, okay, I get it...this is yours

But, no way is it cooler than Johnny Cash.

There are few things that are.

.d.s.

WWII in one 5 minute animated .gif

Reality, you've been trumped.

 

Truth is Truthy...

.d.s. 

Coolest Mug Ever...

Not too much into the accumulation of stuff...But, I do love some coffee, and more particularly, I love coffee mugs.

I have found a new one to add to my collection, and, I'd more than willing to bet some you folks would rock this bad boy too.

Pure awesome...I especially like the notch for cookies.

H/T Neenz

Mug available at Uncommon Goods for less than $20!

.d.s.

Fuck Yea! Thursday

Got some great news today...personal, legal. Still, it felt good.

Now, just need to find a way to get off the Island, and back to the mainland. That, however, is a story for another time.

What shall we play today, lads and lasses? How about...

Fuck yea!

.d.s

Wednesday's Geeked Over Playoffs...

Tonight, out long national nightmare concludes. The Stanley Cup Playoffs finally begin. In it's honor, I have begun the PLAYOFF BEARD, the most venerable of Lord Stanley's traditions...

Max Talbot, of my beloved Penguins, rockin' a great playoff beard...

My efforts aren't quite as impressive; however, I am only 7 days into my Playoff Beard...

Not too shabby. Not too shabby at all...

But, this morning I'd like to share with you two of my other favorite things about the Stanley Cup playoffs, one so happens to be of the musical variety, the other, awesomeness....

FIRST, the Penguins Goal Horn....

BWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

SECOND, there's nothing like listening to the Blackhawks' iconic "Chelsea Dagger", particularly when it comes at the expense of the choking  perpetually choking Vancouver Canucks.

Schadenfreude never gets old...

Anyway, have fun kids and let's hope for a helluva' lot of fun over the next few weeks!

.d.s

Truly good news for the Planet...

Sunrise in Eden was rocked out today, and, for good reason. I found the most kick-ass, feel-good story ever today. One that should make the Earth pretty pleased (or, at least somewhat optimistic)...

You mean you do love me?

According to the Guardian, Bolivia is about to make serious, serious history-changing law with the passage of A Ley de Derechos de la Madre Tierra (The Law of Mother Earth) 

The country, which has been pilloried by the US and Britain in the UN climate talks for demanding steep carbon emission cuts, will establish 11 new rights for nature. They include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered.

Controversially, it will also enshrine the right of nature "to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities".

"It makes world history. Earth is the mother of all", said Vice-President Alvaro García Linera. "It establishes a new relationship between man and nature, the harmony of which must be preserved as a guarantee of its regeneration."

 Hmmm, I wonder where I've heard this before...

Oh, I'm sure the proposal/law will be plenty ridiculed and patently ignored by those who want to exploit Bolivia's natural resources (cuz that's never happened before *wank*). And, let's face it, the legislative preamble is all kinds of flaky

 She is sacred, fertile and the source of life that feeds and cares for all living beings in her womb. She is in permanent balance, harmony and communication with the cosmos. She is comprised of all ecosystems and living beings, and their self-organisation.

But, as a first step, and an eye-opening first move? I'll absolutely take it. You know who else would?

Dumpster Muffin, that's who...

.d.s.

 

100% Topical Tuesday, promise

This may seem like an odd choice. Edenbridge's "Sunrise in Eden"...but, trust me, later on it's gonna' make a helluva' lot more sense.

Not to mention, the guitar work in the jam-bridge this one is fantastic. Think about "so good, you'll weep".

Beautiful, beautiful song.

Beautiful, beautiful musicianship.

.d.s.

Sad news for the First Amendment*...

*lest I rehash this here, my feelings on creepers are pretty well set. I am however, much much more worried about abuse of the legal process for a quick, cheap political kill. 


Philip Greaves, world-class creeper and author of the notorious "Pedophiles Guide" (a/k/a a code of conduct for creepers to stay within the boundaries of the law), was -as you may remember, the subject of an attempted indictment by the State of Florida. A cheap, grand-standing political prosecution, based upon "obscenity", was set up for a quick-kill and cheaper political points.

Well, it worked.  Greaves pleaded no-contest/nolo in exchange for two year probation, to be served in his home state, and not having to register as a sex offender. The result of the settlement/plea means that he will continue to keep on, keeping on: nothing has changed, except that he's now considered a criminal, whereas previously he had no criminal record.

Defending pedophiles isn't my bag. But this was just horseshit from the word go. Carry on with your regularly scheduled march to the police state and brain-dead, uncritical populism.

Full story at BBC

.d.s.

Blue Monday...

Both a theme, and an excellent 1983 tune from New Order. 

Yep, waaaay better than Orgy's cover of the same.

.d.s