This is the best thing I’ve seen in my yard this year!
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Vengeance of Dragons The Secret Texts Book 2 (1999) Holly Lisle

Again, with the cliffhanger ending; the lack of conclusion of a story arc is my biggest problem with this book (or series actually). You have been warned. Don’t read this book without the third close at hand. Luckily, they’ve been out for awhile, so getting all three books should not be a problem.

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Happy Flag Day!

Rules for Flying the American Flag

• It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
• The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
• When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.
• When the flag is displayed on a car, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
• When hung in a window, place the blue union in the upper left, as viewed from the street.
• Section 8k of the Flag Code states, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
• Is it okay to have a flag t-shirt with words written on it?
  No, the flag should never be worn and no, the flag should never have marks or words written upon it. Section 8d: “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel.” Section 8g: “The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.”

• Is it okay for an advertisement to use the flag?
  No. Section 8i reads, “The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.”

The latest flower pr0n!

My cactus bloomed! Plus, lots of blooms on my dayl lilies and coreopsis.

Also, pictures from my brother’s birthday celebration.

Presidential approval ratings 2000-present, for various polls.

Forgot to post this a couple weeks ago when I first found it. The more I look at it, the more fascinating it becomes.

Diplomacy of Wolves (1998) Holly Lisle

Do not, I repeat do NOT start this book unless you already have the second book. If you finish this book without having the second book at hand, you’ll be sooorry! Talk about a cliff hanger ending! Jeesh.

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Everything you ever wanted to say about Ann Coulter, in one simple paragraph:

Disclaimer: this should not be construed as a call to ban Coulter’s “work”, but merely an attempt to call bullshit on bullshit. Aside from being protected by the First Amendment, Ms. Coulter’s obvious derangement may make her eligible for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Since we signed up for Netflix we’ve been watching lots of movies–which is good, since I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. (The last time I regularly watched movies was, I think, high school.)

Of course, my taste in movies tends towards explosions and marshal arts. I’ll watch drama, but what I really want when I watch a movie is an escape from reality. Hence: science fiction, comic book, and heist movies. Plus movies where Brad Pitt gets the beat up. (Snatch, Fight Club, etc)

And I’d pretty much rather eat lint than watch a romantic comedy, and movies about high school are almost universally out, because in real life, the geeks and the unattractive girls never come out on top.

So here’s a list of the movies we watched recently, from most enjoyed to least enjoyed, which should tell you quite a bit about my tastes.
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I leave the amount of squealing I did when I saw these up to your imagination.

JavaScript Enigma Machine

JavaScript Bombe Machine

Another Enigma Machine

(via Making Light)

If you insist on having loud cell phone conversations in public spaces–particularly conversations where you are arguing unpleasantly with your mother/girlfriend/boyfriend/roommate–please be aware that any stupid things you say will become a running joke.

Especially if you say something particularly ridiculous, such as, “Fine! I’ll sell my twenty-seven inch TV!”

It was the way he kept repeating “twenty-seven inch TV” that did it.

I. Want. This.

Geek T-Shirt

You have to understand. When I pass under exit signs, I think, “How cool would it be if I could add a / to that?”

Important study facts often missing in media reports about medical research

News stories about medical research, often based on initial findings presented at professional conferences, frequently omit basic facts about the study and fail to highlight important limitations.

Gee. I’m shocked.

If you remember last month (I barely remember last month), I was gleeful about the fact that the original Star Wars movies were going to be released in the original format.

Unfortunately, a post by Erin has led me to believe that maybe I shouldn’t be so happy after all.

This is the post I found most interesting–especially the bit about Marcia Lucas.

Cloven Hooves (1991) Megan Lindholm

I realized relatively quickly that this was not the book that I wanted to be reading.

Already depressed, the last thing I needed was a story full of pain and sorrow and darkness. “I’ll just finish this chapter, and then I’ll pick up something else.”

Except that I couldn’t put it down. I kept repeating that to myself, until I realized I was more than halfway through the book, and may as well just finish it.

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