Biblical Evolution (comic)

Well, this is certainly something to think about... The Non Sequitur strip was originally posted to gocomics.com on March 28, 2007. Items at gocomics.com are available to the general public only for a limited time, so I have archived this important piece of comic commentary right here on my blog.

Aussie serial hugger wins YouTube award

ABC News Online 27/03/2007 A Sydney man on a goodwill mission to hug strangers has picked up an inaugural YouTube Video Award. Juan Mann's Free Hugs, in which he sets out to brighten strangers' lives on Sydney's streets by hugging them, has nabbed the prize for most inspirational video. The clip is the 13th-most watched YouTube video of all time. It has been watched more than 12 million times after it was uploaded six months ago. Mr Mann's video is among the winners of seven YouTube awards, the nominees for which the site put forward a week ago. Users could rank the 10 nominees for each award in order of their preference. [Read More]

Friday Pet Blogging | Neighborhood Watch

Yeah, yeah ... I know. I missed posting a pet blogging entry last week. Sorry! I couldn't find my camera, and I had not downloaded the newest photos. No content = no post. Anyway... This week we see Milo (left) and Otis performing their Neighborhood Watch duties. We all rest secure in the knowledge that these guys will spring into action at the sight of any questionable activity.

"Hey ... did that look suspicious to you?"

Of course, they'll also spring into action upon sighting a bird ... or a rodent ... or maybe even another cat ... who knows for certain.

And one by one, the pet blogging posts steal my sanity ...

More Pet Blogging See the Friday Ark, featuring a compilation of today's pet blogging posts, over at The Modulator. Check the M&O Archives for some previous Milo & Otis appearances. Carnival of the Cats, coming at you every Sunday. And one of the funniest/cutest/obsessivest (OK, I know that's not a word!) sites for cat photos, StuffOnMyCat.com is a must see. Take it from them: Stuff + Cats = Awesome!

Here's a new excuse: "The Unicorn Was Driving!"

via Yahoo! Canada News... A man accused of drunk-driving and crashing his truck into a lamp post told police that a unicorn had been at the wheel when it careered off the road. The crash was witnessed by two police officers, but the man insists a unicorn was driving. Question: Just how much booze is required to make up a story like that and stick with it?

Serial Theater Lackey | Updates

Hey, I've updated the look of my theater blog, Confessions of a Serial Theater Lackey. Here are some of the recent posts over there:

• A Pat on My Back
• Students Suspended Over Vagina Monologues
• John Inman: You Will Be Missed
• Creating the Audience

And there's a new link to the Theater Lackey Swag Shop.

Attorney General Gonzales Says He Will Not Resign

NY1.com Top Stories: Attorney General Gonzales Says He Will Not Resign In other news, Gonzales won't grow any taller or make any new friends, either.

Iran Condemns Hollywood War Epic

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Iran condemns Hollywood war epic BBC News reports that Javad Shamqadri, a cultural advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has condemmed the film 300 as "plundering Iran's historic past and insulting this civilization". He further explains his position in the article by saying:

"Following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Hollywood and cultural authorities in the US initiated studies to figure out how to attack Iranian culture. "Certainly, the recent movie is a product of such studies."

Keep in mind that the movie is based on the work of Frank Miller (writer) and Lynn Varley (artist), who told the story in a five-issue miniseries that was later collected as a hardcover graphic novel. And I'm pretty sure these guys weren't participating in any government studies regarding Iran or the nation's culture.

Pagans push peace, not politics

Daily Free Press: Pagans push peace, not politics - News

Don't Ask, Don't Yell

Well, the Bush Administration has one more side issue to deal with in the press this week. There's bound to be all sorts of hoopla over the fact that a Top general calls homosexuality 'immoral' [Chicago Tribune | Free Registration Required]. Here is the money quote at the center of this story:

"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Pace said in a wide-ranging discussion with Tribune editors and reporters in Chicago. "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way. "As an individual, I would not want [acceptance of gay behavior] to be our policy, just like I would not want it to be our policy that if we were to find out that so-and-so was sleeping with somebody else's wife, that we would just look the other way, which we do not. We prosecute that kind of immoral behavior," Pace said.

For those of you who don't want to -- or don't have time to -- register for an account with the Tribune, here is the full text of the story (but you should know that there is video footage over at the Tribune as well):

Top General Calls Homosexuality 'Immoral' By Aamer Madhani Tribune national correspondent Published March 12, 2007, 10:47 PM CDT Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday that he supports the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving in the military because homosexual acts "are immoral," akin to a member of the armed forces conducting an adulterous affair with the spouse of another service member. Responding to a question about a Clinton-era policy that is coming under renewed scrutiny amid fears of future U.S. troop shortages, Pace said the Pentagon should not "condone" immoral behavior by allowing gay soldiers to serve openly. He said his views were based on his personal "upbringing," in which he was taught that certain types of conduct are immoral. "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Pace said in a wide-ranging discussion with Tribune editors and reporters in Chicago. "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way. "As an individual, I would not want [acceptance of gay behavior] to be our policy, just like I would not want it to be our policy that if we were to find out that so-and-so was sleeping with somebody else's wife, that we would just look the other way, which we do not. We prosecute that kind of immoral behavior," Pace said. The "don't ask, don't tell" policy caused an uproar in the military when signed into law by President Clinton in 1993. At the time, supporters of the policy inside and outside the military argued that it was essential for the cohesion of combat units, not a question of morality. Under the policy, gays and lesbians may serve only if they keep their sexual orientation private and do not engage in homosexual acts. Their commanders may not ask about their orientation. Charles Moskos, a military sociologist at Northwestern University who was instrumental in helping the Pentagon craft the "don't ask, don't tell" law, said it is unusual for a top commander to use morality as a justification for the policy. But he said he has repeatedly heard enlisted members use that reasoning when opposing gays in the military. "With the enlisted, it's a question of cohesion, but morality is something they always bring up," said Moskos, who declined to comment specifically on Pace's remarks... [ Continued in the COMMENTS ]

How will this play out in the media this week? Will the General's attitude lead to difficulties in recruitment? Is this a matter of free speach? Your Prophet and Madman is monitoring the situation...

Truffle$

Also at Wegman's today...

How can something that looks like litter box fodder be so expensive??