Ort.

“Nobody argues that freedom of religion the Muslims have to build that mosque somewhere however there are a 100 mosques already in New York to chose and be so adamant about this exact location just a block or two away from 9/11 is just that knife it feels like.”

- Sarah Palin: Why Are The Muslims Choosing A Location ‘Just A Block Or Two Away From 9/11’

Now I finally get it. Thanks Sarah.

The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet | Wired Magazine

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:55:14 -0400

The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet | Wired Magazine

Dr. Dog @ Governors Island

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:40:47 -0400

Dr. Dog @ Governors Island

"Sometimes people ask me what Philly is like. It has such a bad reputation, they say. And I want to..."

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:29:31 -0400

“

Sometimes people ask me what Philly is like. It has such a bad reputation, they say. And I want to say Philly is every step into the street to see if the trolley is coming, every First Friday on every summer evening, every knee-busting move to every third-floor apartment, every 2 a.m. bike ride on every hushed avenue, every Clark Park flea market, every sweaty dance at the 700 Club, every box of Crab Fries at every Phillies game, every potluck crammed with the vegetable-studded quinoa of every drifting dreamer, every poker game laced with overeducated banter, every slurred come-on at every corner bar, every encore from the terrace at the TLA. It’s every bundle of chard bought from every Amish farmer, every potpie sold at every intersection by every dressed-up ideologue, every delicacy simmered in every reduction, every roar from every bar after every touchdown.

Philly is an answer to Peggy Lee asking, “Is that all there is?”

”

- Farewell to All That :: David Faris

"Let’s do it like Bell Curve: Brooklyn (-2) three-girl (+5) group The Shalitas got its start..."

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:38:25 -0400

“Let’s do it like Bell Curve: Brooklyn (-2) three-girl (+5) group The Shalitas got its start singing backup for Marah (-1). They can make things bluesy and sultry (+3), but mostly they do really sweet, Mowtowny pop (+7), where everybody sings (+3) and the world seems bright and beautiful (+9). They’re playing the M Room (+6) on Saturday (Aug. 14, themanhattanroom.com). Oh yeah, they also just got nominated for an Emmy (+1?) for a song featured in a commercial for the Mets (-978,959,391,393).”

- Kaleidoscope :: City Paper

Pencil Tip Micro Sculptures By Dalton Ghetti

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:29:20 -0400

Pencil Tip Micro Sculptures By Dalton Ghetti

The 2010 Map Of Social Networking

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:54:17 -0400

The 2010 Map Of Social Networking

Porcupine Racetrack (A cappella cover)

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:53:36 -0400

Porcupine Racetrack (A cappella cover)

"Passing the state-aid bill should be the easiest of no-brainers, but the fact that even this is..."

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:47:21 -0400

“Passing the state-aid bill should be the easiest of no-brainers, but the fact that even this is problematic makes ambitious policymaking impossible. Ideally, right now, Democrats should be preparing a massive jobs bill, without any concern at all for the deficit. When asked if they consider job growth more important than the deficit, Dems should be bold about it: “You’re damn right we do.””

- Steve Benen

Do You Love Me by guster

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:54:00 -0400

Do You Love Me by guster

The Proposition 8 Ruling (in simple language)

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:26:33 -0400

squashed:

On August 4, 2010, Federal Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that California’s Proposition 8, which prohibits California from recognizing same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional. The ruling was stayed pending appeal—which means that nothing will happen until a Federal Appeals court reviews it. As you might imagine, it will be appealed. The ruling itself is 138 pages long. I’ll summarize.

The previous lawsuit challenged Proposition 8 on procedural grounds. My post on that case is here. The California Supreme Court disagreed with me. Since the California Supreme Court gets the final say on the California Constitution, it got the last word.

The new suit was brought by two same-sex couples on different grounds. And, since it was brought in Federal court, the California Supreme Court doesn’t get a say at all. Something strange happened. California’s government was sued. The Attorney General said, essentially, “I agree that this thing is unconstitutional.” The other government groups said, “I’m not going to bother defending this.” So did a number of other people, including “ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on 8.”

The people who brought the lawsuit (“the Plaintiffs”) claimed two things. First, they claimed that marriage is a fundamental right under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. (There is some decent precedent on this—the only question is whether the protected marriage is the one man/one woman kind of marriage). If the 14th Amendment protects same-sex marriage, the court reviews the case using “strict scrutiny” which I’ll discuss below.

Read More

1937 Unity Cycling Club

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:21:25 -0400

1937 Unity Cycling Club