So how's the weather where you are? Here's what it's like in Jersey:

( Pictures after the cut )

When the Elder Gods arise to clear the earth of man, there will be no stopping them. And so each of us must, in our hearts, face the following question: "Who will be eaten first?"

Have you done all you can to ensure that your place is secure?

Wired magazine recently did a feature called Very Short Stories. The inspiration is explained thusly: "Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ('For sale: baby shoes, never worn.') and is said to have called it his best work." So, inspired by that, they rounded up several prominent writers to try their hands at penning their own six-word ultra-mini-novellas. My favorites:

The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
- Orson Scott Card

He read his obituary with confusion.
- Steven Meretzky

Leia: "Baby's yours." Luke: "Bad news…"
- Steven Meretzky

Go check out the rest of them. There's lots of good stuff in there.

Just stumbled across this the other day, and it's really neat: Project Gutenberg. They have over 19,000 free eBooks available on the site. Not pirated stuff, just loads of public domain books. Take a look at the top 100 downloads of the past day, week, and month here. Just looking through that is exhilarating and depressing knowing that there's so much cool, free stuff available that I will never be able to get through all of it in my lifetime. Also, it gives me a reason to actually desire Sony's new eBook reader.

So John Gibson is upset about the recent decision to demote Pluto from it's planetness, and he's not taking it lying down. Warning: That link leads to what may be the scariest article you ever read.

( Article reposted after the cut for posterity )

If you're anything like me, you're disgusted with the state of women's swimwear today. They leave nothing to the imagination, and arouse the immoral, lusty desires of any poor young man who happens to set eyes upon them. Why, it seems like every year, the suits just get smaller and smaller. (Sometimes I like to joke that they'll be making them out of dental floss before you know it!)

Well, ladies and gentlemen, finally someone has stepped up to do something about this scourge threatening the purity of this nation's young men and women. I present to you, WholesomeWear!

"Swimwear that "highlists the face, rather than the body" includes an undergarment with bright colors at the neck and shoulders to draw the eye to the face. The spandex undergarment fits like a body suit, while the loose fitting Taslan outer garment limits cling and adds modesty and style. A single zipper unites both garments for swimming ease."

Yes, you read that right. These suits are not trashy, and revealing, but they're still stylish! Don't believe me? Well you don't have to take my word for it. Just take a look at the Culotte Swimmer and the Skirted Swimmer. They each come in a variety of colors, so there's a perfect fit for everyone! And there's even a Slimming Swimmer, for those of us with a little "extra baggage".

Thank you, WholesomeWear! This could be the first step to reclaiming our society from the horrible clutches of sin and vice in which it has become ensnared!

Update: I am posting this from my Linux box. Getting the wireless working was a bit of a pain, but other than that, things went smoothly. Hurrah!

All right, I'm doing it. As I type this, I'm re-sizing partitions on my old computer as part of a Kubuntu Linux installation. I felt my geek cred was suffering because of the fact that I've never run Linux on any of my home computers. So, lemme just try this on for size:

*ahem*

"That's my Linux box."

Yeah, that's nice. Wish me luck.

Question: What do you get when you mix Mentos and Diet Coke?

Answer: A recreation of the Bellagio Fountains of course.

Improv Everywhere is a really cool group from New York that "causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 50 missions involving hundreds of undercover agents." They're currently getting a lot of attention for their Best Buy Mission in which "80 Improv Everywhere Agents infiltrate a Best Buy, dressed like employees." It's really clever, funny, and worth a look.

Some other cool examples of their missions are Cell Phone Sympony, (60 people entered The Strand bookstore in New York City, checked their bags with cell phones turned on inside them, then 60 other people standing 5 blocks away called all the phones at the same time), and Best Gig Ever, my personal favorite of the ones I've read so far, where they “Pick a struggling rock band and turn their small gig into the best show of their lives".