Really, You Can't Make This Shit Up.

Arizona State Senator thinks the Earth is 6000 years old.

I'm sure there's a reason why it's 6000 years old, and not 5000 or 7000, but I really don't care. Stupid people annoy me.

Show of Hands

Who is surprised by this?

In a videotape obtained by CNN, a covert GAO inspector places a bag containing bomb components on an X-ray machine conveyor belt and then walks through a magnetometer at an unidentified federal building. Unlike some covert tests that use simulated explosives, the GAO used actual bomb components in the test and publicly available information "to identify a type of device that a terrorist could use" to damage a building.

Russia Does it Again

World’s strongest vagina breaks own record lifting 14 kilos

A Russian woman has set a new world record, lifting a 14-kg. glass ball with her vagina muscles.

I can't possibly add anything to this, except... why?

Tour Time

I typically prefer the one day races to the Grand Tours. But the French version just has so much pageantry that it's hard to not appreciate. So far, the race has been a blast and so many pieces are in place for this to go down as one of the best Tour's in History. Fabian Cancellara absolutely crushed the TT on Saturday, he's so fun to watch. It must be really demoralizing to everyone else when he's on good form. When he is, he's unbeatable. Speaking of unbeatable- Mark frikkin Cavendish- holy crap. The fastest guy in the race, no question about it. If he makes to Paris, it's difficuly to imagine him not winning the Green Jersey. Thor is hanging tough, but he's going to need to get/make some luck.



Ironic maybe that when the peloton split today, Lance was in position to jump with it, and Contador was not. I doubt it means much it the overall race, but I'm sure it's feeding the fires inside Astana. It just shows that the mental aspects of cycling are just as important as the physical ones.

On the course, seeing the conditions, everyone should have known that a split was possible. Still when Columbia made the move to break it apart only a handful of guys- notably Lance, Thor, Cancellara- were where they needed to be. Those that got left behind were screwed. For most of the GC guys, the gap wasn't fatal, but to the other Green Jersey contenders- especially those who were caught out by yesterday's crash- they have their work cut out for them.

Expect big changes in the standings tomorrow from the Team Time Trial.

Go Away Already

Despite her disastrous performance in the 2008 election, Sarah Palin is still the sexiest brand in Republican politics

Palin is unlike any other national figure in modern American life—neither Anna Nicole Smith nor Margaret Chase Smith but a phenomenon all her own. The clouds of tabloid conflict and controversy that swirl around her and her extended clan—the surprise pregnancies, the two-bit blood feuds, the tawdry in-laws and common-law kin caught selling drugs or poaching game—give her family a singular status in the rogues’ gallery of political relatives. By comparison, Billy Carter, Donald Nixon, and Roger Clinton seem like avatars of circumspection. Palin’s life has sometimes played out like an unholy amalgam of Desperate Housewives and Northern Exposure.

Music Update

I haven't talked about music in while and what better time than now? Lot's of good new stuff out, and some great shows coming up. I missed Deer Tick last night at the Independant (thanks United). Their new album sounds really good. Next Wednesday is Patterson Hood supporting his excellent new album, this will be the second time I've seen him solo, the first was in Atlanta and it may have been the best show I've ever seen. Also next week is Chuck Ragan, who is always a good show. Then Friday is Cracker, and yes, they have a new album out too. I like this album more than most of their older stuff, probably because P Hood was involved.

Other good albums I've been listening to:

Kristeen Young, Damien Jurado, Blind Pilot, and Dinosaur Jr. Oops almost forgot one of my faves, Silversun Pickups

This is Encouraging

It's a step forward at least.

Three new genetic studies are providing some tantalizing hints about what causes schizophrenia.