There are few things that annoy me as much as writing that just sucks (mine sucks as well, of course, but that’s a different thing entirely). This morning, eager for news about the Chiefs 30-20 win over the Dolphins last night I came across this tidbit from a Scout.com article:

Dick Vermeil is a rare brand of person. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and he brings it from the hip to the media, to the fans, his coaches and his beloved players. That’s what makes him so unique. That’s also what makes him so special.

Look at what we have here. Dick Vermeil is rare. He is also unique. In addition, he is special. Of course, rare is defined as " Infrequently occurring; uncommon". Unique, "Being the only one of its kind", and Special, "Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional". This seems like a lot of using the same words over and over again, doesn’t it? Can we just agree that he’s cool and leave it alone?

And don’t get me started on SO unique. Isn’t "unique" a word that can’t be modified? I mean, if unique means "one of a kind", then how can something be SO unique? "Dude, you are VERY one of a kind. I mean, EXTRA unique! I don’t say that to just anyone, but it’s true for you. Bob, he’s just unique in all the usual ways, but YOU, you’re different. Superunique! Ultraunique! You’re Uniqueman, Defender of the Uniqueverse!"

Okay, okay, I know I’m the only one who gives a shit about this. I’ll shut up now.

–Uniqueman awaaaaaaaay! 

Court Rules Kan. Can’t Single Out Gay Sex (AP) – AP – The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday unanimously struck down a state law that punished underage sex more severely if it involved homosexual acts, saying "moral disapproval" of such conduct is not enough to justify the different treatment.

(Via Yahoo! Top Stories)

 A little sanity in Kansas at last.  The court can’t punish underage consenual sex differently if both parties are the same gender.  This stems from a case in 2000 in which an 18 year old was sentenced to 17 years in prison because his underage partner was 14.  Had it been a heterosexual encounter, the sentence would have been 15 months.

 I had no idea that Waylon Jennings was also a chubby child actor.  Read more for a comparison photo.

‘Little Rascals’ Actor Gordon Lee Dies (AP) –

AP – Gordon Lee, the chubby child actor who played Spanky McFarland’s little brother Porky in the "Little Rascals" comedies, has died. He was 71.

(Via Yahoo! Top Stories)

Here’s a picture of Waylon as a country music baladeer.

 Add my kids to the list of folks who are consumed with the Crazy Frog.  This could be a hot Christmas item at my house.

Plushie Crazy Frog love –

Dudes, we know how much you LOVE Crazy Frog, and so if merely having the damn thing as your ringtone or permanently stuck in your head isn’t enough for you, next month some site in the UK is going to start selling a 10-inch plush Crazy Frog doll that is guaranteed to haunt whomever you give it to until the end of their days.

[Via thegadgetblog]

(Via Engadget)

LESBIANISM ‘BOUT TO TAKE OVER – "Yo Butt Aint Made For That!" Unintentionally hilarious sermon given by sassy black preacher who blames lesbianism for his sons inability to get a date for the prom. Rev. Willie F. Wilson of Union Temple Baptist Church is well known for being a polarizing figure. However, it appears that rampant lesbianism has not impaired Hamani Wilson’s dating life.

(Via Metafilter)

Don’t know what to do with this one.  Listen to the sermon.  Make your own judgements. 

Personally, I would say its hilarious except for two things.  1) This man is a leader in his community and 2) he seems to genuinely believe that his son’s dating problems (and by extension problems in the community) are related to all the girl on girl action happening out there.

If his son is anything like the dad and he asked me to the prom I might respond with "sorry, I’d love to go with you but I don’t date men" too.

Had to delete the feed from Bash.org since, well, bash.org has fallen off the map.  Seriously, the site doesn’t resolve anymore.  If anyone sees this fabulous site, please report in.  I miss it.

Fred Ziari spent $5 million of his own money to put up a huge WiFi cloud in Oregon.  Wonder of wonders, he’s seeing return on his investment while helping his government and business customers save money and do more with their resources.

While cities around the country are battling over plans to offer free or cheap Internet access, this lonely terrain is served by what is billed as the world’s largest hotspot, a wireless cloud that stretches over 700 square miles of landscape so dry and desolate it could have been lifted from a cowboy tune.

……

And for the Hermiston Police Department, having squad cars equipped with a wireless laptop means officers can work less overtime by being able to file their crime reports from the field.

While the network was initially set up for the benefit of city and county officials, it’s the area’s businesses that stand to gain the most, say industry experts.

For the Columbia River Port of Umatilla, one of the largest grain ports in the nation, the wireless network is being used to set up a high-tech security perimeter that will scan bar codes on incoming cargo.

"It has opened our eyes and minds to possibilities. Now that we’re not tied to offices and wires and poles, now what can we do?" said Kim Puzey, port director.

There are a lot of obstacles to municipal WiFi.  None of those obstacles are technical.  All of them are political. Lets start building mesh networks now.  By the time the telcos and ISPs catch up, it will be too late. 

Groups Threaten to Boycott American Girl (AP) – AP – American Girl, manufacturer of a highly popular line of dolls and children’s books, has become the target of conservative activists threatening a boycott unless the toy maker cuts off contributions to a youth organization that supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians.

(Via Yahoo! Top Stories)

 Boycott away you stuck up bastards.  When you are willing to have real conversations with kids about the real world and what they are really going to face, then you can whine to me about things like this.  There is no vast left-wing liberal agenda to turn your child into a slut.  And on a bit more comical note, if you don’t support abortion rights, wouldn’t acceptance of lesbians seem to fall in line with your cause?

I don’t mean to paint with too broad of a brush here, but whenI hear things like:

"Parents need to know that this effort to promote self-esteem among girls is not as innocent as it seems," [Ann] Scheidler [director of the Pro-Life Action League] said. "While Girls Inc. has some good programs, they also support abortion, oppose abstinence-only education for girls, and condone lesbianism."

it makes it sound like they usher the girls into a room, turn down the lights and whisper "allright girls. the first thing you need to know is that sex is fun, but not if there’s a penis in the room with you.  However, should you find yourself coming into contact with a penis, here’s a voucher for an abortion."

What a load of horseshit.

Programs like Girls Inc. that aim to promote self-esteem have a tough enough job without ignoring or candy coating the world.  Men suck, women should know this.  They should learn it at a young age. There are enough assholes in the world that girls should be made aware of their own worth and personal value before some drunk slob in a bar manages to flatter them right out of their pants because he stroked her ego when noone else ever had.

I have a daughter and the time is soon coming when I will have to sit down with her and explain that, unfortunately, there will be men out there who only like her because she has breasts.  I will also explain that breasts are the least important thing about her and that true friends and lovers will think she’s beautiful even if she’s in a thresher accident.

I hope the Pro-Life League, the American Family Association and the Oh My God People Have Sex And We Never Knew Foundation all read this and call me a man hating lesbian baby killer because I would feel a lot safer about my daughter’s third decade of life if she learned a little bit of that.
 

 NSFW due to naked women.  On the other hand, its not porn.  Just a really weird use of flash that is going to take up the next 30 minutes of my life.

Ladies, the answer to the question is… Yes, this is the website embodiement of the game men play in their heads pretty much all the time. 

Does she walk? Does she talk? Does she come complete? – Friday Flash. NSFW. Mouse over and click. NSFW.

(Via Metafilter)

 Someone’s PhD is entitled "Noodles as a Historical Agent of Change" and he has a grant to study this crap.

 Pastafarians Unite!!!
 

World’s oldest noodles found — in China (Reuters) – Reuters – Italians are known for them and theories suggest they may have originated in the Middle East but scientists said Wednesday the world’s oldest known noodles, dating back 4,000 years, were made in China.

(Via Yahoo! Oddly Enough)