This guy takes gorgeous pictures of New York.

joe's nyc ? 26 April, 2006 ? forsyth street

Ok, the comic isn't quite as funny as the NASA statistic offered in the commentary. Heh heh. Heh.

Overcompensating: Actual Things That Happen to Jeffrey Rowland: Stop Being Mean To Women

It often seems as though we really know nothing about Iraq's already existing internal politics, or its history, or its people. Oh, that's right. Because we don't.

(Ahem, or rather, the people in charge of fighting this war don't seem to have collaborated with the people in the US who actually do know anything about Iraq.)

Rice Says Progress In Iraq Might Aid Efforts on Turkey

San Francisco is obsessed with itself? I had no idea...

Frisco: It Has Its Faults

These are incredible.

Virtual Street Reality

Who knew Avocados had to be so heavily promoted. I'm tempted to order a roll of Ripe stickers, and do a little grocery store commando action. Just for kicks.

California Avocado Commission

Ok, these people just make me giggle out loud in my cubicle. Someday I'll learn how to write stuff.

Cartoon Violence Doesn?t Get It, Okay? - Wonkette

There is nothing funnier than a dinosaur playing loose and fast with language.

qwantz.com - dinosaur comics - April 20th 2006

So, they essentially admit that this "shake-up" is really just a big PR move:

"At the same time, the changes made public so far mainly have moved around figures who have been inside the Bush orbit for years, and White House officials made clear yesterday that no major shifts in policy are envisioned. With midterm congressional elections looming, strategists said the main goal was to make public gestures that would restore faith in Bush's ability to lead."

In other words, "Well, we're basically just throwing up a lot of smoke and mirrors, shifting people around so it LOOKS like we're making significant changes. But, nothing, really, is going to be any different." Awesome. I love politics.

Rove Gives Up Policy Post in Shake-Up

PS--Christ, this quote is even worse. Did he really say that?
""People have been watching this TV series for a long time, and it helps to plug in some new characters from time to time," said Bush political adviser Mark McKinnon. "Gets folks to tune back in and take a fresh look.""

"I'm the decider"? What, is he 5? Is decider even a word?

Bush Picks Trade Envoy as Budget Aide - New York Times

More evidence of the administration's total disconnection from reality.

Bush Declares Full Support for Rumsfeld - New York Times

That first little piece is, uh, disturbing.

Whites Take Flight on Election Day

Is this really news? Really?

Stray Shot at Hunt Reported to Have Hit Cheney in '90s

Wow. Just...wow.

Bush Authorized Secrets' Release, Libby Testified

Ok, I have major problems with this Massachusetts bill, legally requiring people to have health insurance. Its first premise, for one, is completely irrational. Yes, insurance is legally required for cars, but not everyone is legally required to have a car. If you can't afford insurance, you can opt not to have a car. But if you can't afford health insurance, you can't opt not to be alive. Second, deciding to base low-cost plans on the poverty level assumes that the poverty level is a gauge that actually has meaning in this country. A family can live above the poverty level and still be extremely poor, living paycheck to paycheck as is, without the added cost of even a low-cost health plan. (And, um, $250 a month isn't really a low-cost health plan.)

Criminalizing those who don't have insurance is NOT the way to solve the huge health care problems that face this country. Dammit. Grrrr.

Mass. Bill Requires Health Coverage

Brilliant.

Puff Piece