Yellow-bellied dogs.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Do you hear that? That, my friends, is the yowling of a pack of mangy coyotes crooning over their scavenged bounty of a trash can packed full of hypodermic needles. You see, the Minnesota GOP-led Legislature recently voted to put a constitutional same-sex marriage amendment up to a voter referendum in 2012.
( Cut. )

A little something for the ladies

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

AKA, the most thinly veiled excuse for a post ever. But it's Friday so I'm going for it.

After the recent thrashing the Liberal Party of Canada took in the election, falling to just 33 seats in Parliament, Michael Ignatieff stepped down as party leader. Of the names being bandied about for the open spot is Justin Trudeau. Yes, for those of you aware of Canadian politics, he is that Trudeau, son of Pierre Trudeau, arguably Canada's favourite politician and most definitely our most awesome (the man did a pirouette behind the Queen's back and tried to paddle a home made canoe from Florida to visit Castro. Not to mention - Just watch me.)

With the Liberals so thoroughly defeated in Parliament and in the eyes of the Canadian public, many see Justin Trudeau as the only hope to return the party to it's former glory, at least the only way to do so quickly. It may be cheap sensationalism, banking on his name and looks but I am all for it. We need a strong centrist party, especially if we want any chance of removing the Conservatives from power in the next election.

Hopefully that is enough commentary for the mods to let this stand, because I would like to get on to the true purpose of this post, eye candy. Let me introduce our future PMILF:

( Hotness behind the cut )

Off Topic Friday -- not exactly lulzy, but good...

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

The Takeaway has been playing interviews today in their series "In My Experience" which is aimed at offering some wisdom from people who have had fascinating or unusual lives. On Monday, they interviewed TV and movie star Betty White. Listening to this, I realize that when Betty White does die (hopefully many years from now) they will need to hold a state funeral because 1 million people or more will show up:

On Wednesday, I had to stop my car and listen while feeling a little bit teared up listening to Cary Grant's daughter talk about her experience being raised by her father who stopped making movies when she was born so he could dedicate his time and energy to raising her:

Now, seriously, listen to that without feeling a little tear in your eye, I dare you.

The challenge to listeners is to think about the best advice you ever got from anyone who has earned the right to give you advice. I immediately thought about my grandfather, which isn't hard -- I think about him every day even though he died in 1993. He was a carpenter who "retired" to teach woodworking to disabled students -- something he did until the day he died. He was about 5 feet and 1 inch tall. Barrel chested. Glasses. Mustache. Smoked cigars and drank whiskey. I spend too much of my life thinking about academic ideas that amount to very little probably, but he's the part of me that kicks my ass when I forget about doing things that are useful. And I miss him every damn day.

Two of his sayings are imprinted on me pretty heavily. The first is "Measure twice. Cut once." That's been pretty damned good advice first as a teacher and now as an academic. The other is a piece of paper that he had over his drafting table and which is sitting over my desk now: "Those who don't attempt the ridiculous never achieve the impossible" which has been my inspiration for a lot of lesson with future teachers who are tempted to think they have to accept that some kids will never be interested in their classes.

For discussion: What's the best advice you've ever gotten?

A few somewhat rumbling thougths on the role of the government.

[ja-va.livejournal.com]

There is much debate in the US about role of government and whether or not we need it at all in the first place. Some people advocate that we do not, or at least as little as possible, especially in the economic sector, since government only disrupts the markets and markets will take care of themselves without the government interruption much better than with it.

There are few things these people should remember, though.

( few more words on the subject )

Friday lols!

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Hi all! I hope I am allowed to initiate the Friday lols thread? =)

As some of you may know, the Eurovision song contest is underway this week (first semi-final on Tuesday, second semi-final on Thursday and the final will be on Saturday). This reminds me that in the winter of 2010 the readers of the Eurovision website voted for their least favourite Eurovision songs ever. So here is the entire list of the worst of the worst Eurotrash songs! Before listening to the songs I advise you to have aspirin or if needed alcoholic beverages at hand to ease the pain...

You have been warned!

( PREPARE THE SEDATIVES!!! =) )

After all this, I hope you are still alive and able to add your lols!