Random Access

Wednesday – 19 October 2011
Midweek. New comics day. Possibly even Sushi Wednesday.

And, it’s SaraRules!’ first day back at work since the twins were born.

The twins were up this morning for a feeding before I left for work, so I was able to steal a couple hugs from them before setting off. I have to admit: It’s a great way to start your day.

Stray Toasters

• Schools close as lions, tigers, bears on the prowl in Ohio
• sent me this link a little while ago. All I can say is “Holy. Crap.”
• Mark Hamill Confirms He Is Done Voicing The Joker
• In a Battle of the E-Readers, Booksellers Spurn Superheroes
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Marriott hotel worker quits with an entire marching band
• 
• Bengals trade QB Carson Palmer to Raiders
• Raiders QB Palmer: ‘I thought I was retired’
• I find it amusing that people are so “suddenly” shocked to learn that Foster The People’s Pumped Up Kicks isn’t a “fun, happy” song, despite its catchy melody. I was similarly surprised to find out – recently – that someone was unaware of what K’s Choice Not An Addict was about.  *shakes head*
• Airlines Battle Back to Profit, a Fare and a Fee at a Time
• Social Security to hand out first raises since 2009

Namaste.

Thursday – 13 October 2011
It’s a sunny No Bad News Technical Friday. The morning started with a frozen mocha and doughnuts. Personally, I think that’s a great way to kick off the last day of the work week.

It’s pretty much common knowledge that I appreciate good customer service. A few months ago, I signed up for a digital subscription to a model railroading magazine. One of the features that swayed my decision was the ability to download issues of the magazine. Win. Win.

Or so I thought until I actually tried to download an issue.

It turns out that the third-party company who distributes the digital copy uses Google Gears as their medium. Gears is being deprecated next year. So, I emailed the third-party and received the following a week later:

[THIRD PARTY] is aware that Google Gears is no longer supported by Google.  The publisher, however, at this time  has not yet opted to include the optional pdf downloadable version.

Well, okay then. And then I promptly forgot about it…

…until I got a notification that the new issue of the magazine was available. This time, I emailed the magazine directly — the subscription manager… and the editor-in-chief… and the publisher — with my question. Barely 24 hours later, I got a response from the magazine’s publisher:

The Firefox/Google Gears issue is relatively new. We have been waiting to see if [THIRD PARTY] develops an alternative solution. If they do not, we may have to offer a PDF download.

Okay. That’s all well and good, but doesn’t really give me much to go on. Still, I replied. I noted that I appreciated that the publisher took time to personally respond and that I hoped that they found a reasonable substitute for their current digital model. A few hours later, I received another response:

Rob,

A couple of things…

First off, “Mr. Melvin” was my father. No need to be that formal with me.

Secondly, thanks for the kind words about the magazine. I’m glad you are enjoying our work.

We’ll make an announcement about the download problem soon.

And it was sent, as best I can figure, from his home – not his office. Nice. And it seemed to indicate that the digital download issue would be addressed with a little more urgency than “…we’re just waiting to see what happens.” I can live with that.

Stray Toasters

• Race Remixed: In Strangers’ Glances at Family, Tensions Linger
• Lady Gaga reflects on sex, service for MAC
• For : The Wayne Tech Fall Kidz Catalogue
• Another PlayStation Network breach stings Sony customers
• 
• Grant Morrison’s Wonder Woman Series Planned for 2012 “Or Thereabouts”
• Female Super-Hero Characters and Sex: Creators Explain How Comics Can Do Better
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Oh, baby! Artist due to give birth at a New York gallery
• Denied Veterans Benefits Over Same-Sex Marriage, Ex-Sailor Challenges Law
• Religion hits the comedy circuits
• Joel Schumaker Owns Batman Mistakes , Wanted a Darker Take
  “…a darker take?” Really. With all the campiness and neon accents?!  Really, Joel?  Really?! Although, I do have to give him credit for (FINALLY) taking the blame for the atrocity that was Batman and Robin Robin 2: Electric Boogaloo

Namaste.

Wednesday – 12 October 2011
Midweek. New comics day. Selah.

A little while ago, I walked a couple of buildings over to give Josh his own “Little Plastic Legion” (HeroClix figures). While I was there, I ran into a couple of other former coworkers — Jan and Nathan. As an added bonus, Jan shared a new-to-me “Sven and Ole” joke. That, alone, was worth the trip.

Stray Toasters

• Out and Proud After ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal
• John Waters on coming out
• Ravens Matt Birk gets fined $5,000 for not wearing microphone
• Bringing Russian Soul to Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies
• What I’ve Learned: Tim Allen
• 
• Seattle “superhero” charged with pepper-spray assault
• FBI agent and federal prosecutor take Ferrari for joyride and total it; insurance co. out of luck
• Video, a New Tool for the Police, Poses New Legal Issues, Too

Namaste.

Monday – 10 October 2011
A new work week begins. My day started with feeding Little Miss Wonder Girl before heading off to work. I have to say that it was a rather nice way to start the morning. And speaking of the little ladies, they were supporting their mother’s team this weekend:

(Click pictures for larger helpings of cuteness)

Yeah… and the Raiders even pulled off a win yesterday.

The weekend was good, all around. From Canadian Thanksgiving on Saturday to dinner with the in-laws last night. As an added bonus, I was able to make it to Dr. Volt’s 21st Anniversary Sale and Signing and chat up my friend, Jake Black, for a few… as well as speak geek with a few of the guys on Saturday.

Stray Toasters

• What Happened to the American Work Ethic?
• Is This the Most Amazing Time Lapse Video Yet? (Spoiler: It Is)
• Wonder Woman’s origins have been tweaked. [SPOILER WARNING]
  I’m okay with the concept and I’m interested to see how it plays out.
• The Friendly’s That Used to Be a Lot Friendlier
  There was a Friendly’s in The Mall in Columbia that my parents used to take me to as a kid; it was one of my three favorite places in the mall, along with the miniature golf course and Patowmack Toys. It was also the place that fostered my love of sprinkles on ice cream.
• It’s Never Really Dead in Zombieland
• 
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: October 31 is Jesusween
• A Ten-Step GQ Guide To Nailing Office Style
• The Week in Style: 10.07.11
• For Archie Comics, a Return to Superheroes
• The Boilers beat the Gophers this weekend…
  …and, yes, I did bring my old, beat-up Purdue hat in to rub it in to my manager.
• Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons: Def Jam’s First 25 Years
• Poker Inc. to Uncle Sam: Shut Up and Deal
• Dr. Seuss vs. Call of Cthulhu

Namaste.

Thursday – 06 October 2011
Not only is today another NBN Thursday – and rainy (or snowy, up in the canyons) – but it’s also my father’s birthday. Today would have also been ‘s birthday. Football seasons aren’t quite the same without him around.

Unless you’ve sequestered yourself from news sources for the past 24 hours, you’re most likely aware that Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs has died:

• Steve Jobs, 1955 – 2011
• Steve Jobs, Apple founder, dies
• Apple’s Visionary Redefined Digital Age
• Steven P. Jobs: His Life, His Companies, His Products
• Steve Jobs and the idea of letting go
• Steve Jobs: The Link Between Machines and Humans

As Mr. Jobs, himself stated in his commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005:

“…you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect somewhere down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path. And that will make all the difference.

” Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking. Don’t settle.

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to Heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary….”

As I posted in a tweet earlier:

Steve Jobs looked to the future and constantly pushed forward to achieve his vision. We should all strive to do the same. #foodforthought

And we should.

Stray Toasters

• On this morning’s commute, The Black Crowes’ She Talks to Angels came on the radio. That song reminds me of my grandmother, because of this…

  

  …which I drew for my father. It made me smile.

• America’s best neighborhoods: Does yours make the grade?
• Sheen and Estevez Do Movies the Father-Son ‘Way’
• Spotify. Mmm…
• 
• Learning Klingon helps man confront his dyslexia
• Running of Bulls Is Risky, But Liability Is Low
• Thanks to one of SaraRules!’ coworkers, I think I’m inheriting new trains…
• ‘Bippolo Seed’ Uncovers Lost Stories of Dr. Seuss

Right on to the friction of the day…

Namaste.

Monday – 03 October 2011
Happy 2nd Anniversary to SaraRules!

It’s been an amazing couple of years and I look forward to many more with you!

Today has definitely been “a Monday.” The first half of my day was chock full of things that needed to get done with the quickness. And the hits just kept coming. Fortunately, things slowed down enough around 1:30 that I was able to have lunch.

Stray Toasters

• The Ravens beat the Jets (again) last night.
  Ravens Drive the Jets into the Turf
  It wasn’t the world’s most beautiful win, but it still goes in the “Win” column AND it puts the Ravens in lone possession of first place in the AFC North.
• ‘Christian’ as the magic word of politics
• 10 Small Towns with Fantastic Fall Colors
• I want to change my model railroad layout. Again.
• Caffeinated Women May Be Fighting Depression with Every Cup
• A State Grooms Its Best Students to Be Good Teachers

And that’s a wrap.

Namaste.

Friday – 30 September 2011
It’s my first 9/80 Friday off since the girls were born. They were nice enough to let me sleep until 9:30 this morning. I thought it was pretty generous of them. They even slept pretty well through the night, clocking about 2.5 to 3 hours between feedings.

And they are pretty damned cute… and getting more so by the day.

Today, we had Family Adventure Time (which pretty much translates to: “We got out of the house for a little bit”). We stopped to return lj user=”melodywise” ‘s baking dish, hit RubySnap (COOKIES!!!) and The Train Shoppe, as well as Dr. Volt’s Comic Connection and the Chow Truck. The girls were sacked out in their car seats for most of the outing. But, for SaraRules! and me, it was nice to be out for a while.

Stray Toasters

• What Gail Simmons Is Cooking Up for Rosh Hashanah
• How do I make my document look like it was written by an Cthulhu worshipping madman?
• Coming in two days…

  

• Sting at 60 looks back, and ahead
• For those not up on it, the kid in this strip is supposed to be Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe:

  

• From Esquire’s “The Style Blog”: Threads That Impress the Ladies
• States Putting Hopes in ‘Bottoms Up’ to Help the Bottom Line
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Man in ice cream costume mistaken for KKK protester
• Bank of America joins banks charging monthly debit card fees

Namaste.

Wednesday – 28 September 2011
Midweek… and it’s a short work week, to boot! And, it’s new comics day. And, it’s HeroClix: Superman release day. Today is also Rosh Hashanah. That’s a lot of “Win” in one package, if you ask me.

Work has been good; learning the new phone system has been a little challenging, but in a good way. There’s just been A LOT of information thrown at me over the past few days.

On the home front, the girls are doing well and are still quite adorable:

The girls with Mommy:

Vanessa with Daddy:

Diana with Mommy:

They’ve been “a little” fussy over the past couple of days, but (thankfully) have been sleeping fairly well at night. And they’re getting big: At their pediatrician appointment last Friday, they were both 7.5 lbs. I’d wager that they are close to – if not a little above – eight (8) lbs., each, at this point.

Stray Toasters

• Let’s see how well this Wordbooker plugin works…
• Listeria Outbreak in Cantaloupes Is the Deadliest in a Decade
• Robots Extract Coolant from Old Refrigerators
• For SaraRules! and : Penn and Teller’s Magic and Mystery Tour: exploring magic’s roots in China, India and Egypt
• 
• For Hackers, the Next Lock to Pick
• Badass of the Week: Tyrannosaurus Rex
• Logging Out of Facebook Is Not Enough
• Idris Elba: The Man Who Is Luther, Was Stringer, and Could Be James Bond
• 
• Sesame Street Wants to Make Science and Math Fun Again
• Foam on the Range: Colorado’s Beer Trail

All that AND we get to hang with Nyx and Ms. this evening…?! This day is truly full of good things.

Namaste.

Friday – 23 September 2011
Last day of the work week. Amen.

Last night was long. It came and went with little sleep: Both of the girls’ congestion kicked into high gear and made it difficult and fitful for them to sleep. Thus, SaraRules! and I got to sit up with them – literally – and try to coax them into visiting The Dreaming. Fortunately, there is a 32-ounce frozen mocha (with a triple-shot of espresso) sitting nearby.

Groove. Boogie. Sway.
Here’s a little something to get your Friday moving…

Stray Toasters

• Thanks to and Alexis for coming to visit last night and for bringing tasty Fenugreek and potato “curry” (with a sort of risotto) and naan!
• The Rising Cost of Raising a Child
• In a Girls-Only World, a Land of Brainy Beauty
• For SaraRules!: After 36 years, real-life Rocky’s story coming soon
• What Fed’s ‘Operation Twist’ means to you
• Unless you’re a parent or childcare provider, you might not believe just how much urine and poop a newborn can produce; I know that I’ve been surprised a few times in the past two weeks.

  

• Old Saturn Plant Could Get a Second Chance
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: LA firefighters in hot water over use of f(ire tr)uck in porn
• Julius Blank, Who Built the First Chip Maker, Dies at 86
• Norton Cybercrime Report 2011
  
• Hand over fist
  Paper around the stone…
• Men’s Day SS/2012 at London Fashion Week
• I wonder if the guys from TopGear (UK) used this as inspiration for their “build a caravan” challenge…?

Namaste.

22 September 2011
This NBN Thursday finds me, to quote Roy Rogers and/or Aerosmith, “back in the saddle (again).”

It’s been a good two weeks away with SaraRules! and the girls, but it’s nice to be back. Well, as nice as it ever is to go to work. Getting up and out the door was a little difficult as the little ladies didn’t sleep well last night. At least there was coffee.

Stray Toasters

• I finally broke down and joined Twitter. Oddly, the two things that pushed me over the edge were:

1. WizKids Games posted previews of upcoming ‘Clix figures there
2. Minor dissatisfaction with Facebook’s continuing “It ain’t broke, but we’re fixing it!” policy.

• The Cult of Physicality
• 
• Carter: Davis execution shows system is “unjust”
• Pictogram Music Posters, courtesy of
• House defeats Republican spending plan
• By way of : Samuel L. Ipsum
• Have You Seen This? Unhinged Trike Racing, courtesy of… *sigh*… I don’t remember
• This is more true than you might think…
  
• “Floamy”
• World’s Eeriest Abandoned Places
• From the “D’oh!” file: Gore’s loose lips let new iPhones slip
• The Line It Is Drawn: Comic Book Characters/Children’s Picture Books
• Public Said to Be Misled on Use of the PATRIOT Act

Namaste.

Tuesday – 06 September 2011
Today’s the day: SaraRules! is getting induced this evening. Sometime within the next… let’s say 24-36 hours, for the sake of argument… we’ll be parents. To twins. Wow. I’ve been getting lots of “Are you nervous” inquiries from family, friends and coworkers. The simple answer has been “Not yet,” with the expectation that I most likely will be nervous/anxious when we get to the hospital.

This past weekend was good. Nothing like a solid four-day weekend to help you get ready for – or at least (somewhat) relaxed before – having kids. As much as anything can get you “ready” for having kids. But…

• …bags have been packed
• …bassinets have been moved
• …car seats have been installed

…among other details. So, we’re about as ready as we’re going to get.

Stray Toasters

• 7 Scientific Ways Coffee Gives You Super Powers
• Troubled Schools Try Mimicking the Charters
• Badass of the Week: Paddy Mayne
• Fear the helmet: Maryland’s new uniforms draw attention
  I’m actually okay with the jersey. The helmet isn’t too bad… but the cleats!?
• 
• No pointing fingers: Defense in the cloud is everyone’s responsibility
• Google Doodle: Happy 65th, Freddie Mercury
  If, for some reason, you haven’t seen this already, it’s yet another cool ‘Doodle. Check it out.
• Postal Service Is Nearing Default as Losses Mount
• Postal Service may default on a $5.5 billion trust fund payment
• ‘We the Animals’ Delivers a Fiery Ode to Boyhood
• 
• 5 tactics for dumping digital trash
• A Debate Arises on Job Creation and Environment
• I should turn the last panel of this strip into an icon…
• Family Guy = The Office
• What’s in Store: 3 Tales of a Terrifying Future

Namaste.

Wednesday – 31 August 2011
Back in the north office again. Yesterday’s excursion to the south office wasn’t too bad. Yes, there were a couple of “Things that make you go ‘Hmm,'” but on the whole, it was fairly painless.

Last night was Guys’ Night Out. And, it will most likely be the last one I get to attend for a while. That’s okay, because the company and the food and the beer were good.

This morning started slowly, by choice. I woke up and decided that I wasn’t going to necessarily rush to get into the office. It made for a nice, leisurely start to the morning. On the flip side, this morning’s cup of coffee wasn’t  enough to stave off my attempts at conducting an inner eyelid study. So, I was on Coffee: Round 2 a little early.

And today was also New Comics & Sushi Wednesday! Sushi was good; the comics haul was VERY light: Two books. I wound up with three books, as I bought two copies of one title.

Stray Toasters

• T-minus six…
• This was emailed to me by my friend, Lianna:

  

  I’m pretty sure that this sums up SaraRules!’ feelings, as well.

• America’s Muslims, fact vs. fiction
• Arguing liquor laws: A failure to communicate
  I listened to part of this on the way to work this morning. It was… something to behold.
• Eight Miami players suspended by NCAA for improper benefits
• Hurricane Cost Seen as Ranking Among Top Ten
• Federal Austerity Changes Disaster Relief
• The Art of the Title
• TopGear + HALO = Amusingly Awesome
• The New Resentment of the Poor
• Parenthood Got You Down? You’re Not Alone, courtesy of
• In Latest Breach, Hackers Impersonate Google to Snoop on Users in Iran
• there there: City Pride T-shirts

Namaste.

Monday – 29 August 2011
It’s Monday. So far, it hasn’t been bad,  although my morning commute was somewhat eventful. I had just left home, made it to the first traffic light – which was green when I got to it – and proceeded across the intersection. I was about 2/3 of the way across the intersection when I happened to look to my right. And then I saw it: A sedan, barreling down the street. Coming right at me.

Well, damn…

Fortunately, I was far enough across the intersection – and just far enough ahead of that car – that it wasn’t a problem. (Well, aside from the obligatory Intestinal Fortitude Test.) I don’t know what they were/weren’t thinking, but it made for an interesting start to the day. The rest of the commute was pretty mundane, by comparison.

Yesterday, SaraRules!, and I went to breakfast at Ruth’s Diner. After breakfast, the three of us went to Utah’s Hogle Zoo to experience “Zoorassic Park.” (Pictures here) I wasn’t expecting SaraRules! to make the trip through the entire zoo — 9 months pregnant and late-August heat — but she did.

Yesterday was also Read Comics in Public Day. I went to Wheeler Farms and (briefly) read comics. I even have pictures to prove it. Thanks to SaraRules! for indulging me.

Stray Toasters

• Eight days… or less.
• Down Atlantic, a Refrain: It Could Have Been Worse
• Airports Resume Service in Northeast, but Backups Could Persist for Days
• For SaraRules!: Driving While Dead
• For Meliko: Women Fighters in Reasonable Armor
• A Man’s Guide to Taking Care of Himself
• 
• Interested in tickets to the upcoming Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony performance? You should head over to Utah Symphony’s blog for a chance to win a pair.
• The Ultimate Cross Over Star Hero
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Flying While Black and Reading Antique Aviation Books Lands Folk Musician in Security Theatre Hell
• Sharpton’s New MSNBC Gig Part of a Bigger Story
• This is going on The Covet List.
• 
• Unemployed? Go to North Dakota
• Science, Ruining Everything Since 1543

Namaste.

Friday – 26 August 2011
It’s my “on” 9/80 pre-season “Purple Friday.”

Last night, and his kids came over to watch the “Battle of the Beltway.” (More on the game, below). The kids played with LEGO and stuffed animals and action figures – and occasionally watched the game – so, I’m taking that to mean that they were sufficiently entertained.

This morning, I got into the office a little early. The fringe benefit of that: Being able to play this – fairly loudly – before anyone else showed up.

It was a good way to kick off the morning.

I left for a while to head to the hospital: SaraRules! had what should be the next-to-last NST of the pregnancy. And, once again, the kids were showing off. In a BIG way. So much so that Cathy, today’s nurse, said that she was done about ten minutes in… but was required to take at least 20 minutes of readings. (Not only were they showing off, but they are doing fine.)

And, on the way back to the office, I managed to get this picture:

So, all-in-all, not a bad Friday, so far.

Instant Replay: Football

Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens
31 – 34
The Battle of the Beltway 2011 For a game that started off slowly, this one gained steam and just kept right on rolling. Both teams’ first strings looked pretty good. The Skins’ defense was fast and moved with purpose. Fortunately, the Ravens seemed to have learned a few things in the past two weeks and patched a lot of the holes in the offensive line. QB Joe Flacco’s first “reception” was an interception. Fortunately, his aim and timing got better. Tyrod Taylor got into the game in the 3rd Quarter and looked good – he showed some serious poise in the pocket, even under pressure, but he also showed that he wasn’t afraid of running the ball himself. I think that he’d make a fine backup to Flacco. And, WR Brandon Jones…?! (click for larger image) Welcome to Baltimore! Way to make your presence known! Next, the Ravens hit the road to take on the Falcons – who handed them an ugly loss last year – for the last preseason game of 2011.

Stray Toasters

• For SaraRules!, three words: Chuck. Finley. T-shirt.
• Buffett to Invest $5 Billion in Shaky Bank of America
• Five Takeaways from Skins Game
• Comic Book Resources had this picture in their D23 coverage, with the caption: “They call him… Bruce”

  

  He doesn’t look a thing like Batman OR Bruce Campbell!

• Buy “Made in China” goods? Benefits to U.S. may surprise you
• Smart Versus Realism — Greg Rucka takes Hollywood to task
• 
• In Britain, a Meeting on Limiting Social Media
• Like No Other View on Earth
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: The Holy Bible: Stock Car Racing Edition

  

• Han Solo in Carbonite ice molds
• Quake a wake-up call for Eastern U.S.

Namaste.

Tuesday – 23 August 2011
Day Two. I apparently have far too much blood in my caffeinestream. This may require a supplemental infusion of bean squeezin’s.

Yesterday was a pretty good day, even for a Monday. The zoo office wasn’t chock full of monkeydom, which makes for a good day. I made dinner last night. Despite the appeal of this…

…I cooked Spaghetti (with my sauce recipe), salad and garlic bread. We ate while we watched Monday Night Football. At halftime, we got to talk with Grace and Sophia (as well as Rana, John and my father) on Skype. And after the game, there was the season premiere of Top Gear. Win-Win-Win.

We’re roughly two weeks (plus or minus) from the advent of The Next Generation. Is it a bad sign that I can envision something like this conversation taking place:

Stray Toasters

• Visitors moved by first look at MLK Jr. memorial
• The 80th Anniversary of Babar
• Engagement Proposal as an Elaborate Portal 2 Level
• Motown songwriter Nick Ashford dies
• 
• Raiders pick Terrelle Pryor in supplemental draft
• Weighing Race and Hate in a Mississippi Killing
• 15 days exploring Muslim America
• 
• We have Columbus to thank for lager beer
• A 15-Year-Old Girl’s Bionic Hand Lets Her Live a Normal Life
• For those who haven’t seen it yet: OK Go performing The Muppet Show Theme

• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file:
• In Peoples’ Minds, Being a Zombie Is Better Than Being a Vegetable
• A Chinese version of Batman’s origins
• Tron Guy and Duct Tape Go Perfectly Together

Quote of the Day
Near the end of our video chat with Grace and Sophia, Leila (the newborn) started crying, to which John said:

“Sound of angels, Rob… Sound of angels. Just remember: Lucifer was an angel, too.”

The best part was the total deadpan delivery. It made SaraRules! and me laugh.

Namaste.