a lubricated song-and-dance

this indian music video about the importance of using condoms is maybe the best sex education tool i have ever seen. while the lyrics are great, my favorite part is the condom freestyle dance between verses.

the speech that never was

William Safire, who now does the On Language column for the NY Times, wrote a speech for President Nixon in 1969 in the event that something happened during the Apollo 11 mission to strand the astronauts on the moon.

Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.

(courtesy of kottke.org)

wsj: slang usage sucks

Watch your language

A markets column contained a passage in early editions quoting the CEO of a home builder predicting that 2007 was “going to suck, all 12 months of the calendar year.”

Between editions, the language was mercifully cleaned up. Dictionaries call the verb suck used this way either slang or vulgar slang. We shouldn’t stoop to such usage just because almost everyone else does. If it is uttered in a direct quote by somebody major, the president or the pope, say, that’s another matter. If the source is an ordinary CEO, we might consider including it, but only if a page editor or deputy managing editor approves.

(courtesy of the wall street journal's style and substance)

this dog is awesome

flyer for an awesome dog (courtesy of boingboing)

so begins the links barrage

i realized that i sent a lot of web sites to my friends on slow days at work, and it would be a lot more efficient to post them here. so gird your loins and hide the silver, because you are about to get a lot of really cool links, courtesy of moi.

first up, a blog of comic book panels featuring crotch punches. (courtesy of boingboing)

let's get serious for a moment, shall we?

I'm participating in AIDS Walk Atlanta, a yearly 5k fundraising walkathon that raises funds for AIDS organizations in the metro Atlanta area. These programs provide essential care to men and women in our area who are living with HIV/AIDS. Beneficiaries of the 5k are listed here. The walk takes place Sunday, Oct. 21, and I'm on Creative Loafing's team.

Small donations can do a lot of good, especially if we're all willing to give a little.

Even if you don't make a donation in my name, any money you can throw at this 5K is tax-deductible and will earn you massive good karma points.

my donation site is here.

some things

1. my car was towed on sunday night from an empty parking lot in a strip mall where none of the businesses were open. also, my debit card has gone missing, so i canceled it the day before. two things about towing companies: they are run by people who daily accrue a massive karmic debt, and they only take cash. you can see why, then, my whitehot rage has only just now started to subside.

2. i went to the gym today, and realized that i always park right by the door so i don't have to walk as far. seems a little counterintuitive, but i'll probably keep right on doing it.

3. i went to see nickel creek on friday, and during the concert the guy playing upright bass busted out his clogging skills. my friend emily turned to me and said "wow, i didn't see that clogging coming." does anyone see clogging coming? ever?