Progress and regression, thx Slashdot

Progress: EA rethinks overtime policy. In a related note, release of The Sims 2 University pushed back to March of 2030. And don't miss Lore's review of The Urbs on Wired, especially the screenshots and captions, which are inspired. Here's a man who enjoys his work.

Regression: Former CIA chief calls for limiting Internet(s) access to those who are security-conscious. Hey, that's a slam-dunk idea. You realize, George, it's a gift from God that you were allowed to resign or retire and not be dragged kicking and screaming from a job you screwed up as badly as anyone with a brainstem could? Oh, next time, you might want to let the press into your little event or people might think you're trying to hide something. Idiot.

Progress: had a deep deep craving for Haribo raspberries the other day and finally ventured to the mall to retrieve some. Despite the product description, I find eating a few to be efforless and not eating more than I can grab to be the true challenge. Indeed, 24 hours after getting them, they are now all gone. Also impulse-bought some Razzles, after thinking of them off and on for ten years, and rediscovering them was something of a disappointment, but Bee likes them, so not all is lost.

Muffin is preening the individual hairs on the back of my left hand. It's...disconcerting.

Sports and Runts

Seen on ESPN's front page: "The Sports Guy says college football's best conference is the mighty NFC." 1. Sigh. I assume you mean the NFL, but when you're talking about the NFC, it's hard to tell. 2. You're utterly wrong, as the inter-conference results and team records indicate, with a possibility of a nine- or ten-win team from the AFC not qualifying for the playoffs, but let's not sully this with numbers. 3. Jesus, enough of the "Sports Guy" crap. Honestly, there are a handful of people who give half a crap about a "Sports Guy" cartoon, and their last names are all "Simmons." 4. Do you have a given name or not? What kind of arrogance does it take to call yourself "the Sports Guy," anyway? Wolf Blitzer doesn't call himself "the News Guy," nor Al Roker himself the "Weather Guy." We're not impressed. Use your damn name, already.

Rrgh.

If possible, even more cerebrally-challenged sports news -- Barry Bonds testified a year ago that he used steroids but didn't know they were steroids. Yeah, right. For such a charming man to be so cagey and suspicious of MLB and yet to give his trainer $35K for "flaxseed oil" just screams ludicrous. And despite being told so during his testimony -- Yeah, Barry, that gunk just happens to be a steroid, by the way -- that hasn't stopped any of his repeated denials since testifying. The ESPN poll indicates 85 percent of responders don't believe him. It doesn't help that Bonds has the media savvy of a rabid pitbull and could care less how you feel about him as long as he gets his $17 million a year. Here's to your health, Barry. Have you taken a look at your pituitary gland lately?

Muffin has discovered Runts. Muffin wants them. Daddy keeps trying to eat them covertly, but Muffin hears the rustle of the bag and tears after them. He will bite and tug at my fingers if I close them around the Runts. If I pop them into my mouth, he nips at my lips and will sometimes try to stick his head in my mouth looking for the Runts. Perhaps he's being spoiled.

The Bah, Humbug Files

A Bay Harbor Islands resident has asked a federal court to compel the town in northeast Miami-Dade County to include a nativity scene in its holiday decorations.

Sondra Snowdon, who last year went on a three-month fast to protest the lack of a Christian holiday display in her community, claimed in a federal lawsuit that the town violated her civil rights. The suit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Miami, names the town, City Manager Greg Tindle and Mayor Isaac Salver as defendants.

I'll take "Missing the Christmas Spirit Entirely" for $2000, Alex. (...Violating her civil rights? Dude, you live in Florida and that's the worst thing you can get worked up over?)