Sound, fury

It's almost December. Why are the tornado sirens sounding? And why must they be during the final seconds of the Chargers game? And why must the 'Skins be driving into San Diego territory?

Meh. I'd go downstairs, but the storm's not really going to reach for at least 45 more minutes (despite the sirens), and if I can't get the birds downstairs, I might as well stay up here with 'em....

American regression, vol. XVIII

Until 1963, interracial marriages were illegal in Utah. Residents who suffered chronic epileptic seizures and were not sterilized also were barred from marrying in the state.

And, until 1993, anyone who had syphilis, gonorrhea or HIV could not make that walk down the aisle.

Now, in 2005, three Utahns who want to unite as husband, wife and wife say their preferred form of marriage also should be allowed.

They are asking the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a federal judge's rejection of their challenge to state prohibitions against bigamy and polygamy.

And Kansas takes a collective sigh of relief as they're temporarily no longer the most backward-looking state in the union.

New webtoy

Seventh Sanctum - Character Title Scrambler: Shift around a few titles and you get new - and potentially traumatic - fanfic and fanart ideas....

A lot of them border on the obscure -- even for me -- but a few of 'em work pretty well:

• Rembrandt van Rijn, Sultan of Swat


• Codename: Clem (Buffy)


• Henry Kissinger, Rock Legend


• Gareth Keenan (The Office), The Mighty


• Jedi Knight John Steed (Avengers)


• Mighty Morphin Eleanor Roosevelt


• Rock Legend Fox Mulder (X-Files)


• Elizabeth Swann (PotC), Pet Detective


• Ripper (BtVS), MD


• Mighty Morphin Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde)


• Jonathan Levinson (BtVS), Queen of the Desert


• Robert Paulson (Fight Club), Heisman Trophy Winner


• Ed Wood, Knight of the Round Table


• Daria Morgendorffer (Daria), Starfighter