Thanks to everyone who left birthday wishes in the comments and email yesterday. Y'all are the best!

On Wednesday, I got a very unexpected birthday present from some co-workers who broke all records in accomplishing a regularly scheduled task. Once they finish, then I have several hours worth of work that I have to do with their results. Usually I have to do that on Thursday, but because they were so quick this time I was able to get it all done Wednesday afternoon and take my birthday off. They'll get a big thanks from me, and they didn't even know.

Rachael got me The Mummy: The Legacy Collection. Tres cool. Thanks sweetie!!!! You may remember that last year for my birthday she got me the rereleased Bakshi animation Wizards, and for Father's Day she bought me a hybrid rocket motor system, so I recommend that y'all get on her gift-giving list, because she's good at it.

I've been on a movie kick lately, so Liz took me out for a Mexican dinner (my favorite) and then turned me loose in Suncoast Video. I picked up Clash of the Titans, Blonde in Bondage (1950's Swedish exploitation flick), and a collection of four low-budget horror movies that had two things to recommend them; I haven't seen any of them, and they all contain nudity (look for upcoming reviews). Altogether I've probably bought two dozen B-movies in the last couple of weeks, so I'll have plenty to watch on those cold winter nights.

Thanks again folks, you made the day special.

Posted by: Ted at 05:47 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Rachael has joined several clubs at her college. Among them are the Pagan Club and the Young Republicans. That oughtta cause a few raised eyebrows.

Posted by: Ted at 01:47 PM | category: Square Pegs
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1 These are, like, the World's Most Serious birthday posts.

Posted by: Victor at September 08, 2005 03:54 PM (L3qPK)

2 So is she a pagan, does she just want to meet pagans, or make fun of pagans, or do pagans have the best parties?

Posted by: nic at September 08, 2005 05:33 PM (l+W8Z)

3 In her words, "it just looked interesting".

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 05:52 PM (+OVgL)

4 Pagan ... cool...

Hey when did you get the naked girl riding the rocket logo? That's ultra hot, is that Jen ?



lol

Posted by: Oorgo at September 08, 2005 06:32 PM (lM0qs)

5 Jen is a brunette.

Posted by: Jennifer at September 08, 2005 06:37 PM (7NNfp)

6 Hmm... brunette eh? ... and Ted likes brunettes... hmmm... You read of course, his review of Dr. Horror's Erotic House of Idiots...

Posted by: Oorgo at September 08, 2005 06:42 PM (lM0qs)

7 Speaking of raising eyebrows, I'm with oorg. The new girl is stronger than train smoke baby!

Posted by: shank at September 08, 2005 09:45 PM (jfEhX)

8 I put her up for one day last year. I might leave her up for a couple days this year. She's my birthday girl.

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 11:04 PM (+OVgL)

9 One Tip:
"Skyclad" does not mean suitable attire for launching rockets in, despite the name.

You could have a nasty accident.

Posted by: Zoe Brain at September 10, 2005 09:09 AM (jJBFr)

10 D'oh! I missed her!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at September 11, 2005 06:24 PM (Ys8qm)

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Governator to veto Gay Marraige Bill in California. His reasoning is that five years ago Proposition 22 was on the ballot, prohibiting the recognition of same-sex marraige in California, and was passed by a wide margin.

In other words, the majority of Californian's don't want it, and he, unlike the Legislature, remembers that he works for the people.

In related news, the Massachusetts state legislature ingnored repeated requests to put the matter of gay marriage up for a vote, and eventually the State Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage couldn't be denied. This made gay marriage supporters very happy. This made anti-gay marriage folks very unhappy.

So now the anti- foks are mobilizing and the state legislature is looking into putting it up for a vote. Guess what? The anti- folks far outnumber the pro-, so if it goes to the polls, it's likely that the law will change, making the court decision moot.

Democracy can be a bitch. But there are ways to make your dream happen.

This isn't one of them. Publishing a list of everyone who signs the petition against gay marriage? Cheap, stupid, and it will, in the end, have exactly the opposite effect that they hope for.

I've said this for a long time (Dawn probably remembers some debates I had in her comments way back), the only way for gays to win approval for marriage is by convincing voters that it's a good and decent thing to do. Using the courts to win the right accomplishes nothing permanent, and doing an end-around the voters by legislation isn't the answer either.

Convince enough average voters that Gay Marriage isn't doomsday and you'll get it. But all of the tantrums and name-calling and attempted intimidation isn't going to change a single mind, and you'll just be impressing some people who are already on your side. You'll also be turning off some people who are on your side.

People like me.

Posted by: Ted at 12:04 PM | category: Square Pegs
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The Democrats have been trying to overcome the perception that they are soft on national security and would be able to handle a major crisis. By her actions, Louisiana Governor Blanco has managed, in a little more than a week, to firmly cement that perception into reality in the minds of many.

Posted by: Ted at 10:06 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 Happy birthday, Ted! Glad you're still older than me!

Posted by: Victor at September 08, 2005 11:31 AM (L3qPK)

2 Or maybe she's proven all women are bad at handling major crises.

Or maybe the mayor has proven all black people are bad at handling major crises.

Or maybe--just maybe--she's proven that she herself is not so great at handling major crises.

And OT--happy birthday!

Posted by: Jennifer at September 08, 2005 11:52 AM (S2DIF)

3 Victor, don't forget the "wiser" part, that makes it ok.

Jennifer, I'm talking general political perceptions, not individual evaluations. You know, in the same way the moonbats are saying that the federal response proves that Republicans are racist, and right-winngnuts are claiming that God destroyed NO for it's gay festival. Or to be less extreme, that Republicans are automatically white and rich and Democrats are automatically for the little guy and minorities. None of those are particularly accurate, but they are the general accepted perceptions.

Katrina will be remembered as the first really big disaster response since 9/11 (although I think Florida last year may have been bigger overall, but it was multiple events), and people are going to point out that Governor Blanco is a Democrat and that she screwed up when it counted most. That's not really fair, but it is the way it works.

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 12:27 PM (+OVgL)

4 Oh, and thanks for the birthday wishes!

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 12:29 PM (+OVgL)

5 Does it take a conservative to truly and adequately wish Ted Happy Birthday?

Just in case it does, Happy Birthday Ted.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at September 08, 2005 12:48 PM (ics4u)

6 You're a conservative? That's ok then.

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 01:37 PM (+OVgL)

7 I didn't forget the 'wiser' part. *ducks*

Posted by: Victor at September 08, 2005 02:38 PM (L3qPK)

8 LOL

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 05:52 PM (+OVgL)

9 Have a happy day,Ted.Or at least what's left of it.

Posted by: Russ at September 08, 2005 06:10 PM (ObxzR)

10 Many happy returns.

Posted by: Zoe Brain at September 09, 2005 02:12 AM (tAq8A)

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September Blogger Birthdays

LeeAnn - yesterday (I'm sorry, I didn't look this stuff up until this morning)

Boudicca - 8th (all the *really* cool kids have birthdays on the 8th)

Me - 8th (thanks to Cindy for thinking of me!)

Blue - 9th (podcaster extraordinaire, he's got a blog now but I lost the link)

Jennifer - 14th (she's a student, buy her Ramen)

Pixy Misa - 19th 20th (must be that upside down calendar they use in Australia)

Victor - 27th 28th (that's what I get for trying to do two year old calendar math in my head)

Happy Happy, Everyone!

Posted by: Ted at 06:06 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 Thanks, Ted, but mine's actually on the 28th. Please don't age me any faster than I already am ;~)

Posted by: Victor at September 07, 2005 07:30 AM (L3qPK)

2 Well, it will be the 19th where you are, but it will be the 20th for me.

Curiously enough, half the staff at work have birthdays in the space of a single week in September. Okay, it's a small company but it's not that small.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 07, 2005 09:07 AM (QriEg)

3 It will be the 8th here in an hour but I'll be asleep by then, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TED!!!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 07, 2005 09:08 AM (QriEg)

4 Since I am working on becoming left-handed, I'm typing really slowly...so by the time I finish pecking this out it should be tomorrow. Happy birthday to you, and yay!

Posted by: nic at September 07, 2005 04:23 PM (l+W8Z)

5 Yay!
Thanks!

Posted by: BLUE at September 07, 2005 04:54 PM (4Xncc)

6 One more hour and you and I are a year older! Wow, now doesn't that sound kind of absurd?

Posted by: Bou at September 07, 2005 11:10 PM (5JHEt)

7 Happy, Happy Birthday, Rocket Jones!

Posted by: Silver Blue at September 08, 2005 09:49 AM (GuDvW)

8 Happy birthday, Mr. Rocket Man.

Too bad you're not around to see my skirt blowing up over my head, a la Marilyn. But you get the idea.

Posted by: dawn at September 08, 2005 01:14 PM (jFpDX)

9 A picture is worth a thousand words, dear.

Posted by: Ted at September 08, 2005 01:38 PM (+OVgL)

10 [Being sung in a sweet husky voice a la Marilyn Monroe]
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Mr. Jones...
Happy Birthday to you!

Sorry for your birthday greeting not being more original but I've been wiped out from burning the candle at both ends.

Posted by: michele at September 08, 2005 08:24 PM (+/zz3)

11 Happy birthday Ted! Sorry was without the laptop and therefore couldn't email you my birthday wishes earlier today. Hope you had a wonderful day!

Posted by: Cindy at September 08, 2005 09:08 PM (UYdu8)

12 Happy birthday Ted.

Posted by: phin at September 08, 2005 10:35 PM (DGPlf)

13 Belated Happy! Harv's Birthday is the 14th, too, by the way...and when I post his birthday present, I'll ping you, too, since I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as he will...

Posted by: Susie at September 11, 2005 10:55 AM (nekkG)

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I went to the Potomac Nationals website this morning to check their schedule, thinking we'd get one last blogger get-together in before the season ends. Alas, the season ended with three games at home over the holiday weekend.

So now I'm open to suggestions. I welcome any ideas on when and if y'all would like to meet up again. I sent out invites for a poker night and got very little response. How about a picnic in October? Hockey game?

One interesting possibility is the fall BattlePark rocket launch in Culpeper, Virginia. It's scheduled for the first weekend of November (5th and 6th), and if anyone is interested Doug Pratt introduced me to an amazing rib joint in that area for food afterwards.

Posted by: Ted at 11:33 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Got lots done, including some work on the movie review, but you'll have to be patient for another day or so.

Posted by: Ted at 06:02 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Put away the white. The fashion lizard has spoken.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Posted by: Ted at 09:27 AM | category: Square Pegs
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I was reading an astrological profile for people born under the sign of Virgo and it was interesting enough, right up until the very last sentence.

Famous Virgos

Stephen King, Charlie Sheen, Mother Teresa, Sophia Loren, and Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse?

Posted by: Ted at 07:39 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Liz hit a sale on DVD's and picked up a few that we had on VHS. This evening while walking through another store I found a great deal on Ghostbusters I & II in a set. When we got home, Liz realized that she'd picked up Gung Ho, Guarding Tess and Grease.

Today was brought to you by the letter "G".

Good Grief.

Posted by: Ted at 08:23 PM | category: Square Pegs
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A woman has sued King county in Washington state.

In a lawsuit filed 10 days ago in Pierce County Superior Court, Robinette Amaker of North Carolina claimed that the brain of her deceased brother, Bradley Gierlich, was taken from his body in 1998 at the King County Medical Examiner's office.

The only reason I can see this becoming an issue now after seven years is that maybe he's up for reelection.

Posted by: Ted at 04:00 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Gulfport, Mississippi (in the extended entry).

Please visit the California Yankee, Michele, Phin, or many other sites online for ways you can help.

Thanks. more...

Posted by: Ted at 11:41 AM | category: Square Pegs
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I believe that you'll be able to get a very good deal on a used SUV over the next few months.

It reminds me of one springtime a few years ago. The winter had been terrible (1999?), and everyone ran out and bought 4-wheel drive vehicles. The car lots were full of used sports cars, and the dealers couldn't even give 'em away.

Posted by: Ted at 06:02 AM | category: Square Pegs
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