The good news is ...

... there will be no Windows 9!

The bad news? They are skipping directly to Windows 10:

Microsoft on Tuesday gave its first detailed look at the next major update to Windows, which it has decided to call Windows 10.

The software, expected to be released in final form next year, is designed to run across the broadest array of devices, with screens ranging from four inches to 80 inches, with some devices having no screens at all.

“Windows 10 will be our most comprehensive platform ever,” Windows chief Terry Myerson said at a briefing with reporters in San Francisco.

 It’s a critical launch for Microsoft, which has seen exceptionally slow business take-up for Windows 8 during its two years on the market.

While Microsoft is previewing the code now it will be some time before the company reveals other details, such as exact timing and pricing. The company made its business pitch on Tuesday, with additional events expected in the coming months to tout features for other audiences, including consumers.

Damien's note: When I got the laptop I am now using, it came with Windows 8, which had just been released. Although I am now quite comfortable with Windows 8.1, for the first two weeks I had to remind myself that if I threw the computer into the toilet, it would just mess up the plumbing.

That pesky 70%

A Tennessee lumber yard owner is stumped with what to do with a split-open tree trunk that appears to bear the image of Jesus Christ, WMC reports.

"If somebody wanted it I would sell it, but I do think it would be best served if it were in a church or it'd be nice in a pastor's office," Daniel Turbeville, owner of Mid-South Sawmilling in Millington, told WMC last week.

Turbeville also noted that when he’s asked others what they thought of the grain pattern, “about 70 per cent ... agree that it looks like the image of Christ.”
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Damien's note: The other 30%, clearly delusional, think it looks like wood grain. 

Apparently, though, a USA Today poll of American troops reports that 70% oppose "boots on the ground" in Iraq. If 70% of the people believe this is Jesus, it must surely be no coincidence that 70% of troops oppose a ground war in Iraq and that means Jesus opposes a ground war in Iraq.

Unless it means Jesus approves a ground war in Iraq and the 70% who believe he is hiding in the tree cancels out the 70% of the troops who think a ground war would be insane.

Perhaps Mr. Turbeville would like to weigh in on this.

Now I see you ...

What every swimming pool needs! Coming soon the SkyMall!

A Robotic Octopus Would Surely Be Captain Nemo's Worst Nightmare

Andrew Liszewski

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Andrew Liszewski

When designing robots it only makes sense to occasionally take a peek at what Mother Nature has already come up with for surviving and navigating our planet. But do robotics researchers have to keep choosing the world's most creepiest animals for inspiration? Does anyone really want to live in a world with unstoppable robot snakes or artificial octopi lurking in our oceans?

That hasn't stopped researchers from the Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas in Heraklion, Greece from finding a way to perfectly mimic the graceful way an Octopus uses its tentacles to move through the water.

The latest version of this creation now has flexible silicone webbing between its artificial tentacles that helps propel the creation at speeds of up to 0.04 miles per hour. Not exactly lightning fast just yet, but the research could help lead to revolutionary new ways to propel boats or submarines, particularly if they allow those crafts to move through the water as stealthily as an octopus or squid does—even if they're not lurking 20,000 leagues under the sea. 

[2014 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems via Science News via Damn Geeky]

Another reason not to carry self-congratulatory plaques around in your pocket

Alfred J. Shropshire III was charged in June with burglarizing a home in Lakewood, Wash., identified by his having accidentally dropped at the scene a plaque from a local Mazda dealer naming “Alfred J. Shropshire III” Salesperson of the Month.

According to charges filed on Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court, a Lakewood, Washington, resident was asleep at home at around 8:50am when a man tapped her on the shoulder, waking her up.

The man walked out, and the victim got out of bed to find her front door had been forced open and her purse and a box of coins had been taken, according to the charging documents. Fortunately for the victim, the intruder made one small mistake: leaving behind a South Tacoma Mazda Salesperson of the Month award with the name Alfred J. Shropshire III on it, which officers found in the victim's yard.  

Officers contacted the dealership and were informed Shropshire, 49, had left his job back in January. According to the charging documents, Shropshire was under Department of Corrections monitoring at the time of the burglary and checked in with his DOC officer the following day.

He reportedly told the officer he went to visit a friend in Steilacoom on Monday night but they weren't home, so he walked around until an unknown woman invited him into her home in the middle of the night to sleep. He told the officer he slept there and went to his friend's house in the morning. The officer called the Lakewood Police Department, and Shropshire, who reportedly admitted to winning Salesperson of the Month at South Tacoma Mazda, was arrested. He has been charged with residential burglary. 
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Damien's note: Really, what more can one say?

Fun!

Think about it ...

Bee-zinga

Euglossa bazinga is a euglossine bee species found in Brazil. It is named after the catchphrase of the fictional character Dr. Sheldon Cooper from the television show The Big Bang Theory. It was previously misidentified as Euglossa ignita, and is threatened with habitat loss.

Euglossines are also called orchid bees or long-tongued bees. They belong to a large group of brightly colored bees important to the ecology of New World tropical forests. Color combinations include metallic blues, greens, and bronzes. They are noted for their long tongues and their role in the pollination of over 700 species of tropical orchids. Euglossines pollinate many flowers in the forest understory, but they also visit species in the forest canopy such as lianas and emergent trees.

For bees, they are not all that social ... hence, perhaps, the connection with Sheldon Cooper?

Barbie's Dream Heaven?

Barbie as the Virgin Mary?

September 21, 2014 by Deacon Greg Kandra

This image has been popping up around social media, with the news that Argentina is producing a Virgin Mary Barbie Doll:

But before you run out to Toys-R-Us to pick one up, check out the rest of the story:

Pool Paolini y Marianela Perelli are the artists behind the controversial “Barbie, The Plastic Religion” exhibit which will be presented in Buenos Aires starting October 11. The creators thought, “If there’s a Barbie doctor, a teacher and a police officer, why shouldn’t there be a Virgin of Luján Barbie?” and therefore created 33 Barbie and Ken dolls adapted to religious figures from Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam. “In a world where we’re rewarded for thinking, feeling and acting all the same, Marianela and Pool set themselves apart by rebelling. Through humor they highlight a fictional, historical, religious, political and universe where their elders are trapped,” says their website.

One of the most controversial was the “Barbie Difunta Correa” which enraged the local authorities of San Juan, where the figures sanctuary remains. “This is so out of place, this is a figure of faith which we care for very much and it is why we patented her image and name years ago,” Daniel Rojas told local media. He concluded by saying if things were up to him, he would definitely sue the couple, which has already been contacted by the authorities.

The artists told BBC Mundo, they certainly knew their work would cause controversy and attract harsh criticism, but they did not expect it to come from local authorities. Pools also explained they have “nothing against religion” and were even careful about respecting all beliefs. The pair is working on Islam figurines and plans to skip representing Muhammad, as this religion condemns representing the prophet.

Both artists identified themselves as followers of the lowbrow art movement and had worked before on representing controversial figures like soccer player Diego Maradona, Juan Domingo Perón and Evita, one of President Cristina Fernández pregnant from “the republic”, one of Leopoldo Galtieri and even one of Pope Francis, but this is the first time their entire exhibit is “devoted” to religion.

Source: Patheos: The Deacon's Bench 

Damien's note: To be honest, the image is not all that different from many statues of the Virgin Mary for sale in religious goods stores around the world. Tacking on the name of Barbie may be ... tacky, of course.

More on men's fashion

There are certain men who understand the importance of good style. But for the vast majority, however, putting in tons of effort to look fashionable isn't exactly a top priority. Well, thanks to the Suitsy, those men no longer have an excuse.
The Suitsy is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a one-piece suit. Thanks to a zipper and some fake sleeves, Suitsy enthusiasts are able to create the illusion that they are wearing an entire suit without the hassle of, you know, putting an outfit together. It's currently featured on BetaBrand, a website creator Jesse Herzog calls the "Kickstarter for clothes," where users can vote the creation into production. 

HuffPost Style chatted with Herzog about the inspiration for the suit and, of course, the whole matter of going to the bathroom. 

On what inspired the Suitsy:
"I wanted something that was professional-looking, but more comfortable. I have this extremely comfortable suit that I wear in the summer and I kind of felt like I could make it one step easier by just connecting everything."

 
Suitsy creator Jesse Herzog, wearing a Suitsy. 

On how to care for a Suitsy:
"It's made of all cotton. The pants and jacket are heavier to give it a little structure, and the shirt is a standard cotton material. I would just take it to the dry cleaner. My hope is to at some point refine it with a stain-free and wrinkle-resistant fabric."

On the biggest advantage the Suitsy has over a traditional suit:
"Comfort. That's the best thing. Everyone who sees me wearing it thinks I'm in a normal suit but to me it feels way more comfortable than that. 

On how the ladies feel about it:
"Ladies LOVE it. They all want me to make a female version, but that's not fair because women already have onesies!"

On the future of Suitsy:
We've talked about the potential to add booties that are already connected. If you really want to class it up you'll just clip on a bow-tie and you're ready to rock. You could sleep in it! You can do anything in it.

On whether or not the Suitsy is "fashionable:"
"Some people are like, 'This is so anti-fashion. This is a testament to how little people care.' My point is that for guys that don't care, maybe this will encourage them to try to look a little bit more presentable because it makes achieving that so much easier."

And of course, the answer to our burning question: what about using the bathroom?
"Jumpsuits have been around forever -- mechanics wear them; pilots wear them. I have found it surprisingly easy to... execute."

Source: Huffington Post

Whatever you do, don't wear this. Any of this!

Mabon Blessings!

Today, September 23, 2014 is the holiday of the autumnal equinox, Harvest Home, Mabon, the Feast of the Ingathering, Meán Fómhair or Alban Elfed (in Neo-Druid traditions). This is a Pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months. The name Mabon was coined by Aidan Kelly around 1970 as a reference to Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology. Among the sabbats, it is the second of the three Pagan harvest festivals, preceded by Lammas / Lughnasadh and followed by Samhain.

 And if you want something a little enchanting to celebrate the day ...

Click on image to enlarge

Red and yellow kill a fellow -- unless they're rubber

 

On September 19, 1984 the Houston Zoo admitted that the coral snake on display for the past two years was not actually alive. It was a rubber snake. Zoo curator John Donaho explained, "We have had live snakes in the exhibit, but they don't do well. They tend to die. Rather than kill snakes, we put out a rubber one for people to be able to see what they look like." The zoo's confession came after a concerned caller reported he hadn't seen the snake move in months. The zoo subsequently received a box from an East Coast zoo containing another rubber coral snake as well as "breeding loan" documentation.

 

 

The world will end in September! Oh, September, 1186. Never mind.

A letter supposedly written by the astrologers of Toledo and addressed to Pope Clement III began circulating throughout Europe in 1184. It predicted the end of the world would occur in September 1186. It said there would be wind and storms, drought and famine, pestilence and earthquake. The air would grow dark and a dreadful voice would be heard that would destroy the hearts of men. Coastal towns would be covered with sand and earth. All this would be triggered by a rare conjunction of the planets in the sign of the Scales and in the tail of the Dragon. People were advised to flee their homes and find safety in the mountains.

The letter caused panic throughout Europe. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered a 3-day fast to prevent the calamity. When September 1186 arrived, the planetary conjunction did occur on schedule, but the end of the world never happened. Nevertheless, some attribute the Third Crusade of 1189 to the unrest stirred up by the letter.

This was not the end of the Toledo Letter. Variants of it continued to circulate for centuries, with names and dates altered. A version from around 1214, which attributed the text to a Cardinal Johannes Toletanus, warned of the end of the world in 1229, citing the same rare planetary conjunction as the reason. By the end of the fourteenth century the text was attributed to the Magisters in Paris, though the content of the warning remained essentially the same. Even as late as 1480 it was still in circulation, now attributed to a Mount Sinai hermit and a Rasis of Antiochia, who warned the end would come in 1510.

-------------------------------

Damien's note: And the beat of hysteria goes on ...

Hello, Hell!

HELL, Mich. (AP) — Dozens of Michigan hearse enthusiasts showed off their casket-carrying cars during a parade through Hell last weekend.

The procession last Saturday was part of the 13th annual Hellfest celebration in the hamlet 45 miles west of Detroit. It follows an all-hearse car show.

The Hell-based car club called Just Hearse 'N Around was hoping to reclaim a Guinness World Records mark it set in 2011 when 51 vehicles made the parade. A 107-strong hearse contingent in the Netherlands shattered that record a year later.

Just Hearse 'N Around co-founder Frank Hendeen told the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus of Howell that some funeral homes would take part.

But the retired police officer says, "Most won't, because they think we're a bunch of — well, we are weird people."

------------------------

Damien's note: I had a roommate one summer at Midwest State Megaversity who had an old two-tone hearse that he had driven up from West Virginia. An interesting young guy ... I wonder if he was in Hell last weekend.

Arrrr!

Yep, me mateys, it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

So get yourself down to Arrrrrby's for lunch. Visit an arrrrt gallery. Bring arrrrtichoke dip to that shindig you attend after a hard day of looting.

Oh, and if you look like that pirate, drop by my place for some some arrrr and arrrr!

Check this out!

I just read Randall Munroe's What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions. It's a lot of fun, though pretty heavy going in places. When he says serious scientific answers, he means SERIOUS. 
SCIENTIFIC. 
ANSWERS.

If you have not visited xkcd:A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language, then stop what you are doing right now -- I know, I know, you are reading my brilliant blog -- and click on that link and check it out.

Here is a random -- really, I just pushed the Random button -- sample:

Happy National Cheeseburger Day!

"Life is too short to miss out on the beautiful things like a double cheeseburger."
~ Channing Tatum 

Because everyone who eats double cheeseburgers winds up looking like this?

Keep it clean, folks!

Vino2Go Set of 2 Double Wall Insulated Acrylic Wine Tumblers: with Merlot & Pink Slide Tops Open/Close Drink Through Lid 

10 oz. $11.49 [List price: 25.98]

But the best part is in the product description on Amazon: 

• Durable BPA-free acrylic with a merlot lid and pink lid
• Double walled insulation keeps your wine cooler longer
• Keeps bugs and dirt out of your wine
• Hand wash

 Because bugs and dirt are the most common cause of bad wine experiences!

And be sure to read the Q&A on the Amazon site!

What's happenin' in Wally-World!

The New York state attorney general's office says the retail chain launched a national sale in June advertising Coca-Cola 12-packs for $3, but consumers at 117 Wal-Mart stores in New York were routinely charged $3.50.

Investigators say consumers who complained were falsely told the state has a "sugar tax." They say the markup of more than 16 percent violated two laws.

When customers brought the inflated price complaint to Walmart, which was documented, Walmart didn’t adjust the price to reflect the $3 advertised price until the attorney general’s office stepped in.

They say Wal-Mart ran a similar sale in March, and 66,000 12-packs of Coca-Cola have been sold in New York at an inflated price.

The settlement requires Wal-Mart to pay over $66,000 in penalties and costs and improve internal reporting.

A message left at the Bentonville, Arkansas, company was not immediately returned.

For more details follow this link. 

Damien's note: I realize that shenanigans by this retailer (and many others) is hardly a queer thing in our world. Perhaps the queer thing about this story is that enough people complained that something was done about it.

Because we all know someone who needs this!

The NoPhone is a black piece of plastic shaped like an iPhone. It's designed to act as a "technology-free alternative" for those suffering from "phone addiction."

According to the NoPhone's kickstarter page, "the NoPhone acts as a surrogate to any smart mobile device, enabling you to always have a rectangle of smooth, cold plastic to clutch without forgoing any potential engagement with your direct environment."

They're trying to raise $30,000 to produce these things, and are currently have over $2,000.

Where's --ldo?

Michael's husband pointed me to this website -- Subtle Dildo -- this morning, mistakenly thinking that his son was somehow involved with the project. Apparently he was wrong about that -- one would expect a father to recognize one of his own kids, though -- but the site is interesting.

It is an art installation consisting of photos of a group of friends engaged in a variety of relatively mundane or fun things. The trick is that there is a dildo somewhere in each photo.

 

Oh, you kids!! 

Daniel suggested doing a similar [parody?] web page, called "Where's Dildo?", with photos of [insert name of least favorite politician here], perhaps photo-shopped to be wearing a red and white striped toboggan hat.

You asked for it!

A reader, commenting on the disappointing story that the pumpkin spice flavored condoms were a joke, said that he was looking for bourbon flavored products. Never let it be said I don't try to do what I can. These are Scotch, not bourbon, but it is a start.

McCondom - Whisky Flavoured Condoms

Tip of the hat to Smokes and Booze blog. Click on the link for more information and a link to an order form.

Retraction: No Pumpkin Spice Condoms

A picture of a new "pumpkin spice" condom offered by Durex went viral, accompanied by the tagline "Because safe sex is important, no matter what season it is."

Durex has a line of "Taste Me" condoms that come in the flavors banana, strawberry, orange and apple. So a pumpkin spice flavor didn't seem all that ridiculous.

But today Durex threw cold water on people's hopes that it might be real. The company tweeted, "We've heard talk that we launched a Pumpkin Spice condom. We can't claim this one, but we do love it when people spice it up in the bedroom."

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. ~ Buddha

On The Block

Mountain escape on the market for $9.9M

Looking for a mountain retreat complete with 12 bathrooms, a 10-car garage and a labyrinth? For just under $10 million you can have that at Harmony Mountain – a 100 acre private retreat in Pennsylvania.

 The estate sits on the highest point in Waverly, PA and is a 40-minute helicopter ride away from new York, according to Sotheby’s International Realty. The $9,995,000 home is 16,000 square feet and has five bedrooms. Inside you will find $2 million worth of art, furniture and statues, an infrared sauna and bullet-proof windows. There’s also a meditation spot complete with a Buddha.

“The homeowner had a specific vision for this residence, a place where materials and cultural elements from around the world flow together to create one harmonious environment. Approach the house from the dramatically lit winding driveway and you know that you are embarking on a journey. The serenity of its location stays with you throughout your experience. The Italian-influenced architectural lines of the home draw from the owner’s cultural background mixed with Eastern architecture.” – Sotheby’s International Realty

Other extravagant features include: An outdoor amphitheater, dual-hydrotherapy massage tub, marble-tiled steam room, Italian Scavo glass lighting, Tibetan rugs, Ebony grand piano, aluminum and stainless rain gutter.

Damien's note: Because if you live like this, you really need a meditation spot where you can reflect on how all things are passing away ... and apparently you need bullet-proof windows.

McCommunion?

The Communion Host Dispenser offers a touch-free solution to preparing and serving communion, helping to prevent the passing of germs. The Dispenser can reduce the cost by as much as 50 percent by reducing the time and personnel needed to prepare and serve communion all year long. It holds up to 140 hosts. ***MUST BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH PURITY HOST TUBE (either body&blood or classic) 

Comes in pure white ($52.72), silver-plated ($195.75) or gold-plated ($313.20).

When used with the Host Dispenser, the Body & Blood Communion Host eliminates germs, spills and waste. There's no need for a separate chalice, individual cups of wine or a bread plate. 

• Packaged in re-sealable clear plastic tubes with a plastic plug to seal out air, moisture and airborne contaminants, increasing the shelf-life of unused hosts.
• Reduces communion cost from 40%-60% percent (based on whether a chalice or disposable cups are currently used to dispense wine.)
• 1-3/8" wine-infused hosts are alcohol-free and made with wheat flour without an unleavening agent [sic]
• Developed in partnership with Cavanagh, the world leader in communion bread

 Available at Amazon.

Damien's note: Not sure what an unleavening agent is. The point is -- at least in the Western Christian tradition -- that the bread be unleavened, so without a leavening agent! In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, communion bread is leavened.

And Daniel and I were just about to take delivery of ours!

General Motors dealers have been told to halt sales of 2,800 of the maker's new Chevrolet Corvette models because of a pair of potential problems.

The move is the latest in a series of so-called Stop-Sale notices issued by the Detroit maker as it has discovered potential defects with its various models during a year of close scrutiny. It is expected that GM will follow with an official recall notice for the Corvettes.

Damien's note: If you think Daniel and I would spend anything like $80,000 for a vehicle, you have never met either of us. Until this car shows up at one of the Unique Thrift Stores in Chicago, that ain't happening.

One assumes it was not quilted

Memories, all alone in the moonlight ...

An undeniable blotch on an official portrait of former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is a hasty cover-up job to erase estranged wife Maria Shriver’s face from the painting, sources told the New York Post and San Francisco Chronicle.

The portrait, which Schwarzenegger sat for in 2003 but was just unveiled Monday, originally featured an image of Shriver’s face on a lapel pin, a staffer at the state Capitol told the Post.

“Whoever touched it up did not do a very good job,” tour guide Richard Granis said of the painting originally done by renowned Austrian artist Gott­fried Helnwein. “It was softball sized, right there on his left lapel.”

Damien's note: In my childhood, much was made of the fact that then-Soviet Union governments erased people from official portraits, including photographs, when those people fell out of favor. The Governator's little erasure is minor compared to the clean-up job politicians and the media routinely do to help revise our collective memories.

Do they have April Fool's in Japan?

Burger King in Japan is taking bizarre fast food to new heights with black cheeseburgers complete with black buns, black cheese and black sauce.

The chain started the Premium Kuro Burger (kuro means "black") in 2012, colouring the bread with bamboo charcoal and adding squid ink to the ketchup.

Last year it evolved to the Kuro Ninja, which had all the above with a slice of bacon for a tongue, and now Burger King is on the third generation.

Apparently Japanese customers quite liked the bamboo charcoal, so it is now in the cheese slices as well, along with beef burgers made with black pepper, an onion and garlic sauce with squid ink and the black bread.

(Image courtesy: www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp)

While the smaller Kuro Pearl contains the burger, cheese and sauce, the upgraded Kuro Diamond also comes with more edible-looking lettuce, tomato, onion and the usual trimmings.


(Image courtesy: www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp)

A press release from Burger King Japan said there had been a "favourable reception" to previous Kuro burgers, which have all be limited editions.

The current inventions will be available from 19 September, with the Kuro Pearl priced at 480 yen (£2.80) and the Kuro Diamond at (£4.00).


(Image courtesy: www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp)

Black buns been seen before, when rivals McDonald's released "ying and yang" style burgers in China.

Chinese bloggers reasoned that the concept came from a proverb about black and white representing good and evil in society.

Now that's a body pillow!

We love ourselves a grandma who knows how to knit. But we have to say, even the most cozy of afghans can't quite compare to the fruits of grandmother Holly Stewart's labor. Because those fruits are giant, quilted penises. 

Yes, a real life, Kansas City-based grandma has turned her passion for free love into an art endeavor that's certainly got our blood pumping. It's called "Local Grandmother Quilts Giant Penises" and it encapsulates so many of the things we cherish in this sweet, short life: sex positivity, fiber crafts and badass women of a certain age.

Stewart's exhibition is currently on view at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a vision made reality thanks to a Kickstarter initiative with one of the greater names in Kickstarter history. Stewart explains how her interest in decorative members sparked from her time working in a sex toy factory. 

"I was looking on Craigslist for jobs and I saw an ad for a position that was sex positive and I had to know what that was," Stewart explains casually, standing before a giant multicolored phallus. "When I looked at it it was to be a de-molder in a dildo factory. I just knew I needed to be able to tell my grandchildren I had even applied to be a de-molder in a dildo factory. When I got the job it was even better." [Emphasis added]

From Huffington Post 

Damien's note: I understand that the security officers at the exhibit have been instructed to keep Channing Tatum out, lest he go penis-grazing berserk.

Still going rogue [Updated]

Palin Family Allegedly Involved In A Brawl

.

A majority of the Palin family — Sarah, Todd, Bristol, and Track — was allegedly involved in a booze-filled brawl over the weekend in which the former vice presidential candidate reportedly screamed, “Don’t you know who I am?”

According to reports from local bloggers, the Palin crew showed up at a party in Wasilla following a day at the Iron Dog snowmobile race.

According to local blogger Amanda Coyne, witnesses at the scene said Palin’s eldest son, Track, showed up to the party in a stretch Hummer. He then confronted a man who had previously dated one of his sisters, according to Coyne and another blog called Immoral Minority.

“That led to some pushing and shoving, which escalated somehow to the family being asked to leave the premises,” Immoral Minority, reported.

“Word is that Bristol has a particularly strong right hook, which she employed repeatedly, and it’s something to hear when Sarah screams, “Don’t you know who I am!” Coyne reported.

“This isn’t some damned Hillbilly reality show!” a party-goer allegedly yelled, making a possible reference to “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” a failed reality series that ran for nine episodes between November 2010 and January 2011.

“As people were leaving in a cab, Track was seen on the street, shirtless, flipping people off, with Sarah right behind him, and Todd somewhere in the foreground, tending to his bloody nose,” a witness told Coyne.

Anchorage police declined to provide details told Immoral Minority that none of the parties involved wanted to press charges. No arrests were made.

Damien's Update: Ms. Palin now claims that she was traveling at the time of the alleged incident. Others have insisted that they saw her there. Whatever one chooses to believe, it seems unlikely to me that if she were there, no one managed to get a photo. So if no pix are forthcoming, it is he-said-she-said-she-said-he-said.

This may bring back snail mail!

A Finnish stamp designed as a tribute to Finnish homoerotic artist Touko Laaksonen – better known as Tom of Finland – have become the country’s biggest seller ever, and has received orders from 178 different countries.

“We haven’t seen this kind of interest before in Posti’s history and we probably won’t again soon,” said Markku Penttinen, the head of development at Finland’s postal service. “Our starting point was to get Touko Laaksonen’s artwork in our stamps. We know that he was very well-known globally. Of course the subject matter is also topical and much discussed. This equation has worked better than we anticipated.”

The stamp which went on sale on Monday coincided with an exhibition of Tom of Finland’s drawings and letters from the 1940s to his death in 1991.

Stamps are being sold, as long as supplies last, in the States by the TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION.

Makes a GREAT Christmas card stamp to send to Bryan Fischer or Brian Brown or Tony Perkins or ...