Could a more artistically sophisticated person tell me what “lightboxing” is? Ok, looking at something on a lightbox, I’m not quite as stupid as I sound (usually), but looking at what on a lightbox? The CCS blogger uses it as if it is different from “photo reference”.

Alison’s use of depth in the new drawing is striking. The figures near the bottom of the frame overlap the figures higher up, but they aren’t much if any larger — the figures don’t get smaller with distance. It gives the drawing a dreamlike effect, at least for me. The previous sketch was also graphically interesting, with its strong perspective and point of view. I am looking forward to seeing the new book — not just reading it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25FOB-onlanguage-t.html

He notes that the NY Times didn’t add Ms. to its list of honorifics in their style manual until 1986. Notable for me in the article was the lack of exploration of that decision, perhaps a quote or two from those on the Times’ usage panel explaining what was behind their slow adoption of the term. The silence speaks volumes.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/101909_man_caught_making_coffee_naked_faces_charges

I sure as hell don’t dress up to make coffee at 4AM when I get up. Somewhere in between guzzling OJ, vitamins, and coffee, I shower and dress. Arrest me.

Of course, the Fairfax County VA PD won’t be dropping the charges because the poor shmo whom they arrested isn’t rich, powerful, or connected.

Net neutrality, for those unaware, ensures that the corporate entities which control the datacomm pipelines can’t block, restrict, or control network traffic to the advantage or detriment of one party over another. For example, if your local ISP has a deal with Vonage for VoIP telephony, they can’t block, restrict, or slow down traffic for a competing service, such as Skype. If your local cable company is your ISP, they won’t be able to mess with streaming video from Hulu, Youtube, or other video content sites.

McCain’s bill is fancifully titled “The Internet Freedom Act.” Nothing could be further from the truth. But I suppose naming it “The Internet Lockdown and Restriction Act” might not have good spin potential.

(… goes back to reading headlines while on the daily 7AM conference call …)

The measure, called “The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,” was attached to the Pentagon budget bill. Obama is expected to sign the bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/22/AR2009102204689.html

Quoting from the article:

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The measure would extend the current definition of federal hate crimes — which covers attacks motivated by race, color, religion or national origin — to include those based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also would make it a federal crime to attack U.S. military personnel because of their service.

The measure was approved, 68 to 29, with a majority of Republicans voting against it. The House passed the same bill Oct. 8, also with most Republicans opposed.

[... snip ...]

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is named for Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was murdered in 1998, and Byrd, a black man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck in Texas in 1998. Shepard’s family founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which helped lobby for the measure. Offered repeatedly by the late senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the bill had stalled previously in the Senate, and President George W. Bush vowed to veto it if it reached his desk.

But Obama said he plans to sign the measure, a key moment for a president who has been subject to criticism from some gay and lesbian activists who say he has not pushed hard enough for their agenda. Obama has vowed to do so, and said he will repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
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Watching this year’s baseball post-game interviews, I noticed a new trend that harkens directly back to Soupy. There’s often a shaving cream pie shoved in the face of the heroic player as he is being interviewed on field. I doubt any of them know about Soupy’s pie throwing and the connection to their face o’ cream.

No doubt Soupy brought pies with him to Heaven. I hope St. Peter takes his pie in the face in good humor.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125626969710303305.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories