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I'm OK, You're Not OK

Micheal Barone thinks you're not OK:

This is similar but not identical to a point I’ve often made: that the Republican Party is the party of people who are considered, by themselves and by others, as normal Americans—Northern white Protestants in the 19th century, married white Christians more recently—while the Democratic Party is the party of the out groups who are in some sense seen, by themselves and by others, as not normal—white Southerners and Catholic immigrants in the 19th century, blacks and white seculars more recently. Thus it’s natural for the Democrats to be more fissiparous.

(my emphasis)

Got that? Normal people are Republicans, abnormal people are Democrats. It's a GOP country and all you darkies, queers and atheists, should be grateful you're allowed to live here.

Anyone still wondering why the GOP has trouble attracting minority voters?

Via Balloon Juice.

Archy

This is probably the most-famous of all the archeopteryx fossils:

And it's probably the most recognizable fossil ever. "Lucy" might be the most famous, mostly because of what she represents; but Lucy ain't much to look at.

So, three weeks ago, I got a tattoo of that archeopteryx. Here it is, in-progress:

Canon SD630

Mmmm... juicy.

And here it is, (nearly) all peeled and scab-free:

Nikon D90, 18-105mm

For a week or so, the colors were completely wrong; it was red and green instead of tan and black like it was supposed to be. I was convinced the guy who did it was colorblind and accidentally used the wrong inks. Seriously. I was completely bummed-out. Total regret. But that was just the redness of my irritated skin showing through, and after a week or so, the redness started to fade a bit, the dead skin began to peel off, and the actual colors appeared. Underneath the gore and debris, it looked much much much better. Now, three weeks after I got it, I like it. What a relief!

Now I'm thinking I should fill the rest of that calf with other Solnhofen fossils: a fish, some insects, shells, maybe a fern or something - all surrounded by that same light tan sandstone color. Am I up for more of that kind of pain, though ? That's the big question.

Desert Island Pen

The Pen Addict gets questions:

I was asked by @dancoopermedia on Twitter the other day for a pen recommendation, specifically, if I could have only one retractable pen, what would it be? I didn't have to think very long before mentioning that I would pick the Pilot G-2 0.38mm and be a happy camper. The pen writes great, is durable, and very affordable. If I need to get something done and need a pen that I know isn't going to give be any trouble, the G-2 0.38mm is the pen I grab.

I've always liked the Pilot Precise V5, though Mrs. Cleek correctly notes that the ink is water-soluble and runs if you get the paper wet. This would be a concern on an island.

Presidential Porn

In Join Or Die, I paint myself having sex with the Presidents of the United States in chronological order. I am interested in humanizing and demythologizing the Presidents by addressing their public legacies and private lives. The presidency itself is a seemingly immortal and impenetrable institution; by inserting myself in its timeline, I attempt to locate something intimate and mortal. I use this intimacy to subvert authority, but it demands that I make myself vulnerable along with the Presidents.

No, really.