British Politics For Dummies

Whaz'sup in the UK election? This guy knows and can say it lucidly and quick.

h/t: nerimon

Nashville No Big Deal

For some reason the national media seems unmoved by the monsoon-like rains and flooding that clobbered Nashville and the surrounding states. The damage costs are mounting like the national debt, reaching epic proportions. No national media means no celebrities will adopt this tragedy. Perhaps if the locals dipped a pelican in oil?

h/t: 500bennu

How Many Could You Do?

So asks chronicler Obsolete Skills. (Alas, I'm overqualified in many areas.)
h/t: Ace of Spades

Ralking

Another ralk today. Other than sounding like Scooby Doo, the word refers to a hybrid movement of fast walking approaching a run. Maybe in another week or so, I'll break out into a brief run and see how my knee accepts that. I've been loafing, avoiding the rest of my novel. Once I'm going, it'll be fine. So go, me.

Nose Stitches Out

At the doc's again to have the last stitches removed from my nose. I take it for granted that it looks somewhat okay, minus a bit of discoloration. But the nurse told me, in addition to how well its healing, that odd, unpleasant things often happen with skin grafts and that past grafts she's seen look like something that fell off a tray and landed on the patient's snout. Fortunately, mine still looks like a nose.

My wife reminded me yesterday that we started dating 20 years ago this week. I have trouble reconciling being in physical proximity to the same person for that long. I didn't last 20 years with my family, departing for the USMC at 19. In any case, there have been many ups and downs, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer just like our eventual wedding vows. Glad I took them as the adventure continues to unfold.

I consider an almost-run a walk so fast that running is the next step. Using the dirt trails around Griffith Park, I've been practicing walking gradually faster. Today bordered on a run for a few minutes. Now I'll see how my knee feels tomorrow. But it was fun to actually pass someone for the first time in a stinking long while.

So Brave, So Edgy

The breezy, hip courage of Viacom/Comedy Central executives on display.

Animaniacs Farewell Video

Editor extraordinaire Al Britenbach cut this farewell sequence, scored by the master, Richard Stone.

h/t: Daily Motion (Stephanie O'Keeffe) via Tom Ruegger

Lost in Studio City

Rugg recalls Jonathan Harris.

Marathon Bomb Scare

Bomb found near the finish line of the Pittsburgh Marathon. Thankfully, no one hurt. I never had to deal with high explosives on a course, just running out of energy goo. On the walking scene, I haven't been out since last Tuesday - slight soreness in the knee. I may have overdone it, covering 4 miles at a 14:33 pace. Not wise. Longer distances should never be attempted quickly on the first try. I didn't give myself time to grow accustomed to the additional mileage. I keep forgetting that, which is part of the reason I'm walking. Reduced walking, very little gym and no swimming have led my weight to creep up again. I keep sliding back and forth over the same 10 - 15 pounds. My scale is getting sick of me. And I of my scale.

Onion Video: White House Janitorial Staff Dinner

Live Feed: Obama Attends The White House Maintenance Staff Annual Dinner
h/t/: Hot Air

Ashes to Ash...

and the Fuhrer to dust.