One of SomethingAwful’s most well-known posters has unearthed a collection of racist cartoons that are simply unbelievable. If you can’t view the thread, please comment and tell me so. I’ll post the link to the source. (I just don’t want the guy to see some hits on his webpage and think his beliefs are growing in popularity!)

Hurricane Katrina has slammed into the south and is making its way into my neighborhood as I type this. The mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi uttered one of the most exaggerated statements in the history of the world: “This is our tsunami.” Allow me to remind you, Mr. Mayor, that over 225,000 people died in the tsunami. So far, our entire country has lost 67 people. Yes, there is some considerable damage, but why would you draw such an absurd comparison?? It sure fits with the psyche of our country. When 9/11 happened, it was as if the unthinkable had taken place, yet without batting an eyelash, we watch as tens of thousands of Iraqis are killed and injured in our name.

A slight majority (of 1,000 US citizens) think that Bush should meet with Sheehan. I have an idea for bringing this meeting to fruition. We have to stoop to GW’s level, and provide the proper motivating factors in order to lure him into a meeting. So, George W. Bush - you’re chicken! Aren’t ya?! You don’t have any answers to give to her, DO YOU?! That’s what I thought. Hey, while you’re at it, you should meet with this guy, who was paralyzed from the chest down while fighting in this meaningless war.

One more idiot kid has succumbed to the “pass out game”. This time it happened in Stark County, Ohio. I can’t possibly be alone in thinking that these kids need some real drugs! This is the unforseen downfall of the war on drugs, because unless you lock kids up and put ‘em in straightjackets, they’ll always have the ability to play this game. Now, if reefer were legal, and people saw how harmless it is, I doubt we’d be hearing about moronic kids resorting to the pass out game for a buzz. They’d raid their parents’ stash and totally blow their cover by cleaning out the snack cupboard.

I have always loved the roadrunner and coyote cartoons, and always wanted a catalog of every ACME product. Now, my dream has come true. The Original Illustrated Catalog of ACME Products. Beautiful.

Al Sharpton joined Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey.

Reuters is demanding the release of one of their journalists, after a US sniper opened fire on the crew, killing the soundman. Citing “inconsistincies” in his account of the attack, the US military is detaining Haider Kadhem for questioning. I have a feeling the “questioning” will actually amount to threatening him into telling a different story. The US ambassador to Iraq was quoted as saying “we don’t target civilians”, but I’d like them to have a look at some of these photos: The photos Washington doesn’t want you to see, courtesy of Germany’s Spiegel.

The merging of Adobe and Macromedia has been approved by their shareholders. This is going to be a HUGE deal for the future of graphic and web design. I’m glad though, because I really like some of both companies’ prodcuts. I hope that they compliment one another somehow.

If you’re a creationist that’s having trouble explaining the existence of dinosaurs, (given that the earth is only 6,000 years old under your theory) then this MetaFilter post might help. I think that if Christ were to return today and read this bullshit, he’d probably smack his forehead, shake his head and leave.

Iraq is on the verge of a meltdown, and the drafting of their new constitution has missed yet another deadline. Worried that his precious, flawless image might become tainted, Bush actually got on the phone with some officials there, probably begging them to please finish it up so “I can get back to golfing.” With the fragmented beliefs of Iraqis, it certainly can’t be an easy process. Which begs the question: why the hell does Bush keep setting these unrealistic goals, obviously aimed at placating us just long enough to devise another deceptive story of “progress”? Because he’s dumb as hell. Really though, he has to realize that sooner or later, the American people are going to want some answers. Shit, even if Bush came forth with his most insidious motives, I bet he’d still have all the greedy businessmen on his side! But come on GW, we know were not in this to “spread democracy”, especially now, when it appears we’re only going to spread fundamentalist Islamic federalism.

Ralph Nader says it’s time to make the Iraq war personal. I understand where he’s coming from on this, but isn’t it sad that we even need to rub people’s faces in it just to solicit a reaction? I guess you have to be a realist in this case, because you could stand around forever waiting for people to care about someone other than themselves. In the article, he suggests a few ways to make the casualties of this war more visible to the public.

Cindy Sheehan is back in Texas, and plans to hold a bus tour and take the protests to Washington. Fantastic. Rev. Al Sharpton has plans to visit her as well. I’m really glad that they’ll follow Bush back to DC, because his vacation is almost over, and it wasn’t disturbed nearly enough.

Scientists are studying an anti-ageing gene. When applied to mice, some have lived up to 30% longer, although it may promote diabetes and damage fertility.

Cleveland really needs one of these - Coming Through is a modified Honda Goldwing that can tow cars. In a big traffic jam, it can weave its way up to the front, unfold a towing mechanism, and alleviate the congestion like so many antihistamines. I see this being particularly effective for those traffic jams where you get up to the front, only to find out that the accident or car that caused it has already been moved to the side of the road, and people are still rubbernecking. If this thing arrived quickly and got the vehicle away from the highway completely, there’d be nothing to look at. Truly, a work of pure genius. I think I’m gonna call the mayor right now.

Photoshop Phriday was pretty lame this week, so here’s some optical illusions. Enjoy!

You know what’s good? Oatmeal. Know what I’m eating right now? Oatmeal.

Though I’ve heard a few rumors of troop withdrawl, if you asked Bush, he’d tell you we’re not going anywhere while he’s president. That’s a scary thought. However, I really think that the anti-war movement is gaining a lot of steam, and soon it might prove to be too much for even hard-headed GW to ignore. One can only hope.

Sheehan has returned to Crawford. There’s an open letter to her on AlterNet, where the author asks our congressmen to rally around her and travel to Crawford. That certainly would be a big boost for the anti-war movement.

Now, realistically, what would need to happen in order for us to withdrawl? Sure I’m pushing for a pullout as soon as possible, but what kinds of things would we have to see before we’d feel comfortable leaving? Here’s an AlterNet article that outlines a pretty realistic plan for withdrawl. I know some people will disagree that “insurgents” need to be involved in the process, but failing to acknowledge them is only going to add fuel to the fire. This brings up one very fundamental problem with Bush’s kill-em-all strategy: you can’t seriously kill them all. There’s every indication that he really believes that if we keep fighting, they’ll give up or all be killed. Even a moron like Bush should recognize it’s not that simple. The reason they’re not backing down is because we keep providing them with both motivation and targets. If we were to start discussing options that satisfied your average Iraqi as well as the insurgents, then a withdrawl would become a more realistic option. For instance, if we laid this well-publicized outline on the table:

• A demand that the United States disavow any plans for permanent military bases or control of Iraqi oil.
• A declaration of intent to end the occupation in months, not years, followed by an initial limited troop withdrawal by December.
• A request that the United Nations take responsibility for military monitoring and the task of economic reconstruction.
• The appointment of an independent peace envoy to undertake the shift from the military model to one of conflict resolution.
• Immediate peace talks with the Iraqi opposition, including insurgents, to begin a political settlement.

I bet we’d start getting the attention of both sides. These are some real concerns that need to be addressed.

An obese woman actually complained to the state that her doctor told her to lose weight. Next thing you know, if a doctor tells some teen he has acne, he’ll wind up giving exams for a nickel in a subway somewhere. News of this story broke almost simultaneously with new reports that America’s obesity rate is growing rapidly. Nationally, 24.5% of adults are obese - and 64.5% are overweight or obese. Here in Cleveland, I would say one big contributing factor is a lack of gyms, coupled with a poor population that couldn’t afford a Bally’s membership. I’ve taken up running, and I’m still not sure what I’ll do once the weather gets cold. Plus, you have to factor in that there are 41 McDonald’s locations within 10 miles of my house. FORTY ONE.

Here’s a collection of closeup pictures taken by Martin Shoeller. Weird.

If you’re thinking about going to Cedar Point, they’re lowering prices for the rest of the year. Not to mention, kids are back in school. Hey, it might actually be worth it for once! Except having to skip work.

I hope no one got too attached to Shiva, the moron kitty. Were this a world without laws, and had I been just a little more angry, I would have thrown that little punk off my roof and onto the highway. Under no circumstance are creatures of any species allowed to defecate on my carpeting. Offense number three took place this morning, as a sparkling clean litterbox waited patiently nearby. I chose to unload a barrage of squirting water all over him instead of wringing his neck. Needless to say, that will be his last offense in my residence. He’s spending the day in solitary, and then it’s off to my mom’s until her friend can pawn him off on some unsuspecting family.

Here’s a great picture of a veteran with “bullshit protectors” on his ears during a Bush speech. Also, Bush’s approval rating is at an all-time low: 36%. Rightfully so. I’m amazed it’s still in double digits, to be quite honest.

Cindy Sheehan wrote a poignant piece countering many of Bush’s recent assertions about the war.

If you die fighting in Iraq, the Pentagon might use your gravestone to promote this pointless war - sometimes without your parents’ consent! Even the contractor assigned to engraving Arlington’s tombstones says he thinks it smells of politics. Now that’s just shameful.

Google Talk has been released - already. The problem is, no one I know is even on this thing. Plus, I don’t need instant messengers to be able to do any more than they already do. To Google, I say you should start developing GoogleOS, if you’re not secretly doing so already. Figure out how to support the installation of Windows-based software, run it on a PC, and everyone will go nuts for the alternative to Microsoft.

For anyone who’s interested, Adam Savage, co-host of MythBusters, was interviewed on TheSneeze. I’m a fan of the show, but also highly jealous of him for having such a cool job!