Wow. I read a diary yesterday about an author's speech at the International Reading Association Conference in Chicago was cancelled because of her views on NCLB.

I was going to send this along to my conservative baptist mother-in-law, and ask what she thought about it. NCLB is like the one issue where she has problems with Bush, so I thought it would make an opening to a nice discussion.

But I just . . . couldn't . . . stop . . .

Read the train-wreck of a rant below.

I just got this joke e-mail from him entitled "Its Tuff Being a Liberal." I've copied it below the fold for you to see, and added a poll for my own amusement. It really isn't that good. I could laugh if it was actually a funny joke, but this only got a smirk, a) because my dad knows my positions, and b) because of my name here at DKos.

Anyone got any good responses I can send back at him?

This has been diaried already, but I thought I'd drop an update for anyone who missed it. The East Bay Kossacks Meetup group is in its death throes, and we've begun to move on.

You see, whoever first organized the East Bay Kossacks group has kinda disappeared. Since there is no longer an official "Organizer," the board is closed until someone steps up to fill the void. I am not that someone. Sorry. Don't have the $20/month to spare.

More below the fold.

This Tuesday, a story came out saying there were some rather nasty security flaws in the last version of Firefox (1.0.3). These flaws revolved around JavaScript, and could potentially allow hackers (in the common parlance) to launch programs and code from your computer. (See the BBC NEWS article here.

By the way, aside from this one instance, I've never seen anything negative said about Firefox's security. It's a great program, and Tabs are the only way to browse, particularly here at DKos.

More below the fold.

A while ago, someone posted a diary on using meetup to facilitate local Kossack communities getting together for better or for worse, for beer or for activism. Well, there's an East Bay group meeting tonight at Jupiter!

It isn't an official location registered on the meetup board, as none was "officially" chosen, but a number of us have agreed to show up at Jupiter this evening between 7:00 and 8:00. Remember to check in with the bartender or someone up front so they know where the group is sitting.

We have 5 people RSVP'd as Yesses, and 5 as Maybes. I just thought I'd post it here so people who missed the comments in that previous diary can still hear about it and attend. I look forward to seeing whoever can make it!

I was reading an entry by Bob Harris at http://www.thismodernworld.com about the debates when a thought struck.

The idea has been circulated that when they shake, Kerry should stand close to W so his height advantage and the tilt of W's head make Kerry look more presidential, and W look less mature.

I then remembered something else I heard about gaining an advantage in a handshake.

I have a conservative baptist mother-in-law. I love her, she's sweet, she loves me, it's all good. We even usually keep it friendly when we talk politics. She's planning on voting for Bush.

One day, I can't remember who brought it up or how it started, we exchanged e-mails about the Swifties. She made some comment about Veterans, and I fired back about how you can't believe everything that this group says, then listed off Time magazine's documentation of the lies.

 . . . so she replied with this . . . http://johnkerrythenewsoldier.blogspot.com/

That's right, you heard it here second (I didn't beat Tom Tomorrow). Very Very Happy is back online! Finally, some serious humor.

Ever wonder what the right wing bloggers were ranting about without having the nerve to make yourself read their drivel? We now have our answer, folks. The Might Reason Man (http://www.veryveryhappy.blogspot.com/) put out a brilliant piece entitled:

Blogatrol: Booster Shot

~ In which we inoculate ourselves against dumbfuckery by observing the distilled essence of prominent Rightwing bloggers ~

Ok, people. This is a rather intense time of personal crisis in my life. I bring it to you because I am in need of help and advice, and this community has always been good at giving advice.

If you're not interested, I apologize for taking up space on the page. Just ignore this post and move on.

If you don't mind the off-topic post, please read on.

I was reading the "Eye for an Eye, and so it continues" thread on the front page and found myself in tears.

First it was revulsion at the beheading and the fear of war and the shame of what our country is doing. I was on the verge for a few minutes there of running out of my office to throw up.

But then I saw a picture of Ari. I saw posts thanking the person who posted his picture. And I'd like to thank the person who posted it, too. EphemeralNotion is a credit to this community.

But this Diary isn't just about that. Its about what sparked in me when I saw Ari.

How many of us here are students? I'm wondering because my wife is transferring from a community college in Costa Mesa to UC Berkeley (yay!).

So I'm currently dealing with a lot of student issues, but I feel woefully uninformed. I have some questions, y'all might be able to help with.

To begin: Good god, how little does one have to make to get the Calgrant? Just how much has the budget been cut for the UC system? How insanely lucky was she to be accepted for this transfer what with the enrollment cutbacks?

Our story is in the extended copy section, if you're interested, and we could very much use advice and assistance if you have any to give. If this is too off topic, move on, and accept my apologies for going off topic.

I'm not sure what time, but the O'Franken Factor just said that they will have Ben-Veniste on today.

I'm looking forward to some fun discussion. Anybody know what time this will happen? I won't be able to listen, so I'd appreciate it if this Diary (or some other) could give me a summary of the interview.

Thanks!

Just today, I recieved an e-mail that I remember seeing a post about recently. "The many homes of John Kerry."

Now the guy who sent it to me isn't a mindless Bush supporter, but he is rather conservative in some ways. So I want to send him a thoughtful and insightful retort. Something to make him think beyond the "Kerry = $$$$$ = nothing like real America" message in this e-mail.

I can't remember how thoughtful and insightful that previous diary about this e-mail was, but I remember briefly scanning the contents, and it made some good points. Can someone let me know who wrote that or provide a link to it so I can pick and choose bits? Or even send the link to him.

I just had a thought. Someone joked about a Kerry/Clarke ticket, and a a chime sounded in my head.

All the mojo this man's racking up today is gonna stay with him for some time.

Anyone know if he might be ambitious enough to try to be the repub candidate 4 years from now? Hell, the right may push him there as the only way a repub could be president any time in the next decade after all Bush's lies.

Input?

I know, I could have come up with a better diary title, but since my earlier one was still on the "first 10" page, I decided to amuse myself.

Has anyone heard anything about this yet?

Zimbabwe is informally accusing us of sending mercs to their country? No formal accusations yet, and no direct lines of evidence yet, but investigations will undoubtedly be made. And since Bush didn't appoint the investigators, they might actually turn up something.

Ok, I'm new here. Posted a few comments and such, been reading a while, but this is my first diary.

Kos is one of the first places I hit for news. The diary entries are a great source. Another place I go is here. (Hope I got the link html right) A great blog, done by a great artist and commentator: Tom Tomorrow.

Anyway, I thought you all would like the bit Tom posted today about the T-shirts.