Every once in a while, I find myself going to Taco Bell for lunch. When I was working in Racine, a couple of years ago, I went to the Taco Bell down the street, and ordered my usual lunch order, three tacos and milk.

Now I have gotten very used to the counter clerk responding to this order with “Are you sure you wouldn’t like the value meal?”

I would then explain that I don’t want the value meal (I guess it costs less when you drink soda), because it generally cost from 10 to 25 cents more than ordering the items separately.

To my shock, the counter clerk looks at me, and completely sincerely says “But it’s only a little bit more.”

I guess it’s kind of the same thing when Elaine Chao, discussing the administration’s new rules on overtime said, “Our intent is always to strengthen overtime protections… We do not expect that many people will lose their overtime.”

I guess that makes sense, in a Taco Bell kind of way.
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Take a look at this fun and entertaining package:

http://www.stickergiant.com/page/sg/dubya

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For those of you laboring under the delusion that W is engaged, check out what Sidney Blumenthal has to say about it:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/041604B.shtml

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Lastly, as you probably know, I am a computer geek. What you may not know is that I use computer systems based on so-called Open Source, or free, software. The operating system I use, instead of Windows or Mac OS, is called Linux, of which there are several versions.

I was intrigued to learn the other day that some enterprising group has developed Ashcroft Proof Linux:
http://ashcroftproof.com

This is a “secure” operating system, impervious to the prying eyes of others, whomever’s they may be. Interestingly enough, the next major release will be based upon a package called SE-Linux (security enhanced linux) which was developed by the NSA:
http://www.nsa.gov/selinux/

One hand hides what the other is seeking! You gotta love it!

This from the New York Post’s Page Six
FRUMPY billionaire Warren Buffett is being urged by friends to let
the boys from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” give him a much-needed
makeover. Buffett confirmed to us that a female friend had suggested
him as a candidate to a Bravo bigwig. Buffett is infamous for wearing
worn-down clothes, the same tie many days in a row, and lunching
every day at the same greasy spoon in his hometown of Omaha, Neb. As
for actually consenting to appear on the swishy show, Buffett says
he’s never seen it, and that he only watches news, sports and “The
Sopranos.”

And this from the New York State legislature…
“Marriage For None: Deborah Glick proposal would establish civil unions
as only option for gays, straights”
http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_314/marriagefornone.html
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/18416.htm

Have a nice holiday weekend!

My friend Andy sent this to me, and I thought it was worth forwarding.
-nic

Laura Schlessinger is a national radio personality (a k a Dr. Laura)
who dispenses advice to people who call in to her talk show. On her
radio show recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, she
believes homosexuality is an abomination, according to Leviticus
18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following
response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a U.S. resident.
It was posted on the Internet.

—————————————

Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s
Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination … End of
debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God’s Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male
and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned
in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a
fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is
in her period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem
is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it
creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is, my
neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite
them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath.
Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally
obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is
an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there
‘degrees’ of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if
I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some
wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the
hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by
Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig
makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn’t we just burn them to
death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep
with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can
help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and
unchanging.
Your adoring fan, Don

This first piece is so strange that you would think it was an April
Fools joke (hint, it isn’t):
http://www.iraqcoalition.org/pressreleases/20040401_optimist.html

Ever wonder who crafts that optimistic message from Iraq? They aren’t
exactly a non-partisan group:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/8355466.htm

An interesting poll on V.P. prospects:
http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/158992elex04-01-04.htm

While I’m sure that most of us have heard enough speculation of a
Kerry/McCain ticket, here is some more kindling for the fire (or is
that pyre…).

Maverick McCain rips GOP (Noelle Straub, Boston Herald):
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=1611

Kerry’s veep choice Gut-check time (Mark Shields, CNN):
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/29/kerry.vp/index.html

And I think we should have a pool: How long does it take for the
commerce department to announce (quietly) that the 308,000 new jobs in
march number is an over-statement??? Whoever guesses closest gets a
Bush/Cheney-04 bumper sticker.