I'm not asking, I'm driving.

Obama Flip-Flops on the Individual Mandate (Again) | Cato @ Liberty:

Film – Surely It’s 30 (Don’t Call Me Shirley!) – NYTimes.com:

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Lots of ugh to go around.

I’m planning to bike the length of the Danube – from the Black Forest to the Black Sea – in the summer of 2012. It’s approximately 1700 miles, so figuring 3.5 to 4 weeks for a pace of about a century a day with a rest day every so often and allowing for a little sightseeing. I did Vienna to Budapest in 2.5 days in 2001 (yes, I am older and very out of shape now…hence the two year lead time). Then, I used a German-language guide for the trip; it is now available in English:

• Danube Bike Trail 1: From Donaueschingen to Passau [978-3-85000-249-3]
• Danube Bike Trail 2: From Passau to Vienna [978-3-85000-160-1]
• Danube Bike Trail 3: From Vienna to Budapest [978-3-85000-212-7]
• Danube Bike Trail 4: From Budapest to the Black Sea [978-3-85000-250-9]

Just trying to find a source in the US that has all four volumes…have written the publisher in Austria to find out if they have a distributor.

[UPDATE:Esterbauer, the publishers, wrote back promptly and directed me to their US distributor, MapLink, and they should have all four in my hands next week!]

I told Anne that I wanted to do this, and she said to pick a date and do it…and I do what my wife says!

Care to join me? The more, the merrier!

I love the COPS episode (yes, I watch COPS) where they get a bunch of folks with warrants to think they won a new TV. When they schedule the delivery, instead of getting the TV they are instead served the warrants and arrested. I have no problem with that. I do have a problem with this:

Calif. agents use award ruse to reel in fugitives
(AP):

They used a website, an e-mail account, and appointed an agent to the fictitious post of “amnesty program director.” They sent 2,700 letters to relatives of parolees-at-large advertising the reward and fake amnesty program.
…
The offer had the hollow ring of truth, piggybacking on the state’s colossal budget deficit and a bona fide state law that took effect in January.
The law creates a new non-revocable parole for some offenders who are considered to be less dangerous. Those on non-revocable parole don’t have to report to parole agents, are free to come and go as they please, and can’t be sent back to prison unless they are convicted of a new crime.
The fugitives were told they would either be put on non-revocable parole or discharged from parole entirely to help the state cut costs and prison crowding.
“If you have received a letter, you are pre-qualified for Amnesty or Discharge,” read the offer posted on the website. “Your warrant will be canceled and a $200.00 check will be issued…. A Non Revocable Parole card will be issued and you will be free to go.”

The state pretending to be some random prize group to trick criminals into being at a certain place at a certain time is fine. The state acting as the state and pretending to offer an amnesty to do the same is not.

April 21, 2010, marks the 174th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, in which the Texian Army under the command of General Sam Houston defeated the much larger forces of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The battle lasted 18 minutes, but the effects of the outcome last to this day.

Just for giving them your email and snail mail addresses.
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• KFC’s Bacon Sandwich On Fried Chicken “Bread” Starts Killing People Nationwide April 12 – The Consumerist
• Anne has put together a website of pics and movies of Kate.

Happy Grover Appreciation Day (HT Boing Boing):

John Scalzi has unilaterally declared February 15th to be Grover Appreciation Day, commemorating the world’s greatest Muppet. Consider me part of the Coalition of the Willing on this.

Video evidence proving Grover’s superiority can be found at Scalzi’s Whatever. Alternately, you could just go re-read The Monster at the End of this Book.