Woman's birthmark issue in EEOC suit
That is one crazy birthmark. You feel terrible that she can't get a job, but at a certain point I think she has to realize that perhaps she should find another line of work. But her former employers shouldn't have made it seem like everything was fine if it wasn't.

I take for granted that people want to live their lives with real purpose (i.e., not just for money, fame, etc). Cuz lots of people don't. That just makes no sense to me. (Have I been spending time with too many staffworkers or what?) I'm far from considering myself special in any way, much less because I really want to do something significant and selfless with my life. I shouldn't be special because of that; hopefully everyone would want to be like that. Anyway. I hope I still have all this rose-colored sunshine coming out of my ass when I finally do become a teacher.

It's going to be 50 in Chicago(!). Time to go enjoy it.

I just realized that I need to get 3 As out of 4 English classes I'm taking as a non-matriculant. Total buzzkill on that good weather. I gotta be clutch.

Elizabeth Smart found alive
I imagine her being trapped in a fallout shelter in the mountains like the Bauer daughter on 24. But it's not the weirdest story out there: Girl Emerges from Coma During Bryan Adams Concert. Is anybody else instantly reminded of that moment in High Fidelity when the middle-aged guy walks into the music store and asks for a Richard Marx album, and Jack Black yells back at him how "there's no WAY that's your daughter's favorite album. Wait, is she in a coma?"

Happy birthday to Max. Went to an interesting Italian/Mexican restaurant called Privata Cafe and the food was much better than expected. I dunno. The chianti helped.

Classes start at the end of month. I have to get my butt in gear with the financial aid.

The Quotations Page - Your Source for Famous Quotes
One of those useful things to have around. Here is an excerpt (rather than a quote) of something J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in a letter to a friend that I find interesting:
"Actually I am a Christian, and indeed a Roman Catholic, so that I do not expect 'history' to be anything but a 'long defeat' - though it contains (and in a legend may contain more clearly and movingly) some samples or glimpses of final victory."

Talk to the Bruce Lee soundboard.

Bush signs 'do-not-call' list bill
"Telemarketers say the registry will devastate their business." Well, that's the idea. And by the way, could MSNBC have a crappier looking site? Honestly, my frigging blog looks better.

Tired. Time for bed.

Phone Booth
I just saw the trailer for this tonight, and it at least looks intriguing. All the action rotates around the phonebooth itself, apparently. Kinda reminds me in one concept to Rear Window in that the audience is confined to a very small space.

Recycle your old computers through Dell's Exchange Program. Works for any computers, not just Dells. Also take a look at directly donating your old computer hardware to schools or other nonprofits in your area.

Once again, new Strong Bad email.

Legless veteran finishes L.A. Marathon
Apparently he's also hand-walked the length of the nation. Ridiculous.

So I watched part of the "Return to Batcave" TV special that had the old actors from the Batman TV series back on for a reunion. Worst. Crap. Ever. This is what happens when there's no new Alias on.

On the first Friday of each month, the church I attend has a Benediction service. For the uninitiated, it's basically a Mass ending with the priest carrying the Eucharist around in the monstrance around the church. Very beautiful and moving, especially with this being Lent. Anyway, at the end of the service, the lector guy had us all sing "God Bless America," and it hit me weird. I obviously don't hate America, though I am quicker to point out its faults than applaud its strengths, but what are we saying? God bless us as we go to a war that not all of us are sure is right. God bless us as we bomb the hell out of people who have nothing to do with 9/11 or oil or any sort of political agenda. If war is what happens, then America is not the only place that's going to need God's blessings. Ask the people who survived things like Dachau.

Ok. That was pretty heavy. The LifeGem is pretty much the opposite. Now available for pets. Not quite as bad as the inventor of Frisbees who had his ashes poured into the batter for making new frisbees. Gyick.