There's a new issue up

There's a new issue up over at Wise-Women, just in time for me to show off at SXSW. Good stuff!

Saliva test to detect breast

Saliva test to detect breast cancer under study: Ptui! (link thanks to Tara)

USS Clueless posts a rant

USS Clueless posts a rant (and I mean that in a good way) about NATO's lack of a meaningful response when Article V of the NATO charter was invoked. Make sure to read the Update section of the post. I agree with him that by their actions it's clear that the NATO "allies" think being allied means that the US is obligated to protect the rest of NATO, but that they need not help us. It's past time to reorder the US's priorities vis a vis Europe. An alliance that is only that in name is no alliance at all; at best it's a convenience (European bases for staging) for the US, and at worst we're simply being played as suckers. We've seen, in starkest terms, that the rest of NATO will not fight alongside the US after the US was attacked, as they were sworn to do. Therefore, it's time for the US to leave NATO, and let those countries look out for their own defense, as we look out for ours.

Preparatory to going to SXSW,

Preparatory to going to SXSW, here's the Austin 10-day weather forecast.

Slate Gets Duped. On the

Slate Gets Duped. On the Internet, no one may know that you're a dog, but they can find out that you aren't a cat.

As Tom mentioned below, he's

As Tom mentioned below, he's currently working on a new book. Over the last five years, we've found that one of the most important parts of working on a new book is choosing which picture of our cat to include. Tom didn't like any of the ones we hadn't already used, so we had a quick photo shoot earlier today. Herewith, a gallery of the candidates.

Microsoft Press is begining to

Microsoft Press is begining to beat the drums for my forthcoming book, Microsoft Office v. X for Mac Inside Out, which will be in the stores in June. I guess I'll have to finish writing it (just two more weeks to go!).

Dori and I are going

Dori and I are going through the official California Voter's Guide in preparation for the election tomorrow. You know, I'm thinking of running for some statewide office next time, because some of the people who are actually running have me way outclassed in the nutbar department. I could be as wacky as I wanted, and still be the voice of moderation. There's one guy who is a single-issue candidate: Legalized Ferrets. Another lists as one of his qualifications that he is a "practicing Druid Unitarian." You can't make this stuff up. God, I love living in California.

This is actually a question

This is actually a question for the SXSW Blog, but I can't post it there (don't know why I wasn't accepted, don't really care that much), so I'm posting it here. If someone who can post there could repost it for me, I'd appreciate it. [Later note: thanks, Meryl!]

I'm arriving in Austin at 10 am Saturday (after a long and unpleasant one-stop red-eye). What's the best way to get from the airport to the Radisson? Should I just grab a cab? Will there be a downtown shuttle? If a cab, about how much should it cost?

Alternatively, if you just plain know the answer, drop me a line, and thanks!

Tomorrow is election day for

Tomorrow is election day for us here in California. Today, we've been getting lots of automated phone spam for candidates. The interesting thing is that it has all been for Dori. She's registered as a Republican (she did that so that she could vote for the most wackily conservative GOP candidate in the primaries, thereby helping to ensure that bad candidates end up in the general elections - and lose). It appears that the Republicans have the money to do automated phone banks (she just got another one for Riordan, recorded by Arnold Schwartznegger!), and the Democrats whom we've heard from in the past few weeks have relied on real people doing the calls. I wonder which approach is more effective for the general populace? For us, we're willing to talk to people, but usually not to listen to recorded pitches.

According to this news story,

According to this news story, Snoring Linked to Diabetes, Irrespective of Weight. The text says that it looks like snoring, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and heart disease all look to be related to each other (which we knew) and also to diabetes (which we didn't). One more thing for Tom to talk to the doctor about on his next visit.

On its 30 year anniversary,

On its 30 year anniversary, 7.4 billion miles away, and speeding away at 27,000 mph, NASA Contacts Pioneer 10 Spacecraft. How cool is that?