oh taxes, I need to do that. also grocery shopping, lunch with one of mac's friends, church, and laundry. It would be good if I could list somethings for sale on craigslist and try to get a few more things out of the house before the painting, but who knows.

are we sure no one here wants to buy my place? that would make things so much easier.

Democrats Have a Big Problem in Illinois

It turns out that Scott Lee Cohen (D), the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in Illinois, has more extensive problems than were reported yesterday.

Arch Pundit: "Dude is like Jack Ryan meets Blair Hull meets Charlie Sheen."

Impressive, Illinois Democrats. Blago just wasn't good enough for you, was he?

Ghost Marriage: Not Even Death Can Stop You From Getting Married

There are many practical reasons to marry a dead spouse. For example, when an unmarried woman has no children to take care of her in old age, she can be "married" into another family. If a son died before he has descendants, his parents can arrange a ghost marriage to provide a "wife" who remains chaste, as a pretext to adopt a grandson to continue the family line. Another reason is to give the deceased a "spouse and companion" in the afterlife.

How is a ghost marriage performed? Singapore Paranormal Investigators has the story:

Next, the priest empowered the East Gate with a lighted joss paper folded in the shape of a cone, which is also known as the "fire brush". Soon after this, the priest struck the paper gate three times with the sword and declared the gate to be opened at his order. At the same time, the family members were to shout out the name of the deceased. Finally, the priest declared, "From the East Gate, out you come" The whole atmosphere became very tense as the ceremony was going on. [...]. After the "destruction" of all the gates, the priest took a paper effigy out from the centre of the squared shape model. This meant that the spirit had been rescued from the gates of hell.

The paper effigy was placed in front of the altar by the priest. Beside the paper effigy, there was another effigy which was much taller and larger in size. Madam Tham continued to explain to SPI, "The paper effigy which was just rescued from hell represents the current state of the spirit, she carries the illness and sufferings she had when she was alive. The much larger paper effigy next to her represents the healthier form. The priest will soon heal her spirit and she will regain her original healthy form again."

Impressive, Illinois Democrats. Blago just wasn't good enough for you, was he?

Go big or go home, punk.

Seriously, I keep wondering what's going to come out next and my local politicians never fail me in that regard.

I just made the most awesome scrambled eggs. I watched some cooking show a while ago that had you chop up frozen butter and mix that in with the egg so that it melts in as the eggs cook over very low heat. Total success.

I'm going to spend way too much time online, I think.

Also, having 2 laptops I'm using for 2 distinct purposes is WEIRD.

I watched some cooking show a while ago that had you chop up frozen butter and mix that in with the egg so that it melts in as the eggs cook over very low heat.

America's Test Kitchen. That was their technique for making French omelettes. Good to know it works! Of course, now I want eggs.

I'm going to spend way too much time online, I think.

I don't understand this.

I'm pretty peeved that DC is hogging all the snow this year. C'mon, the Northeast can handle it!

Do not taunt happy fun weather.

Meanwhile, we have cold rain. Everyone in my office is very quiet. I suspect many of them are sitting in their cubes, occasionally looking out at the grayness outside, feeling the ennui permeate their souls.

It's possible that I'm projecting.

I suspect many of them are sitting in their cubes, occasionally looking out at the grayness outside, feeling the ennui permeate their souls.

It's possible that I'm projecting.

It sounds like you've been reading the Unhappy Hipsters site too much.