White House Knocks Back "Death Star" Petition

Funny:

The White House says building a Death Star would be an out-of-this-galaxy waste of money — not only because it's against government policy to blow up planets, but also because the United States already has access to a space station as well as a laser-wielding space robot. 

Today's official statement on the Death Star issue, titled "This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For," was written by Paul Shawcross, chief of the science and space branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget. It comes in response to a "We the People" petition that called on the federal government to start building a Death Star by 2016.

Background on "John D's" petition here.

Tennessee Revokes Internet Gun-Rage Guy's Handgun Permit

Too damn funny:

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has suspended the handgun carry permit of a local man who threatened to "start killing people" to protect his Second Amendment right.

In a statement released Friday officials said they had suspended the handgun carry permit of James Yeager, CEO of Tactical Response based on "material likelihood of risk of harm to the public".

On Thursday, a video of Yeager angrily claiming he would "start killing people" if President Barack Obama moved forward with gun control measures began to go viral on the internet.

Via (with videos)

"...we got complete props from the right wing"

Unintended take away in this story:

Fulton said the editor arrest actually helped boost his cover. "I mean, we got complete props from the right wing," he said.

• William Fulton

• Joe Miller

Thom's Everyday Tips For Smoother Living

When wearing a snorkel mouthpiece and tube (without mask) at your work desk for long periods of time, be sure to put a towel over your shoulder and down your back, making sure that the towel is positioned under the end of the snorkel tube, so that it might catch the surprising amount of drool that will come out of the end of the tube.

Here is a helpful illustration of what this might look like at home. (Note striped towel over right shoulder.)

Artist at desk, with snorkel mouthpiece and tube (no mask), and towel.

This has been "Thom's Everyday Tips For Smoother Living"

Most welcome!

Fresh Hot Joke: English Grammar Edition

If you're afraid of werewolves, you need to brush up on your tenses.

• This has been "Fresh Hot Joke: English Grammar Edition." Thanks for playing.

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES IS PEOPLE!

Eat your heart out Charlton Heston.

 - Oh - "Eat your heart out" - I made a double funny.

New South Wales Fires

Just got a very good fire map.

This one is not exactly close - but the closest to us right now:

Berowra Electrical Fire (Sensitive Incident)
ALERT LEVEL: Not Applicable
LOCATION: (Note: location on map is approximate to centre of local government area)
COUNCIL AREA: Hornsby
STATUS: Out of Control
TYPE: Structure fire (A fire involving a residential, commercial or industrial building)
FIRE: Yes
SIZE: 0 ha
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY: Rural Fire Service
UPDATED: 8 Jan 2013 16:08

From here.