It was what we would describe as an own-goal.

British Major Ewen Murchison

Here, this is much more interesting than some goofy possudillo:

Amazing choreography.

(Hat tip to Joe Carter)

About six months ago, I bought a Wacom tablet, thinking it would help with graphics work. Since the kids were interested, I installed it on the family computer and haven't tried it much. They used it for about 2 weeks and then found other interests, and so today I finally got it installed and working on my Kubuntu system. Works pretty good.

I was expermineting with the pressure settings and the brushes and my test image started to take form into a recognizable shape - at least one recognizable here in Texas. So I finished out the image in an attempt to hone my skills. I'm no artist, and the result is nothing to write home about but since I've posted so rarely, I feel almost obligated to put it up in lieu of real content. So here it is:

Yes, I know the snout is too long...more like a possum than an armadillo. Again, I've never claimed to be an artist.

Cool use for a pretty cool product:

In an age of multimillion-dollar high-tech weapons systems, sometimes it's the simplest ideas that can save lives. Which is why a New Jersey mother is organizing a drive to send cans of Silly String to Iraq.

American troops use the stuff to detect trip wires around bombs, as Marcelle Shriver learned from her son, a soldier in Iraq.

Before entering a building, troops squirt the plastic goo, which can shoot strands about 10 to 12 feet, across the room. If it falls to the ground, no trip wires. If it hangs in the air, they know they have a problem. The wires are otherwise nearly invisible.

Brilliant move.

If you're not part of the solution...you're precipitate.

Anonymous

The Jack directed me to a site where people "remix" movie trailers into complete different types of movies. Although most of them are not that funny, there are two amazing standouts:

• The Shining recast as a romantic comedy
• Sleepless in Seattle as a Horror flick.

The Empire Brokeback is also amusing in how innocent lines taken out of context can be made to mean something new.

Earlier this year, the Queen's sister and parents had some unexpected afternoon guests:

Three bears (although poppa bear was replaced by a twin baby bear) - oh the joys of living in Colorado. Here in Texas all we get is the Three Armadillos (although I did see an Ocelot once).

Parents who do everything in their power to undermine the authority and ability of teachers to do their jobs:

A student at Lone Grove High School took the phone to school and it rang in the middle of class, according to Oklahoma TV station KTEN. After the class interruption, the teacher confiscated the phone and took it to the principal's office. School policy is to hold the phone for five days, but the student's mother told the TV station that isn't good enough. Yvonne Walker wants her son to have the phone in case of emergency.

The 16-year-old's parents said they got the phone for the teen so that he could contact them -- saying that it's not helping him for school officials to have the phone.

When school officials said that they couldn't break policy or make special considerations for anyone, the parents called police. The officer sent to the scene filed a report, which is now at the district attorney's office for consideration of larceny charges.

Great move. This not only damages the ability of the district to maintain order, it is also a gross disservice to their son.

A college professor I know once told me that he hated teaching freshman courses. Not because he hated freshman, but because of their parents. After every test, there were always calls from parents of students who performed poorly. Whenever a project was due, the parent of at least one student who missed the deadline would plead their case for their child. It also served as an accurate indicator of who would not be excelling in their undergraduate endeavor.

Parents, here is a hint: if you want your child to succeed, teach them some independence. They will never learn to stand up for themselves if Mom and Dad insist on serving as their champion in every adverse situation - even when they desire you to.