Blogdaughter Tammi of Tammi's World got asked that question and gave a good answer. Comments are closed over there, so I'll answer over here.

Well, growing up, I never noticed anything about this country that particularly sucked, so I always thought America was pretty cool. The question of NOT liking my country never crossed my mind.

The notion that America was actually GREAT and thus worthy of a deep and abiding love... probably somewhere in 1988 when I was 21, and in my 3rd of 6 years in the Navy. I was just about to embark upon my first real visit to a foreign nation: The Philippines.

At a "cultural briefing" before setting us loose on the town, they explained about a quaint Philippine law: unjest vexation.

They explained it thusly: if you're in a bar, and you piss off a local so bad that he breaks his camera over your head, he's not guilty of assault. YOU are guilty of "unjust vexation" and have to buy him a new camera.

Which was the most fucked-up thing I'd ever heard of, and led me to conclude that America truly rocks.

What's YOUR story?

Posted by: Harvey at 09:23 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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[hat tip: Rick of Brutally Honest]

It's bad enough you're wearing a festive shade of teal for a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day, but...

The wide belt... worn tit-high... over an OPEN coat?

Would somebody PLEASE pummel this woman senseless with a copy of "Dress For Success"?

Posted by: Harvey at 09:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Interesting ad. Not sure I'd watch it at work. On the other hand, it might be safe for little kids:

[YouTube direct link]

Via I Hate My Cubicle!!!

Posted by: Harvey at 11:34 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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11 more videos of schoolkids singing about Obama.

Some... not so bad.

I get it - first black president, it's a big deal. If the message you take from it is "I can do anything", that's ok.

Yes, I can be my own person.
Yes, I can be a policeman
Yes, I can have a good future
Yes, I can be the first person in my family to go to college
Yes, I can do good in school
Yes, I can become the first Mexican President

Others...

Cult of personality. They're praising the man as a messiah, not as a human being.

We believe in Barack Obama
He loves you and he loves your mama
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
With all the change heÂ’s building
Gonna bring hope to the children
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah

Take a look if you're curious.

Posted by: Harvey at 11:16 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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To those who served before, with, and after me - thank you.

To those who were civilians from 1985 to 1991 - thank you for being the kind of Americans worth serving.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:04 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(Cross-posted from IMAO)

What I really like about this song is that it's in a cadence format, so the guys in uniform could sing this one while they're marching around.

Had it been written 70 years ago, this is the song that General Patton would have sung in the shower.

[YouTube direct link]

Pass this one along to anyone you know in theater. Veteran's Day is coming up. It'd make the perfect gift.

Also current or former member of the military can request a free copy of the song via e-mail

[hat tip: commenter Rain of Lead]

Posted by: Harvey at 06:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Most of the stuff I see on This Is Why You're Fat doesn't even look appetizing, but this one has me intrigued:

The Cookie Cake Pie

A layer of chocolate chip cookie dough and a layer of rainbow cake mix baked in a pie crust and topped with icing and sprinkles.

Make it chocolate cake, and call me.

You may also substitute brownie mix.

Posted by: Harvey at 06:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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[YouTube direct link]

Matt Rach performs Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.

Posted by: Harvey at 06:20 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I'm guessing she's going as a vacuum cleaner dust cover.

Posted by: Harvey at 06:13 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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[CollegeHumor direct link]

[via I Hate My Cubicle!!!]

Posted by: Harvey at 11:36 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I hadn't the slightest idea that you could do this with Legos.

[YouTube direct link]

My head started exploding when he opens the box at about the 40 second mark.

Sit through the credits in the middle if you want to see some different camera angles.

Which you probably do.

[via I Hate My Cubicle]

Posted by: Harvey at 11:25 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Ok, I admit, I'm a fashion retard, but even *I* can spot what's wrong with this picture.

She's wearing her belt around the outside of an open cardigan.

This woman has 22 assistants. Not one of them told her how fucked up this looks.

They must all REALLY hate her.

Posted by: Harvey at 02:49 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Barnes & Noble unveiled Nook – an e-book reader that will be available in more than 700 retail stores at the end of November.

Let the nookie jokes begin...

Posted by: Harvey at 01:07 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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10-12-02

Posted by: Harvey at 01:48 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Per Douglas Adams via Wikipedia:

The Total Perspective Vortex is allegedly the most horrible torture device to which a sentient being can be subjected.

"When you are put into the Vortex you are given just one momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little mark, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, which says, "You are here."

Located on Frogstar World B, the machine was originally invented by one Trin Tragula in order to annoy his wife. Because she was forever nagging him for having no sense of proportion, he decided to invent something that would show her what having a sense of proportion really meant. Unfortunately the shock of being placed in the Vortex destroyed her brain, but Trin Tragula's grief was tempered by the knowledge that he had been right and she had been wrong. In Adams' words, the Total Perspective Vortex illustrated that "In an infinite universe, the one thing sentient life cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion."

I imagine that it's something very much like this:

[YouTube direct link]

Posted by: Harvey at 10:09 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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[YouTube direct link]
[hat tip: I Hate My Cubicle!!!]

It's got beauty, grace, strength, and fascinatingly miniscule outfits.

Posted by: Harvey at 12:39 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Just the online edition.

And only because they use one of those script-generated "Headlines Around The Web" features.

But it's still funny, because next to a serious and fawning story about Oprah, is a link to my rude little post about a picture of her where it looks like she's getting felt up by Michelle Obama. Here's a screen capture (click to enlarge):

Screw you, New York Times. Serves you right for trusting the internet.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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But the athlete has previously admitted she struggles to accept her body shape.

"My thighs... I think they're too big," she has said. "And also my arms. I think they're too muscular. They're too thick."

Whatever. I think it's just fine.

Posted by: Harvey at 12:03 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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[Funny or Die direct link]

I guess she used to look like this:

Personally, I'm a big fan of the cuddly-looking version.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:58 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I want to throw a bucket of baby oil on them and dive into the pile.

Posted by: Harvey at 02:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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