Bizarre Op-Ed of the Day Note: the date this op-ed was published is July 18, 2004. Barbara Ehrenreich tells Ralph Nader that it's over (when did it ever begin) and then writes this: more inside

Is anyone really surprised? Arnold Schwarzenegger is throwing a hissy-fit over legislators' delay in pushing his budget through. On Saturday, he called them "girlie men", twice, and asked voters to "terminate" those who oppose him (by voting against them). more inside

Trade cards, simple to fancy, some diecut. Here one may meet Uncle Sam hawking oysters, join a polar bear party, or eye a lassie who likes her malt. Mercantile ingenuity knows no bounds.

Blondestar. Always There. Always On. "The following conversation is real. It took place on Tuesday, June 8, 2004, between a BlondeStar advisor and a subscriber." (click on big blue box to listen to 1 min. 14 sec. MP3 file) more inside

Spider-maaan, Spider-maaan, Does whatever a spider can... Apart from in this instance spin webs. Instead he's got to rely on the Batman Lookalike Trapeze Artist Union to safely guide him through the skies of New York. Or, uh, something. [Flash]

Alien in 30 Seconds. [Flash] Performed by cartoon bunnies. From the makers of Titanic, The Shining, and The Exorcist. Via ABS.

Inexplicable object of the week. I searched, I did. Can it really be no one's posted it here yet? Including a suppos... supplement to this post.

The Collected Image

A quiver of cobras and a charm of hummingbirds.

Curious George: has anyone here had their bank account tapped? [More inside] more inside

Bikes against Bush [Oh no, not another anti-Bush link.] Josh Kinberg, the same guy who brought us the wireless access bike has built another cunning human powered device. During the Republican Convention he will officially roll out the new bike. For know he just loves New York. [2 MB QT] (also available in Real Video.) Can you imagine a whole slew of these bikes driving through NY? Followed by Republican cleaner squads? I hope he doesn't get arrested. Here is an interview with Josh Kinberg, "Profile of a wireless activist".

Ordering pizza in a surveillance society. [Flash, via Crooked Timber.]

Kerrang magazine appoints Satan as the #2 most important person in Rock.
#10 is Avril Lavigne. more inside

Is President Bush a Homo? Betty Bowers seems to think so. more inside

Haunted rubberduck for sale. more inside

Lightning Break Snooker (zip file containing a flash game) more inside

The Parking Meter Fairy has a lavender-coloured tutu, a pink curly wig, his name is Xavier, and he wears a mask. Plus he rollerblades. And you thought your job was tough. more inside

past life? So I was a Hungry Executioner. Thats scarey. more inside

Setting the tone I really don't have the first idea if this is true or false, but the link alleges that new Iraqi PM Allawi shot six prisoners in the head shortly before assuming power. more inside

Are you safe? Even in small doses this substance can harm, even kill. And yet it's a main ingredient in baby food.