So, have you Virginians and Chica... Chicagans... Chicagoans... people from Chicago enjoyed your warmest January on record?

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/02/04/january-uah-global-temperature-warmest/

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/02/05/spencer-record-january-warmth-is-mostly-sea/

Babby Vs. Death Star.

See, this is what happens when they allow just anyone to have a green screen. Or a video camera. Or a baby. You end up with things like this:

I thought I'd share this wrong e-mail from a week or two ago:

***Words words words***

hey Joe,
its elder bischoff. how is the life as a not missionary? are you being good? hey guess what, elder draper set a date with shannon his first day in hermitage. im so pissed, he set like four dates his first day there. now everyone there is gunna think we were super lazy and all it took was a good missionary to get some work done. piss! he's just reaping our fruit!

thats all.

-elder Bischoff

PS. Let Me write your sister!

***No more!***

The e-mail address was <somethingsomething>@myldsmail.net

I decided to have some fun with this one. Here's what I wrote back:

###

Hi,

I think you've got the wrong e-mail address, but this web site might help you: http://www.catholic.com/library/pillar.asp.

In Christ,

-Joe B.

###

I was going to send him a link to one of the pages against Mormonism, but they seemed just a little too much on the offensive for first contact.

The Epistle for today, Quinquagesima Sunday.

EPISTLE (I Cor. 13:1-13) Brethren: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part: and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known. And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

And the prayer Father said during the homily.

Almighty and eternal God, you have so exalted the unbreakable bond of marriage that it has become the sacramental sign of your Son's union with the Church as His spouse. Look with favor on these married couples, whom you have united in marriage, as they ask for your help and the protection of the Virgin Mary. They pray that in good times and in bad they will grow in love for each other; that they will resolve to be of one heart in the bond of peace.

Lord, in the struggles let them rejoice that you are near to help them; in their needs let them know that you are there to rescue them; in their joys let them see that you are the source and completion of every happiness. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

Fitting, considering the day, no?

Well, I suppose I should tell my story of the San Diego State University Writer's Conference, for all one of you who are interested (hi Mom!).

Background: every year for the past 26 years, San Diego State University has held a writer's conference, designed to help aspiring writers meet with industry professionals. I first found out about it via my instructor at UC Irvine, who recommended it and has had several students who have had success at the conference.

The conference took place from January 29-31 and, after a year taking classes and working in a critique group, was to be my first foray into the world of professional writing.

The conference started Friday evening (I took a half-day at my day job so I could have time to prepare and not have to fight rush hour traffic to San Diego) with a mixer (alcohol!). The ballroom of the hotel where the mixer was held had tables assigned by genre, so you could meet with people with similar interests. Aside from a bit of not-at-all-awkward-nosiree, when I sat down at the SFF table where the only other person was a 15 year-old girl ("Hi! I'm twice your age and drinking alcohol and we're sharing a table. No, I'm not a stalker or pedo, why do you ask?"), the mixer was enjoyable. I met with some of my friends from my writing classes who also came to the conference. Also, towards the end of the evening a woman—who I later found out was Loretta Barrett, a very, very prominent literary agent—joined the SFF table. While she didn't represent that genre at all, she did mention that it was the fastest-growing segment in the entire publishing industry. She also talked about some interesting things, such as how writing isn't a profession, it's a vocation (that makes me feel better for not getting paid for it!).

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Hm.

Joe Johnston, director of the new Captain America movie, on the costume:

"The costume is a flag, but the way we're getting around that is we have Steve Rogers forced into the USO circuit. After he's made into this super-soldier, they decide they can't send him into combat and risk him getting killed. He's the only one and they can't make more. So they say, 'You're going to be in this USO show' and they give him a flag suit. He can't wait to get out of it."

(Emphasis mine.)

Erm, why on earth would you think that you have to get around that, as if it is some sort of obstacle? Unless....

(H/T Shamus Young)

F.U. News Cage Match: Actresses Named "Amy".

*Blows dust off blog.* I remember this place.

For no other reason than "because I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul," I present the first F.U. News Cage Match to determine the best of something or other. In this fight, we have a showdown between actresses named "Amy."

The contenders:

Amy Adams

Notable Appearances: Enchanted, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Julie & Julia, Leap Year.

Amy Acker

Notable Appearances: "Angel", "Alias", "Dollhouse"

Fight!

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