Happy Monday. Some news to get you started:

First up, the Supreme Court will hear argument today over Texas' new voting maps. Texas had to get judicial or administrative pre-clearance for the maps because it is covered under the Voting Rights Act, which presumes that certain locations will be racist when making changes to voting.

An Iranian court has sentenced an American to death for espionage. They're claiming he works for the CIA.

Soldiers at Lewis-McChord are on lockdown after "sensitive" military equipment goes missing over the holidays. "They'll be on base until the items are found."

Australian woman on an "adventure holiday" in Zambia survives swim through crocodile-infested waters with her feet tied together after her bungee cord snaps and drops her in Victoria Falls. She paid £80 for the privilege.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 02:51 AM | Comments (174)
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The Obama's Secret Extravagant Halloween Party

Back in January 2009 newly-elected President Obama admonished the nation that everyone must give up something for the good of the country:

“Everyone must sacrifice for the greater good… Everyone must have some skin in the game.”

[Johnny] Depp greeted guests in the costume he had worn in a film version of the Lewis Carroll story released around the same time by Burton, who was given carte blanche to transform the state dining room into a Mad Hatter’s tea party in “his signature creepy-comic style”.

A long table was “set with antique-looking linens, enormous stuffed animals in chairs, and tiered serving plates with treats like bone-shaped meringue cookies”, writes New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor in The Obamas, which is released on Tuesday. Fruit punch was served in blood vials at the bar, she adds.

George Lucas sent Chewbacca from Star Wars to mingle with invited guests, who included the ObamasÂ’ two daughters Malia and Sasha and friends, the children of White House staff members and military families.

The White House press corps was allowed to report on more modest festivities earlier that day for Washington-area school children, but did not release details of the more glamorous festivities that occurred later for what was the Obamas' first Halloween in office in 2009.

Update: Morgen at Verum Serum has more details including some photos taken at the party. more...

Posted by: Maetenloch at 05:24 PM | Comments (642)
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Bumped for Tebow Time.

In case you think I'm biased by posting the Denver pic, I'll post the...

Okay I can't do it. I'm warning you, don't click on this picture of a Pittsburgh wannabe cheerleader. She's not svelte. Let's just say she's unscarred by the horror of anexoria and leave it at that.

Posted by: Ace at 03:08 PM | Comments (1150)
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They ask for ID when you buy psuedoephedrine too, right? (However you spell it.)

So, just in case you were wondering, asking for ID is effective in screening out multiple-pseudoepherine purchasers, but is not at all effective in screening out multiple-voters.

I think we can safely assume that some people do not wish to discourage multiple or illegal voting.

And by the way this post is racist, and based on an oil painting by Vermeer called "Uppity Darkie."

Thanks to laceyunderalls.

Posted by: Ace at 02:34 PM | Comments (88)
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I know it's old. But whatev's. I just heard of this craze last week. So screw you, buddy.

Bonus: Shit dumb girls say. more...

Posted by: Ace at 12:54 PM | Comments (49)
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He was a... child actor, appearing in "Lassie"? Who knew?

He was a great guy. Always liked seeing him on TV and reading his columns.

If you see the jokes about this being a "smart military blog," that comes from Tony Blankley, tossing the Q a mention. (That has, however, created a widespread misunderstanding that I'm a veteran, which I'm definitely not. When Blankley wrote that, "milblog" was a category often (wrongly) extended to blogs largely covering the war.)

Posted by: Ace at 11:02 AM | Comments (102)
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The NY Giants host the Atlanta Falcons at 1pm EST, and Pittsburgh in Denver at 4:30pm EST.

Hmmmm.. I think I've used this one before so you get bonus pic(s) below the fold.

more...

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 08:42 AM | Comments (287)
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Sorry for the late (and content-free) book thread, folks. I'll put this up as a place-holder so folks can talk in the comments.

I'll try to get back on track next Sunday.

Posted by: Monty at 07:05 AM | Comments (145)
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9am on NBC for anyone masochistic enough to watch.

Posted by: andy at 04:44 AM | Comments (523)
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Evening y'all. Any of you morons living in Kansas City, Missouri have a pretty cool opportunity to own a piece of history. Bonnie And Clyde's Winchester Model 1897 And Thompson Up For Auction. If you had to choose only one, which one would you bid on? I think I'd go for the Thompson.

In April of 1933, the Joplin, Missouri police raided Bonnie and Clyde's property and taken a small cache of weapons ammo, and other stuff into custody. Part of that cache was one Thompson submachine gun and one Winchester Model 1897. These are those guns.

Posted by: CDR M at 05:55 PM | Comments (657)
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