Pop Music Implodes in on Itself

A Type II Supernova of references and parodies.

The Sands of Mars

I'm super-excited about the Curiosity team's pending announcement. (Link.)
Above: "Dark Sand Cascades of Mars", which was today's NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day.(High res. link)

Post-Election Floundering

The right has been blowing-off steam during the last week and a half. I'm sure you guys have seen the clips of Romney, Ryan and Fox News. They're clearly ignoring the adage about continuing to dig the holes in which we put ourselves.

Here's some relevant audio from George HW Bush's Campaign Manager, Lee Atwater, recorded during the Reagan administration, talking about how to appeal to racists "abstractly". Warning: he uses the n-word, so this is NSFW. [Link.] [Via.]

Hooray for the Home Team

Among the states considering gay-marriage measures this fall, Washington represented the best hope for breaking a 30-plus-state losing streak at the ballot box.

52 to 48


+++

The vote puts Washington and Colorado to the left of the Netherlands on marijuana law, and makes them the nexus of a new social experiment with uncertain consequences.

55 to 45