This band should have blown up into one of the biggest things ever.

I went to Filoli with my mom today, and saw some amazing gardens.

Here are a few photos:





Fourth-Of-July Rose





Orange Lily





Rhododendrons

This has been a strange week.

On Tuesday, I had my "exit interview" with my manager, which was my exit from my employer for the last 13 1/2 years. It lasted 10 minutes, and amounted to asking me if I had signed the three pieces of paperwork I had.

Then, I boxed up my Thinkpad, badge, and corporate charge card, drove over to the UPS store, and sent that crap package off to my now-ex-manager.

On Thursday, I received another package in the mail, containing two checks, severence and my last "regular" paycheck, and a form I can use to prove that I am eligible for unemployment.

I'm not sure what I will do immediately, other than taking some time off to decompress. I plan on shifting gears; Geology and Seismology have fascinated me for a long time, and I figure I will at least explore them as a potential new career.

Here's a video:



One last thing:

Union Now

from Think Progress, via Wonkette, Joe Barton on Carbon Dioxide again:







Perhaps someone should show Barton this or this or this or this.

Would it make a difference? Probably not.

Read this and boggle your mind at the idea that this asshole had recently approved torturing people in the name of the USA.

George W. Bush in 2003.

Funny how that whole eliminating torture thing worked out.

A memorial service for the four Oakland PD officers who were murdered over the weekend will be held Friday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland at 11:00 AM Pacific time.

There is more information Here

From dburr:

I'm not a religious person, but I thought this was great.

((crossposted))

Have a look here.

(crossposted)

Nice, friendly tazzie!

just for the hell of it.

Keep it up, wingnuts!

Poll, on politico.com:



Mmmm, pancetta.