pauraque_bk | News you can use for a Tues... day.

I am be-hatted by

chresimos! Hurrah!

Also, the jury duty thing turned out okay. I don't have to go, and I got off with a stern lecture. You guys were right. :)

-This past Saturday was John Kerry's birthday. (In honor,

malograntum posted a picture of young!Kerry shirtless and holding a puppy. The effect is sort of like

johnxjohn filtered through

baaaaabyanimals.)

But the reason I bring it up is that it kind of made me sad -- not for him, but for myself, as yet another reminder that my side lost. And I started thinking about the balance between holding onto anger and sadness, and moving forward... In a way, the Republican exhortation to "get over it already" is sound advice. It's good to keep on top of the fraud issues, but not because of what happened last month -- because of what will happen two, four, six years from now. Eh. There's a thin line between staying angry and wallowing.

-Speaking of anniversaries, this past Sunday marked one year since Saddam Hussein was captured.

Reuters: A year on, Iraq's rebels unfazed by Saddam capture

Daily Kos: What Should Anti-Iraq Debacle Dems/Progressives Do Now?
I thought this was interesting. Raises the question of whether it's more important for people against the war to also stand firm against the people who started it, or to look for the best solution within the current administration.

-On a totally different note...

PlanetOut: New Zealand OKs civil unions; gays rejoice

"[O]nce the bill was passed, two openly gay members of Parliament, Tim Barnett and Chris Carter, kissed while supporters lined up for hugs."

-This doesn't even border on political news, but

da_governator gave his pals at

worldaffairs Santa hats, and it made me laugh very hard. (But then, I still laugh every time I see

joementum's name, so maybe I'm easy. Joe-mentum! Haha! Er, yes.)