the ayatollahs are split

Another encouraging development from Iran:

“No one in their right mind can believe” the official results from Friday’s contest, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri said of the landslide victory claimed by Ahmadinejad. Montazeri accused the regime of handling Mousavi’s charges of fraud and the massive protests of his backers “in the worst way possible.”

I understand Obama’s inclination not to “meddle,” but if Iran’s most senior Islamic cleric can question the election results …

Now before you conservatives say “amen,” ask yourself what would be happening in Iran right now if a pre-election, preemptive military strike had taken place? There’d be no talk of a revolution, I assure you, and it’s doubtful Ahmadinejad would’ve faced any serious opposition.

the blogosphere says what?

to the sexist asshole at the liquor store:
No, I am NOT a woman; men can carry bags for their shit these days too. No, I will not leave my $400 bag with ipod, wallet, sunglasses, etc. behind the counter, because, if for NO OTHER REASON, women are allowed to carry their bags throughout the store; and therefore, so should I.

Quoth Miss Ellie: “A $400 bag? He must be a woman.”

cap du jour

Atlanta Time Machine has a cool compilation of vintage Six Flags postcards:

you’ll have to speak up

Lee Majors is peddling his own brand of hearing aids.

I’m getting old.

viva la france

In America, Scientology is protected as a religion. In France, as in Germany, it’s more accurately branded as a for-profit cult.

The Church’s Paris headquarters and bookshop are defendants in a fraud trial that began on May 25. Summing up her views on the case, state prosecutor Maud Coujard urged the court to return a guilty verdict and dissolve the organization in France.