Pictured below is a reenactment of my office immediately following the Great DC Earthquake of 2011:

Note that this photo is only an approximate recreation of the devastating scene, as the original havoc and destruction caused by the earthquake had been repaired before someone reminded me that I should have taken a photo.

-Susan

Update (from Michael): The horrible earthquake depicted above actually caused several D.C. law firms and courts to close for the day. Oh the humanity.

Ever wonder how Google figures out which ads it is going to flash at you? To see who Google thinks you are, you can check out your Google demographic profile by clicking over to http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/. The interest categories appear to be updated regularly based upon what sites have been visited over the past few days, but the inferred demographics do not seem to change as much. Here is Google’s stalking profile for me:

While my age demographic has been correctly pegged, apparently Google thinks I’m actually a dude. At least for the moment, under the user history for this particular browser.

I guess it is sort of comforting that Google isn’t using my Google account or my Google+ profile — which correctly identifies me as female — or any other Google profile I have to figure out what web ads to direct at me. According to Google’s Privacy Policy for Google Ads, it looks like the ads Google generates are not based upon anyone’s individual Google accounts, but rather the web activity on each individual browser or device. So while you’re not exactly anonymous, it at least provides the comforting illusion that Google is not stalking everything you do.

-Susan

I got back home tonight just in time to hear that it really had gone through: New York has legislatively authorized same sex marriages.

Forty years from now, everyone is going to claim that, on this date, they were “not against” gay marriage. Some might still claim they were “against the way it was done,” but that they “weren’t against it in principle” — because obviously the only philosophically valid piece of legislation is one done by popular referendum — but very few will acknowledge that they believed that marriage equality would be a contributing cause to the destruction of America, or that they thought today would be a day to be mourned.

And that’s fine. Letting people forget that they disagreed with Brown v. Board was the best way to proceed, and it is the same here.

But tonight, freedom scored another victory. By a small amount — albeit a very large amount for those whom it directly affects — there has been an increase in the ability of Americans to order their lives as they see fit, in accordance with their own beliefs and convictions.

And to, most importantly, live their own lives however they goddamned want to. That is worth celebrating.

-Susan

The only redeeming part of the whole Palin nontroversy — “Reveregate,” or whatever we are calling it these days — is that at least people are learning a bit of interesting history about Paul Revere beyond the the traditional American mythology. Palin did not give an entirely coherent recount of the tale, but big whoop — I thought we were beyond stopping the presses every time Palin was less that perfectly clear about something.

For instance, in one article, a historian is quoted giving the following evaluation of the accuracy of Palin’s re-telling of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere:But the nonsensical “defenses” of Palin’s version of history are written in such bad faith that they are far more troubling than any irrelevant misstatement Palin may have initially made. All too often, The Word of Palin is treated something like the Bible or other mystical text; her proclamations are often vague enough or contain enough non sequiturs that defenders are able to read great mystical truths into her rambling sound bites. Palin only sounds vague and confused, they claims, but in reality she is a deep and worldly historical scholar!

Boston University history professor Brendan McConville said, “Basically when Paul Revere was stopped by the British, he did say to them, ‘Look, there is a mobilization going on that you’ll be confronting,’ and the British are aware as they’re marching down the countryside, they hear church bells ringing — she was right about that — and warning shots being fired. That’s accurate.”

Patrick Leehey of the Paul Revere House said Revere was probably bluffing his British captors, but reluctantly conceded that it could be construed as Revere warning the British.

“I suppose you could say that,” Leehey said. “But I don’t know if that’s really what Mrs. Palin was referring to.”

McConville said he also is not convinced that Palin’s remarks reflect scholarship.

“I would call her lucky in her comments,” McConville said.

And, yet, what was the headline for the article containing this quote?

Experts back Sarah Palin’s historical account

You betcha she was right!

-Susan

From Rhode Island, here are two more awesome independent party names. In addition to the The Rent is Too Damn High Party and the H.E.R.O.S.H.E.R.O. Party, we also have Gregory Raposa of the Vigilant Fox Party and Robert P. Venturini of the Hour With Bob party.

Sadly, while Vigilant Fox party sounds like exactly the kind of party I’d want to join, whether the political kind or otherwise, the Vigilant Fox Party has a rather esoteric platform. Raposa campaigned for (and lost) the seat for Rhode Island’s First Congressional District.

Independent Gregory Raposa was born in 1947 in Fall River, Mass., and currently lives in Bristol. He earned his associate’s degree from the Community College of Rhode Island in 1968 and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhode Island College in 1970. A taxi driver in Boston, Raposa is a member of the Vigilant Fox party.

“I don’t believe in imposing a fine on people who work, so, as a first step in destroying the income tax, I propose to eliminate income taxes on people earning less than $50,000. This income tax money – freed up – will act as a stimulus to the economy in a more natural way than current stimulus packages. A graduated income tax will start after $50,000 to earn the same in taxes as now. I am also proposing to completely revamp the educational system, eliminating almost all schools and colleges, in favor of home and self education, use of modern technology and paying student and their parents directly for their learning accomplishments. This income will allow a parent to stay at home, educate their child, and become a real family again. By 15, most students will have a college degree equivalent. The savings—about half a trillion dollars a year – year after year. I also propose to eliminate retirement benefits for new federal employees. Democrats and Republicans are the worst enemies of this country. Admit your past voting mistakes and stop voting for them.”

The Hour With Bob party is much more heart-warming:

Robert P. Venturini is the familiar, friendly face of “An Hour with Bob,” and “Bob’s Big Adventures,” local cable-access shows watched by Rhode Islanders for 19 years. Some readers have doubtless been on his programs.

Venturini, 62, seeks to parlay his TV-show role as unpaid “state booster” and his community service through hosting an annual Toys for Tots telethon, into elected office. He is in a three-way race with Elizabeth H. Roberts, the incumbent endorsed Democrat and former state senator, and fellow independent Robert J. Healey Jr., who wants to abolish the job to save taxpayers’ money.

“I’m a regular guy trying to make a difference,” said Venturini, a real-estate agent, Cumberland native and Pawtucket resident.

I wish more candidates had their own shows on public-access networks.

-Susan