POLITICS: Even He is tied up by red tape?!

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY: Hooray, an optical illusion of a building filled with giant spiders

For hilarious and sadistic kicks, German designer Friedrich van Schoor created this projection mapping installation of an entire building story occupied by two automobile-sized spiders. Oh, to be a fly on the wall confused passerby when these eight-legged monsters began scampering.

http://m.io9.com/5946885/hooray-an-optical-illusion-of-a-building-filled-with-giant-spiders

HUMOR: Maybe some don't appreciate pirates?

https://twitter.com/aaronfullerton/status/248444554078978048

ENTERTAINMENT: Aaaaaargh! Some pirate music playlists fer ye!

Aaaargh! I be a day belated, but here are some playlists of pirate music, sea chanties, and Celtic tunes!

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/0qe6QuWj6OzDl5aSyUc56C

http://ishtarandromeda.libsyn.com/the_theme_show_9_12_06_avast_thar_be_pirates_

http://www.last.fm/listen/globaltags/pirates

And fer punk fans:
http://www.last.fm/listen/globaltags/pirate%20punk

POLITICS: Ben Franklin’s Thoughts About the Constitution on the Day It Was Signed (225 Years Ago Today!)

On this date in 1787, members of the Constitutional Convention signed the final draft of the Constitution. The great Ben Franklin had a few things to say that day. The following excerpts are courtesy of the Library of Congress, from Max Farrand’s The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/142127

POLITICS: Happy Constitution Day! To a country that apparently doesn't know The Constitution well!

In this first comprehensive survey of constitutional knowledge, it turned out that although most Americans (over three-quarters) say that they are very proud of our Constitution, only five percent could accurately answer ten basic questions, like those above, about its contents. Sixty-two percent couldn’t name the three branches of the federal government (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary) and one third couldn’t name even one branch; over half did not know the number of senators (100); only six percent could name “the four rights” guaranteed by the First Amendment (free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of peaceable assembly and the right to petition for redress of grievances – or is that really five rights?) and one quarter couldn’t name any; one sixth incorrectly believed that the Constitution established the United States as a Christian nation.

http://www.aclu.org/blog/organization-news-and-highlights/happy-constitution-day

POLITICS: Happy 225th Birthday, U.S. Constitution! Now let’s give you a makeover for the next two centuries—by looking to the states.

Today marks the 225th anniversary of the Constitution of the United States, publicly unveiled in Philadelphia amid considerable fanfare. As Americans think back on the last two and a quarter centuries, we should also think ahead by the same amount. What will and what should the Constitution look like 200 years hence? Or if that seems too mind-bendingly futuristic, what will and should it look like in 2020 or 2121?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/09/the_225th_anniversary_of_the_u_s_constitution_now_for_the_next_200_years_.html

MY LIFE: Not raising my daughter properly!

http://t.imehop.com/RipNfb

CULTURE/SOCIETY: Lies about transgender people (and how to spot a rubbish journalist)

Ever been kicked in the face? I have. Violence is common towards children who display gender difference. Poofter, they used to call me. AIDS victim, they’d whisper. Walk like a man, boy, or get a clip ’round the earhole. That last one came from my father. Still, as one matures, so does the nature of the bullying. Instead of gossip and ciggies behind bike-sheds, badmouthing is done by respectable journalists in national newspapers. Take the Telegraph’s Ed West, for example, who seems perfectly comfortable belittling the existence of “transphobia” (hatred towards transgender people). His quotation marks, not mine. Guess he’s never had a kick in the head. In fact, I doubt he has any subjective experience of being trans, and nor will many of his readers. That’s the trouble.

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/08/31/lies-about-transgender-people-and-how-to-spot-a-rubbish-journalist/

ENTERTAINMENT: Enormous deckchair!!

This enormous deckchair was a piece created by sculptor Stuart Murdoch, and is available for your sun-bathing pleasure...

http://brainsugar.ca/worlds-largest-beach-chair#

MY LIFE: So my daughter!

Daughter: "Looks like we're totally lost!"

Me: "That's okay long as we don't see a smoke monster!"

Daughter: "Ha!"

After a pause...

Daughter: "It's kind of sad I got that reference."

Me: "Yeah... Yeah, it is."

Daughter shaking her head: "God, I am so your daughter!"

MY LIFE: Card I sent with my fiancèe's birthday flowers!

ENTERTAINMENT: Artist who drew some covers for “The Phantom” comic books is now transgender

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — First it was musician Laura Jane Grace in the Spring, followed by film director Lana Wachowski’s debut this Summer. Now Australia’s Lindsay Walker, an artist who has previously drawn a number of covers for The Phantom comic book series, has recently made her transition to female official.

http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/artist-who-drew-some-covers-for-the-phantom-comics-is-now-transgender/

ENTERTAINMENT: Hundreds of John Peel shows for streaming!

For fans disappointed that the online debut of the late John Peel’s record collection didn’t feature actual music off those platters or broadcasts by the legendary British DJ, here’s the real deal: a streaming collection of 458 episodes of Peel’s show, presumably digitized off cassettes, that totals 846 hours and spans the years 1967 to 2004.

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2012/09/11/john-peel-archive-stream-458-shows/

ENTERTAINMENT: And Horton's life was changed forever!

CULTURE/SOCIETY: How to be a trans ally

MY LIFE: Brush of fame with The Tom Tom Club

http://t.imehop.com/P7AG5s

CULTURE/SOCIETY: Humorous video on how to speak the language of my old African home!

https://vimeo.com/37720616

HUMOR: Trying to blow a kiss after going to the dentist

ENTERTAINMENT: Always look on The Dark Side of life!

ECONOMY: The importance of unions!

ECONOMY: Some of my fave Labor Day tweets!

HUMOR: The economy and its effects

SPIRITUALITY/RELIGION: Is American atheism heading for a schism?

In the passionate world of American atheism, the venom usually directed at believers has now been turned against the wrong kind of atheists.

The cause of this freethinking furore? A new movement called Atheism+. According to its website, "Atheism+ is a safe space for people to discuss how religion affects everyone and to apply skepticism and critical thinking to everything, including social issues like sexism, racism, GLBT issues, politics, poverty, and crime."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/sep/02/american-atheism-schism-spit-venom

POLITICS: Labor Day public service announcement

POLITICS: Oh yay, happy Labor Day!

HUMOR: Nation Celebrates Full Week Without Deadly Mass Shooting

NEW YORK—Cheers filled the streets and American flags waved triumphantly through the air today as the nation turned out in full force to celebrate an entire week having passed since the last time a madman opened fire on innocent civilians in some kind of fatal mass shooting.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nation-celebrates-full-week-without-deadly-mass-sh,29293/?ref=auto

ENTERTAINMENT: Campbell's Releases Warhol-Inspired Soup Cans

http://abcnews.go.com/m/blogEntry?id=17115785

HUMOR: I can believe Barbie would do this!

ENTERTAINMENT: Oh no! It's Devo!