The Truffle

Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church still exist and are still acting like evil, soulless ghouls. No, wait, that's insulting to evil, soulless ghouls. Picketing Ronnie James Dio's memorial service? Well, given that these freaks usually target soldiers' funerals, RJD is in very good company. I really hope that Ozzy Osbourne is able to outlive Fred Phelps. I hate to imagine what will happen if he goes first. Of course, if God DOES exist, maybe a bunch of angry Dio fans will kick the crap out of these people. Gah, they're so repulsive.

Garbage, "Stupid Girl."

Charlie Crist, ex-Republican, now independent, has changed his mind about DADT . He used to support it. He now says it should be repealed. Mustang Bobby has a theory on the about-face. So why the sudden switch? A couple of reasons come to mind. First, he's going after the moderate to progressive voters that are not completely sold on Kendrick Meek, the Democrat in the race; second, he sees that DADT repeal is moving through Congress and it polls very well (some give it a 75% approval rating), thereby making it a safe place to be since he's not worried about pissing off the right-wing base any more. And if Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is in favor of it, that makes it okay to go there. That it might actually be the right thing to do for gay and lesbian soldiers who want to serve their country without living a lie probably never crossed his mind. Meanwhile, GOP congresscritter Connie Mack makes a conservative case against Arizona's dumbass immigration law.

The Other Dude Running for Senate, a.k.a. Jack Conway, comments on Randy and Precious Princess Palin. From Edicts of Nancy : "Rand Paul has this tendency to get in public or get on national cable shows and feel like he wants to give me a lecture on constitutional law," said Conway. "I'm the attorney general of Kentucky. He didn't go to law school. I did. I don't need a lecture on Constitutional law from Rand Paul or Sarah Palin." The senate debate between these two is going to be fun.

Is it me, or does Jake Gyllenhaal's hair look awful in those Prince of Persia pictures?

It's Final Placement , a group of earnest Christian teens from Midland, Texas. Judging from this video, Midland, Texas is one ugly-looking town. Anyway, despite their best efforts, Final Placement have become a new internet meme. There was even a Facebook petition to get them to play South by Southwest. Their first (and thus far, only) release, "Shine," has been covered on piano and ukelele. And the guitar solo...well, it just has to be heard to be believed.

Police arrested a Puerto Rican man and threatened to have him deported. Even AFTER his mother showed up with his birth certificate. Imagine how much fun it's going to be in Arizona if someone doesn't strike down that stupid immigration law. Hispanics can, unfortunately, expect more of this kind of grief in the months ahead.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain performs "Theme from Shaft."

Elayne Riggs suggested this as his new libertarian paradise. I'm going to be following this guy for the next few months. Something tells me he'll be the gift that keeps on giving.

When female Republicans are just as loopy and dubiously qualified as their male counterparts. More from Balloon Juice.

It seems Americans really do support abortion rights after all. See, three recent polls have indicated a slight majority of respondents consider themselves "pro-life." Except that a recent Slate article breaks it down: Republicans and GOP-leaning independents are more likely to call themselves "pro-life." Gallup editor Lydia Saad told Slate that "Republicans, in particular, may be less willing to identify as 'pro-choice' if they perceive that aligns themselves with the Democrats or Obama." In other words, partisanship is a factor. What else is new? Meanwhile, Nate Silver shows that support for Roe v. Wade remains high. Sixty-eight percent of poll respondents oppose overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, an ABC News/Washington poll has similar results: fifty-eight percent said Roe v. Wade should be upheld. Needless to say, it is perfectly possible to oppose abortion on a personal level and still support choice. Besides, polls are snapshots of...

Yes, there are already a lot of media takedowns of Rand Paul. However, Katha Pollitt has an excellent one showing the limits of Rand Paul's libertarianism: Apparently, it doesn't extend to women's reproductive rights. Randy is so anti-choice that he supports laws with doofy names, like the Sanctity of Life Amendment and the Human Life Amendment. Basically, laws saying that life begins at conception and abortion should be outlawed in case of rape and incest. You know, a return to the days of back-alley abortions. Really un-libertarian stuff.

Roosevelt turned corporate opposition into a badge of honor: “I welcome their hatred,” he declared. It’s time for President Obama to find his inner F.D.R., and do the same. More here.

Alas, I can't take credit for it. If you really, honest-and-truly believe that government is the problem, not the solution, then don't run for political office.

Dusty Springfield, "People Get Ready."

Most recent addition to the Whinerpalooza: Stephen Baldwin . And why is Mr. Baldwin whining? Because people have been making fun of him. From his Web site: He has been publicly ridiculed and insulted by people who think that he has been abandoned by God. A simple search through the internet will reveal that people not only mock Stephen, but mock God. Oh good gravy. Has Stephen Baldwin elevated himself to demi-godhood? Seriously, this is another right-winger with an inflated persecution complex. Thus, mocking Stephen Baldwin = TEH BLASHPHEMY!!1!1! He also compares himself to Job. And is soliciting donations so he can be "restored," whatever that means. Can't Alec Baldwin give him a guest spot on "30 Rock" to shut him up about this persecution complex? Check out the site. It has to be seen to be believed.