In keeping with unicorns and fluffy bunnies...

Judson Hudson, a Whovian who raises mules, and has a Ghostbusters addiction, did this homage to another dear friend.








Creativity is awesome, is it not?

I kinda wish it had a Haruhi shirt, though....

 

 

So, I have to spend over two hours filling out online Dep't of Homeland Security e-Verify forms (proving that I do not hire illegals) to be able to sell to the local school systems, but our President has decreed that no "undocumented guest workers" be arrested and deported.

Good to know the rules. Glad to know I'm cared about.

Wesley Bridle commented on Facebook:

So we deprive them of the ability to earn money and won't let them live off our prison system, that sounds win win.

 Yes. The cruel mercy of the Left.

"So, Aardvark, how's that free market workin' out for you?"

 Not so much.

I am seriously considering blowing off several thousand dollars worth of biz on principle, especially since I know the primary reason for this has zero security behind it.

 

 

Remember when I said, somewhere...?

Polygamy being the next Thing?

Well.

Yes it is one "thruple" (neologisms like that are yet another sign of the End of Things). In Brazil, but hey, it's in the same hemisphere!

Donning the tinfoil chapeau

While the Dread Dormomoo and himself drove from Dallas, your Aardvark saw two flatbed trailers hauling desert sand armor. I have never seen the like before. It was similar to the M113A2 APC pictured above, but more squat, and more sharply beveled front and rear. There was no turret, or machine gun, but there were what appeared to be three double gun ports on the side facing me, comme ça:

Not the Merrimack on treads

I claim few draughting skills, but this will give a  decent approximation of what I saw. There were two trucks hauling these westward on I-20 this afternoon, and a third truck with a more conventional armed APC. Given that our armed forces are practising anti-terrorist drills here in the YouEssofAY with the terrorists being role-played as guys in plaid shirts and John Deere hats (doubtless waving pocket Constitutions and Ron Paul placards), seeing things like this gives me Some Small Concern

(Before your eye-rolling at the links ties your optic nerves in knots, feel free to actually follow the links to the cited Army docs and all.)

Point: If anyone can ID the vehicle, I would appreciate it. The thing looked like what the mobile pillboxes I have been hearing about would look like. It could have been a shipment to a base, or materiel  being moved from "A" to "B". Whatever the reason, it gives me mild unease.

Pie Fixes Everything!

Hello, Mr. and Mrs. America, and all the ships at sea…

Your all-American Aardvark is reporting from Business Center Dallas, at the Sheraton. Animefest is happening with great enthusiasm. Many otaku are milling about, and the Aardvark and the Dread Dormomoo are selling the shirts.

One design has won us quite a bit of attention: Bruce Bethke’s Che Guevara “Douchebag” shirt.  We had one callow yout’ come up and proclaim himself a big Che fan, and took issue with me over our shirt. Could not quite wrap his head around Che being a murderous thug, since Guevara  “was following what he believed”. I told him that I believed that since he disagreed with me, then I should shoot him. I give him credit for not running for the police and accusing me of threatening to kill him. He got it, though not enough to get that I was applying his own reasoning. I pulled out the trump card, that Guevara was a racist by his own writing.  He thought Mexicans were sub-human, and accused Negroes of being lazy and shiftless. The lad’s response: “Actions speak louder than words.”.  Y’see, Che went to the Congo to help liberate the blacks from British colonialism, and deliver them into Marx’s loving bosom. Uh, wrong-o, Mary Lou. Che was a Marxist True Believer, fighting against the Colonials to bring about a Marxist State. Period. History shows how much this has helped the Congo (and every other African nation where it has been tried). There was more, but we shook hands, declared our mutual thanks for Stirring Debate, and he went on his way, perhaps regaling his girl companion of how he clearly pwnd me for good and all. Another fine sample of public schooled excellence.

We are staying 3 miles or so from the Sheraton at a Holiday Inn on Harry Hines Blvd. We are right next to the Original Market Diner, a fixture (tho' under different names) since 1954. The food is excellent, the staff are Texas-friendly, and Chris the greeter is ten pounds of energy in a five-pound box. From Eggs Benedict to hamburgers to pie, these folks do it all, and do it well! One peculiarity: they only serve unsweetened tea. No Southron sweet tea. This is not a deal-breaker, because their brewed tea has an excellent flavor, and they are not shy about refilling your glass. They also brew Community coffee, and that alone is almost  good enough to make me drive eleven hours from home for some! I have another reason to come to Dallas conventions. Thanks to all the crew there. You made us feel right at home. (Note to self: try Community coffee in our French press when we get home).

There will be more, but it is late, and I must shower and crash. car lag has hit both of us where we live. Kez Wilson will join us for awhile tomorrow. That should be fun and all!

We are so thankful for a trouble-free journey, wonderful biz, and for your kind readership.

Con Grumpery

Artists Alley: because all animated characters need to be sexualised.
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To the cosplayers and their admirers: of course stopping for photos in the middle of the aisle is the BEST idea ever!
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I have eaten Vietnamese food twice in my life, once at this convention. No matter how heavenly it smells, it still winds up tasting like dirt.
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That's about it for grumping. It has been a phenomenal con overall! We have one day remaining, and we have broken our goal already! Dallas has not seen the last of the Aardvarks!


I was listening to the Evocation CD on the way here, and was reminded of the music video for the Dire Straits song "Calling Elvis".



Evocation is an album of Gerry Anderson's favorite music.

 Here is another goodie, an SF comedy in stop-motion animation from Gerry Anderson: Dick Spanner, P.I.