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From the New York Times:

Four pages into his dissent on Monday in an achingly boring dispute between pay phone companies and long distance carriers, John G. Roberts Jr., the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, put a song lyric where the citation to precedent usually goes:

“The absence of any right to the substantive recovery means that respondents cannot benefit from the judgment they seek and thus lack Article III standing,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote. ” ‘When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose.’ Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone, on Highway 61 Revisited (Columbia Records 1965).”

Check out the most-cited rockers in judicial opinions:

“It seems unthinkable, but for the first time in human history, ice is on course to disappear entirely from the North Pole this year.”

Interesting study on religious views in America shows that many people hold beliefs that contradict the tenets of their faith. For example, the study found that 57% of evangelical Christians say that multiple religions can lead to salvation, a view opposite to Jesus’ claim that “No one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). The explanation is that religion in America is becoming more personal and less about categories and dogma. This makes sense in a time in which many of the “official” teachings of religious groups are increasingly becoming obsolete or falling out of vogue. Could this mean we are witnessing a broadening of tolerance for differing religious views in America? I sure hope so.

After all, how can we expect all of these super-heroes to get along?

This fella was caught in Thailand. Also check out these photos of a mass migration of rays off the coast of Mexico.

Nuking the fridge.

LIT 101 CLASS IN THREE LINES OR LESS.

Scientists say the Earth is humming. Not just noise, but a deep, astonishing music.

The Associated Press had a little fun with this article. Right? Right?

Is a candidate’s personal opinion on religion an overriding factor in your decision on who to vote for? The God-o-meter will help you ferret out the right candidate for you.

“[I]t can be pointed at a burglar with one hand while the other hand dials the police.”

– United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia explaining why the handgun is Americans’ preferred weapon of self-defense.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. Scout, my good buddy and companion for the last ten years, has passed. Several weeks ago she developed a cancerous tumor on the back of her head and it never stopped growing. Over the last few days things got progressively worse, and it was obvious she was in a lot of pain and was very, very scared. For the first time in her life she wouldn’t even eat.

So today the vet came over to the house and we put Scout down. She laid her head on her paw and went to sleep, almost visibly grateful to be free of the alien pain and fear. Although it was deeply sad to see Scout go, it was time for her to move on and I’m glad we were able to keep her from suffering longer.

Afterwards I loaded her into the car and drove out to Letohatchee and prepared a little place to bury her near the pond. She’s got the best seat in the house out there. It was a beautiful, calm afternoon and I sat with her for a while thinking about how much personality she had. What an amazing dog. It occurred to me that she probably brought more joy into this world in her ten years than some people do in a lifetime. I don’t know what it was about her, really. People were drawn to her. I used to joke that some of my friends liked Scout better than they did me, and it was true in a way.

I’ve known a lot of dogs in my life, but Scout was special. She had a uniquely sweet, happy demeanor, and was always calm. She loved meeting new people. She was good with other dogs and loved to play. She used to follow me on long mountain bike rides and swim down rivers beside my kayak. She accompanied me on countless camping trips, curled up against my sleeping bag at night, sharing her warmth. For ten years, she chased every single squirrel and chipmunk she laid eyes on. On our trips she proved hourly the adage proposed by José Ortega y Gasset, who observed that “The only adequate response to a being that lives obsessed with avoiding capture is to try and catch it.” She was devoted to me, and displayed heartbreaking moments of emotional attachment. I can truly say that I loved Scout, and I will always miss her.

As the afternoon heat faded and the shadows started lengthening across the field, I patted her head one last time, and then put her to rest in the earth.

On the way home I remembered a poem by Pablo Neruda I read a long time ago. It would be hard to put it any better.

Ode to the Dog

Together we roam,
man and dog bound together again
by the bright green morning,
by the provocative empty solitude
in which we alone
exist,
this union of dog and dew
or poet and woods.
For these two companions,
for these fellow-hunters,
there is no lurking fowl
or secret berry
but only birdsong and sweet smells,
a world moistened
by night’s distillations,
a green tunnel and then a meadow,
a gust of orangey air,
the murmurings of roots,
life on the move,
breathing and growing,
and the ancient friendship,
the joy,
of being dog or being man
fused
in a single beast
that pads along on
six feet,
wagging
its dew-wet tail.

Goodbye, old buddy.

found here.

Get your full dose of fourteen years of internet memes here.

I don’t know exactly what Fred Einaudi’s got, but he’s definitely got it.

Originally built in 1901 the amazing walkway known as El Caminito del Rey traverses dizzying heights through a canyon in Spain. You can watch a video of some guy walking the dilapidated route here. If you are scared of heights, this video will give you the heebie-jeebies. Here’s a view of the walkway from inside the canyon:

Find out what word is most used by Congressmen in Washington on any given day here.

“The problem for the producers is that even though diamonds are not all that rare, people believe they are, so their price is substantially inflated.”

– from a great article on the rising appeal and influence of manufactured diamonds, many of which are utterly indistinguishable from the real thing.

57 Useful Google Tools You’ve Never Heard Of.

“l have to reevaluate in light of his decision.”

– Senator McCain stated that Obama’s decision to refuse $85 million in public funds for campaigning ’should be disturbing to all Americans’. However, McCain then stated that he might do the same thing.