The final digit of pi is 2.

There are so many things wrong with this sentence that I may never speak again after reading it pi times:

But the endless efforts of mathematicians to calculate the final digits of the geometric formula Pi almost pale in comparison to Fletcher's persistent pursuit of her preferred permutation.

I know, it's about something totally unrelated to pi, but still... I'm sure how I feel about the fact that this semi-entertainment article, written by someone who is no doubt religious about correctness when making references to pop songs (and from a news outlet so reputable as to call itself "Suburban Chicago's Information Source"), would nevertheless make so flippant, shallow, and ignorant a reference to the Universe's most fundamental constant... Oh, Joe Public! Where are your priorities?

A Special Lack of Grace

For anyone I've not told, and for anyone who's interested, I recently created a weblog to serve as home for a few photos and comments about this year's San Diego Comic-Con International. It's called Barrytown, and, by way of warning, it's kind of lite on pictures of hot naked anime and manga chicks. It's less a report than a collection of random musings on the event, which is to say it's boring. But there is a photo of me with Zombie Jesus:

What in the hell is a marriage?

...and why does the state control when and how you can end one?

Gail Ozkan's husband admitted he'd had an extramarital affair but a State Supreme Court justice in Suffolk recently ruled that was not enough to end the couple's 17-year marriage and refused to grant her a divorce. ...But even if Ozkan had other proof that her husband, Okan Ozkan, also 43, had committed adultery, the fact that she resumed a sexual relationship with him after learning about his affair is tantamount to "forgiveness," Justice William J. Kent said in his Aug. 2 decision. "Adultery cannot be established solely by the admission or confession of the defendant. Rather, there must be additional corroborating evidence which supports the finding of adultery," Kent said in his four-page decision, denying Gail Ozkan's request for divorce. "Moreover, merely the general admission by the defendant, that he had an affair with someone other than his wife is not, by itself, an admission that he engaged in adultery within the statutory definition." Like it or not, that's the law in New York State, said Pia Riverso, a matrimonial lawyer in Uniondale. "It's unfortunate for the parties involved but it's not a bizarre decision," Riverso said Wednesday.

WTF???

Tyranny of Trademarks

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Jerry Falwell, declaring that "falwell.com", a site devoted to criticism of Jerry Falwell, is misusing the trademark "Falwell," which is owned by Jerry Falwell.

[Judge] Hilton said the site's operator, Christopher Lamparello, intended to divert people from the Jerry Falwell Ministries' Web site "with the direct intent to tarnish or disparage" Falwell. He also ruled that Lamparello, of New York, sought to make a profit by selling a book on the site via a link to Amazon.com.

Freedom of speech is rolling in its grave.