Oh.My.God.

From Daily Kos: "A file photo of Commander Cuckoobananas..."

Ireland, ho!

It is truly hard to believe, but it's now just a week till we leave for Ireland and our brother's wedding. I'm not sure that Tara knows quite what she's getting into. Let's just say that the fact that they'll be living 2,000 miles from the nearest relative will be quite beneficial. I wish them well as they begin this new phase of their lives. Welcome aboard, Tara! We truly are glad to have you.

Now, about the trip. My sister and my friend, Rita, and I will be spending a week in Ireland, including 3 two-night stops: Ennis (close to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren), Adare (a fairy-tale village of thatched roof cottages, where the wedding takes place), and Killarney (probably the most "American" of towns in Ireland. As my Irish friend Andrew says, "It's rather shamrock-y." I don't know if we'll want to be known as Americans when we'r there. Maybe we can pass as Canadian?) On the other hand, Killarney is close to some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Ireland.

So, we're counting the days, checking the weather reports and I know I'm revising my carry-on bag contents daily. Armed with a couple of books, a few snacks and whatever liquids allowed these days, I'm sure we'll be fine.

The trip will be computer-less...somehow shlepping the laptop across the ocean does not thrill me. So we'll take copious notes and do a full report when we're back. We will, however, be photographing the bejesus out of the place (including the wedding), so that should make for interesting blog fodder.

4 Homers In a Row

More of this tonight, please!

Talk About Doomsday...

Now for something completely scary. If you don't worry about this, then you don't have a pulse. From today's Boston Globe:

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is writing a new plan to maintain governmental control in the wake of an apocalyptic terrorist attack or overwhelming natural disaster, moving such doomsday planning for the first time from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to officials inside the White House.

The policy requires all government agencies to have clear lines of succession if top officials are killed and be prepared to operate from a new headquarters within 12 hours of a catastrophe. They must be prepared "to lead and sustain the nation during a crisis" -- a charge ranging from "providing leadership visible to the nation and the world" to "bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes or attacks."

The policy replaces a Clinton-era "continuity in government" post-disaster plan. The old plan is classified, but security specialists and administration officials said the new policy centralizes control of such planning in the White House and puts a greater emphasis on terrorism spurring the catastrophe.

Bush quietly signed the new policy on May 4. The unclassified portion of his "homeland security-national security presidential directive" -- a special kind of executive order that can be kept secret -- was also posted on the White House website on May 9, without any further announcement or press briefings.

Oh.My.God.