Let's Go a Noodling

In a previous post about atheism, and Pastafarianism, one of the commenters wrote a tongue -in-cheek reply that caused me to inquire whether the author was "noodling" me. Having written that, I wondered whether there wasn't some sort of other meaning to the word noodling, in the same manner as the sexually explicit word -- teabagging -- which right-wingers latched onto cluelessly to describe the actions they took for their failed protestations on Tax Day this year.

Ah ha. There is, though fortunately not embarrassingly (I still shudder to think of Fred Dooley teabagging anyone). From Wikipedia:

Noodling is a southern US practice of fishing for catfish using only bare hands. Many other names, such as catfisting, grabbling, graveling, hogging, dogging, gurgling, tickling and stumping, are used in different regions for the same activity. Noodling is currently legal in eleven states. The term "noodling", although today used primarily towards the capture of flathead catfish, can and has been applied to all hand fishing methods, regardless of the method or species of fish sought. Noodling as a term has also been applied to various unconventional methods of fishing, such as any which do not use bait, rod & reel, speargun, etc., but this usage is much less common.

I'll just purchase them at a store, thank you.

Swine Flu: No Worries

Comment seen at Media Matters.

I think Rush has more to fear from swine flu than from anything else. It doesn't have to jump species to infect him.

Coming Out of the Closet

Atheists and Pastafarians are less likely to remain in seclusion according to a recent article in the New York Times. His Noodly Appendage will be pleased.

You are not alone!

Invasion of the Odd Parents

Our daughter, Quin, was visited by an odd couple on Sunday who claimed to be her parents. She grabbed the phone, but not knowing how to dial 911, acquiesced in the end to having her picture taken with them.

That's it for today, though I will be trying to write 30 minutes a day regularly from this point forward. It won't be anything specific and it will probably be link-free mostly because these will be my thoughts and I won't be trying to convince anyone with *proof* or such. I'll leave that to all the serious people. In fact, I may come back and edit things periodically. That's what aspiring writers do. It will sort of be my on-line journal -- saving me paper costs.

One thought does come to mind about the torture discussion. We as a nation have always been good at condemning other countries for their [let's say] lapses in judgment. And yet, when we slip up similarly the sanctimony comes oozing from our national pores. I just think we should be more invested in doing what we say -- perhaps the rest of the world would be more respectful.

Who Are Them

Stephen Colbert mocks Glenn Beck -- pretty easy to do.

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