dog decided he wanted attention at 7:30 despite my best attempts to sleep in (the husband had spent time with him last night so i could go to sleep early), and after rushing outside to pee, he’s curled up under the blanket with me on the couch. so i’m reading the WaPo. and i’ll share the headlines i found interesting enough to click. because it’s that or fall asleep on the couch and get a crick in my neck.

1. RI wonders if it can divorce a lesbian couple married in MA. maybe it’s because the preliminary schedule is set for my birthday, or maybe it’s just ‘cuz i think that full faith and credit should let RI divorce the couple just like they would a hetero couple married out of state. or perhaps it’s because it’s proof that queers are just like heteros: they marry, and they divorce. but with case law in RI silent on same-sex marriage, i don’t see what the problem is. assert jurisdiction, make a decision, and let the appellate court figure it out.

2. porn for pandas. now this is fascinating, because i didn’t know that pandas could process 2-d images. or maybe not:

On the use of movies, Zhang said: “It’s the sounds of breeding that stimulate them. Pandas are just like human beings. They understand everything.”

and it’s a whole different take on furries.

3. unfortunately, this one turned out to be a boring, pointless article. so the kid sheds his goth persona on turkey day for the sake of his family. yay. and he’s different than any of the rest of us who behave at the family dinner for the sake of harmony how? maybe he could dress up like a pilgrim.

4. and finally, effective december 1 of this year, the national zoo bans smoking on its grounds. (if topeka can do it, it can’t be that big a deal.) this, coupled with dc’s antismoking legislation taking full effect on january 1, makes me a happy jack-booted public health nanny-state thug.

On January 1, 2007, bars, nightclubs, private clubs, brew pubs and bar areas of restaurants are required to be smokefree. This applies to establishments that hold a tavern license (Class C/T or D/T), a club license (Class C or D), a brew pub permit (Classes C/R, D/R, C/T, or D/T) or a nightclub license (Class C/N or D/N). Establishments that hold a restaurant license (Class C/R or D/R) may allow smoking until January 1, 2007, in the bar area only.