Wow, Sherman's wife is SUCH an orca. I can't think how many times I've had this exact discussion with orcakeiko

Ok, I'm pissed.

We all know the FDA guidelines on blood donation are almost universally bullshit at detecting any blood-borne disease. The only reason I can come up with that we don't have more issues when receiving blood is that people are basically healthy. Yes, the screening tests work, and that's the best shot we've got.

Also, the FDA guidelines that essentially mean no gay men can donate blood are .. based on nothing other than fear. Except for a few regional populations, IV drug users and prostitution tend to vastly outweigh any gay transmission of HIV.

Anyone who sponsors a blood drive until this is revoked is supporting homophobia. End of discussion. The only way to combat this is for everyone to refuse to donate blood, let the blood supply dry up, and when people start dying in operating rooms for lack of a little gay blood, the FDA will be compelled to act. Since the blood supply is already critically low, only a few canceled blood drives would compel a resolution.

Macrumors, formerly one of my favorite sites, is doing a blood drive. Hence they are supporting the homophobic policies of the FDA. Hence, they're off my reading list.

I advise all other Apple fanboys to do the same.

My entire con was RUINED!

Actually, I thought I was having a non-stop blast with an endless string of awesome events, but super_jayhawk said that my entire con would be RUINED.

And since he's right, beyond any possibility for rational discussion, my entire con must have been RUINED!

Best orca comic ever! (click for higher res)

Since the con is apparently unable or unwilling to discuss the parking situation in San Jose, the city themselves has... A MAP!

http://www.sjdowntownparking.com/parking_map.html

Focus on the orange squares. That's the cheapest stuff that is readily accessable to the hotel. There is a parking lot ACROSS THE STREET from the hotel. Please remember, that although the Doubletree had a parking lot, if you were there on Saturday and got stuck in the back 40, you might have to walk 8 city blocks to the hotel.

To give a specific example, the Fairmont is between Guadalupe Park and 1st street. Across 1st street from the hotel is a parking lot that has the following rates.

$3 to park from 6pm to 6am. Free from 6am to 6pm on Weekends. Also, may offer validations.

Thus, if you go Thursday evening, stay Friday, Saturday, Sunday and leave Monday afternoon, you should expect to pay $3 for Thursday Night, $15 for Friday, $3 for Saturday, $3 for Sunday and however much you stay for Monday morning, and you are merely across the street from the hotel's rear entrance, which will probably interest most furs. LOL. Your total cost here would be about $24 dollars. If we were at the Doubletree, and you were getting the $5/day rate, you would pay $25. So, you're going to be within a FEW DOLLARS of the Doubletree rate.

Also, there are orange lots all up and down 1st and 2nd street, which are covered by light rail. If the closest lot fills up, then you can park at any of about 10 or so lots, and take light rail the few blocks to the hotel. An 8 hour pass on the light rail is $4, so you can make as many trips as you need to.

There is a lot serviced by light rail that is $5/day. There are some cheaper lots up that way too. If you want to get really cheap, once you have unloaded your schtuff into your room, you could move to the Park n Go lot off of 3rd St, which is only $7/day for Friday, but still walkable. It is closed from 2am to 6am, but what are the odds you'll need your car at 4am? If you might, you could always go over after dinner , grab your car, and park it in one of the $3/day 24 hour lots for the weekend, and then move it back for Monday if you plan on staying long.

Since I've been accused of being negative lately...

C'mon, what's cuter than otters? Except dolphins. But otters are cute too.


moar funny pictures