The sea was angry today. This longboard surfer was up to the challenge. Looked like a lot of work. And dangerous. He was way out there, maybe 150-200 yards. I was a little worried. Thankfully, he came back in OK after a while. Taken a few minutes ago from the deck. It was overcast with bad light and I had the telephoto extender on, so these aren't as sharp as I would like. Bigger version and a couple more photos after the jump...

In a recent poll, a sobering 47% of Americans said that we should stay the course in Iraq, reasoning that now that our troops are there, we need to stay. Most responded by saying that if we pull out it will be a disaster for the Iraqi people. Americans feel this way in spite of the facts regarding the ongoing occupation of Iraq. The truth is that an overwhelming majority of Iraqis want Americans out of Iraq now. The security that we are providing in Iraq is mostly for our own service members. Most of the tax dollars that we spend on Iraqi security goes to protecting convoy lines, building and supplying military bases and paying for resources that we are expending funds on specifically because we are there.

You will be missed...

Writer Arthur C. Clarke Dies at 90

By RAVI NESSMAN – 15 minutes ago

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Arthur C. Clarke, a visionary science fiction writer who won worldwide acclaim with more than 100 books on space, science and the future, died Wednesday in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, an aide said. He was 90.

Could this get any crazier?

(Link...)

In the story, Finch claims the faked receipts were created without her knowledge, and faxed in by the UPS store worker.

Letter from Finch's attorney is here. In it, she also claims:

1. She hasn't responded to resignation story due to 'gag order' from Ragsdale administration
2. Arms handed Finch a Club LeConte application and ordered her to do county business at the club
3. AKA sorority trips were pre-approved by Ragsdale/Arms

I love the part at the end where they ask Ragsdale to seize accrued vacation for the "other white males" who have questionable receipts (Arms, Van DeVate, Ragsdale).

Think your job sucks? How about being a lame duck Law Director and having to deal with all of this?

Update: I found a copy of the faked Kinko's receipts. My goodness, that has to be one of the worst fakes I've ever seen. A Kinko's corporate receipt isn't even close. And I'm pretty sure the City County building isn't in zip 37919, since tht's where I live. It would be nice, though, if they'd move the building for those 1 a.m. meetings.

Jim Cramer, last week: