The Philippines is now virtually the last nation on Earth that prohibits divorce. (Vatican City also disallows divorce.) This is, of course, enormously detrimental to countless Filipino women and children who are trapped in abusive marriages or who have been abandoned by a heartless husband/father. There is currently a bill in the Philippine Congress to address this injustice, but it faces fierce and concerted opposition.

I’m working on a logo for a group that supports this bill:

The sun and star elements are from the Filipino flag, as are the colors. The sun, being cut off on the bottom, represents rising hope for families suffering under the archaic law that imprisons them. This is a work in progress.

With heavy heart I must report that exactly one month ago God saw fit to take my dear friend, Maggie (also know as “Choco”) away from me. She finally succumbed to cancer on May 14 at 7:04 PM. She was twelve years old (84 in our years).

The photo above was taken as I spent my last moments with her before she was euthanized. The tumor in her abdomen had almost burst through the skin, and she was suffering terribly, unable to eat, drink, or walk. She went on her last hike in the woods she loved so much just two days before she died. I cannot properly express how painful her loss is and how dearly I miss her. The emptiness she left behind is vast and profound. I pray that our animals do have an immortal soul, that she is now happy and free from pain, and that we will meet again. She was such a good dog, and such a huge part of me.

For my wonderful girl’s birthday.

Saw Drive-By Truckers in Boston last week. Awesome as always.

If you love great rock music and having a good time, you really should get out and see DBT. Seriously.

Anyone notice the funky new logo design at YouTube comprised of many numeral ones? It denotes a new option to view videos as ASCII code or, as YouTube is calling it, TEXTp.

It’s purportedly saves YouTube money on bandwidth, but it appears to be an April fools joke. Whatever the reason for its introduction, it’s really cool. Seriously; check out “Free As a Bird,” by the Beatles in ASCII!

On my way to work this morning (well, actually, on my one from one of my jobs to the other), I saw this somwhat interesting sight:

Your guess is as good as mine.

Oh, he’s a sly one.

Word to ya monarch.

Do American kids today understand that the Tea Party actually happened and that it is a vital, precious — dare I say, sacred? — part of what and who we are? Or do they think that it’s an opportunity to smuggly snigger over crass sexual innuendo? I fear it may be the latter, if even in addition to (or preference over) the former.

Man, I’ll really miss Word It! I didn’t even have time to do a proper final submission either.

Farewell, Word It! I guess this really is the end.

These logos made me smile.

Here’s a particularly charming one: