Used to be, you only heard “bleeps” on TV when a network aired a movie that had PG language in the original. Now many series just build them in, as their way of flipping the bird to the censors. And they get away with it.

Admittedly, I don’t understand all the upset these words cause, but that’s another issue.

I get it. You don’t want little Timmy to hear grownups swear, and you don’t want delicate Susie to think that people use the awful, awful words on a regular basis.

But are these intentional bleeps helping? When I hear one, I immediately cycle through the Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV to try to figure out what was said. So instead of hearing some frustrated cop say shit, I end up thinking “Did he say shit? Or dickhead? Or was it *gasp* the dreaded f-word”? (A word so awful we have to give it a nickname.)

Bleeps leave the interpretation open to our imaginations, which are far richer than the measly seven words (which are no doubt way up in the double digits by now).

I don’t know if anyone offended by these words actually reads this blog, but if you’re out there, tell me what you think. Are the bleeps better? If so, why?

I’ve been getting requests for the little green peace sign I’m now using on my Twitter avatar. You can download it here. It’s a zipped vector file with a transparent background in .png format.

Be sure to follow #iranelection for updates from the brave people fighting for freedom in Iran.

If, like me, you grew up listening to 70s pop, you’ll remember Eric Carmen’s classic ballad… but I won’t give it away. Just experience these 18 seconds of brilliance.

You've no doubt seen this fabulous Obama poster. Here are a few variations for your viewing pleasure. This is not my brainchild — I'm happy to give credit to the original artist if you'll contact me.

I saw the HYPE version in a photo from the anti-Palin rally in Alaska. The NOPE version came to me via StumbleUpon, and I can no longer find the blog. The DOPE version came to me at the suggestion of Spike Gillespie Tina Rosenzweig during a work session.

All images clickable for a larger version.

Enjoy!

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What a unique artist! So low tech, and so unexpected!

(via TechClicks)

I’m pretty sure I could waste a whole lot of time playing with this… (thanks to Nate for the lead!)

A little humor for your Monday morning :) [via Digg]

This is a wonderfully clever film made by Rochester Institute of Technology student Jordan C. Greenhalgh. No CGI here – it’s all stop motion. [via Core77]