when the injustice in the blogosphere starts getting you down....

and you find yourself consumed with anger and the need to vent -- especially if that anger and need to vent takes the form of mean spirited snarkiness -- may i suggest you have too much time on your hands?

how about logging off your computer for a few and getting out of your head? here's a handy list of things you might try, if you're having trouble coming up with your own:

1. take your dog for a walk.
2. play outside with your kid(s).
3. call an old friend or family member you're feeling guilty about being out of touch with.
4. write a letter to the same (the old fashioned kind, that requires a stamp. they're now 39 cents).
5. if you have one, get involved in your place of worship.
6. if you're a person of faith but don't have a place of worship, visit one this weekend.
7. go for a run.
8. or a walk if you don't run.
9. bake bread.
10. okay, bake some chocolate chip cookies.
11. read the collected works of martin luther king.
12. or dorothy day.
13. or read people magazine.
14. or entertainment weekly. in fact, read it weekly.
15. become a big brother or big sister.
16. have sex with your partner, whether you feel like it or not.
17. wear lipstick, even if you never do.
18. put on prince really loud and dance with your kids.
19. read a memoir or novel completely out of your realm of experience and/or comfort zone.
20. begin a spiritual discipline such as prayer, meditation, or yoga.
21. have sex with your partner again, whether you feel like it or not.
22. sign up to do a hunger walk.
23. observe lent, if you're christian, and make sure to deep-fry really greasy, sugary donuts on mardi-gras.
24. tithe.
25. watch reruns of cagney and lacey.
26. join a coalition around an issue you care about. commit some serious time to it.
27. start planning your garden; order seeds.
28. join a community garden if you don't have one already.
29. invite someone over for dinner.
30. learn how to knit.
31. or how to brew beer.
32. invite a friend out for a beer at a neighborhood pub.
33. volunteer at your local public school.
34. or your local homeless shelter.
35. read harry potter to your kids, or to yourself if they're not old enough.
36. read a classic.
37. read a trashy mystery.
38. join a book group.
39. have coffee with a friend.
40. if you don't have a friend, make one. see above, #s 5, 6, 15, 22, 26, 28, 33, 34, 38.