No, this isn't a headline from The Onion.
That would be this one.
Friday, October 29, 2010
When traveling to the Maldives, don't forget your translator
Maldives investigating an abusive marriage vow renewal ceremony.
Clearly they need an English-only law...
Clearly they need an English-only law...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Oldest known photograph of a person
Actually, two people, from the Queen City, from 1848.
Our country was only 72 years old. Wisconsin had just become a state a few months before--making just 30 at that point. It was a lot easier to name state capitals then...
Our country was only 72 years old. Wisconsin had just become a state a few months before--making just 30 at that point. It was a lot easier to name state capitals then...
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
All sky picture
Its all over the interwebs already, so might as well be here as well. Trying to get the darkest sky possible, Stéphane Guisard did a lot of prep work and got an amazing, made-for-the-internet shot. take a look.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Interactive NYC Subway photo timeline
I *loved* the subway when I lived in NYC. And while it has a timeless feel to it, most of it really isn't that old, relatively speaking. The New York Times has a cool photo timeline on the subway--enjoy.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
More this & that
The 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the United States. I've actually walked through a few of these. They seemed pretty rough at the time, certainly. But accidentally typing "danderous neighborhoods" somehow made them seem less so...
Some straight talk about the budget deficit.
Judge likely to deny government request to stay DADT order. We're going to look back on this in years to come and go "what was the problem here?" Just like we look back at the arguments about not having women serve on the front lines.
-Government is 2 of 3 against credit card companies.
-working from home myself, I'm a little envious of Jack Prelutsky, who leaves his house and takes a ferry to an apartment across the bay where he works. A work apartment would be pretty bitchin'.
-the most segregated cities in the United States. Love the discussions, especially about lily-white Portland.
-don't forget to listen and vote for entries in the Poets Walk, Rochester.
Some straight talk about the budget deficit.
Judge likely to deny government request to stay DADT order. We're going to look back on this in years to come and go "what was the problem here?" Just like we look back at the arguments about not having women serve on the front lines.
-Government is 2 of 3 against credit card companies.
-working from home myself, I'm a little envious of Jack Prelutsky, who leaves his house and takes a ferry to an apartment across the bay where he works. A work apartment would be pretty bitchin'.
-the most segregated cities in the United States. Love the discussions, especially about lily-white Portland.
-don't forget to listen and vote for entries in the Poets Walk, Rochester.
Friday, October 15, 2010
FOX News scoop!
Fox News 5 minute terrorist attack
Going from 0 to fearmongering and back down again faster than anyone out there doing "news."
Going from 0 to fearmongering and back down again faster than anyone out there doing "news."
Thursday, October 14, 2010
If President Obama was a Republican, and he proposed the exact same policies....
The Right would be hailing him as a model of a post-racial compassionate conservative, and:
-his healthcare plan would be lauded as a "commonsense, market-based solution."
-his educational policies would "reflect the reality that parental responsibility needs to replace expectations of entitlement."
-his shifting of troops and attention into Afghanistan would "continue the work to refine and learn from the lessons of the War on Terror that President Bush began."
-his decision to put the question of the future of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy to the military first rather than doing away with it by Executive Order "would demonstrate, again, his caution and procedural respect for the military."
-his work to support TARP despite the fact that it was extremely unpopular when passed would be a sign of courage and far-sightedness, and the fact that TARP will turn a profit for the government when all is said and done would be an indication of his being right despite the unwarranted criticisms;
-the inclusion of billions of dollars in tax breaks into the stimulus program and healthcare bills for nearly all small businesses would demonstrate his committment to those small businesses, who "are the economic engine of entrepreneurship and enterprise."
-his willingness to continue to reach across the political aisle despite getting his hand bitten off nearly every time merely reflects how shallow and un-ready to govern the other side really is.
-his amazing rhetorical ability would be sourced as coming from "both his ability to connect with ordinary folks, combined with the hard work necessary to convey difficult ideas in ways people of all political stripe can connect with."
-his continued insistence that, despite America's open hand to others, there is a distinct American exceptionalism that is both our birthright and our promise (and Obama's overseas speeches which continue to make this point time and time again) demonstrates "his commitment to our national identity and way of life."
-his healthcare plan would be lauded as a "commonsense, market-based solution."
-his educational policies would "reflect the reality that parental responsibility needs to replace expectations of entitlement."
-his shifting of troops and attention into Afghanistan would "continue the work to refine and learn from the lessons of the War on Terror that President Bush began."
-his decision to put the question of the future of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy to the military first rather than doing away with it by Executive Order "would demonstrate, again, his caution and procedural respect for the military."
-his work to support TARP despite the fact that it was extremely unpopular when passed would be a sign of courage and far-sightedness, and the fact that TARP will turn a profit for the government when all is said and done would be an indication of his being right despite the unwarranted criticisms;
-the inclusion of billions of dollars in tax breaks into the stimulus program and healthcare bills for nearly all small businesses would demonstrate his committment to those small businesses, who "are the economic engine of entrepreneurship and enterprise."
-his willingness to continue to reach across the political aisle despite getting his hand bitten off nearly every time merely reflects how shallow and un-ready to govern the other side really is.
-his amazing rhetorical ability would be sourced as coming from "both his ability to connect with ordinary folks, combined with the hard work necessary to convey difficult ideas in ways people of all political stripe can connect with."
-his continued insistence that, despite America's open hand to others, there is a distinct American exceptionalism that is both our birthright and our promise (and Obama's overseas speeches which continue to make this point time and time again) demonstrates "his commitment to our national identity and way of life."
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly?
5 weeks in, he was booted as lead in BACK TO THE FUTURE.
Would have liked to hear/have heard his reaction to this. I also would have like to have seen more than just the snippets of him in the role.
Would have liked to hear/have heard his reaction to this. I also would have like to have seen more than just the snippets of him in the role.
more this and that
Heh:
Germany pays off their WWI obligations. Here's how they did it.
Some solid advice on the budget deficit (and why it doesn't matter as much as the harpies on the Wacky right say).
One of those things you never knew you needed: Female character stereotype flowchart.
The federales are 2 for in settling suits with credit card companies.
Germany pays off their WWI obligations. Here's how they did it.
Some solid advice on the budget deficit (and why it doesn't matter as much as the harpies on the Wacky right say).
One of those things you never knew you needed: Female character stereotype flowchart.
The federales are 2 for in settling suits with credit card companies.
Friday, October 08, 2010
This and that...
-"Die Hard" director goes to prison for a year for being an asshole. Just kidding--wiretapping case nabs him.
-Not the best title "How to writer 85000 books"--should be more like "How to have a machine crank out books for you."
-J. K. Rowling plot spreadsheet. Looks like a relationship plot.... I hear she said she could write several more Potter books, no problem. So what's keeping you, J? Anne Rice found a groove and stuck with it, and look at her! So did Anne McCaffrey, for that matter.
-Ted Hughes poem about Sylvia Plath found. Seems to me this is one that should have been found long ago.
-Not the best title "How to writer 85000 books"--should be more like "How to have a machine crank out books for you."
-J. K. Rowling plot spreadsheet. Looks like a relationship plot.... I hear she said she could write several more Potter books, no problem. So what's keeping you, J? Anne Rice found a groove and stuck with it, and look at her! So did Anne McCaffrey, for that matter.
-Ted Hughes poem about Sylvia Plath found. Seems to me this is one that should have been found long ago.
Father and son send camera into space on a balloon
Very cool. This is like the ultimate father & son craft.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Most popular out-of-print books, 2010
Always-useful bookfinder.com puts out their list of most popular OP titles. I suspect some enterprising publishing might be taking a look at these lists here and there...
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Sun Chips giving up the noisy bags
They were damn loud. If you didn't get one, you'll probably have longer hearing that the rest of us (but try to find one in the store and give it a squeeze. Same looking bag at 5 times the decibel level).
Story.
Story.
Oh Michael, Michael...
Michael Steele doesn't know what minimum wage is. And says it doesn't matter.
I guess when your job is to just make crap up while not pissing off your conservative media overlords, he's probably right.
I guess when your job is to just make crap up while not pissing off your conservative media overlords, he's probably right.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Tea Party rallies for beleaguered puppy mill owners!
The Tea Party (including Joe the Plumber) has rallied against puppy mill legislation of all things, claiming that requiring puppy mills to provide basic food, shelter, vet care and so on will raise the cost of puppies so much, "making it ever-more difficult for middle-class American families to be dog-owners."
I hadn't realized there was a puppy deficit in the middle class. I guess all the time I spent re-reading my marxists tracts has caused some things to pass me by.
Meanwhile, about 56% of the millions of dogs entering shelters are euthanized every year....
I hadn't realized there was a puppy deficit in the middle class. I guess all the time I spent re-reading my marxists tracts has caused some things to pass me by.
Meanwhile, about 56% of the millions of dogs entering shelters are euthanized every year....
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Friday, October 01, 2010
Neil Alan Smith
No, you probably don't know him. He was a quiet man, killed in a hit & run
Saw this via TPM. A nice tribute to a man who seemed to be a decent person, just living his life.
Saw this via TPM. A nice tribute to a man who seemed to be a decent person, just living his life.
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