….because there’s something in the air.
Change we can believe in. Let’s hope so.
Call out the instigators…
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Category Archives: Asst. Misc.
Obama in Wonderland
Maybe it’s all a dream…er, nightmare.
Who says women don’t grow on trees?
from a Tara Murphy Facebook post
Yoja of the week
You guys are going to have to help me out. I found this image at Crunchyroll.com where there is a poll of “Top 5 Korean female celebs”. I liked this image enough to make her our Yoja of the Week, but damned if I can find her name.
I’m I sucker for the knee socks/short skirt look, that’s for sure.
UPDATE: Thanks to reader Jenn, our mystery Yoja has been identified as Lee Da Hae, the star of “My Girl” and “Hello Miss.”. This is actually somewhat of a relief, because when I noticed her rather large “Adam’s apple” I was afraid I may have inadvertently posted a “ladyboy” photo…
Blast from the Past–Desert Rats
That’s my dad and his friend Mac out somewhere in the Southern California desert, mostly likely looking for gold. Growing up we were often taken along on these expeditions. I’ve always loved the openness and solitude that comes with being out in the middle of nowhere. It’s hard to top the Mojave for that experience.
I really dig the Coleman stove, but it’s placement at the campsite seems a little haphazard.
When it rains on the planes in Spain
Actually, no Spanish airport is included on this list of the world’s 18 strangest airports. There is Gibraltar, but to Spain’s chagrin, that’s UK territory. The only airport on the list I’ve actually visited is Denver.
Not on the list is Washington’s Reagan National Airport which is the hairiest place I’ve landed–lots of twists and turns on the way in and a relatively short runway. But there is a little park on the bike path where you can experience watching a landing almost like this. But for a freakout scary landing it would be hard to top this. Unless you were landing here.
Yikes!
Jesus Christ
Althouse links to this story about the above drawing depicting Jesus smoking and drinking beer that appeared in a handwriting textbook in India.
Although I agree the picture has no place in a schoolchild’s textbook, I don’t find it otherwise offensive. Truth be told, joining the Savior for a smoke and brew should I pass through the Pearly Gates (unlikely as that may be) sounds like my idea of heaven.
If the depiction offends you as a Christian may I suggest turning the other cheek. Lord knows (heh) I ain’t above posting unflattering images of Muhammad.
Have a beer with JC or a blast with the pedophile. You choose.
UPDATE: This just in–Elton John says Jesus was gay. Yeah, right. And Mary was a virgin…
Cheers to good health!
Somebody’s Mother
for Evangeline–
The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of ‘school let out,”
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her-
So meek, so tired, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
‘I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.”
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
‘She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know,
For all she’s aged and poor and slow,
‘And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
‘If ever she’s poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away.’
And “somebody’s mother” bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was, ‘God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy!”
…Mary Dow Brine
Miss me yet?
Weapon of Choice
It’s February!
Status check:
minus 5 pounds
minus 1/2 inch waistline
zero cigarettes
215 days to retirement.
A perfect day for bananafish…
Out of respect for this talented man I will not attempt any kind of goddamn tribute so as not to appear phony. Obituary is at the link.
Some may recognize the title of this post is taken from a short story written by Salinger in 1948. Read it in high school and haven’t read it since, but it immediately came to mind with the author’s passing. I guess that is a fitting tribute to a unique writer.
Heinz 57
Yes, for many a year now I have contemplated the mystery of Heinz’ 57 varieties. Varieties of what? Ketchup? (Heinz’ preferred spelling, as opposed to the Catsup produced by Hunt-Wesson).
And now, through the wonders of the internet, or more specifically the archives of James Lileks, we have the answer:
And so now one is left to wonder just how many of the original 57 varieties are still in production today. You are on your own for that….
Tennis anyone?
So, apparently Venus Williams caused a stir at the Australian open this past weekend.
Heh, one of those optical delusions I suppose. Not sure what all the fuss is about. I mean she didn’t make an ass of herself like Fiona Butler did a while back.
I never had much talent for the game of tennis, but it is a great spectator sport.
Ahem.
And in other news…
An equipment failure for a female UK bobsledder led to this…
Sharks at Bondi Beach
Pretty amazing satellite image of Bondi Beach in Australia. As you zoom in you can actually see some of those notorious Great White sharks. Check it out!
Out with the new, In with the old
So, one of my work projects involves the conversion from the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) back to the legacy General Schedule (GS) system. The wise mean in Congress deemed that the multi-millions of dollars invested in a pay-for-performance program for government workers employed by DoD was nothing but a Bush-era boondoggle and pulled the plug. Well, Congress acted at the behest of their union overlords, but hey, who am I to complain?
Under the Dome
So, I’ve had a lot of down time lately. Spent New Year’s weekend with a cold so I stayed inside warm and hunkered down. And I whiled away the hours reading the latest novel by Stephen King Under the Dome.
I guess I should preface this by saying I’m a big King fan. Yeah, I know the literary elites like to turn their nose up and sniff that he is just a hack who churns out pulp fiction for the masses. But I think the bigger point is that King is a master storyteller whose creativity in creating worlds (not just supernatural ones, but yeah a lot of that too) and characters that are almost real to us. Certainly the reader can almost always relate to the extreme challenges they face in King’s bizarre stories. The Stand remains one of the best novels I have ever read.
It was also the longest until I tackled Under the Dome’s 1072 pages. A hefty read indeed. It was a good story built around an interesting premise. But I thought it was overlong, sloppy, not particularly well written, and chock full of cliches and caricatures. Yep, despite its length it seemed like King just phoned this one in.
I wouldn’t say don’t read it, it is a fine way to kill time. But if you are expected a classic King spellbinder you will share my disappointment.
Something you don’t see everyday….
Anyone have a guess as to what this is?
Give up?
Ok, it is a satellite image of the Lena River Delta in Siberia.
59 more really cool images of Mother Earth from the eyes in the sky can be found here. Check ’em out!