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Saturday, July 26, 2003
Quick! What is the Bagel Capital of the World?
Chicago Tribune: Mattoon, Illinois, a town of nearly 18,000 which sits amid corn and soybean fields 182 miles south of Chicago and 862 miles from New York City, is the bagel capital of the world. This week, 40,000 to 50,000 people are expected for the 18th annual Bagelfest, which ends Saturday. They will be treated to a Miss Bagelfest pageant, a Beautiful Bagel Baby contest, a dog dress-up feature known as the Bagel Bow Wow and a free breakfast that stretches for five blocks featuring 60,000 bagels with cream cheese, butter and jelly.
Out of Print Books by Nathaniel Branden Now Available Again as E-Books:
At Barnes and Noble.
Don't Soften the Army, Harden the Peace Corps:
Jay Bryant: In recent weeks, there has been a bit of a buzz in Washington and elsewhere about the possibility of rethinking the mission of the forty-two-year-old agency. This sentiment, by no means universal among the close-knit network of returned volunteers, let alone the current leadership of the agency, found its way into print this week in an op-ed article in the New York Times, written by Avi Spiegel, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco from 1998 to 2000. There aren't any Peace Corps volunteers in Morocco today, because the country is considered too dangerous, and that's precisely the point Spiegel and those who share his view want to make. Spiegel says we need 'a more active, less gun-shy Peace Corps,' that 'should equip itself to enter regions it now deems too dangerous.'
Get to Work: You Aren't Being Paid to Believe in the Power of Your Dreams
Despair, Inc.: If you can't motivate employees with vision, why not try inspiring them with fear? And if the glass is half-empty, deal with it.
He Was the PK in PKZip:
The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz is the newspaper report. Remembering Phil Katz gives one point of view on PK, while this one and this one have quite another.
Friday, July 25, 2003
Just Be Careful Not to Run Over Your Grandfather:
Back To The Future Delorean Die Cast Model: Everyone remembers (don't you?) how 'Doc' Emmett Brown builds his plutonium-powered time machine into a 1981 Delorean and accidentally transports his teenage friend, Marty McFly, back to 1955. The die cast metal and plastic rendition of this movie classic features stainless steel-look body, forward-opening hood, opening gull-wing doors, detailed interior, authentic 'time machine' engine, and unique flipping wheels that turn horizontally at the flick of a switch. 1:18 scale.
From The Wild West:
Wyatt Earp Historical Homepage: In the early morning hours of January 13, 1929, an 80 year old man died peacefully in his sleep in a rented cottage in Los Angeles. The casual observer of the time would never have known that this frail old man was soon to become an indelible legend on the American landscape. Fifty years before, in the flash of a few seconds, the actions of this man and his brothers in a small Arizona boom town came to epitomize the classic shoot-out of the 'Old West'. In death he finally found the peace from fame and infamy that he fought half a century to escape. Both reviled and worshipped, Wyatt S. Earp defined one of the most famous and misunderstood eras of American history.
How Dayton, Ohio Helped the Allies Defeat Adolf Hitler:
Enigma: Dayton's Code Breakers: The breaking of Germany's World War II 'Enigma' code is widely known today. But there's an untold story: How NCR engineers in Dayton, led by Oakwood resident Joe Desch, worked in secret to develop the machines that helped break the code.
Sin All You Want: We'll Print More:
And Yet Another Coloring Book:
Color Kansas Characters: A world of Kansans — past and present. Use these beautiful drawings and short biographies to learn about Sunflower State characters. Every famous Kansan from Eisenhower to Santana.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
The Nicest Snoops in the World of Golf:
From GolfWeb: This is the story of a young woman who traveled the country in a big black Cadillac -- bumping around from golf tournament to golf tournament with an old lady, four large hat boxes and three yapping dogs. It is also the story of how credibility came to golf. More than 60 years ago, Eddie Darrell had a vision to bring credibility into the game of golf, yet, after all these years, his brainchild, the Darrell Survey, has remained unknown to most golfers. Now, thanks to a change in the advertising philosophies of many golf companies, the Darrell Survey is gaining visibility, recognition and prestige. When club and ball manufacturers claim that a certain player or a number of players use their products, there is only one source to officially confirm this -- the Darrell Survey.
Well, as it so happens, the Darrell Survey is owned and run by the sister and brother team of Susan Naylor and John Minkley, who were my next-door neighbors when I was growing up. Susan and John lived half the year next door to us in St Louis, the other half of the year in California. It was always one of the best days of the year, better than Christmas in many respects, when Susan and John came back in the springtime. All these articles describe them as some of the nicest people in Golf. Evidently, they haven't changed a bit!
Well, as it so happens, the Darrell Survey is owned and run by the sister and brother team of Susan Naylor and John Minkley, who were my next-door neighbors when I was growing up. Susan and John lived half the year next door to us in St Louis, the other half of the year in California. It was always one of the best days of the year, better than Christmas in many respects, when Susan and John came back in the springtime. All these articles describe them as some of the nicest people in Golf. Evidently, they haven't changed a bit!
More Sitcom Ideas from the John Edward/John Edwards Thing:
How about a situation comedy about a President who Talks to the Dead? Or a spinoff about Dead People who undergo a sex change procedure, and call it "Really Crossing Over" .
On Sale! "The Dotted Line" Photograph
Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson: The Giants had entered the bottom of the ninth down 4-1. Before Thomson came to bat with one out, the Giants had scored a run to make it 4-2 and had runners at second and third. Dodgers manager Charlie Dressen brought in Ralph Branca to face Thomson. After taking the first pitch for a strike, Thomson pulled back, took a big cut and connected on the next delivery, a fastball that was high and inside. The ball was smashed down the left field line just above the 315-foot sign and landed five rows deep in the stands. Thomson's home run gave the Giants a 5-4 victory over their biggest rival and a trip to the World Series. Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson have both hand signed this photograph. A Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity is included. Now $20 off.
Wisconsin Alums Expose Soviet Spies:
On Wisconsin: "A few months later, Gardner came upon a reference to an agent in six separate messages with the code name 'Liberal.' The only clue to his identity lay in the name of his twenty-nine-year-old wife. Gardner determined that the name contained three groups of letters, the first representing E and the third L. 'I had never come across a three-letter meaning in the spell code,' he later recalled, according to an obituary in the London Telegraph. 'Then I said, 'Ah, but they anticipate sending a lot of English text, and the most common word in the English language is the.' The name of Liberal's wife was 'Ethel,' one of the key clues that led to the uncovering of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were arrested in the summer of 1950 and were charged with conspiracy to commit espionage. At their trial, the prosecutor implied that they had stolen the secret of the atom bomb and given it to the Russians. "
The Proper Way of Playing Sheepshead:
From kuro5hin.org. "It consistently amazes me how many differences there can be between one part of a country and another. Dialect is the obvious distinguishing factor, but there are countless others. For example, as a southeastern Wisconsinite, I can't comprehend how worked up many areas get about high school football. I also can't picture not having easy access to frozen custard. But most disturbing of all to me is how rare it is to find someone who has heard of Sheepshead."
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
They Go Together Like a Horse and Carriage. Or a Fish and a Bicycle.
Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About: "Nothing keeps a relationship on its toes so much as lively debate. Fortunate, then, that my girlfriend and I agree on absolutely nothing. At all. Combine utter, polar disagreement on everything, ever, with the fact that I am a text-book Only Child, and she is a violent psychopath, and we're warming up. Then factor in my being English while she is German, which not only makes each one of us personally and absolutely responsible for the history, and the social and cultural mores of our respective countries, but also opens up a whole field of sub-arguments grounded in grammatical and semantic disputes and, well, just try saying anything and walking away.
Examples? Okey-dokey. We have argued about . . " (it's a LONG story. Via Paul Hsieh over at Geekpress. And while you're there, wander on over to his wife Diana's blog, Noodlefood)
Examples? Okey-dokey. We have argued about . . " (it's a LONG story. Via Paul Hsieh over at Geekpress. And while you're there, wander on over to his wife Diana's blog, Noodlefood)
Talking Funny, Part 2:
A number of resources exist on the web for learning how to talk with one form of accent or another. Useful for spies and actors, I guess. These include:
- IDEA: The International Dialects of English Archive, IDEA, was created in 1998 as a repository of primary source recordings for actors and other artists in the performing arts.
- Dialect and Accent Resources by Gillian Lane Plescia. She is a British born and educated theatre professional who has been producing dialect tapes for actors since 1989.
- PMDS booklets: "Paul Meier's dialect booklets and CDs have helped actors the world over for more than 20 years. Using their clear demonstration and simple exercises, no matter what their level of training, performers quickly become proficient in the accents and dialects they need in films, theatre, TV, radio, voice-overs and stand-up comedy. "
Wisconsin English as a Second Language Institute
. . . aka WESLI. Moving up from Illinois, I myself had to learn Wisconsin English as a Second Language: "Ya Hey Dair" and "Eh?" at the end of a sentence. "Bubbler" instead of "water fountain". And so on. But this oddly-named institute just teaches ESL, and happens to be in Wisconsin.
Please indulge me, I found this to be funny, even while realizing that no one else would.
Please indulge me, I found this to be funny, even while realizing that no one else would.
The True Story of Yet Another Tom McMahon:
The Salt Lake Tribune: "Tom McMahon lived with the woman he called his wife and their two sons 10 miles from where he worked in Northern California. But he hoped his boss would never find out: McMahon was a Roman Catholic priest, torn between his calling -- which required celibacy -- and love for his family. He forwarded the rectory phone to a special line at his house in case parishioners called. When one of his sons, still a toddler, attended a church event, McMahon held the boy as if he were someone else's child. It all ended in 1980, when his bishop discovered the secret. "
Oh jeez, just quit the Catholic Church and become a Methodist Minister, Tom. Life's too short. Besides, if my grandfather could do it way back when, you can certainly give it a whirl now.
Oh jeez, just quit the Catholic Church and become a Methodist Minister, Tom. Life's too short. Besides, if my grandfather could do it way back when, you can certainly give it a whirl now.
The Surrealist Compliment Generator:
Example: "You cannot compare with the apex of a ferris wheel, nor the nadir of a ditch filled with a coelocanth's droppings." If it made sense, I guess it would be the Realist Compliment Generator. (via Tom Devine)
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
You Can Vote at 18, But You Can't Drink Until 21, Which Gives You Just 3 Years to Vote Sober
. . . that's my explanation, anyway, and I'm stickin' to it . . . .
Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes:
The Way It Is: "I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor. I know pro wrestling is fake , but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them. I believe a self-righteous liberal or conservative with a cause is more dangerous than a Hell's Angel with an attitude. I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building. Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you."
As it turns out, Andy Rooney really didn't write this. It was really written by his younger brother, Mickey Rooney. Those Rooney boys were sure the Mary-Kate and Ashley of their day, weren't they? Except for the way they part their hair, I could never tell them apart.
As it turns out, Andy Rooney really didn't write this. It was really written by his younger brother, Mickey Rooney. Those Rooney boys were sure the Mary-Kate and Ashley of their day, weren't they? Except for the way they part their hair, I could never tell them apart.
Another Sitcom Idea From Real-Life Milwaukee: One Brother is a Morning Radio DJ, and The Other Brother is the Archbishop
From JS Online. I'm working on the pilot script right now . . .
Fourteen Rules Kids Won't Learn in School:
From Charlie Sykes:
- LIFE IS NOT FAIR. GET USED TO IT.
- THE REAL WORLD WON’T CARE AS MUCH AS YOUR SCHOOL DOES ABOUT YOUR SELF ESTEEM.
- SORRY, YOU WON’T MAKE $40,000 A YEAR RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
- IF YOU THINK YOUR TEACHER IS TOUGH, WAIT TILL YOU GET A BOSS.
- YOUR SCHOOL MAY HAVE DONE AWAY WITH WINNERS AND LOSERS. LIFE HASN’T.
- FLIPPING BURGERS IS NOT BENEATH YOUR DIGNITY.
- TELEVISION IS NOT REAL LIFE.
- BEFORE YOU WERE BORN YOUR PARENTS WEREN’T AS BORING AS THEY ARE NOW.
- LIFE IS NOT DIVIDED INTO SEMESTERS. AND YOU DON’T GET SUMMERS OFF.
- IT’S NOT YOUR PARENTS FAULT. IF YOU SCREW UP YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.
- BE NICE TO NERDS. YOU MAY END UP WORKING FOR THEM. WE ALL COULD.
- SMOKING DOES NOT MAKE YOU LOOK COOL . . . IT MAKES YOU LOOK MORONIC.
- YOU ARE NOT IMMORTAL.
- ENJOY THIS WHILE YOU CAN.
Very Handy If You Do a Lot of Repetitive Typing:
Shortkeys is a utility that allows you to set up replacement text or paragraphs for any given number of user defined keystrokes. ShortKeys monitors the keyboard activity on a global nature and anytime a user defined keystroke combination is typed in, it will be replaced with the replacement text.
Monday, July 21, 2003
Yet Another Tom McMahon Summer Vacation Public Service:
The MARS ATTACKS Trading Cards:
retroCRUSH: One of the single coolest mayhem filled adventures of all time is contained in the 1962 Mars Attacks trading cards from Topps. Taking H.G. Wells WAR OF THE WORLDS concept to an insane extreme, Mars Attacks. They were only available for a short time in stores when they first appeared, as their overly graphic depictions of violent Martian destruction didn't impress early 60s mothers very well. Enjoying a cult popularity through the next 3 decades from rabid collectors and reissued collector sets, Tim Burton immortalized the cards with an incredibly faithful film version in 1996.
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 I Declare a . . . . .
THUMBWAR! Featuring the latest in dazzling thumb effects technology and an all-thumb cast.
Information about Finland — Facts about Finland:
Virtual Finland: "Virtual Finland offers a visual experience: pictures of Helsinki that really do deserve the adjective 'unique'. The secret: a TT rooftop web camera positioned high above the city's South Harbour. The result: Helsinki from angles few have seen before. "
National Lampoon's 1964 High School Yearbook:
The 39th Reunion Edition is coming soon! Back from the days when NL could be really, really funny.
Sunday, July 20, 2003
The Grand List of Overused Science Fiction Cliches:
Example: A young researcher gets a job at a Mega-huge Corporation or Ultra-secret Government Agency:
in roughly the order given above.
- Learns that the employer's latest discovery has a Nasty Side Effect or involves some obvious human rights abuses;
- Confronts the employer, who casually dismisses the researcher's concerns and chides her/him for not being a 'team player';
- Tries to blow the whistle to avert disaster;
- Gets hounded by Shadowy Malevolent Goons;
- Attempts to meet with inside sources, and finds them either dead or with just enough life left to utter a cryptic clue;
- Watches the disaster overtake the CEO;
- Testifies before Congress;
- Enters the Witness Protection Program;
in roughly the order given above.
The Wisdom of Dennis Miller:
Miller's Crossing . . .: " I think you're talking about 7 out of 10 people are thinking what I'm thinking. They want to be protected. It's fine to talk about health care, but I think most people are thinking they don't want to have to use their health care to get stitched up after they're blown up in a bomb blast by a nut case. They want the nut case killed before that happens. So, in that case, it becomes preemptive health care. As I get older, it seems unsafe to me to be anything but a conservative.' "
The Best Search Toolbars:
A Mini-Guide from Robin Good.
Namco TV Classic 5 Games (including Pac-Man!) with Joystick:
From Gamestop.com Based on the classic coin-op video games found at arcades, bowling alleys and restaurants in the ‘80s, Namco TV Games, includes great classic titles such as Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Rally-X, and Bosconian. (via Cup of Chicha)
Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Of All Time:
From the Museum of Hoaxes. Includes the famous ice borer hoax from Discover Magazine:
A pack of ice borers will cluster under a penguin and melt the ice and snow it's standing on. When the hapless bird sinks into the slush, the ice borers attack, dispatching it with bites of their sharp incisors. They then carve it up and carry its flesh back to their burrows, leaving behind only webbed feet, a beak, and some feathers. "They travel through the ice at surprisingly high speeds," says Pazzo, "much faster than a penguin can waddle."
A pack of ice borers will cluster under a penguin and melt the ice and snow it's standing on. When the hapless bird sinks into the slush, the ice borers attack, dispatching it with bites of their sharp incisors. They then carve it up and carry its flesh back to their burrows, leaving behind only webbed feet, a beak, and some feathers. "They travel through the ice at surprisingly high speeds," says Pazzo, "much faster than a penguin can waddle."
