On this date in 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for the price of $7 million which worked out to about $.02 per acre. This purchase was known at the time as Sewards Folly after Secretary of State William Seward who arranged the purchase. Seward was also in charge of trying to get the Senate to ratify the treaty authorizing the purchase. The treaty was ratified on April 9th but it passed by a single vote.
Think of that. If one person changed their vote from yes to no - Alaska might not be part of the US today.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Obamacare and RoundUp
You may have seen the story of the Monsanto "lobbyist" who claims that the RoundUp chemical glyphosate is safe to drink but then refuses to drink it himself saying, "I'm not stupid."
The "lobbyist" has generated lots of derision on the Internet and rightly so. However, what I can't stop thinking about is how is this man any different from the Democrats in Congress who passed Obamacare and then demanded the President grant Congress a waiver from having to follow that same law they passed without ever having read? They couldn't bring themselves to drink the same cool-aid they were selling to the rest of the country. Like the "lobbyist" they were in effect saying "they aren't stupid."
Where's the derision? At least people can chose not to buy RoundUp but Obamacare is a mandate.
The "lobbyist" has generated lots of derision on the Internet and rightly so. However, what I can't stop thinking about is how is this man any different from the Democrats in Congress who passed Obamacare and then demanded the President grant Congress a waiver from having to follow that same law they passed without ever having read? They couldn't bring themselves to drink the same cool-aid they were selling to the rest of the country. Like the "lobbyist" they were in effect saying "they aren't stupid."
Where's the derision? At least people can chose not to buy RoundUp but Obamacare is a mandate.
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- I wonder what the teams were and what the stakes were per hole. What a foresome!
- Heh heh - soldiers playing Quiddich
- Interesting look at the periodic table (which I consider perhaps the greatest single scientific achievement in history)
- Well done Upper Deck - well done!
- An oral history of the vastly under-rated NewsRadio
- Very cool - an interactive journey to the center of the Earth
- I wonder what the teams were and what the stakes were per hole. What a foresome!
- Heh heh - soldiers playing Quiddich
- Interesting look at the periodic table (which I consider perhaps the greatest single scientific achievement in history)
- Well done Upper Deck - well done!
- An oral history of the vastly under-rated NewsRadio
- Very cool - an interactive journey to the center of the Earth
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Slice of Life
Was driving with my son and happened to see the following bumper sticker:
Cristo Me SalvoProblem was I read it as this:
Cristo Me StarvoI explained my mistake to my son and now we have a new thing to say whenever we are hungry.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Interesting - Michael Jackson may have been the reason for the break-up of Guns and Roses
- Messed up - these two circles are perfectly round
- Holy crap - he does sound like Stevie Nicks
- 1,300-year old fortress in Siberia baffles archaeologists
- Honestly never thought of this before - masturbating birds (gonna file this one under "science")
- Cool Larry Bird / Kevin McHale story
- Interesting - Michael Jackson may have been the reason for the break-up of Guns and Roses
- Messed up - these two circles are perfectly round
- Holy crap - he does sound like Stevie Nicks
- 1,300-year old fortress in Siberia baffles archaeologists
- Honestly never thought of this before - masturbating birds (gonna file this one under "science")
- Cool Larry Bird / Kevin McHale story
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Has Obama No Sense of Decency?
The news that Bowe Bergdahl is being treated as a deserter was reaffirming and infuriating at the same time.
To anyone paying attention - the truth of Bergdahl's leaving his post was obvious - he deserted. That military courts confirmed that belief was kind of a "well duh" moment. It was also reaffirming in that those of us who greatly respect the US military were heartened by the fact that the military was able resist what I am sure was substantial political pressure to "suck it up and salute" to the President's version of reality.
It is infuriating in that this picture is now perhaps the most shameful moment in White House history. It is also sadly symbolic of all that is wrong with Barack Obama's foreign policy and naivety (or malice if you want to be less charitable). This is way more shameful than anything Richard Nixon ever did. And maybe even more illegal.
Couple this with the disrespect the President showed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg this week and you have to wonder what's next on Obama's middle finger to the military list? It is so bad that at this point would anyone be surprised by a Presidential pardon for American Taliban John Walker Lindh?
One can only hope that this latest episode may be the Joseph Welsh, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" moment in the Obama Presidency.
To anyone paying attention - the truth of Bergdahl's leaving his post was obvious - he deserted. That military courts confirmed that belief was kind of a "well duh" moment. It was also reaffirming in that those of us who greatly respect the US military were heartened by the fact that the military was able resist what I am sure was substantial political pressure to "suck it up and salute" to the President's version of reality.
It is infuriating in that this picture is now perhaps the most shameful moment in White House history. It is also sadly symbolic of all that is wrong with Barack Obama's foreign policy and naivety (or malice if you want to be less charitable). This is way more shameful than anything Richard Nixon ever did. And maybe even more illegal.
Couple this with the disrespect the President showed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg this week and you have to wonder what's next on Obama's middle finger to the military list? It is so bad that at this point would anyone be surprised by a Presidential pardon for American Taliban John Walker Lindh?
One can only hope that this latest episode may be the Joseph Welsh, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" moment in the Obama Presidency.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- How much shuffling does it take to randomize a deck of cards?
- Is he into you? Animal kingdom edition. "Try casually flirting with him by urinating close to where he's grazing."
- Weedkiller Roundup may cause non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- PJ O'Rourke remembers friend John Hughes
- Interesting look at the financial success of Adam Carolla's pirate ship
- How much shuffling does it take to randomize a deck of cards?
- Is he into you? Animal kingdom edition. "Try casually flirting with him by urinating close to where he's grazing."
- Weedkiller Roundup may cause non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- PJ O'Rourke remembers friend John Hughes
- Interesting look at the financial success of Adam Carolla's pirate ship
Monday, March 23, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Americans spend more money on March Madness than on Presidential elections - by a wide margin. Tell me again why the money these schools make from the TV contracts for March Madness isn't taxable... Watched the Donald Rumsfeld documentary The Unknown Known on Netflix over the weekend. Two big thumbs up! Then again I'm a big fan of Rummy... Georgetown's colors of blue and grey were chosen back in 1876 to support "unity between the Northern and Southern boys of the college"... It has been 10 weeks since the NFL appointed Ted Wells to "investigate" "Deflategate". Ten weeks!... Heh heh... I was never bothered by that picture of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein. If he was photographed shaking hands with Dan Shaughnessy - different story!... Of the Congressmen to vote against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - 74% were Democrats... The phrase "gent bent" is supposedly short for "you should get bent over so that someone can sodomize you on Christmas". And a Merry Christmas to you too...
Americans spend more money on March Madness than on Presidential elections - by a wide margin. Tell me again why the money these schools make from the TV contracts for March Madness isn't taxable... Watched the Donald Rumsfeld documentary The Unknown Known on Netflix over the weekend. Two big thumbs up! Then again I'm a big fan of Rummy... Georgetown's colors of blue and grey were chosen back in 1876 to support "unity between the Northern and Southern boys of the college"... It has been 10 weeks since the NFL appointed Ted Wells to "investigate" "Deflategate". Ten weeks!... Heh heh... I was never bothered by that picture of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein. If he was photographed shaking hands with Dan Shaughnessy - different story!... Of the Congressmen to vote against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - 74% were Democrats... The phrase "gent bent" is supposedly short for "you should get bent over so that someone can sodomize you on Christmas". And a Merry Christmas to you too...
Sunday, March 22, 2015
$25 Rock Band
This $25 to choose a 5-piece rock band meme has been a round for a while but what the heck - here's my $25 band:
Lead Guitar: George Harrison $1 (biggest bargain ever!)
Rhythm Guitar: The Edge $6
Frontman: Roger Daltrey $7
Bassist: Geddie Lee $7
Drums: Dave Grohl $4
Total $25
What would your band look like?
Lead Guitar: George Harrison $1 (biggest bargain ever!)
Rhythm Guitar: The Edge $6
Frontman: Roger Daltrey $7
Bassist: Geddie Lee $7
Drums: Dave Grohl $4
Total $25
What would your band look like?
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Greenpeace Founder - Why I'm a Climate Change Skeptic
- "Mad" Jack Churchill - holy crap what a life! You could literally make several movies based on this man's adventures.
- Truth
- Monica Lewinski - the price of shame
- The Appalachian Train in five minutes
- Still waiting for this book The Last Ringbearer to come out in English. Sure many Lord of the Rings fans feel the same.
- Greenpeace Founder - Why I'm a Climate Change Skeptic
- "Mad" Jack Churchill - holy crap what a life! You could literally make several movies based on this man's adventures.
- Truth
- Monica Lewinski - the price of shame
- The Appalachian Train in five minutes
- Still waiting for this book The Last Ringbearer to come out in English. Sure many Lord of the Rings fans feel the same.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
I have 99 problems but a busted bracket ain't one of them. Another year and no brackets filled out - give them up already... Heh heh - wisdom from a WWII veteran... Georgetown's nickname of Hoyas means "what rocks!" in Greek. Based upon their performance in the NCAA these past few years - I wonder what is Greek for "what bricks!"... David Petraeus - ISIS is not our biggest problem in Iraq, Iran is... The Mesopotamian god of the moon was called Sin which is appropriate since most "sins" occur at night... This issue could be loaded with irony. Coal plants are needed to protect the manatees... A TV show called Rick Santorum Vatican Spy would be awesome. It would be a cross between The West Wing and Archer... Excellent point - Starbucks wants to talk race relations but they have no stores in Selma, Fergueon or other mostly black communities. Hypocritical posers... So what is killing the bees?...
I have 99 problems but a busted bracket ain't one of them. Another year and no brackets filled out - give them up already... Heh heh - wisdom from a WWII veteran... Georgetown's nickname of Hoyas means "what rocks!" in Greek. Based upon their performance in the NCAA these past few years - I wonder what is Greek for "what bricks!"... David Petraeus - ISIS is not our biggest problem in Iraq, Iran is... The Mesopotamian god of the moon was called Sin which is appropriate since most "sins" occur at night... This issue could be loaded with irony. Coal plants are needed to protect the manatees... A TV show called Rick Santorum Vatican Spy would be awesome. It would be a cross between The West Wing and Archer... Excellent point - Starbucks wants to talk race relations but they have no stores in Selma, Fergueon or other mostly black communities. Hypocritical posers... So what is killing the bees?...
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- What does space smell like? Hot metal, diesel and barbecue?
- Eat a bag of dicks! An actual bag of gummi penises. Not to be confused with Louis CK's "suck a bag of dicks" bit.
- Cool - great white shark steals fisherman's catch right off the line.
- 25-years after art heist, empty frames still hang at Boston's Gardner Museum.
- Where the arithmetic symbols on your calculator came from
- What does space smell like? Hot metal, diesel and barbecue?
- Eat a bag of dicks! An actual bag of gummi penises. Not to be confused with Louis CK's "suck a bag of dicks" bit.
- Cool - great white shark steals fisherman's catch right off the line.
- 25-years after art heist, empty frames still hang at Boston's Gardner Museum.
- Where the arithmetic symbols on your calculator came from
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Zdeno Chara
Happy 38th birthday to Boston Bruins defenseman and one-punch wonder - Zdeno Chara.
Also a good guy to go to with any pesky real estate questions.
Also a good guy to go to with any pesky real estate questions.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Heh heh - Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Mobile, Alabama
- 20 facts about Monthy Python and the Holy Grail
- Mitt Romney to box Evander Holyfield. No really - he's going to box Evander Holyfield.
- 23 things you might not know about The Wire
- Vince Wilfork was one of the classiest guys to ever wear a Patriots uniform. He will be missed.
- Heh heh - Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Mobile, Alabama
- 20 facts about Monthy Python and the Holy Grail
- Mitt Romney to box Evander Holyfield. No really - he's going to box Evander Holyfield.
- 23 things you might not know about The Wire
- Vince Wilfork was one of the classiest guys to ever wear a Patriots uniform. He will be missed.
Future of Football
Like many football fans - I had not heard of Chris Borland until he announced his retirement after just one-year in the NFL. [As an aside can you actually retire from a job you've only had one year? Changing professions, quitting, moving on, etc. all seem more appropriate than "retiring". "Chris what are you going to do now that you're retired?" "Get a job of course." How does that equal retirement?]
Here's an interesting post from this morning where the take-away is that agent Leigh Steinberg basically predicted behavior like this.
The article got me thinking of the golden days of boxing where it was the immigrants on the bottom socio-economic rung of society that were willing to put their bodies at risk in order to gain "a way out". The Irish, the Jews, the Italians all had great champions back in the day when they were the newcomers. Then came the great black fighters along with the Latino and other minorities. Then boxing started dying out because nobody participated in the sport for recreation and there weren't many, if any, boxers society at large could identify with.
Is the NFL now staring at a similar cycle? Could be. It wouldn't be surprising to see major college programs start scouting overseas for athletes that could be taught the game because the pool of suburban kids willing to play starts drying up. It also wouldn't be strange to see a resurgence of baseball as parents begin the appreciate the minimal contact aspect of the sport.
Here's an interesting post from this morning where the take-away is that agent Leigh Steinberg basically predicted behavior like this.
The article got me thinking of the golden days of boxing where it was the immigrants on the bottom socio-economic rung of society that were willing to put their bodies at risk in order to gain "a way out". The Irish, the Jews, the Italians all had great champions back in the day when they were the newcomers. Then came the great black fighters along with the Latino and other minorities. Then boxing started dying out because nobody participated in the sport for recreation and there weren't many, if any, boxers society at large could identify with.
Is the NFL now staring at a similar cycle? Could be. It wouldn't be surprising to see major college programs start scouting overseas for athletes that could be taught the game because the pool of suburban kids willing to play starts drying up. It also wouldn't be strange to see a resurgence of baseball as parents begin the appreciate the minimal contact aspect of the sport.
Top 5 - Green Super Heroes
In honor of St. Patrick's Day - here is my list of the top green super-heroes.
1. Green Lantern
2. The Hulk
3. Green Arrow
4. Green Hornet
5. (tie) She-Hulk (tie) Martian Manhunter (from Justice League)
Honorable mention - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Green Power Ranger (the Red one is the one who does porn movies now). For villains you'd have the Green Goblin and the Riddler.
1. Green Lantern
2. The Hulk
3. Green Arrow
4. Green Hornet
5. (tie) She-Hulk (tie) Martian Manhunter (from Justice League)
Honorable mention - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Green Power Ranger (the Red one is the one who does porn movies now). For villains you'd have the Green Goblin and the Riddler.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Yesterday was the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him... Interesting behind the scenes look at the making of Mad Men... Maybe the worst part of Saint Patrick's Day is the fat guy in a kilt - you run into one every year. You know the guy who talks about the "breeze" no matter the weather and of "dangling shillelaghs" all in an attempt to get you to ask if the guy is wearing any underwear. You know the guy... Bad family structure defeats good economic numbers... How come ham has a pinkish color while pork sausage is brown? Same meat different colors. Why? How come I never thought about this before?... 15 back-stabbing facts about Brutus. What was compelling to me was how many of those historical facts were woven into the HBO series Rome... If feel like I've missed something important having never read Terry Pratchett. Maybe time to order the first Discworld book?... Interesting interview with Bill Simmons... Would you eat the moon if it was made of ribs? Harry Caray would...
Yesterday was the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him... Interesting behind the scenes look at the making of Mad Men... Maybe the worst part of Saint Patrick's Day is the fat guy in a kilt - you run into one every year. You know the guy who talks about the "breeze" no matter the weather and of "dangling shillelaghs" all in an attempt to get you to ask if the guy is wearing any underwear. You know the guy... Bad family structure defeats good economic numbers... How come ham has a pinkish color while pork sausage is brown? Same meat different colors. Why? How come I never thought about this before?... 15 back-stabbing facts about Brutus. What was compelling to me was how many of those historical facts were woven into the HBO series Rome... If feel like I've missed something important having never read Terry Pratchett. Maybe time to order the first Discworld book?... Interesting interview with Bill Simmons... Would you eat the moon if it was made of ribs? Harry Caray would...
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Interesting - was the White House behind the leaks of Hillary using a private email server? Explains why the story went to the NYT instead of a right-leaning news outlet.
- Speaking of Obama - Bad Paintings of Barack Obama always brings a smile (hit refresh button for new paintings). This classic remains my favorite.
- The first cellphone went on sale 30-years ago today. At a price tag of $4,000 it was very much a status symbol. Makes me wonder if some douchebags used to have people call them while at a play or other public function just so people would notice that said douchebag had a "mobile" phone.
- I would agree 100% with Rob Bradford's assessment of the Red Sox 25-man roster.
- There are two sides to every story but this profile from a couple of years ago of the Dalai Lama doesn't paint a very pretty picture.
- Interesting - was the White House behind the leaks of Hillary using a private email server? Explains why the story went to the NYT instead of a right-leaning news outlet.
- Speaking of Obama - Bad Paintings of Barack Obama always brings a smile (hit refresh button for new paintings). This classic remains my favorite.
- The first cellphone went on sale 30-years ago today. At a price tag of $4,000 it was very much a status symbol. Makes me wonder if some douchebags used to have people call them while at a play or other public function just so people would notice that said douchebag had a "mobile" phone.
- I would agree 100% with Rob Bradford's assessment of the Red Sox 25-man roster.
- There are two sides to every story but this profile from a couple of years ago of the Dalai Lama doesn't paint a very pretty picture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)