2009 archive
Out of the Frying Pan 0
The new line of stoves from Maytag: The Halven.
Follow the link for the rest of the story.
Maytag has taken the oven back to the lab for the exorcism.
H/T Linda for the link.
Playing with Firearms 0
I have a personal rule against giving serious attention to any piece of writing that has more than two rhetorical questions per page.
That, in fact, is one reason I gave up on the Wilmington paper. You see, I really enjoy the Letters to the Editor. Whatever paper I might be reading (and, because I spent years as a road warrior, I have read papers all over the country), I read the letters first, after glancing at the front page. The local paper frequently prints letters that consist of a series of inane rhetorical questions with no other content.
The ones without the rhetorical questions tend to be, well, just inane.
And herewith I break my personal rule.
Happy Spray 0
A researcher in Oz claims to have developed an aerosol spray which can reduce stress; the spray contains chemicals are released by plants and reportedly smells like newly mown grass.
Sounds like a natural for Billy Mays, except he’s moved on the the Great Sideshow in the Sky.
That’s really here nor there, but it led to this screed by Victoria Coren, who slices and dices it expertly.
A nugget from near the beginning of the article. It gets better:
I hate Dr Nick Lavidis. I’m sure he’s a nice man, but I despise him and everything he stands for. Fine, so this nonsense may improve your memory. But what, precisely, will you be remembering? The happy day you clicked “purchase” on the room spray at an online checkout? The golden moment when you first pointed it at the carpet from your wheezy prone position on a beanbag in front of The X Factor?
I’ll tell you what improves your memory. Getting up off your arse and going out to do something that’s worth remembering.
Stray Thought 2
I’d like to have a talk with whoever decided that English ivy was a proper ornamental.
Evil in Our Name 1
What Susie said.
The amorality of the Bush administration has so poisoned our discourse that some have forgotten that deciding to torture another creature is not a practical question.
It is a moral one.
Yet, there is more public furor over Michael Vick than ov–oh, never mind.
Snake Oil 0
I’ve been staring at this story since yesterday.
The tale of fiduciary failure is really quite amazing. I guess the moral is, “Don’t trust salespersons, especially if they are wearing power ties.”
Go read it.
And Now for Something Completely Different 0
This is pretty gross, in an I-can’t-believe-someone-actually-did-this kind of way.
Direct hate mail to Karen. I stole it from her.
Click to see more. Remember, I told you so.
New Entry in Blogroll 0
From time to time, I tinker with my sidebar. That thing over there
that almost no one (spellcheck won’t find missing words) looks at after the first visit.
Usually the tinkering takes the form of adding or removing a plugin (like that “Deep Tho’ts from John Handey” thingee that every once in a while rolls over and plays dead) or changing the order of stuff (as when I moved the “Search” window higher, which I did because I use it frequently to make sure I’m not repeating myself or to remind myself of exactly what I might have driveled on about in the past).
Some while ago, I gave the blogroll a major trim and restyling, reflecting more my changing interests since I first set it up than anything about who might have been removed from it. I tried to do two things: cut it down to a manageable length and reduce the number of big, well-known sites that most folks are likely to have bookmarked anyway, unless they were sites that I regularly visit myself.
Today I added a new link to the Blogroll. I wouldn’t usually mention that, except that this blog is particularly creative.
I’d suggest starting with this post.
Afterthought:
He calls himself a libertarian. He seems saner than most libertarians I’ve known personally, most of whom could give how-to lessons on dogmatism to Jesuits.
We Need Single Payer 0
Judith Stein at Neiman Watchdog:
Traditional Medicare has been a success, fiscally and morally. It took on the job of insuring health coverage and care to people that private insurance had abandoned. Since 2003, on the other hand, private Medicare plans have cost tens of billions of dollars that have gone to support the private insurance industry, not to providing health care. In addition, private Medicare plans have too often engaged in marketing abuses and restrictive coverage practices.
Have They No Shame? 1
Have they no sense of decency?
No. Of course not.
Shamelessness. No sense of decency.
It’s Republican tradition.
Dustbiters 0
Ain’t no more:
The countdown continues.
Stray Thought 0
If spamming is so lucrative, why can’t spammers hire competent translators?
Received in my spam trap account:
Follow the Money 0
It’s not about the cost of medical care. It’s about the cost of affording medical care.
In the last 10 years, the healthcare insurance industry has increased their profits by 450%..
“Just Like in the Movies” 0
It’s a little rambling, but it’s worth the five minutes.
Fee Enterprise (Updated) 0
Via Susie.
Addendum, Later That Same Day:
More here.
A Sweetheart in Every Port 0
When I worked for the railroad, a porter passed away and two wives–one from each end of his run–appeared to claim the Railroad Retirement Death benefit.
He had nothing on this fellow.
According to the Beeb, in his defense, he’s claiming he married only three times.
Which reminds me of the sailor who always ordered wine for his dates.