Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Heron By the Water
A heron on the Tennessee River, at repose. Yesterday 2:30 PM EST.
A guy wearing a Harley-Davidson t-shirt came to the point to practice his bagpipe. "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland the Brave."
The heron didn't mind.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Professor Shoots Self in Foot
We were treated this week to a too often common happening: some professor shooting off his mouth. Professor Jonathan Gruber of MIT, claim your prize.
It's not that often that professors literally shoot themselves in the foot.
The Idaho state legislature recently passed a law allowing professors to carry guns on campus. This was going to happen sooner or later.
The Idaho State Journal that reported that a professor while teaching a chemistry class, when he got shot in the foot.
Pocatello Police Lieutenant Paul Manning said that the instructor was carrying a pistol in his pocket that went off unexpectedly. The injured man was taken to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.
ISU president Arthur Vailas called the accident "unfortunate."
"I'm sure the incident was scary and embarrassing," he told the State Journal.
Perhaps the professor needs to take a firearms safety course. Or keep his in the closet. However, errant feet are now placed on notice in Pocatello. Will some misguided souls bring guns to screenings of Happy Feet?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/05/idaho-professor-shoots-himself-in-foot-two-months-after-state-legalizes-guns-on-campuses/
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Another Piece of My Heart, Baby
The United States Postal Service came up with a winner recently with a Janis Joplin forever stamp available in panes of 16. It's done with 1960's psychedelic-style ornate letter like might have appeared on a poster. At last, there's a positive recognition of the counterculture of the 1960's. Get a few panes and use them for personal mail.
Here's Janis Joplin (1943-1970) performing "Piece of My Heart":
Here's Janis Joplin (1943-1970) performing "Piece of My Heart":
Friday, October 24, 2014
Knaves, Fools, Douchebags, and Dingbats
Well, it's close to another election again; and I have the same sterile choices that the two major parties offer. It's a dismal choice between the Democrat knaves, fools, and douchebags and the Republican knaves, fools, and douchebags. I'd rather vote for my dog.
Bad words.
That's why I'm voting for third party candidates, if any are there. And I know, dammit, that they're not likely to win. But don't give me that bull hockey about throwing my vote away. I'm voting third party because it's the only way I have of flipping both the Republicans and Democrats the bird! They both can perform coprophagic behavior, for all I care!
I'm afraid that part of our national problem is our being wedded to a two party system. While there's a dime's worth of difference between the two, unlike the late, unlamented George Wallace claimed, neither alternative is attractive.
AS a matter of fact, I'd rather vote for a loony than a Democrat or a Republican. Honest craziness does have its appeal.
And I'm voting against all of those damned amendments!
Bad words.
That's why I'm voting for third party candidates, if any are there. And I know, dammit, that they're not likely to win. But don't give me that bull hockey about throwing my vote away. I'm voting third party because it's the only way I have of flipping both the Republicans and Democrats the bird! They both can perform coprophagic behavior, for all I care!
I'm afraid that part of our national problem is our being wedded to a two party system. While there's a dime's worth of difference between the two, unlike the late, unlamented George Wallace claimed, neither alternative is attractive.
AS a matter of fact, I'd rather vote for a loony than a Democrat or a Republican. Honest craziness does have its appeal.
And I'm voting against all of those damned amendments!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Relaxed Pink
There's a recent article in Slate regarding the University of Iowa's visiting team dressing room being colored pink. Apparently a law professor there related it to sex discrimination and a put-down of visiting teams.
If the latter was intended, it would seem to be counterproductive. After all, it's not good gamesmanship to rile your opponent before the game!
The rationale for this color scheme was that pink would have a calming, relaxing effect on the opposition, apparently. Apparently, rooms that were painted a mixture of a gallon of white interior paint and a pint of semi-gloss red yielded a particular shade of pink that Alexander Schauss proposed to try, and a pair of naval officers who directed the Navel Corrections Institute in Seattle subsequently found, to have a calming effect on inmates.
It is known generally as Baker-Miller pink; or informally, drunk tank pink.
Whether rooms colored with this shade of pink do have a calming effect on those within is certainly something that deserves empirical research.
If the latter was intended, it would seem to be counterproductive. After all, it's not good gamesmanship to rile your opponent before the game!
The rationale for this color scheme was that pink would have a calming, relaxing effect on the opposition, apparently. Apparently, rooms that were painted a mixture of a gallon of white interior paint and a pint of semi-gloss red yielded a particular shade of pink that Alexander Schauss proposed to try, and a pair of naval officers who directed the Navel Corrections Institute in Seattle subsequently found, to have a calming effect on inmates.
It is known generally as Baker-Miller pink; or informally, drunk tank pink.
Whether rooms colored with this shade of pink do have a calming effect on those within is certainly something that deserves empirical research.
 |
| Baker-Miller pink |
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)