I’m not shocked that “Brenda Starr” is ending.
I am shocked to find out that Mary “Wear Sunscreen” Schmich has been writing it for a quarter-century.
(Hattip: Jimbo.)
Archive for December, 2010
And speaking of putting things out of our misery…
Thursday, December 9th, 2010Making book.
Thursday, December 9th, 2010New York has finally taken the Off-Track Betting Corporation out behind the barn and shot it.
I know what you’re asking yourself: “Gee, I wonder what Jesus Leonardo is going to do?” For those who may not recall, Mr. Leonardo was profiled in the NYT last year; he’s a “stooper”, someone who picks up discarded tickets and cashes in the winners. Somehow, he’s able to make a claimed $45,000 a year off of this activity.
Quote of the day.
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010“What the f**k does that mean?”
–John Gruber @ Daring Fireball
John:
It’s okay. Everyone has that reaction when reading Rob Enderle. Why don’t you sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and read something soothing, like the works of H.L. Mencken?
(Speaking of taking a stress pill, I would not be upset to find one of these in my stocking on Christmas morning.)
(Speaking of the works of H.L. Mencken, I am reminded that I need to add Prejudices: The Complete Series
TMQ watch: December 7, 2010.
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010What’s in store for us in this week’s exciting TMQ column? Let’s take the shiny wrapping paper off and see, shall we? (As a side note, at least TMQ doesn’t have a giant bow on the top. Speaking of which, has Lexus stopped doing the “December to Remember” commercials? I haven’t seen one this year. Kia, yes; Lexus, no. Wonder what that says about the economy. But I digress.)
Peeves petted.
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010Daring Fireball links to two pieces: one arguing that information wants to be free, and the other (the Wikipedia entry on Stewart Brand) arguing that information also wants to be expensive.
I think it is time to set the record straight: information doesn’t want anything. Information is an inanimate good; it has no wants and no desires. People may want information to be free, or expensive, but information itself wants nothing.
Don’t anthropomorphize inanimate objects. They hate it when you do that.
Edited to add: Lawrence points out that I didn’t mention the Pathetic fallacy. Good catch.
Things you may have wondered about. (#1 in a series)
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010What ever happened to the very first commercial 747, Pan Am’s Juan T. Trippe? (Note the phrasing; the actual first 747 was only used for test flights, and is now in the Museum of Flight.)
The LAT has the answer; it became a (now closed) restaurant in South Korea. The couple who bought the plane paid $1 million for it, and “$100,000 plus” to have it dismantled and shipped; the LAT does not give a cost figure for the reassembly.
The LAT also does not tell us what kind of food the restaurant served; rumors that it was Seoul food are unconfirmed.
Nice to know that people in other countries make the same mistakes opening restaurants as people in the U.S.
Gone…gone…he ducked back down the alley…
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010Josh McDaniels. No longer a Bronco, perhaps still a gentleman.
Is it just me?
Monday, December 6th, 2010
Or does Tony Dungy look like NBC Sports should be paying him in gold-pressed latinum?
UT firing watch.
Monday, December 6th, 2010The Statesman is reporting that two UT football coaches (offensive line coach Mac McWhorter and defensive line coach Mike Tolleson) are retiring, and offensive coordinator Greg Davis has resigned.
The Statesman is also reporting that Greg Davis states he has not resigned, that he says he’s still in discussions with Mack Brown, and that he expects those discussions to resume on Wednesday.
More jihad.
Monday, December 6th, 2010Since I previously declared jihad against the bubblegum martini, I’m sure my readers expect me to declare jihad against the McNuggetini as well.
Indeed, I would, if I believed such a thing existed. However, I refuse to believe in the existence of the McNuggetini; I believe this is an elaborate prank, much like Ken’s post over at Popehat on the non-existent E! show “Bridalplasty“.
Obit watch.
Monday, December 6th, 2010Don “Dandy Don” Meredith, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and one of my all time favorite members of the Monday Night Football broadcast team, has passed away.
As Don himself would say, “Turn out the lights, the party’s over…”
Martha, Martha, Martha.
Friday, December 3rd, 2010Hondo Harrelson does not approve.
Friday, December 3rd, 2010APD SWAT team member rolls his unmarked car. Officer arrested for DWI.
Somehow I have a feeling even the arbitrator isn’t going to get him out of this one.
A little sentiment, a little advice…
Friday, December 3rd, 2010Ken over at Popehat has a good post up about his advice to a young lawyer arguing his first case.
Reading over it, it struck me that his advice could be pretty well generalized for everyone, not just lawyers:
- Don’t think about being the best, think about being the best prepared.
- (Quoted directly from Ken): “Stand straight, speak clearly and firmly and unapologetically, and act like you deserve to be there — because you do.”
- “I don’t know,” is never an acceptable answer. “I don’t know, but I will find out” is.
- When you’re trying to persuade people of something, you have to believe in something.
Add Wheaton’s Rule to that list, and it strikes me as being a pretty good way to lead your life. Or to lead other people.
Cracks in the facade.
Friday, December 3rd, 2010Celebration, Florida, the Walt Disney Company master-planned community, had their first murder over Thanksgiving weekend, and a police standoff last night that ended in a suicide. (The police standoff and the murder were apparently unrelated.)