Eclectricity
Saturday, November 10, 2007
War and Snacks
The shortage of sugar in World War II led to a surge in popularity of salted snacks such as potato chips since salt and potatoes were relatively plentiful.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Too Logical for Europe.
Speaking of the scattered legislative operations of the European Union and the logistical difficulties it produces, EU Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen observed:
Thanks to the Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2005.
To have all the institutions concentrated in Brussels would be an American solution. It would be effective, it would be clear, but we can't do that.No wonder we can't get along with the Europeans.
Thanks to the Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2005.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
I Came, I Saw, I Fumbled.
This exchange apparently happened between announcers Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts in the 2005 Michigan-Texas Rose Bowl game:
Fouts: "They can say veni, vidi, vici."
Jackson: "Ah yes, how sweet the wine."
Fouts (after a pause): "Wrong play."
Fouts: "They can say veni, vidi, vici."
Jackson: "Ah yes, how sweet the wine."
Fouts (after a pause): "Wrong play."
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004
Global Warming, Which Art in Heaven.
Global warming is becoming a religion says an MIT prof. When you consider that the earth has warmed and cooled much more in centuries past than since 1900, he may be right.
Friday, December 24, 2004
I Am (Redneck) Woman...Hear Me Roar.
Country music has a remarkable new voice--Gretchen Wilson. Her anthem about ordinary women, "Redneck Woman", rocketed to the top of the charts and stayed there for weeks. Her life story reads like a classic country song--high school dropout with an alcoholic, coke-addicted mother, who lived in a trailer and worked as a bartender for years before hitting it big because of her wonderful voice. Gretchen brings her defiant voice to a time when when the common people in the "red states" are in revolt against the snooty, sophisticates in the coastal "blue states". Here's to you, Gretchen, as you say "keepin' it country".
UPDATE: Gretchen's video can be accessed via this page and a CBS News article about her is here.
An article in USA Today can be access from the same page as the video.
UPDATE: Gretchen's video can be accessed via this page and a CBS News article about her is here.
An article in USA Today can be access from the same page as the video.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Legally Correct Holiday Greeting.
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all ...
... And a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2005, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the Western Hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
... And a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2005, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the Western Hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Pistol Packing Mamas.
Handgun sales to women are increasing according to the San Antonio Express News.
Action Man Toy Sparks Sea Rescue.
Action toys are moving from looking real to engaging in real activities.
