9.05.2015

Come on, if you just weren't thinking you probably would have done the same thing

Clinton personally paid staffer to maintain private server: report | Reuters

"Hillary Clinton used personal funds to pay a State Department staffer to maintain an email server she used for both personal and government matters when she was U.S. secretary of state, The Washington Post said on Saturday, citing a campaign official."

We have ways of making you watch the ads

IAB Surveys Options to Fight Ad Blockers, Including Lawsuits | Digital - Advertising Age

"'I advocated for the top 100 websites to, beginning on the same day, not let anybody with ad blockers turned on [to view their content],' said Mr. Moore."

Maybe lawsuits too, article says.

There'll always be an England (and also a Kellogg's, apparently)

Kellogg’s Honors Elizabeth II’s Record Reign With Cereal Fit for a Queen | TIME

"What makes this product so royally special? It’s classic Corn Flakes mixed with macadamia nuts (a favorite of the Queen’s) as well as edible diamonds and pearls."

Didn’t we decide to do away with this kind of stuff in the 18th Century or so?

9.04.2015

A new standard is set

I once had a friend who, writing a press release, described a new transistor as “about the size of a small dot.” That was a long time ago—today, transistors that size are laughably large. But nowhere near as large as this.

Here’s the Associated Press describing a 500,000-pound rock in Arizona as "weighing more than many jumbo jets.” My admiration is profound.

Massive rock threatening to crash into base of Arizona dam

Latest on Clinton email: Secretary of State "just didn't think"

Clinton: I didn't 'stop and think' about email system

"'You know, I was not thinking a lot when I got in. There was so much work to be done. We had so many problems around the world,' Clinton said. 'I didn't really stop and think what kind of email system will there be?'"

Thinking is hard.

The old newspaper office


Words of zoological wisdom from Ogden Nash

A panther is like a leopard
except it hasn't been peppered
should you behold a panther crouch
prepare to say ouch
better yet, if called by a panther
don't anther.

More here.

All that's wrong with everything this year

Forget the “Loyalty Oath”, Donald Trump Could Still Run as an Independent

"'Is it leg­ally bind­ing? Ah­hh,' John Ry­der, the RNC’s gen­er­al coun­sel, said shortly after Trump’s press con­fer­ence Thursday af­ter­noon. Ry­der took a long pause. 'Leg­ally bind­ing? Ummm. I think it’s polit­ic­ally bind­ing.'"

For a good time call H

Virtual Reading Room Documents Search Results: U.S. Department of State - Freedom of Information Act

Nearly 4,000 documents here, plenty to keep you away from work for a while. But what you really want to do is get a job at the State Department.

Gee, working at the State Department sounds like fun!

No, we don't believe this, Bunky…

Hillary Clinton Hacked Emails For Sale | Radar Online

"“Hillary or someone from her camp erased the outbox containing her emails, but forgot to erase the emails that were in her sent box,” an insider reveals to Radar of the Presidential contender’s latest nightmare."

…but it’s still funny.

[This, however…well, possibly we might perhaps believe it. Or some of it. Maybe.]

9.03.2015

Life without a whistle


The one day

Hightower Lowdown | The rebellious spirit of Matthew Maguire's first Labor Day is spreading again across our country. Join the parade!

"Far from being a gift to workers, Cleveland's recognition of Labor Day was a desperate political ploy to mollify the anger of the union movement he had just decimated. He and his Democratic Party rushed the federal holiday into law only days after his military assault on Pullman strikers.… "

Wait, can they do that?

Egyptian belly dancers jailed for 'inciting debauchery' - BBC News

Egypt, I mean. Not the belly dancers. Of course.

Looks like the very definition of a slow news day

Breaking: Many D.C. Residents Are Sycophants Lusting For Power

But wait. Actually it’s a pretty terrific (as usual) piece by Esquire’s  Charles P. Pierce.

What? Not one Mexico?

Donald Trump Says 'China'

"If you would like to watch Donald Trump say the word "China" 234 times then click the link (above)."

Noted by our Midwest and Elsewhere Bureau.

Rs being mean to The Donald

The RNC forces Donald Trump's hand

"The move is an implicit challenge to Trump, who pointedly refused to rule out a third-party run during the first GOP debate. He was the only candidate who declined."

9.02.2015

Good thing it didn't briefly blow up

Radioactive material sent to Texas A & M briefly missing - CBS News

See? It wasn't such a big deal after all

Denali is Actually 10 Feet Shorter Than Originally Recorded | TIME

"The new official height for the mountain is 20,310 feet, which is 10 feet lower than its previously recorded elevation of 20,320 feet, according to the United States Geological Survey."

or maybe Fox News could say…Alaskans Cheated By Obama.

Noted

A problem with Google's driverless cars: They're too safe

Google’s Driverless Cars Run Into Problem: Cars With Drivers - The New York Times

"Google’s fleet of autonomous test cars is programmed to follow the letter of the law. But it can be tough to get around if you are a stickler for the rules. One Google car, in a test in 2009, couldn’t get through a four-way stop because its sensors kept waiting for other (human) drivers to stop completely and let it go. The human drivers kept inching forward, looking for the advantage — paralyzing Google’s robot."

Maybe, until the auto people solve their hacking problems, this is a good thing

You probably don’t use all that car technology you paid for - News and reviews - Boston.com

"It seems many people are more comfortable with the technology they already have."

And in other good news, my sister found some Rolodex cards. Whew.

Insomnia and crossword puzzles are a perfect pair

I was up at 2:30 this morning doing the puzzle from today's New York Times. Took just the right amount of time. Went back to bed and slept like a rock. Should have started doing that years ago.

A new look at the scottish play

Watch Michael Fassbender Rise to Power in New Macbeth Trailer | TIME

"The new trailer for the upcoming Macbeth offers a look at Michael Fassbender’s dark, bloodthirsty version of Shakespeare’s tragic hero, with Marion Cotillard as his power-hungry wife."

Illinois kids get manhunt day

Schools Close Amid Cop-Shooter Search - The Daily Beast

Not exactly a snow day but close enough for summer.

Selfie of the week

Teen holding gun while taking selfies accidentally kills himself | New York Post

Ouch.

9.01.2015

No, you can't make this stuff up

White House Staffer Indicted for Shooting at Capitol Police

So now the only thing left to decide is…

McDonald's to start all-day breakfast in the U.S. on October 6 | Reuters

…what’s the second best thing to happen in the 21st Century.

Bet you didn't see this coming, huh?

Trump Says He Will Change Denali’s Name Back to Mt. McKinley | TIME

And there are four more?

Eugene Robinson: Anyone thinking Trump can't win is in deep denial - San Jose Mercury News

"The Republican establishment seems to be slowly going through Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' five stages of grief, with many politicians and pundits unable to get past the first: denial."

The impending toaster gap

Groups call for $500 million initiative to prepare for 'deluge of data' from Internet of Things - San Jose Mercury News

"The Internet of Things is a term coined to describe an emerging wired world of intelligent devices and billions of tiny sensors sprinkled everywhere that are networked together and communicating. A few examples are smart toasters, smart thermostats and refrigerators, smart houses, driverless cars and personalized medicine"

Nothing is forever, I guess

A fond farewell to the Islanders Ice Girls | New York Post

"The Islanders were the first NHL team to deploy a group of scantily-clad Ice Girls to shovel excess snow off the ice during stoppages, and now they are no more."

Don't say we never gave you some hot fashion news

Is fall’s hottest shoe a status symbol — or a crime against fashion? | New York Post

"Nope, that’s not Donald Trump’s hair — it’s an $1,800 slip-on from Gucci’s new “Prince-town” collection.…

The hirsute slide hasn’t yet hit stores, and a company source tells The Post there were only 20 pairs made for the entire United States. So, don’t get your hopes up."

A domestic crisis

The local Staples doesn’t sell Rolodex cards any more. My sister is distraught. 

Wait. Can’t place “Rolodex"?

From Wikipedia:

"The Rolodex was invented in 1956, by the Danish engineer Hildaur Neilsen, the chief engineer of Zephyr American, a stationery manufacturer in New York.[1][2] First marketed in 1958,[3] it was an improvement to an earlier design called the Wheeldex. Zephyr American also invented, manufactured and sold the Autodex, a spring-operated phone directory that automatically opened to the selected letter, Swivodex, an inkwell that did not spill, Punchodex, a paper hole puncher, and Clipodex, an office aid that attached to a stenographer's knee.[4]"

Remember now? (I’m guessing none of them are big sellers these days.)

Look! Another guy we don't need to hear from any more

Petraeus: Use Al Qaeda Fighters to Beat ISIS - The Daily Beast

"However, Petraeus’s play, if executed, could be enormously controversial. "

Ya think?

8.31.2015

Lake Cindy falls to urban renewal (and spinach)


Ducks need flying lessons.

Running out of things to worry about? We're here to help

Lack of Sleep Dramatically Raises Your Risk For Getting Sick | TIME

And long may it remain

The rise of ‘selfie lice.’ (It’s a teen thing.) - The Washington Post

But wait…

Salzberg said the bigger problem facing parents this school year is what the media have dubbed "super lice."

Super? Lice? Really?

'Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice

Ducks gone wild

Screaming Ducks Vine - Bin of Screaming Ducks

Corners


Perfect timing

Just when I'm at an age when things are sometimes difficult to remember there's less to remember. Like, for instance, What is the highest mountain peak in North America? That question comes up…every now and then. The answer used to be Mount McKinley but now it's not, because there is no Mount McKinley any more. One more thing I don't have to remember, and just in time.

Imagine my relief.