7.14.2023

Spying is a tough game

CITY OF SPIES: DC IS THE WORLD CAPITAL OF ESPIONAGE

1942

During a joint US/UK intelligence operation to pilfer military ciphers from the Vichy French Embassy in DC, spy Amy Elizabeth Thorpe successfully distracts a night watchman by wearing only a necklace and high heels.

 Washingtonian

Anniversaries

 


Our new library opened yesterday. It may not look like much to you, but to us — given the old one — it's a wonder.

While I was there gawking I updated my library card. It has to be renewed every two years, and my old one was due to expire in September. But now my card's birthday is the same as the library's own, which is cool.


7.13.2023

Hold on

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED A TROVE OF DAMNING COVID DOCUMENTS

“The truth is never going to come out (if [lab] escape is the truth). Would need irrefutable evidence. My position is that the natural evolution is entirely plausible and we will have to leave it at that."

Accidentally? Do they know we can see them?

(This article comes from The Intercept, which has been rated pretty leftie and "mostly factual" by Media Bias, just so you know. Which sort of makes their coverage of this story puzzling, seems to me. But there it is.)

Ideas like this will make a difference

Empty Office Buildings Are Being Turned Into Vertical Farms

Although modifying an existing building is less expensive than rebuilding, turning offices into residential space can be costly, as most office spaces are laid out differently from residential buildings. But there are other options for these empty offices—such as farms.

People distributed more evenly (working from home) and, likewise, agriculture (urban farming) seems a very positive trend, both politically and functionally. Better income distribution, better health, better quality of life, with less energy expenditure, less food waste, and a more even tax base. Looks like a win to me.

More of these, please. 

A new fashion trend?

Stuck at Prom: LA teen shows off duct tape dress that could win her $10k in national competition


Maybe not, but certainly inspired marketing for a pretty unremarkable (but massively essential) product. 

And who knew they made it in pink?

7.11.2023

Come on…really?

Men Are Baring Midriffs in Crop Tops


Men have midriffs?

Who knew?

I went to a marketing convention (I don't recall why) in Atlanta sometime in the mid 1960s and I vividly remember one presentation by some guys from the men's clothing industry. They were working really hard, they said, to make men fashion-conscious — like women — so they'd have to run out every year and buy new clothes to stay in style.

It'll never happen, I thought.

I guess I was wrong.

[The link is to The New York Times. It's paywalled. Sorry. But all it says is, men are into wearing cut-off t-shirts. So you don't have to read it anyway.]

[Also, who knew?]

7.09.2023

It just gets so cold in Minnesota…

Minnesota Man Jailed Following Skittles Assault

A woman identified as “Victim 1” in a court filing told.police that she was “hit in the back with a Skittle which caused a stinging pain.”

…people can get a little crazy. Even in July. Even in the hottest summer in the history of the universe.

I mean cold.

In celebration…

 …of the U.S. decision to contribute cluster munitions to Ukraine, we give you Mark Twain's War Prayer.

Man bites dog is news

State Police Arrest Man for Assault on Troopers and Felony DUI

Wing proceeded to forcibly resist arrest when troopers and a DSP K9 were detaining him. Wing continued to resist and bit the DSP K9 multiple times. [Emphasis mine.]

 The New York Post's somewhat more colorful version of the story is here.