Saturday, November 14, 2009
Mary Clark Mortimer, R. I. P.
Today I'm in Mexia, Texas, my hometown, attending a memorial service for Mary Clark Mortimer. Mary and I started out in first grade at W. M. White Elementary School, and we went through all twelve grades together. In some classes, thanks to alphabetical order, we sat next to each other.In 7th and 8th grades we often walked home from school together since she lived on the way to my house. I had quite a crush on her in those days. She didn't reciprocate, but that was okay. I still got to walk her home.
Judy and I went to her wedding, and we've seen her and Robert, her husband, many times in the years since, primarily at class reunions and informal get-togethers that have been annual affairs for more than 15 years now.
I can't believe Mary's gone. I'm supposed to say a few words at the service. I'm not sure I can.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Now We Know that the Man in the Moon Isn't Thirsty
NASA Moon Crash Found 'Significant Amount' of Water - Space | NASA | Solar System | Planets | Shuttle | Astronomy - FOXNews.com: "It's official: There's water ice on the moon, and lots of it. When melted, the water could potentially be used to drink or to extract hydrogen for rocket fuel.
NASA's LCROSS probe discovered beds of water ice at the lunar south pole when it impacted the moon last month, mission scientists announced today. The findings confirm suspicions announced previously, and in a big way."
NASA's LCROSS probe discovered beds of water ice at the lunar south pole when it impacted the moon last month, mission scientists announced today. The findings confirm suspicions announced previously, and in a big way."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Houston makes best-performing city list - Houston Business Journal:: "The Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area moved up 11 spaces to claim the fifth spot on this year's Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities Index.
The city was also the largest in the Top 10, according to the index.
Austin-Round Rock area took the top spot among the 200 largest metro areas, followed by Killeen-Fort Hood-Temple; Salt Lake City; and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Rounding out the list were Durham, N.C.; Olympia, Wash.; Huntsville, Ala.; Lafayette, La.; and Raleigh-Cary, N.C."
The city was also the largest in the Top 10, according to the index.
Austin-Round Rock area took the top spot among the 200 largest metro areas, followed by Killeen-Fort Hood-Temple; Salt Lake City; and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Rounding out the list were Durham, N.C.; Olympia, Wash.; Huntsville, Ala.; Lafayette, La.; and Raleigh-Cary, N.C."
I Think I'll Just Buy Some Old Spice
Queen Latifah to debut fragrance at Almeda Mall Macy’s - Houston Business Journal:: "Queen Latifah will make a guest appearance at the Almeda Mall Macy’s on Nov. 13 as part of the launch of her new fragrance, Queen.
The first 300 customers who purchase a $134 gift set will be able to meet the award-winning rapper, actress and singer and receive a complimentary photograph. No autographs will be given."
The first 300 customers who purchase a $134 gift set will be able to meet the award-winning rapper, actress and singer and receive a complimentary photograph. No autographs will be given."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Husband files for annulment from Central Texas woman who allegedly pretended to have cancer: "Count Trista Joy Lathern’s husband and co-workers among those who now feel misled and betrayed by her alleged pretense that she had breast cancer and was undergoing the rigors of chemotherapy.
Lathern, 24, formerly of Robinson, was arrested Wednesday on theft by deception charges after authorities say she lied about her medical condition, watched as friends raised $10,000 for her at a benefit and then reportedly spent the proceeds on breast-augmentation surgery."
Hat tip to Angela Crider.
Lathern, 24, formerly of Robinson, was arrested Wednesday on theft by deception charges after authorities say she lied about her medical condition, watched as friends raised $10,000 for her at a benefit and then reportedly spent the proceeds on breast-augmentation surgery."
Hat tip to Angela Crider.
There Will Always Be an England
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Cambridgeshire | Pee to help make your garden grow: "Gardeners at a National Trust property in Cambridgeshire are urging people to relieve themselves outdoors to help gardens grow greener.
A three-metre long 'pee bale' has been installed at Wimpole Hall.
Head gardener Philip Whaites is urging his male colleagues to pee on the straw bale to activate the composting process on the estate's compost heap."
Hat tip to Fred Zackel.
A three-metre long 'pee bale' has been installed at Wimpole Hall.
Head gardener Philip Whaites is urging his male colleagues to pee on the straw bale to activate the composting process on the estate's compost heap."
Hat tip to Fred Zackel.
How the Internet Destroyed Everything
How the Internet Ruined Newspapers, TV, Music, Movies, Microsoft - Newsweek 2010: "The past decade is the era in which the Internet ruined everything. Just look at the industries that have been damaged by the rise of the Web: Newspapers. Magazines. Books. TV. Movies. Music. Retailers of almost any kind, from cars to real estate. Telecommunications. Airlines and hotels. Wherever companies relied on advertising to make money, wherever companies were profiting by a lack of transparency or a lack of competition, wherever friction could be polished out of the system, those industries suffered."
Forgotten Books: THE CASE OF THE DANCING SANDWICHES -- Fredric Brown
After the disappointment of last week's read, I thought I should give Fredric Brown another try. The Case of the Dancing Sandwiches isn't exactly forgotten. It's just not easy to find. It's a Dell 10-Cent book, and it's one of the more expensive in the series. The cheapest copy on Abebooks is $100. The hardcover reprint from Dennis McMillan is even more. You could probably find a copy of the Summer 1950 issue of Mystery Book Magazine, where the story first appeared, for a lot less.All that aside, this one's a lot better than We All Killed Grandma. Carl Dixon meets a man who calls himself Vic Tremaine. Tremaine seems like a nice guy, and he and his sister treat Carl to a night on the town. Carl enjoys himself, and he's feeling romantic about the sister. Things, of course, are not what they seem, and before he knows it, Carl is in prison, convicted of murder.
It's all part of a clever plot (based on things that are certainly dated) that's eventually untangled by Carl's finacee and a cop she asks for advice. All I'm going to say is that the title is a clue. This one's a satisfying read.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Man Crashes $2M Bugatti in La Marque Lake | MyFoxHouston.com: "A rare $2 million car was nearly destroyed in La Marque when a driver accidently drove the Bugatti Veyron into a lagoon.
[. . . .]
La Marque police say the French-built supercar ended up in about 2 feet of saltwater. The driver, whose name was not immediately released, was not injured in the crash.
[. . . .]
The driver, who was from Lufkin, had been looking at real estate in the Galveston area when he was distracted by a low-flying pelican near Omega Bay, according to police."
[. . . .]
La Marque police say the French-built supercar ended up in about 2 feet of saltwater. The driver, whose name was not immediately released, was not injured in the crash.
[. . . .]
The driver, who was from Lufkin, had been looking at real estate in the Galveston area when he was distracted by a low-flying pelican near Omega Bay, according to police."
I'm Not Shocked at All
CUNY's got math problem: Report shows many freshmen from city HS fail at basic algebra: "More city kids are graduating from high school, but that doesn't mean they can do college math.
Basic algebra involving fractions and decimals stumped a group of City University of New York freshmen - suggesting city schools aren't preparing them, a CUNY report shows.
'These results are shocking,' said City College Prof. Stanley Ocken, who co-wrote the report on CUNY kids' skills. 'They show that a disturbing proportion of New York City high school graduates lack basic skills.'"
Basic algebra involving fractions and decimals stumped a group of City University of New York freshmen - suggesting city schools aren't preparing them, a CUNY report shows.
'These results are shocking,' said City College Prof. Stanley Ocken, who co-wrote the report on CUNY kids' skills. 'They show that a disturbing proportion of New York City high school graduates lack basic skills.'"
California, Here I Come
ALA JobList - Grateful Dead Archivist: "Grateful Dead Archivist
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
Grateful Dead Archivist
Status: Full-time
Posted: 11/09/09
Deadline: Initial Review Date, 12/04/09
The University Library of the University of California, Santa Cruz, seeks an enterprising, creative, and service-oriented archivist to join the staff of Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) as Archivist for the Grateful Dead Archive. This is an academic librarian professional position."
Link via Dave Barry's Blog.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
Grateful Dead Archivist
Status: Full-time
Posted: 11/09/09
Deadline: Initial Review Date, 12/04/09
The University Library of the University of California, Santa Cruz, seeks an enterprising, creative, and service-oriented archivist to join the staff of Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) as Archivist for the Grateful Dead Archive. This is an academic librarian professional position."
Link via Dave Barry's Blog.
Croc Update
Surprise DNA results boost chances of "extinct" crocodile (Feature) - Monsters and Critics: "Phnom Penh - In 1992, the Siamese crocodile was declared extinct in the wild. It was a depressing end for a creature that was once widespread across its native South-East Asian habitat.
Just a decade later there was altogether better news when field studies by researchers from the Cambodian government and wildlife organizations found a number of Siamese crocodiles in the wild."
Hat tip to Tina Karelson.
Just a decade later there was altogether better news when field studies by researchers from the Cambodian government and wildlife organizations found a number of Siamese crocodiles in the wild."
Hat tip to Tina Karelson.
David Lloyd, R. I. P.
Matthew Greenberg - Worst Episode Ever – David Lloyd, writer for ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ – and the man who killed Chuckles the Clown – dies - True/Slant: "Tomorrow, when you read the obits about veteran television comedy writer David Lloyd, who died after a long illness, they’ll surely mention “Chuckles Bites the Dust” in the first paragraph.
David Lloyd’s first television writing gig was in 1963 for “The Tonight Show” — his last was for “Frasier” in 2001. In between, he had his hands on just about every legendary sitcom (and occassional drama) you can think of that didn’t come out of the Norman Lear factory — “Phyllis,” “Rhoda,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Lou Grant,” “Taxi,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and more.
But it was his work on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — and that one Chuckles episode in particular — that will be his fitting epitaph."
A nice tribute can be found here. Thanks to Todd Mason for passing this news along.
David Lloyd’s first television writing gig was in 1963 for “The Tonight Show” — his last was for “Frasier” in 2001. In between, he had his hands on just about every legendary sitcom (and occassional drama) you can think of that didn’t come out of the Norman Lear factory — “Phyllis,” “Rhoda,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Lou Grant,” “Taxi,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and more.
But it was his work on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — and that one Chuckles episode in particular — that will be his fitting epitaph."
A nice tribute can be found here. Thanks to Todd Mason for passing this news along.
I'll Bet It Was in the Sewer and Came Out of the Toilet
Man walks into restroom, finds 6' gator | restroom, county, steve - Local News -: "Imagine walking into a public restroom and finding yourself face-to-face with a 6' alligator. That is exactly what happened to a local man on Wednesday morning in Jasper."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Police Train To Draw Suspects' Blood - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston: "After Houston police pull over suspected drunken drivers, officers will soon have a new option: drawing blood themselves.
A source in the Houston Police Department confirmed 10 officers are assigned to complete training.
The source said if a driver refuses a breath test, they will get a warning about losing their license. Officers will then ask for a blood sample. If the driver again refuses, the officer will ask for a search warrant from a judge, then draw the blood, him or herself, at the police station.
However, the source said, in certain cases, the officer will be able to draw blood without a warrant."
A source in the Houston Police Department confirmed 10 officers are assigned to complete training.
The source said if a driver refuses a breath test, they will get a warning about losing their license. Officers will then ask for a blood sample. If the driver again refuses, the officer will ask for a search warrant from a judge, then draw the blood, him or herself, at the police station.
However, the source said, in certain cases, the officer will be able to draw blood without a warrant."
Las Vegas Leads the Way
'Stripper-mobile' with live dancers raises safety, decency concerns - Las Vegas Sun: "It’s akin to a small U-Haul truck but with Plexiglas surrounding the brightly lit cargo area instead of walls. In the middle is a gleaming stripper pole. Swinging around the pole is a scantily clad young woman. Two of her fellow strippers are in the back of the truck too, awaiting their turns."
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