This, from the Egyptians, the Middle East's stand-up comedians: Hosni Mubarak, Barack Obama, and Vladimir Putin are at a meeting together when suddenly God appears before them. "I have come to tell you that the end of the world will be in two days," God says. "Tell your people." So each leader goes back to …
The Art of William H. Warrington
This post is something of a departure, in that it features the pencil sketch art of my great uncle, William H. Warrington (right, from his carte de visite.) But first some background is in order. William H. Warrington was born 17 September 1846, grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He became the manager of the Vulcan …
Happy New Year, Soviet Style
New Year's greeting cards from the Soviet Union. The one at the top is dated 1978; the one at the right 1989. Note how both of them--especially the one at the top--strongly resemble Christmas cards we send (or used to send). In a country where the government operated and subsidised a Museum of Atheism, this …
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Now Let's Get That Pronunciation Right!
Christmas is a time when many "traditions" (that word has worn with use in our culture) get hauled out and paraded. Some, like standing out in the elements on Black Friday morning waiting for the store to open at 0500 (or earlier) could be dispensed with, especially with the internet, where we could do Black …
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Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Hosts a Cosmetics Exhibition
For reasons beyond my knowing, I get spam from the Middle East. I cannot resist posting the following, an advertisement for a cosmetics exhibition in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Think: this is a country where women (the predominant users of cosmetics) are not permitted to show their faces in public.
Liberalism Reaches Its End by Making People Get Off of Theirs
Well, at least prohibiting people from sitting on the streets, as San Francisco just did: A new law targeting those who hang out, and lie down, on the sidewalks and streets of San Francisco has some asking whether this city, known for its "love thy neighbour" attitude, has perhaps decided some neighbours aren't welcome. In …
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TSA Strip Searches: The Old "B&O" Is Looking Better Than Ever
The recent fracas over the strip searches (that's what they amount to, no matter how they're done) the TSA has instituted for the flying public in the U.S. reminded me of something I posted a long time ago. My family business celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1952 with a celebration in Chicago. One of my …
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The Nastiest Election of the Season, and Yes, They're Smoking Something
A couple of interesting tidbits from this election cycle: first, concerning Allen West's victory over Ron Klein (congratulations are in order) in Florida's 22nd Congressional District, the Palm Beach Daily News noted the following: The West-Klein race was one of the nastiest campaigns of the season. Only the Shiny Sheet would put it this way. …
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If Allah Wills It, I Will Be Back in the Office
I've mentioned it from time to time, but in the summer of 2007 I had a long email debate with a Salafi Muslim civil engineer in South-east Asia about Islam and Christianity. Needless to say, it was an education. We correspond from time to time, and he's on my list when I announce new technical …
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It's Important to be Careful When You're Eating Out in Russia
Some things have not changed from Soviet times: Russian officials have been left red-faced after a salad containing a live earthworm was served at a dinner in honour of German President Christian Wulff, media reported Thursday. The incident came to light after a Russian regional governor, evidently finding the matter hilarious, wrote a Twitter entry …
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Positive Infinity 