Memorizing Pi

Nerds seem to be mesmerized by the idea of memorizing π to the maximum number of digits possible. Since π is irrational, and therefore infinite, this is inherently an exercise in futility. Nevertheless, thousands of nerds have applied themselves to the task. The current world record holder is Chao Lu of China, who in [...]

Models and Mainframes

Or “Babes and Bits”. Whatever.
Back in the 50’s and 60’s, IBM and other computer companies were fond of promoting their big ol’ computers in association with mini-skirted women (or ‘girls’, as they were called back then). Sex sells, right? For some reason, I now find these photos hilarious. Here are some I’ve found on [...]

Weird Stuff

Things I learned from the Weird Facts website:
Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell. But you know the funny thing is, I don’t remember anything about it.
Dating back to the 1600’s, thermometers were filled with Brandy instead of mercury. So before you go drinking the stuff in your thermometer, be [...]

Three Years

Dear Carol,
It’s hard to believe it’s already been three years since you died.
I think of you every day.
You are still the love of my life.
Thank you so much for being my wife and my friend.
I love you.
-Mark

The Most Beautiful Woman Ever

I was 14, and a new comedy show debuted on TV. It was called Mona McCluskey, and it starred a gorgeous, leggy redhead named Juliet Prowse.
It was the first time I had ever seen her. I didn’t know that she had already starred in the film G.I. Blues with Elvis (and had a torrid affair [...]

Editorial Cartoonist Bob Patton

I love cartoons, comic strips, and comics. Of all these, the editorial cartoon is the only one that is considered ‘respectable’. There’s even a Pulitzer Prize awarded every year for ‘Best Editorial Cartoon‘.
My good friend Bob Patton hasn’t won his yet, but he’s an excellent political cartoonist for the Iowa City Press-Citizen newspaper. They’ve recently [...]

Moving….AGAIN

Most of you know by now that the hotel we live in was sold and Mike lost his job and we lost our home.  So we will be moving in with Mike’s parents for a month or two until we relocate to the Quincy or Hannibal area.  Our cell phone numbers will not change.  You [...]

A Better way to Wage War in Iraq

Waging war costs money. Lots and lots of money. Much more money than most of the victims of war have ever seen.
Way back in the days of the Vietnam War, I figured out that it cost $15,000 for the U.S. military to kill every Viet Cong it claimed to have killed. That was easily equal [...]

Nature is Not Our Friend

From two separate news stories this week:
“A ten-foot shark swallowed a shell diver’s head, crushing his face mask and breaking his nose. Diver Eric Nerhus later told rescue workers he survived the attack from what looked like a great white shark by poking it in the eye.”
“A 65-year-old woman hiking in a state park near [...]

Valentine’s Greetings for 2007

The old-fashioned ’sugar and spice’ Valentine’s Greetings from years past just don’t seem right to me anymore. Maybe we’re too sophisticated and cynical for that saccharine pap nowadays. Maybe we’re just too jaded to care about anything. Maybe it’s just me. I dunno.
In any case, here are some original greetings you can use on your [...]