gm… swing and a miss

Saw an ad from GM today for its “live green, go yellow” ethanol initiative.

Thought it was corny.

do you know what a brougham is?

Check out Etymologic: the toughest word game on the web… or so it claims. I got 6 out of 10 right on my first try; Etymologic told me I gotta go study. I tallied a slightly better 7 on the next round.

 

Let’s see how you do.

freed slaves, texas, and red soda

Will‘s favorite drink is a godawful robitussin hued and flavored soda by the name of Big Red. Barforama.

However, my respect–if not my desire–for this beverage rose a notch today when I heard a story about its connection with history. Today is June nineteenth, or Juneteenth, the anniversary of slaves in Texas receiving word of their emancipation. Red soda water is an element of traditional Juneteenth celebration, says the story…

“as champagne goes with New Year’s Eve, red soda water is the drink of choice at Juneteenth celebrations.”

Even day to day’s reporter agrees with my taste verdict on Big Red: “I thought it tasted like effervescent Robitussin.”

finally! tell those squirrels to sit and spin

Literally. (I’m not sure why there’s no audio ’cause this video just begs for some narration and some of that cheesy 50’s TV ad music).

No word yet on whether this also works with baby squirrels.

Eric?

 

via Gizmodo.

If you want it, you can get it at amazon.

one tough son of a gun

Think you’re tough?

Have you ever fearfully dreamed of what you might do if attacked by some sort of wild animal? A bobcat, for example?

I don’t know if Dale Rippy ever entertained such thoughts… instead he was given the opportunity to find out for real.

The 62 year old veteran was attacked by a bobcat who waited in ambush on the front porch of Rippy’s Florida home. In the battle royale that ensued, Rippy emerged scratched and bloody but alive. The bobcat did not fare as well.

“He went limp, and I’m standing there holding him by his neck,” he said. “I was bleeding everyplace.”

Of course the animal was tested for rabies and of course the test came back positive. So Rippy had to go a few rounds with a needle as well.

Rippy, recuperating at home from his puncture wounds, was glad he acted on his instincts.

Which puncture wounds, the cat’s or the needle’s? Both probably.

Here comes a link to the article but be warned: there is a picture of the dead bobcat right at the top of the page. Link. Don’t forget to check out the comments, including this priceless one from Paul: “And Chuck Norris checks under his bed at night for Dale Rippy.”

 

 

And another hat tip to Obscure Store.

as always, timely advice from your friends in rome

The Pope wants you to drive better. And I do too, especially if you’re one of those people who drives while talking on the cell phone, randomly increasing and decreasing your speed, and being incapable of deciding which lane you’re in.

Anyway, the Holy Father has

 

warned about the effects of road rage, saying driving can bring out “primitive” behavior… including “impoliteness, rude gestures, cursing, blasphemy, loss of sense of responsibility…

Sort of like being in a band.

 

Cardinal Renato Martino,… told a news conference that the Vatican felt it necessary to address the pastoral needs of motorists because driving had become such a big part of contemporary life.

Props to the Cardinal for so quickly commenting on such a recent development.

Just because I’m the kind of guy who’s always thinking of others, here is the Vatican’s list of 10 Commandments for Drivers

10. Feel responsible toward others.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

1. You shall not kill.

 

 

H/T to Obscure Store.