The shrines, which began in a major way with the death six years ago of Diana, Princess of Wales, almost instantly became an expected part of public mourning, flourishing after the deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and the victims of the 9/11 attacks. This aspect of public grief reveals a paradox in our supersized culture: the outsized, media-driven theatrics of the Reagan funeral are punctuated by small personal gestures and people waiting eight hours in the sun to file past his coffin for a minute. These individual acts are attempts to break through the weeklong wall of official mourning…
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cow orker n. [Usenet] n. fortuitous typo for co-worker, widely used in Usenet, with perhaps a hint that orking cows is illegal. This term was popularized by Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) but already appears in the January 1996 version of the scary devil monastery FAQ. There are plausible reports that it was in use on talk.bizarre as early as 1992. Compare hing, grilf, filk, newsfroup. There are co-workers and cow-orkers. I work with both types. Many of the latter are parents and think that everything that their child produces is interesting. I beg to differ. It’s difficult to…
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I’ve been wanting to photograph these buildings on a gunmetal-gray day for a while now – this isn’t exactly what I was aiming for. It’s kind of hard to frame the shot when you can barely see the screen for the glare. Anyway, maybe we can call it “art.”
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Nearly 30 years ago, a series of hard-hitting investigative pieces written by a young reporter for the University of Oregon’s Daily Emerald looked into the disturbing problem of “squirrel arrogance.” Squirrels were no longer acting like cute, frisky little nut hoarders – they were ganging up on people and demanding treats. There were dark rumors of muggings… and worse. Sure, they’re cute, but they’re rodents. And it seems that even now squirrel arrogance is again becoming a scourge in the Eugene area. I hope the young people now writing for the Emerald are up to the task of digging up…
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CBS News | 22 New ‘Amazing Race’Travelers | June 9, 2004 10:52:31 This was announced earlier today on The Early Show, which apparently only TAR and Survivor fans watch for team updates and castoffs. AAAAAAH!!! I can’t watch the video here… someplace… due to a !&#$(!$ firewall… will have to wait until I get home. New word: “Zomp.” Apparently means “crush” or “stomp.” Will probably not replace “BOMP!” in the hearts of TAR fans – this is the blaring horn sound heard at the end of the theme music, which indicates “Here we go, hang on tight!” And yes, I’m wearing…
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Over at Rance’s place, a recent essay assignment that didn’t make the cut: I read recently that one of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s sons wrote a series of murder mystery novels in which Eleanor was the protagonist and solved crimes. Pitch me a summer blockbuster movie in which Eleanor is the main character. Alternate topic: A drama in which Angelia Jolie plays the President. Contest Rules: As usual winners get 10 DVPs. You may submit only one essay (Exception: you may submit two if you are a Siamese twin). Essays must have a movie title and be no longer than…
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Take the October Surprise! poll, and while you’re there review the history of the original October Surprise, which was orchestrated by the minions of a certain recently dead President. I still remember how angry I was that during Reagan’s inaugural, the Iranians held the aircraft holding the American hostages on the runway until after Reagan had been sworn in. I knew there was something fishy about that deal. I just didn’t know how fishy.
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Roger Morris is a guest on AAR today – this is his “Call to Conscience” piece referenced on the AAR/O’Franken Factor blog. Their link points to Salon.com, this one points to Commondreams.org. The Diplomat who quit over Nixon’s Invasion of Cambodia asks Americans on the front lines of Foreign Service to resign from the “Worst Regime by far in the History of the Republic.” Interesting reading. As it happens I booked someone (tentatively) to go to Phnom Penh via Saigon today. Actually, via Ho Chi Minh City, but the airport code is still SGN. Oh, and there’s an audio link…
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Man, it’s always something. Moveable Type’s acting all wonky and pear-shaped.
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We were out the other night at one the local “Japanese steakhouse” restaurants. The kind where they grill the ingredients in front of you and make little choo-choo noises with smoking volcanoes made out of stacked onion slices. The party seated next to me included several women and one kid who I’d estimate was all of 16 – a very young 16 – and he was drinking a large beer with a sake cup plopped down inside it. As was his mother, or date, or whatever her relationship was to him. The waitress never blinked an eye or asked for…