January 2009 Archives

Lileks -- Live from Caribou

"You can't drown your sorrows at a coffee shop. All you can do is wake them up and jab them with a sharp stick and make them run around."

Amazon.com: Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History: Richard M. Hannula: Books

Forty-six brief biographies for school children, including Augustine of Hippo and his mother Monica, Gregory the Great, Polycarp, Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Amy Carmichael, Charles Spurgeon, and Richard Wurmbrand. (Recommended by TulipGirl.)

Pumpkin Rollers in No Man's Land - Car and Driver

A colorful account of a tour of the Oklahoma panhandle in a Smart ForTwo. Includes a brief history of how No Man's Land came to be attached to Oklahoma. "Throughout history, the Panhandle has been a place that would either kill you or make a man of you, especially if you were a woman.... There's also a 12-foot-tall replica of a beaver chewing on what appears to be a doughnut. It is not. Instead, it's a giant cow turd, promoting Beaver's World Cowchip Throwing Championship.... Then we headed south to Wheeless, which certainly was. 'Is it free of wheels,' Jarem asked, 'or free of whee?'" (Via Dustbury.)

iowahawk: It Takes a Proverb to Run a Village

"Just because a culture has occasional problems with dysentery doesn't mean it can't produce sage nuggets of universal wisdom, suitable for framing.... That's why I'm proud to introduce LEADages, my exclusive line of exotic motivational leadership proverbs from around the developing world.... 'A watched head never shrinks.'"

news from me - Testing.... Testing....

In which Mark Evanier recalls attending a 1965 test screening for 12-and-under of I Dream of Jeannie and Camp Runamuck.

Rocks In My Dryer: A Few Thoughts Upon the Possibility of a Snow Day Tomorrow

Elementary school methods for inducing snow days: "if you sleep with your pajamas on inside out AND with underwear on your head AND with socks on your hands, then it will snow enough to cancel school."

Become A Lord, Lady, Baron Or Baroness

Offered by the Principality of Sealand. Only £6.36! Apply to Prince Regent Prince Michael Bates.

OKC Central: Favorite Bloggers

Some kind words from one of the best bloggers I know on urban issues. Thanks, Steve.

Biblos.com: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages

Useful collection of Bible study tools, including a clickable Greek New Testament text linked to a lexicon.

Ephemeral Isle: Another Nail

"The classic Aga cooker is in danger as the manufacturer cuts jobs due to declining sales.... Originally created by a Swedish inventor as an aid to the blind, it's a cooker without any controls. Instead, the burners and two ovens are always hot with the burners covered by huge insulating lids and the sides of the cooker equally padded so that only a trickle of heat is needed to keep it going.To bake something, just pop it in the oven. To fry something, just lift the lid and plop the pan down. Breathlessly simple."

Amazingly Simple Home Remedies on boortz.com

"Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink." And more helpful tips.

iowahawk: Mark Your Time, Hu-Mans!

"Special Guest Commentary by Waxulon-6, Lord High Admiral of the Kremulakian Earth Invaders, The Being Formerly Known as Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA)." Milk-out-the-nose funny.

Calling Pittsburgh Depression-proof is a Journalistic Felony | Newgeography.com

Depopulating and deindustrialized, no snow plowing, bad schools, but, hey, they have a nice light rail system, and that's enough to impress the New York Times.

imagiNATIVEamerica » Living a Walkable Lifestyle in OKC

Blair Humphreys identifies and describes pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in Oklahoma City. Where are the equivalent neighborhoods in Tulsa?

The Mystery of the Yellow Line Video

The magic of television and computers: This video shows how they superimpose the line of scrimmage and the first down line on the football field. (Hat tip to Jim Reisert.)

Sometimes, You Have To Free Your IP To Succeed | Requisite Writing

Chinese food is the Linux of the restaurant world, according to Jennifer 8. Lee. Click through to see a funny and fascinating video on the origins of Chinese food in America and its spread and variations around the world. It's a laugh-out-loud moment when Lee introduces people in China to fortune cookies, which they had never seen before.

Michelle Malkin » Who says conservative bloggers don't do reporting?

A long list of substantial and original reporting by bloggers.

Selim Noillim Aslut « Irritated Tulsan

A scary way to start your week.

Chicory & Chives Cafe - Tulsa Cajun Food & Best Breakfast in Tulsa | The Tulsa Food Blog

A tasty surprise tucked away in an industrial area on Charles Page Boulevard.

Opinion: A Newspaper Wish - WSJ.com

Paul Mulshine demonstrates MSM blindness: "Now we're hearing the same thing about the blogosphere. 'When enough bloggers take the leap, and start reporting on the statehouse, city council, courts, etc. firsthand, full-time, then the Big Media will take notice and the avalanche will begin,' Mr. Reynolds quotes another blogger as saying. If this avalanche ever occurs, a lot of bloggers will be found gasping for breath under piles of pure ennui. There is nothing more tedious than a public meeting.... So if you want a car or a job, go to the Internet. But don't expect that Web site to hire somebody to sit through town-council meetings and explain to you why your taxes will be going up. Soon, newspapers won't be able to do it either."

Mr. Mulshine, pull off your blinders. Bloggers are reporting on news that matters to them -- that's why they're willing to go to school board and city council and planning committee meetings.

Problematic extensions - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

Add-ons and plugins that can degrade Firefox performance or cause it to crash. A list of what's a problem, how it's a problem, and what you can do about it.