“Excuse me, Mr. – I’m just trying to catch my breath.”
— Andrea Mitchell reacting to Friess’ comment
Friess’ web site apparently no longer exists, but he’s now apologized for an “aspirin joke” that “bombed.” My parents actually remember that “joke” – from years ago! Friess neglected to mention the number 1 birth control for men: a zipper.
Filed under News
“You know, back in my days, they’d use Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.”
— Millionaire Wyoming investor Foster Friess – who’s bankrolling Rick Santorum’s presidential run – discussing birth control on Andrea Mitchell Reports, the same day hearings were held in Washington
Filed under News
“Where are the women?”
— U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) pointing out that no women were included as witnesses during a congressional hearing about religious freedom and a mandate that health insurers cover contraception
Filed under News
College guys and gay men would be doomed if this bill becomes law! I personally don’t appreciate a bunch of pro-life advocates telling me what to do with my sperm. If I want to freeze it and mix it with my Bacardi and Coke, that’s my own damn business!
Filed under Curiosities
Wrong! I remember a girl in high school saying if she visited a foreign country, she’d expect the locals to speak English. That was in the early 1980’s, but I find things haven’t changed much. Some Americans seem to possess a certain degree of arrogance when it comes to linguistics; they feel everyone around the world should speak English. It doesn’t help that former Harvard professor Lawrence Summers opines in a recent New York Times essay that foreign language instruction in the U.S. is moot. Polyglots must love to make fun of us! English may have become an international standard, but Americans are isolating themselves if they think their own culture is so superior they can afford to be monolingual.
Filed under News
Survivalist Tip: It should almost go without saying that you’ll need a good collection of sturdy knives in your possession to survive in the post-apocalyptic aftermath. Whether you’re fortunate to stay in one place, or you have to flee your humble abode, knives will provide a wide range of uses, from self-protection to grooming. Obviously a knife is a great weapon for self-defense, if you hold it right. If you grip the handle and point the blade downward, it’s much more effective in warding off an attacker than if you grip it like a dildo. (If you’re accustomed to gripping both, then you can stop here; you already know how to take care of yourself.) If you have to leave your home and find food, knives also can be used to kill and skin wild game, such as rabbits, squirrels and Koi fish. This is not for the squeamish! Looking into the eyes of a rabbit you’ve just slaughtered while carving up its hindquarters isn’t easy; but it could be necessary in a chaotic world – at least until the grocery stores can restock their shelves. And, of course, a knife is a great tool for basic grooming. If, for example, you need to shave after a day of hunting and fending off looters, poachers and relatives who didn’t prepare for the madness, just reach for the smallest blade in your knife collection and go to work with some warm water and soap. You’ll be ready for the next day! (This applies to you men, too.)
Filed under Mayan Calendar Countdown
Actor – director – writer Barry Primus (Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Absence of Malice, Cagney and Lacey) is 74.
Actor William Katt (Carrie, The Greatest American Hero) is 61.
Actor LeVar Burton (Alex Haley’s Roots; Star Trek: The Next Generation series) is 55.
Singer James Ingram (Baby Come to Me, How Do You Keep the Music Playing, Just Once) is 55.
Rap singer and actor Ice-T (Tracy Marrow) is 54.
Tennis champion John McEnroe (Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion: 1981, 1983, 1984; U.S. Open Men’s Singles Champion: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984) is 53.
Guitarist Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) is 51.
Filed under Birthdays
1848 – Frederic Chopin gave his final concert performance in his adopted Paris, 18 months before he died of tuberculosis.
1857 – The National Deaf Mute College was incorporated in Washington, DC. It was the first school in the world for advanced education of the deaf. It was later renamed Gallaudet College.
1878 – The U.S. Congress passed the Bland-Allison Act, which made it legal to mint silver coins.
1923 – English archaeologist Howard Carter opened King Tutankhamen’s tomb.
1932 – James E. Markham received a patent for a peach tree that ripens later than other varieties; the first time a patent was issued for a fruit tree.
1937 – Wallace H. Carothers patented nylon for the DuPont Corporation.
1948 – NBC-TV presented the first daily newsreel telecast. The program was known as the 20th Century Fox – Movietone News.
1948 – Fidel Castro was officially sworn in as prime minister of Cuba.
1972 – Wilt Chamberlain topped the 30,000-point mark in his career while playing with the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Phoenix Suns.
Filed under History
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