Keywords |
The Three Supputations of George Washington's Birthday | ||
Birthday | Calendar In Use | Date On Calendar |
0th | Old Style | February 11, 1731 |
19th | Old Style | February 11, 1750 |
20th | Transitional | February 11, 1752 |
21st | New Style | February 22, 1753 |
Paid retail Not on my formulary Actuaries: Clever, not smart |
Autauga in the Middle | |
To the right is an excerpt from an official federal map showing the southernmost counties of Appalachia. My mother grew up in Elmore County (Appalachia), at least the fourth generation of her family to do so. But she moved to Autauga County (De-Categorized Zone) when she started teaching. | |
To the left is a map showing the Alabama Black Belt. The phrase refers to the color of the very fertile soil. My home town is marked with a green asterisk on each map. My father lived in Autaugaville, at least the third generation of his family to do so. You can see by comparing the two maps that Autauga County is the only thing keeping Appalachia and the Black Belt apart. | |
Many people say that they are from the middle of nowhere. Some of us can prove it. |
Nevada and Beyond | Only in California |
In 49 states, a highway milepost can be read at highway speeds. | California's roadside markers are much more informative. This one, for example, is for US 101 in Humboldt County, 144.44 miles from the county line. Of course, you have now run off the road, since you tilted your head sideways to try to read the distance marker while driving 55 miles per hour. But you know precisely where you died. |
California is Different |
The mind reels at the amount of the world's information bandwidth that was
used to transmit what was, in effect, two bits of data a day coming out of a
chimney in the Vatican. (Let's call this a zero.) |
Nevada and Beyond | Only in California |
In 49 states, this emergency sign starts by telling you what NOT to do. | In The Golden State, the sign has to start with directions on what TO do. |
California is Different |
When we were on vacation in Quebec last year, we noticed that the city of Montreal figured out an elegant way to recycle old cannon barrels. |
"Chuck" in Aldis lamp. |
This is the figurehead from an old sailing ship. This homage to the gods of the Greek pantheon is unidentified, but since she was mounted on the fo'c's'le, I've decided to name her Apostrophe, the Goddess of Elision. |
Anybody can figure out what this handle does.
A very few of us know how it does it. |
The Caucasian wingnut is the least endangered. |
A couple of years ago we spotted this sign alongside Park Presidio Boulevard in San Francisco. |
Nevada and Beyond | Only in California |
In 49 states, an EXIT sign is red. This seems to work okay. | California requires green EXIT signs for all new construction and remodeling. I hope this doesn't confuse anyone. |
California is Different |