My grandfather engraved the history of his
enlistment onto the lid of his mess kit. I think he probably did it
on the troop ship home. It has been passed down eldest son to eldest
son. I put it in a nice frame lined with an old army blanket, and
it's hanging on the wall directly above my monitor as I sit here and
type.
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
Influenza
Flu shot today
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.