Archive for January, 2007

Why, when I was your age …

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

we were learning things! We didn’t have any of this touchy-feely, politically correct, everybody’s a winner stuff – it was mano-a-mano, dog-eat-dog, kill each other for good grades!

You paid attention during 100% of high school!

 

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don’t get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

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This is rather disturbing

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

I had dinner with my daughter this evening, and she introduced me to this video.

Contortionists can do some amazing things, but there’s often an “ick” factor involved in watching them, particularly when they’re as gaunt as this young woman.

Now, you can see it

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

With reference to the previous post, YouTube has video of Makoto Nagano’s successful Ninja Warrior appearance, when he became the second person to complete the course. Impressive as all hell.

I don’t watch too much television, but …

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

I’ve accidentally discovered another television show I like: Ninja Warrior. It’s normally on at midnight on Tuesdays, but a block of shows was broadcast Sunday afternoon after the CES coverage ended.

It kind of reminds me of American Gladiators, but there are no opponents to get past; it’s all a test of physical capability. I know I’d get nowhere if I tried it – with 100 competitors per year, fewer than 200 have made it past the first stage in 17 years, and I don’t think I have any delusions about my own physical talents, but I’d love to try the course.

Not your typical birdbrain

Tuesday, January 9th, 2007

Meet N’kisi, a parrot with a 950-word vocabulary, who invents words and phrases, and has a sense of humor.

Via The Playboy Blog.

Happy New Year!

Monday, January 1st, 2007

I’m back from a week on the east coast. I spent Christmas with my Aunt Mary (who was thrilled I could make it), then spent a few days in New York City and Binghamton.

It was a good trip, but I’m glad to be back. No real problems, apart from traveling back to Denver. We were scheduled to leave La Guardia about 4pm yesterday, with a connection at O’Hare. Our flight had been listed as on time, but was listed as “delayed” with no time given when we got to the gate. We found a nearby gate with an earlier flight that had been delayed, and managed to get transferred to that one. It was a good thing we did; it was scheduled to leave at 3pm, but didn’t take off until 4:51pm. Our original flight was delayed from 3:55pm to a projected departure at 8pm. If we hadn’t transferred flights, we’d have missed our connection in Chicago.

However, we got back without further incident, and the roads were clearer than we expected. More to come later; I’ve got to get set up to go back to work tomorrow.