10 Things I Didn't Know Last Week


1. Bill Gates is stepping down from his position at Microsoft in July.

2. Prescott Bush, grandfather of the current President, was an early supporter of Planned Parenthood and the United Negro College Fund.

3. Christopher Columbus may have brought syphilis back to Europe from his travels in the New World.

4. Some of his contemporaries believed that Hitler had syphilis.

5. The Library of Congress has a huge archive of photos available on Flickr.

6. You can stage an effective protest with bouncy balls.

7. Until 2000 GPS intentionally broadcast errors to civilian systems as a security measure.

8. "Embodied cognition" is the element of thinking that is inextricably tied to certain types of fidgeting.

9. Linda Gray, a.k.a. Sue Ellen Ewing, was the leg model for the poster for The Graduate.

10. Most universities spend less than five percent of their endowments every year.

Image via SDS Universe.

Comments

  1. JoslynJanuary 21, 2008 at 10:04 AM

    the bouncy ball thing is brilliant...i am now planning to stock up on bouncy balls.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joanna GoddardJanuary 24, 2008 at 10:54 PM

    it would be so cool to be the leg model for the graduate. you could basically retire immediately and still be the coolest person ever.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2008 at 6:07 PM

    Sue Ellen was the leg model? That is such good trivia! And thanks, Chrostopher Columbus! Thanks for the STD.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reading/ Watching/ Listening

 Reading: The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. I didn't like it nearly as much as A Gentleman in Moscow . In fact, I liked it only barely enough to keep reading. Watching: Poker Face , on Peacock. Papi and I have enjoyed watching this, one episode at a time, and not every day. It's a little formulaic, but the sets and the guest stars are fun. I like that it changes scenery every episode. Listening to: The Beatles Channel, Sirius XM. Ever since watching Get Back , the Beatles documentary, I've enjoyed listening to them with new ears.
Read more

Be Awesome for Halloween

Image
You are a total hoser if you don’t dress up for Halloween. Granted, I haven’t dressed up in a few years, but I am about to change that this year. I have an idea … but it’s a surprise! Actually, I have lots of Halloween ideas. I’ve put together a few sample ideas for some of my favorite bloggers. If you find yourself in need of inspiration, send me a link to your blog, or just describe what you’re doing on Halloween night, and I’ll give you a hand. Emily and Rob : Alice and Ralph Kramden ! Soletrain : ODB . Wouldn’t you pay money to see Uncle John wearing a grill? Anyway, I’m sure he already has the outfit. He just needs to accessorize with a 40. Bunny Tomerlin : Goth princess . Because I bet she’s never even worn PVC. (Polyvore set via Haley ) Grosgrain Garage : preppy Jesus – Bonnanos, tunic with gingham trim and a ribbon belt, pearls worn as a thorny crown Megan: Now that she's succumbed to making wreaths , Mega
Read more

The Bikini Wax: An Internal Dialogue

God, this is horrifying. I wonder if she's as embarrassed as I am. OW! Ow MOTHERFUCKER! Okay, this hurts less than childbirth, but only because it doesn't last as long. What is she saying? I wish I spoke Vietnamese. I think I outweigh the entire staff combined. Dude, where is she going? They need a picture on this ceiling. They would probably put up a picture of Hannah Montana. I will not think about Miley Cyrus. I will not think about Miley Cyrus. Hey, I bet my nails are dry. I wonder if the liquor store next door sells ice. Next time I'm paying more for a place with numbing cream. Which is worse -- being her or being me? OW. Me. At times like this it's good to have some poetry memorized. 'Twas brillig and the ... the ... Dammit. HOW BIG IS MY VAGINA? She could have mowed the back 40 by now. God, how come nobody told me this shit was growing halfway down my leg? Did I water the clematis last night? Next time: vodka first. Next time: Vicodin first.
Read more