December 31, 2020

Because why not headline of the moment

A fitness magazine apologized for telling people to 'burn off those Christmas calories' with exercise


December 27, 2020

Quote of the moment

Already notable for its mostly unstoppable rise this year — despite a pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 people, put millions out of work and shuttered businesses around the country — the market is now tipping into outright euphoria.

--Matt Phillips

December 26, 2020

Use a discount code on Google Fi

After being a Boost Mobile subscriber for more than a decade, I've switched to Google Fi and am using a new Pixel 4a 5G.

[For the first time in 20 years, I've gone from being a technology laggard to a cutting edge guy.]

If you use my discount code, and are active for 30 days, we both get US$20.

Here's the referral you can use:

                  P9VV6U

Feel free to leave a comment if you use it.

December 25, 2020

Quote from my dream of the moment

You two are confusing this with a situation I want to live in.

Christmas quote of the moment

In the face of a challenge that knows no borders, we cannot erect walls. 

--Pope Francis

December 24, 2020

Quote of the moment

"The Sun houses more than 99 percent of the material currently in our Solar System..."

--Don Burnett

Sweet treaties quote of the moment

I'm not going to claim that this is a 'cakeist' treaty, but it is I believe what the country needs at this time.

--Boris Johnson

December 23, 2020

Gingerbread Houses IV

Gingerbread Houses III

Crafts and skills developed by the firm's first architectural foray bring the wonder, beauty and daring expressed by...

House 2
Punkin Seed Pitch

'Symmetrically placed doorway is accentuated by bullseye sidelights and an arched red licorice whip transom'
'Cyan gable-end window highlights a textured spicy exterior¹'
'Roof features punkin seed tiles with a pistachio cresting'
'At the rear of the house you find a full height, vegan marshmallow boulder chimney -- distinguished by a dramatic weeping mortar'

This surprising chalet is bordered with an emerald Froot Loops skirting and framed by macadamia nut bollards.


¹ this is architecturally known as 'knock down,' but the M Arch was fairly adamant I not use the expression here because it implies 'cheap' (her term) bordering on 'tawdry' (my term).

Gingerbread Houses II

House 1
Marshmallow Crest

'The roof is outlined with marshmallow ridge tiles, chocolate eaves, permanent icicles and a picturesque stovepipe chimney'
'The front facade is composed of a smooth tasty siding, accented with a rose attic window' and featuring an
'Asymmetrically placed
'Gumdrop door topped by licorice header trim'

'This snug cottage is protected by a holiday themed  marshmallow security sentry"

Gingerbread houses I


[Raw materials]

(Gmail has been fussy about handling these pix, do I'm breaking it down to one at a time.)

The following attempts are done by an M Arch (with a certificate in historic preservation) using kits from a Lazy Dog, just down the street.

This isn't amateur hack work.

 It's hack work by an architect licensed in CA.

December 22, 2020

Refuse data of the moment

11.3 million tons of clothing and 27 million tons of plastics are put in U.S. landfills every year.

--Popular Science

Quote of the moment

Films are no longer concerned with the silence of God but with the chattering of men. 

--Roger Ebert, 2000

December 19, 2020

Quote of the moment

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, but this year, alas, preferably a very little Christmas.

--Boris Johnson

December 14, 2020

If you've ever been amused by anything...

December 12, 2020

Editors are overrated headline of the moment

White Castle Just Brough Back Two Comfort Food Menu Items


(Of course)

Poorest word choice headline of the moment

Democrats call civil war cease-fire during Georgia Senate runoffs


December 09, 2020

Parenthetical truth of the moment

(who wrote what in Kane is one of cinema's most enduring and least interesting debates)

--Sarah Marrs

Quote of the moment

This belief we have that the future is knowable is crazy. People need to have the freedom to take more chances.

--Malcolm Gladwell

December 06, 2020

I don't think that's what they meant ad of the moment

This buried in the article entitled, 

A Memory Exercise to Rekindle Your Relationship's Romance

December 05, 2020

Gift idea headline of the moment

Break Up With Your Partner Now, Before the Holidays


--Insidehook.com

Santa won't be happy headline of the moment

Alaska islands may be part of single, massive volcano


That's not a knife headline of the moment

(https://youtu.be/dSnosk4tWrg)

General Electric Takes A Scalpel To Aviation




Poignant screen snippet of the moment

Greatest futuristic headline in the history of journalism

NASA is about to have double Dragons at its space station


--Ars Technica