A primer for Texting While Walking…. And plenty examples of why Texting while walking is hazardous….
A look at 6 different though experiments, from the Open University.
The open university covers the History of English in 10 minutes….
Dec 302011
Aug 272011
LifeHacker has a 101 course for Dish Washers, and it’s quite informative… Take a look here, How to Load and Run a Dishwasher for Efficiency and Ultimate Cleanliness.
I was stopped at the intersection of 13th and Kenyon St. NW at a red light, waiting to turn left onto 13th St. Kenyon is a one-way street going west, and I was on the left side of the street, since I would be turning left. While waiting for the light I heard a car speed up Kenyon St. behind me. I could sense the car stop immediately behind me, extremely close. It was aggressive, but fairly typical aggressive driver behavior. I didn’t think much of it because we were at a red light, and there was no where for him to go anyway.
And that’s when I felt a *BUMP* from behind. Nothing too hard, but enough to intimidate. Now, remember: I knew he had STOPPED behind me. So this was a conscious decision by the driver to hit me with his vehicle. I could hear laughing coming from the car behind me. They thought this was HILARIOUS. Also, there was a taxi to my right, waiting for the light as well that even remarked on this behavior (“asshole” is what I think the taxi driver said).
The light turned green and I started to proceed. And then I felt *BUMP!!!!!* again, this time a bit harder.
Oh no. No. No. No. I can’t ignore this. I just can’t.
So I stopped. Pulled out my police badge (yes, I’m a cop if you didn’t know before. No I really don’t want to talk about it, thanks) showed it to the driver and motioned him to stay right where he was.
And that’s when he panicked.
Read the entire story at A Girl and Her Bike: Victory (sort of).
Jun 092011
Well, when reading books that are written by the British, sometimes you run into odd little phrases or acronyms….
Here’s two that I have never run into before:
- DBE / KBE – Dame [or Knight] Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)[
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
And of course, the The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Which brings with it:
- Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG)>/li>
- Knight Commander (KCMG) or Dame Commander (DCMG)
- Companion (CMG)
Hopefully, this will help you if your reading Charles Stross’s The Atrocity Archives.
Jun 022011
Ian Fleming, in Late May of 1956, received a letter that was politely critical on Mr. Bond’s weapon of choice.
I have, by now, got rather fond of Mr. James Bond. I like most of the things about him, with the exception of his rather deplorable taste in firearms. In particular, I dislike a man who comes into contact with all sorts of formidable people using a .25 Beretta. This sort of gun is really a lady’s gun, and not a really nice lady at that. If Mr. Bond has to use a light gun he would be better off with a .22 rim fire; the lead bullet would cause more shocking effect than the jacketed type of the .25.
May I suggest that Mr. Bond be armed with a revolver?
Read the full letter, and see Ian Flemings reply at this link.. Letters of Note: May I suggest that Mr. Bond be armed with a revolver?.