Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mark on Nigel...

Mark Steyn – one of my favorite political commentators – talks about Nigel Farage – one of my favorite politicians.  Read the whole thing.

Weird personal note: my father was a nurseryman and horticulturalist for many years.  In the '50s and '60s, he specialized in American Holly, and patented several varieties (as did his father before him).  One of his patented varieties was named “Farage”.  I have no idea why my dad chose that particular name, which at the time didn't appear in any English dictionary.

Update: my mom tells me that Farage was not one of my dad's varieties, but instead is attributed to Miss Elizabeth White (doesn't that sound very old fashioned now, saying “Miss”?), from the Pine Barrens of New Jersey...

You'll Never Guess What This Is...

Check out the nice, modern tourist facility at right.  It's a theme park.  For Hezbollah, in Lebanon. Featuring blown-up Israeli tanks and other war paraphernalia.  Along with a theater spouting anti-Israeli propaganda (including the ludicrous claim that Israel has fallen).

The outstanding Middle Eastern journalist Michael Totten visited there, so we don't have to...

Someone Please Tell Me This Is A Joke!

New Yorkers can't be this stupid!

OpenWeatherMap...

It's a new one to me.  Looks interesting...

Corporate States of America...

For each of the 50 states, Steve Lovelace picked a company based in that state and that he thought best represented that state.  For the states I know best, his choices look good.  Here's the result:


More on the D-Wave Quantum Computer...

Via Scientific American...a magazine I stopped subscribing to several years ago (and several years later than I should have) when its oh-so-politically-correct ways started getting in the way of its science reporting, and I lost faith in its credibility...

Amazing Photo...

Check this out:


Looks like four photos stitched together, right?  Wrong...it's a single photo!

Geography Lesson...

Via reader Jim M.:
The Geography of a Woman

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa. Half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally Beautiful!

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe. Well developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece, gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel, has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada, self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet, wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages. An adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.


The Geography of a Man

Between 1 and 80, a man is like Iran: ruled by a pair of nuts.

Welcome...

Via reader Jim M., who lives in New Mexico:


Every American Had It...

The use of past tense here is very sad: