Chihuahua's & California + More Disturbing Dog News + Matsumoto's Shave Ice!

Whimsical WED

Political Potpourri

I know I pledged to restrict my political musings to my Frightful FRI blog, but . . .

I realize that I'm always skating on thin ice when I take on the topic of global climate changed . . . Just when I think I've put it all behind me, I stumble across a source like this Link from the Drudge report re:  global temp fraud.

From Omaha World Herald (4/10):  "Kerry urges Afghanistan's leaders to work together. Afghan President Ashram Ghani on SAT committed to pushing reforms after his picks for attorney general & interior minister won long-sought Cabinet confirmation, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, at the end of his brief stopover in Kabul, pleaded w/the government's leaders to bury their 'factional divisions.'" [Ashram Ghani went on to tell Kerry, "My manners forbid me from telling you to mind your business, but when is your President going to start working together with your country's leaders? I'm just sayin.'] *
* Loosely translated from Urdu.

Exclusive Content for English Majors

As some of you know, I am a secondary English major by training. Here goes . . . 

Link from You Tube (via Jonah Goldberg column) re:  History of the English language.

Another link (via Jonah Goldberg column) re:  History of the English language.

Whimsy

From Drudge Report (4/8):  "Mystery of Hannibal's path to Rome may be solved by ancient poop . . . "  [I actually took the time to peruse this article because (1) I've developed quite an interest in ancient world history over the years; & (2) how can you pass up a tagline that includes the words "Mystery"..."Hannibal"..."Rome"..."ancient poop"?]

Two of my college roommates & I spent an inordinate amount of time playing pinball in the Activities Center at Concordia Seward in our undergrad years. Little did we know that at the very same time we were indulging in the pursuit of a legal, healthful, leisure-time activity, the same activity would have been illegal in New York City. It's true! Follow this  Video link (via Jonah Goldberg column) re:  History of pinball machines.

Food for Thought

From Drudge Report (4/5):  "China dog meat festival appalls animal-lovers . . . " [Tastes like chicken?]

Also from (4/5):  "REPORT:  Wife fed husband to dog . . . " [I couldn't quite bring myself to actually read the article . . . And I hope that Lois didn't notice it.]

Criminal Minds

Also from OWH (3/24):  "Person steals phone, calls victim asking for passcode. An Omaha man told police that someone stole his smartphone, then had the nerve to demand the code to unlock the device . . . 'The suspect sounded mad that the phone was locked,' the victim told police. The caller then asked for the code to unlock it. The victim refused.
      "The caller seemed upset but offered to sell the phone back for $500, then $200. The victim rejected both offers & told the caller that the phone was already shut down." [And there is no place like Nebraska?!]

From Norfolk Daily News (3/25):  "Need diapers. The west Alabama city of Selma is planning a crackdown on what one councilman says is a big problem:  horse droppings. The city council passed a law 3 years ago requiring that horses wear diapers when on city streets, but Councilman Michael Johnson said riders aren't following the law.
      "Johnson said he doesn't mind people riding horses in the city of 20,000. But he's bothered by the smell & other sanitary problems created by horses on city streets."  [Once I had the mental picture of horses wandering around the streets of Selma, wearing diapers, I kept chuckling, quietly, but chuckling none-the-less.]

Back to OWH (3/26):  "Woman faces DUI after driving to 'Coffee with a Cop.' A Montana woman who police said was stumbling & smelled of alcohol was arrested after driving to a cafe hosting a 'Coffee w/a Cop' event. Great Falls Lt. Doug Malum said Charlene Kranitz, 66, walked by more than a dozen uniformed officers to get to a frozen yogurt machine."  [DEPT. OF IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS:  Woman speaking to herself: "Wow, free frozen yogurt . . . but I've been sitting around the house drinking mai-tai's all morning . . . but there's free frozen yogurt . . . but there might be cops there . . . Might be, but sure there's going to be frozen yogurt . . . I'm outta here.]

There Is No Place Like . . . 

Texas?

Also from OWH (4/7):  "Dust storm blankets much of Texas Panhandle. Forecasts said WED that a dust storm virtually engulfed the TX Panhandle overnight." [Is history preparing to repeat itself? Because of global climate change? Check out this link to find out about a book that I've read & highly recommend.]

New York!

Also from OWH (4/6):  "N.Y. court says parents can legally eavesdrop on kids. Parents can legally eavesdrop on young children if they reasonably believe it would be in the child's best interest, the state's highest court ruled TUE, establishing an exception to NY law against wiretaps w/o the consent of at least one person on a call . . . " [If by "young children" the court had in mind children who still live with their parents regardless of age, then I can't really think of a downside to this ruling.]

California?

Also from NDN (4/5):  "Chihuahua chase. A Chihuahua is in animal custody after leading police on a chase across the Oakland-S.F. Bay Bridge . . . " [Wait until P.E.T.A.C. * weighs in on this.]
* People for the Ethical Treatment of Annoying Chihuahuas

And (4/8):  "Chase ends w/taking selfies. Authorities arrested 2 burglary suspects who led them on a long, bizarre chase THU in a top-down convertible through rainy Southern CA that ended w/the men stopping to exchange high-fives w/onlookers & taking selfies before being handcuffed . . . " [I'm going to suggest that in some states this chase would also end with selfies being taken . . . by cops & onlookers as the police gave them a good smackdown. But that's just me.]

Nebraska!

From OWH (4/1):  "Free shaved ice to mark tax filing deadline. Kona Ice of west Omaha, a locally owned, island-themed dessert truck, will be celebrating on 4/18 w/free shaved ice at the W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St. & at a parking lot at 86th St & W. Dodge Rd. to help stressed out people 'chill out' on tax-filing day . . . " [You are going to have to hurry to make it there. Also--& some of you will know what I'm talking about . . . How about Matsumoto's on the North Shore of Oahu? When I found the following link, it almost made me cry.] *
* Remember . . . I'm a pretty emotional guy.

And again:  "Ramen burger discount for some college students. Red Robin is taking one big trend--ramen--& combining it w/ a classic burger. Though the chain restaurant isn't the first to introduce a ramen burger, it might be the first to do it nationwide. Red Robin is introducing it w/a special promotion:  On 4/19, the 1st 22 college students through the door of their local Red Robin will get the burger & an order of bottomless fries for 22 cents, the avg cost of a packet of freeze-dried ramen, the college food staple."  [Although it doesn't specifically mention Nebraska, (1) I've eaten at a Red Robin in Lincoln; & (2) it brought back memories of eating tons of Ramen noodles, purchased at Sam's Club in Hawaii, because they were cheap & easy to make.]

And from OWH GO Magazine (4/7):  "Farnam House Brewing Co. is unveiling a spring special just in time for baseball season. Each THU the restaurant will have a footlong hot dog special created using traditional ingredients from the cities playing the MLB THU night game. The 1st THU nite special . . . will feature a Cincy chili dog w/pasta & chili on the dog & a Philly cheese steak dog w/peppers, onions & cheese . . . The restaurant is at 3558 Farnam St. For more information, call 402-401-6086."  [You already missed the Cincy dog specials, but it's not too late for the next few Thursdays.]