Wednesday, December 26, 2007

News from the world of Tennis

Towering Lyle E. Mahan and his partner George C. Schafer, the Columbia University veterans, won the lawn tennis doubles championship yesterday, June 4, 1910, on the indoor courts of the Sixty-ninth Regiment Armory. In the final, which brought the tournament to an end, they defeated Gustave F. Touchard, the National indoor champion, who paired with Dr. William Rosenbaum, by the score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The match was played under ideal conditions. The light was perfectm and throughout both pairs were keyed up to the fastest pitch of play. All of the rallies were prolonged. In many, the ball often crossing the net 20 times or more.

Some will recall Mr. Schafer as a former Navy Paymaster formerly assigned to the Panama Canal Commission. Mr. Mahan also holds various titles in squash, polo and golf. In 1908, Dr. Rosembaum became the first Jewish player officially ranked in the United States.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Nerdorama

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Druid/Sorcerer (3rd/3rd Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-12

Dexterity-13

Constitution-13

Intelligence-17

Wisdom-12

Charisma-13


Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Primary Class:
Druids gain power not by ruling nature but by being at one with it. They hate the unnatural, including aberrations or undead, and destroy them where possible. Druids receive divine spells from nature, not the gods, and can gain an array of powers as they gain experience, including the ability to take the shapes of animals. The weapons and armor of a druid are restricted by their traditional oaths, not simply training. A druid's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that they can cast.


Secondary Class:
Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories just raw power that they direct at will. Sorcerers know fewer spells than wizards do and acquire them more slowly, but they can cast individual spells more often and have no need to prepare their incantations ahead of time. Also unlike wizards, sorcerers cannot specialize in a school of magic. Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of rigorous study that wizards go through, they have more time to learn fighting skills and are proficient with simple weapons. Charisma is very important for sorcerers; the higher their value in this ability, the higher the spell level they can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

The Exploded Head of Ferdinand Marcos, and the Great Sphinx of Giza









Not for nothing did we know Ferdie (I can call you Ferdie, can't I?) as the Great Gnosticator; thus, well salted with silver ions were the clouds of fate when he commissioned a concrete-clad bust of himself on a mountainside in Benguet province. Yes, even as Muhammad Sa'im al-Dah de-nosed the face of the Great Sphinx of Giza lo these many centuries past, did "suspects [including] left-wing activists, members of a local tribe—or possibly looters hunting for one of Marcos' legendary treasure troves" blow up his big, stone head two weeks ago. Yes, treasure hunters, just a month before the Philippine government tries Imelda Marcos for embezzling countless hundreds of millions of dollars. And how many dime-store novels and adventure novels have set treasure inside the Great Sphinx of Giza? Many, I'm sure.

F-Mo's big head lasted over 20 years; similarly, a King or Kings unknown built the Great Sphinx of Giza some 40 centuries ago. Both of those numbers are divisible by two, 10 and 20. "Just numbers, you dolt," you're undoubtedly thinking. Yes, but try to graduate from high school without them.

No, no-one knows if the Great Sphinx of Giza was a real person, although undoubtedly it wasn't; and how many of us, really, can say we knew Ferdinand Marcos? Not me, that's for sure. Coincidence? You be the judge.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Probably funny if you live in South Dakota

Not, however, funny to me.

South Dakota Barbies on the shelf for Christmas

Sioux Falls Barbie
This queen Barbie is sold only at Macy's. She comes with an assortment of Chanel Handbags, a Volvo, a French poodle named Charisse, and a Lincoln County McMansion. Plastic surgery available upon request. Hey, she has to look beautiful when she works at KELOland TV. CitiBank Ken sold separately.

Rapid City Barbie

This tough little sport comes with optional hiking boots or mountain bike. When she's not selling magnets at Mount Rushmore , she can be spotted off-roading in her Land Rover or running on the bike path. Inhaler included to give relief during forest fires. Buy her while you can because Ken works at Ellsworth and might be getting transferred!

Spearfish Barbie

This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair,
arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Ocean . She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Spearfish Barbies and the optional Hybrid Toyota, you get a "Free Tibet" bumper sticker for free.

Aberdeen Barbie

This "Frost Queen" comes with an entire winter wardrobe! Her parka is reversible and can be used as an emergency igloo whenever needed. Package includes a shrink for seasonal depression.

Vermillion Barbie

This young, hip girl actually comes with her own pepper spray. Her USD sweater is made of real wool and her Cavalier gets great mileage between the Empire Mall and Vermillion. Available keg with purchase of makeup. Ken doll sold separately with broken cell phone... he never seems to calls back.

Mitchell Barbie

This brassy, tobacco-chewing gal comes with camouflage overalls, Cabela's Credit Card, and a rifle. She can be found just north of town shooting pheasants and drinking an ice cold 40. Cabela Ken available with purchase of Chevy Silverado.

Brookings Barbie

This modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar Minivan or Honda Odyssey Minivan with matching Wal*Mart sweats. She gets lost easily while taking Stacy to her soccer games and has no full-time occupation other than the PTA. Ken doll sold with matching Daktronics company car.

Sturgis Barbie

This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, leather chaps, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ...unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about. Harley sold separately along with deadbeat Ken. Jail uniform available with purchase of Mobile Home.

Belle Fourche Barbie

This model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans, a NASCAR t-shirt and Care Bears tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Johnny Cash CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her Mega Ton Dodge Dually pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

Deadwood Barbie

She may be a 75 year-old, Brandy drinking, Virginia Slim smoking cuss, but she has more audacity than Calamity Jane. She just got out from Gambler's Anonymous and needs to get rid of some spare change. Deadwood Barbie can be found at the Monday night "Kevin Costner Fanclub" meeting just down the street from Cadillac Jack's Prime Rib Buffet. Ken comes free, but is usually working two jobs to keep a roof over their head.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Day of Waylon

It's official. Rock on.

Waylon Jennings

Waylon Jennings (June 15,1937 – February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. more...

[via FoxyTunes / Waylon Jennings]




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Now playing: Clint Black - Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way
via FoxyTunes

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Hershey reCAP--Lincoln



I recently spent some time talking to current Lincoln designer Peter Horbury, who described the design elements that make up the Lincoln look. This ’70 Mark IV in the car corral had them in spades: Slab sides; a kick-up over the rear wheel; sharp fender creases; a thick, cantilevered c-pillar; bow-wave grille; subtle accents; and a chamfered character line along the side. At $13,000 OBO, and 49,000 miles, it’s going nowhere but up.