Can’t Hide The Truth

Ken AshfordBush & Co., IraqLeave a Comment

Bush kas launched a public relations offensive designed to convince you how swimmingly Iraq is, and how Iraq nay-sayers (which constitute two-thirds of all Americans) are a bunch of terrorist-kissing pansy appeasers. His problem, of course, is that facts impede the lies message that Bush is trying to convey.  Here’s a screen capture from CNN earlier today.  Bush is giving … Read More

“The Scream” Found

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

Reuters: OSLO (Reuters) – Norwegian police recovered "The Scream" and another stolen masterpiece by Edvard Munch on Thursday, two years after the works were seized from a museum by gunmen. "We are 100 percent certain they are the originals," police chief Iver Stensrud told a news conference. "The damage was much less than feared." "The Scream" depicts a terrified figure … Read More

McDonalds Hearts Hedgehogs

Ken AshfordEnvironment & Global Warming & EnergyLeave a Comment

I don’t think I’ve ever had a McFlurry, but to those who have: Do you know they kill hedgehogs? Yup.  Apparently the discarded McFlurry containers trap hedgehogs who stick their head in to get some of that McFlurry McGoodness.  And the hedgehogs. But thanks to the fine efforts of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (or NAMBLA), those little bastards won’t … Read More

My Prediction: The Next Media Frenzy

Ken AshfordCrimeLeave a Comment

With the JonBenet/Karr non-story now officially dead, I predict that the media will now swarm over this story.  It’s got all the elements: sex (child molestation) and murder.  Plus, it involves white people in a Connecticut suburb: FAIRFIELD, Connecticut (AP) — A lawyer climbed through a neighbor’s bedroom window and stabbed him to death after being told by a family … Read More

Student Wins First Amendment Case

Ken AshfordConstitution, EducationLeave a Comment

I don’t know why, but I’m always drawn to First Amendment cases involving public schools.  This story warmed my heart: Court Sides With Student In Bush T-Shirt Flap (AP) Vermont schoolboy was within his rights to wear a T-shirt depicting George W. Bush as a chicken and accusing him of being a former alcohol and cocaine abuser, an appeals court … Read More

Darwin Award Nominee

Ken AshfordGodstuffLeave a Comment

Oh, my: A PRIEST has died after trying to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water. Evangelist preacher Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle. But he drowned after walking out to sea from a beach in the capital Libreville in Gabon, west Africa. One eyewitness said: "He told churchgoers he’d had a revelation that if … Read More

And Debbie Does Dallas Is A Travel Documentary

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Conversation overhead outside Avenue Q, Golden Theater, W 45th St: Tourist husband: So what is this show about?Tourist wife: I believe it’s like a Muppets story. From the website Overheard In New York (where readers contribute random snippets of conversations they overhear while in the Big Apple)

Well, Which Is It?

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Listerine label: The label says Listerine is "as effective as floss". But it also tells me to "floss daily".  Why should I floss daily if Listerine is as effective as floss? Yes, these are the things that cross my mind from time to time. RELATED:  Speaking of dentistry, check out this hellish dental instrument from 1939: Device Takes Measure of … Read More

The Dumbest, Poorest, and Fattest

Ken AshfordRandom Musings2 Comments

Several studies have come out recently — all from different organizations — that rank states on various metrics.  The good folks at Hotline have combined these studies into one handy-dandy chart, showing where each state ranks in SAT scores (the higher, the dumber), Obesity (the higher, the fatter), and poverty (the higher, the poorer):                  … Read More

When The Levees Broke

Ken AshfordDisastersLeave a Comment

If you haven’t got Spike Lee’s 4 hour documentary on HBO about Katrina, you should.  It was moving. (Yes,  yes — I know you’re busy.  Get a TIVO, for Chrissakes!)

The “Secret Hold”

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

It is a very very very rare thing when the right side of the political blogosphere and the left side of the political blogosphere are in total agreement.  It’s even rarer when they work together. But that is what has been happening the past few days, and it is fun to watch. The issue is Senate Bill 2590, also known … Read More

What We’re Surfing For

Ken AshfordWeb RecommendationsLeave a Comment

These are the top viewed pages at Wikipedia for the past 4 days.  It sort of serves as a good bookmark of what people are interested in as they surf for information on the internets. My only question is: why all the interest in Irukandji jellyfish? Views per day Percent Title 1700750 ± 20% 4.1629% 1. Main Page 56000 ± … Read More