Oil Spill Gushes Faster and Claims Two More Lives

Ken AshfordDisasters, Energy and Conservation, Environment & Global Warming & EnergyLeave a Comment

The BP oil spill has upped the ante.  This is breaking news…. Oil gushing at spill site after vent damaged Cap removed after sub hits vent; 2 cleanup workers die in separate events BREAKING NEWS NBC News and news services updated 12:53 p.m. ET, Wed., June 23, 2010 WASHINGTON – Oil was again gushing from the BP spill site on … Read More

Gooooooooalllll!

Ken AshfordRed Sox & Other SportsLeave a Comment

USA v. Algeria is going on right now.  I can't watch it, but I tuned in here to see a running commentary.  At the 89 minute mark, it was a 0-0 draw. Groan. Then USA scored at the 91 minute mark. Awesome. Also in the C group, England is playing Slovania at the same time.  England is up 1-0. ONE … Read More

Obama Has Sharks With Lasers, Too

Ken AshfordDisasters, Energy and Conservation, Environment & Global Warming & Energy, Right Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

I miss Kaye Grogan.  She was a columnist for Renew America, a right-wing Christian/political website started by many-times presidential candidate Alan Keyes.  Kaye was crazy, and her columns had the added pleasure of being written in the worst English-torturing manner.  I mean, worse than my writing even. Kaye's columns quietly disappeared from the Intertubes a year or so ago, and there's … Read More

RIP, Nurse In Famous V-J Day Photo

Ken AshfordIn PassingLeave a Comment

Edith Shain, the nurse captured in this famous iconic photo, died Sunday at the age of 91.   For the curious, the identity of the sailor in this photo is in dispute and unresolved.  Swain talks about that day, that photo, and that kiss here.

Damn. I Missed The Baby-Jumping Festival.

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Every year during the month of June, the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia near Burgos holds its traditional Baby-Jumping Festival as part of its Corpus Christi celebrations. During the act, known as El Colacho, men dressed as the Devil (known as the Colacho) leaps over babies born during the previous twelve months of the year who lie on mattresses … Read More

Drilling Ban Lifted By Dead British Googly Eyed Comedian

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Disasters, Energy and Conservation, Environment & Global Warming & EnergyLeave a Comment

Bloomberg: A New Orleans federal judge lifted the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling imposed by President Barack Obama following the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Obama temporarily halted all drilling in waters deeper than 500 feet on May 27 to give a presidential commission time to study improvements in the safety of offshore operations. Government lawyers told U.S. District … Read More

Broadway Reviews

Ken AshfordBloggingLeave a Comment

Yup.  I was in the Big Apple this weekend and took in some shows. American Idiot:  The much-hyped Green Day musical delivered on all fronts, and even exceeded expectations in some respects.  The music, of course, comes from Green Day, and it's high voltage all the way through.  Ear-shattering?  Too loud?  Well, the music ain't A Little Night Music, but it's definitely … Read More

“America Speaking Out” Results

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

Last month, I wrote about "America Speaking Out", the website of House Republicans which offers regular folks a chance to submit ideas that will help the GOP put together a policy agenda. A month later, what kind of ideas have percolated? Thousands of people posted ideas or voted on their favorite suggestions. But the project's usefulness in shaping a Republican … Read More

Should Children Be Allowed To Have “Best Friends”?

Ken AshfordPopular Culture1 Comment

The New York Times looks at both sides of the debate.  On the one hand, some psychologists think kids need to learn to network and form diverse interests with lots of diverse friends.  On the other hand, other psychologists believe that having the close intimate bond of a "best friend" is important for later adult relationships, and is preferable to having a lot of … Read More

America: Where People Are Moving

Ken AshfordSocial Media & Networking1 Comment

An interesting interactive map here shows the migration patterns of people in 2008.  Click on any county, and it shows (in black) how many moved into that county (and from where), and (in red) how many left that county (and to where).  Here's the migration patterns relating to Forsyth County, NC. Looks like this county had more incomers than outgoers, … Read More