The Staten Island Ferris Wheel

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

It’s something everyone should do at least once in their life.  If they can.  And that’s… take the ferry out to Staten Island. I’ve done that a few times.  You get on in lower Manhattan and go out to Staten Island and see the harbor, Statue of Liberty, etc.  It’s a nice way to kill an hour. The problem is … Read More

Classic Films, as Understood by Drones

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

BY STEPHEN LURIE “12 Angry Men” (1957): A courthouse roof. “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1930): A conceptual triumph, it quickly becomes clear from above that there is actually heavy fighting on the Western front. “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962): An actor who is most likely Peter O’Toole plays a suspected enemy combatant travelling across the Arabian Peninsula, assuming disguises … Read More

South Carolina Copycat Sharks

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

With seven confirmed shark attacks so far this summer, this really is the Summer of the Shark for North Carolina. Now South Carolina is getting into the game: A young boy visiting the Lowcountry from Utah was bitten by a shark off Isle of Palms Tuesday. Kysen Weakley, 12, tells News 2 around 6 p.m., he was playing with a … Read More

Only Two Women Alive Who Were Born In The 19th Century

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

When Susannah Mushatt Jones and Emma Morano were born in 1899, there was not yet world war or penicillin, and electricity was still considered a marvel. The women are believed to be the last two in the world with birthdates in the 1800s. Jones, who lives in New York, currently tops a list of supercentenarians, or people who have lived … Read More

Corrections

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

From today’s New York Times: Correction:  March 26, 2015 An earlier version of the second correction above said that the error in the first correction was made “during the reporting process, not by the editors”.  It should have read that the error in the first correction was made “during the editing process, not by the reporters.”  The correction has been … Read More

Best and Worst Flights and Airports

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Statistics wizard Nate Silver turns his attention to flying, and does some amazing analysis of the best and worst airlines and airports when it comes to delayed and cancelled flights.  It’s more complicated than you think, so you might want to read the whole thing.  For example, the government data on which he relies specifies that a 14 minute arrival … Read More

Remember That Christmas Present Coffee Machine You Got Or Gave?

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

It’s dangerous: Keurig Green Mountain is recalling more than 6.6 million hot beverage-brewing machines in the United States that could overheat liquids and burn users. Keurig says its Mini Plus Brewing Systems, with model number K10, can overheat and spray water during brewing. Keurig says it had received about 200 reports of hot liquid escaping from the brewer, including 90 … Read More

Suicide – Brave Or Cowardly?

Ken AshfordHealth Care, Mental Health, Random MusingsLeave a Comment

A person from my past had issues.  She was diagnosed with Bipolar I, which they don't diagnose unless you have psychotic episodes, which she claimed to have had.  I never witnessed any (I don't think); in fact, what I witnessed mostly was the depressive side of her bipolarity, which included a suicide attempt or two. In that depressive state, we would … Read More

2014 Dead Pool

Ken AshfordRandom Musings1 Comment

Link to 2013 Dead Pool Link to 2012 Dead Pool Link to 2011 Dead Pool There are two "dead pool" lists.  One is just a random list of people who I think will pass in the upcoming year. The other is a competitive list where you pick ten (and only ten) people-to-die, and you score your points by subtracting their age-at-death from … Read More