humor | politics | bizarro

climbing | el caminito del rey | wimp.com

care to go for a stroll?

space | mug in the void | nasa

tired of that disneyland caricature you bought last year? here's a new way to frame the ol' face.

Quotation of the Day

Lottery:  A tax on people who are bad at math

tech | screensaver | realsimple

fairly cool screen saver, for those of you who still use one ... give it a try

Money | Max Social Security | USN&WR

fairly simple but thorough article on ways for retirees to maximize their social security benefits.

Magic | CCTV | Coin Tricks

The dialogue is Chinese, but the magic is amazing ... check-out this video

Money | Buy Wood! | Kedrosky

Check this out ... maybe you should trade your "paper" investments for something with a bit more fiber?

Info | Background Check | Consumerist

I haven't tried these yet, would be interested to hear from any of you who give this a try. Could consume a good week or so. Amazing what's out there ... probably being data mined as I type!

Just a little telephony

United States of Facebook

A new way to define our regions.

Humor | Clothing Drive | Bud Light

Getting ready for Super Bowl ad humor ... this video will whet your appetite.

Life | Money in a Hole - Ashes in the Sea | WSJ

Here's a couple of disconnected articles for you ... but you know by now that I just send out whatever I run across that I think is interesting or funny or useful.

I enjoyed the article about the world's largest hand-dug well in Kansas (I'm a Jayhawker so this is on on my gotta see list) ... hey, it's one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas! Same list that has the Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson. That's on my list, too. My Pop sold explosives to all the salt mining companies in Kansas and I remember having a chunk of crystal salt the size of a deck of cards that had preserved insects and plant pieces in it. Wish I still had it. Maybe I'll look for a souvenir salt chunk on our road trip this Fall.

Was really touched by the second article about "wildcat scattering" ... and that's not a cat herding term. It's about putting your loved one's ashes in places that have personal meaning. With or without the papers and permission (btw, Disney frowns if you're thinking that). Seems much more meaningful to me than a casket in a plot with a chunk of granite on top. Anyway, read the article and judge for yourself.

Science | Known Universe | AMNH

Check out this video animation from the American Museum of Natural History. Thanks, Clifford, for the great link!

Science | The Known Universe | AMNH

Money | Real Estate | Kedrosky

Love real estate price comparisons? Have fun with this one.
And here's another one.

Money | Global Real Estate | Economist

Love real estate price comparisons? Have fun with this one.

Life | Keeping Resolutions | WSJ

Some useful tips for success in keeping your new year resolutions. I like the step-wise approach. Losing 5 lbs by Feb is a lot easier to approach than losing 20 lbs by May.

Money | Snared by Medicare | WSJ

Comparable in complexity, perhaps, to Social Security rules are Medicare rules. Don't get tripped-up on them. Especially if you are going to work past 65 or stay on the health plan you are now on past 65. Check out this article for how to avoid Medicare traps.

LA Then and Now

Evolution of downtown LA as seen from the LA City Hall
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-then-now-pictures-html,0,6274618.htmlstory

Money | For Stocks, the Worst Decade Ever | WSJ.com

No surprise that the 'aughts were not a happy decade for stock portfolios. As decades go, it was really a flop as this article shows. Even the 1930's provided a slightly better performance ('tho still a loss) than the 'aughts. A key bottom line question is what should investors plan-for as return from stocks in the next decade? The past may not be much of a predictor. This article suggests 7% may be a better target.

Humor | Hollywood Squares |

FOR THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER 

Hollywood Squares
These great questions and answers are from the days when ' Hollywood Squares' game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course..

Q.. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde (About fifteen minutes later): Loneliness! And the audience laughed for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.

Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A.. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.

Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency..

Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty..

Q. What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.

Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.

Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.

Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?

Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.

Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.

Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.

Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?

Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him

Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.

Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A Paul Lynde: Point and laugh

Business | Cost Cutting Innovation | WSJ

You gotta find this guy interesting. Loves recessions. Talks pay toilets and standing-room-only slots on his planes. The transition of airlines from luxury service to transportation commodity is now becoming complete.

Math | Simpson's Paradox | WSJ

Is unemployment now higher or lower than in the early recession of the 1980's. Yes! No! Both! Check this article for the implications of data aggregation in statistical analysis. So, if you're looking for a clever way to dispute a statistical analysis you dislike, you can declare "Simpson's Paradox" and walk away! Or just follow the path of the screaming talk show hosts ... if the facts get in the way of your beliefs, change the facts!

Tech | Cable Clutter Solved! | Silver Clipboard

Tying up your computer cable mess with a daisy chain from Wellington Grey on Vimeo.

Humor | Blogs | Wired

Full of turkey and dressing and need a diversion ... these will get you chuckling (or groaning).

Tech | Living with Data | TEDIndia

Tech | Living with Data | Ted India

There's some amazing new thinking about tech here ... like it's stepping out of the monitor and onto your hand, floor, wall, paper ... you name it!

Thanksgiving | Giving Thanks this Year | Noonan_WSJ

We all have something to be thankful for this year. Here is Peggy Noonan's veiwpoint.