Return to the Latest on No Left Turns
|
The Simpsons and Math
The Simpsons, as you know, has a huge following. This site (thanks to Pejman) has to do with Mathematics: "Several episodes of The Simpsons contain significant mathematics that relates to material we normally cover in our classes. For these reasons, this program is an ideal source of fun ways to introduce important concepts to students, and to reduce math anxiety and motivate students in courses for non-majors."
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments [7] | 5/30/2003 3:23 PM
|
|
Blair in Iraq
Here is the AP report on Blair’s visit to Iraq. Blair visited a school: Mohammad Ade Mohammad, a fan of disco and soccer star Ronaldo who wants to be a doctor, was overjoyed. ``He and Bush liberated us from that criminal Saddam, that son of a criminal,’’ he said. Any insult preceded by ``son of’’ is serious stuff in Iraq.
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments [5] | 5/30/2003 3:21 PM
|
|
Bob Hope at 100
Happy Birthday to Bob Hope! I don’t know what to say about the man, except that I liked him, grew up with him, became an American while he entertained me. I saw him live only once (in Jonesboro Arkansas) in the 1970’s. One of his first lines was something like this: "I decided to come to America from England when I realized that I could never be king." (He was three.) How can you not like a guy that says that! Well, he did become a king here. Just ask anyone who served in the military and was fortunate enough to catch one of his USO shows. They loved him, and they should. Here is the site on him from the Library of Congress. No wonder he has been made an honorary veteran.
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments | 5/29/2003 2:10 PM
|
|
The Old German
The oldest man in Germany, Hermann Doernemann, "turned 110 on Tuesday saying the only exercise he ever believed in was walking to the corner shop to buy beer and cigars." He said that if he knew he was going to live this long he would have taken better care of himself. Sounds like a Bob Hope line to me. This reminds me of my grandfather, Paul Schramm. He was about 89 when he died (in early 1979) in Hungary. He went through the whole of that awful last century, finding himself in WW I on the Italian front, then the Communist Revolution of 1919 (he was a with them), then the quasi-fascist regime between the wars, then WW II, then the Commies took over--by then he was an ordinary Social Democrat, but his wing of the party refused to go into a coalition government with the Reds--they arrested him and gave him ten years of hard labor. He made it through all of it, including the 1956 revolution. Then he went to the doctor for a check-up at age 89 (he was healthy), slipped off the couch in the waiting room, boke his hip, and died from complications a few days later. I advise this old German not to go to a doctor.
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments [4] | 5/29/2003 1:04 PM
|
|
Clinton’s Latest
Bill Clinton spoke at the Kennedy library. Here is the Boston Globe story and the Reuters dispatch. Among other things, Clinton said that he thinks the 22nd Amendment should be changed because "people are living much longer." Disregarding the issue of whether or not the 22nd amendment should be changed or not (or clarified regarding the two consecutice term issue), this comment by Clinton is another indication of his tyrannic soul. I remember him saying back in December of 2000, when he only had but a few weeks left in the White House, how he loved being president and that he was going to try to sleep less while he was in office so it would seem as if he were president longer! That tendency on his part, loving the power and trappings of office, was the clearest intellectual indication (never mind some of his actions) of his tyrannic soul. And this is the guy that will not go away, who will--at least vicariously through his wife--try to become president again. No wonder some in the Democratic Party are claiming that he is sucking all the air out of the room. See John Fund on this issue, on the harm he has done to the Democrats, and how it is inevitable that he will continue to be in the limelight. He is still a newsmaker, but standing for no principle, still their best fundraiser, still full of himself, still full of charisma, but still tyrannic in every movement and with every breath. As Shakespeare has Pericles say: "’Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss." Pity the Democratic Party.
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments [19] | 5/29/2003 8:32 AM
|
|
Another reason to fight
In other wacky news today, a (legal) brothel in Nevada has announced it will give away freebees to the first 50 Iraq war veterans who show up, as a way of giving thanks to our fighting men. Somehow I think this could be worked into the "Army of one" recruitment ad campaign.
Posted by Steven Hayward | Link to this Entry | Comments [1] | 5/29/2003 9:02 AM
|
|
Well, Duh
Stupid headline of the month award goes to this AP story (as carried in today’s Washington Times):
Condoms in schools don’t cut sex
The subhed offers little help: "New study finds teens more apt to use them if available."
What, did some educrat really think the kids would just use them on bananas as they’re taught in class?
Posted by Steven Hayward | Link to this Entry | Comments [2] | 5/29/2003 8:59 AM
|
|
Memory Loss
Many of you know I claim to have a bad memory (especially for names). This study out of England may help explain my memory loss. It may have to do with smoking. I’m trying to remember--as I light up--whether or not alcohol, specifically that bourbon I like, ah, helps rekindle memory; there must have been a study on that. I can’t remember. But now I’m trying to remember the name of the bourbon I like, you know, the one that is called, ah, the name has something to do with Lincoln; was it Sinking Spring Farm where Lincoln was born, no, that’s not it....darn it, I can’t remember the name, maybe it’s, yup, here it is, Knob Creek, about ten miles to the northeast, the place that Lincoln’s father bought when Abe was two years old because Sinking Spring Farm’s soil proved to be a barren waste. Knob Creek was a smaller farm, but it proved more fertile. Yup, that’s the one, Knob Creek, that’s the bourbon I like. Maybe there is hope for my memory loss. Now if I could only remember what Abe’s father was called...Thomas. All this with a smoke, and no Knob Creek. I amaze myself. I love these studies.
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments [3] | 5/29/2003 8:45 AM
|
|
New York Times Mess
I am not following the New York Times fiasco and cover-up in detail because others are doing such a good job with it. Andrew Sullivan, of course, is one of them. If you want to continue to follow the delicious details, read Sullivan.
Posted by Peter Schramm | Link to this Entry | Comments [2] | 5/29/2003 8:29 AM
|
|
