Why do all citizenship tests seem to consist of questions whose answers can be deduced without actually knowing much of anything about the country? German citizenship test: 7 out of 10. American citizenship test: 19 out of 20.
From the NYTimes: “Lodz (pronounced ‘Woodge’).” Who knew?
Tonight I met someone who knows the most famous person who shares my name. Now I’m one step closer to meeting him at a barbecue; it’s going to be great! I figure we can do a Patty Duke Show routine together. And, while he’s the most famous person with my name, he’ll have to somehow come to terms with the fact that I’m the (I) on IMDB while he’s the (II). Take that!
“Germans, more than anyone else, have also long been fans of the German-American bond.” Aside from, potentially, Americans, was there a lot of competition for this distinction?
NYTimes has the most misleading headline of this political season: “Cast of 300 Advises Obama on Foreign Policy.”
Evidence that gas prices have gotten out of hand: two shot in bicycle drive by.
At some point in my life, I want to make a proposal, and have this experience: “The proposal was initially greeted, in her words, with ‘near-universal horror.’”
Nine more famous people in top hats have been added to the original post.
The Washington National’s have a daily Presidents Race featuring George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and a hapless Teddy Roosevelt. Poor Teddy Roosevelt has lost every race, over 200 so far, often in surprisings ways. One of my personal favorites was when he was the first to horizontally reach the finish line, but somehow managed to be off by 100 vertical feet. ESPN recently interviewed Teddy Roosevelt about his misfortunes.
“The Peltzman Effect is the hypothesized tendency of people to react to a safety regulation by increasing other risky behavior, offsetting some or all of the benefit of the regulation.”
Someone plays professional slamball! He doesn’t sound like a great guy… but slamball! Via jbg.
First there was miracle fruit, now there’s miracle powder. I tried a long-frozen miracle fruit a few months ago, but it didn’t have the desired taste-changing effect (too long in the freezer, I guess). I’m going to have to hunt down some of the powder and try again.
The United States is 18th from the top of the list of stable countries (or 18th from the bottom of the list of failed countries, depending on how you look at it). By the end of September, I will have visited 8 of the 17 countries that beat us. I love stable tourism!
This sushi restaurant delivers sushi, and cans of soup. Via Lore Sjoberg.
The mistake attorneys and judges say is the most common among those who choose to represent themselves in traffic court? Admitting guilt.
Far more stats about the bar exam than anyone could ever be interested in reading.
The Chinese government has gone all out in a display of its anti-terror police techniques. Based on these four photos, it seems that China’s approach to terrorism is laughable, laughable, TOTALLY TERRIFYING, and laughable. Via Reddit.
Word I learned today: casuistry. From the Hitchens waterboarding thing.
Los Angeles’s Mayor Villaraigosa and Police Chief Bratton celebrate a 7.2% drop in crime, not including homicide. What? The homicide stats? Well, homicide is up 4.3%… but look at the 7.2% drop in crime!
19 out of 20 on a current-ish US Citizenship Test. Damn you Susan B. Anthony, damn you. Via Cynical-C and J-Walk.
Kissing With Ross is troubling as all hell.