AdamSmith

Didn't you watch the video?! hito threw open his petticoats and saved the both of them.

Thank you! The most amazing bit to me was this: Contractors here and in the United States say that the expansion project also can be seen as a global model of astute construction management. The opening of the expanded canal is expected to cost under $US 6 billion, just 10 percent more than the original $US 5.25 billion price tag. Its commercial opening, now projected to occur in the spring of 2016, comes a year later than anticipated. In contrast, the construction of the $US 3 billion Olmsted Locks and Dam on the Ohio River, the largest inland navigation project in the United States, is more than $US 2 billion over budget and decades late in opening. Part of my consulting biz relates to the giant engineering/construction firms, and these cost and schedule overruns are just astoundingly small for a project of this scale.

That could work too.

I meant to compare our electorate today with our electorate back when, say, it willingly listened to Lincoln debate Douglas all afternoon. Not sure what brought in your comparison between us and other nations/nationalities?

Glancing at online coverage of her Senate confirmation hearing, saw one great tweet quoted: Joanne @sabzbrach Follow I don't know much about Loretta Lynch but it's a pleasure to see her dominate all these old white guys. 10:58 AM - 28 Jan 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2015/jan/28/loretta-lynch-republican-senate-confirmation-attorney-general

A reason to join Future Farmers of America!

Thinnin' on it, this says as much about today's electorate as it does about today's politicians. Just like, without the demand side, there would not be drug trade or sex work.

Sarah Palin channels her inner slam poet The Washington Post Sarah Palin, slam poet. Dim the lights and maybe light a candle on stage at the Iowa Freedom Summit, and Palin's rambling speech begins to make more sense. This was poetry, not politics, ya dig? It's what can happen when your teleprompter breaks and when any old word will do. Check these stanzas that we're gonna just call, "The Ballad of 2016": Things must change for our government. Look at it. It isnt too big to fail. Its too big to succeed! It's too big to succeed. So we can afford no retreads or nothing will change with the same people And same policies that got us into the status quo. Another Latin word. Status quo. And it stands for, Man, the middle-class, everyday Americans are really gettin taken for a ride. That's status quo. And GOP leaders, by the way, y'know, The man can only ride ya when your back is bent. So strengthen it. Then the man can't ride ya. America won't be taken for a ride. Because so much is at stake and We can't afford politicians playing games like nothing more is at stake than. Oh. Maybe just the next standing of theirs. In the next election. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/27/sarah-palin-channels-her-inner-slam-poet/?tid=pm_politics_pop

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/hillary-clinton-2016-elections-114586.html?ml=po

Daily Show: Sarah Palin's Iowa Speech Was Actual Goddamn Gibberish ...at some point, as Jon Stewart put it, "her subjects stopping talking to her verbs." Some samples: - "Our government, it isn't too big to fail. It's too big to succeed. It's too big to succeeds, so we can afford no retreads. Or the same people and the same policies that got us into the status quo — another Latin word, status quo, and it stands for, 'Man, middle-class every-day Americans are really gettin' taken for a ride." - "And GOP leaders, by the way — the Man can only ride ya when your back is bent. So strengthen it! Then the man can't ride ya. America won't be taken for a ride, because so much is at stake, and we can't afford politicians playing games like nothing more is at stake than, oh, myabe just the next standing of theirs in the next election." - "What will they do to stop causing our pain and start feeling it again? Well, in other words, um, is Hillary a new Democrat or an old one? Now, the press asks, the press asks, 'Can anyone stop Hillary?' Again, this is to forego a conclusion, right? It's to scare us off, to convince us that — a pantsuit can crush patriots." The cause of all this, er, spirited improvisation was an evident teleprompter malfunction mid-speech. Understandable, sure, but you'd think a woman who's delivered so many folksy-aphorism-laden stump speeches might have one or two memorized by now? Especially for an audience like the Freedom Summit's, where all they really wanted was to hear the President called "lawless," the government referred to as "Big Government" and "those fat-cats in Washington," and small-town Americans hailed as heroes. See? Even I can do it.

On Saturday evening following Palin's speech, the DNC issued a short statement responding to her speech. "Thank you!" DNC Communications Director Mo Elleithee said in the statement. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sarah-palin-iowa-speech-dnc

Could you substitute Lee from Transylvania?

"He was a hard man to dislike, but worth the effort." Simon R. Green, Tales from the Nightside

Apparently her TelePrompter broke. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sarah-palin-dishes-bizarre-improvised-rant-iowa-article-1.2091124

Sarah Palin bemuses Republicans with rambling speech and talk of 2016 run The former governor of Alaska delivered a meandering and often bizarre speech to key Republicans that left many doubting her political viability Iowa Republicans voiced scepticism on Monday over Sarah Palin's claim to be contemplating a campaign for president in 2016, amid criticism of her unusual speech to a conservative rally in the state... ...Nicolle Wallace, the former aide to George W Bush who struggled to control Palin while charged with overseeing her for the presidential campaign of Senator John McCain in 2008, said the speech had given the public a true picture of the former governor. "This is who she is," Wallace told MSNBC on Monday morning. "This, to me, is evidence that she has finally shed every last one of those 'annoying' handlers." Neutral observers with experience of covering her were also left bemused. "I don't say this lightly," said Scott Conroy, the co-author of a book about Palin's involvement in the 2008 presidential campaign. "This is the strangest speech I've ever seen Sarah Palin deliver." http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/26/sarah-palin-republicans-rambling-speech-2016-run

Lost WHAT?

Be sale! If the electrons give out, remember friction makes heat!

Monty Python and The Holy Grail Scene 10: The Oral Sects or Sir Gallahad Faces Peril Valiantly [trumpets] NARRATOR:The Tale of Sir Galahad. [boom] [wind] [howl] [howl] [boom] [angels singing] [howl] [boom] [howl] [boom] [pound pound pound] GALAHAD: Open the door! Open the door! [pound pound pound] GALAHAD:In the name of King Arthur, open the door! [creak] [thump] [creak] [boom] GIRLS: Hello! ZOOT: Welcome, gentle Sir Knight. Welcome to the Castle Anthrax. GALAHAD: The Castle Anthrax? ZOOT: Yes. Oh, it's not a very good name, is it? Oh, but we are nice and we will attend to your every, every need! GALAHAD: You are the keepers of the Holy Grail? ZOOT: The what? GALAHAD: The Grail. It is here. ZOOT: Oh, but you are tired and you must rest awhile. Midget! Crapper! MIDGET and CRAPPER: Yes, O Zoot? ZOOT: Prepare a bed for our guest. MIDGET and CRAPPER: Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!... ZOOT: Away! Away, varletesses. The beds here are warm and soft and very, very big. GALAHAD: Well, look, I-- I, uh-- ZOOT: What is your name, handsome knight? GALAHAD: 'Sir Galahad... the Chaste'. ZOOT: Mine is 'Zoot'. Just 'Zoot'. Oh, but come. GALAHAD: Look, please! In God's name, show me the Grail! ZOOT: Oh, you have suffered much. You are delirious. GALAHAD: No, look. I have seen it! It is here in this-- ZOOT: Sir Galahad! You would not be so ungallant as to refuse our hospitality. GALAHAD: Well, I-- I, uh-- ZOOT: Oh, I am afraid our life must seem very dull and quiet compared to yours. We are but eight score young blondes and brunettes, all between sixteen and nineteen-and-a-half, cut off in this castle with no one to protect us. Oooh. It is a lonely life: bathing, dressing, undressing, knitting exciting underwear. We are just not used to handsome knights. Nay. Nay. Come. Come. You may lie here. Oh, but you are wounded! GALAHAD: No, no. It's-- it's nothing. ZOOT: Oh, you must see the doctors immediately! No, no, please! Lie down. [clap clap] PIGLET: Well, what seems to be the trouble? GALAHAD: They're doctors?! ZOOT: Uh, they... have a basic medical training, yes. GALAHAD: B-- but-- ZOOT: Oh, come. Come. You must try to rest. Doctor Piglet! Doctor Winston! Practise your art. WINSTON: Try to relax. GALAHAD: Are you sure that's absolutely necessary? PIGLET: We must examine you. GALAHAD: There's nothing wrong with that! PIGLET: Please. We are doctors. GALAHAD: Look! This cannot be. I am sworn to chastity. PIGLET: Back to your bed! At once! GALAHAD: Torment me no longer. I have seen the Grail! PIGLET: There's no grail here. GALAHAD: I have seen it! I have seen it! [clank] I have seen-- GIRLS: Hello. GALAHAD: Oh. GIRLS: Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. GALAHAD: Zoot! DINGO: No, I am Zoot's identical twin sister, Dingo. GALAHAD: Oh, well, excuse me, I-- DINGO: Where are you going? GALAHAD: I seek the Grail! I have seen it, here in this castle! DINGO: Oh, no. Oh, no! Bad, bad Zoot! GALAHAD: Well, what is it? DINGO: Oh, wicked, bad, naughty Zoot! She has been setting alight to our beacon, which, I have just remembered, is grail-shaped. It's not the first time we've had this problem. GALAHAD: It's not the real Grail? DINGO: Oh, wicked, bad, naughty, evil Zoot! She is a bad person and must pay the penalty! Do you think this scene should have been cut? We were so worried when the boys were writing it, but now, we're glad. It's better than some of the previous scenes, I think. LEFT HEAD: At least ours was better visually. DENNIS: Well, at least ours was committed. It wasn't just a string of pussy jokes. OLD MAN: Get on with it. TIM THE ENCHANTER: Yes, get on with it! ARMY OF KNIGHTS: Yes, get on with it! DINGO: Oh, I am enjoying this scene. GOD: Get on with it! DINGO: [sigh] [clunk] Oh, wicked, wicked Zoot. Oh, she is a naughty person and she must pay the penalty, and here in Castle Anthrax, we have but one punishment for setting alight the grail-shaped beacon: you must tie her down on a bed and spank her. GIRLS: A spanking! A spanking! DINGO: You must spank her well, and after you have spanked her, you may deal with her as you like, and then, spank me. AMAZING: And spank me. STUNNER: And me. LOVELY: And me. DINGO: Yes. Yes, you must give us all a good spanking! GIRLS: A spanking! A spanking! There is going to be a spanking tonight! DINGO: And after the spanking, the oral sex. GIRLS: The oral sex! The oral sex! GALAHAD: Well, I could stay a bit longer. LANCELOT: Sir Galahad! GALAHAD: Oh, hello. LANCELOT: Quick! GALAHAD: What? LANCELOT: Quick! GALAHAD: Why? LANCELOT: You are in great peril! DINGO: No, he isn't. LANCELOT: Silence, foul temptress! GALAHAD: You know, she's got a point. LANCELOT: Come on! We will cover your escape! GALAHAD: Look, I'm fine! LANCELOT: Come on! GIRLS: Sir Galahad! GALAHAD: No. Look, I can tackle this lot single-handed! DINGO: Yes! Let him tackle us single-handed! GIRLS: Yes! Let him tackle us single-handed! LANCELOT: No, Sir Galahad. Come on! GALAHAD: No! Really! Honestly, I can cope. I can handle this lot easily. DINGO: Oh, yes. Let him handle us easily. GIRLS: Yes. Let him handle us easily. LANCELOT: No. Quick! Quick! GALAHAD: Please! I can defeat them! There's only a hundred-and-fifty of them! DINGO: Yes! Yes, he will beat us easily! We haven't a chance. GIRLS: We haven't a chance. He will beat us easily... [boom] DINGO: Oh, shit. LANCELOT: We were in the nick of time. You were in great peril. GALAHAD: I don't think I was. LANCELOT: Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril. GALAHAD: Look, let me go back in there and face the peril. LANCELOT: No, it's too perilous. GALAHAD: Look, it's my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can. LANCELOT: No, we've got to find the Holy Grail. Come on! GALAHAD: Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril? LANCELOT: No. It's unhealthy. GALAHAD: I bet you're gay. LANCELOT: No, I'm not. Narrative Interlude NARRATOR: Sir Lancelot had saved Sir Galahad from almost certain temptation, but they were still no nearer the Grail. Meanwhile, King Arthur and Sir Bedevere, not more than a swallow's flight away, had discovered something. Oh, that's an unladen swallow's flight, obviously. I mean, they were more than two laden swallows' flights away-- four, really, if they had a coconut on a line between them. I mean, if the birds were walking and dragging-- CROWD: Get on with it! NARRATOR: Oh, anyway. On to scene twenty-four, which is a smashing scene with some lovely acting, in which Arthur discovers a vital clue, and in which there aren't any swallows, although I think you can hear a starling-- oooh! Holy Grail Scripts http://montypython.50webs.com/scripts/Holy_Grail/Scene10.htm

January 24, 2015 -- Winston Churchill, who died 50 years ago today, once said, “For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history myself.” Mission accomplished. 1. "I like pigs. Cats look down on you; dogs look up to you; but pigs treat you like an equal." —Recounted by Churchill’s former secretary Anthony Montague Browne. * 2. "We have not journeyed all this way across the centuries, across the oceans, across the mountains, across the prairies, because we are made of sugar candy." —To the Canadian House of Commons, December 30 1941 * 3. "History with its flickering lamp stumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct its scenes, to revive its echoes, and kindle with pale gleams the passion of former days." —To the House of Commons, November 12, 1940 * 4. "t has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." —To the House of Commons, November 11, 1947 * 5. "If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time." —Advice to the Prince of Wales, future king Edward VIII 1919 * 6. "For myself, I am an optimist—it does not seem to be much use being anything else." —Speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet in London, November 9, 1954 * 7. "Now we have 'adequacy.' What is adequacy? Adequacy is no standard at all. It is simply what His Majesty's Ministers at any given moment, surveying what they have got, choose to say is adequate." —To the House of Commons, November 17, 1938 * 8. "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." —To Harrow School, October 29, 1941 * 9. "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time." —To the House of Commons, February 27, 1945 * 10. "In the course of my life I have often had to eat my words, and I must confess that I have always found it a wholesome diet." —Recounted by Lord Norman Brook in Working with Churchill http://mentalfloss.com/article/61268/10-winston-churchills-best-quotes

12 Predictions for the Year 2000 from a 19th-Century German Chocolate Company Hannah Keyser Image credit: Wikimedia Commons Right around the same time that French postcards were predicting lots of aerial and aquatic activities in the year 2000 as part of the 1900 Paris World's Fair, a German chocolate company decided to get in on the future-telling business with a crafty marketing campaign. For a short time, Theodore Hildebrand and Son chocolate company slipped colorful cards depicting theoretical life in the year 2000 into boxes of their sweets. Altogether, 12 such cards were produced, predicting how a range of activities would get upgraded for the 21st Century. 1. Police with X-Ray It's unclear from the picture how an x-ray camera of sorts would factor into crime-fighting. With both the legal and moral high ground, couldn't the police apprehend the criminals face-to-face? Weigh in below if you can make sense of it. 2. Flying Machines What's a vision of the future without some personal flying machines? This card features several different options that all look heinously unsafe. Is that little girl even wearing a seat belt?! 3. Movable Houses Alright, this one is just all wrong. They're still using horse-drawn buggies and steam engines, having focused all the attention and effort of their technological advancements on building portable rowhouses. 4. Airships More air travel. And fashion stuck in the 1800s. 5. Undersea Ships Perhaps even more tantalizing than the leisure submarine patrolling the ocean floor are the sea bike, sea surrey, and sea wheeled-recliner above. 6. North Pole Trip It's true that air travel has made vacationing in remote locations possible and even popular. But I haven't noticed a lot of hot air balloon jaunts to the North Pole showing up on hip destination lists. 7. Water Walk The genius here isn't the water-wheel unicycle or the shoe-canoes—it's the artistic, elegant, and tech-free individual hot air balloons that keep water-waders upright. Even the horse has one! 8. Ship Railway So many questions. How is this better than a normal ship? Is it limited to shallow waters? WHY IS IT ON FIRE?! 9. Roofed City This one seems like a great idea until you remember things like, you know, drought. 10. Theater Things happening in one place will be able to be captured and viewed in an entirely different location in real time? Yup. 11. Moving Sidewalks Scattered throughout the airport, these human conveyor belts are a delightful respite that make you feel like you have super-speed compared to the people on still ground. But in crowded cities? Now that just sounds dangerous. 12. Good Weather Machine Yes. Get on this, scientists. http://mentalfloss.com/article/57835/12-predictions-year-2000-19th-century-german-chocolate-company