OK, it was the parents of the two year old, but still, how ridiculous can you get? According to this story on CNN, a Stamford, CT mother has told the city she wants to be compensated because her two year old ran head-long into a railing that was painted green …

Just in case those of you in the DC area missed the rain earlier this year, the Washington Post has an article about precipitation records in the DC area. Dulles and Baltimore have already had their records fall, and National is a half-inch from dropping. So far this year, DCA …

There's an interesting article in Fast Company about Apple, Steve Jobs, and innovation. The gist of it is that "if Apple is so innovative, then why are they so damned small." The author, Carleen Hawn, makes some interesting points, but seems to have missed a particularly large one in my …

To all of you out there who read these pages, a heartfelt Merry Christmas and best wishes for a New Year full of love, joy, laughter, and peace!

An article from the New York Times describes South Carolina (current home to my parents) as a key battleground state in the Democratic Primary. It looks as if many of the candidates see SC as the place to determine whether Howard Dean can hold his own in the South and …

A nice article from the Washington Post this morning indicates that volunteerism among both adults and teenagers is on the rise. Adult volunteering is up 6% over last year and there were significant increases in the late teenage group as well.

The Washington Post this morning has an article about Howard Dean, the Democratic frontrunner in the campaign for President in 2004. The reporters bring up a number of circumstances where Mr. Dean played fast and loose with the truth. However, the interesting part to me wasn't the information that politicians …

The Smithsonian Institution has another winner on its hands, and so does the Nation. Monday, Dec. 15 marked the opening day for the National Air and Space Museum's new facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Since it is located on the property surrounding Dulles International Airport (actually, it is on …

According to an article from CNet, iPass and T-Mobile have signed an agreement to allow roaming between their networks. For customers of either network, this effectively doubles the number of "hotspots" where access is available. T-Mobile has about 4,000 (mostly in the US) and iPass has about 3,000 …

That's right, boys and girls. An article from BBC News gives an account of Mick Jagger becoming Sir Mick Jagger. Fortunately, he's not taking it too seriously, but (unlike his pal Keith Richards, who has mocked the whole thing) was respectful to the monarchy for the award.

Long time, no write. I know. You all thought I had forgotten where the system was and was going to let it languish forever. Not true! Between the travels to New Zealand, Australia, Salem, and London, I just didn't want to get a false start before I had a chance …

An article from the New York Times tells the tale of the best whiskey makers of the present getting together to raise money for Mount Vernon by doing what they do best. A much more detailed article from the Washington Post also discusses it. Our first President, according to reports …

The Oakland Tribune has a good article detailing work at Lawrence Livermore National Lab to create laser weapons that is bearing fruit. The question, as with any new weapon, is whether a new weapon makes us safer or less secure. As people ponder the efficiency and accuracy of laser weapons …

The Dilbert Day of the Weasel poll results have been posted. Weaseliest organization: RIAA Weaseliest company: Microsoft Weaseliest person: GW Bush Weaseliest country: France (beating out second-place USA) Weaseliest behavior: Blaming fast food companies for making you fat

I was interested to see this article from the New York Times discussing the effect of the overcapacity created during the 1990's on the economic recovery in the post 2000 recovery. In particular, the problem is industrial capacity. In the 1990's, with the tech boom and the creation of an …

According to an article in the Scotsman, the Scotish doctor who first used fingerprints to convict and exonerate suspects will be getting a long-overdue monument in his home country. Dr. Henry Faulds, a doctor from Scotland who worked much of his life healing the sick in Tokyo, Japan, first theorized …

An article from BBC News reports that the High Court (one step down from the Court of Appeals in the UK) has let stand a law that calls for consent of both parents when using a frozen embryo. The case involves two women who are now incapable of bearing children …

According to an article in the Washington Post, the DC area is number three in road crowding. However, there is hope of attaining the number one spot, as we already are number 2 for crowding during peak rush hour times in the morning and afternoon. The solution? Better use of …

A short but interesting article this morning in the Scotsman about the start of a new school term in Iraq. Teachers are editing Sadam pictures and ideology out of text books, repairing damaged schools, and wondering what the new school year will bring. There are a series of comments that …

Here's an interesting site that describes using popular tools such as: sawzalls, jigsaws and other serious iron to carve pumpkins. Check out some of the stuff in the gallery!