Archive for November 18th, 2008
Another Dharma Email
Something I Didn’t Know About Alaska
Alaska has no income or sales tax, and a huge chunk of its annual revenue — as much as 90 percent — comes from taxes and fees on oil companies. When oil prices soar, as they did this summer, so do the state’s coffers: Alaska in the past two years has socked away billions in its already massive savings account.
But that account, the $28 billion Alaska Permanent Fund, sends every Alaskan a dividend each year — this year it was $2,069.
Italian team drops pants to score
ROME (AP) — In the latest fashion statement out of Italy, soccer players are dropping their shorts to score goals.
Catania, a team in the country’s top division, unveiled the new look while taking a free kick. The players lined up in a wall and dropped their shorts in an effort to block the goalkeeper’s vision.
The Sicilian team carried out the maneuver to perfection Sunday. Three players dropped their shorts practically to their knees so Torino goalie Matteo Sereni couldn’t see the kick by Giuseppe Mascara, who scored during Catania’s 3-2 victory.
Man drops 140 pounds in 11 months to join Marines
LEWISTON, Maine – Army and Navy recruiters took one look at 330-pound Ulysses Milana and told him to forget about joining. “‘You’ve got to lose weight,’” Milana remembers them saying.
But Marine recruiters were willing to work with him as he began his weight-loss journey in December 2007.
Now, 11 months later, Milana is 140 pounds lighter as he leaves Monday for Parris Island, S.C., to begin boot camp.
It wasn’t easy, Milana said, but he managed to slim down through exercise, healthier eating habits and forgoing an occasional beer after work. The 23-year-old said he even refused a beer at his going-away party Saturday night.
Tempting Pictures of the Day
This pregnant anaconda was killed and cut open. The villagers found 70 eggs and displayed the baby anacondas.
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart on Halloween
It would be funny if he actually dressed as Indy or Han for a Halloween party.
Bag of Randomness
- After living through the Dave Campo era with three 5-11 seasons, I always considered a sixth win by the Cowboys a successful season. It’s gotten that bad.
- I remember in the early 90’s when the Cowboys had trouble selling out Texas Stadium and I think Kroger use to jump in and buy the remaining tickets for the public so the game can be televised locally.
- If you are interested in bidding for a piece of Texas Stadium, here you go. Everything, and I mean everything is up for sale.
- I found a new TV show Sunday night that might rank 9 out of 10 on the unintentional comedy scale. It’s basically a dance-off competition that at first I thought was an SNL or In Living Color Skit. There’s more about the show here along with a video.
- I watched a JFK special on PBS last night and forgot that Jim Lehrer use to work for the Dallas Times Herald. I think it’s interesting that both he and Bob Schieffer (a Fort Worth Star Telegram product) have moderated presidential debates in the last two elections, maybe more, but that’s what I remember. Not bad for a couple of good ‘ol boys.
- From reading this article, I learned that Obama will be giving up his Blackberry, why presidents don’t email, and that he will most likely be the first president with a laptop.
- You know the end of a presidency is near when there’s pardon talk.
- Focus on the Family will have layoffs. Link
- An Etch-A-Sketch that draws out the time and erases itself. Link
- I Voted for Two – there’s more than one way to interpret that photo.
- Ten Cars That Sank Detroit. Link
- Ten Cars That Could Salvage Detroit. Link
- If you are a fan of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, you might like Sheldon Shirts.
