MaisonBisson

I don’t know who gets the worse end of this stick, but it’s really sad that chemists can’t tell the difference between banned nerve agents and agricultural pesticides.

How to talk down your adversary: “There is no reproach between me and you except the stabbing of kidneys and the chopping of heads.”

I should acknowledge that the quote above comes from a story in Wired News.

Plumb Design’s Visual Thesaurus may be the coolest thing ever.

I have Mary Ellen Bates to thank for pointing this site out to me during the 2003 Computers in Libraries Conference.

Ego Dystonic

I’m in Washington D.C. at the Computers in Libraries conference. It’s a good lineup of presenters and good programs, but I’m sad to know that I’ll be missing a peace rally this Saturday.

Where to eat and drink:

Old Dominion Brewery is in Virginia not far from DC. It’s in an industrial park and you’ll doubt that you’re in the right place, but the food and local brews are good.

California Pizza Kitchen on the corner of Connecticut Ave and N street. Alright, but not outstanding. Let’s try this: pretty good for a chain restaurant.

Gazuza at 1629 Connecticut Ave near DuPont Circle was quite a find. Good music, comfortable lounge, open late for DC.

Washington Hilton at 1919 Connecticut Ave. Small (overpriced) rooms, good lunch cafe, bad bar. Really bad bar.

For discussion:

WORLD HISTORY 101 MID-TERM EXAM

This test consists of one (1) multiple-choice question (so you better get it right!)

Here’s a list of the countries that the U.S. has bombed since the end of World War II, compiled by historian William Blum:

China: 1945-46

Korea: 1950-53

China: 1950-53

Guatemala: 1954

Indonesia: 1958

Cuba: 1959-60

Guatemala: 1960

Congo: 1964

Peru: 1965

Laos: 1964-73

Vietnam: 1961-73

Cambodia: 1969-70

Guatemala: 1967-69

Grenada: 1983

Libya: 1986

El Salvador: 1980s

Nicaragua: 1980s

Panama: 1989

Iraq: 1991-99

Sudan: 1998

Afghanistan: 1998

Yugoslavia: 1999

QUESTION: In how many of these instances did a democratic government, respectful of human rights, occur as a direct result? Choose one of the following:

(a) 0

(b) zero

(c) none

One source attributes this quiz to Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Whatever the source, it’s certainly making the rounds on the web.

In the way emails thread their way from one person to another I came across the text of a speech about antics in the US Justice Department.

It was titled “An Open Letter to John Ashcroft” and came with this preface:

The following is a letter read by Claire Braz-Valentine, author at this year’s In Celebration of the Muse, Cabrillo College. It is worth knowing that the author is a woman of 60+ years, conservatively dressed and obviously quite talented.

I encourage everybody to read it here: An Open Letter to John Ashcroft.

It’s not real, but it may be more accurate.

Watch the State of the Union speech here.

Thanks to my sister for pointing me to this.

[UPDATE]: The link above may be down, the speech is mirrored here.

Since this website is such an important and valued news source for so many people, I’ve received many dire complaints about the scarcity of updates over the past month. Here’s the story:

January is a busy, busy month at work. Students are gone, computers must be updated. Work also includes many large changes to the Lamson Library website, and more updates are due shortly. Daytime work is one thing, but I’ve also been pursuing my side business more actively. JoeMonninger.com is there as always, but I just did RobertGarlitz.com. Further, the business website is finally updated at MaisonDigital.com.

I’ve been using the remaining time to read and sleep (I’ll post some quotes from the reading soon), but mostly, I’m lazy.

Speaking on language patterns around the time of the American Civil War, Bill Bryson states: …no nineteenth century journalist with any self-respect would ever write that a house had burned down, but must instead say that a great conflagration consumed the edifice.’

–Bill Bryson quoting (in part) Kenneth Cmiel’s Democratic Eloquence in, Made In America, an informal history of the English language in the United States.

He’ll be on parole of a long time, and he’s facing a number of additional restrictions, but Kevin Mitnick is finally free!

The holidays are long since past, here’s a drink to carry you through ’till Spring.

Rusty Nail

• 3 parts Scotch
• 1 part Drambuie

Serve over ice in an old fashioned glass.

Please enjoy it responsibly.

I’ve found it. It’s here!

The news of the day is government secrecy. NPR’s All Things Considered ran two stories about the matter today. One story about general secrecy, and another story about Admiral Poindexter (formerly of the Iran-Contra scandal). Previously, NPR ran a capsule biography about Henry Kissinger. Of note is the discussion about Kissinger’s disbelief in open government. That story was followed by analysis by Daniel Schorr which may suggest why Kissinger was chosen to head up the independent panel to investigate the attacks of September 11th, then another story about his resignation from that panel.