URLs du Jour

2009-01-08

  • Overall, President-elect Obama's appointees have earned him "better than expected, could have been worse" grades from conservatives/libertarians. But that overall average is dragged down by some doozies. At NRO, Jonathan H. Adler examines the record of John Holdren, to become the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology; Holdren has a long unhappy record of politicizing his science, even attempting to muzzle dissenters from global warming theology.

    … President-Elect Obama's choice of John Holdren for his primary science adviser suggests political misuse and abuse of science will continue in the Obama administration, pledges to respect science notwithstanding.

    Too bad.

  • [Everywhere Girl] Way back in 2005, when this blog was in its infancy, I noted the "Everywhere Girl" phenomenon. Nowadays, she's even more everywhere than ever before. (Via BBSpot.)

  • OK, so maybe I was too negative about video games yesterday. Because:

    A 6-year-old Virginia boy who missed his bus tried to drive to school in his family's sedan -- and crashed.

    […]

    He made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

    The boy told police he learned to drive playing Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam video games.

    As American Library Association President Jim Rettig says: video games can be powerful learning tools, specifically for problem-solving skills.

  • It was a rough Christmas week in Rochester (NH), as recounted in the most recent police log:

    Monday, Dec. 22

    11:33 p.m. -- On Harrison Street, a woman is alarmed by a footprint on her bed. Police check the home and suggest it is an old footprint.

    Tuesday, Dec. 23

    4:00 p.m. -- At Wyandotte, a man says that each time he takes a shower a woman flushes the toilet, causing the shower to nearly scald him.

    Wednesday, Dec. 24

    8:50 p.m. -- The Home Depot alarm goes off, and the keyholder thinks it is a hawk swooping inside the building. He will take care of it. How is not specified.

    Thursday, Dec. 25

    12:48 a.m. -- A lady calls from Autumn Street to say that someone needs to come and remove a named person. When asked by dispatch for more information she replies, "Shut the f--- up," and hangs up the phone. And a Merry Christmas to you, too, madam.

    Friday, Dec. 26

    1:17 p.m.-- At the station, a woman says that a driver verbally abused her and threw a squeegee at her vehicle on account of her not pumping gas fast enough. A pickup driver is contacted, and while denying heaving a squeegee, admits he was mad because the woman took 10 minutes to pump $15 worth of gas and was trying to get little drops of gas out of the hose after the pump stopped.

    Saturday, Dec. 27

    4:00 a.m. -- A man is warned not to hitchhike on Farmington Road. He must walk home to Farmington. Live, freeze and die.

    That's cold, man.


Last Modified 2012-10-08 8:24 PM EDT