Christmas Gift Guide I: Best of ThinkGeek

ThinkGeek has been the best source for “Impact Gifts” for many years. (Those interested in reading about my theories about “Impact Gifts” should read through the Christmas Gift Guide archives) This year might be the first year where they weren’t my #1 source. The reasons are many but the economy is the top reason, caffeine [...]

The Evil Genius’ 40-Man Roster

Sumo Wrestler
Nothing says “get out of basepaths please Mr. Catcher” more than a 400 pound Sumo Wrestler pinch running on third base. Just imagine a guy that big stealing home. He could walk to home plate, “sumo” the catcher and steal a base. Any Evil Genuis would want the pure power a [...]

Christmas Gift Guide 2008: Introduction

I’ve explained the reasons behind my annual Gift Guide series in previous posts and I’m not too interested in repeating myself here. However, there are some important contemporary issues essential to understanding this year’s gift guide that I do want to mention.
This is perhaps the worst year in my lifetime for the Holiday gift giving [...]

Wednesday Hero

Lance Cpl. Samuel Joyce, from Boston, accepts a bagfull of toys during the Toys For Tots 5k Run at Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Runners donated new toys to the local Marine’s Toys for Tots program.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy [...]

From the Notebook

-I’ll be interviewing Steve Mayfield, Update: I’ll be talking to Steve next Tuesday. author of the inspirational novel “Afterlife Crisis“, tonight at 10pm CT. We’ll be discussing layoffs, the economy and handling your tenuous grip on employment in difficult times. Click hereto listen to the live podcast or in the same spot to [...]

In the Trenches: Notes from the Recount II

-I saw about 40% of the ballots in my county get looked at, and of those (about 10,000 ballots) there were about 10 ballots challenged. Only four or five of those were “legitimate” challenges which the State Canvassing Board really needed to bother with. I think “voter intent” can be accurately discerned in about half [...]

Re: Hillary Clinton as SOS

I thought this story from Abe Lincoln (via LINCOLN’S YARNS AND STORIES by Alexander Kelly) put matters in perspective:
THE PRESIDENTIAL “CHIN-FLY.”
Some of Mr. Lincoln’s intimate friends once called his attention to a certain member of his Cabinet who was quietly working to secure a nomination for the Presidency, although knowing that Mr. Lincoln was to [...]

Notes from the Recount

This week the recount began in my county and I decided to volunteer some of my time as a Coleman Rep. Basically, my job was to watch the recount, challenge questionable ballots and double check the count. It is about as exciting as watching people collate paper, which is what it is, and it’s really [...]

Wednesday Hero

Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody
55 years old from Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Call it breaking the brass ceiling. Ann E. Dunwoody, after 33 years in the Army, ascended Friday to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general.
At an emotional promotion ceremony, Dunwoody looked back on her years in uniform, said it [...]

From the Notebook

-Still working on the last touches of the updated Burger Tour, it should be ready to go sometime next week. Five joints were booted off the tour and replaced and there’s the inclusion of a long essay about how I evaluate burger joints.
-Also, I’m now in the middle of working on the Christmas Gift [...]