One and 1/2 degrees east of the 90th Meridian West

That's the location of the drive-up window at the local McDonald's. Oddly enough, the window is exactly 400 feet above mean sea level.

Useless facts. You bet! I finally bought a new car and most of the technology seems to be either useless, redundant, or unfathomable. Does anyone really need to know 24/7 what spot on the earth is exactly beneath their butt?

If you only buy a new car every ten years, the technology is bound to change, but give me a break. The new car not only talks to me, I can talk back to it -- then it either does something or asks another question. Rooty is very confused. He has no idea who's taking to us or whom I'm talking to. Just to mess with his mind, every now and then I switch it to Spanish.

So that's pretty much what I have been doing all week, reading the five main manuals that came with the car -- then I had to get a new cell phone that is Bluetooth enabled so the phone and the car can chat with each other -- then I had to wade through the mind-numbing labyrinth of Sirius radio menus ("cartas" in Spanish).

So, for a change of pace, today I cut the grass: pull cord, walk behind mower.

This is an odd bit of technology:

I ordered a new car. A 2008 model. About a month ago. They cannot tell me when it will be delivered. But they can tell me precisely when it will be built -- today. That's right, today is my car's birthday.

David Beckham made his long-awaited Major League Soccer debut Thursday

"The sellout crowd of more than 46,686 at RFK Stadium let out a thunderous roar as the 32-year-old English midfielder with the tender ankle stripped off his warmup jacket and T-shirt, displaying his bare chest in a steady rain." [Source: USA TODAY]

Did you really expect this guy to remain fully clothed?
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This today from soccertimes.com: "In the end, the 46,000 plus went home happy. They got to see Becks' debut, they got to see him take off his shirt not once, but twice (and then again when he swapped jerseys with United captain Ben Olsen), and they saw United get an important three points. Now the test will be whether United can get those fans -- the average attendance is around 17,000 -- to pay for a return visit when Beckham is not in the house."
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Pixie said...

EWWW nasty!

Pix here's a pix from the game just for you:

Your help is greatly anticipated.

Like many states, Missouri and Illinois have placed large reader boards above their urban Interstate highways. I past five today. The first said "Test Test Test." The second said "Right lane closed at Soccer Field Road." This appeared to be important news since the Soccer Field Road exit is just west of the complex I-44, I-270, and MO 366 (old US 66) interchange. Traffic exiting I-270 and 366 actually uses that lane to head west on 44. I immediately began planning alternative routes depending upon how far traffic was backed up. I did not need to bother, when I got there the lane was not closed and there was no evidence that if ever had been. The next three big reader boards were blank. Ain't technology great?
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The Phoenix said...

Technology is only as good as the people charged with using it. My favorite is the one on 270, just before the Chain of Rocks or Canal Bridge that reads "Congestion Ahead."

Gee, ya think??

-----

Road signs are put up for people who already know where they are going. Jim

Headline: "Death row inmate dies of cancer but lawyer wants to continue appeal"

From today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Kind'a says it all, doesn't it!

Dog days of August

Carson: "It was really hot in So. Calif. today."

Audience: "HOW HOT WAS IT?"

Carson: "It was so hot, musicians were snorting ice cubes."
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stan said...

Just for clarification, you meant Johnny Carson, not Carson Daly, right?

Stan, Johnny Carson was a comedian, Carson Daly is a tool. -- Jim

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Tim said...

That one actually made the ribs hurt. :D

Tim, ribs sound good for dinner, thanks for the idea. --Jim

Dear Santa, this is what I want

The larger sticker above is available from the Left Lane Drivers of America ("It’s time to get that Left Lane back! "). You attach it to your windshield -- the photo below shows what the driver in front of you would see. If you travel I-270, don't bother. As we all know, 270 drivers (1) never look in their rear view mirrors, (2) even if they did, it would be a big assumption to think they can read, and (3) even assuming they can read you know the sign would just make them more obstinate and determined to annoy as many people as possible.

NOTE -- Is it just me or is the arrow pointing in the wrong direction?

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:P fuzzbox said...

There is a special corner of hell reserved for people that drive too slow in the fast lane. I would think that if a sensible punishment plan for such a criminal offense then it could be stopped. Perhaps flogging would be sufficient.

Fuzz, flogging would be good,or perhaps having to watch Porky's III for all eternity.

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Amy in StL said...

If I saw that in my rearview mirror, I would totally stay in the left hand lane. Possibly slowing down to pace the car next to me. Because I think obnoxious signage deserves obnoxious behavior!

Amy, I had the same reaction to those annoying "Baby on Board" signs -- every time I saw one I wanted to go impregnate someone. --Jim
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The Phoenix said...

Move over into oncoming traffic???

Maybe the decal's designer is dyslexic.

Foen --Do you image that people all over the country are reading those signs and obediently are driving into the guardrails. -- Jim

Hence the phrase...

...The dog-days of summer!
Rooty asleep in the front seat, stopped at a stop sign.

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Metal Mark said...

Glad Rooty is doing well.

MM, he hates the heat but otherwise he's doing great! -- Jim

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Carnealian said...

I think you should do an entire series of photos of Rooty asleep here and there. He is too stinkin funny!

Carn, he even funnier awake, I'll post some videos soon. --Jim

Five Years at Hard Labor and Doing the Rumba

It a novel approach to running prison in the Philippines. There are bunches of these music videos from the prison on youtube. Click the picture to see the video.

"Fortune Cookies"

What male prostitutes on the West Coast call Japanese sailors.

[I know, but I heard it on TV and it made me laugh.]

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Pixie said...

Haaa Haaa I will have to remember that one!

Pix,

Pix, the only other one that I remember is BRAIN BUCKET. a general slang term for a motorcycle helmet. -- Jim