Winter musings 2014-2015

Ed Lowe created kitty litter, a clay-based product that soaks up odors and urine, by accident in 1947 & fueled an explosion in cat ownership.

Calling 911 can be just like calling home. A serious accident victim in MD called for help last week and was told to “stop whining”. Really?

The crock pot was invented in 1940 for observant Jews to cook a Saturday meal without working on the Sabbath, and have the meal ready that night.

“Drone”: a continuous low dull humming sound. To speak in a monotonous tone. So, why is it big news to have a drone at the White House? 😛

SkyMall, the magazine that hawked pricey stuff you didn’t need while you were flying somewhere, is dead. Somewhere, someone is crying. Not.

Is nothing sacred? That loud, satisfying “vroom” from muscle cars? Faked! Today’s efficient engines are quieter, so software fakes it. Sigh.

Much talk this week about Bill Belichick’s balls. “Talk to Brady” says the coach. Hmmm….

Tony Verna, the inventor of instant replay, has died at age 81. (Tony Verna, the inventor of instant replay, has died at age 81.)

IHOP flipped out over Pancake endorsement of Waffle House. Batter luck next time.

LPGA golfer Brooke Pancake has just announced her new endorsement deal with Waffle House. Yup, Pancake endorses Waffles.

NFL says footballs used by Patriots on offense in AFC title game were underinflated. Oh,that Belichick!! Or, maybe Colts weren’t pumped up?

Joseph Morrissey, 56, serving time for having sex with an employee, 17, was re-elected to the VA House of Delegates this week. What up, VA?

Rock stars! Two climbers made it to the top of Yosemite’s El Capitan using just their hands and feet. That’s 3,000 feet of sheer rock.

Frederick Co.(MD) Councilman Kirby Delauter says he will sue if the local paper uses his name without permission. How ’bout if they call him “He Who Shall Not Be Named”?

Ah, the once clear windshield is now the new place for tech info like directions, text messages, alerts, etc. “I can’t see clearly now….”

Former VA governor Bob McDonnell was sentenced to 2 yrs in jail for corruption. However, he also got a lifetime of disgrace.

Well, there may be no such thing as a free lunch, but McDonald’s will give you free morning coffee on Mondays in 2015 for the DC metro area.

A Buenos Aires zoo orangutan has been awarded the same legal rights as humans by the Argentine Court. Planet of the Apes? Cornelius? Caesar?

Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are both on the brink on announcing their runs for President. Bush, Clinton. The past IS prologue.

A German company has made an elevator that can go sideways & diagonally. No longer will your elevator ride have [just] its ups & downs.

In China a man has just been cleared of rape charges for which he was put to death 18 yrs ago. Their gov’t paid his family $5K as compensation. I’m sure THAT’S a big comfort to them.

Although probably unenforceable, Maryland law still prohibits atheists from holding public office or serving on juries. OMG!

NASA successfully launched its Orion spacecraft, the first step towards manned trips to Mars. Is it too soon to get in line for tickets?

Stop the presses! Girl Scout cookies are now being sold on-line! Tag your Tagalongs. Do your Do-si-dos. All from the comfort of your couch.

After protesting a police drunk driving checkpoint in Texas Kory Watkins was hit by a drunk driver & almost killed. Just sayin’.

A new breast cancer vaccine shows great promise, helping your white blood cells attack tumors, slowing the cancer’s progress. Stay tuned.

It’s getting deep. In November Buffalo, NY had 6 ft of snow, with another 3 on the way. The entire city is moving to Florida.

Getting high. Cellphones have been tracking your movements, but now they track altitude. Yup, they can now tell what floor you’re on.

Candy makers warn that in 5 yrs demand for chocolate will exceed supply by a MILLION TONS due to a drop in cocoa production. Start hoarding?

Warren Buffett saved over a billion dollars in legal tax evasion by “buying” Duracell from P & G. A billion here, a billion there…ah, those one percenters.

A European spacecraft has successfully landed on a speeding comet deep in space. Bruce Willis was nowhere to be seen.

Dutch designer Christian Boer has created Dyslexie, a typeface that is easier to read by people who have dyslexia. What a great idea!

When Daylight Savings Time ended in the fall, we got an extra hour in the day. The dream day for some lawyers. 25 hours to bill. 😛

Walking good for your health? Nik Wallenda walked a 1/2″ tightrope stretched between 2 Chicago skyscrapers Sunday, BLINDFOLDED. Wanna try?

Rumor has it that a “radar” gun is in development that will detect texting in a vehicle. How will it tell WHO is texting? Privacy issues?

Some digestive tract bacteria cause pain & death. Antibiotics don’t work, but healthy donor feces do. Yup, frozen fecal pills. No shit!

No modern divorce laws & Catholic Church opposition leave Filipinos stuck in unhappy or abusive marriages. If they have money, however…

According to a Daily Mail poll, 50% of all English wives have a “backup plan” in regard to their husbands. Be afraid, mates. Be VERY afraid.

Tougher laws in MD now for domestic violence affecting children and drunk driving with kids in the car.

Transgender folks now have new civil rights protection in MD. There are also higher penalties for car accidents due to cell phone use in MD.

“Revenge porn” (posting sex tapes or nude pix of former partners) is now illegal in MD, punishable by up to 2 yrs in jail, up to $5,000 fine

Less than 10 grams of marijuana in MD is now a $100 civil citation instead of a criminal charge. Paraphernalia is still a crime, though.