Dubious Notions

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118437902011-04-21T11:16:45.294-07:00Dubious NotionsDedicated to the rather dubious notion that anyone might actually <em>care</em> what I have to say about things.Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.comBlogger581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1134699747860595902005-12-15T18:04:00.000-08:002005-12-15T18:27:05.323-08:00The Alibi Network - A Business Model for the 21st Century?

Here is an idea whose time is long overdue! It seems that the Alibi Network has developed a sizzling new business model in that they've found a way to profit off of "the dark side".This website offers a buffet service providing and executing excuses to allow budding lotharios to cheat on their significant others, the shiftless to call in sick and the unemployable to present themselves as top

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1131905104163281162005-11-13T10:05:00.000-08:002005-11-13T10:06:20.670-08:00Would- suicide bomber bares her soul on television

One can only speculate as to what would induce would-be suicide bomber Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi to go on public television to confess her crimes. The answer doesn't appear to be a desire to promote her political ideology as she doesn't seem to have given any reasons for her actions.I'm wondering if the Jordanian methods of extracting confessions from their criminal suspects are perhaps a

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1117311759626527602005-05-28T15:10:00.000-07:002005-05-28T15:10:18.433-07:00Big Brains in the British Medical Community

Well it's in. Murder is on the rise in the U.K. as that august periodical the British Medical Journal informs us. And what is the weapon of choice of our Anglo brethren? Knives, accounting for one third of all homicides.The solution to this epidemic of death by cutlery... "We suggest that banning the sale of long pointed knives is a sensible and practical measure..."I'm no expert on the dynamics

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1117175734380345552005-05-26T23:41:00.000-07:002005-05-26T23:43:20.450-07:00Tumescent Law

Eugene Volokh of the Volokh Conspiracy recently published this post. He quotes the language of some Indiana and Tennessee law defining the crime of public nudity. Volokh calls particular attention to this clause:"the showing of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state."I'm particularly gratified to note the precise exposition of this important bit of legislation. However, several

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1116378181373397142005-05-17T18:02:00.000-07:002005-05-17T18:03:01.376-07:00One Big Cake

Thanks to A Welsh View for this post: Las Vegas is claiming the record for the world's largest birthday cake. I'm anticipating a lot of doggie bags.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1116311248928034262005-05-16T23:25:00.000-07:002005-05-16T23:42:03.746-07:00Logical Flaw in Newsweek's "Koran Down the Toilet" Story

Michelle Malkin has more to say about the Newsweek story retraction.Personally, I never trusted Newsweek's story about the Guantanamo Bay intelligence agent who flushed a copy of the Koran down a toilet. I don't know how things are at your house but around here, any such attempt would require a prompt search for the plumber's helper.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1116065852351241452005-05-14T03:16:00.000-07:002005-05-14T03:17:32.356-07:00Someone's in a lot of trouble!

At last!

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115998317913495262005-05-13T08:31:00.000-07:002005-05-13T08:35:35.463-07:00Huffington's Post vs. Huffington's Toast

I think it's really a shame that The Huffington Post doesn't make their traffic data public as the Huffington Toast does. This is definitely a race for market share I'd love to follow. Thing's at the Toast are picking up dramatically. Is it too late to get in at the ground floor?

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115850186121314822005-05-11T15:27:00.000-07:002005-05-11T16:34:51.796-07:00Michael Heistand's take on the impact of the NHL player's strike

Michael Heistand wrote a column for USA Today on the fact that ESPN's ratings are no worse since replacing NHL games with other things (such as some sports star bowling show). It must be tough on the best hockey players in the world to know that the ratings they generate are no better than those of women's softball.His article quotes NHL spokeswoman Bernadette Mansur as saying "the point is not

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115687898569653972005-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:002005-05-09T18:38:46.673-07:00 The Best of Arianna Huffington's Blog

A lot has been said about the Huffington Post, much of it scathing. I would like to post one link that is quite a gem however. Jonah Peretti, the site's technical guru has posted a demo of just what an expert with Photoshop can do. The original graphic artist responsible for the display, Greg Apodaca has other examples here.I particularly liked this example of how he made the model's breasts

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115660561070326042005-05-09T10:42:00.000-07:002005-05-09T13:56:27.163-07:00Conspicuous absences at the Time Traveler Convention

The Instapundit linked his readers to an account of the MIT Time Traveler Convention. Apparently the convention was a big success. Unfortunately, there were no time travelers in attendance.Six reasons for this conspicuous absence were raised. To me, there was a seventh: Perhaps in the future, time traveler conventions are generally dismissed as passé.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115496730771300162005-05-07T13:40:00.000-07:002005-05-09T17:44:54.926-07:00Disturbing developments in Mount Kisco, NY

Parking meter man Jason Burke is in big trouble. It seems that the Mount Kisco, NY public servant stole some $30,000 worth of quarters he collected over an eight month period. This in itself raises troubling questions about government oversight in this community.According to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a quarter weighs 5.7 grams. It therefore follows that $30,000 weighs about 1,508

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115418186170922292005-05-06T15:22:00.000-07:002005-05-06T15:23:06.186-07:00British Islam Coming of Age

It's not very funny but here's something that should definitely give us pause (if true). I wonder how non-Muslim Brits view the rising political power of their Muslim neighbors.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115239474068706422005-05-04T13:44:00.000-07:002005-05-07T16:37:25.790-07:00Lynndie England's Position in the U.S. Military

Lynndie England is truly the Rodney Dangerfield of the U.S. military. She couldn't even get a military court to accept her guilty verdict. Its conclusion was that she didn't know what she was doing. I don't know what's more humiliating, her infamous photo ops or her court-adjudicated incompetence.Either way, I hope she exhibits a higher level of competence when she commissions the ghost writer

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115100898951692142005-05-02T23:15:00.000-07:002005-05-02T23:14:58.953-07:00More on NASA's commitment to flight shuttle safety

It seems that NASA's most experienced shuttle pilot has some less than favorable words about the NASA upper management "culture". When someone criticizes an organization, one needs to assess three things:Do the claims make sense?Is the critic credible?Does the critic have a hidden agenda?To me the answers are yes, yes and, unless NASA has failed to make good on some back wages, no.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1115004061872861992005-05-01T20:21:00.000-07:002005-05-01T20:23:29.490-07:00U.S./N. Korean Relations and the Language of Diplomacy

Linguistics scholars have long been concerned with the implications of words and syntax uttered by national leaders and their representatives. Recall the complex discussions regarding the president and his Russian translator in the novel Fail Safe.It seems quite likely that North Korea has tested a short range missle by firing one into the Sea of Japan. What then will the linguists make of the

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114935649374872162005-05-01T01:21:00.000-07:002005-05-01T10:09:44.086-07:00Mapplethorpe Controversy Relived

Two men in Wyoming created a snow phallus in their front yard. The press clearly wasn't quick enough on the draw for this story. Philistine neighbors destroyed it before a picture could be taken. Now that would have been a front page New York Times photo I'd like to have seen!By the way, one point I've learned from this story is the accepted journalistic term for the male genitalia (thankfully a

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114884838042718902005-04-30T11:13:00.000-07:002005-04-30T11:14:38.023-07:00A Skimpy Change in a Local Ordinance

I've no doubt the people of Cape May, NJ have long been awaiting this happy day. A 30 year ban of Speedo swimsuits has at last been lifted (or perhaps dropped) from this little town. As one who is perhaps prone to overanalysing things I have only this to say: be careful what you wish for.My experience has been that, as a first approximation, those most inclined to wear the least are those we'd

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114805815897439972005-04-29T13:16:00.000-07:002005-04-29T13:16:55.896-07:00Laura Ingraham's Battle With Breast Cancer

While I generally choose to avoid dwelling on the negative, I've long held the philosophy that if you give most people the opportunity, they'll disappoint you. Then, when they fail to meet those expectations, I find my spirits cherrily boosted.The reaction of many individuals to Laura Ingraham's battle against breast cancer has unfortunately bolstered my overall world view. It appears that some

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114804095469102302005-04-29T12:48:00.000-07:002005-04-29T12:50:56.163-07:00Sensible News From NASA

I've been concerned about safety issues of the space shuttle (see here and here ).It seems like NASA is delaying the flight of the shuttle a bit longer. This may seem like bad news but I think it reflects a growing awareness within the organization that having the shuttle disintegrate on its next flight would be bad.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114718243822986002005-04-28T12:57:00.000-07:002005-04-28T18:02:49.920-07:00Trouble in Northern Europe

The toads in Hamburg and Denmark are exploding. Fortunately, some of the best minds in Europe are on working on the case. Some current working hypotheses:Crows are pecking out their livers and causing the problem. Frank Mutschmann, a Berlin veterinarian reports that "The crows are clever...They learn quickly from watching other crows how to get the livers." Does this mean that crows have

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114641499772559502005-04-27T15:37:00.000-07:002005-04-28T11:21:25.363-07:00Ann Coulter and Rosie O'Donnell

I know that a lot has been made about republican Ann Coulter's somewhat unattractive Time Magazine cover. Personally, I found it to be rather intriguing (though inexplicably avant garde). The claim was made however that conservatives are photographed in a less-than-flattering technique than liberals.Few people would characterize Rosie O'Donnell as anything but liberal. However, I'd check out

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114624280726426332005-04-27T12:41:00.000-07:002005-05-02T03:11:24.770-07:00Little Sympathy for French Angst

The responses to my last post appeared primarily concerned with the physics of the proposed change to the international definition of the kilogram. Little concern was voiced for the delicate sensitivities of the French as they prepare to lose yet another trapping of Francocentricity.We seem unprepared to shed even a single tear as they confront the domination of American creativity exhibited in

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114560638662736592005-04-26T17:10:00.000-07:002005-04-26T23:47:23.580-07:00The French get slammed again

French supremacy with regards to the international definition of the kilogram may be coming to an end. Currently, the plum-sized platinum-iridium standard is stored in Paris. If some scientists have their way, the kilogram will be redefined in terms of some obscure physics mumbo jumbo.The take-home point is that Americans will no longer have to come to France and brave the legendary snootiness

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114240310186019502005-04-23T00:12:00.000-07:002005-04-24T21:39:03.813-07:00Looking on the bright side...

It seems that one of our men in blue had an unauthorized discharge while sitting on the toilet. On the bright side, the constipation of the man in the stall next to him magically resolved.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114196755390273852005-04-22T12:05:00.000-07:002005-04-22T12:08:18.996-07:00Be nicer, tread lightly, don't be a dufus.

Don't mess with this nurse if you end up in HER emergency room. You certainly won't live longer but your wait will be. She's got valid points although I think her hospital needs to offer a better vacation package.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1114149913632037632005-04-21T22:58:00.000-07:002005-04-21T23:05:13.633-07:00A Granddaddy of Dubious Notions

Well here's one way of certifying the upcoming launch of the space shuttle. Loosening safety standards on the space shuttle seems to be NASA's version of grading on a "curve". In fact, on the most grade-inflated curve imaginable, their administrators deserve an F for common sense. A's all around for creativity though.This is one way of getting the shuttle off the ground. My concern is that it

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113976229469302872005-04-19T22:51:00.000-07:002005-04-19T22:58:48.816-07:00Taking your work home gets a bad name

David Lawrence Beale thought he'd take some work home with him. Ordinarily, that wouldn't be a problem but unfortunately, Beale is a morgue assistant. 150 pounds of human remains including two heads found near his home was considered more than the standard take-home allotment. He was apparently honing his dissection skills. Why he needed dissection skills is unclear. He will be spending the next

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113857770828265482005-04-18T13:56:00.000-07:002005-04-27T15:40:07.610-07:00Good Safety Tip

Vancouver law enforcement has administered a helpful public service announcement: "If you run out (of) fuel, do not lay down on the road to get assistance."This is a rule I've followed for several years and one which I feel should be more widely adopted.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113735154810630582005-04-17T08:48:00.000-07:002005-04-17T21:33:54.483-07:00Legislation hits the "Irish disease"

Ireland is initiating legislation designed to reduce binge drinking. The idea is to facilitate the licensing of new drinking establishments that promote safer drinking practices such as requiring these licensees to provide hot meals along with alcohol, limit pub hours, etc.I've never been to Ireland but I'm told that alcohol consumption is their national pastime analogous to our sport of baseball

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113607684150692912005-04-15T16:27:00.000-07:002005-04-15T16:28:04.160-07:00A less than happy surgical outcome

Here's a headline for the ages: Man Upset With Penile Surgery Mails Bomb. It looks like this gentleman really needed the surgery given the degree of inadequacy and impotence he apparently feels.If the surgery had been more successful, he probably would have been a true mover and shaker.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113523780787829252005-04-14T17:16:00.000-07:002005-04-14T17:18:59.086-07:00A new labor-saving device courtesy of those wacky MIT kids!

It seems that some scientific conferences have higher standards for their academic submissions than others. Jeremy Stribling and two of his fellow MIT students wrote a computer program that generates nonsensical scientific articles using random text and diagram generators.Stribling describes one of the motivations for their program in his website:"One useful purpose for such a program is to

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113430192280537922005-04-13T15:08:00.000-07:002005-04-13T15:12:43.073-07:00Risk-Takers and the Women Who Love Them

I don't know about this study. I think the data needs to be massaged a little more. Apparently, women aren't attracted to risk-takers but instead prefer men who take fewer chances. My observation from the vantage point of a man who takes fewer chances...doubtful.With every survey, one has to ask, are the respondents answering how they truly think or how they think they should think? Whenever I

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113381009460256572005-04-13T01:17:00.000-07:002005-04-26T23:50:08.013-07:00Salmon Rushdie feels we're insensitive to the concerns of other lands

Salmon Rushdie is disappointed in President Bush because of his "unwillingness to engage with the rest of the world in a serious way," thus fanning the flames of terrorism. He feels we're offending the delicate sensitivities of other nations.I understand that Rushdie is writing a new novel about Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In it, he characterizes their sexual proclivities and closet

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113374271168364442005-04-12T23:38:00.000-07:002005-04-12T23:43:10.273-07:00The Oldest Profession Meets Robinson's-May

Hungary has turned out to be much more progressive than I'd been led to believe. It shows you how little I know about eastern Europe which I've always thought of as kind of fuddy duddy. It seems that the Interior Ministry is going to allow prostitutes to ply their trade in specially licensed shopping malls. These designated areas are termed zones of patience. Come on, I could have come up with a

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113372877770101632005-04-12T23:15:00.000-07:002005-04-26T23:56:28.140-07:00No comment

Probably best to post this link and leave it at that.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113372554966253142005-04-12T23:09:00.000-07:002005-04-12T23:09:14.966-07:00Things you don't see everyday

It was only a matter of time. A Beluga whale made a wrong turn, swam into the Delaware River and ended up in New Jersey.Cut him some slack. I have that problem when I'm driving in Boston.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113265519369302702005-04-11T17:25:00.000-07:002005-04-11T18:03:03.646-07:00Weight Control Advertising

I came across this photo from an ad for phentermine on the Armenian Medical Network. Is it just me or does someone need some remedial anatomy lessons?

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113263875324012282005-04-11T16:58:00.000-07:002005-04-11T17:33:39.916-07:00Inspired Engineering

Here are some engineering students from Purdue University who won the national Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. Their entry was a device that in a mere 125 steps changed a flashlight's batteries and switched it on.Dubious Notions' prediction: after graduation, government contract jobs all around.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112913312950536482005-04-10T23:34:00.000-07:002005-04-11T18:01:31.596-07:00Muddy thinking and the space shuttle

It seems that the space shuttle is back in gear. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I'm a bit of a techno-geek (amateur without professional experience in engineering geekness) and I love to know that the shuttle will fly again.On the other hand, I see a big problems with NASA's handling of the mechanical issues leading to the last shuttle disaster: Solutions seemed to focus on

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113187212792758942005-04-10T20:58:00.000-07:002005-04-10T21:07:18.606-07:00A smile, a handshake and an international incident

Certainly you didn't think that the pope's funeral would be without political intrigue and back-biting?As a non-Catholic who's occasionally attended mass I've always found quaint the "sign of peace" custom whereby adjacent congregants are invited to shake hands. One wonders whether Israeli president Moshe Katsav, Iranian president Mohammed Khatami and Syrian president Bashar Assad anticipated

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113113547342942772005-04-09T23:12:00.000-07:002005-04-10T02:01:16.393-07:00The Village Idiot of Story, Indiana

The small town of Story, Indiana is in the news as the winner of their annual Village Idiot Award was announced today. This year's winner is one Mark Carmichael. Apparently it was a very competitive field making Carmichael's accomplishment all the more impressive.Mr. Carmichael had been a strong contender all year but sawing through a live wire and wrecking his truck hours after purchasing it put

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113099287241953372005-04-09T19:15:00.000-07:002005-04-09T19:19:06.830-07:00The Royal Wedding

Congratulations to Prince Charles and Camilla! Dubious Notions' prediction: in-law problems that will make the Schiavo case seem like a stroll along the Thames.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113026112123217562005-04-08T22:55:00.000-07:002005-04-08T22:55:12.126-07:00For when your cranium runneth over...

This has got to be a great product! It seems that the FDA has approved a new gel called DuraSeal that will "prevent brain surgery leaks." Now far be it for me to speak authoritatively on the subject of brain surgery but even a neophyte such as myself knows a good idea when it comes along. Frankly, I wasn't even aware that brain surgery leaks were a big problem but it's reassuring to know that

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1113024094178507862005-04-08T22:11:00.000-07:002005-04-08T22:21:34.176-07:00Where's the smart money in the choice for a new pope?

The word I have is that the succession of pontiffs follows the pattern thin-fat-thin--fat-etc. Look for the next pope to be thin.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112978801849852652005-04-08T09:49:00.000-07:002005-04-14T22:12:31.693-07:00Big-Time Funeral for a Big-Time Pope

OK. I'm a fairly religious guy, just not Catholic. So there's a lot I don't understand about JPII's whole death process. What's the deal about laying him out on his bed after he died with the TV cameras, reporters, publicists, etc?Seems a little impersonal or a little ghoulish depending on your point of view. I also thought his outfit was a bit too festive for the occasion.I'm not a sophisticated

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112820136742609802005-04-06T13:42:00.000-07:002005-04-26T17:42:26.390-07:00Trouble in the Wheelchair Pageant Circuit

Proving once again that scandal touches all. That most august institution, the Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin Pageant stripped Janeal Lee of her recent 2005 title. Apparently, she was seen standing in a public photograph. This caused a shockwave of repercussions to rip through the wheelchair pageant community.One of those repercussions was the resignation of Jen Onsum, coodinator of the sister pageant

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112810956129617962005-04-06T11:07:00.000-07:002005-04-06T11:09:16.130-07:00Fox-Blocker! Promoting the Great Dialogue

There's a wonderful new product out that I came across on Al Franken's blog. What an admirable concept, a device you can hook up to your TV that will block the FOX News Network. Certainly this will go a long way towards educating the public on the complex issues facing us in our daily lives.Who can rationally deny that blocking access to a particular viewpoint is a good thing and will do much to

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112767042559921182005-04-05T22:57:00.000-07:002005-04-08T23:12:26.723-07:00An elegant end to an elegant life

While it won't have quite the pomp and circumstance as the Pope John-Paul II funeral, the burial of Hunter S. Thompson will have its charm. It seems that: "Hunter S. Thompson's ashes will be blasted from a cannon mounted inside a 53-foot-high sculpture of the journalist's "gonzo fist" emblem, his wife said Tuesday."Though perhaps not as understated as his writings and his temperance, such an end

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112649554590333462005-04-04T15:01:00.000-07:002005-04-05T09:56:15.946-07:00The Border Blues

The U.S. Border Patrol seems to be having problems with some pesky "Minutemen". These volunteers are doing their own patrols for illegal aliens along one of the most porous regions of the Arizona - Mexican border. Rather than being embraced for their efforts, they have instead been accused of interfering with the government's day-to-day operations. Apparently, while moving along the border,

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112588911859416322005-04-03T21:29:00.000-07:002005-04-03T21:28:31.860-07:00The "new" editorial policy

Just had some Chinese food for dinner after which your intrepid blogger opened his fortune cookie. The message wasn't the usual tepid, noncommittal sagely advice. Today's was "Love is just around the corner."Of course my wife found this particularly amusing.Obviously the company has hired a young, new, take-charge kind of copywriter.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112514539987015322005-04-03T09:11:00.000-07:002005-04-03T16:19:07.996-07:00A Proud Endorsement of the Weekly World News

One of my favorite periodicals is the Weekly World News. WWN makes the National Enquirer look like the Wall Street Journal. They get the stories that the New York Times somehow misses.This article is typical of the high journalistic standards I've come to know and trust. It seems that a Brandy Sue Schimmel is suing her parents because she's so...repulsive-looking. Her theory is that since her

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112484978417373312005-04-02T15:44:00.000-08:002005-04-03T09:33:55.013-07:00What do high heels and AIDS relief have in common?

The Elton John AIDS Foundation is doing its part to help women and children in Africa affected by AIDS. They will be "asking some of the world's sassiest women to strip down to their heels and diamonds, and let the best female photographers in the world capture it all for a coffee-table book".The project will be called Four Inches.This is my kind of charity. The article I've linked above

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112456023908737452005-04-02T07:31:00.000-08:002005-04-02T08:58:01.330-08:00The Impending Sorrow of a Tiny Nation

It seems that Prince Albert's accession to the Crown of Monaco is in no way the sure thing that I'd imagined. His bachelorhood could become a major impediment. Necessity might just be the impetus Albert needs to end his swinging single days. Unfortunately, Claudia Schiffer is out of circulation. It isn't all darkness and gloom though. As monarch, his new wardrobe can be expected to have much more

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112429909273398022005-04-02T00:16:00.000-08:002005-04-02T07:15:25.766-08:00Imponderables

Am I the only one that finds it strange that the spell checker for Blogger's text editor doesn't include the word "blog"?

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112429759264259472005-04-02T00:14:00.000-08:002005-04-02T00:15:59.266-08:00Doggy Humor

According to the thesis of this article, my dog might find some things in life worth laughing at. That may be true but I can say with some certainty that he doesn't find this blog amusing. Perhaps he's overly discriminating.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112426148311290002005-04-01T23:13:00.000-08:002005-04-01T23:19:59.503-08:00Trouble Brewing in Zimbabwe

Do you find this story as astonishing as I do? Imagine, allegations of election fraud in an African nation! My delicate sensitivities have been stunned into utter paralysis.Could any of the thinly veiled mistrust of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe have to do with some of the shopping "irregularities" of him and his fetching wife? Mugabe and Gucci Grace, as she is affectionately referred to by

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11843790.post-1112339399652294562005-03-31T23:08:00.000-08:002005-04-01T00:06:23.463-08:00I'm happy to be here.

God forbid that I should use this new blog to discuss anything of serious import.

Dubious Notionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508090610350450761noreply@blogger.com0