Events

From my mom: Yeshiva University decided to field a rowing team. Unfortunately, they lose race after race. Even though they practice and practice for hours every day, they never manage to come in any better than dead last. Finally, the team decides to send Morris Fishbein, its captain, to spy on Harvard, the perennial championship team. So Morris schlepps off to Cambridge and hides in the bushes next to the Charles River, where he carefully watches the Harvard team at its daily practices. After a week...

The Bears going to the Superbowl has caused a ripple effect through Chicago karma. I first noticed it on the train this morning. Ordinarily, an express train picks up almost a full load of people at the stop right before mine, then whisks them to the Loop, allowing the local train that follows three minutes later to pick all of us up without making us sit on each others' laps. Today, the express train apparently followed the local train, so by the time the local got to me, we were sitting on each...

Via Talking Points Memo comes this gem.

When I took this photo, Parker weighed just over 10 kg (22 lbs): He's grown since then, about another 10 kg worth, until last week. Apparently he's leveled off at 21 kg (46 lbs), which makes him a perfectly normal German Rat Beagle: I thought he would get to 22.5 kg (50 lbs), but maybe not. Regardless, he's just the right size.

Good, detailed summary of the economics and business aspects of Microsoft's latest operating system: For years Microsoft's Windows logo often appeared against a blue sky with cottony clouds. But the cloud has become one of the company's biggest threats. The operating system matters less when programs can be provided online. Moreover, online software can be delivered to customers more cheaply, there is immediate feedback from users and applications can continually be improved. Those are big advantages...

My caption: "October 23. Parker helps with the laundry." I can only imagine his caption, but I'd bet it would mention a huge pile of chew-toys.

It's worth remembering what President Eisenhower said in his farewell address, on this day in 1961: This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence-economic, political, even spiritual-is felt in every city, every state house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are...

Imagine the consequences of having a black puppy on a white duvet. Then again, why imagine?

I don't always understand Parker, but here, I believe he's saying "Victory!" Requiescat in pacem, Sofa (1998-2007):

Everything, no matter how inert, must be sniffed. Like this rock, for example: