No longer wandering Indiana
News Headline: "Clintons make 100th stop in Indiana."
News Headline: "Obama has breakfast omelet at Indiana restaurant."
Be honest. Does it matter more who won -- or that you won't have to hear "Indiana, Our Indiana" anytime soon again?
News Item: As many as 12 U.S. soldiers have been electrocuted in Iraq because of shoddy electrical systems installed and maintained under no-bid contracts awarded by the Bush administration.
We have come to accept that President Bush likes to let his friends in the war profiteer community romp through the Treasury.
But could they at least try to keep their death toll down?
We Have Seen the Present, and It Does Not Work:
Eighty percent of British parents do not allow their children to go out riding bicycles on their own because of "concern about safety."
Ralph Moses, a Golden Eagle, Ill., reader, writes:
"Regarding your statement that a group of weasels is a 'boogle': Are you sure it isn't a 'Congress'?"
No. That would be a group of rabid weasels.
Was that really Laura Bush, wife of President Bush, criticizing Myanmar for its "inept" response to a major storm?
News Item: "A German tourist had a shock when his caravan rolled 200 yards down a hill -- while he was on the toilet."
Some news stories help the reader stay informed about current events.
Some are just fun to visualize.
News Item: ". . . The findings back up the idea that smoking bans discourage tobacco use in teens by sending the message that smoking is frowned upon in the community . . ."
Nothing sends a chill down a teenager's spine like the news that the community is frowning.
Reja Jager, a Plattville, Ill., reader, regarding another reader's wondering if Rush Limbaugh and Roseanne Barr are indeed the same person, writes:
"It adds interest when you consider reports that Rush Limbaugh has a crush on Hillary."
Let's just say that politics makes strange bed . . . persons.
Rushanne Limbaugh-Barr to his radio audience:
"Our most expensive commodity in this country is ignorance, not uncivil discourse."
And let it be said that in the preparation of the radio show, no expense has been spared.
QT Modern Corporate Gibberish of the Week:
Evotec has acquired Renovis, while Vivus hopes to market Qnex.
In other news, Apotex and Intas have agreed to develop Filgastrim.
Frank Powers, a Crystal, Minn., reader, writes:
"From a truck catalog: '. . . eliminates unauthorized removal . . .' When did theft become unauthorized removal, and when can we have theft back?"
And A.C., a Round Lake reader, wants to know when purchasing agents became strategic sourcing managers, and when can we have purchasing agents back?
And R.H., an Addison reader, wants to know when customer service became "consumer resolution," and when can we have customer service back?
And . . .
News Headline: "Will California ever fall into the ocean?"
The headline writers seem to be growing impatient.
From Poor QT's Almanack:
On this day in history 175 years ago, 168 years ago and 107 years ago, respectively, were born the composers Johannes Brahms, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Marcel Poot, one of whom, let's be fair, started out with a certain disadvantage.
QT Grammar R Us Seminar on the English Language:
H.S., a Chicago reader, writes:
"What is the difference between a hurricane, a cyclone and a typhoon?"
No difference. All are the same kind of huge rotating of storm, except that hurricanes form in the Atlantic, Caribbean and northeastern Pacific, while typhoons form in the western Pacific or southeastern Indian Ocean, while cyclones form in certain other parts of the Indian Ocean or part of the southwest Pacific.
Or something much like that.
The National Hurricane Center wants you to know there will never be another Hurricane Lenny, by the way.
