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From the NYT, the story of a multimillion-dollar game of rock, paper, scissors.

Responding to a challenge by Mark Hasty:

English Genius

You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 86% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: https://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

(...damn "farther"/"further" question tripped me up...)

Take the test for yourself here.

bacon strip bandages, originally uploaded by adampsyche.

A thing of beauty. (Available here.)

As threatened below, Tony Hightower and I hosted trivia at the Baggot Inn last night.  It was my first time doing it (friggin' n00b!), and I had a blast.  It was a crowded room; we had sixteen, count 'em, 16 teams.  Our favorite team names were "Paula Abdul Said My Movement Was Excellent" and "NASTLA -- The North American Student-Teacher Love Association." 

As always, trivia consisted of five rounds -- general knowledge, current events, a Top Ten List, audio, and visual rounds.  Questions (and answers!) after the jump.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm co-hosting Tuesday Trivia tonight with the estimable Tony Hightower (aka Chico Bangs) at the Baggot Inn at 7:30pm.

Bring your friends!  Bring your enemies!  After all, the more you drink, the better you do...and you might even win your bar tab.

Use the Spoon, Luke!, originally uploaded by muckster.

Alas, I can't take credit for this shot. This was taken by muckster, shortly after he unpacked his own lightsaber spoon.

Mathowie rides his recumbent bike, and the Internet responds.

Check out these great photos, shot by an Atlanta police officer.  (Via MeFi.)

Why not just admit it up front?

Wow.

B. and I went to see the great Elvis Costello last night at the Beacon.  It was the third time I've seen him (and B.'s first), and it was a very, very good show:  a whirlwhind of fascinating moments and dramatic, intense, finely-crafted music well-executed by a singer at the top of his game.  (Elvis is the only musician I can think of whose singing has gone from merely adequate to very good over the course of his career, even as his songwriting veers all over the map...and this is certainly not meant to disparage his songwriting, because when he's on his game, he's The. Best. Around.)

Sondre Lerche, a Norwegian singer-songwriter, opened the show, armed with only a hollow-body electric guitar.  He sounded to me like a 1940s crooner (with a touch of Morrisey in there) ...but he knew how to make some noise when the occasion demanded.  His songs were good, off-kilter nuggets sung with wit and style.  Bears watching, this lad.

What else can I say about the show?  In thinking back on it, I'm left with a collection of fleeting images:

Your TSA at work, using tax dollars and "security fees" to make you safer:

Are you cool?

Epstein's Bar, originally uploaded by Vidiot.

As my girlfriend wondered...isn't this a disease?

More viral marketing hoo-hah:

This site lets you upload a picture and put it on a dancing avatar, who will then groove to the music.  (Just click it, already, then click on "poplockin'" and "groove".)

Sugared cereal isn't usually my bag -- so sweet! -- but the other day while shopping, B. and I noticed that the box of Honey Smacks on the shelf contained a "Lightsaber Spoon" inside.  (Kellogg's is pimping the new Star Wars flick pretty hard: you can get Raisin Bran with a "Jedi Mind Game" inside...as B2 writes, "these are not the raisins you seek.  Move along.")  Both B. and I simultaneously lunged for the shelf...we had to have a lightsaber spoon.  So we got two boxes, and now we can have duels over our morning cereal.  (One -- minor -- disappointment; they come in three colors, but both of ours are red.)

Here's the spoon in its dormant state, and here's a photo I quite like of the spoon in action.

ADDENDUM:  Looks like it's in Corn Pops as well.

I'm not normally one for viral marketing, but check out the clever Flash intro (and three movies) at Microsoft's site for OneNote.  (Thanks, Mike!)

One question, though:  Why is it called OneNote 2003?  I assume Bill Gates owns a calendar.

"The time has come that the American people know exactly what their Representatives are doing here in Washington. Are they feeding at the public trough, taking lobbyist-paid vacations, getting wined and dined by special interest groups? Or are they working hard to represent their constituents? The people, the American people, have a right to know...I say the best disinfectant is full disclosure, not isolation."

For the record, I agree fully.

But who is this mysterious, astute commenter on the perils of Washington?

Michael Moore?  Nope.

Al Franken?  Nah.

Nancy Pelosi?  Try again.

No, it's the bug man himself.  Tom DeLay.  Wee bit ironic, innit?

I'm laughing my ass off at this.  (Found when Mathowie linked to this.)

Warmest congratulations to Brittney, professional blogger.

Antonin Scalia: Activist Judge

Asparagus Festival, originally uploaded by Vidiot.

The employee cafeteria is having an "Asparagus Festival" today: roasted asparagus, grilled asparagus, marinated asparagus, asparagus-and-cheese pizza, asparagus quesadillas, shrimp-salad-and-asparagus sandwiches, cream of asparagus soup...the list goes on.

I give it about three hours before every urinal in the building reeks.

You know, when I first saw this story, I misread the headline as "Some see Virgin Mary in underpants stain."

Sweetheart Ducks got you down?  Devil Duckies, Metallic Devil Duckies, Zebra Devil Duckies, Ducks With Attitude, or Dead Ducks not just cutting it?

Try some Celebriducks instead.  (Available in KISS or Osbournes editions.)

You know, this isn't the kind of sentiment I express very often (on the blog, at least.)

But fuck you, Ann Coulter.  Today of all days.

I was surprised to see that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope today.  It's exceedingly rare that a front-runner emerge from the conclave as the eventual winner.

Now, I'm not a Catholic, but I do care about who is elected as Pope.  Like it or not, after John Paul II's papacy, the role of the pope has changed from Bishop of Rome and doctrinal boss to de facto world leader on a par with presidents and kings.  And in that sense, I am disappointed at Ratzinger's election.