Fresh Cherry Blossoms

This morning at the Tidal Basin...

Origin of Wine

One of many stories:

In ancient Iranian mythology, it was said that King Jamsheed preserved his grapes out of season in large jars. One year one of the jars began to ferment and to smell odd. So it was labeled “poison” to warn anyone against drinking it.

Along came one of the ladies of the court, so stricken with misery and despair that she seized the opportunity to drink from that very jar. Astonishingly, she survived. More astonishingly, she was cured of her depression, at least momentarily.

Signs of Spring

Yeah, but size doesn't matter...

Average Erect Penis Lengths for Different Species:

Humpback whale - 10 ft.
Elephant – 5 to 6 ft.
Bull – 3 ft.
Stallion – 2 ft. 6 in.
Rhinoceros – 2 ft.
Pig – 18 to 20 in.
Man – 6 in.
Gorilla – 2 in.
Cat - ¾ in.
Mosquito – 1/100 in.

~ The New Book of Lists
Wallechinsky and Wallace

Sand

and the Falling Sand Game

iPod Wayback Machine

Apple today released the Apple iPod Wayback Machine, and Sherman has already set the year to 1964.



What was the name of that burlesque theater on Forbes St. in the downtown area?

One Thing For Sure...

An Irish Blessing

Walls for the wind,
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you,
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire.

Capitol Building

One

This blog celebrated its 1st anniversary last week, We had a small party here at the blog offices, nothing too fancy, just a six-pack of Rolling Rock and some pizza. The gospel blues group Clammy Hands performed their big hit, “Jesus, I Can’t Take This Shit Anymore,” and a narcoleptic stripper also performed but she fell asleep during one of her bumps.

We received some e-mail comments on our 1st anniversary, and here they are:

“It’s obvious you’ve tried to present an interesting blog; it’s also obvious that you’ve failed. Try channeling your energies elsewhere.”
~ Robert Simmons, Johnstown, PA

“Your photos suck big time.”
~ Buford Durmer, Jasper, TN

“Do yourself and the country a big favor and give up this nonsense.”
~ George and Laura Bush, Washington, DC

“Lame and inane. Stop it”
~ George Will, Chevy Chase, MD

"With all the crap going on in the world today, why do you have to add yours!"

~ Chuck Zink, Miami, FL

“Our young son has begun looking at your blog. Please, please, we are beggin’ you – stop the madness.”
~ John and Mindy Miller, Backport, TX

The Boiling Springs Tavern

"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn."

~ Samuel Johnson

Mount Tibidabo, Spain

To make the trek up the mount worthwhile and to get you through those long masses, the Church kindly provides post-service entertainment.

BEER

“Give me a woman who loves beer, and I will conquer the world.”
~ Kaiser Wilhelm


“Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
~ Ben Franklin


“24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?”
~ Steven Wright


“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.”
~ Dave Barry


“You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.”
~Frank Zappa

The Capital Skyline

You can't quite make out the corridors of power from this vantage point.

Sparrow

"Sparrow on the hedgerow
Just about to sing
Sparrow on the hedgerow
Waiting for the spring."

~ E. Dense Collier

The Return of Buddy the Dog

Photo Projects

A couple of interesting photo projects:

The Diego Golberg Timeline

Kathleen Connally's A Walk Through Durham Township