Short film: "Bud Selig Must Die."

Synopsis: To keep George W. Bush from becoming president, one man (Eric Artell) must convince two time travel clerks (Tony Hale and Jon Heder) that Bud Selig must die.


http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f8ef162554/bud-selig-must-die

This country's dumbest journalist?

"Shea Allen, an investigative reporter at an Alabama ABC affiliate, got fired after posting this little beauty:

1. I've gone bra-less during a live broadcast and no one was the wiser.
6. I'm frightened of old people and I refuse to do stories involving them or the places they reside.
9. If you ramble and I deem you unnecessary for my story, I'll stop recording but let you think otherwise.
10. I've stolen mail and then put it back. (maybe)"

More at

http://boingboing.net/2013/07/29/reporter-fired-after-blogging.html

McDonnell needs to do much more to have any hope of repairing reputation

From WAPO's Robert McCartney

"To preserve any hope of salvaging his reputation, McDonnell (R) must dig deeper into his pockets and his soul.

Admittedly, it probably wouldn’t be sufficient to save his political career, and certainly not if he’s indicted. New York politicians Eliot Spitzer and Anthony Weiner are attempting comebacks after sex scandals, but they have an advantage: Voters are typically more tolerant of sins of the flesh than of the bank account."

SNIP

"No amount of support for ethics reform would help McDonnell if he ends up facing serious legal charges. That would also hurt his chances of obtaining a high-paying, private-sector job so he can relieve the financial pressure caused by ill-timed real estate investments and Maureen’s expensive tastes.

The biggest question in Richmond is whether a federal grand jury will indict the governor for public corruption under the Hobbs Act."


Whole article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/mcdonnell-needs-to-do-much-more-to-have-any-hope-of-repairing-reputation/2013/07/27/c8f3812a-f65d-11e2-9434-60440856fadf_story.html

Va. first lady McDonnell spent thousands from husband’s PAC on clothes, other items

"RICHMOND — Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell bought nearly $9,800 in clothing with money from her husband’s political action committee and tapped into his campaign and inaugural funds to buy $7,600 in mostly unspecified items, according to records and a representative for the PAC."

Whole article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-first-lady-mcdonnell-spent-thousands-from-husbands-pac-on-clothes-other-items/2013/07/27/fefddc62-f56c-11e2-aa2e-4088616498b4_story.html

Book rec for the "sky is falling" crowd.

"Scatter, Adapt, and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction" by Annalee Newitz.

I particularity enjoyed this quote: "The world has been almost completely destroyed at least a half dozen times already in Earth's 4.5-billion-year history, and every single time there have been survivors."

Review here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/scatter-adapt-and-remember-how-humans-will-survive-a-mass-extinction-by-annalee-newitz/2013/07/25/77f19520-9300-11e2-a31e-14700e2724e4_story.html

World's Most Infamous Soap Box Derby Car

"If 14-year-old James Gronen had built his car for the Soap Box Derby today, he might have been hailed by some as a Mark Zuckerberg of mobile innovation, a kid who refused to lose, who dared to rewrite the rules to win.

Unfortunately, he built his car in 1973, and all he got for it was decades of infamy.

James's car, designed to cheat, was innocently sponsored by the Jaycees of Boulder, Colorado. Hidden in its nose was an electromagnet that yanked the car forward when the metal starting gate fell, providing an unorthodox competitive edge and sending the car hurtling down the hillside track to a national championship victory."

""It was most creative; an ingenious way to win," he conceded; clearly wrong, yet it celebrated the Derby's encouragement of teamwork between adults and children (James had help from his uncle), and it highlighted the Derby's dream to spur development in science, technology, engineering, and math. "You could say it was the coolest car," said Joe, with the same kind of dark fascination we find in gangsters and lawbreakers."

Whole article here:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/38674?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+roadsideamerica+%28RoadsideAmerica.com%29

The car just went on display at the All-American Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame and Museum at Derby Downs in Ohio.

Disney's Flordia Adventure! from Ruben Bolling's "Tom the Dancing Bug."

Guess what I saw flying over SE DC today?

The army's new surveillance blimp as described here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3331129


I was at the Nats game for a ridiculous 12:30 start (Summer camp day). It appeared between the Capitol and Booz Allen Hamilton's building (of course!) in the 4th inning and then again (further east) during the 8th inning. Most people around me thought it was a prankster and didn't believe me when I stated the Army is building hi-tech blimps.

Sorry. no pic of it in DC, my phone is an antique.

McBudget Advice for Fast Food Employees

From Brian McFadden:

Derf on the "Sex with pool items guy"