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Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

The Daily F Bomb, Wednesday 8/28/13

Interrogatories

Do any of the keys on your keyboard have that telltale crunch from food crumbs you’ve gotten in it? What food is the culprit?

Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you?

Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose?

What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying?

Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington?

The Twitter Emitter

On This Day

In 1609, explorer Henry Hudson arrived at Delaware Bay.

In 1845, Scientific American was first published.

In 1898, Caleb Bradham invented Pepsi-Cola, though it did not yet have that name.

In 1922, WEAD aired the first radio commercial. It couldn’t have been as obnoxious as present-day radio commercials.

In 1955, young Emmett Till was viciously murdered by whites in alleged retaliation for flirting with a white woman.

In 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond began his filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes. Thankfully, it passed despite his efforts.

In 1963, more than 200,000 marchers converged at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, and heard Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech.

In 1968, rioting broke out at the Democratic National Convention as the police moved in on protesters lawfully assembled there.

In 1990, an F-5 tornado struck Plainfield and Joliet, IL.

In 1996, Princess Di and Prince Charles divorced.

In 2005, Mayor Ray Nagin issued an evacuation order in New Orleans in advance of Hurricane Katrina.

In 2011, Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast, making landfall in North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

Born on This Day

1592 – George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, English statesman (d. 1628)

1749 – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and scientist (d. 1832)

1774 – Elizabeth Ann Seton, American nun and saint (d. 1821)

1799 – Auguste-Xavier Leprince, French painter and lithographer (d. 1826)

photo Auguste-XavierLeprince.jpg

1810 – Constant Troyon, French painter (d. 1865)

photo ConstantTroyon.jpg

1812 – Rudolf von Alt, Austrian painter (d. 1905)

photo RudolfvonAlt.jpg

1814 – Sheridan Le Fanu, Irish author (his Camilla may have been the first vampire novel) (d. 1873)

1833 – Edward Burne-Jones, British artist (d. 1898)

photo EdwardBurne-Jones.jpg

1859 – Vittorio Sella, Italian photographer (d. 1943)

photo VittorioSella.jpg

1878 – George Whipple, American physician and pathologist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1976)

1884 – Peter Fraser, New Zealand politician, 24th Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 1950)

1899 – Charles Boyer, French actor (d. 1978)

photo BoyerandDunneTippling.jpg

1901 – Anna Zinkeisen, Scottish painter (d. 1976)

photo AnnaZinkeisen.jpg

1911 – Joseph Luns, Dutch politician and diplomat, 5th Secretary General of NATO (d. 2002)

1916 – Jack Vance, American author (d. 2013)

1917 – Jack Kirby, American writer and illustrator (d. 1994)

1918 – L. B. Cole, American illustrator and publisher (d. 1995)

1925 – Donald O’Connor, American actor, singer, and dancer (d. 2003)

1930 – Ben Gazzara, American actor (d. 2012)

1940 – William Cohen, American politician and author, 20th United States Secretary of Defense

1942 – Sterling Morrison, American singer and guitarist (The Velvet Underground) (d. 1995)

1943 – David Soul, American-English actor and singer

1944 – Melvin Dummar, American forger of Howard Hughes estate

1945 – Robert Greenwald, American director and producer

1945 – Bob Segarini, American singer-songwriter and composer (The Wackers)

1949 – Hugh Cornwell, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Stranglers)

1957 – Daniel Stern, American actor

1960 – Dinah Cancer, American singer-songwriter (45 Grave)

1962 – David Fincher, American director

1965 – Shania Twain, Canadian singer-songwriter

1969 – Jack Black, American actor, singer, and guitarist (Tenacious D)

1982 – LeAnn Rimes, American singer-songwriter and actress

1986 – Florence Welch, English singer-songwriter (Florence and the Machine)

2003 – Quvenzhané Wallis, American actress

Died on This Day

476 – Orestes, Roman general and politician

683 – K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, Mayan ruler (b. 603)

1623 – Frederik van Valckenborch, Flemish painter (b. 1570)

photo FrederikvanValckenborch.jpg

1652 – Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp, Dutch painter (b. 1612)

photo BenjaminGerritszCuyp.jpg

1665 – Elisabetta Sirani, Italian Baroque era painter (b. 1638)

photo ElisabettaSirani.jpg

1784 – Junípero Serra, Spanish missionary (b. 1713)

1805 – Alexander Carlyle, Scottish church leader (b. 1722)

1818 – Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, American founder of Chicago (b. 1750)

1842 – Peter Fendi, Viennese painter, engraver, lithographer, and creator of some really NSFW stuff (his dancer/acrobat series is particularly inventive, if highly unlikely). (b. 1796)

photo PeterFendi.jpg

1862 – Albrecht Adam, German painter (b. 1786)

1903 – Frederick Law Olmsted, American journalist and landscape designer (b. 1822)

1904 – Arthur Melville, Scottish painter (b. 1855)

1916 – Henri Harpignies, French landscape painter (b. 1819)

photo HenriHarpignies.jpg

1943 – Boris III of Bulgaria (b. 1894)

1976 – Anissa Jones, American actress (b. 1958) (Buffy from Family Affair)

1978 – Robert Shaw, English actor and author (b. 1927)

1985 – Ruth Gordon, American actress (b. 1896)

1987 – John Huston, American director (b. 1906)

2007 – Hilly Kristal, American businessman, founded CBGB (b. 1932)

Today is

National Cherry Turnover Day

World Sauntering Day

National Radio Commercials Day (this is something to celebrate???)

National Bow Tie Day

Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day

Crackers Over The Keyboard Day


Categories: General.

/ 25 Comments

25 comments

  3. Floja Roja

    My right arrow key crunches when I press it. I believe this to be food related, probably toast or crackers.

    I rarely say “sir,” it’s so old-fashioned. I only find myself using it with old-fashioned men. As for “ma’am,” I never use it, because I hate being called it.

    When I was a little kid, I loved to make myself dizzy, especially at the beach, where I could fall down comfortably. I read an interview once with some British rock star (I think the singer of Mission UK, but don’t hold me to that) who opined that kids do things like that because it is a natural human inclination to seek altered states.

    Expressions, exclamations, and cliches? I know there are a ton, but I’m pre-coffee, and my brain is avoiding going there without it. I’m sure much of it would fall into the “get off my lawn” category.

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington? I was a wee bit too young. I would not be surprised if any friends of my parents went, but they aren’t around anymore to ask about it.

  4. plf515

    Do any of the keys on your keyboard have that telltale crunch from food crumbs you’ve gotten in it? What food is the culprit?

    Sometimes I get some crunch. Not sure what food did it.



    Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you?

    Rarely and not really.

    Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose?

    Long ago

    What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying?

    Free gift.

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington?

    Not that I know of. I was 4. But probably some people I know were there, I just don’t know who.

  5. zenor

    I wasn’t at That March, but earliers and laters.

    I guess I musta known some the marchers.

    remember now? No.

    I think you’ve been right about the commercials all along. I began to notice that right after you first mentioned it, whenever that don’t remember also was.

    I’m more politer to olderer people naturally.

    There however is a strain of mock gentility I will barely nod to, since its motives are to insult, ridicule, humiliate and aggravate. Maybe they don’t have that where you are.

    I found the Boyer, Dunne, Carillo, History Is Made At Night @ week ago, craving it. Just saw it once. Saw My Man Godfrey 3 times. Cravings.

    I can’t even find a finger’s worth of stuff I want to run from YouTube into this stupefone!

    hey.  

  6. zenor

    I wasn’t at That March, but earliers and laters.

    I guess I musta known some the marchers.

    remember now? No.

    I think you’ve been right about the commercials all along. I began to notice that right after you first mentioned it, whenever that don’t remember also was.

    I’m more politer to olderer people naturally.

    There however is a strain of mock gentility I will barely nod to, since its motives are to insult, ridicule, humiliate and aggravate. Maybe they don’t have that where you are.

    I found the Boyer, Dunne, Carillo, History Is Made At Night @ week ago, craving it. Just saw it once. Saw My Man Godfrey 3 times. Cravings.

    I can’t even find a finger’s worth of stuff I want to run from YouTube into this stupefone!

    hey.  

  7. anotherdemocrat

    Do any of the keys on your keyboard have that telltale crunch from food crumbs you’ve gotten in it? What food is the culprit?

    My work keyboard has half of the letters worn off. And lots of dust.

    Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you?

    I’m from Texas, so yes, I use them. And yes, I like being called ma’am. One thing that the West Wing got record-scratch wrong: in the last 2 seasons, with Jimmy Smits & his wife – he was a Congressman from Texas. His wife said something to Janelle Maloney’s character about being “ma’am-ed”. There is no chance in hell that a congressman’s wife from Texas had never been called ma’am until they were being considered for the White House. None. Period. Also, she’s from Texas, too – I’ve been called ma’am since my mid-20s. It isn’t unusual here, it’s good manners.

    Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose?

    No, but listening to jazz music makes me dizzy, which is why I turn it off or get away from it any time I’m near it. Seriously, it makes me dizzy.

    What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying?

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington?

    No, I wouldn’t be born till the following January. And my family…. was not on the side of justice at that time. I think I made up for it, though. UT’s statue is (imho) prettier than the monument in DC, and when we started out movement to get it, we were considered scary radicals (in 1988):

    photo P1010049-3-1.jpg

  8. Jk2003

    Do any of the keys on your keyboard have that telltale crunch from food crumbs you’ve gotten in it? What food is the culprit?

    Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you?

    Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose?

    What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying?

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington?

    Keyboard:  I mostly use my iPad now(so I. Is all the hovers). My laptop is so damn slow compared to the iPad.  So crumbs and spills are just wiped away.

    Sir/ma’am:  I use them ironically.  I was raised in a military family, we were not expected to use those words.  In fact we would often remind my father that we were not his soldiers.

    Dizzy:  when I was a kid of course.  My son is into it now.

    Annoying exclamations:  nothing comes to mind.  I must be in a good mood today if nothing is annoying me. When I get annoyed, I’ll update…

    March on Washington:  no

  9. Gee

    “You should begin every day by asking everyone how they are.  It oils the wheels.” – Noel Coward (Blithe Spirit)

    Do any of the keys on your keyboard have that telltale crunch from food crumbs you’ve gotten in it? What food is the culprit?

    Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you?

    Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose?

    What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying?

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington?

    Stuff builds up on the keys themselves, but I don’t know that it’s food.

    I use “sir” more than “ma’am.”  Never sure if using “ma’am” will make a woman feel like I think she’s older than she is.  “Sir” is OK with me, now that I’m older.  I used to think it was funny being sirred when I was 30.  I still felt like a kid.

    We did a lot of spinning around as kids.  Dizziness is fun as long as you know it will stop.  A few years back, I had unwanted spells of vertigo, and that was no picnic.

    Lots of perfectly good expressions become obnoxious through overuse.  For awhile, everybody was answering yes/no questions, “Absolutely!”  That seems to have come and gone, thank goodness.  Or, if you asked somebody for something, they’d say, “You got it!”  For some reason, I never grew to hate “You’re good to go.”

    The recent march, or the one in 1963?  I wasn’t at either, but I seem to remember seeing Resurrection City from the Washington Monument.  That might be a false memory.  Oops, Resurrection City was 1968.  I had conflated the two events.

  10. Gee

    1774 – Elizabeth Ann Seton, American nun and saint (d. 1821)

    Of whom Father Guido Sarducci said (paraphrase), “She only has three miracles, and two of them are card tricks.”

  13. Avilyn

    Do any of the keys on your keyboard have that telltale crunch from food crumbs you’ve gotten in it? What food is the culprit?  None of them crunch that I’ve noticed, but I’m sure there’s plenty of crumbs and dust in them.  I eat lunch at my desk at work, and at home we usually eat dinner in the computer room.

    Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you?  Can’t say I’m crazy about them being used on me; I only use them when talking to cops that have pulled me over.

    Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose?  Yep, though not since I was young.

    What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying?  Ha, probably too many to list.  “PIN Number” is like nails on a chalkboard to me (as is ATM Machine).  “irregardless” is another.  

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington?  Nope, I am too young, missed it by over a decade.

  14. JG in MD

    Do any of the keys on your keyboard crunch? No.

    Do you use the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’? Do you like the words being used on you? I sometimes say “Sir” out of an instinct I can’t identify. “Yes Ma’am” often just means an emphatic Yes, and that’s the way I use it, also without thinking. I don’t mind being called Ma’am.

    Did you ever make yourself dizzy on purpose? When I was a kid I’d set up a blanket and pillow on the floor and fall onto it after I spun myself dizzy. I’m sure my mom busted a gut trying to keep from laughing.

    What expressions, exclamations, and cliches do you find annoying? There are a lot but I can’t think of them until I hear them.

    Were you or anyone you know present at the March on Washington? It was a few days before I started my sophomore year of college. I went outside on my lunch hour from my summer job and enjoyed wandering among the crowd. It was sparse there, I don’t remember exactly where in DC I worked.

  15. JG in MD

    Prior to instead of a simple before drives me nuts.

    “They went with him and Mary” (for example) has been replaced by “They went with Mary and him” in all the audiobooks I listen to. Name always seems to come first instead of pronoun. This sounds awkward to me. I think I’d notice it just as much in print.

    Like instead of as in audiobooks. I can’t think of good examples offhand but it sounds ignorant, and all the authors are doing it. They should know better.

    I’ll probably think of a lot more.

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