Marriage on the railroad August 5, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Random Rubbish.Tags: Rants, Railroad
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Railcars can come in two types — single units or married pairs. Upon doing research on this in Wikipedia, the most reliable source for all things good, I discover there are four types of married pairs.
In general, a married pair is two railcars permanently paired that act as one. But, don’t be fooled.
Whoever named the types of married pairs must have a religious vendetta against somebody/something. The four types are stereotypically named:
Civil Unions
Protestant Married Pairs
Catholic Married Pairs
Mormon Married Pairs
So, you can pretty much guess based on the names alone which ones could act as single entitities, which ones kinda-sorta can be separated, which ones can only be separated by divine intervention, and which ones opt for big love.
I don’t editorialize. I just interpret facts.
Who knew that New York City was filled with Mormons?
Feeling Bluetooth? August 5, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Random Rubbish.Tags: Rants, Bluetooth
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FYI — Bluetooths make you look stupid.
It’s my firm belief that Bluetooths have one main purpose: to take the cell phone out of your hands when you are driving. Not when you are walking down the sidewalk. Not when you are in work.
I’d also let the personal home use slide, as well. It’s very difficult to type while holding a phone, as I recently discovered. Though speakerphone is a good alternative.
But when you’re walking around with an unapparent apparatus in your ear and having an engaged conversation apparently to no one, it doesn’t provide the best image of yourself to those innocently walking by (or sitting in front of a personal blog).
This is just a thought for your (in)consideration.
A prehistoric discovery August 5, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Random Rubbish.Tags: Definition, Random Rubbish, Rants
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What does prehistoric mean? This question stems from a crossword clue in the Metro today. (By the way, the answer to 18-across is stegosaurus.)
Dictionary.com defines it as the following:
of or pertaining to the time or a period prior to recorded history:
But I disagree with that definition. So then, when does ‘historic’ history begin?
Yes, the counterargument is that ‘prehistoric’ is simply the term given to an era prior to recorded history. But it’s still historic history, is it not?
I suppose another argument could be based off the undying idiom: If a tree falls in a forest and no one’s around, does it make a sound?
Here’s one that has always interested me: If no one’s looking in a mirror, does it still give a reflection?
Anyway, I digress. The point being: I’m bored.
Catching a break for Clinton May 24, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Random Rubbish.Tags: 2008 Presidential Race, Hillary Clinton, Journalism, Rants
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Photo by Christopher Wink, TTN.
Oops, she did it again. At least, in the media’s eyes.
In the latest “blunder” the media ate up, Sen. Hillary Clinton is charged with being disrespectful by making a comment about Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1968.
When discussing other high-ranking officials telling her to get out of the presidential race, Clinton compared her campaign to her husband’s and RFK’s.
Her exact quote:
My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it.
And her apology, just hours later:
Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Sen. Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968, and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nominating primary contests that go into June. That’s an historic fact.
Perhaps her timing with the original comment was a little off after Sen. Ted Kennedy’s recent hospitalization, but really, there was no need for a formal apology.
Her point simply was, as she clearly stated, that RFK’s assassination occurred in June when he was in a heated battle for the Democratic nomination among Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Sen. Eugene McCarthy. What’s wrong with saying that?
I’ve already written a commentary for The Temple News that the media typically give Clinton a negative image, seeming to favor Sen. Barack Obama to win the nomination. Even after the ABC Debate blunder, my argument continues to grow.
Of course, I’m saying this as a journalist and not as a fan. Do I expect an equal amount of missteps to be reported for Obama? No, not at all. But I do expect the media to over-analyze every word he says as they do for Clinton.
Let’s just see what happens in June.
Here’s for the next 100 May 21, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: 76ers, Flyers, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Sports, Phillies, Rants, Sports
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Sports Illustrated has put together a slideshow commemorating 100 season in Philadelphia sports history without a championship. Found this courtesy of TTN’s new Web editor Dave Isaac (Photo courtesy Sports Illustrated.)
This 20-page photo slideshow allows us to relive the past missteps, mishaps and misery of the past 100 seasons of the four big teams - Phillies, Sixers, Flyers and Eagles.
It truly is an embarrassing thing to view, chronicling 25 years of Philadelphia sports blunders. Apparently, that’s a record for a four-sports town.
Just like the Phils’ 10,000th loss last year - this is only one more milestone to check off the list.
Behind the Byline: Covering a campus shooting May 19, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Clips & Videos, Temple University.Tags: Campus Shooting, Philadelphia Police, Rants, Temple University
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A few posts down, you saw how my colleague LeAnne Matlach and I covered a shooting on the immediate outskirts of Temple’s campus. As a refresher, here are the links to all the stories:
Shots fired at 15th and Norris - spot news coverage of shooting
Temple responds to shooting - e-mail sent to Temple students
Search still underway for shooting suspect - after some researching, I found some priors
No TU-Alert a louder message after shooting - colleague Shannon McDonald gives her take on the response
So…here’s the story…
Seasons greetings May 4, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Random Rubbish.Tags: Random Rubbish, Rants
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As I ran errands for my mom today, I figured it would be the best time to purchase the necessary greeting cards - a happy birthday for my brother and a mother’s day for that special time of year.
The unorganized chaos of greeting cards aisles - particularly in supermarkets - don’t make purchasing a note that will bring joy a pleasant experience. There are way too many and no categorical order. Step-brother to step-sister, Funny son to mother-in-law, Distant second-cousin to third uncle, twice removed.
How about Brother to Brother or Mother to Son? No such luck? The result: supposedly funny cards that aren’t so funny after all. And who’s the one at a disadvantage?
Me.
