The Templars are here in Las Vegas. Tell Desmond.
Category: Picture This
My Boss Had Some Things to Say about Fear
He gives us a video update every week at our office meeting. I thought this one was more general interest, not really about real estate this week.
One thing though: why was he smiling about the idea of a knife to one’s throat?
In closing: movie; Zoinks, a ghost ship!; REAL done; don’t let them make it about sluts; moderate levels of chocolate and exercise work well together; the simple version of why mandatory health insurance isn’t the answer; I’ve been wondering the same thing; going in my blogroll; and exercise myths.
An Update: Ok, he wasn’t a good man. He probably would have robbed the place if nobody were home to stop him. Still, I don’t know of any court that sentences someone to death for sneaking into a back yard.
I don’t think Rudolph would approve
Sign of the Times
Because nothing says “prosperity” like pallet upon pallet of ramen. Smells like college.
So here’s a couple of ramen recipes for you:
Tuna Ramen Casserole
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add frozen mixed veggies, then when the water boils again, add the ramen. When the ramen is done, pour off the water. Combine with canned tuna, diced onion, and the spices of your choice.
Asian Ham with Noodles
Start your water boiling. Put oil in a hot wok, then start to saute some onions and bell peppers. Add garlic, soy sauce, sriracha or red pepper flakes (if you like it spicy), and a half pound of frozen stir fry veggies. Add 1 pound cubed ham. When it’s hot, drain and set aside. By now your water should be ready! Cook 2 packages of ramen until it’s almost but not quite done, then drain. Bring the wok back up to medium heat with a little oil and soy sauce, put the ramen in and give it a good stir. Put the meat and veggies in there, mix completely, and serve.
Feel free to add your own recipes in comments.
Curious No More
When I saw this in a parking lot, I wondered what the heck it was:
Now I know. It’s an old mail truck!
Alright, for those of you who aren’t into Volkswagens, here’s In Closing: earthquake shaking things up at the zoo; solving Too Big Too Fail with Even Bigger; I wonder if Blodget is right; the cover-up continues; just in case you didn’t have enough depressing bank news; sure a “high fat” diet can cause diabetes, when it’s also a MEGA sugar diet!; wouldn’t it be terrible if Amy Winehouse didn’t have a drug/booze problem but rather a degenerative neurological disease?; “Hey, if he can stop earthquakes, why can’t he golf and bike at the same time?”; the New Retirement Plan; told you so; in case you didn’t understand that the War on Drugs was racist; only 1 in 5 medical malpractice cases result in anybody getting money (other than the lawyers, of course) (or if you prefer, 4 out of 5 med-mal cases may be almost completely without merit).
Happy Solstice
And first day of Summer. Does anything say summer quite like fresh fruit?
In closing: glitch, or back door to true universal health care?; digital destruction; good luck with that first line; trickle down; enough war; Science American Style; it’s the jobs, stupid; tied; origins of the Japanese; explains the evening “news“; and 747-8.
A few pictures for you
First off, we have an old tsunami warning.
Then, well, I, uh. Hmm this one may be NSFW. It’s certainly WTF.
And when I drove past this, I almost took my own picture. But I figured “Hey, it’s in the MLS!” Somebody is buying this delightful old house. Well, I think “house” is a strong word for it. And by “delightful” I mean that it is devoid of electric lights. But the buyer is getting over an acre on a major road with a structure that needs tearing down.
And to finish off, here’s one I call “Tie a Red Ribbon Round the Old Brass T”
The T Is Not Silent
If you watch a Japanese news broadcast about the tsunami, every time you hear a word that ends in “ken,” they are talking about a prefecture. That’s kind of like a state or province.
Fukushima — where they are having the nuclear issue — is the Capitol of Fukushima Prefecture, number 7 on that map. For reference, Tokyo Prefecture is number 13. Thanks to Jill, we now know that if the reactor does blow the fallout will reach all the way to Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico: Update: there seems to be a lot of debate over this map. It’s true that I should have said fallout may reach, rather than will reach. As someone who lives in the yellow zone, it is still my duty to prepare myself and my family for the worst but hope for the best.
Speaking of which, I don’t know how anybody with any understanding of geology can look at the mountains just west of Vegas and possibly think Yucca Mountain is a good idea.
If you were to lay Japan down next to the East Coast of the United States, it would look something like this:
As you can see, Hokkaido is as far north as Maine, but Kyuushu is as far south as Florida. Okinawa extends quite a bit further south. The tsunami was by any standard a big deal.
Speaking of the United States, thanks to TYWKIWDI for pointing out this graphic:
For the record, that’s 12 events in the 80s, and 38 events in the 90s, 47 from 2000 to 2009, and an additional 3 events in 2010. I think I’ve said before that actuaries believe in global warming.
First hand accounts of the quake are starting to be heard. For those of you trying to contact someone in Japan to make sure they are safe, the State Department says “We understand also that some telephone landlines there are disrupted. We are recommending that people try contacting loved ones in Japan by email, text, SMS message, or social media.”
I posted this picture 4 years ago. It’s a sign warning people of tsunami risk. Of course, the current crop of Republicans thinks that tsunami warnings — and other weather warnings — are a waste of time. I’ve got news for you, that’s not going to play well in Iowa.
Susie Madrak had this up, and I think it’s a good sentiment:
In Closing: leave your laptop home; old fashioned boycott causes old fashioned bank run; Bill Maher; on oil; No Depositor Left Behind; long but interesting; and after all that I sure do need a good laugh.
Uh, That’s for Boys Then?
Surely the nice folks at Old Navy just choose a bad place for the maternity mannequins. Or maybe this is a commentary on childhood obesity!
In Closing: I know I packed it; food by state; claiming profit on money never paid; Dog Fort; WTF; Con, duh; safety net; science; wolves; the truth about buying a smart phone; lost daughter; Peach and Zelda; love story; begging; nachos; how to read a legal opinion; consensus; on birth control.
No Santa! Don’t Do It!
Today’s post courtesy of my neighbors. On a serious note, though, you have got to read this. No wonder Santa’s thinking of jumping. Please remember those in need this holiday season, and please help if you can.
In Closing: “The world’s biggest banks are still hugely overextended” (but heaven knows we can’t do anything about it); don’t tell the Republicans, but hundreds of thousands of unemployed people are applying for thousands of low-paying jobs; and Reaganomics Redux.