Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:
* Art Spiegelman was art director for Garbage Pail Kids. I’ll have to ask my parents if they regret grounding me for secretly buying the cards given it was an early foray into art collecting rather than some titillating experience. (Courtesy: Boing Boing)

* About 80 percent of construction in the United States has been built during the last 50 years. (Courtesy: The New York Times)

* Watching kids do puzzles is a great lesson in understanding alternative approaches to being methodical. (Courtesy: Personal experience)

Reality Check: Coming up with Reasons why Life Sucks

Life is incredible right now. To keep myself grounded, let’s review why life sucks:
* My favorite and most used cardigan (no, not the one most seen by others) developed a hole in the elbow. Replacing this cardigan will require serious research. Patched!

* I lost my phone over the weekend, and it was a bit of a hassle to replace.

* My coffee situation is precarious; I’m nearly out of good beans, but I’m not likely to be near a good bean buying opportunity for a couple days. I haven’t figured out the optimal rationing solution. (RP, ignore this item for the sake of entertaining the people) YM bought me some so so solid coffee from Europe!

* I’m out of eggs from the chickens of one of my friends. Farmer’s Market eggs bought!

* My car needs gas. Gassed!

I guess that’s it.

Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:
* In the late 19th century, women wore posy holders. There was a lot of variety, but the ornate ones are beautiful and many had ring attachments so they could dangle. (Courtesy: Smithsonian Gardens)

* The joy and amusement of watching people who have never played Pac-Man before trumps my desire to play. (Courtesy: Smithsonian American Art Museum)

* GMail searches don’t auto-stem. I’m shocked and appalled (that I just learned this). (Courtesy: Personal experience)

* 1982 Bordeaux wines are historically important for the evolution of the wine market. (Courtesy: The New York Times)

* General Ulysses S. Grant’s relationship with Jews, including General Orders No. 11, which expelled them from areas under his control during the Civil War, and his, later, assistance in eastern Europe. (Courtesy: The New Republic)

* Pyongyang’s subway system is more extensive than I expected, although it does not appear to be expanding. Plus, it has significance in the context of world subway systems (other sites with good information or photos: Unofficial Pyongyang Metro). (Courtesy: North Korean Economy Watch)