dubious data

One would say that science based on hard data leads to hard truths. Incontestable. In fact there is not even  agreement on the basic phrasing-  data are or data is? 

wasted words

Was contemplating my days...and observed that I spend a lot of time a la recherche du mot perdu.  Then I wondered how this might sound in English. Obviously could not remember the title in translation. It turns out there are at least two...In Search of Lost Time and Remembrance of Things Past ...of course, it should be lost time more like wasted time. And now, after these thoughts, I feel better.  I am a la recherche du mot juste.My snob aunt met another old nobility snob who complained that her grandson was an actor. Famous, but just an actor.My generous aunt consoled -He's not an actor. He is an artist.

the taste of liberty

When we got to Paris, a friend of my mother gave us twenty francs.  I was hungry and left the hotel to get something to eat. These twenty francs were all the money we had and it was not clear if and when and how much more I could get.  Not far found a vegetable store. A kilo of bananas was five francs. Extraordinary. In my entire life I had not eaten more than three, maybe four bananas. In total. Splendid, happiness! I bought two kilos. Ate five or six bananas on the spot. Later on that day I was throwing up in the bidet.

sharing

I hate so much to give, I hate so much to share. Since I was a kid. Hated to get gifts from other kids because this somewhat required to reciprocate. But don't mind when the government redistributes. Seems fine .....till I have to prepare my taxes.
A left wing paper tiger. Flying with the wind

In a word..crapulence

I follow  Word of the day. This is more interesting than Reuters ....Here are some recent words crapulence, rixatrix,  deliquium,  metagrobolized...
To tell a woman she is a rixatrix. If she knows what this means she'll fall in a deliquium. More likley she'll  be metagrobolized....
Oh, if I could speak like this...

rut of exchange

Originally thought it was gringo imperialism - expecting to have free sex just because you are a young American buck in Latin America.  But at second analysis it might have been  the escort trying to exploiting the English speaking folk.  Was she asking exorbitant prices??? For a secret service?  Quite attractive and the dollar is not what is used to be.

Post without shame

There is no evidence that jobs fly away in a service economy when you increase minimum pay. May be it is true in manufacturing. But people working at McDonald? Will it lead to fewer Dunkin Donuts in the city? So when salaries of top people can go high in the sky will there be fewer CEOs?  Isn't there the same theory? These FOxpOST people see everything from the super rich point of view. The Post should say it straight, without shame  - increasing the minimum wage is a new tax on the rich. 

Time 100 most

A new 100 most influential....Don't know recognize more than 10 -15 of the names. Influenced by any? Nyet! Didn't think so, till I found Anonymous.....I thought it was me. I might have been Anonymous... I could have been a contender for this one....

control and out of control celebrations

So these guys go to Vegas and party intensely. No reports of sex. Their job is to control spending by government agencies. These other guys go with the president to Colombia and invite?  prostitutes. Lots of them.  And then negotiate payments. Or even don't want to pay. Their jobs is to control access and security. Who is more to blame?  Those who spend public money? Or those who don't pay prostitutes? trying to save their own money?

Landing in the wake

Twenty years ago I stared to play Flight Simulator. Don't think I ever got to maneuver a proper landing  in the game's airport. And now I see this 80 year wife who lands seating next to her probably dead husband. She never had  landed before. But most surprising is that she was kind of joking - You don't trust me. Mama, no wake?

Before coffee

Long lines at Starbucks. Every morning. And this young cashier smiles all the time, everyday. Seems to me unbelievable. Even before taking the caffeine everybody is agitated. What a nice personality. Or is this smile a self defense. Trying to please the hurried newyorkers.

What now?

So the circus is finished!?  The tent is going down and the national tour cancelled?  A three ring circus, cannot perform with two? Oh great Gingrich show your mettle.  Make history by teaching it.....

Encyclopedias

Had just bought and started this funny book about this guy reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica, next day this article drew my attention.
When I was a kid I read the entire Larousse and with my friend, now a french poet, was playing a game of recognizing the captions of pictures when opening the Larousse at  random.
Good choice. It is smaller and easier to read and the  Petit Larousse est encore vivant.
Not sure if french culture is still vivant.

Chicago Pizza and me.

In Chicago, tried to get a taste of the famous pizza. Tried Pizzeria Uno, Due, Gino's ..five oof them. Could not get in  because of the impossible waiting line. Finally at my sixth trial made it at the bar. Big sign inside  Forza Napoli. The pizza was terrible. That was the reason I could get in.  Our cousin, well versed in restaurants, says that the only ones with long lines outside are the cheap ones.
Was not ready for the Alinea fare and fees. With a four month waiting list. Well heeled people wait on their sofas.