Most Unfortunate Name Ever

While I was stepping through the metal detector at Logan Airport earlier this evening, I noticed that the name tag on the TSA agent who was flagging me through identified her as... Latrina.

WIPE! ROTATE! PINGPONG! JUMP!

There's a sign at the Silver Spring MARC Station, I can see it from the platform of the adjacent Metro Station, which flashes a series of words and scrolls messages. I'm continually amused by several of the words that flash accross the screen. I've taken pictures of a few of them to share here.

As much as I am amused by the sign, I do question the wisdom of flashing the word "Jump" next to a railroad track.

This is A Bad Sign

When I boarded the bus to home last night, the driver asked if anyone on the bus knew the route.

Hanibal Lecter Was A Great Humanitarian

If a vegetarian is someone who only eats vegetables, then why isn't a humanitarian someone who only eats humans?

The Misinformation Center

I'm dying to know what goes on behind this door.

Common Cause wants me to write to Eleanor Holmes Norton, the Delegate to Congress from Washington, D.C. who can't vote on legislation, to urge her to vote for a bill that would give her the right to vote on legislation:

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From: Ed Davis, Common Cause [mailto:CauseNet@commoncause.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 1:29 PM
To: The Absurdist

Subject: Give DC a Vote!

Dear Absurdist,

"Without Further Delay." That's the headline of an editorial this morning in the Washington Post.1

Here's more:

"The people of the District of Columbia shouldn't have to wait another minute, let alone another month, to get the full voting representation in government that is their due as Americans."

We can make this happen in the next few days. The DC Voting Rights Act is headed for a vote in the last few days of the 109th Congress. The Act will give DC a vote in the US House of Representatives for the first time.

Tell Del. Eleanor Norton to vote for the DC Voting Rights Act.

http://www.commoncause.org/demandDCvote

Nearly 600,000 Americans living in the District of Columbia have no voting representation in Congress. It's the only national capital among the world's democracies that lacks a vote. Even citizens in Baghdad have the right to representation in Iraq's legislature.

The DC Voting Rights Act recognizes that partisan political considerations have always entered into issues that are fundamentally about fairness and justice. This proposal puts those considerations aside by adding two new seats to the House, one for the District and another that will go to Utah, which barely missed gaining another seat after the last census. It's a practical, fair solution to a problem that has been a stain on our democracy for over 200 years.

Even in the bitterly divided partisan atmosphere in Congress, this historic bill can pass in the next few days. But we need your help now!

Tell Del. Eleanor Norton to vote for the DC Voting Rights Act.

http://www.commoncause.org/demandDCvote

Thank you for your help.

Ed Davis and Sarah DufendachDC Voting Rights team

1: Washington Post editorial, December 5, 2006.


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Seriously, if you don't live in Washington, D.C., then write to your member of Congress right now to urge him or her to vote for the D.C. Voting Rights Act: http://www.commoncause.org/demandDCvote .

Your Special Gift

Jaleo is one of my favorite restaurants. I enjoy the food. I like that servings are small so that I can try several dishes at one meal and I like that I can order dishes as I go to suit my appetite. So I was excited to receive an e-mail from Jaleo a few weeks ago telling me that if I were to come in the restaurant would give me a "special gift" for my birthday. I must have given them my e-mail address and birthday on an earlier visit.

The Sassy Girlfriend and I went out to dinner at Jaleo the week after my birthday. I handed the waiter a printout of the e-mail about the special gift when we placed our order. He said he would talk to the manager and be right back. As we waited, The Sassy Girlfriend and I speculated as to what the free gift would be. Maybe it would a pitcher of Sangria, or a free dessert? Maybe it was flan?

The waiter returned with a clay jug of extra virgin olive oil.