Thursday, April 11, 2013

Some Things I'm Pondering on a Thursday Night

Normally I'd be watching a new episode of "Gray's Anatomy" at this hour, but they're re-running one I saw just a few weeks ago.  So I'm here at the computer, pondering stuff. 

Like why a convicted murderer can actually sue the widow of his victim because she wrote a letter that may have scuttled his chance of being transferred to a prison in Canada to serve out the remaining 20 years of his sentence.  I understand that the legal system can't just toss suits without judicial review even when they are this ridiculous, but there should be some kind of process to quickly and inexpensively protect people like this widow.  She shouldn't have to spend thousands of dollars to defend herself against this claptrap.

Why would the president of Argentina continue to try to get the Falkland Islands to be part of her nation, even after the residents voted in a referendum to remain a British Overseas Territory?  I do understand why she won't be invited to the funeral of Margaret Thatcher.

Why wouldn't the authorities tow a car abandoned at the O'Hare airport, rather than just letting the parking ticket fines increase until they total over $100,000?  How many weeks do you let a car just sit there illegally?  It was there for three years.

Next time you see a beaver, don't try to get too close to it.  A man in Russia was killed when a beaver bit him on the thigh and severed an artery.  His friends could not stop the flow of blood and he died.  Animals in the wild are dangerous, even when they look adorably cute.  And yeah, I'm the moron who once posed for a photo next to a sleeping alligator.  My only excuse is that I was young and believed I could run away faster than it could chase me.  Only later did I learn that I was wrong in assuming that.  Fortunately, it remained asleep.

How many times will someone write a "filler" news story about how Bob Denver insisted that the "Professor" and "Mary Ann" have their character names added to the theme song for "Gilligan's Island"? 

Why in the world would Ann Coulter, who is supposed to be of at least moderate intelligence, be dumb enough to suggest that Meghan McCain should be killed? 

Justin Bieber is endorsing a prepaid debit card for parents to give to teens that requires paying at least $47 a year to get access to their own money.  Why would anyone not read the fine print and just order something?  Oh, because they have Bieber Fever. 

Oh, as promised - This Date in History, April 11th version:

On this date in 491, Flavius Anastasius became Byzantine Emperor.
On this date in 1689, William III and Mary II were crowned as joint soverigns of Britain.
On this date in 1814, the Treaty of Fountainbleu ends the War of the Sixth Coalition.  Napoleon is forced to abdicate for the first time.
On this date in 1868, the Tokugawa Shogunate ends with the surrender of Edo Castle.
On this date in 1876, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is founded.
On this date in 1881, Spelman College is founded.
On this date in 1951, President Truman fires General MacArthur.
On this date in 1961, the trial of Adolf Eichman begins in Jerusalem.
On this date in 1970, Apollo 13 is launched.
On this date in 1979, Idi Amin is deposed.
On this date in 1989, Ron Hextall becomes the first goalie to score a goal in the NHL playoffs.

Famous Folk born on April 11th:

Just FYI, while she isn't famous, my first wife was born on this date.
James Parkinson
Cap Anson
Oleg Cassini
Nicholas Brady
Louise Lasser
Meshach Taylor
Bret Saberhagen
Richard Berry
Dustin Rhodes

And on April 11, 2007, we lost Kurt Vonnegut.