Found In Change

A mercury head dime was found by a certain Mr. Ross a few years abck in the dusty field of lower central park. Blackened by years in the dirt the 1944 was still a surprise for us all.

An Indian Head Cent from 1899 was also found by a certain ntfletch's grandmother, as he relayed to me.

As I reloaded my Smartrip card with nickles and dimes, I checked the coin return and found a 1942 war nickle- a good amount of silver in it, characteristically dull gray.

PS- Mars Candy Company is giving away .25 million free candy bar coupons on Fridays starting at 9am (I guess to give the West Coasters a fair shot during daylight hours)

The Seldom Flier

You know you haven't been on a plane in a while if...

You expected not to pay for your first two bags of luggage
You think the drinks and peanuts are free
You licked your chops in anticipation of the meal, also free
You call the flight attendant "stewardess"
You think the pilot's all jolly about his paycheck
You read the inflight magazine because there's no better entertainment
You thought smoking was allowed on board, and there was a lounge to do so in.
You call for a blanket and pillow, and expect to not shell out a Hamilton- or swipe your card
You deny that a plane can make it from DC to Alaska nonstop
You refuse to believe that transcontinental flights are $189 (plus taxes and fees)
and that transatlantic flights are the same price.
You thought you were still on the ground because the takeoff was so quiet.
You believe that the stewardesses are registered nurses
You think the average flier's outfit is scandalous


Like Daddy

The Whole 9 Yards

It's not wise to bet against a remarkable US recovery. If one had bought a handful of stocks in February, when the news was pelting feel-bad news at you, a half-of-average rate of return at this time would be a whopping 16%. I'm not here to talk about money, though.
These days, the news establishment runs those fell-good stories. Ain't it all bright and merry? Obamacare hits a snag. At least someone cares about running deficits.

Think Positive

Forecast 2010

DISCLAIMER: The atticussawatzki blog does not typically take sides on politics. This is not apathy:it's just an open forum for discussion.


Who's in and who's out

Conservatives gain seats in House and Senate. Many view one-part control of the three branches as a speeding train without brakes. Even with an economic recovery, people are spooked by the Summer of 2009- socialized medicine in the works? Obama is still likable.

Va. Gov. Tim Kaine gets a job in the White House.

Md. Gov. Martin O'Malley is voted out of office for all the things he did incorrectly (just things)- and was able to do a successful 2012 presidential bid is out of question.

DC Mayor (and maybe future governor) Adrian Fenty is reelected with plenty of room to spare- even though opponents try to start a rumor (it happens every cycle)

MoCo County exec Ike Leggett makes it; claims he helped county fight budget crisis and blames Mr. O'Malley for everything that he couldn't fix single-handedly. His new private office bathroom wasn't too politically scarring.

Rep. Norton (DC) gets more representation

George Bush enjoying himself in Texas.

Berkeley of the East

Takoma Park is split into three parts: Takoma (Park) DC; Takoma Park, MD in PG County; Takoma Park, MD in Montgomery County. But it's all the same : Berkley of the East.
It is, after all, a Nuclear Free Zone: it does not do business with companies pertaining to nuclear weapons, and will soon not do business with nuclear power (bye bye power company, enjoy your natural-wax candles at night). I'm waiting to see a wind turbine sprout up beside the Metro tracks. I guess they'll enjoy burning coal til bad things happen. But there are charming things, like, well, I haven't visited in a while. People accepting each other, some community spirit (the republic of Takoma Park)

Takoma Park, MD in PG County was merged into Montgomery County, thus giving access to the higher-ranking and notorious Monkey Blair. Further plans of merging Takoma Park, DC into MD are still under discussion...

(The title originally read Berkley)

Mechanical Pencils

A tisket and a tasket. I have lots of mechanical pencils that were on sale at Walgreen's. Now these Papermates are refillable, but at this price, the economics of refilling do not make sense. Of course there are the environmental benefits of not using them as disposables, which may make it all the worthwhile. but then you might also need a spare eraser when you refill the lead? Is it still better for the environment? Well, you save a lot of plastic.

Tubes

There was a shipment from somewhere in pool supply land that allowed for two new pool-bottom vacuum tubes (public pools tend to not use robots on the account of wily nature of the tubes in that they like to tie themselves into knots), and four new, glossy, red rescue tubes that are ergonomically soothing. How so? Your elbows don't sag down into the foam when you rest them on the new tubes. And there is something about the fact that they are- new. New plastic scent, sharp corners and crease- free, and 'GUARD' in ghostly white bold print, as if they had never hit the water with the weight of a person before.