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Tinkertoys

The Tinkertoy Computer - we love this comment: "now if they could only get it to run Doom..."

The Tinkertoy Robot

Tinkertoys - from Hasbro: "From planes to trains to cranes, there are hundreds of possibilities." ... and computers, robots ...




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August 4, 2008 04:47 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Communism and 2 cows...

COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both cows. The government sells the milk in government stores. You can't afford the milk. You wither away.

You have two cows. The government.... - from TheCapitol.Net

It is not an accident that communism, wherever it has strongly established itself, has always restricted international travel, stirred up spy-mania, and jammed foreign radio stations. Where the USSR led, the People’s Republic of China and Cuba followed. And their example was picked up by North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ethiopia. Communist leaderships in power repeatedly clamped down on the free flow of information in their countries and used propaganda to indoctrinate whole populations. Official media claimed that poverty and oppression were the universal features of life under capitalism; that capitalism was entering a period of terminal decline; and that the future, the brightest of futures, lay with communism.

"Hoover Archives: What I Found in Mr. Hoover's Papers," by Robert Service, Hoover Digest, 2006 No. 2

The Museum of Communism is an online, "virtual" museum that provides historical, economic, and philosophical analysis of the political movement known as Communism; it may be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/bcaplan. An overwhelming consensus of historians from a wide range of political viewpoints concludes that the human rights violations of Communist regimes have been enormous - often greater, in fact, than those of the infamous Nazi Germany. Yet public awareness of the major crimes of Communist regimes remains minimal. The purpose of the Museum of Communism is to disseminate this information, combining high scholarly standards with an entertaining format.

Museum of Communism - by Bryan Caplan




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July 31, 2008 08:17 AM   Link    Comments (0)

"Guide for Congressional Pages"

It is a common notion that Congressional pages should be neither seen nor heard. But this is a lie. Pages were accepted into this prestigious program and so should bring attention to themselves in all situations possible. This guide for pages will help you become the best page possible, at least for this semester.

Get up as late as possible and don’t bother to set an alarm. Promptness is not valued at the Page School. If you are not present at school it will be assumed that you are conducting important federal business. This may include, but is not limited to, prank calling the Senate pages, watching R-rated movies in the cloakroom, and campaigning for Ron Paul and/or Dennis Kucinich.

Don't sweat the uniform either. The teachers and supervisors have greatly lowered their standards after seeing teenage fashions such as navy blazer-style halter bikini tops and dark grey cut-off slacks. Black flip-flops are acceptable, so long as you wear the 100% silk Italian page tie, girls included.

If you happen to appear at school and decide to go to work, you must walk. All page scooters have been retired after the scandalous scooter races last semester. It is essential that you jaywalk because it is in the sprit of the rule “All page duties must be performed quickly and efficiently.” If drivers become irate, merely flashing your page ID should assuage their road rage.

The elevators are the fastest way to get down to the page cage, unless you use the Speaker’s secret tunnel. If you happen to get on an elevator with an intern, crowd around him/her because interns love to become better friends with pages. Make sure to strike up a conversation with him/her; ask the intern about his/her wages and what s/he does throughout the day. Then proceed to compare it to a page’s pay and jobs. Loudly. It would also be beneficial to comment on their lack of uniform and/or professional attire.

If you’re ever confused about your job, simply look to the Members for examples. Show up for work three-fifths of the time. Carry your cell phone and constantly check your email; it’s essential that you’re kept in the know about the current celebrity nincompoop. When the House is in session, don’t hold back if you have a thought to share; shout out comments, especially if they're of the dissenting opinion. “Don’t be such girls,” “Nay,” high school insults, and grunts are all acceptable forms of dissent.

When the Members are not in session, the House is your domain. Try out the Speaker’s chair, test the microphones by singing your favorite song, and run up and down the aisles. But remember the number one rule: follow the Members' example. Feel free to read a newspaper, put your feet up on the historic leather chairs, or take a nap. Your page supervisor won’t mind.

If you’re ever confused, remember these two rules: 1) Follow the Members’ example, and 2) Bring attention to the navy blazers.

"Guide for Congressional Pages," Anonymous

See also

July 7, 2008 09:17 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Globalization and Its Discontents


Red State Update: Budweiser Bought By Foreigners? - YouTube

"Country Boys Can Survive: The Boys of Red State Update have Risen from Murfreesboro Obscurity to National Fame," by Jim Ridley, The Nashville Scene, September 20, 2007



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July 6, 2008 09:27 AM   Link    Comments (0)

T-shirt: Congressional Totem Pole (as Drawn by a Former House Page)

T-shirt design from an anonymous former House Page: Congressional Totem Pole

See also

July 3, 2008 04:37 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Recommend Books for Children about Washington, DC and our Government

Children's Books that have been popular with our readers the last few months:


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Also see Recommend Books for Children about Washington, DC and our Government

June 30, 2008 02:47 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Piaggio MP3 - article roundup

Piaggio MP3 250

"No Age Limit: The Lincoln Highway Ride," Bernard Rosenbaum and Bob Chase cross the USA, from San Francisco to Times Square, on MP3 500s June 13 - June xx, 2008.

"First Ride: Piaggio MP3 400 and 500," by Jeremy Korzeniewski, AutoblogGreen, May 27, 2008

"Piaggio MP3 400: Not just a third wheel," by The Car Family, May 19, 2008

"2008 Piaggio MP3 400 Review: Three-wheeled scoot always draws a crowd," by Brad Puetz, Motorcycle.com, May 15, 2008

"Piaggio MP3 500ie: MD Ride Review . . .The Italians Trike Back," by Barry Winfield, Copyright Motorcycle Daily, April 10, 2008

"Piaggio MP3 Scooter...not your father's Vespa," by Adam Richardson, cnet, March 12, 2008

"2008 Piaggio MP3 500: Legendary scooter manufacturer launches two new three-wheelers," by Arv Voss, SFGate, March 8, 2008

"Review: Piaggio MP3 Scooter," by Brett Solomon, e-Gear, March 7, 2008

"2008 Piaggio MP3 500 Test Drive: Clever Trike Delivers 60 MPG, Tons of Fun," by Basem Wasef, Popular Mechanics, February 27, 2008

"Piaggio MP3 400 Test ride," Cafe Moto Vespa Club, February 8, 2008

"Piaggio MP3 Three-Wheel Scooter Review," by Jess, Modern Vespa, December 18, 2006

"Piaggio MP3: the hooligan scooter?" The Biker Gene, December 4, 2007

"2007 Piaggio MP3: Italian scooter is three-wheeled wonder," by Arv Voss, San Francisco Chronicle, December 1, 2007

"Gilera Fuoco - Sex On Three Wheels - First Ride: Piaggio's Wet Dream," by Roland Brown, Motorcyclist (July 2007)

"Piaggio MP3 400 ie," 2 Stroke Buzz, June 13, 2007

"Review of the Piaggio MP3," by David L. Harrington, JustGottaScoot.com, June 2007

"Piaggio MP3 400," by Brad Puetz, Two Wheel Freaks, May 5, 2008

"Piaggio MP3: A love triangle you can live with," Jim Palms, Sound Rider, Spring 2007

"Piaggio MP3 Scooters Getting Good Reviews," by Paul Crowe, The Kneeslider, April 30, 2007

"A three-wheeled extravaganza! Piaggio MP3, VentureOne, KTM X-Bow and Can-Am Spyder," AutoblogGreen, February 23, 2007

"The Can-Am Spyder and Piaggio MP3 are trikes for the big kids," by Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2007

"Piaggio's MP3 Positioned As Practical Scooter For Earth-Lovers," Marketing Daily, January 23, 2007

"The Piaggio MP3: The Three Wheeler, With Two Front Wheels!" by Tasha Crook, LondonBikers.com, January 10, 2007

"Three-Wheeled Suspense," by Matthew Conkley, Popular Science, 2007

"Piaggio MP3 Three-Wheel Scooter Review," by Jess, Modern Vespa, December 18, 2006

"3-wheel scooter for the young and hip: Piaggio's new scooter puts two wheels in front for better stability and handling." By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com, September 26, 2006

"Piaggio MP3: Three Wheels Better Than Two," Gizmodo, May 17, 2006

"Piaggio 3 Wheel MP3 Scooter," by Paul Crowe, The Kneeslider, May 11, 2006

More

June 21, 2008 01:37 PM   Link    Comments (0)

These Yorkies love riding on the Piaggio MP3



Useful Yorkie Stuff | Piaggio MP3

April 17, 2008 01:07 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Jill Kamp Melton

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."

Jill Kamp Melton (bio), a communications consultant, shares her favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Jill's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)

Favorite Books and Movies

For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.



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April 9, 2008 04:57 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Michael Koempel

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."

Michael Koempel (bio), a senior specialist in American National Government for the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, shares his favorite book and movie. (You can see some of Mike's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)

Favorite Book and Movie

For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.



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April 2, 2008 09:07 AM   Link    Comments (1)

Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Claudia Thurber

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."

Claudia Thurber (bio), a veteran of over twenty-two years of federal government service, shares her favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Claudia's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)

Favorite Books

Favorite Movies

For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.



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March 12, 2008 11:07 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Chinese Restaurants in America

Chef's Ma Paul Tofu
Chef's Ma Paul Tofu (Wu Liang Ye Restaurant, NYC)
What most Americans know as Chinese food would be more properly termed American Chinese food, a category that includes chop suey and lemon chicken, dishes born in the U.S. Given, as Lee points out, that there are about 40,000 Chinese restaurants in the U.S., "more than the number of McDonald's, Burger Kings, and KFCs combined," Chinese food might be our national cuisine. "Our benchmark for Americanness is apple pie," she writes. "But ask yourself. How often do you eat apple pie? How often do you eat Chinese food?"

Chinese restaurants are ubiquitous, usually taking the form of urban carryout shops and suburban buffets. But how did these restaurants flourish across the American landscape? For the most part they are independently run, so how is it they seem to share similar characteristics, such as gigantic menus filled with egg rolls, garish red sweet and sour sauce, and General Tso's chicken?

Each chapter answers these questions and more, examining soy sauce, the distinctive shape of takeout boxes favored by Chinese restaurants, and fortune cookies, which Lee discovers are Japanese in origin.

"West eats East: A fact-filled look at Chinese food, which just might be America's national cuisine," by Bich Minh Nguyen, ChicagoTribune.com, March 1, 2008

More




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March 3, 2008 08:47 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Piaggio MP3 250 - 3 wheel scooter

The Piaggio MP3 250 is a 3-wheeled scooter with 2 front wheels, increasing stability.


See also "Article Roundup," June 21, 2008

More




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February 20, 2008 09:17 AM   Link    Comments (0)

What's wrong with this picture?

What's wrong with this picture?


Caution: this is a professional actor. Do NOT attempt this at a business meal!

There are at least eight things in this picture that demonstrate bad business etiquette.

For a link to the answers, see our training course, "How to Walk, Talk and Network in Washington: Presentations, Briefings, Business Etiquette, and Networking Skills for Washington: Cmmunication Skills for the Professional".

Also see our Capitol Learning Audio Course, "Business Etiquette: Keys to Professional Success," with Jill Kamp Melton.

January 31, 2008 04:07 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Girl Band - Minority Orchestra





Hat tip: Astronaut Love Triangle

January 5, 2008 07:37 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Ring bell for psychic?

Doesn't the "psychic" know you're there?


Unclear on the concept.....

December 31, 2007 04:17 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Christmas in NYC

Spent a lovely five days and nights in NYC at Christmas.

Saw two fun shows - "Spamalot" and "Is He Dead?" - and the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall - all highly recommended.

Enjoyed several evenings wandering through the holiday shops and watching the ice skaters at Bryant Park. Although the ice rink at Rockefeller Center is the famous one, Bryant Park is beautiful and it is not crowded so you can watch from the rink wall, shouting out encouragement to the newbies of all ages. Great fun, and some of the skaters are excellent.

Took youngest child to see Santa at Macy's. Although the Macy windows were a disappointment (the Bergdorf Goodman and Lord & Taylor windows were much better), the Santa we visited at Macy's was the REAL SANTA! The beard, the voice, the laugh, the Santa outfit - SPECTACULAR! And despite having dealt with crowds for hours, ALL the elves were smiling and filled with Christmas cheer.



The Christmas tree at the Met was, as always, beautiful and worth the trip.

Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC

Had an outstanding meal in Chinatown at Sanur and good dim sum at The Chatham. Also had a very good lunch at Toasties and enjoyed the jazz brunch at Rare Bar & Grill in the Shelburne Hotel.

The holiday train show at Grand Central is always fun.

The 7-day unlimited ride Metro card for only $24 made it easy to go all over the city using the subway and buses. An amazing bargain.

Merry Christmas!

December 30, 2007 10:37 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Bill Noxon

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"

Bill Noxon (bio), a public relations practitioner, shares his favorites.

Favorite Places to Visit

My work led me to a couple of these choices after having more than a normal visitor's access, so my picks may have some innate prejudices.

Fun Things to Do

Favorite Restaurants

This is harder. Most of my eating is now done outside of DC.

For more, also see our Visiting Washington DC pages


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November 15, 2007 06:17 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Chuck Cushman

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"

Chuck Cushman (bio), an associate professor and director of the Master of Arts in Legislative Affairs program at The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, shares his favorites.

Most interesting places to visit

Favorite “fun” things to do

Favorite restaurants (all in NW)

For more, see our Visiting Washington DC pages and other Faculty Favorites.


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November 7, 2007 07:47 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Deanna Gelak

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"

Deanna Gelak (bio), faculty for "How to Work the Hill Like a Pro Audio Course on CD," shares her favorites.

Five Most Interesting Places to Visit

Five Favorite Fun Things to Do

Favorite Restaurants


For more, also see our Visiting Washington DC pages


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October 24, 2007 06:47 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Peggy Garvin

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"

Peggy Garvin (bio), the author of Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research, shares her favorites. Peggy has lived in Washington DC for 24 years.

Five favorite “Oases”

For more, also see our Visiting Washington DC pages


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October 17, 2007 07:27 AM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Gebe Martinez

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"

Gebe Martinez (bio), a reporter covering Congress and politics for The Houston Chronicle, shares her favorites.

Most interesting places

Favorite Restaurants (This is a little harder to answer because there are so many good restaurants in this area. So, not in any particular order and off the top of my head...)

For more, see our Visiting Washington DC pages and other Faculty Favorites.


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October 10, 2007 04:07 PM   Link    Comments (0)

Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Brad Fitch

We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"

Brad Fitch (bio), author of Media Relations Handbook, shares his favorites.

Five most interesting places to visit

Five most favorite fun things to do