The Gleeson Bloglomerate

Poll: 2007 will be good, or bad, maybe the end of time

Sean — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 16:56:14 +0000

Here are two Associated Press stories about a poll of American expectations for the new year. One headline reads: “AP poll: Americans optimistic for 2007.” But the other says, “Poll: Americans see gloom, doom in 2007.”

These articles are reporting on the same AOL-AP poll, looking at the same data. But the two writers decided to report on different questions in the poll to fit their opposing narratives. On balance, it really means that our countrymen expect some good things to happen in 2007, and some bad things as well. You know, kinda like every other year. Yawn.

But this nugget, in the “gloom” article, caught my eye:

One in four, 25 percent, anticipates the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Can that be right? Do 25 percent of Americans really believe that Christ is coming in 2007? I mean, as a Christian, I believe that He is coming, and we should be prepared always, because it will be as a thief in the night, and we know not the day nor the hour, and all that. He is coming in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. (Interesting that the AP would cite this event as a ‘gloomy’ prediction, right under “the military draft will be reinstated.” Where are their priorities, anyway?)

But I am unaware of any particular reason to think this will all happen in the next twelve months. If you are one of the purported 25 percent who expects the Second Coming in 2007, please feel free to explain why, in the comments.

In a fair fight between an eagle and a fox, who would win?

Sean — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 04:50:16 +0000

Take a guess, and then watch the video to see if you’re right.

(Via Snopes.)

At our house, we use babies for that

Sean — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 04:58:16 +0000

A new gadget being marketed to japanese women simulates conversation with their houseplants. The Hanakotoba plant translator can sense when a plant is being touched, and responds with 200 different affectionate phrases.

I already know what Mark Steyn would say: “We are the children we never had.”

Take a music brake…

Sean — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 02:55:30 +0000

…with Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” performed entirely with assorted bicycle parts.

(Santa-hat tip to LGF.)

Virginia O’Hanlon’s letter

Sean — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 05:08:26 +0000

“Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus…”

This 1897 letter to the New York Sun prompted the most reprinted editorial ever to run in any newspaper. You have certainly read it, probably many times.

But did you know that the original hand-written letter, kept in a scrapbook for 100 years, turned up on Antiques Road Show in 1997?

Happy birthday, Zorkie

Sean — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 05:11:40 +0000

Today, the lovely and ingenious “Zorkmidden” turned 29 years young. A Grecian immigrant, Zorkie conquered the… well, whatever it was she conquered, she is now the proprietrix of Pixelatrix Games and cofoundress of Discarded Lies, where the “Celebrate zorkmidden” tribute will give you some inkling of how many lives she has touched. Unless those are all sock puppets.

Finished with Weffriddles

Sean — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:37:14 +0000

Tonight I just finished the very last level (there are 58 levels) of Weffriddles. Say, have I ever mentioned Weffriddles.com? I did? Just two days ago, you say? What day is it now? Friday? Yikes.

Sorry, it’s these darned riddles. They have a way of crowding everything else out of your brain and demanding to be solved. They make thinking about anything else somewhat difficult. I’m done with them now.

Weffriddles

Sean — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 05:22:53 +0000

Phoebe warned me, “Don’t go to Weffriddles.com unless you have a couple of hours to spare.”

I should have listened. (But I did make it as far as clue 21 in only one hour.)

UPDATE: Phoebe is passing the blame, to Rosaline.

Today in Earthquake History

Sean — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 23:10:49 +0000

Wow. Did you know that the U.S. Geological Survey has a “Today in Earthquake History” Web page, that will instantly display all of the significant earthquakes which ever occurred on a particular date, with maps and everything? Well, now you know.

Love in the afternoon

Sean — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:31:26 +0000

It was eight years ago this very day, Dec. 17, 1998 — around lunch time — that I fell in love. Eight years is not so very long ago, and yet I can no longer remember what it was like not to be in love, except for a vague impression that life was less pleasant. Good thing I wrote it all down.