Random Stuff
I took the four eldest to see Unstoppable Tuesday night. I highly recommend the movie for a parent that wants to spend a fun 100 minutes with his boys. It's not a great movie, but it's intense, action-packed, and just a little violent. And clean. With the exception of a quick shot of a guy in his underwear (gotta get grime somewhere), the movie had nothing off-color. * * * * * * * Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain. What transpired and what's going on? Gonzalo Lira offers one of the best summaries I've read. Excerpt: "As a result of the Irish not taking the EU bail-out, Portugal's debt started to tumble–which has everyone worried. Portugal is looking an awful lot like Greece did five-six months ago . . . The reason the entire slate of Euro bonds are tumbling is because of Ireland–but the real worry is Spain. If Ireland and then Portugal go down the tubes, then it would only be a matter of time before Spain is next–and Spain is far larger than Greece, Ireland and Portugal combined. If Spain goes, then it's curtains for the whole Eurozone, perhaps even for the European Union as a political entity. So Germany, the EU, the IMF and the ECB all want to save Ireland as a firewall, against further bond market deterioration. The problem is, the Irish don't want to be saved." * * * * * * * Nine ways to winterize your car, and 13 emergency items to pack in your car. Surprisingly, condoms aren't on the list. You know, in case you need a jump (haw haw). * * * * * * * The origins of eight classic board games. Pretty cool. Excerpt:
Risk was first published in France in 1957 as La Conquete du Monde, or “World Conquest,” the name under which Parker Brothers first published it in the United Statees. The game was invented by Oscar- and Palme d'Or-winning film director Albert Lamorisse, who was also the author of the children's book The Red Balloon, adapted from his Academy Award-winning short film of that name. Game historian Bruce Whitehill has written that the choice of the Risk name reflected the first initials of the four grandchildren of the company salesman who suggested the name, although the story seems to be apocryphal.
