This story is absolutely amazing. Crashing through a plate-glass window and falling 17 stories… only to break a leg! Now that theater expression makes more sense. At any rate, don’t drink and horse around.
Update: While the original story listed the faller as only breaking a leg, the updated version reveals that he has two collapsed lungs and remains in critical condition in an induced coma. Fingers crossed.
In other news, here’s more reason to love Scott Adams’s blog.
Today’s IHT Online features this interesting article about the rapid improvements Colombia is making insofar as improving its image as a violent country ravaged by the drug trade. Using my trips to my mother’s homeland as a personal basis for comparison, it certainly seems that the article’s claims are true.
I was amazed by the difference in how much Medellin in particular had improved. When I traveled there in 2003, my lasting impression was how impoverished the area seemed. While the poverty is far from eradicated, I left Colombia this fall impressed by how cosmopolitan Medellin seemed. Improvements were widespread and obvious. Unfortunately, the city seemed much more polluted that during my last trip. That may have been due to the particular air quality during the time of our honeymoon.
The government’s bold stance against violence is illustrated neatly in this square. Botero’s sculpture, “The Bird of Peace” was bombed by guerrillas. Instead of removing the destroyed work, the government annoted the incident on the old installation and built a new one right next to it.
Lastly, writing this reminded me of a funny saying my cousin Nicolas told us over cocktails while were discussing music and fashion trends: “Poor Colombians wish they were Mexicans. Middle-class Colombians wish they were American. The rich wish they were European.”
I just heard about this guy on an old episode of Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. He believes that soy makes kids gay! Check out the article, in which he makes such enlightened (cough) claims as feeding your child soy milk is like giving them “five birth control pills a day.” May he please be in the running for the world’s biggest kook.
The Lein Sisters have raised an interesting discussion regarding regional differences in in word selection and pronunciation. My personal point to debate is the correct elocution of the word coupon. I always say “coo-pon,” while it seems most others say “cue-pon.”
Of course, I think most others are wrong, but it could certainly be me. How do you say it? I know in college we discussed the “coo-pon” rate, which I think has been my influence, despite my mother’s tendency to cut “cue-pons.”
Update: Jen sent me an interesting report illustrating the issue. Glad to see coupon in the top ten.
If you don’t want to see a gruesome photo, don’t click here. You might have already seen it if you monitor Yahoo’s most emailed photos. It’s of the track and field judge with a javelin through her foot. Oh my does it look painful.
To all younger siblings out there, mine and otherwise, listen up to this wise old man. He’s 100! He can’t possibly be wrong!
“When my brother in 1918 came home from the army, he said, ‘Ed, whenever you take a hot shower, end it with an ice cold one and count to 100.’ When your older brother tells you to do something, you do it,” Rondthaler said.
I can assure you that the answer to the question asked in this article is “yes.” Before my iPod, my PowerShot, my DS, my Nokia, and my 360, I was mired in endless sadness. Now in fact, I couldn’t get any happier, at least without a new phat laptop, video iPod, or PDA. ;)
Who knew such cool stuff could be done with espresso and steamed milk? Check out this video and these pics.
Deb passes this video along. I’ve seen some crazy things before, but this takes the cake!