I'm taking up a new instrument

The best Zeke video I've ever seen

Pope thongs

"Sisyphus? Isn't that what Voltaire died from?"

- Ahmed, a 19-year-old intern in my office, 02/11/2008

The Mitchell report on steroids in baseball that came out yesterday brought out some interesting feelings in my office about our national pastime. And, I learned some interesting things that about modern baseball giants.




Barry Bonds' Growth Suspect

Maybe Barry Bonds can argue that weightlifting, not drugs, accounted for his weird, middle-aged home-run barrage and freaky body makeover, as he has maintained.

He can argue (weakly) that squats and power cleans enabled him to hit nearly 300 home runs after his 35th birthday and added 30 pounds to his skinny frame.

He can argue (not convincingly) that bench press and shoulder shrugs enabled him to get so big that he went from a size 42 jersey to a size 52.

But how does he explain this: His head grew from size 7 1/8 to 7 3/4.

Or this: His feet grew from size 10 1/2 to size 13.

His SKULL grew? Wow.

At the USDA Graduate School's Introduction to Macroeconomics Class:

All students are asked to introduce themselves.

Twenty-something: "My name is [removed], I work for Senator [X], and we are doing a lot of work on the Farm Bill... so I really look forward to taking this course."

Fellow student whispers to another classmate, "I'm so happy to hear that the people working on the Farm Bill are taking Intro to Macro classes."

Overheard in DC

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time.

Skydiver plans head-first freefall from the edge of space in dizzying bid to break Mach 1

But he must wear a special suit to ensure his body fluids don't boil

As he plunges through the stratosphere at supersonic speed, he also hopes to break three more world records - for the longest sky dive, the highest parachute jump and the highest altitude achieved by a human in a balloon.

Despite the intense cold outside, his £35,000 suit will heat up inside when it meets air resistance. His crash helmet will have its own air supply and reinforced ear pads to protect him from the sonic boom as he breaks through the Mach 1 sound barrier.

Awesome.

A little afternoon snark thanks to Mingle².

Secret Fun Time takes the Dearborn 911 marijuana call and makes a damn good video