Is That a Ferret in Your Pants…?

A new world record was set recently in ferret legging—the “sport” in which contestants place a pair of live ferrets in their pants and, well…wait. The last man standing is declared the winner.

The rules are simple: no underwear, and your pants need to be loose enough “to allow easy ferret access between the legs.”

New record-holder Frank Bartlett, a 67-year-old retired teacher, lasted 5 hours, 30 minutes.

UPDATE! The definitive article on ferret legging was written by Donald Katz and appeared in Harper’s Magazine back in 1992. Click here for the story.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 31, 2010

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True Colors?

Lest your seven-year-old’s artistic endeavors be thwarted by a paralyzing inability to color people with the crayons she already has, Crayola has thoughtfully packaged eight colors—black, sepia, peach, apricot, white, tan, mahogany, and burnt sienna—in a “Multicultural Crayons” set.

How, precisely, different shades of brown and tan are “multicultural” isn’t explained on the Crayola website; nor is their apparent assumption that, somewhere in the world, there exist people with black or white skin.

But hey—at least they’re “easy to grip.”

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 28, 2010

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Introducing Apple’s Latest Venture: iSpokane

It’s true. Steve Jobs and his appleheads are coming to Spokane – in the form of a new Apple retail store! This is some of the most exciting news I’ve heard in quite some time. After setting up shop in larger US markets initially, Spokane’s name finally bubbled to the top of the list.

posted by CK Anderson
May 27, 2010

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Bertrand Russell on Work

From “In Praise of Idleness” (1932):

Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth’s surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid. The second kind is capable of indefinite extension: there are not only those who give orders, but those who give advice as to what orders should be given. Usually two opposite kinds of advice are given simultaneously by two organized bodies of men; this is called politics. The skill required for this kind of work is not knowledge of the subjects as to which advice is given, but knowledge of the art of persuasive speaking and writing, i.e. of advertising.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 26, 2010

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“…we never asked the kids what they wanted.”

For anyone out there who stubbornly refuses to recognize the near-limitless power of branding, I share this story without further comment.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 25, 2010

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Beauty as Commodity

Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves and Bust sold for $106.5 million at a Christie’s auction earlier this month. Amid the outrage, Denis Dutton asks an eminently reasonable question: “Why is paying $100 million for an ugly downtown office building acceptable, while the same sum paid for an object of enduring beauty is a scandal?”

More at the New York Times‘ Room for Debate blog.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 24, 2010

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We’re All Winners!

According to this infographic, every country in the world is best at, or has the most of, something. Like Senegal and it’s gasoline bunkers, for example. Or Argentina’s horse meat production. I’ll let you see for yourself how the USA shines.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 21, 2010

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Pronouns Are Sexy

Jessica Love (seriously, that’s her name), a PhD candidate in cognitive psychology at Ohio State University, talks about how she’s fallen hard for pronouns. Me? I’m more of an adverb guy, but I totally see where she’s coming from.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 20, 2010

no comments  |  posted in the writing life

Near Rosa Butte, West Plains

Spokane County does a great job maintaining a number of conservation and natural areas; some are even within a few minutes of downtown. This one—the James T. Slavin Conservation Area—is a favorite of the intrepid Lily, my 12-year-old border collie. I’m not cool enough to own an iPhone, so you’ll have to make do with this picture, captured with my lowly Droid.

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 19, 2010

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Quote of the Week

From Tom Holt: “Count no man’s life wasted if there is a beautiful, mysterious woman weeping at his funeral.”

posted by Aaron Bragg
May 18, 2010

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