Rail Trails and Tribulation

Seattle PI article today on local plans to convert old rail lines into walking and running trails. While looking at the map in the article, I was struck by an incredible new idea: how about converting the rail lines into mass transit? State has long history of converting rails to trails

Scott Adams's Financial Advice

Dilbert's creator, Scott Adams, came up with personal financial advice that fits in one page. My only quibble is that a stock index fund (see 8 below) works great, but only when the market is going up. Even though stock markets may go up in the long run, it is best to remember, as Keynes once put it, in the long run we're all dead.

'Dilbert's' 9-point financial plan worthy of economics Nobel - MarketWatch: " Adams' secret nine-point formula was finally revealed in 'Dilbert and the Way of the Weasels.' Notice its simple brilliance in the exact reproduction of his formula:
1. Make a will
2. Pay off your credit cards
3. Get term life insurance if you have a family to support
4. Fund your 401k to the maximum
5. Fund your IRA to the maximum
6. Buy a house if you want to live in a house and can afford it
7. Put six months worth of expenses in a money-market account
8. Take whatever money is left over and invest 70% in a stock index fund and 30% in a bond fund through any discount broker and never touch it until retirement
9. If any of this confuses you, or you have something special going on (retirement, college planning, tax issues), hire a fee-based financial planner, not one who charges a percentage of your portfolio
Adams boldly states that this is 'everything you need to know about personal investing.' In just 129 words, nine simple points, one page you have the unabridged 'Unified Theory of Everything Financial.' That's it. Everything! "

Cirque du Soleil Has new Background Music

Today's LA Times describes how George Martin is re-mixing tunes from Beatles for a new Cirque du Soleil show. Remix of Beatles music due - Los Angeles Times: "In one number, Harrison's vocal from 'Within You Without You' is heard over the rhythm track from 'Tomorrow Never Knows.' In another, the Martins set Starr's vocal in 'Octopus's Garden' against the string accompaniment to 'Good Night' from the White Album."

Coming Soon to Broadway!

Gothic Lolita should be making an appearance on Capitol Hill in the near future: How to Be a Gothic Lolita - WikiHow

Fencing in the News!

In the 1939 news, to be exact. Public domain news clip available through archive.org. Chevrolet Leader News (Vol. 5, No. 2): "Title Card: 'Chevrolet Leader News' over montage. "

"Title Card: 'Clash! Blades Flash in Sand Duel, Throw Challenge to Scoffers.'
Swimsuited women practicing fencing on beach. CU woman's legs (and shadow) thrusting and parrying in sand; CU legs of opponent doing likewise. VS women fencing (with foils) on beach; automobile pulls up behind them and several women (wearing swimsuits) exit and watch. VS women receiving fencing instructions. Women lift up another and carry her to the surf, dunking her several times, then leave her there as they run from water and to car. Dunked woman stands and runs to shore just as car pulls away; CU woman throwing something to sand while smiling, putting hands on hips and looking o.s. "

We may laugh, but think how a 1930s news announcer would've described the gold sabre match in the last Olympics: "The two welders are waving car antennas at each other, and for some reaon all the lights are going on. Looks like they're finished, and hello, those were ladies under the helmets and metal smocks!"

Salman Rushdie Risks Another Fatwa

But this time from the New York Review of Books: Guardian Unlimited Books Review Interview: Salman Rushdie: "Somewhere in Las Vegas there's probably a male prostitute called 'John Updike'."