After the Sounders game (Go Sounders!) I was in the parking garage and saw a car that really slammed into the bumper of the car next to it while pulling out of a parking space. Since the car at fault did not stop to leave information, I wrote down their license number and left it and my name and number on the damaged car. I got a call today from the owner of that damaged car, confused about my note. Why? BECAUSE SOMEONE TORE THE NOTE, REMOVING THE INCRIMINATING LICENSE NUMBER!!!! Unluckily for criminals everywhere, I still had the number in my purse. Hah!

But next time I’m just going to call the State Patrol.

From the same book as previous:

The table [of causes of pauperism] suggests also that insanity, epilepsy, paralysis, syphilis, lameness, and general wreck are conditions especially associated with bad habits, and that deafness, blindness, rheumatism, and cancer are associated with absence of bad habits.

(I especially like the category “general wreck.” That’s what I’m shooting for.)

Causes of Pauperism:
Intemperance
Drug habit
Immorality
Shiftlessness and inefficiency
Crime
Temper
Stinginess
Speculation
Neglect by relatives
No support
Accident
Sickness
Physical defect
Mental deficiency
Insanity
Old age

From Almshouse women: a study of two hundred and twenty-eight women in the city and county almshouse of San Francisco by Mary Roberts Coolidge. Stanford University, Cal.: Published by The University, 1896. p. 29.

A very amusing collection of Kim Jong-il’s visits to various industrial sites with a hilariously dry introduction. For maximum enjoyment, watch for his, er, limited sartorial choices.

I got these new headphones that block out external sound, and the instructions had the usual warning about not wearing them when you drive, but also had this howler, with accompanying diagram:
“Be sure to ensure that there is continuous audio signal to the headphones to ensure that you are not left alone in silence with the horror of your own thoughts!”

The toothbrush fence (as mentioned in Flight of the Conchords).