OK, I wasn't crazy...

Montgomery County, Maryland, hit by 3.6 magnitude earthquake

I woke up and the cats hurled themselves off the bed. I checked the clock, got up and looked out all the windows, didn't see any fires or explosions or interdimensional beings erupting out of the fifth dimensional, established that the power hadn't gone out, and went back to bed.

There have been three other earthquakes in the area, apparently, in the time I've lived here, but this is definitely the only one I can recall feeling.

for DC area friends: free to good home

On offer to friends before I put them on Craigslist

Two bookshelves, 71" high by 30" wide by 11" deep. Particleboard with dark wood veneer, two fixed shelves and two movable ones. Some shelves a bit bowed, but still safe and serviceable (until recently carrying a full load of hardcovers).

One 27" Sony Trinitron TV (24" tall by 27" wide by 20" deep). Comes with remote and your selection of RCA cables, including RCA+S-video gold-contact cable.

One RCA switchbox, capable of combining up to four inputs, also with a selection of RCA cables.

One wheeled cart, suitable for holding said TV, 28" wide by 38" high by 16" deep, two shelves (I think of pressboard with tan veneer, though possibly solid hardwood with veneer), black metal side rails, black plastic castors.

One mandoline, in original packaging, rarely (never?) used.

One Sunbeam SteamValet (functional?) in travel bag.

One foot-operated air pump, includes pressure gauge.

One bike cover, grey-green cloth, currently covered in cat hair but nothing a good wash won't take care of :-)

BBC boobs again...

In a promo for a Radio 4 "What if?" program, the synopsis reads

What If... The USA had lost its War of Independence?

During the opening years of the American War of Independence the British Army undoubtedly had the upper hand over the George Washington's forces. Here, we imagine George Washington's defeat in the early stages of the war, e.g.: 1776.

In fact George III and his Cabinet had every reason to believe they were going to win, until their surprise defeats at the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. It's only the British Commander, Admiral Howe's[,] characteristic lack of boldness that prevented him from crushing the American forces on at least three occasions.

Clearly they are going even more hypothetical than stated, since Admiral (Richard) Howe was the *brother* of the CINC in America, General (William) Howe.

(no subject)

A really entertaining study of George Washington and an attempt to apply his code of behavior to modern life

thanks to Boston 1775 for the link (and the one to the dubious BBC article)

Netherlandish proverbs

I was trying to find examples of a specific type of painting by one of the Bruegels, and I came across this, a painting that illustrates about forty different proverbs (so-called--I would say "proverbs or expressions") common in the 16th century Netherlands.( Read more... )