Bad Poetry Day

So naturally we tried to make up a poem with the first line ending in

It was suggested that we use the word “sporange” – a sac for spores but the dictionary lists the word as sporangium, or the plural – sporangia.  But then we received an email from Frank who suggested this website: http://www.skorks.com/2008/10/here-are-some-words-that-rhyme-with-orange/

Here’s a sample of what you’ll find because it may not be worth to move away from this page:

amoreange – an orange you instantly fall in love with

allegorange – an orange that represents abstract ideas or principles

borange – an orange so dull you can’t even be bothered finishing it

corange – the very essence of an orange

commodorange – an orange that seems to be in control of a large group of other oranges

doorange – a type of orange used to close off an entrance to a house (these typically grow very large as you might expect)

Moving on…

The 101 number one song of the day had to clear several hurdles on its way to the top. The most significant challenge came from the head of the record company who felt a political song was not a good fit for a group known for the striped knickers and buster brown collars.  Those outfits were meant to signify the clothing of the kids who became popular in a series of depression era movie shorts. The group’s music was light and fun loving to match their whimsical on stage appearance. But the spring of 1968 brought two assassinations (Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy) that affected the band members as deeply as most Americans and the song was written to reflect those feelings. But Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records didn’t want to release the song because he felt it would be disastrous for the group and for the companies bottom line. He was wrong. It turned out to be their biggest hit – staying on top for more than a month. It was number one on August 18^th, 1968 for the Rascals (People Got to be Free)

Other stuff:

Yesterday we talked about the Human Powered Car and you can watch a video of it in operation further down this blog, but wait until you get a load of this -

Scottish scientists say they’ve come up with a new bio-fuel to power cars – made from whiskey. The left over grains and mash from the whiskey making process can be used to make butanol – similar to ethanol…but with 25% more energy output.

-Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘one for the road’….

Just in time for the opening of the fall semester at NMSU, The Annual Beloit College Mindset report is out. Beloit College surveys incoming freshmen to find out their frames of reference for American life. For example – there’s a good chance today’s college freshmen have never used a phone with a cord on it. And they know of Clint Eastwood as a sensitive movie director…not Dirty Harry. They’ve probably never heard of Dan Quayle or Rodney King…and probably don’t know how to write in cursive. And they don’t wear wristwatches.

 

As we await the big news that Brett Favre is “un'-retiring” again and will return to the Vikings for a hefty sum, we get this news: A professor of Roman studies in England says ancient Roman sports heroes were better paid for their work than today’s top sports stars. For example – he found a chariot driver at Circus Maximus named Gaius Appleius Diocles…who amassed a fortune equivalent in today’s money to $15-billion dollars. And he says that was based on Diocles’ prize winnings. In ancient Roman times they didn’t have product endorsements or sponsorships that today’s athletes depend on to pad the bank account.

CBS news has a story on their web site of nine places new mothers probably shouldn’t breast feed. They included ‘in front of men or children…in open public…in a church…on a plane…in a restaurant…or on the job.’ They say the best idea is to excuse yourself and seek out a private, quiet place.

Mike thought one of the no-no places would be on a roller coaster. So his mind was going in a completely different direction.