PAgent’s Progress

Words Are My Favorite Toys

September 6th, 2006

Polka Power

As a child I adored Spike Jones and his City Slickers. When I grew up, I realized what consummate musicians he had to have in his band, in order to be able to record the zany pieces that they did, and I admired them even more. When I look around at today’s musical personalities, no one can hold a candle to Spike.

Well, except for one guy. Wierd Al Yankovic is the true heir of Spike Jones.

Enjoy this medley of classic polka tunes.


September 6th, 2006

Everything’s Bigger Fatter in Texas

According to this news article, the following delicacies have garnered honors (or at least attracted attention) at the Texas State Fair in this and recent years:

* Fried marshmallows on-a-stick

* Fried peanut butter, banana, and jelly sandwich

* Fried macaroni and cheese

* Fried Cosmopolitan

* Fried Praline Perfection

and the Big Winner at this year’s Fair:

* Fried Coke

Fried Coke?!?

Oh yes. Fried Coke.

“Gonzales deep-fries Coca-Cola-flavored batter. He then drizzles Coke fountain syrup on it. The fried Coke is topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry.”

Oh. My. God.

September 6th, 2006

Color and Season

The human retina contains light-sensitive cells. There are three types of color-sensitive cells, or cones, that allow us to perceive more than 10 million different shades of color. An additional type of light-sensitive cell in the retina, the rod cells, have a very different response to light. In normal situations, where ambient light is bright enough to strongly stimulate the cones, the rod cells play virtually no role in vision at all. However, in dim light, the cone cells are understimulated, leaving only the signal from the rod cells. The result is a sort of monochromatic vision. Put simply, in conditions of dim lighting, colors can appear ‘washed out’ or even absent. In particular, as autumn progresses and sunrise begins to come later and later, the period in the early morning wherein one’s vision is largely black and white is similarly extended.

Which is all really just a long-winded way of explaining why I am once again wearing dark navy blue socks with gray slacks.