gleans + 1xaddenda at 4:20 PM MT, 01/01/09

 

Donald E. Westlake, Mystery Writer, Is Dead at 75 By JENNIFER 8. LEE  The prolific, award-winning novelist pounded out more than 100 books and five screenplays during his career.

Ex-Sen. Claiborne Pell, sponsor of student grants, dies
CNN - Former US Sen. Claiborne Pell, who was largely responsible for the Pell grant program for US college students, died Thursday morning at his Rhode Island home, his family said.

New Evidence of Meteor Bombardment

Obamas checking into hotel steeped in DC history
CNN - (CNN) -- The hotel that will be home to President-elect Barack Obama and his family for the next couple of weeks offers one of Washington's best views of their future home, the White House, and a past linked with political movers and shakers.

Special delivery - Baby girl born on US-bound flight

 

 

Classic Bugatti worth $4.3m gathered dust for half a century

 

 

Resolutions 'bad for your health'  <== today's worry Deciding to turn over a new leaf in the new year could do more harm than good, a mental health charity warns.

 

'Teach children through video games'

Online computer games like World of Warcraft and Second Life could be a powerful teaching tool, scientists claim.

Gaza assault offers the best hope of peace <== like the old joke:  You only have to liberate a place twice.  After the second liberation, there isn't anything left to liberate.

Could we be a little more polite, please?

Top 10 restaurant bugbears

Too much thinking can make you fat <== damn right!

Science-fiction fan prompted bomb alert A hundred homes were evacuated, after neighbours reported seeing a man seen with a longbow.

Doctor bequeaths secret £6m car

Man banned from carrying felt-tip pens

 

addenda <== thanks to SleeplessBob

In other news:

 

I have a friend who works as an engineer for HKS in Dallas. This morning he took me for a walk-thru tour this joint:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Cowboys_New_Stadium

 

I've been in more than a few large stadiums over the years but nothing comes remotely close to this. The most common words spoken upon entering this place are destined to be "oh my god". I wish I could remember all the statistics he was rattling off as we toured the place. Dozens of world records all in one structure.