Would you use a dollar coin?

Having learned something from the state quarter phenomenon, the U.S. Mint has decided to manufacture yet another version of the dollar coin. They are hoping these coins, which will feature each of the U.S. presidents, will do what Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea couldn't, which is make Americans use dollar coins instead of paper money. Here's why I think this latest effort will be unsuccessful.
1. Metal is much more expensive than paper, even though it lasts longer.
2. Vending machines do not take them, except for stamp machines.
3. They don't slide nicely in and out of a wallet.
4. There is no tray for them in the cash register.
5. They are heavy.
6. They are noisy.
7. They are unfamiliar.
8. They are unnecessary.
9. They are Canadian.
10. We already use dollar coins, called "four quarters".

Caption This Photograph

University of California, Los Angeles anthropology students Bob Walters (left) and Frank Higgins creatively interpret Neanderthal behavior before a delighted lunchtime crowd.

Concert Tickets Announcement

I will be receiving in the mail three tickets to see Wayne Watson, Kim Hill, and Phil Keaggy in concert at Crosswinds Wesleyan (or is it just Crosswinds, Priscilla?) on Dec. 8 at 7:00 pm. I will obviously be using one of them myself (if I can get out of work early enough). I figure several people would want to go too... any takers? Tickets are General Admission ($15.00).

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Ben is a teenager today. He wants me to post a picture of a "sweet car". Hmmmm... How about this one?
or this one?
The FXX is pretty cool...
Okay, is that enough? No? Alright, one more...

Dead Woman Wins US Election

And yes, she was a Democrat.
Dead woman wins local US election (BBC)

Things that go "CRASH" in the night

Hearing shattering glass in the middle of the night is a good way to double your heart rate in a few seconds, as I found out last night. I was tossing and turning in bed, trying to settle my thoughts and get some sleep when I heard a loud CRASH downstairs. Sometimes I find myself thinking about what I might do if someone broke in at night, but just then I forgot everything about my plans. I started to head toward the stairs, knocking over an old art project (of Aunt Priscilla's), making a lot of noise. Then I realized I didn't have my glasses on so I stumbled back across the room to get those. Then I thought I should probably look out my window to the driveway to see if I could see anyone. I didn't. Then I heard Grandma and Grandpa shuffling around so I figured I better get some pants on before I went downstairs. I crossed the room again to find some PJ's to put on, but my light was off, so I turned it on and remembered my curtain was open, so my neighbors could see right in if they were in their backyard (and vice versa). I shut my light off and closed the curtain, before turning the light on again and fishing around in a laundry basket for some pants. By the time I got downstairs, Grandma had already gone back to bed and Grandpa was cleaning up the glass... from an old Diane Dengel print that had fallen off the bathroom wall. Funny, we never noticed the frame starting to come apart through years of exposure to the humidity of the bathroom. I'm sure there's an object lesson here somewhere....