The dynamics of laughter: related to happiness somewhat, and yet so, so much more...

So New Orleans is underwater, and everyone knew it could and likely would happen someday, but nobody ever did anything, cause, well, that's just the way it goes. Point being New Orleans is underwater.

Here's a report from three years ago that made some dire and hauntingly accurate predictions.

So now what? Hire the best water management engineers in the history of the world, of course: bring in the Dutch! "Protecting the Netherlands against the negative influences of water..."

Bob Moog passed away a few weeks ago, and his obit got some minor notice in the news. Don't think you knew Bob Moog? If you were around say 12 years old the first time you heard bands like Emerson Lake & Palmer and Yes, you knew Bob Moog.

Better to take some time off rather than blog about anything. Because trust me, you can blog about anything...

Been awhile. I really (really!) try to avoid anything too controversial, but sometimes I see something that's just too delicious to pass up.

Here are incredibly detailed instructions on how to eat sushi properly. (Link goes to part 5, scroll back to part one)

Food and Wine magazine reports we've become a nation of sushi connoisseurs. The Not-My-Fault daughter has always enjoyed sushi, so sushi has always been the standard "let's go out for dinner" destination in my family.

Food and Wine thoughtfully includes this review to further enhance your sushi dining pleasure...

Once again, the charming Sarah K of Mountaineer Musings fame is hosting the latest installment of The Carnival of Recipes. What's not to like about Sarah K? As Frank J says about her: "Yowza".

She has the Carnival set up on a 80's rock & roll theme, so even if you don't cook there's plenty to be amused by.

And while I'm carnival linking, here's the summer installment of The Carnival of Education...not that anyone needed a reminder that school starts in less than 3 weeks.

"Winners Only" Nick emails with a reminder that Wade Boggs, who was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame last weekend, had a head of hair that " looked nice and thick at the induction ceremony." Nick sent along the attached photo ad to remind us of why Wade's hair looked so terrific.

Of course, among the many unpleasant side-effects of steroid abuse is sudden hair loss...

Which leads us, circuitously, to the bizarre case of Rafael Palmeiro. Palmeiro, who would have been an automatic selection to the Hall of Fame as only the 4th player in history to hit 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, is now very much in doubt as a future Hall of Famer. Furthermore, as "Winners Only" Nick correctly points out, he lied to a Congressional panel on the subject of steroid abuse. Never mind getting into the Hall, he may end up facing legal charges.

The missing part of the story so far is Palmeiro's recent ads for Viagra. Because, you see, another well-known and unpleasant side-effect of steroid abuse is the, ahem, shrinkage of a certain pair of, er, male organs...

Friend and reader Hank "Cantona" Stephenson emails with some commentary relating to the excessive use of business jargon that has permeated our language. "Thoreau and Hemingway would spin in their graves", says Hank. And remember, its equally easy to implement your enhancements as it is to enhance your implements.

And for goodness sake be sure to set the brake on your lawn tractor so that no “unexpected non-powered tractor movement may occur.”