The Internet is bigger:

Third Degree - "intense interrogation by police," 1900, probably a reference to Third Degree of master mason in Freemasonry (1772), the conferring of which included an interrogation ceremony.

[ Online Etymology Dictionary ]

Seriously, where would I have gone 15 years ago to research the things that I can investigate so quickly now?

I've finally eaten at the 24 hour restaurant on Little River Turnpike that has been calling to me. The name is displayed, along with an illustration of a little man in a big hat drinking soup from a bowl, but it's in Korean so I never knew the name of the place. 정선달 apparently means Jung Sun Dal, though I don't know what that means.

Not only is the sign in Korean, but practically everything inside is in Korean too. And, as far as I can tell, no one working in the place speaks any English. The menu, printed on the place-mats, does have rough translations of most of the menu, and Yaty decided to go with the "vegetables, beef, egg, and rice" because she couldn't tell which items was Bibim Bap. To her surprise the waitress said just that, so I ordered the same. Only $6.95 a bowl, and it comes with a big bowl of miso soup too, what a bargain.

The place seems to be "homestyle Korean" and does have a bit more pork on the menu than I care for, but the waitress does understand "no pork" so it's all good. I'm not sure what to rate it, as it's only the 3rd Korean restaurant I've ever eaten at in my life, and I'm still not sure I understand Korean food.

Welcome home STS-114.

Space Shuttle Discovery touched down this morning at Edwards Air Force Base in California to successfully conclude NASA's Return to Flight Mission. STS-114 was the first Shuttle mission to fly since the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and the STS-107 crew on Feb. 1, 2003.

[NASA - Return to Flight ]

Perhaps a lofty name, perhaps a lofty ideal:

We hope that in taking this journey, through the taste of Nirvana, your soul, and stomach, will be alleviated from the pressures of daily life.

[Nirvana ]

Yummy buffet, though

Wikipedia.

Contrary to popular belief, Coca-Cola Zero is not a new product. The same blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium along with the Coca-Cola Classic formula has been available for quite some time in many European countries which were never exposed to New Coke. Commonly called Coca-Cola Light or Coca Light in Europe, the Coca-Cola Zero formula is identical that used in foreign countries.

[ Coca-Cola Zero - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

And, apparently, Nate's drink of choice.

There must be some way to work the system...

The District of Columbia will offer a Sales Tax Holiday from Saturday, August 6, 2005, through Sunday, August 14, 2005 – just in time for back-to-school shopping

[ Office of Tax and Revenue: Press Release - July 20, 2005 ]

Granted, in theory, as a resident of Virginia, I am required to track all of my purchases that are not taxed by another state, and pay tax to the state of Virginia at the end of the year. So, technically, this does me no good what-so-ever. Plus Iman is already back in school...

Forget the iPod, Apple's new mouse is hot. Period.

At $49, Mighty Mouse features the revolutionary Scroll Ball that lets you move anywhere inside a document, without lifting a finger. And with touch-sensitive technology concealed under the seamless top shell, you get the programability of a four-button mouse in a single-button design.

[ Apple - Mighty Mouse ]

Priced right, packed with features, I wonder what the wireless version will cost...

Props to Sajous

Afghanistan is not part of Iraq!

...mentioning that the U.S. talked about bringing troops home from Iraq in 2006, despite my constant corrections that I was actually in a different country with a different name, to wit Afghanistan.

[ Paravonia ]

And drunk ladies hanging out at bars don't know much about current events...

Props to Karol

Can this possibly work?

This is the day that all fellow System Administrators across the globe, will be showered with expensive sports cars and large piles of cash in appreciation of their diligent work.

[ System Administrator Appreciation Day - Friday July 29th 2005 ]

I'm rather sure that it takes more than a webpage to create a holiday. At least Hallmark or American Greetings has to get on board, right?

Props to Sajous

Neither is ready for international prime time, in my humble opinion.

Google has the goods on satellite photos of Makassar, Indonesia; but no details on roads, place names, etc. etc.

Virtual Earth totally knows where Makassar is, but the satellite photo sucks, and the interface won't allow zooming in past the halfway point.