Oregon Designates Official State Microbe
Beating Hawaii and Wisconsin to this important milestone.
Series
Official State Crap: Connecticut
Official state tree: the white oak (Quercus alba). Official state mineral: garnet, which is highly abrasive. Official state insect: the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) (a scientific name I did not make up). Official state bird: the American robin (Turdus migratorius) (same…
Official State Crap: California
Official state nickname: The Golden State. Official state mineral: gold. Official state motto: "Eureka" (Greek for "I have found it," the "it" in this case probably being gold). Official state flower: the golden poppy. Official state colors: gold (also blue)….
Classifying a Killer Whale for Tax Purposes
That's the title of this short video (1:13) in which Professor Jeff Karlin of Golden Gate University explains that the IRS distinguishes between killer whales and great white sharks, although both are big giant swimming things that could potentially eat…
Oregon, Hawaii May Name Official State Microbes
“Is there a competing microbe?” one legislator asked.
Official State Crap: Arkansas
Official state nickname: "The Natural State." First official state motto: Regnant Populi ("The People(s) Rule"?). Year they decided that was either grammatically incorrect in Latin or not quite what they wanted to say: 1907. Current official state motto: Regnat Populus ("The People Rule")….
Official State Crap: Arizona
Official state tree: the Palo Verde (not clear which kind, either Parkinsonia florida or Parkinsonia microphylla, could be both). Official state fossil: petrified wood (Araucarioxylon arizonicum, although that species may not actually exist). Official state bird: the cactus wren, "otherwise known as Coues'…
Official State Crap: Alaska
Official state song: "Alaska's Flag" Official state motto: North to the Future Official state seal that supposedly can't be used without permission: this one Official state bird: the Alaska Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus alascensis Swarth) Official state tree: the Sitka…
Official State Crap: Alabama
NOTE: This was drafted before the 2023 addition of an official cookie to the state’s roster of official crap.
It’s the Old Wealthy-Fisherman-Trying-on-a-Rolex Scam Again
Works every time: Employees at Ben Bridge Jewelers in downtown Seattle described the man who came in and asked to try on a $45,000 Rolex watch as fishy smelling and toothless. He reportedly explained the aroma by saying he was…