I almost never take these quizzes — I really don’t like such things because I always want some choice that isn’t listed. As I did this one, I thought the outcome would be weird because my choices were difficult (eg, I liked math when I was young but I’m not so good with numbers). Anyway, I was surprised the result was so spot-on (the flattery aside). mjh

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well. An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly. You are also good at remembering information and convincing someone of your point of view. A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

[mjh: Sadly, I sucked as a translator. And I think I would be unelectable as a politician.]

[So, here’s another one, not as gratifying, also fraught with difficult choices.]

MSNBC – Test Your Digital IQ

NEW MEXICO TOPS STATE/PROVINCIAL FLAGS SURVEY, GEORGIA LOSES BY WIDE MARGIN 10 June 2001

NAVA – AMERICAN CITY FLAGS SURVEY

#25 Albuquerque, NM

I can’t remember ever seeing the City Flag of Albuquerque. But the State Flag of New Mexico is a beauty. Follow the links to see all the flags in both categories. mjh

Personal cellphone booth – Engadget – www.engadget.com

If you just can’t keep your yapping to a respectable sound level, then do the rest of us a favor and hook yourself up with this portable personal phone booth to isolate yourself from the world while talking. Created by Nick Rodrigues, the booth is foldable and can quickly be slid by the user over their head. We can’t wait until it becomes popular on airplanes.

Note this is NOT from the Onion, but from a great gadget site. Now that I see it, I think I’ll start carrying a cardboard box around to put over the heads of some.

Mer has the good idea of making them inflatable and cheap enough to give away. mjh

New Mexico was admitted to the Union as the 47th state on this date in 1912.

[Thanks, NewMexiKen]

Wishing the World happy times in 2005! mjh

Google Press Center: Zeitgeist

2004 Year-End Google Zeitgeist
Search patterns, trends, and surprises

Rossi calls for another election By CHRIS McGANN

“A revote would be the best solution for the people of our state,” [Republican Dino] Rossi said at a news conference in Bellevue. “The people of Washington deserve to know if their governor was elected fair and square.” …

Rossi’s spokeswoman, Mary Lane: “I don’t think the voters in this state have an appetite for an illegitimate governor.”

Neither the state constitution nor state statutes provide for a second gubernatorial election. …

“There is a process in place and you can’t just willy-nilly set up new elections,” [Seattle University political science professor Erik] Olsen said.

Asked what advantages or pitfalls might await Rossi should he refuse to concede, Olsen said, “There is something to be said in a democratic political culture for being gracious when you lose — but I would not second-guess him if he has some legitimate legal challenges.”

However, Olsen said there is a danger that Rossi could be seen as a sore loser.

“There is a real risk for Dino Rossi if he contests this election too much — that he’s excessively partisan, excessively ambitious and that he doesn’t respect the process,” Olsen said.

So much for graciously accepting defeat, as Al Gore and John Kerry did. Republicans never stop fighting — and they think that’s a positive attribute. mjh