The Off Topic Topic

[Admiral Yi]

I read in that big three volume book on the Civil War that his commission came written out to Ullysses Simpson Grant and he thought it was easier to change his name than get the commission redone.

[garbon]

Actually looking again that's what I see too. Oh the internet.

[PDH]

The appointment was to "Ullysses S. Grant" and that was what he adopted.  The "S" in his new name didn't stand for anything.

[Admiral Yi]

The appointment was to "Ullysses S. Grant" and that was what he adopted.  The "S" in his new name didn't stand for anything.

That sounds suspiciously like the Harry S Truman story.

[Eddie Teach]

Actually looking again that's what I see too. Oh the internet.

I read the HUG story in print. Not that biographies written for children are known for meticulous research.

[garbon]

The appointment was to "Ullysses S. Grant" and that was what he adopted.  The "S" in his new name didn't stand for anything.

Wiki has Grant saying it didn't mean anything but congressman who nominated him for academy had it as Simpson (mother's maiden name).

[PDH]

The appointment was to "Ullysses S. Grant" and that was what he adopted.  The "S" in his new name didn't stand for anything.

Wiki has Grant saying it didn't mean anything but congressman who nominated him for academy had it as Simpson (mother's maiden name).

The congressman had it as "S."  but meant it to be Simpson, Grant kept it as "S" - At least according to him.  He was called Ulysses as a boy. 

[PDH]

The appointment was to "Ullysses S. Grant" and that was what he adopted.  The "S" in his new name didn't stand for anything.

That sounds suspiciously like the Harry S Truman story.

At West Point he was called "Sam" because of the "S" in the name (Uncle Sam - U.S.).  Sherman called him Sam, iirc.

[alfred russel]

Shit like this only comes up once a year or so.

I spoke too soon, now my heater won't cut on.

It isn't so cold--in the 50s--and this is probably one of the last chilly nights of the year. I'll worry about it next winter. Unless it is some sort of thermostat problem that also impacts my air conditioner. In which case, there is no fucking way I'm going through a Georgia summer without AC.

[11B4V]

Shit like this only comes up once a year or so.

In which case, there is no fucking way I'm going through a Georgia summer without AC.

been there and done that. 

[11B4V]

[alfred russel]

That is brilliant.

[sbr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSLbpAwibg

[Sheilbh]

Your ideal party is Syriza, a Greek party of the left led by Alexis Tsipras.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/may/19/who-should-you-vote-for-in-the-european-elections

Also I think Syt mentioned a German paper posting things from a hundred years ago. The Telegraph's doing the same. 80 days to WW1 (a few days ago) there was this story:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100271787/ww1-80-days-to-go-a-suffragette-prisoner-vanishes-the-french-propose-a-tax-on-duelling/
The whole series is amazing.

[Syt]

Your ideal party is Syriza, a Greek party of the left led by Alexis Tsipras.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/may/19/who-should-you-vote-for-in-the-european-elections

WTF?? 

You encounter a group of people who are not like you. They are having a meal in a field. Do you:
a. Set fire to their encampment
b. Daub swastikas all over their vehicles
c. Inform the local authorities
d. Ignore them and hope they'll go away