You'll be able to finish your 50-state quarter collection by the end of 2008. The Mint is pleased with the results (bold mine).

The states have been honored in the order they were admitted to the union, starting with Delaware. It was honored with a quarter in 1999. The effort kicked off a collecting craze unlike anything ever seen before in the coin world.

Based on a 2005 survey, Mint officials estimate 147 million people have gotten involved in collecting the quarters with their constantly changing designs.

"The American people have made the 50 state quarters the most successful coins in United States history," said Mint Director Ed Moy.

The most successful coins in U.S. history? What are we comparing them to? The Susan B. Anthony Dollar? Quarters are a useful coin in abundant circulation. Plus, you can't avoid getting quarters with the state designs. Calling their design a success is like saying people buy clothing to collect thread. You can't have one without the other.

147 million people are collecting quarters? Who are these people and where are they hiding? That's half the U.S. population. If 147 million people collect 50 different state quarters, that's $1.8 billion out of circulation. Is this really good news?

Labels: government bs

I didn't stay up late, I didn't sleep in, and I ended up pissing away the only benefits of this whole time-change nonsense. When we lose an hour in the Fall, I know it's going to end up being one of those days when I need a 24-hour day. The time-change benefits me in one way: keeping my clock purchases in check. If I ever got the urge to go on a clock-buying spree, Daylight Saving Time would surely keep me grounded. No one wants to deal with setting all those clocks all the time.

Hey government, I have a suggestion for you, and I'm not even going to charge you for it. In the Spring, let's just set our clocks a half hour ahead. Then, we'll have a compromise between Standard and Daylight Saving Time and never have to mess with our clocks again. Why has no one elected me to office yet?

Labels: government bs, random nonsense

I just got back from the bank.

It was the one time in years that I needed to talk face-to-face with a banking official. It was a dead end, as today is Christopher Columbus Day. Private banks close on Columbus Day for reasons the public can never know.

I'm thinking about joining the Columbus Day opposition movement. The main argument is that Columbus and his friends weren't very nice to Native Americans. I think I can buy into that hype, if it means denying a holiday to bankers and mailmen.

If a closed bank or post office is the only way you know when a holiday happens, it's not a holiday worth closing for.

Labels: government bs, random nonsense