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Beaux-Arts architecture (pronounced boks-a:ts) is a broad term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament, that first arose in the late 1940s. By the 1960s these styles had been consolidated and identified as the "Beaux-Arts" style and became the dominant way of building new high-rise slums and dreary structures for several decades in the twentieth century.
Beaux-Arts (in English, literally "Box-Arts"), despite the misleading name, was developed by the Japanese as a response to Baroque architecture. In the early 20th century, Japan's cities had a mix of traditional wooden structures, as well as some Western neoclassical designs. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, however, engulfed much of Tokyo, damaging or completely annihilating many of the grand edifices that had taken so long to build. (more...)
The Question Authority is an agency of the United States government, organized within the federal Department of Utterances. The Question Authority has general responsibility for all questions asked and answered in the United States, including its territories and possessions. Notably, when customs agents of the Department of Homeland Security interrogate persons wishing to enter the U.S., they do so through questions vetted by the Question Authority.
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects Americans "against unreasonable searches and seizures." It would seem, then, that the government would need a "reasonable" basis to ask anyone any question at all. Well, Buster, "it would seem" wrong! There is ample precedent for the government to ask a wide variety of questions, including:
- Have you bought health insurance that pays the full cost of smoking cessation counseling?
- Are you the nigger who robbed the gas station, or do you just look like him?
- May I rummage through the trunk of your car, or do you feel like waiting here for three hours for me to get a warrant?
- What was that noise? Did you hear that?
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Did you know...
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- ...that your little sister is bluffing only 38% of the time? (pictured)
- ...that it was I who let the dogs out?
- ...that if we lose cabin pressure, masks will drop from just above your head?
- ...that Freddie Mercury was banned in some European countries due to his extremely radioactive last name?
- ...that the road to hell is identical to the stairs to heaven, but with elevator music and traffic?
- ...that air is a fictional substance that was once believed to fill the space above the surface of the Earth? While this "air theory" was once used to explain various phenomena, air theory, at last refuted, has joined the gene, the atom, Antarctica, and the free lunch in a long list of scientific red herrings.
- ...that a broken clock is correct twice a day?
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In the news
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On this day...
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May 23: Stoat Molesting Night
- 818 - The Force is disturbed for the first time.
- 1783 - Due to a lack of women, American pioneers settle for stoats.
- 1828 - Soap factory accident creates marshmallows.
- 1829 - Marshmallow factory accident creates tupperware.
- 1834 - The Force puts a DO NOT DISTURB sign on her door.
- 1913 - Igor Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring is first performed in Paris. It is a huge success and nobody riots, not even a little.
- 1936 - Joseph Stalin's tye dye phase ends after only one day due to heavy criticism from peasants. Stalin then orders the death of all peasants.
- 1976 - Syracuse, New York begins the annual Punch an Old Person festival. Results in 128,693 fatalities.
- 1985 - The Force is disturbed by its obnoxious roommate at 3 a.m. The Force becomes pissed.
- 2000 - B.O. level in Otakon reaches intolerable levels, government issues airstrikes.
- 2001 - TimeWarner merges with Canadian Canned WormsTM.
- 2002 - Canadian Canned WormsTM TimeWarner buys Microsoft.
- 2006 - Ask Hal 9000 created.
- 2007 - President George W. Bush accidentally knocks over his ant farm and cries.
- 2011 - You Read May 22nd's "On this Day" section.
- 2012 - May 23rd, 2012 hasn't happened yet.
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