Month: November 2015

Captain American and Social Security

captain america

Source: cracked.com

As part of the New Deal the first Social Security numbers were not issued until November 1936. https://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/firstcard.html

The date of birth of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is reported as various dates in the 1920s. At his age, even if he has never paid Medicare payroll taxes, he would be eligible for both Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. https://www.medicare.gov/eligibilitypremiumcalc/

As a veteran, Captain America may also be eligible for other benefits.

Sloths grab their own arms

sloth

Source: Facebook

The only known source for this is a quote from Douglas Adams’ posthumous collection of essays, “The Salmon of Doubt.”

My favourite piece of information is that Branwell Brontë, brother of Emily and Charlotte, died standing up leaning against a mantle piece, in order to prove it could be done.

This is not quite true, in fact. My absolute favourite piece of information is the fact that young sloths are so inept that they frequently grab their own arms and legs instead of tree limbs, and fall out of trees.

However, this is not relevant to what is currently on my mind because it concerns sloths, whereas the Branwell Brontë piece of information concerns writers and feeling like death and doing things to prove they can be done, all of which are pertinent to my current situation to a degree that is, frankly, spooky.

Adams is, of course, the well-known author of works such as, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” and “Restaurant at the End of the Universe.”

No raise for Congress

no raise for congress

via Facebook

This meme is not factually incorrect, but suffers from “meme rot.” Like many internet the information is neither sourced, nor dated.

The legislation was introduced, but it was introduced on January 22, 2015. Almost ten months ago as of this posting.

The proposed legislation also would not have eliminated raises for Congress, it would simply have eliminated the automatic pay raise for members of Congress.

http://sinema.house.gov/index.cfm/2015/1/sinema-introduces-no-raise-for-congress-act