Friday News Chum: Iranian Jews, Homework, 7-11, and Shuttle Moves

Well, it’s Friday at lunch time (well, it’s really Thursday night, but let’s do like they did at the debate and play “let’s pretend”). It’s time to clear out the remaining accumulated links…

• Iranian Jews. As we’re talking politics: Iran has been in the news of late. The Jewish Journal has a nice article on the history of the Jewish community in Iran — its ups and its downs — which is being highlighted in a new exhibit.
• The Dog Did What? We’ve all heard the line: The dog ate my homework. The line was even used by the Obama camp when discussing Romney’s refusal to go on with Linda Ellerbee to talk to kids about running for President. But have you ever wondered where that line came from? Wonder no more. Slate explores whether the dog really did eat the homework.
• New at 7-11. This week was the convention of convenience store operators in Vegas. So what new is coming to 7-11? How about Energy Chocolate… Non-stick gum that washes away with soap and water… vegan condoms… portable breathalyzers… bacon jerkey… or caffeinated ice cream.
• Corporate Logos. If you know me, you know corporate logos fascinate me. I still have a box of articles back from when the NBC Peacock was replaced by the “N”… and the peacock’s eventual return. So naturally, I have to tell you that “Wendys” is updating their logo, dropping the “old fashioned” tag (all Wendy’s logos over the years). Will it up their business? Probably not. After all, I doubt Ebay’s logo change has made much of a difference. As we’re talking marketing, white and black are now the most popular car colors, and Zacky Farms (one of the major chicken producers in California) has filed for bankruptcy. I remember the days when, in California, you would only eat chicken from Zacky or Foster Farms.
• Moving the Shuttle. Today, Endeavor moves to the ScienCenter. It is amazing how involved the move is. From massive steel plates to protect streets, having to use dollies to cross the freeway, a ballet of raising and lowering power, raising and lowering streets, moves inches from buildings, and having to zig-zag the shuttle to avoid trees. Supervisor Zev has a bit more information (especially about Caltrans requirements), and they have to use special mats to get it across the lawn at the ScienCenter.