Weirdness: August 2009

A nice day

A week or two ago I mentioned a slight hint in the air that Summer was ending and today we had our first Autumnal day. Beautiful weather, almost perfect. Chad & Jeremy's Summer Song seems a good one to end it on. See ya tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbSwSlP4Yc&feature=related

bin laden - Cthulhu Cultist!

http://www.necronomi.com/projects/binladen/

The Return of fogerty's Blue Ridge Rangers

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/08/31/fogerty/

Neat Musical Instruments!

http://www.oddmusic.com/

Am just starting to explore this site - VERY cool! There are some beautiful and great sounding instruments here.

(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

more Victorian mourning photos

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/32946

I'd have to agree with the poster here - pretty creepy.

The cutting edge of CD packaging

http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/cd_packaging_has_built-in_theremin/#When:14:26:16Z

Very cool, very original...

Have you seen those TV ads for the happy cows of California?

Here's the reverse:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1209638/Scientists-baffled-suicidal-cows-throw-cliff-Switzerland.html

fanvid for The Beach Boys' All Summer Long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Hryc5t2wQ&NR=1

One of the great end-of-summer tunes. A few of you younger readers of this blog have already started school, and quite a few more start tomorrow. I hope your summer was fun, and as filled with as many pleasant memories as so many of mine were. As for me, it's time for another bourbon, see ya tomorrow...

Rod Stewart performs Every Picture Tells A Story

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

Rock and Roll. One of my faves, and probably one of the causes of my loss of hearing. One of those tunes that sounds better the louder you can get it. I'd have those old Advent speakers smoking by the time this song had finished.

Elvis Costello performs Allison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs6HbYit5-A

Wonderful love song.

Translator's video for Everywhere That I'm Not

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ9TfJjKHUM

Great mid-period New Wave song.

Lloyd Cole & The Commotion's video for Perfect Skin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaS6ASh8OA0

This was a great and woefully under-appreciated band.

fanvid of the Velvet's performing Sister Ray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4qp3T476co&feature=related

Dark lock-step march for the lost. Lou is the pied piper of the damned...

Suicide performs Ghost Rider

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1woMEExMZXg

Probably the preeminent No-Wave band. Did anyone who didn't work in a record store ever hear of this band?

fanvid for The Dukes Of Stratosphear's What In The World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEbkGEbU4l0

Perfect British neo-pyschedelia.

online scripts to a bunch of Dracula films

http://www.simplyscripts.com/dracula.html

Pretty neat!

Tee Hee!

http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4605340&tt=s

Burglar VS Police. A shut out...

http://www.pnj.com/article/20090829/NEWS01/908290320/1006/RSS01

neat steampunk "inventions"

http://io9.com/5348553/ten-epic-steampunk-projects-we-wish-wed-thought-of-first

Happy National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

Happy Birthday Frank Conniff!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175239/
http://www.myspace.com/frankconniff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Conniff

One of the stars of one of my fave TV shows - MST 3000.

Happy Birthday John Phillips!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Phillips_(musician)
http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/the-mamas-and-the-papas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3GbF9Bx6E

A local boy who made good...

Happy Birthday Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley!

http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/shelleybio.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelley

Happy Birthday Joan Blondell!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000951/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Blondell

A great and under-appreciated actress.

some nice gargoyle statuary and figurines for sale

http://www.gargoylestore.com/catalog.html

Dark Side of the Net's Steampunk Link site

http://www.darklinks.com/dsteampunk.html

Essential.

Horror Trailers online

http://www.horrortrailer.com/

Looks like a nice collection.

The Horror Mall

https://www.horror-mall.com/home.php

Ozzy performs Mr. Crowley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSnj8X1zAZI

Neat-O!

Just another day in the District...

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/08/26/fire-brass-likes-parking-in-front-of-hydrant/

The Halloween Forum

http://www.halloweenforum.com/

Halloween In August!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween_Melon_Brain/

Mmmm, Braaaaaiiiinnnnnnsssss!

new REH audiobooks

http://www.tantor.com/

And then there were five...

George Harrison joined the Quarrymen on this date in 1958, (some sources say it was February...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quarrymen

Happy Birthday Elliott Gould!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001285/
http://www.elliottgould.com/

Memories of a DC long gone...

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/4759/memories.html

A wonderful treasure trove of folks writing in about their remembrances of growing up in the area. Fun, and at times bittersweet. Highly recommended to you old timers...

(Thanks for the link, Karen!)

Finger Lickin' Good...

http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/fast-food/kfc-marijuana-dispensary/

Axe-Wielding Mass Murderers - Remember to Dress For Success!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1312760.html

Wizardry!

http://www.milaadesign.com/wizardy.html

I'm still trying to figure this one out; it's pretty neat!

(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

the driving test...

http://www.independent.com/news/2009/aug/27/driving-test-taker-crashes-dmv-building/

the case that will never end...

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/08/27/the-pants-judge-is-back/

Happy Birthday Jack Vance!

One of my fave

http://www.jackvance.com/

Happy Anniversary to Animal Crackers!

Premiered on this date in 1930. One my faves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Crackers_(film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020640/

Happy Birthday J. S. LeFanu!

http://www.jslefanu.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Le_Fanu

One of the great gothic writers.

RIP Ellie Greenwich

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/26/be-my-baby-songwriter-ellie-greenwich-dead-at-68/

I am totally bummed by this, really. Greenwich was one of the best ever pop writers. A giant.

Queen Victoria - Demon Hunter!

http://www.zomboscloset.com/zombos_closet_of_horror_b/2009/08/demon-hunter-contest.html

Tee hee!

The ultimate painting of Elvis...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXigfZGqsLM&eurl

The Linux Baby Rocker - for all you parents out there

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYcF_xX2DE8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2Freader%2Fview%2F&feature=player_embedded#t=38

Wuss America - the danger of plaid...

http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009908210302

a great ad idea for Parkay

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/article.html?Bridge_smeared_with_butter_to_stop_suicides&in_article_id=727739&in_page_id=64

RIP Donald Grant

http://chrisperridas.blogspot.com/2009/08/donalld-m-grant-obituary.html

One of the great publishers of fantasy literature.

cool Halloween Tree!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmaxwell/3860689075/

PG County - the gift that keeps on giving

Every day, the DC government does something corrupt and/or stupid. And every day they hope that story may be crowded out of the newspapers by PG County doing something even more corrupt and/or stupid. Today is one of DC's luckier days.

It's called black box testing, guys. Give it a try sometime....

fascinating article on the placebo effect

http://www.wired.com/medtech/drugs/magazine/17-09/ff_placebo_effect?currentPage=all

Lucky isn't...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6096059/Duckling-who-wore-sandal-following-leg-fracture-dies.html

In honor of Lucky, all forks will remain at half mast today at the Manor.

It's Alive....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/6094032/Michael-Jackson-shown-still-alive-in-conspiracy-theorist-video-posted-on-web.html

What would have been cool is if the dude had Moonwalked away from the van!

the continuing strangeness of Mr. Zimmerman

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/26/AR2009082603658.html

The Cutting Edge Of Mozart Festivals

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Austrian_town_to_hold_Mozart_urination_festival&in_article_id=726834&in_page_id=2

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Joy Division's video for Love Will Teat Us Apart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yTIpcwBTTs

One of my fave bands. Joy Division's works form the national anthem for pessimists, cynics, and the despairing. It comforts me in my old age....

Otis covers My Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEjC4D0Hghs

Great song and probably my fave soul singer. Very few can cover a Temps song and get away with it.

the drive

I was over at Seven Corners the other day. Had to get there by way of Route 7 - always a challenge. Fortunately, I watched Vanishing Point to bone up on my driving skills, and all went well.
For those of you in the hinterland, the area I'm talking about consists of several neighborhoods - Skyline, Bailey's Crossroads, Culmore and the afore mentioned Seven Corners. It is a congested area with the main drag being Route 7 which ranges from 8 to 4 lanes in size and speed limits of 35 - 40 mph*, (in theory). It is a very cosmopolitan and international area. I'd guess there are at least 75 nationalities and ethnic groups represented along the road, all of them united by a total lack of any driving skills. It's sort of a Benneton ad for the lame. That simple three mile stretch of blacktop holds more misery and frustration than Xenophon's March...

*MPH is sort of like "dog years" for native Northern Virginians. When you say 35-40mph it translates to us as 45-60mph...

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari online!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrg73BUxJLI

One of the classic silent horror movies.

the next stage of electronic body music?

http://www.youtube.com/user/daito

I can see a lot of wannabe Hendrix's getting into this....

neat steampunk jewelry!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=20791

Lord haw-Haw's mic for sale

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209142/Microphone-used-Lord-Haw-Haw-broadcast-Nazi-propaganda-UK-goes-sale.html

Another interesting footnote to WWII. I'd no idea the Brits shot him in the butt! Fun stuff!

the Soviet attack plan for Manchester???

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6091126/USSR-plotted-invasion-of-Manchester.html

operationally, this seems pretty improbable to me. I am unaware of any Soviet grand strategic plans in place for invading Britain; nor am I aware of the manufacture and buildup of military capabilities for doing so. I suspect this map is little more than an exercise in wishful thinking and the type of planning that all large military's engage in from time to time. The German General Staff had developed a wildly unrealistic plan for going to war against the U.S. and invading us around 1905. About ten years later, the American Army had developed a "what-if" plan for invading Canada that wasn't much more realistic. I heard rumors of an American plan in the late 60's should it be necessary to invade and occupy ALL of Africa, too.

Happy National Dog Day!

http://www.nationaldogday.com/
http://ihasahotdog.com/

an oldie but goody - Calls For Cthulhu!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCHi1ylBrsc&feature=PlayList&p=8C43732CF767A9C5&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21

the latest warning from the Onion...

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/sudden_ominous_music_heard_across

MWAHAHAHA!!!!!

priorities...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32548247/ns/us_news-weird_news/

Morning Glory Clouds

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/morninggloryclouds/

Pretty strnage.

touring the Maginot Line

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=8399763

I bet this would be pretty cool. If you spoke German you could probably get one of the forts to surrender to you, Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

the driver's license

http://www.blameitonthevoices.com/2009/08/drivers-licence-picture-of-day.html

neat headline of the day

http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4594722&tt=s

Dead Insect Buddha

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11994

Neat-O collection of church keys!

http://coolmaterial.com/cool-list/14-brilliant-beer-bottle-openers/

the cutting edge of welder's helmets

http://hoodlum-welding.com/hoods.htm

Happy Birthday Born To Run!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_to_Run

http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/BornToRun.html

What can I say, my all-time fave album...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYPSZiE0OAs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAvolRT3sX4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKkMfKUZBi4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksDUUkaoqY

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-8LUvW9qv4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ7kTxHLJss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH_NvYPBDY0

Happy Birthday Elvis Costello!

http://www.elviscostello.com/
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

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

Another Essential Genius.

Happy Birthday Tim Burton!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000318/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Burton

http://www.timburton.com/

http://www.timburtoncollective.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD8uQzu0IL0

Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Lord Dunsany!

http://alangullette.com/lit/dunsany/

One of my fave writers, and one of the best, (perhaps THE best), writers of fantasy.

Happy Birthday Sean Connery!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000125/
http://www.seanconnery.com/

Yes, he's an asshole; but still one of the great actors and leading men of our time.

Another late Summer evening begins...

Enjoy some tunes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRyhzQc_bS4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmjFk7i4hyg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEF470mXqU4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xSbsKHfMFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiPH3kVnHPc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brHGJ6xqbk&feature=PlayList&p=72E026A80F1A40AE&index=0&playnext=1

Cool! A blog devoted to events celebrating E.A. Poe!

http://poecalendar.blogspot.com/

Linda and I finally got down to the Richmond Museum just last Spring. It was fun!

get your cash with Cockney!

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/26523/london-cash-machines-go-cockney.phtml

This is so cool! But I'd thought that Cockney rhyming slang had almost died out.

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

neat headstones

http://mliberalguytheinbox.blogspot.com/2009/07/have-you-seen-anything-like-these.html

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Winnie von Pooh

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204884404574364964010507896.html

All Chernobyl needed was a Shamwow

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/6078265/Nuclear-experts-clean-radioactive-site-with-Cillit-Bang.html

Anniversary of the Battle of Bladensburg

http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/htf/1812historydir/EnterBladensburg.html

http://www.essortment.com/all/washingtondcch_rnep.htm

It somehow seems both appropriate and ironic that the biggest and most embarrassing military defeat the U.S. has ever suffered was in defense of my hometown. The event is studiously ignored by one and all.

Happy Birthday Niagra!

Lead singer for Destroy All Monsters, one of the coolest bands you've never heard of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOp6MdatyRc&feature=PlayList&p=809AF47B56A747C8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=104

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroy_All_Monsters_(band)

http://www.niagaradetroit.com/

interesting article on Britain's campaign in the Aegean in WWII

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1208268/Winston-Churchill-terrorist-His-hunger-fight-Hitler-send-thousands-heroes-needless-death.html

The review/article is nice insofar as its telling of the British efforts in the Aegean, (which is generally ignored in most histories of the War). Unfortunately, most of the criticisms of Churchill and his policies are based on a too-comfortable revisionism coupled with 20/20 hindsight and a general ignorance of geopolitics of the time which I have no sympathy with.

NYT Geography Lesson

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/08/23/us/23water_graphic1_ready.html

Wisconsin/Minnesota
Nevada/Arizona

Good going, Times!

interesting hotels

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-29498002;_ylc=X3oDMTF1N21iMGE4BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA3dlaXJkaG90ZWxzIC04LTIxLTA5

StoryCorps

http://www.storycorps.org/

Just discovered these folks. It sounds like something I've done with my own family - very cool.

My Little CthulhuPony

http://io9.com/5343155/my-little-cthulhupony

Awwww!

Happy Birthday Mark Russell!

http://www.markrussell.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Russell

A local landmark.

Happy Birthday Gene Kelly!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000037/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/gene-kelly/anatomy-of-a-dancer/516/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME

Genius. Essential. Always known as a hoofer, I think he was a fine actor, too. He did a great job portraying my hero, H.L. Mencken in Inherit The Wind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of5-UrqhtXA

Happy Birthday Keith Moon!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hngmb0pTcMY

One of the wild men of rock'n'roll

Happy Anniversary to The Big Sleep!

One of my fave movies, premiered on this date in '46. Very cool, with a plot that is unfathonable.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038355/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Sleep_(1946_film)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjJlBnfyiI4

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention coming up

http://www.midatlanticnostalgiaconvention.com/

plug for Count Gore

http://countgore.com/gore/

With the sun's shadows lengthening, one's thoughts turn towards the dark side - Halloween, ghost stories, horror movies, etc. One of my fave sites is Count Gore DeVol's Creature Feature, the first, and best, online ghost host production. The good Count started out on local DC television about 30 years ago, and became a minor legend of pop culture here. I highly recommend his site for the movies, interviews, horror news, convention info, and media reviews. One of my fave sites.

old Peter Max commercial for the American Cancer Society

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IWwM5oE5TY&feature=player_embedded

Little Steven's new site for all things cool - Fuzztopia

http://beta.fuzztopia.com/Default.aspx

Cool....

neat newt nastiness

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8212000/8212623.stm

Northwest Airlines hates you

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090821/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_nightmare_flight

The solution to this problem is quite simple - just apply the existing laws to the situation. The folks at the ridiculously named Mesaba Airlines should be arrested, tried, convicted and executed for 47 cases of kidnapping. That's all the consumer protection we need - just apply the law equally to corporate drones and their bosses as you would to any other common thug who breaks the law. Mass kidnapping is a serious offense, there's no point in paying taxes to a government that ignores such crimes.

Happy Birthday Dorothy Parker!

http://www.dorothyparker.com/dpsny.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Parker

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Dorothy_Parker

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday John Lee Hooker!

http://www.johnleehooker.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EHWujXubNM

Do You Want To Date My Avatar?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urNyg1ftMIU

The future...

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A Roman Naval Battle In NYC!

http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2009/08/naval-battle/

This is so cool...

(Thanks for the link, Treiops!)

I've gotta start decorating...

http://halloweenalliance.com/howto/scary-blair-witch-icons-made-from-sticks.htm

Ray Charles performs I Got A Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IQBKWdXnqU

So cool...

The Runaways perform Queens Of Noise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXpDZdegp2w&feature=related

Should've been bigger. The Runaways were cool.

Nico covers Heroes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FfeXi5ymWk

Cold Teutonic Smack Goddess....

The Beach Boys perform God Only Knows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KOtwjhfu0&feature=fvw

One of the prettiest songs in the English language.

Set TASER on Fry!

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/19/STUNGUN.ART_ART_08-19-09_A1_DQEQD2T.html?sid=101
I love the mugshot of this guy...

This week on the Beverly Hillbillies...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ODD_SHOOTING_STANDOFF?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-08-20-20-15-07

The Onion VS North Korea!

http://www.theonion.com/content/radio_news/north_korean_spies_issued?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

For True Gamesmen?

http://dc.metblogs.com/2009/08/21/find-love-over-board-games-at-play-date-dc/

Somehow I doubt Diplomacy or PanzerBlitz are going to be offered....

Happy Birthday Jackie DeShannon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JRv6iCCYQo&feature=PlayList&p=6F09807C24DF8339&index=0&playnext=1

http://www.jackiedeshannon.com/

http://jackiedeshannon.tripod.com/

One of the great pop writers. And one of the prettiest women in rock'n'roll.

Happy Birthday Joe Strummer!

http://www.joestrummer.com/

http://www.theclashonline.com/

http://www.joestrummer.org/

Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Friz Freleng!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0293989/

http://www.chuckjones.com/artists/friz_freleng.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friz_Freleng

It's a race to see who kills us first!

http://www.cracked.com/article/82_5-species-that-seem-to-be-trying-to-take-over-earth/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

the worst Star Wars costumes...

http://www.holytaco.com/worst-homemade-star-wars-costumes

Actually, I thought the Death Star dude did okay.

the cutting edge of burglary....

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/bizarre&id=6974519&rss=rss-wabc-article-6974519

Spooky Movie Filmfest coming up!

http://www.thespookymovie.com/

trailer for the new Wolfman movie

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/the-wolfman.html?showVideo=1

photos of survival shelters

http://www.good.is/post/picture-show-waiting-for-the-end-of-the-world/

These tend towards the roomy side, I remember the prefab models sold on Duke Street around the time of the Cuban missile crisis and they were quite claustrophobic.

August & Helium

http://www.strindbergandhelium.com/index.html

I think these are charming little cartoons.

there's always a Ramones song running in my head...

http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20080620205558data_trunc_sys.shtml

the slow death of recording studios

http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20090716232050data_trunc_sys.shtml

the dullest blog in the world

http://dullestblog.com/

The Eternal Moonwalk....

http://www.eternalmoonwalk.com/

playing with sand...

http://thisissand.com/

Grim Reaper comics

http://www.offthemark.com/grim/grim.htm

Comic Sins

http://www.lileks.com/institute/funny/index.html

Some pretty amusing descriptions and analysis here...

Home Haunters News

http://www.homehauntnews.com/

a cute little tribute to Yog Sothoth...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JHksA8S5V4

Wuss America

http://gawker.com/5341401/park-slope-mom-who-wants-to-ban-predatory-ice-cream-trucks-is-a-fried-pudding-pusher

A Toast - To The World's Oldest Bartender

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09232/991889-389.stm

Bravo!

good marketing?

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25956009-401,00.html

I'm not sure that cannibals, (regardless of the circumstances) are the best poster children for organ donation....

(insert puns here...)

living root bridges

http://rootbridges.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post.html

Cool!

new book on Italy's partisans in WWII

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0820/1224252951674.html
Definitely want to read this, as it's an area poorly covered in most histories of the war. Italian politics has always been fascinating.

the cutting edge of sick leave

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/117141-man-beat-himself-with-rock-to-get-day-off-work/

interesting article on research into biochemical warfare agents

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v460/n7258/full/460950a.html

Old Town Food & Wine Festival in October

http://www.wrsol.com/usatravelguide/2009/08/oldtownfoodandwinefestivalalexandriavirginia/

Sounds like fun, (if you can find parking....)

Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft!

http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/
http://www.hplovecraft.com/

Master of Cosmic Horror. Essential.

Happy Birthday Isaac Hayes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM3mfMHGnXI

http://www.isaachayes.com/

Black Moses...

Happy Birthday Phil Lynott!

http://www.angelfire.com/nj/thinlizzy/bio.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Lynott

http://www.philip-lynott.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TehFZ38kt6o

Happy Birthday Robert Plant!

http://www.robertplant.com/
http://www.robertplanthomepage.com/

http://www.ledzeppelin.com/

Neil Diamond performs Brother Love's Travellin' Salvation Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmP43qsAXvk

Well, it's another sweay stinking hot Augst night here at the Manor. And if you're talking a hot August night, you're talking Neil...

The Doors perform a medley of The Wasp & Love Me Two Times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MbXcef8JQY&feature=related

Great performance. I still believe that The Wasp is heavily influenced by American history and Jim growing up in D.C.

The Spinners perform I'll Be Around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F5RNdmVTdg

One of the last great Atlantic Soul acts. My fave song by them. So many memories tied up with this one. One more tune in the soundtrack of a misspent youth....

Elvis Costello performs The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJKt-DhII_4

My fave song by Declan. One of the albums that helped get me through a horrid year at William & Mary. And one of the best starting lines in the history of pop lyrics.

Traffic's video for Paper Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cp_3NEWTzU

Super-cool British psychedelia. Always wanted to learn the sitar part for this gem.

fanvid for Manfred Mann's Fox On The Run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZKEca0HT0

Always loved this old chestnut. If you ever hung around the early Birchmere* you'd be guaranteed to hear this tune at least once per night.

*No, not when it was located down by Four Mile Run, I mean the REALLY early Birchmere when it was in a small storefront behind Shirlington...

The Beatles perform Two Of Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Y3PlmwnRM&feature=PlayList&p=956A7D7D10D88854&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=35

My fave Beatles song. If you've been with someone a long time you'll understand why.

Badfinger performs No Matter What

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkAu3ijigeA

Power pop nirvana...

the cutting edge of recycling

http://inventorspot.com/articles/kinkiest_recycling_program_ever_makes_sexhappy_ecoconscious_adul_31567

powerpack for the infantry

http://soldiersystems.net/2009/08/13/personal-energy-generator/

This looks very interesting from all sorts of points of view, not just military.

Tee hee!

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/97393

putpockets...

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE57I45C20090819?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

The Maryland Renfest starts up in ten days!

http://www.rennfest.com/

If it's not too gross outside, we'll try to attend that first Sunday...

new drugs to slow aging?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/science/18aging.html?em

Horror's Hottest Couples

http://thevaultofhorror.blogspot.com/2009/08/tuesday-top-10-horrors-hottest-couples.html

Citizen of the year...

http://www.ketv.com/news/20431026/detail.html

I believe we have a future Darwin Award nominee...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206872/Crocodile-crazy-The-man-enjoys-giving-dangerous-companion-cuddle.html

Happy Birthday Ginger Baker!

http://www.ginger-baker.com/
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/music/watch/v400450eDXw2RDJ#

One of the Immortals.

Happy Birthday Gene Roddenberry!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0734472/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Roddenberry

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/creative/69095.html

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Gene_Roddenberry

Happy National Potato Day!

the slide...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOXnxmlEkY0&feature=related

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

BACON!

http://baconbaconbaconbaconbacon.com/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

my next chair

http://www.tankchair.com/default.htm

I'm hoping to get it fitted with a TOW missile and 50 calibre machine gun. Just the thing for sitting on the front stoop and shooing the neighborhood kids off the lawn...

my new favorite music video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOyEw9bT8yQ&eurl

(Thanks to Karl for the link!)

human music synthesizers

http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4581112

what to take with you in your Time Machine...

http://www.topatoco.com/graphics/qw-cheatsheet-print-zoom.jpg

Happy Birthday Criswell!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188186/bio

The Beloit College Mind Set For 2009

http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2013.php

Feeling old....

an interesting mystery with our Russian "allies"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/18/AR2009081800407.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Rockpile video for Teacher Teacher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BpfFEd7Uro

One of the all-time great rock bands. I had the privilege of seeing them on their one and only U.S. tour. They were added at the last minute to open for Blondie at Merriweather - and were fantastic. Unfortunately, Debbie and the boys had just hit with Heart Of Glass, and everyone there seemed to only attend for that song, (my least favorite Blondie tune). I swear that no but me knew who Rockpile were. Pity.

The Pretendets cover Stop Your Sobbing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGcn15ODltA

So cool....

Little Anthony & The Imperials perform Hurt So Bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMFuW65ThY0

Perfection. A real Pro. There have been all sorts of debates within the medical community as to when death occurs and can be defined. I'd say it's when one has an inability to be moved by Little Anthony. If you can't get into this then I'm afraid we have a flatline...

Kiki Dee preforms I've Got The Music In Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ucjtmAtGpI

Fun song. She had the full backing of Elton - whatever happened to her?

Steel Pulse performs Ku Klux Klan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji4hdnCEEUM

After Marley, my fave reggare band.

a little nostalgia - Joni sing Woodstock...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBqodL2OJ1A

The Bonzo's perform Death Cab For Cutie from The Magical Mystery Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9y4vLrHsm4

The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band are legendary, (at least in Britain and amongst the cognoscenti in the States). As for the MM Tour, it's generally considered a failure and disaster. It's probably a sign of old age and too much bourbon, but I've actually grown to appreciate it more and more the older I get. Yes, it's a failure, but it's a "magnificent mess" and full of interesting scenes and symbolism. And the tunes are first-rate!

Turn in your knives...

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Swiss_army_faces_big_cuts_report_999.html

Cyber Bank Heist - is this the future?

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/004983.html

The Pez Museum

http://www.burlingamepezmuseum.com/index.html

and a nice message forum devoted to all things Halloween

http://halloween-l.com/forum/index.php

neat little Halloween blog

http://pumpkinrot.blogspot.com/

neat steampunk art - airships and tentacles

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2009/08/airships-and-tentacles.html

cute warning sign

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=4692

when mutants sell computers...

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=4687

Crash For Clunkers

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=89776&catid=168

mathematical modeling of a zombie attack

http://www.mathstat.uottawa.ca/~rsmith/Zombies.pdf

for the ultimate Marilyn Monroe fan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8204358.stm

Happy Birthday Mae West!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922213/
http://www.mae-west.org/old/

Under-rated and unbelievably important to pop culture. A genius and a ground breaker.

RIP Jim Dickinson

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2009/08/rip-jim-dickinson.html

the cutting edge of possessive mothers

http://www.kcra.com/cnn-news/20390270/detail.html

a nice little tribute to CAS

http://www.thecimmerian.com/?p=5090

just another day in & around the District

http://dcist.com/2009/08/overheard_in_dc_sexy.php

and the 60's fade away...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081502826.html?wprss=rss_metro&sid=ST2009081502875

Up On The Roof...

So, here are some photos of what I'd written about earlier - one of our neighbors is growing pumpkins on their roof. I can't see the back side, but assume that somewhere up there they've placed large pots for the plants to root in, and the vines have now travelled over the top onto the front portion of the roof. It looks neat, but I'm somewhat suprised that it doesn't get TOO hot up there for 'em to survive. Anyone heard of this type of gardening before?

Dylan, Springsteen's house, and a weird story....

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=8335824&page=1

We're Back!

Had a wonderful time in Charlottesville, (Thanks Carol!). It was sort of a foody weekend, with visits to the main farmer's market in C'Ville as well as going to a meadery and a cidery (Yum!) and of course, I just HAD to go to world famous Crozet Pizza. It's always fun travelling around that area, we'll definitely go back in the Autumn. There are are several new restaurants in town we'd like to check out next time, including a South African one, (never really have had their cuisine); and there are rumors of a distillery being built south of town to try out an American version of Scotch (!?!). Fun stuff!

model of Miskatonic University

http://meshbox.org/2009/08/15/miskatonic-university-orne-museum-basement/

extreme sheepherding

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=17075685001

I think I posted some of this in the past, but there's even more here, and it's too cool not to do so again.

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

The Woodstock Hot Dog Parable...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111898362&sc=emaf

Goldstein is a local music legend, having played guitar in the Urban Verbs.

(Thanks for the link, Karen!)

Bela Lugosi's Dead...

Anniversary of his death on this date in 1956.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7xyjU-jsU

http://www.lugosi.com/

Anniversary of the debut of The Ramones!

First appeared live at CBGB's on this date in '74.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHAL_q1ne8

http://www.officialramones.com/

Happy Birthday Jimmy Webb!

One of the great pop country songwriters.

http://www.jimmywebb.com/

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

Happy Birthday Huntz Hall!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355653/

Happy Birthday Woodstock!

http://www.woodstock69.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PFCgAhZEO8

Happy VJ Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_over_Japan_Day

http://www.otr.com/vj.html

Am off for a weekend in Charlottesville

See ya in a couple of days.

Russian subs fail

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Detected_Russian_subs_failed_their_mission_report_999.html

This is interesting from several points of view. The first is that it puts a real dent in the Soviet, er, Russian's ability to sell their submarine technology to folks like India and China.. Secondly, the fact that we're advertising that we can find their subs is somewhat unusual. These things are usually kept close to the vest, as it were. A bit of a mystery.

no boobs allowed

http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4573590&tt=s

just another day in the District - mustard gas & exploding mail boxes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081202312.html?hpid=sec-metro

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/081309_mailbox_esplodes_in_dc

Isn't it about the season for the manholes to start blowing up?

misleading headline

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=89761&catid=168

The real headline is that the Honorable Vigilante Grit is STILL allowed to be a judge, and the government refuses to arrest and convict him for crimes that anyone of the rest of us would go to jail for.

news on dolphin communication

http://www.phenomenica.com/2009/08/dolphin-speak-relies-on-brevity.html

I've always believed this type of research was very important, because if there is life elsewhere in the universe that possesses good mental capabilities, it seems more likely that their brains and forms of communication will be vastly different from our own. It will be useful to ahve developed techniques beforehand for attempting to bridge that gap. And I continue to believe in the possibility of ESP, and that that ability might be relied upon,in part, by dolphins to communicate with one another.

the creation of invisible gateways?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6016857/Invisible-doorways-or-portals-a-step-closer-to-reality-claim-scientists.html

Happy Birthday Rocky Horror!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/
http://www.rockyhorror.com/

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/133481

I know, I know, I like it anyway...

Happy Navajo Code Talkers Day!

http://www.navajocodetalkers.org/
Heroes.

Happy Birthday Dash Crofts!

http://www.myspace.com/dashcrofts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seals_and_Crofts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEF470mXqU4

Happy Birthday Gary Larson!

http://www.thefarside.com/

Happy Birthday David Crosby!

http://www.crosbycpr.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crosby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tb4irSs538&feature=related

Happy Liberty Tree Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Tree

Tommy James performs Crystal Blue Persuasion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN38vED24Eg&feature=related

Beautiful tune. Another hit from around August - this time it was '69. Long evenings spent in my beloved Colorado.

fanvid for Jr. Walker & The All Stars performing What Does It Take

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0xzcavGrj4

Beautiful song, another perfect one for an August day. I think this was hit around this time in '70, which means I would've been listening to it on my little AM radio while canoeing out of Fletcher's boathouse on the C&O.

Flock of Seagulls video for Wishing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS9RPyznAPg

Hate the fashion, love the song.

interesting anti-sniper tachnology

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/sniping-at-us-forces-beginning-to-boomerang-01128/

new postage stamps honoring The Twilight Zone & You Bet Your Life

http://www.zomboscloset.com/zombos_closet_of_horror_b/2009/08/stamps-honor.html

Engrish

http://www.yeah-oops.com/2009/08/13/funny-engrish-signs/

and ANOTHER Arizona school principal in the news!

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2009/08/11/20090811maricopaprincipal0811-CP.html

What's going on in that state?

texts from last night...

http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/

These are hysterical!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The Spiral Staircase performs More Today Than Yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j45ezAAeMDw

Ah, innocent romance in the midst of the chaos of '69. I always liked this song. Strange how those juxtapositions sometimes work.

fanvid for Nite City performing Summer Eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-a-QoIIY9w

Almost no one remembers these guys. Formed around '76 by Ray Manzarek (of the Doors), they put out two obscure albums, (Missy, they're fabulously rare...). Saw 'em on their one and only tour at the Warner, they were pretty good, and perfect for the proverbial Hot August Night.

RIP Les Paul

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/13/les-paul-guitar-legend-dead-at-94/

(Thanks for the info, Missy!)

RIP John Quade

http://celebritydeathbeeper.com/0186821.html

(Thanks for the link, Linda!)

an odd and mysterious tombstone...

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/08/04/what-is-the-meaning.html

another neat ad

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1286266.html

neat ad for The Who's "The Kids Are Alright"

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1285785.html

not so easy rider

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Cyclist_rides_with_alligator_on_his_back&in_article_id=719318&in_page_id=2

great moments in school administration

http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2009/08/12/20090812principals0813.html
Whatever became of standing by one's principals....

military drones get a sound system

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/killer-drones-to-get-sound-system/

fun with building "skin"

http://gizmodo.com/5323671/3d-projection-gives-building-fantastical-undulating-skin

the cutting edge of vending machines

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Family-Lifestyle/Travel/8-Very-Cool-Vending-Machines.html

Aboxalypse Now!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/29/aboxalypse_now/

Da Vinci's war machines

http://www.thetoyzone.com/2009/blog/15-da-vinci-war-machines/

URGH! A Music War is being released on DVD!

http://www.wbshop.com/Urgh+-A-Music-War-+EST-MOD/1000112990,default,pd.html

Very cool!

(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

Happy Birthday Alfred Hitchcock!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000033/
http://hitchcock.tv/

Happy Birthday South Park!

Premiered on this date in '97. Brilliant.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/

Adopt A Dog!

http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4570874

the return of European piracy?!?!?

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6790618.ece

Mystery following mystery...

Lovecraft's "From Beyond" in claymation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZyYvb-GD8&eurl

Pretty neat!

Dogfish & Sierra Nevada are getting together....

http://www.dogfish.com/community/news/press-releases-0.htm

This should be interesting...

a little something for the ladies...

http://www.mcphee.com/items/11970.html

things were bleak for women in government....

http://probablybadnews.com/2009/08/09/funny-news-headlines-38-transvestites-cant-be-wrong/

(Thanks for the link, Audrey!)

new Air Force spy airship?

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/000742.html

I put the question mark in the title because I have doubts about the article, it seems to have been written in the same half-assed style of English as most of the penis enlargement spam that I receive, and at least several of the links within the article don't work. Even the title is wrong, (and is corrected in the sub-title). I don't think I'd call this a Zeppelin.

Happy Birthday Mark Knopfler!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn3HKRnR2Cw

http://www.markknopfler.com/

Happy Birthday Flying Monkeys!

The Wizard of Oz premiered on this date in 1939. Campy, touching, brilliant, silly. An American classic. Absolutely essential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-um0pHTAg

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/

TV ratings - the cutting edge

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_brazil_tv_killings

(Thanks for the link, Nick!)

chopsticks for Jedi....

http://www.kitchencontraptions.com/archives/027946.php

film of an ant raft

http://www.yeah-oops.com/2009/08/08/ants-create-river-raft-out-of-other-ants/

neat!

hi-tech meets the chastity belt

http://www.forgetmenotpanties.com/

I'm assuming this is a joke, but one never knows these days....

nanobees VS cancer

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6005311/Microscopic-nanobees-sting-cancer-tumours-to-death.html

Fascinating...

Shakespeare & The Tomb....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/5995083/Tomb-search-could-end-riddle-of-Shakespeares-true-identity.html

This sounds like a variation on the old legend surrounding the grave of Anna Graham and the Bruton Vault at Williamsburg....

interesting orangutan behavior

http://www.livescience.com/animals/090810-orangutan-instrument.html

Happy Birthday to Solid Gold!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_Gold_(TV_series)

Premiered on this date in 1980.

clip of Mr. Zimmerman performing Desolation Row

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIBoHaaSz2g

Tell me about it, Bob. See ya tomorrow.

Rickie Lee Jones performs Last Chance Texaco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTP3ScWi7rc

Beautiful and perceptive song. Very much a mid to late 70's tune.

Grand Funk performs We're An American Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMsIrKjSM6Y

It was just about this date in '73 that this song was starting to get played on radio - and a thousand drunken parties were launched. I can practically taste the Mateus...

fanvid for Mel & Tim performing Good Guys Only Win In The Movies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4F4HK-Q7C4&feature=PlayList&p=F87D824EC4ECFD50&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=23

I believe my brother and I are the only two people who remember this little gem of soft soul from late '69. They had a bigger hit with Backfield In Motion, but I've always thought this was a cute song.

Berlin performs No More Words

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-LyKT8BQyI

Great song, and great to drive to.

Kidnapping is illegal in every country but America

http://www.startribune.com/local/east/52798827.html

If it's within 700 miles, I drive.

Emails From An Asshole

http://dontevenreply.com/

Cruel, yes - but also classic...

(Thanks for the link, Audrey!)

weirdness piled on top of weirdness

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Choked_cabbie_crashes_car_into_church_clink&in_article_id=717080&in_page_id=2

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Mr. Zimmerman's Christmas Album...

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5792FL20090810?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

Things get stranger and stranger....

Happy Birthday Ian Anderson!

http://www.j-tull.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Anderson_(musician)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U18E8gWzVM&feature=related

Happy Birthday Bobby Hatfield!

http://oldies.about.com/cs/60srockers/a/hatfield.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Hatfield

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

Happy Birthday Ronnie!

http://www.ronniespector.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ronniespector

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Spector

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ONH3hIjO3c

Beautiful. Essential.

Puck Fair Day!

http://www.puckfair.ie/
http://puckfair.org/

Happy Birthday Horse Feathers!

Premiered on this date in 1932. Great film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023027/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjwY__0qqFQ

Falling In Love Again....

I decided to replace my old VHS copies of the Marx Brothers' movies with DVD's, and the sets arrived yesterday. I've been going through them, (have seen six titles so far), and just gotta say what a pleasure it is. I've easily seen Duck Soup two dozen times in my life, and even the rather lame Love Happy for 3-4 sittings - but I'm still entertained by those guys. Oh, not every joke works, but a surprising number still do; and if many of them might not seem fresh to a younger audience, it's only because they've grown up watching dozens of imitators - but this is the foundation. Those guys were just so sharp.

fanvid of Carla & Otis performing Tramp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTKmuICW7c8&feature=related

A fun way to present it. I first this tune on a simliar setup. This is one of the great duets in pop music history. Pure soul.

Johnny Winter covers Johnny B. Goode

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

Now, I think Chuck Berry walks on water, but I've always liked Winter's cover almost as well.

The Cramps perform Human Fly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3HSO1F7zHM

What a great band. So under-appreciated.

Sam Cooke performs Twistin' The Night Away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0aLkdi3GQo

So cool...

Trelane Meets Q - on Count Gore's site

http://www.countgore.com/gore/atrium.htm

RIP Mike Seeger

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111693752&sc=fb&cc=fp

Dark Shadows Festival next weekend

http://www.darkshadowsfestival.com/

Happy Birthday David Steinberg!

http://thedavidsteinberg.com/

One of my faves.

Lovecraftian T-shirts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q15PlMFQdMg&feature=PlayList&p=93A24838DEB15ED8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=38

Michelle Shocked video for When I Grow Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q15PlMFQdMg&feature=PlayList&p=93A24838DEB15ED8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=38

A criminally ignored and unappreciated genius. Chelle is so cool....

Spooky Tooth performs That Was Only Yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGxRstWAZBc
Classic early prog rock.

The Jam's video for That's Entertainment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqiXf0WxDPQ

The Jam were so cool, it's sad that they never made it over here. Too British, I guess.

Duane Eddy performs Rebel Rouser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulVF_PE5Vg

Classic....

Europe's frist floating apartment complex

http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/29/the-citadel-europes-first-floating-apartment-complex/

The Singing Ringing "Tree"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B0hGyKV9qs

Cool!

Up On The Roof...

Linda and I were strolling through the neighborhood this morning and noticed several pumpkin vines, with 8-9" pumpkins attched growing on the roof of one of our neighbors! We couldn't see the back half of the roof from which the vines were coming, but they must have some sort of planter box back there. It's a very amusing sight to see. If I ever see the owners outside I'm going to ask them about it - it looks neat!

RIP Billy Lee Riley

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/aug/02/sun-records-giant-billy-lee-riley-dead-75/

(Thanks for the link, Perry!)

a nice expose of Shell Oil and the nazis

http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2009/08/07/evidence-of-how-royal-dutch-shell-saved-hitler-and-the-nazi-party/

Cthulhu Tunes

http://www.nightmaresforsale.com/aklo/?gclid=CK_2_9WFlJwCFQRM5Qodxy9cfQ

Happy Birthday Dustin Hoffman!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3lKbMBab18

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000163/

Happy Birthday Edge!

http://www.atu2.com/band/edge/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhWZ7bpfQag&feature=channel

I guess it takes one to know one...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204970/Robocop-targeted-drug-dealer-died-heroin-overdose.html

Jacko's Brain....

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08072009/news/nationalnews/jacko_gets_a_brain_183440.htm

Wuss America

http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/1580754.html

Rejoice1 The Republic is safe! I love the vice mayor: "otherwise we'll have people on every corner." Yes, the town of Tulare certainly makes me want to set up a food stand, given it's vast population of nearly 44,000 people and located in a very strategic location between those cultural meccas of Fresno and Bakersfield. I looked up this Gotham of the Valley on Wikipedia and copied the following factoids about Tulare's importance and desirability as a potential sidewalk foodstand Valhalla:

The World Ag Expo - Held annually each winter (around February) at the International Agri-Center complex, it is the world's largest farming and agricultural equipment show and attracts guests and representatives from all over the globe. During the week of the show, the town's population nearly doubles in size and hotels are booked months in advance.
The Preferred Outlets At Tulare - features stores like Nike, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic, Izod, Polo Ralph Lauren, PacSun, Volcom, Quiksilver, Eddie Bauer, etc. as well as Galaxy Theatres Tulare Stadium 10, the area's only Digital DLP Projection movie theatre.
Tulare City Historical Museum - Has been noted as one of the best small town museums in California, showcasing the history and triumphs of the city.
The Tulare County Fair - The Tulare County Fair is also held at the fairgrounds here each year September.
Sequoia National Park - The entrance to Sequoia National Park and National Forests are about 45 minutes from Tulare. Sequoia Park is home to the biggest tree in the world, General Sherman.
Tulare Water Tower - Famously designed to resemble a glass of milk complete with a striped red straw rising from the top. This pays homage to the towns prominent position as one of the leading dairy producers in California. Located near Tulare Union High School, the water tower has become a local favorite and focal point.
Fact -The teen pregnancy rate in Tulare is the second highest in the nation.

Fortunately, the glass-of-milk water tower may still be viewed in rapture without any offending lemonade stands getting in the way. As for teen preganancies - they need to stop messing around and drink more lemonade....

The Slickee Boys cover Pictures of Matchstick Men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJJOnBUe8EM&feature=related

Local DC legends from the late 70's and early 80's. Great and fun band.

Mazzy Star performs Fade Into You

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

Stunningly and achingly beautiful song.

The Stranglers video for Walk On By

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mzHbY_ikoE&feature=related

The Stranglers got little respect from most critics, but I always enjoyed 'em, and this cover is great. Where Dionne's version is wistful for what might have been, the Stranglers express a bitterness, and an underlying hint of violence.

The Bluebells perform Cath

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

This strikes me as an almost perfect manufactured by-the-numbers pop song. But damnit it, it works - I really love this tune. The whole first album by these guys was actually quite good, I never heard anything from them again, wonder what happened.

The Seeds perform Mr. Farmer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ywfPT9K3PU&feature=related

Gvie yourself 10 points if you remember this little gem of garage psychedelia. Another early pro-marijuana song...

Rod the Mod performs Every Picture Tells A Story

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

Always loved this song. Played it, and its album, almost daily when it came out back in '71, (so long!). One of those tunes that demand maximum volume, the old Advent speakers would practically be sparking as they pumped the notes out. This song, and too many Ramones concerts, are probably the direct cause of my hearing loss....

R. Dean Taylor video for Indiana Wants Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD5UdXq-JLQ

I always liked this. People used to complain to radio stations when listening in their car because they mistook the sirens for real (!). Poor Taylor never really made it, one of several white dudes at Motown who got lost in the shuffle.

fanvid for Parliament performing Wizard of Finance

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

My fave song by Clinton. Really quite pretty...

Chubby Checker performs The Twist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGAUTADn47U

Fun song, overplayed and promoted at the time, but I still like it.

The Perv Pussy Paw Defense

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99U63TO0&show_article=1

I believe that the infamous "Twinky Defense" has now been superseded...

We're #1

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20090807.aspx

Rum, sodomy, the lash....and an Internet connection...

RiffTrax coming to a theatre near you!

http://www.ncm.com/Fathom/Comedy/RiffTrax.aspx?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Link_FB&utm_campaign=RiffTrax

Soul storage!

http://thesoulstoragecompany.com/

(a film promo...)

Hitler's Valet

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204388/I-Hitlers-valet-Memoirs-manservant-final-act-devotion-burn-masters-body.html

Another interesting footnote to WWII.

Russian MIG for sale - $5

http://news.stv.tv/oddly-enough/114354-russian-fighter-jets-sold-off-for-5/

Hell of a Blue Light Special...

the wedding dress...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5986681/Chinese-bride-gets-married-in-1.4-mile-long-wedding-dress.html

Zombiefest Record

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5986168/World-record-for-biggest-zombie-gathering-set-at-festival.html

Aesop knew his crows well...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8181233.stm

Wank gives advice to Fucking

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Wk_tells_Fking_to_get_a_grip&in_article_id=714925&in_page_id=2

The Dunwich Horror film is online

http://coolmoviezone.com/coolmovie/2009/08/06/the-dunwich-horror/

Miss Congeniality!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/06/AR2009080603240.html

Happy Birthday B.J. Thomas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqxnYZZNB8

http://www.bjthomas.com/

Happy Birthday Nathaniel Greene!

http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/ipeople/ngreene.asp

http://www.familytales.org/results.php?tla=nag

Hero and patriot.

Happy Birthday Mata Hari!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Hari

Ewwww...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/breaking/6562918.html

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Summer is winding down...

I can feel it. Oh, it's still warm out there, and humid as can be, but we're past First Harvest and there's something in the air - we're passing into a new phase. I know true Fall weather probably won't be here for another 5-7 weeks, but you can tell that Summer's now on the downswing. For some reason, I'm reminded of a similar time in '76.

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

Shakespeare meets Zombies

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108063678550

the water slide...

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1918481

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Brew at the Zoo on 8/20

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/Brew/default.cfm

Dogfish will be there - but no Stone!

Tom Paine exhibit at National Portrait Gallery

http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/expaine.html

Cool!

John Quincy Adams on twitter...

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/08/04/adams-twitter.html

Drama - the Curious Crab

http://www.blameitonthevoices.com/2009/08/curious-crab.html

the deadly laser guided doberman!

http://www.yeah-oops.com/2009/08/03/laser-pointer-dog-attack/

the cutting edge of sandwiches

http://www.urlesque.com/2009/07/30/insanewiches-are-indeed-insane/

The Rubix Cube is kinda neat.

Fairfax Rap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ltMTXlCvk

Ah, the hard streets of Reston...

The Onion Goes Bird Watching

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/solitary_crow_on_fence_post

the police line-up

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5744FJ20090805?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

Saint Canaris?

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132720

An interesting philsophical debate. There's no question that Canaris was anti-Hitler, and provided a certain amount of cover for those of like mind. We will probably never get a whole picture of his acitivies, as so much of it was successfully covered up, both by him and his executioners. But he was also a part of the machine, and although it's been many years since I read up much on him, it seems to me that we have a case of a human, like the rest of us, caught up in compromises and retreats, along with any efforts at nobility. I've always been a bigger fan of the White Rose. Ineffectual, yes - but head and shoulders above the vast majority of so-called anti-nazis of the bomb plot, both morally and courage-wise.

more rice field art

http://www.growingwithplants.com/2009/01/inkadate-rice-field-art.html

Neat!

a marriage guaranteed to have its ups and downs...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5972632/Woman-getting-married-to-fairground-ride.html

Bubbles' Tell-All...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5974071/Bubbles-the-chimp-to-publish-tell-all-memoir-about-Michael-Jackson.html

The Curry War!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/5972643/Chicken-tikka-masala-row-grows-as-Indian-chefs-reprimand-Scottish-MPs-over-culinary-origins.html

a return from extinction?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25882786-12332,00.html

attempts to decipher the Indus scripts

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185836.htm

the return of the boomers

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090805/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_us_subs_1

Sigh...

John Cale on I've Got A Secret!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYHIqMmtS-0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbedazzled%2Eblogs%2Ecom%2Fbedazzled%2F&feature=player_embedded

nice review of touristy Salem

http://www.examiner.com/x-9764-Horror-Happenings-Examiner~y2009m8d4-Weekend-of-the-Witch-part-2-for-examiner

Cat Cam

http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/pe_catcam1.htm

Provides you with a photographic record of where your cat has been. This is the journey of Mr. Lee.

(Thanks for the link, Nick!)

marketing?

I just received an ad for Amazon: 40% off candy for school. When did candy become a school supply?

Happy Anniversary American Bandstand!

Premiered (with Dick Clark) on this date in 1957.

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/bandstnd.htm

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/A/htmlA/americanband/americanband.htm

Happy National Mustard Day!

http://www.mustardweb.com/

Happy Birthday Neil Armstrong!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong

The Doors perform The End

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHFK1yKfiGo

Alexandria's favorite son.

Steppenwolf performs The Pusher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-9iNVoeghI&feature=related

So cool....

fanvid for Ferron performing Misty Mountain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJpy7iF9P5M

I've always enjoyed Ferron's work. Her song "Snowing In Brooklyn" is brilliant.

The Byrds perform 8 Miles High

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKhI09XO5R0&feature=PlayList&p=8EAA294715DF7B49&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7

So cool.

Pet sings Downtown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoSok_4wOVg

Beautiful song. Things seemed so much simpler in '65.

Nick Lowe and Rockpile perform So It Goes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jiCi7aFZE&feature=related

The Jesus of Cool. Classic pub rock.

Traffic performs Mr. Fantasy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_nwbTeIN4Y

Great song. Classic British psychelia.

The Stories perform Brother Louie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl5mcWf5Qws

This song was released about this date in 1973. Hard to believe. If I remember correctly, the lead singer came out of the Lefte Banke.

The Temps perform Just My Imagination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdr9DIdqWmI

The Emperors of Soul. From the Ed Sullivan Show. This performance is almost painfully perfect. I believe this was the public show with Eddie on vocals. We will never see their like again. Incredible.

Creedence performs Travelin' Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtO5SJZvOpk

One of the classic great American rock bands. Absolutely essential. These guys kept early 70's AM radio cool.

13 year old meets the walkman

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8117619.stm

A mixture of sadness and amusement, as I consider the walkman fairly new technology. I wonder how the kid would have reacted to an old AM transistor radio?

Mathematicians escaping naziism

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/27/math

Another interesting footnote to WWII.

The Cowie Line - Revealed

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2009/08/02/exclusive-defences-built-to-halt-nazi-invasion-of-scotland-revealed-78057-21565602/

An interesting footnote to WWII.

I will never get swine flu

http://news.stv.tv/oddly-enough/113467-russian-fans-urged-to-drink-whisky-to-ward-off-swine-flu/

I am somewhat surprised to see Welsh Whiskey invoked for anything. It's damn uncommon, I'd almost call it rare. I used to have to drive all the way down to the wonderful Silesia Liquors to find a bottle of St. David's, (which I don't think is distilled anymore). Regardless, I'm sure I consumed enough to grant me immunity, even twenty years later.