Goin' out of town this weekend

Posts will be light for the next three days. See ya on Sunday.

Patti Scialfa's video for As Long As I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqUoSit3qaU

A semi-retro sound, one that I like, circa '79.

fanvid for Firetown perfroming Carry The Torch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udQU3GetlY4

Great song, this band should've gotten more recognition.

The Supremes perform Up The Ladder To The Roof

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCh2cNJw9p8

Great pop soul.

bacon tool kit

http://www.woosk.com/2009/12/bacon-tool-kit.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Woosk+%28Woosk%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

irony...

http://trueslant.com/nickobourn/2009/12/30/the-perfect-metaphor-the-makers-of-the-times-square-ball-filed-for-bankruptcy/

catnip...

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=95426&catid=168

Internet Radio News

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/technology/personaltech/31basics.html?_r=1&sudsredirect=true

For years now, I've believed that this is the future of radio, and pop music in general; and I remain a fan of Live365 and the whole Do-It-Yourself ethos.


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091230/ap_on_re_us/us_sea_lions_disappear

(Thanks for the link and title, Doug!)

The neolithic origins of alcohol

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,druck-668642,00.html

Neat!


(Thanks for the link, John!)

the monk's footprint

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/posts/monk_leaves_his_mark/

Operation Attic

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1138908.html

A noble endeavor, but I confess to being a bit confused as to why it's not been done earlier, (and why more of these folks with diaries,letters, etc., didn't think to contact our own Holocaust Museum).

mobile phone code hacked

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/54ca8e66-f485-11de-9cba-00144feab49a.html

I never had much faith in the proclamations of privacy anyway...

There's a Blue Moon tonight!

(Yes, I know that there are at least three definition of "Blue Moon" and that some folks consider this one spurious - I don't care.)

Happy Birthday George Marshall!

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1953/marshall-bio.html

Genius. Patriot. I get bored always hearing revisitonist historians and fascist romanticists talking about nazi military wunderkids. Marshall could run circles around all of 'em.

Happy Birthday Burton Cummings!

http://www.officialburtoncummings.com/

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

Happy Hogamany!

little article on airships in the military

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2009/12/how-serious-is-dod-about-airsh.html

Lovecraftian Art

http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=58269

Great stuff! If you have even a smidgen of interest in the Cthulhu Mythos, you must go look at this site.

The Top Nine Internet Memes (according to MSNBC)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34622705/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/?pg=1#Tech_Memes09


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

nice little retrospective about OMNI Magazine

http://www.slate.com/id/2239740?wpisrc=newsletter

The Bee Gees perform Lonely Days, Lonely Nights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pn1SGRq7_Y

Maybe my memory fails me, but I seem to place this tune around this time of year in 1970. Always liked it.

The Airplane performs Lather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVstafKZDYY&feature=PlayList&p=1D6367E776F1C1D0&index=0&playnext=1

Cute song.

Fembot?

http://ufomedia.blogspot.com/2009/12/ufos-and-human-mutilations.html

tracking wolves with GPS

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/wolfs-north-pole-treks

Pretty neat!

The Achiever

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_9d4a1d0e-f4d1-11de-8edf-001cc4c002e0.html

nice little article on the Q Ships of WWII

http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/wwii/q-ships.htm

Birthday Palooza! Happy Birthday to:

Tracy Ullman
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001808/

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

Davy Jones
http://www.davyjones.net/

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

Mike Nesmith
http://www.monkees.net/nez/default.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekWTf_o85CY

Bo Diddley
http://www.bodiddley.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HICsPNm2ARY

Skeeter Davis
http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/skeeterdavis/

Jeff Lynne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Lynne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEwFssgvsC0

Patti Smith
http://www.pattismith.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3coSfks4rQ


An amazing date for pop music!

Wargaming - The Silver Age

http://www.strategypage.com/military_videos/military_photos_2009122912212.aspx

Ah, a little nostalgia of my nerdy youth. Simulations Publications, Inc. was the leading wargaming company going in the mid and late 70's; and this is a promotional film they made about the hobby. I knew quite a few of you reading this back then, and some of us even met through our involvement in the hobby, (We will now observe a moment of silence for the greatly missed Little Soldier Shop...).
Some of those games were quite good, I really miss a lot about those times.


(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

robot with a hockey mask - all he needs is a machete

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/remo-humanoid-hobby-robot-now-available-wherever-adorably-creep/


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Richie Havens covers Here Comes The Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8HBHWYd6ug

Wonderful. Havens is one of those few artists who can take a song and make it their own. (Aretha, Otis Redding, and Joe Cocker come to mind, too).

Jim Croce performs Lover's Cross

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rQJ6KQjDG0&feature=PlayList&p=C799C7F39BCD123C&index=4

Always liked Croce's ballads.

Paper Airplane Competition

http://www.mnn.com/transportation/planes-trains-bikes/stories/paper-airplane-virtuoso-tests-record-aloft

I've always enjoyed paoer airplanes. Whem I was about 9-10 years old, they were a minor passion. Very cool.

Sherlock Loves DC!

http://www.welovedc.com/2009/12/24/sherlock-holmes-loves-dc/

for the serious Star Wars fan...

http://flamingzombiemonkeys.blogspot.com/2009/12/han-solo-carbonite-desk.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FlamingZombieMonkeys+%28Flaming+Zombie+Monkeys%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Cupcake Cthulhu!

http://www.soberinanightclub.com/2009/12/merry-cthulu.html


Awwwww!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-WXEWbPMYc&feature=player_embedded

Fun stuff!

HPL, CAS & REH Poetry to be published!

http://www.thecimmerian.com/?p=9115

Another wonderful opportunity for fans fo the ultimate troika in Weird Tales.

Happy Birthday Marianne Faithful!

http://www.mariannefaithfull.org.uk/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkR-amVd9es

The Survivor...

Happy Birthday Ray Thomas!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEegRlluT0Y

Happy Birthday Mary Tyler Moore!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001546/

Jack Bauer Interrogates Santa Claus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp19qiash2U


(Thanks for the link, Ed!)

the Christmas lights display

http://failblog.org/2009/12/25/holiday-lighting-fail/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+failblog+%28The+FAIL+Blog+-+Fail+Pictures+%26+Videos+at+Failblog.ORG%29

I believe this is what would result if I tried to put up lights on the Manor...


(Thanks for the link, Audrey!)

Happy Birthday Nichelle Nichols!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629667/

http://www.uhura.com/

A true groundbreaker. And a great actress.

Happy Birthday Alex Chilton!

http://www.lastcallrecords.com/biographies/alexchilton.html

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNKSs1J38EA

Under-appreciated genius.

James Bond drinking bourbon?!?

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1571292.html

I prefer my Virginia Gentleman and Tab shaken, not stirred...

a little Christmas present for the ladies....

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1572042.html

Help wipe out bad comlexions at hootenannies!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1574065.html

And Mr. Zimmerman will write a song to you....

an oldie but goody: the literal Total Eclipse of the Heart video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA&feature=PlayList&p=E42D120A5B8BF088&index=5

Brilliant!

a single molecule transistor

http://www.programmica.info/2009/12/first-molecular-transistor.html

Pretty neat!

A one stop for those who get stoned and want a cookie

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/09/crimesider/entry5953632.shtml

Unique Eunuch Unity

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8428819.stm

a craving beyond death....

http://www.news.com.au/national/donors-heart-goes-on-with-burger-rings-craving/story-e6frfkvr-1225812992551

Happy Birthday Sydney Greenstreet!

What can I say, I love this guy. One of the greatest character actors - ever.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002113/

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

Happy Birthday Marlene!

http://www.marlene.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000017/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO0lUXnAs-U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO0h190oboE

Genius. Bewitching. It's remarkable (to me) how many bad movies she made, and yet how she shone throughout them all.

Happy Birthday Mike Pinder!

http://www.mikepinder.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF28Pghw13M

Snow is melting

Well, we've had two days of fog, mist, and rain - pretty dreary, really. But the temperatures have been above freezing, so about 4/5 of the snow is gone, leaving a rather dark swampiness behind. A good time to listen to Aqualung.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyDgDLp7s4M&feature=PlayList&p=5581D73B7C813C81&index=0&playnext=1

Rearranging the Village for the Idiot

http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/2454/it-only-hurts-when-i-play

Wonderful article, (and a great insert from the Onion).

(Thanks for the link, Infidel753!)

Tee Hee! A small propaganda victory against the suits who control music

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/rage-against-the-machine-take-christmas-no1-slot-1846247.html


(Thanks for the link, Peter!)

I Want To Hold Your Hand anniversary

Released in the States on this date in '63.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iim6s8Ea_bE

Happy Birthday Monterey Pop!

Premiered on this date in '68. Fantastic film. My favorite one dealing with music. Absolutely and postively essential.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064689/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oFZIFq6das

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuph6Gw1hI4&feature=PlayList&p=94FFCC12816644BD&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=16

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuKMNzr79g

Happy Birthday Elisha Cook!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176879/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Cook,_Jr.

One of my fave actors. You might not recognize the name, but look at a picture and you'll recognize him instantly.

Happy Birthday Steverino!

http://www.steveallenonline.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnL0Mnu46z8&feature=related

Happy Wren Day!

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

Happy Boxing Day!

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

Happy Birthday to The Exorcist!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/

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

Premiered on this date in '73. What an excellent day for an exorcism...

Happy Birthday Rod Serling!

http://www.rodserling.com/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/rod-serling/about-rod-serling/702/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0785245/

Happy Birthday Shane MacGowan!

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

http://www.shanemacgowan.com/

http://www.shanemacgowan.de/

Happy Birthday Cab Calloway!

http://www.cabcallowayllc.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D44pyeEvhcQ

Happy Birthday Bogey!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000007/

http://bogart-tribute.net/

Merry Christmas, or whatever else it is you celebrate at this time of year

A time of feasting and want, memories and celebration, troubles and jollity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zm9RmfNZIA

See ya tomorrow.

an interesting Santa

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/23/AR2009122301238.html?sid=ST2009122303261

The Science of Santa

http://mystrangeblog.com/2009/12/24/video-the-science-of-santa/

Cute.

The return of Famous Monsters Of Filmland Magazine!

http://www.famousmonstersoffilmland.com/fm-the-magazine/

Cool!

Bourbon is for the Strong!

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/12/22/bourbon-hangover-worse-than-vodka/10353.html?utm_source=Psych

The Bounty Hunter

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/12/ohio-mom-catches-young-daughter-shoplifting-calls-cops/1

Safety First!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/807111-naked-cyclists-given-helmet-warning

just another day in the District

http://dcist.com/2009/12/mayor_wont_be_paying_city_back_for.php

I don't believe that mayor-for-life Barry had to reimburse for the security detail guarding him during his numerous trysts, drug buys and excursions to This Is It. So it seems pretty lame to demand anything from this pretender to the throne.

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl perform Fairytale of New York

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

Classic. Brilliant.

Bob Rivers et al perform I Am Santa Claus

http://www.spike.com/video/bob-rivers-comedy/2789115

Classic. Nice cameo by Ozzy.

Pope Homer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122202675.html?hpid%3Dsec-religion&sub=AR


(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

My Hometown...

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=600&sid=1848571

Yes Virginia, These Is A Cthulhu....

http://www.librarything.com/topic/80005

Santa's trip has begun!

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html#utm_campaign=en_US&utm_medium=ha&utm_source=en_US-ha-na-us-bk-gm&utm_term=norad%20track%20santa

fanvid for Simon & Garfunkel performing Silent Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63u8T3abETo

A classic. See ya tomorrow.

A Christmas song I wish I could post

15 years ago a wonderful local band named The Graverobbers was formed by my old record store pal, Karl Straub. Amongst a variety of excellent recordings, they released a cassette of Christmas music that is now so rare that I don't think even Karl has a copy, (and I don't have the capability to transfer to MP3 or whatever). But it's a fun recording, and features what I consider to be the best pop recording of Little Drummer Boy ever made. I can only hope that someday this little piece of the DC music scene will surface online.

fanvid for the Sonics performing Santa Claus

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

One of the greatest bands that you've probably never heard of. Legends of the Pacific Northwest. One of the toughest bands - ever. Almost single handedly invented punk rock - 12 years beforehand and with nobody noticing. Here's one of their Christmas tunes.

fanvid for Jerry & The Landslides performing Get Off Of My Roof

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkQujz5zqis

The Internet is amazing. Unless something has radically changed in the last few years, this is something so obscure that I was amazed to see it on Youtube. I've never seen an original copy and even boots and resissues are as rare as hen's teeth, (yes Missy, I have one). A nice Christmas take-off on the Stones.

Tip Bomb

http://www.tipbomb.com/blog/

This sounds pretty cool, I hope it spreads.


(Thanks for the link, Lauren!)

a blog devoted to DC beer

http://dcbeer.com/

Cool!

for that authoritarian pig on your Christmas list (who has everything)

http://intuitionkitchenproductions.com/gallery/krafftcollabs/file/KimJongIlDelftTeapot.jpg

fanvid for The Flirtations performing Christmas Time Is Here Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpidHOS7YA8

I always thought the Flirtations were one of the best, and most overlooked, girl groups ever. This is a rather obscure Holiday song that they released (I think) as a B-side several decades ago.

For that evolutionist on your Christmas List!

http://www.noisebot.com/stop_following_me_t-shirt.htm

Zombie Carol

http://thevaultofhorror.blogspot.com/2009/12/zombie-carol-of-day-nothing-like-brains.html

"Santa needs to pay his elves."

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/807050-santa-robs-bank-to-pay-his-elves

an oldie but goody - The Museum of Hoaxes

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/aboutmuseum.html

the cutting edge of Menorahs

http://www.urlesque.com/2009/12/15/the-27-craziest-menorahs-photos/

Tiger Woods Commemerative Plates

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2009/12/tiger-woods-video-commemorative-plate-collection-jimmy-kimmel-billy-dee-williams/


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

RIP James Gurley

http://www.spinner.com/2009/12/22/big-brother-and-the-holding-company-guitarist-james-gurley-dies/


(Thanks for the link, Perry!)

Happy Festivus!

http://www.festivusbook.com/

Happy Birthday to The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly!

Aboslutely brilliant and essential spaghetti western. Fantastic. premiered on this date in '66. Great soundtrack too.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060196/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good,_the_Bad_and_the_Ugly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hYV-JSjpyU&feature=fvw

bacon ornaments

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36266828&ref=sr_gallery_4&&ga_search_query=ornament+bacon&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Nativities

http://www.urlesque.com/2009/12/17/19-depressing-crazy-and-downright-awful-nativity-scenes-photos/

I definitely want the egg timer...

Just the cutest little anti-virus protection you can buy...

http://www.urlesque.com/2009/12/22/kaspersky-kitten-is-the-ultimate-anti-virus/

spelling bee tie breaker

http://llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.co.uk/index.php

Greg Lake's video for I Believe In Father Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqOfXumI18A

Released back in '75. Used to hear it every day then on the car radio driving home from classes. Brilliant song.

fanvid for the Waitresses performing Christmas Wrapping

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

Cute little video. And a great song, here's the sad story behind it: http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2005/12/22/music/20051222113008&sec=music

The Coffee Break - your tax dollars at work

http://wcbstv.com/local/bloomberg.blasts.emts.2.1383846.html

In DC, the EMT's would claim that the woman was drunk. In PG County they'd simply call a cop who would then shoot her.

The Entrepeneur

http://www.topix.net/news/weird/2009/12/man-commandeers-nyc-garage-collects-parking-fees

This is nothing. There was a family in Old Town that "took over" a city lot for many months and did the same thing.

a little Cthulhu Carol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptP0OR-e7rI&feature=player_embedded

Happy Birthday, Trinity!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067355/

A great satire on spaghetti westerns. Released in '70. I still grin everytime I watch it.

Happy Birthday to The Mummy!

Premiered on this date in '32. Wonderful film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023245/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mummy_(1932_film)

fanvid for Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Monster Holiday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVyrWVF_40&feature=related

Fun stuff!

Canned Heat meets the Chipmunks & sing Christmas songs

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

Only in America....

Spam VS my ego

No matter what, I get spam on my hotmail account on a regular basis. I'd say at least ten emails a day. In the "early" days, (say, 15 years ago), it would be just about evenly divided between sex - porno, or "girls want to meet you", ie., prostitutes; or a combination of pyramid schemes or come-ons like "free mortgages", etc. The general view of me was: 1) I have to pay money to get sex; and 2) I have no money for the sex, and so need to hitch a ride on one of these schemes.
Fine. Thanks a lot, guys.
And now, almost all of my daily allotment of spam is trying to get me to purchase cheap drugs - mostly viagra or antibiotics. Apparently, I am now too dysfunctional and diseased to have sex at all.
Now, making people feel inadequate from advertising is an old phenomena, (just read the lyrics to the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction from 1965). But sheesh! It's just one wave after another of insult now.

One of DC's Stranger Holiday Traditions...

http://www.waterskiingsanta.com/

http://dc.about.com/od/christmasevents/ss/WaterskiSanta.htm

Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Treats!

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/13/flying-spaghetti-mon-4.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29

Sweden's first military victory in 200 years!

http://reason.com/brickbat/2009/12/21/id-hate-to-see-what-the-regula?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reason%2FDailyBrickbats+%28Reason+Online+-+Daily+Brickbats%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I guess (secretly) allying with the nazis in WWII didn't help...

a little something for the ladies...

http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com/2009/12/give-lady-what-she-wants-most-for-xmas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Retrospace+%28Retrospace%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

the return of the monocle

http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/147311/Monocles-are-back-in-fashion-gentlemen

the dub

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7TI-AJi2O8&feature=player_embedded#

I never was much for "school spirit", and time hasn't softened that*. But I gotta say - this is a very cool and charming video.



*You can always tell the T.C. Williams graduates at a spirited event - we're the ones yawning...

Happy National Hamburger Day!

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx

Happy Birthday Vampira!

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

http://www.unpleasantdreams.com/vampira

Happy Mumping Day!

http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/mumping-day.html

Happy Birthday to The President's Analyst!

One of my fave movies. Wonderful flic!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062153/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_President's_Analyst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2o12is0Xg4

Happy Birthday Frank Zappa!

http://www.zappa.com/flash/dec4/index.html

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/frank-zappa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFIMWRXWY90

Happy Solstice!

a little tune for the 20th..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lcKzEX2Yk

It's been a long day, see ya tomorrow.

quote of the day

http://quotes4all.net/quote_649.html

just another day in DC

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/19/did-d-c-cops-overreact-to-snowball-fight-14th-and-u/

http://wonkette.com/412844/twitter-snowball-fight-angers-armed-cop#more-412844



The only difference between the cops and the criminals in DC is....well, actually, there is no difference...Except the cops don't get arrested when they break the law...

fanvid for Richie Furay performing Fallin' In Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26Ale5gtw8

Always liked this song.

Elton performs Tiny Dancer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqiQcJ-d8r8&feature=PlayList&p=C16CEDCAC10C1FAB&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=20

Great song. Happy Birthday Margrete!

fanvid for John Phillips performing Down The Beach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Wb3POItVI

Genius - twisted and wrecked.

Smokey & The Miracles perform You Really Got A Hold On Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2EsZpobWJs

Great song.

Bowie performs Heroes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQFuNHCMF2Y

Probably my fave song by him. Nice production by Eno.

Some random memories

Ah yes, Christmas, and the other holidays surrounding the Solstice. A time to take stock, amidst the contrasting darkness and light. One is reminded of many things at this time of year, and my personal history with it has been a long a complicated one.
Shopping for and decorating the tree certainly stands out in my mind. The old Center Theater had a large parking lot in my toddler days, (now taken up by the Fairlington Medical Building). And around the 15th we’d wait for my Father to get home from work and then go up there, hoping to make out the outlines of a fine specimen under the strings of light bulbs that barely illuminated the darkened lot. With the loss of the Center, we moved down to the trees at the Beverley Hills Methodist Church. Like all things in life, there were advantages and disadvantages to this. For one thing, the trees were freshly cut, (as opposed to today – I’ve seen trees for sale that were clearly left over from the Christmas before – brown and mummified skeletons of Holiday past…); and the price was surprisingly cheap. But they didn’t set up shop until around the 19th, and the whole neighborhood knew – it practically became a cult. The trees would be delivered to the little churchyard around 5:00AM and a crowd of us, freezing our tails off, would immediately descend on the place like locusts. Unlike the old parking lot, there were virtually no lights here, and it was before dawn, so one had to judge the size and quality using bat-like instincts – and quickly – competition was fierce. All of the energy Methodists save up from not dancing is apparently channeled into Christmas tree shopping. By daybreak the place looked like some sort of arboreal battlefield, with little left but twigs and the blood of the slower shoppers who’d been trampled in the rush.
Getting the pine home, it was then up to my Father to get the lights on, using an old-fashioned string of C7 bulbs. The type that if one is out none will work - the permutations and experiments to get all the lights on might take him a whole evening. But he always had a great patience, (which I completely lack and was always envious of), and would put it all together. And once they are plugged in, those old lights heat up to a skin blistering temperature and give a suntan to anyone within two feet. By the time I was four years old, I had become experienced enough in a Pavlovian way to associate Christmas trees with second degree burns… On the other hand, that warm glow is still one of my favorite memories.
Once the proper fire hazard point had been reached, we then decorated the tree. And a few presents would get snuck under. Until I was six or seven, most of the children’s presents were kept hidden, to be delivered by Santa on the night of the 24th. I’d like to say that I got a Red Ryder BB Gun at some point, but no such luck. In fact, for once I bow to my Mother’s convictions - with my complete lack of dexterity, I most assuredly would have shot my eye out. But probably my equivalent to that prize was a monster robot-like being called Great Garloo which was my gift when I was nearly five. I still own it, though it stopped working decades ago. I played with it for hundreds of hours, perhaps a harbinger of my interest in horror and the outré. My fave toy.
I’ve received a great many wonderful gifts over the years, (quite a few from some of you reading this). And there have been many favorites amongst them. But I should also point out one other. It was given to me when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade by our neighbor, Ione. She’d been an English teacher all of her life, and she gave me a Webster’s dictionary. I used it almost certainly on a weekly, if not a daily, basis all through school and into college; only replacing it several years after getting married. And each time I used it I couldn’t help but give one split-second’s thought to her. Perhaps it’s just my inherent nerdiness, but that’s always stuck with me, and if possible, I’ve tried to replicate that with my own gift giving to young people. It often lacks the coolness quotient, I know. But so much of what passes for cool these days seems to have a half-life of about two weeks. Something of long-term usefulness has almost taken on revolutionary qualities. And that dictionary was one of my most useful possessions.
Of course, Christmas morning started around the crack of dawn. My poor parents, up half the night with dinner guests and then putting toys together at the last minute, only to be wakened an all too few hours later by anxious kids. We always had to wait before going into the room with the tree. My Father was a home movies fanatic, and he insisted on setting up his equipment ahead of time to see us approaching the tree and its promised bounty. Now we’re basically talking mid-50’s 8mm home movie stuff. Indoor lights and the small amount of mid-Winter sunlight filtering through the windows was nowhere near enough for filming. So Dad had bought indoor lighting. I am convinced it had been leftover war surplus searchlights from the London Blitz. I have never been exposed to such brightness in my life, (and I am including the Sun). It is a miracle our house’s electrical system could handle it once it got cranked up, and I’m sure the monitors down at the power plant registered all sorts of anomalies when we plugged in. I guarantee you, a lot more coal was heaped onto the fire down there once Dad got set up.
I’ve not seen those movies in several decades. But I’m sure they show my brother and I battling the heat and radiation from the lights, bathed in an unearthly bright white, with our arms futilely thrown across our eyes, (it did no good – one could see through one’s bones in that glare), feebly shuffling towards the tree. It’s a wonder I have any eyesight left after a few years of that, and I still worry about skin cancer. Any death experience will be particularly bad for me: one is constantly told “walk towards the light”, when I now have an almost instinctual fear and reaction to doing so. It’ll be interesting. The one thing I can claim is that years before there was ever a Pink Floyd or an Electric Light Orchestra, I knew what it was like to be at the center of a laser light show. ..
And although the Holiday season is often, even in my own mind, associated with childhood, I should point out that some of my most important memories are of more recent vintage. There was the evening spent at a bar in Williamsburg, just me and the bartender watching a Charlie Brown Christmas on the tube, (I’ve written about this little episode in the past). And, (back in my futile attempts at Christianity), there was attending the Midnight Services at our local church., hanging out with my friend Ken beforehand, and going to the neighborhood tree lighting ceremony at the little park known affectionately as “The Pit”.
Linda and I also have had wonderful experiences going out to cut our own tree. One year we travelled out to some tree farm at the very end of Braddock Road – back when it dwindled down to nothing more than 16 foot wide dirt track. It was snowing – somewhat uncommon for us, and we had to drag our prize back over about 120 yards of snow shrouded fields to our car. It was messy and tiring, but also a lot of fun. You remember stuff like that. One little footnote – in those days, one of the stations (C-Span?) would broadcast a dubbed version of Moscow News; (this was in the 80’s). I would watch it occasionally, and that very night they featured a little segment about American Christmas traditions, and had visited that particular tree farm the day before to shoot footage of folks hacking away at fir trees. Neat coincidence!
I’m also reminded of the many Christmas Eve’s at the record and book store. Even if you’ve never worked in retail, you can surely imagine how exhausting the Christmas season is for shop workers. By the 24th, virtually everyone is punch drunk, (or literally drunk). We’d always have a big bash in the back room of the store. Food platters would be ordered, I and others would bring in beer and treats. Mornings got down to a routine of me going to the store at the crack of dawn and picking up a hundred doughnuts and enough orange juice and champagne for several rounds of mimosas. It was a fun day. It really was. By then you didn’t have to worry about your stock – you either had it, or you didn’t - there was nothing that could be done. People shopping that late knew that they’d just have to buy whatever remained on the shelves. Dealings were very basic. Your store team was at its peak, then. By the 24th, anyone who wasn’t up for the job was winnowed out – either voluntarily or by firing. December is no time to be weak or lazy if you work in a store. So all your best people were there - exhausted, but there. You knew you could count on them. And music and book people are some of the most interesting and amusing that there are. The 24th was always fun, and life-long friendships developed from those days. My friend Missy made a film of one of those Christmas Eves, (Mondo Olsson’s), part documentary, and part satire. It’s a rare and treasured memento to me.
Nowadays, Linda and I continue to spend the holidays visiting with as many friends and family as possible, (again, many of you reading this are a nice part of that). Christmas Eves at our friends Ross and Millie’s place is particularly warm and memorable, and we look forward to that each year. It is a patch of psychic home ground to me.
But the Holidays are also a reminder of the many friends and family who are no longer around. Growing up seemed like a whirlwind of social occasions to me between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, with my family visiting, or being visited, by loads of friends and neighbors. They were great times, and despite my young age, I considered those people to be my friends as well. Almost all of them are now gone. And some of them had few family or friends left, even back then; I am one of the last to remember them. Most of these names won’t mean anything to you, but they are as much a part of my Holiday as the living, in some ways. So I end this little meander with a quiet toast to Harold & Beulah, Paul & Bonnie, Haskell & Helen, Frank & Audrey, Neal & Ione, De Earle & Christine, Lou & Gracie, Thad & Patsy, and my dear Father.
For the rest of you, thanks for reading, I hope you own memories and experiences from the Holidays will be as valuable to you as mine are to me.

snow...

Well, it seems to have stopped snowing here at the Manor. The sun is even shining here. We've been digging out off and on for the past two and a half hours, and I doubt are more than about 15% through. Unbelievable. It's difficult to tell because of the drifting that's taken place, but I think we got about 21 inches here. By DC standards, that's a lot. We'll get accumulations like this about once every 12-16 years. Am not sure as to when we'll really get dug out, my best guess would be late Tuesday morning. My back and joints aren't looking forward to this...

Happy Birthday to The Graduate!

Premiered on this date in '67. Amazing movie.


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

The Bible...For Zombies

http://www.zombible.com/

4 year old drunk cross-dressing burglar

http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/drunk_4-year-old_crossdresser_steals_christmas_presents/

Pretty full life for a four year old....

Santa - Elf Slayer

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N0xP4WTRVZ_zjZ5SLpBptFiHwBOev7MzycJHlNChuRzkF4W6qewK2SefzTbnPXgt9l3r-xLlHDt722tn2d6KckiF8ghGU4J6KUvhW4ACmlyR6-W7GNj_BF-uvUhzbfPoNw1q/s1600-h/Badass+Santa.jpg

Damn! The weathermen were right!

As I'm typing this, there is approximately one foot of snow surrounding the Manor, with more pouring down furiously on us. I'd guesstimate visibility right now at no more than 125-150'. Some estimates are that we'll get up to another foot before this is supposed to stop, (sometime Sunday morning). As it stands, I'd say this is the most snow we've had in over 15 years, and may end up being like one or two real heavy suckers I remember from '65 or '66. It really is impressive. Just about everything outside of some fanatical retail outlets have shut down, and I suspect it won't be till Wednesday at the earliest that we'll be substantially dug out. We'll see. I guess this means a white Christmas.

Mobius Bagel

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/07/mobius-bagel-interlo.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Gimme That Old Time Religion!

http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/2375/the-lord-did-give-me-a-sign

(Thanks to Infidel753 for the link!)

anniversary of the T-34

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20091218/157291520.html

a truckload

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfpFH56s1DvKZcUbaUqFyVnxv_duSnNH7dhjqZG4qrLuKoNO2abXvPOdX2ZxTqmFaQDXqyEJdaGPuz8P6JNDyThmH2de8kS1D9BN8k8Y2yOvijPriOGx1WmIxo5pCb3IJFKjF0w/s720/e56ursysherghdsrgd.jpg

Big Brother Birdhouse

http://www.design-3000.de/index.php?cl=details&ref=226152&affmt=2&affmn=10&anid=41b49ec49b2158ac8.29553402

Squeeze Bacon

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/squeez-bacon.html?cpg=cj

Cannibal Curry Bath

http://www.random-good-stuff.com/2008/12/28/cannibal-curry-bath/

Plan B?

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=5126

Now more than ever

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=5136

Tee Hee! So that's how you get one.

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=5158

I need a haircut...

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=5157

The Decline of Christmas Cards

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/18/AR2009121801995.html


Probably true. Another aspect of childhood going the way of the dinosaur. I'm not saying it's good or bad, just different, (with a new set of advantages and drawbacks). When growing up, Christmas cards were often the only significant contact my family had with friends or relatives who lived far away, (unless they visited us, or we travelled out there way for a vacation). Phone calls were expensive, (and my folks tended to be somewhat shy when it came to them, anyway). And there is something touching and personal about the care taken with cards, particularly in the past. Long, hand-written notes, sometimes pages long, accompanied them, (I don't believe I ever saw the modern printed/xeroxed newsletter until the mid or late 70's), catching you up with people's lives. Facebook has its advantages - but it can't touch that, in significance or charm.
It should also be pointed out that Christmas cards tended to also be a sort of tally of loss. Sometimes you might get a reply to your card from a friend or relative of the recipient announcing that the person had died. Other times, you'd simply not hear anything; and after a couple years of sending your own cards out you'd realize the silence wasn't temporary. It seems like every year I go through my list, and am forced to cross one or more names off.
At any rate, like I said, the decline of cards is a change, one that will probably accelerate as the Internet attracts more and more folks, (and as those who don't use it pass away).

Sir Jean Luc

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/12/19/star-trek-s-patrick-stewart-to-be-knighted-115875-21907950/

Happy Birthday Phil Ochs!

http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/

A Holiday Classic

Yes Virginia, There Is A Cthulhu...

http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/97/Jan/cthulhu.html

a Christmas gift for the man who DOESN'T want everything...

http://www.aroundglobe.net/2009/12/happy-christmas-honey-heres-divorce.html

Happy Birthday, Mr. Grinch!

Premiered on this date in '66. Absolutely and positively essential. An Harmonic Convergence of American pop culture, with Boris Karloff, Dr. Seuss, Chuck Jones, June Foray, and Thurl Ravenscroft. I watch it every year, (while playing zoo-zither-carzay...)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060345/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas!_(TV_special)

Happy Birthday Christopher Fry!

One of my fave l. Author of The Lady's Not For Burning, (which features a character I've always strongly identified with, named Thomas Mendip....)

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDDxhs3RGAs

Happy Birthday Keith Richards!

http://www.keithrichards.com/

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

http://www.rollingstones.com/home.php

http://www.iorr.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjW-Ivs-dY

I suppose I should write something here, but ahve no idea where to begin. So I won't.

Happy Birthday Michael Moorcock!

http://www.multiverse.org/

http://www.eclipse.co.uk/sweetdespise/moorcock/

wonderful author of science fiction, fantasy, and sword & sorcery.

Happy Birthday to "For A Few Dollars More"!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059578/

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

One of my all-time fave films. I love everything about this movie, it's just so cool, and Lee Van Cleef is fantastic.

Animator VS Animation

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs13/f/2007/077/2/e/Animator_vs__Animation_by_alanbecker.swf


(Thanks for the link, Gail!)

They are predicting snow for Saturday here at the Manor

Our incompetent and wildly over-paid and staffed weathermen have just announced a "Winter Storm Watch". As I've stated in the past, these clowns' prophetic abilities rank somewhere between phrenology and fortune cookie messages, but anything is possible. And if even one flake falls within ten miles of the Capitol, we can expect tie-ups and traffic jams that will last for weeks, with the usual fallout of food riots, etc. The fact that this is also the last weekend before Christmas means that all of the social recalcitrants and slugs will be crawling forth from wherever they've hidden for the past year. They won't know where they're going, are obnoxious about it, and can't drive worth a shit, making for some sort of slo-mo Mad Max scene. Add snow to the mix and we are talking along the lines of The End Times.
As always, we a prepared here. Holiday shopping was completed many weeks ago, stores have been laid in, and a nice bottle of chardonnay is chilling as I type. We're ready, and the Manor will stand as a citadel of civilization against the cannibal holocaust which is about to begin.

The '66 CBS Christmas Message

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

A minor legend in American pop history.

Great Moments In (Onion) Science!

http://www.theonion.com/content/radio_news/frito_lay_scientists

The New York Dolls perform Looking For A Kiss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64Kz3D2OgAE

So cool.

The Cyrkle performing Red Rubber Ball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDKN0dk54M

Great song. This is either a lip-syinc or is performed over the original instrumental. If I remember correctly, that was Paul Simon playing the calliope (and who also wrote the song).

fanvid for (How 'Bout A Little Hand For) The Boys In The Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY9t0BY5C1I

I believe there are about five people on earth who remember this tune.

John Hartford performs Gentle On My Mind

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

Always loved this song, and Hartford. Does anyone besides me remember an obscure little music show he hosted in the Summer of '70? It was called "Something Else", and I remember it showing a few pretty neat acts.

Rod & Ron video for This Old Heart Of Mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd5vvoWcQ4A&feature=related

one of my fave mucis videos. Absoltuely perfect. Rod's made musical mistakes, but this ain't one of 'em. And having the original singer, the great Ron Isley, on here shows that Rod knows where he comes from and he's a class act.
(Oh, and Michael Bolotin - Fuck You.)

fanvid for Karla Bonoff performing Someone To Lay Down Beside Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C96oDES_Tpw

I confess that I've lost track of Karla. One of the hottest songwriters of the mid to late 70's. Really good.

The Cocktail Slippers' video for St. Valentine's Day Massacre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B39D2D7AfDo

One of the best sounds going today. Produced by my boy, Little Steven.

for you Facebook users - some stuff on the new privacy settings

http://gawker.com/5428155/the-facebook-privacy-settings-youve-lost-forever?skyline=true&s=x

modern Nazca....

http://jalopnik.com/5428151/worlds-largest-work-of-art-created-with-motorhome

and yet another story on hitler's remains

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/11/russia.hitler.remains/

At this point, I think the only thing that can be said is that the KGB have once again demonstrated what happens when you let a huge authoritarian agency live on for decades - incompetence and lies - no one knows what happend to the body, it's just one tale after another. Each one contradicting the one that came before.

ancient now-underwater city discovered?

http://www.heralddeparis.com/previously-undiscovered-ancient-city-found-on-caribbean-sea-floor/65855

We'll see. I would have appreciated a more detailed photograph than the one presented.

Happy Birthday Eddie Kendricks!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lvLd0UXizU

THE tenor of Soul. Absolutely essential.

Happy Birthday Paul Rodgers!

http://www.paulrodgers.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydItRbb0b1E

Great Rocker.

Happy Birthday to The Simpsons!

Premiered on this date in '89. Brilliant. Essential.

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

http://www.hulu.com/the-simpsons

http://www.snpp.com/

Happy birthday to Night of the Demon!

Great flic. One of my faveorite horror movies. Premiered on this date in 1957. Essential.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050766/

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

fanvid for a Cthulhu Carol!

http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/fishmen-dagon-scenes.html

Rocket launching cycle

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/motorcycle-with-rocket-pods-shoots-rockets-at-the-push-of-a-button

Techno Jeep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFybwg4wadI&feature=player_embedded#

Pretty neat, guys!

How do you say "Spoiled Brat"?

http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/strange/Teen-racks-up-22K-cell-phone-bill-dpgo-fc-1260898555578

I'd be curious about the amount myself - just how much film, books, music, pornography, software, and games can you download on a stupid little phone - and wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy all thar crap off the shelf?

The Return Of Hammer Films?

http://parasearcher.blogspot.com/2009/12/hammer-reopens-house-of-horror-for-teen.html

Anasazi Santa....

the cutting edge of Christmas wrapping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afreOsPe83M&feature=player_embedded#

Come to Thailand and enjoy the bagpipes and Scotch!

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/144654-scots-beach-mistaken-for-thai-resort/

Wow! I guess Scotland will have to set up child-molesting brothels and sex slavery to compete!

A new home for the Cold War Museum

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/cold-war-museum-finds-a-home.htm

Tiger Hunting!

http://video1.break.com/dnet/media/2009/12/tiger-woods-wife-outrun-video-game.swf

You just knew it wouldn't take long for something like this to be created.


(Thanks for the link, Rob!)

Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm

John Cale performs Mercenaries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CZ06Lq_mUw

My fave song by him. Wonderful. Accurate...

video for Thin Lizzy performing Whiskey In The Jar

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

A minor classic of mid 70's rock.

Steel Pulse performs Ku Klux Klan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yULRZ3zLXc8

Probably my fave reggae band. Wonderful sound.

The Ventures perform Pipeline at the Birchmere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AnvVRUH64&feature=related

So cool...

The Star Wars Holiday Show!

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/stars-wars-holiday-special-with-special.html

I remember watching this during its one and only airing, (I am a big Jefferson Airplane/Starship fan). Perhaps the lamest TV Special - EVER. People connected with it refuse to talk about it. I'm told some will even try to lie about having never been involved. It's only available as a semi-rare bootleg. Lucas refuses to be embarrassed by any more public showings. A Classic!

Happy Birthday Young Frankenstein!

http://frankensteinia.blogspot.com/2009/12/young-frankenstein-35th-anniversary.html

Premiered on this date in '74. Brilliant.

The Beatles - As Seen A Thousand Years From Now

http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/the_beatles_as_seen_from_the_distant_future/

Morgan Freeman Chain Of Command

http://bitsandpieces.us/2009/12/15/morgan-freeman-chain-of-command/

And Wuss America...

http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1903566059/Taunton-second-grader-suspended-over-drawing-of-Jesus

I've said it before and will do so again, I never would have made it out of grade school if I'd gone nowadays...

The Princess & The Pea Alarm Clock

http://www.blameitonthevoices.com/2009/12/princess-and-pea-alarm-clock.html

Wuss Britain

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235782/Millionaire-Munir-Hussain-fought-knife-wielding-burglar-jailed-intruder-let-off.html

The Millenium Falcon Bed

http://flamingzombiemonkeys.blogspot.com/2009/12/millenium-falcon-bed.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FlamingZombieMonkeys+%28Flaming+Zombie+Monkeys%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

The Titanic Ice Tray

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235779/Gin-Titonic-hits-ice-critics-say-making-light-tragic-sinking-distasteful.html

Rudolph - NO!

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/bizarre/BO131765/

WMD

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/806233-german-shoppers-in-salami-and-cheese-fight-over-trolley

some factual basis for jackalopes?

http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/jackalopes-real/

It's been many years since I've visited there, but Wyoming and South Dakota used to have stuffed versions of these things for sale everywhere

the cutting edge of penal imagery in marketing

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1547158.html

Sheesh!

Another sport corrupted by drugs...

http://www.lep.co.uk/weirdnews/Pie-eating-competitors-to-be.5903754.jp

Oh Lord, when will the romilar scourge be eliminated from our lives?!?

'Tis the Season...

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=600&sid=1840633

I'd love to hear more about this little tragedy. Exactly what were the dimensions of an argument about taking lights down in mid-January? Was the wife a fanatatic procrastinator? the type who leave their wreaths up until they've become dried brown cinders, only to be finally blow away into dust in July? (We had two neighbors at our old house's neighborhood who did this.) Are the jack-o-lanterns left out until they rot? (We have at least one person on our current street who practices this rather festive version of composting).

Stayin' Alive...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6804220/Nellie-the-Elephant-helps-medics-administer-CPR.html

The Nobel Peace Prize Debate Gets Interesting...

http://www.manolith.com/2009/12/14/worst-nobel-prize-recipients/

Cthulhu & Mrs Claus!

http://www.neatorama.com/2009/12/13/santa-cthulhu-2009/

Happy Birthday Dave Clark!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRQCN5x1-NI

Fun band and sound. I consider Catch Us If You Can to be one of the foundations of power pop.

Happy Birthday John Hammond, Sr.!

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/hammond_j.html

A Genius in recognizing others' genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Alan Freed!

http://www.alanfreed.com/

Happy Bill of Rights Day!

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights.html

Happy Birthday to One Two Three!

One of my fave movies. Premiered on this date in 1961. An hysterical satire of Cold War politics. Cagney was billiant.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055256/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One,_Two,_Three

fanvid for Neil Diamond covering the Chanukah Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOegH4uYe-c&feature=featured

Stupid, but I really enjoy this song. Sandler's various version are great.

a chain reaction of generosity

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Mystery-Couple-Pay-It-Forward-79179347.html?__source=Facebook

I'm getting old, this sounds pretty neat!

The cutting edge of wine nameing

http://www.wespeakwine.com/index.php?p=product&id=1492&parent=1


(Thanks for the link, Audrey!)

Liza and Eric Burdon & The Animals in a Christmas special!?!

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/dangerous-christmas-of-red-riding-hood.html

I don't remember this at all....

Zombie Christmas Carols

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Beginning-Look-Like-Zombies/dp/0061956430/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259856833&sr=1-1

http://thevaultofhorror.blogspot.com/2009/12/zombie-carol-of-day-lets-feast-on-merry.html

The Simpsons - the Estonian Version...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1XHzHE_fHM&feature=player_embedded

Absolutely brilliant!

Unintended consequences....

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-091211-led-lights,0,3727265.story

Using demonic possession to promote children's toys

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

I like it!

Exam Answers

http://bitsandpieces.us/2009/12/13/more-bad-exam-answers/

The Rein Father...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAy1e8JC_A&feature=player_embedded#

Brilliant...

Champagne is good for you (as i always suspected...)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10615266

I will be opening a Veuve Clicquot clinic soon to minister to the sick.

The music collector's lament

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/12/13/what_a_collector_loses_and_gains_in_the_age_of_music_downloading/?page=full

All true...


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Happy Birthday Patty Duke!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001157/

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

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

A hot dog makes her lose control!

Happy Birthday Morey Amsterdam!

An essential member of the Dick Van Dyke Show.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0025440/

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

Happy Birthday Spike Jones!

Genius. Essential.

http://www.spikejones.net/news.php

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvt4b_qwC_Q

the advent calendar...

http://www.soberinanightclub.com/2009/12/cool-advent-calendar.html

alien civilizations and the billion year technology gap

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/11/the-billionyear-technology-gap-could-one-exist-the-weekend-feature.html

An okay article, but I'm unimpressed by the need to quote an astro-physicist on our chances of surivival through the 21st century. Even if I might agree with him - who the hell is he? And how does his work give him any more "quotability" on this than anyone else? In fact, his particular concentration would argue to me that he has no idea what he's talking about. I'd be more interested in some of the more sophisiticated studies coming from sociology.

And the Thunderbirds Chistmas Special

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/thunderbirds-christmas-episode-1966.html

Shouldn't this be titled "Thunderbirds Are Ho Ho Ho"?

Nothing says Christmas like Astroboy!

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/astro-boy-christmas-episode-1960.html

The Investment Meeting

http://imagechan.com/img/7796/Coathanger%20Business/

Given this, clearly I'm ready for a life in high finance!

colleges try to compare themselves to Hogwarts!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much for "higher" education! I can see it now: "We're just like Star Fleet Academy! Well, except we aren't..." Or "Become a Jedi Master at Yale!".
Well boys, I've got dibs on "Miskatonic University"! Go Pods!

http://gawker.com/5425031/of-harvard-and-hogwarts-ivy-league-schools-using-harry-potter-to-whore-themselves-out

Santa's little helper

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/12/12/12130151-sun.html

What's amusing about this is the uber-nanny interviewed worrying about people who "can't control how many of those 0.5% beers people consume,". Well, yes, I suppose there are folks out there whose stomachs can take in the 3-4 CASES of beer one would need to get tipsy (and the need to consume it quickly enough to allow the buildup of alcohol - say, in 2 hours). I expect Canada to be putting warning labels on their brews warning Jabba The Hutt of the potential danger... Please don't tell the poor nanny about my boys at Stone Brewery, and their fab Double Bastard Ale; the shock'd kill him...

12 neat staircases

http://www.oddee.com/item_96905.aspx

Obviously, I want the one that's built into/from bookshelves.

An immortal creature?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article5594539.ece

I've had the misfortune of dealing with several people who seemed to revert to immaturity once they got older...

Found Magazine

http://www.foundmagazine.com/

Actually, kinda interesting...

Happy Birthday Dick Van Dyke!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001813/

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

http://www.dickvandykeshow.com/

Star of what I consider to be the best sitcom ever made.

Moody Blues' video for Nights In White Satin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8

I've always loved the Moody's, and this song in particular. Perfect for a gloomy Winter's evening, a brain full of memories, and bourbon...

Sheila Chandra performs Ever So Lonely

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbcKO92OGNI&feature=related

Beautiful.

Warren Zevon perfroms Poor, Poor Pitiful Me & Cadillac Ranch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN0EWxDvZcw

A weird, wonderful and under-appreciated American original and genius.

B. Bumble & The Stingers - Nut Rocker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23cPiRfrDLQ

My poor Mother, always trying to give me a little culture; always failing. About a thousand years ago, there was a special performance of the Nutcracker Suite at DAR Constitution Hall - specially made for children, and MC'd by Captain Kangaroo (!). I must have been around 2nd grade. I'm sure it was wonderful. But it just washed over me without effect. On the other hand, I LOVE Nut Rocker! This is the original, but ELP also did a fab version.
Thanks Mum, you tried....

A Google Map Of Lovecraftian Places

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=118313029240598858467.00043b7315c9b248155d3&hl=en&ved=0CA8QkAUwAA&ei=BxITS6LSFpuwsAOUiPXCDg&sig2=3LsT6JQmcrohYO-ByoXmlw&ie=UTF8&ll=-41.902277,-155.566406&spn=101.35716,186.152344&z=3

Sketchy Santas

http://www.sketchysantas.com/

This guy is ready to join DC's Metro...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/6787636/Tube-announcer-advises-passengers-to-consider-shooting-themselves.html

Of course, you needn't encourage Metro riders to commit suicide, by riding on the system they've declared a certain joy for Russian roulette....

Happy Birthday to The Wolf Man!

Premiered on this date in 1941. A classic!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034398/

Happy Birthday Edward G. Robinson!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000064/

http://www.themave.com/EGR/

Another fave. Great actor.

Happy Birthday Robin Tyner!

Another great voice and performer. Lead singer for the legendary MC5. Essential.

http://www.furious.com/perfect/mc5/robtyner5.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM6nasmkg7A&feature=related

Happy Birthday Dionne Warwick!

http://www.dionnewarwick.info/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMdN9FOrJTk

One of the greatest voices from the 60's. The perfect conduit for Bacharach and David. Essential.

Bust Bust

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/12/11/pei-drug-bust-bra-584.html

fanvid for Paul Roland performing Nosferatu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ8F4VqoD4E&feature=related

A really great talent, (and very nice gent). I love his songs, and believe I may well be his only American fan, (sigh). Pity, because his work is a wonderful combination of Syd Barrett, Al Stewart, and Robyn Hitchcock.

Arthur Conley performs Sweet Soul Music

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

Protege to Otis Redding. I don't know why Arthur didn't get big. I thought he was pretty damn good.

Joe Jackson performs Is She Really Going Out With Him

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

Great song. Perfect for the Winter of '79.

Tyler Cowen's Food Guide, 2010

http://www2.gmu.edu/centers/publicchoice/faculty%20pages/Tyler/ethnicguide2010.htm

This is my favorite food critic in the DC region and i consider this list essential.

Steampunk Radio

http://www.clockworkcabaret.com/

Pretty neat!

Old School

http://www.yeah-oops.com/2009/12/09/student-brings-typewriter-to-class/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YeahOops+%28Yeah+Oops%21+-+The+Center+of+Funny+Stuffs+-+Funny+Pictures%2C+Funny+Videos%2C+and+Flash+Games%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I love it! I could see me doing this...

I think the Oriental Trading company is about to raise their prices

http://bitsandpieces.us/2009/12/10/man-sues-casinos-because-he-lost-127-million/

What a loser....

I believe that there's a Cheech & Chong routine in here somewhere...

http://connect2utah.com/content/news/story/?cid=66482

If only I'd had this when we had those awful neighbors

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/3135966/Warnings-after-children-burnt-by-garden-plant

That would have taught the little bastards about trampling our plants...


(Thanks for the link, Nick!)

Space Beer?

http://www.cultureofspirits.com/news/galactic-grog-beer-from-space/

Seems a little forced to me. I do think it'd be interesting to attempt to brew beer in space, however. What effect, if any, does it have on fermentation, etc.?

The Spider Pool

http://laist.com/2008/04/19/every_city_has.php

Interesting little story about urban archaeology.

the lonliness of Jedi.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/8401610.stm

We need some sort of a war between all of the superfandoms. The jedis would be out there with their silly little plastic light sabres, the trekkies could throw tribbles, the vampire groupies could have those water-blasters filled with clamato; and the Harry Potter fans could do whatever it is young imaginary wizards do when a fight breaks out -probably pee in their pants...

Attempted theft of Frazetta's

http://cbs3.com/wireapnewspa/Cops.Son.of.2.1362516.html

How sad, and stupid. I hope that idiot didn't damage any of the illustrations.



(Thanks for the link, Phil!).

Happy Birthday to V For Vendetta!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/

Great movie. Premiered on this date in 2005.

Happy Birthday George Mason!

http://www.lexrex.com/bios/gmason.htm

http://www.gunstonhall.org/georgemason/

One of my faves...

NoVa has "best" high school in the nation...

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2009/12/09/virginia-high-school-is-best-in-the-nation.html

Well, maybe. I'm kinda cynical about stuff like this. I would like to point out that this great scholarship does NOT extend to geography. The school is not located in Alexandria, but Fairfax County, (only the mailing address is listed as Alexandria due to an anomaly that goes back to the Civil War - so I guess we're talking a failure in history, too....).

Elton performs Saturday Night's Alright For Fightin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93JvHkdYNNw

Classic. Reminds me of '73-74 going with my future brother-in-law, Rick, to a greasy pinball joint down on Route 1 called Electric Circus. What a cesspool.

fanvid for Bobby Goldsboro performing Look Around You (It's Christmas Time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNjOtV7m7LE

I suspect most people reading this won't remember Bobby. He was sort of a proto-John Denver in the mid 60's to early 70's, with the whole light pop/vaguely country feel. I know, I know, that alone is enought to condemn him to the outer rings of hell for most hipsters. But hear me out. Yes, some of his stuff was pretty schlocky. But I think this, and some of his other hits, were pretty cool and well written. He was years ahead of the whole singer/songriter vibe that dominated radio by '73-74. And this little Christmas lament echoes themes of darkness and want later explored by folks like Tull and Greg Lake.
Okay, I still hear you snickering, but it's true. The guy is better and more legitimate than you think.

Devo performs Mongoloid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmf7r_37eA

Wonderful band and sound. Those first couple of records* were like a lightning bolt on the scene.


*Most folks were introduced to them thorugh their first album on Warner's, but they had put out a single on the ultra-cool Bomp label before then that is known but to a few, (Missy, it's fabulously rare....).

Cub Koda and Brownsville Station perform Smokin' In The Boy's Room

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

Stupid but fun. Cub was an authority on rock'n'roll and was a great writer and critic of it.

fanvid of Crazy Elephant performing Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt5P58tif-M

A guilty pleasure. One of the last and greatest K&K bubblegum tunes.
(My friend, Peter, is gagging right about now...).

Lenon performs Instant Karma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4&feature=related

Love this song.

Peeps Mania In Maryland!

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=94759&catid=168

Wreaths Across America on 12/12

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/the-arlington-story.html

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/Locations/Virginia/360-Arlington-National-Cemetery/View-details.html

I've posted about these guys before. Normally, stuff like this is of little interest to me, but I do find something deeply moving about the sight at Arlington. Pretty impressive.

The Killer Tomato Threat!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/attack-of-the-killer-tomatoes-1834638.html

The Norwegian Spiral

http://gizmodo.com/5422574/giant-mysterious-spiral-takes-over-the-skies-of-norway

http://gizmodo.com/5422792/this-is-how-the-mysterious-giant-spiral-happened

http://aliencasebook.blogspot.com/2009/12/3-videos-massive-blue-spiraling-ufo.html

Pretty impressive!

China becomes a true consumer society

http://www.aroundglobe.net/2009/12/chinese-couple-sells-son-to-buy-cell.html

Happy Birthday CBGB's!

Opened on this date in 1973.

http://www.cbgb.com/

Happy Birthday Emily Dickinson!

http://www.bartleby.com/113/

http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/

The "Bacon Explosion"

http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/

I can actually feel my veins clogging whiel reading this.

The Fred Sanford Defense Against Crime

http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4836241&tt=s

Double-Dog-Dared....

http://www.topix.net/news/weird/2009/12/boise-boy-licks-pole-gets-stuck

My true love gave to me...

http://bitsandpieces.us/2009/12/08/cant-get-much-worse/

The Rail Zeppelin

http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/rail-zeppelin

Neat-O! I can just imagine that open propeller coming into a crowded Union Station...

The Teaberry Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil

http://www.aroundglobe.net/2009/12/ukrainian-student-killed-by-exploding.html

an unknown human sensory sytem is discovered

http://www.livescience.com/health/091208-hidden-sensory-system.html

Cool!

Sawstop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3mzhvMgrLE

Amazing.



(Thanks for the link, Rob!)

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

The TV special premiered on this date in '65. Beloved doesn't begin to cover it. I've written about it in the past and won't bore you with more here.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059026/

Happy Birthday Margaret Hamilton!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002121/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qHaIO0LU38

Wonderful actress. THE ur-witch.

Happy Birthday Michael Dorn!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/

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

Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001195/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fairbanks,_Jr.

Wonderful swashbuckler!

Happy Birthday Joan Armatrading!

http://www.joanarmatrading.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T4lg8VAjMI

Great singer songwriter.

Cthulhu Claus!

http://io9.com/5421223/the-good/gallery/7

Letterman interviews Huntz Hall

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/late-night-with-david-letterman-with.html

Cool!

Zappa interviewed by David Brenner

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/nightlife-with-host-davd-brenner-and.html

The end of aging in 2029?

http://www.disinfo.com/2009/12/can-scientists-end-aging-by-2029/


I will refer interested readers to my old penpal, Infidel753, for a variety of postings and links to this and related subjects. I most certainly agree that significant and radical life extension is an inevitable goal and probable outcome of medical and biological research. I remain somewhat cautious about it, however, feeling that like most developments, it will bring both advantages and disadvantages. I also suspect, that not as many people will opt for it as might be imagined. We'll see....

a nice article and examples of Nick Lowe's production abilities

http://musicruinedmylife.blogspot.com/2009/11/nicklowe-fi-production.html

Jagger recites Shelley to eulogize Brian

http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/a_eulogy_for_brian_jones_jagger_recites_shelley/

An interesting little tidbit of pop history. I didn't know this film existed.

I had no idea about that Merit Badge

http://www.bnd.com/372/story/1041246.html

the cutting edge of postiive reinforcement

http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/3135941/Licorice-logs-new-weapon-for-police/

the cutting edge of marital bliss

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/6703629/Chinese-husband-allows-wife-to-attack-him-once-a-week.html

old boardgames for sale

http://www.angelfire.com/az2/gamesgoneby/desi5.html

I've not dealt with this guy before, but THIS....LOOKS....SO.....COOL!!!!!!!

I refuse to play Risk without wooden pieces...

let the puns begin....

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091208-23791.html

new sword & sorcery collection on the way

http://www.thecimmerian.com/?p=8078

Tesla Coil Christmas Light Show

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2761095/Xmas-lights-are-electrifying.html

http://www.tesladownunder.com/

Super-Cool! Be sure to check out the film segments in the second link.

Imagine...

Lennon was assasinated on this date in '80.

Happy Birthday to the Lizard King!

A local boy who made good.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LtPVBqQsf8

http://www.huddersfield1.co.uk/poetry/morrisonpoetry.htm

Happy Birthday to The Ice Man!

http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/jerry.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Butler_(singer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19AMDRXtHxw

Happy Birthday Sinead O'Connor!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JugUQJv9YlY

http://www.sinead-oconnor.com/

Happy Birthday Flip Wilson!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933400/

http://www.tvparty.com/flip.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR8OpOlga-Y

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

I think Flip is slowly but surely being forgotten, which is a shame. He was a very funny and influential comedian, and one of the great breakers of the color barrier on TV.

Frosty The Snow Manilow

http://www.falcontheatre.com/frosty_the_snow_manilow.html


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

fanvid for George performing Hari's On Tour live at the Cap Center

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

Cool. I was at this show. This song opened George's performance.

the bionic hand

http://news.discovery.com/tech/thought-controlled-hand-amputee.html

Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

fanvid of Irma Thomas performing Time Is On My Side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFj0RfZb6iM&feature=related

Classic. Bedrock.

Horslips performs Man Who Built America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HHQ7kMXl7M

Yet another forlorn attempt by Ireland to break out of its pop ghetto in the 70's. Horslips was a great band - should've broken through, but they didn't, (neither did Rory Gallagher or Thin Lizzy). Sad, their first two albums really were quite good.

fanvid for the Fatal Microbes performing Violence Grows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h7Da4wJgZg

Amazing that this out in Youtube. An ultra-obscure band, virtually unknown in the States. I'd be surprised if more than a handful of copies made it out of the UK*. If I remember correctly, the lead singer was a 12 year old punk, making it all the more sinister.


*Missy - this is ultra double-secret fabulously rare.

The Korgis video for Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykxwwQxzKE4

A moody little song from a moody little time.

Dire Straits performs Sultans of Swing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKovMuzox3Y&feature=related

Yes, there's more than a little Richard Thompson in Knopfler's soul, but I still have always like his songs.

Neat Shredder!

http://www.ssiworld.com/watch/the_monster.htm


(Thanks for the link, Rob!)

Roller blading? Street Sledding?

http://www.gamaniak.com/video/3625

Fun video!


(Thanks for the link, Rob!)

Chirstmas Goose at L'Auberge!

http://www.laubergechezfrancois.com/

We went out for our annual feast at one of our all-time fave restaurants - L'Auberge Chez Francois. Now the Holiday Season has really begun for us. A wonderful evening. If you're in NoVa, I can't recommend these folks too highly. We've been there dozens of times over the past 15 years or so, and always have had a wonderful meal and service.

Happy Birthday Vlad the Impaler - Mr. Excitement!

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

Happy Birthday Tom Waits!

http://www.tomwaits.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6CDa-z1MUY

An American Original. I remember hearing this tune on my old AM car radio driving across Ohio at about 4AM one morning in '77. Perfect.

Happy Birthday Harry Chapin!

http://www.harrychapin.com/

http://harrychapinmusic.com/chapin_site2/home/chapinhp_frm.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5dwksSbD34

Wonderful songwriter and a great humanitarian.

Happy Birthday Eli Wallach!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908919/

Great Actor.

Happy Birthday Allan Calhamer!

Developer of one of the best games of all time, (and a personal fave of mine): Diplomacy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_B._Calhamer

http://www.diplom.org/~diparch/resources/calhamer/invention.htm

http://www.diplom.org/~diparch/home.htm

http://www.diplom.org/index.py

Pearl Harbor Day

http://www.pearlharbormemorial.com/index.php

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

One of those terrible events which I believe should never be foregotten, and that every effort be made to learn from.

Trying to vanish in a hi-tech environment

http://www.wired.com/vanish/2009/11/ff_vanish2/

Interesting experiment, but not really off the grid at all, when you come down to it. Several decades ago, there was a rather low-level and lose collection of hippies and survivalists trying to do the same thing. My memory fades, but I believe this mini-movement (I'd hardly call it organized, and even my description seems too formal), was called something like Vonu, (that's probably wrong...). It was sort of a Ted Kaczynski-sytle thing. I got the impression of a few hermits living in shacks and old trailers in the backways of America's deep woods and deserts, trading info on how to avoid paying taxes, etc or leaving any paper trail to be followed or found. As I remember it, the few bits of articles they were producing sort of declined to nothing, implying some gave up and/or totally succeeded.

The Evil Santa Generator

http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_13928379

interesting Christmas ads from the past

http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com/2008/12/retro-christmas-ads.html

http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com/2009/12/retro-fail-10-couple-awful-christmas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Retrospace+%28Retrospace%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Drugs In Space

http://news.discovery.com/space/what-drugs-are-our-astronauts-on.html

the total jerk - and wuss America

http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4826065&tt=s

I have no idea why this is considered a school matter and somehow or another to be handled by government employees - it is not. I'm sure it'll be handled privately, and well....

Dickens, in the original Klingon

http://www.cbtheatre.org/KCC2009/KCC2009.htm

I beleive this should be titled A Khristmas Karol...

Forget about banning video games, movies, TV shows and comic books!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2009/12/dime-novels-blamed-in-death-of-teenager.html

When will we rid the world of that scourge of Youth - the dime novel!!!

(Just more proof that assholes are assholes, regardless of whatever media is current).

the red light camera mystery apparently continues

http://www.theledger.com/article/20091204/NEWS/912045061/1338

I seem to remember a MythBusters episode attempting to disprove the various rumors about this. I think it's just been re-opened, although I suspect that this is just one more in a long line of cases of contractors promising perfection in software and equipment that is flawed and prone to glitches.

Safe Sex Santa

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/05/condom-claus-photo_n_381347.html

Eat sugar and Watusi!!!!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1527359.html

You'd probably have to be over 50 to understand that header...

a '66 anti-smoking ad drawn by Frazetta!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1527573.html

Chirstmas Gift Idea - Count Gore Glow-In-The-Dark T-Shirts!

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

I'm a total sucker for stuff like this. Neat-o!

a rare Daivd Ossman/George Tirebiter clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apRikHkp2EE

For fans of the great Firesign Theatre.

Happy Birthday David Ossman!

http://www.firesigntheatre.com/albums/ossman.html

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


Genius. Essential.

the joy ride...

http://bitsandpieces.us/2009/12/05/amazing-mailtruck-joyride/

I don't think I believe this...

Nice day...

We finished with our Holiday decorating. All the gifts are wrapped and the cards sent out; there's a nice blaze going in the fireplace, there's a bareable snowfall covering the yard, and I've got the Phil Spector Christmas album playing on the stereo. I hope the rest of you are enjoying as nice a scene.

the cutting edge of global warming

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,665182,00.html

a mystery UAV in Afghanistan

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20091204.aspx

Unemployment

http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iraq/articles/20091205.aspx

I guess my new diet plan isn't going to work...

http://chattahbox.com/world/2009/12/03/peruvian-human-fat-vampire-killers-a-hoax/

The God That Failed

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=38&art_id=nw20091203223342924C399882

revenge of the Christmas trees!

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/143525/Christmas-tree-smashes-car-in-freak-accident

the weenie roast

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,1,26440234-948,00.html

The Return of the Sorcerer by Clark Ashton Smith

http://www.amazon.com/Return-Sorcerer-Clark-Ashton-Smith/dp/0809556650

A wonderful collection by one of my all-time favorite authors. Highly recommended!

the taliban workout video

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12/revealed-taliban-workout-video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WiredDangerRoom+(Blog+-+Danger+Room)


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Happy Repeal Day!

http://www.repealday.org/

http://www.asmithbowman.com/

Happy Ninja Day!

http://dayoftheninja.com/index2.html

http://askaninja.com/ninjaday

Happy Birthday Little Richard!

http://www.littlerichard.com/

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/little-richard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFL047fmsgg&feature=fvw

The one and only. An American original. Absolutely essential.

Happy Birthday Alvy Moore!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0600886/

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/participant.jsp?spid=134593&apid=11770

I always loved his hankd Kimball character.

sweet mother of god, they're predicting snow tomorrow morning...

Fortunately, our weathermen have an accuracy rate which ranks somewhere between appalling and worthless. But if it does snow, even a single flake, then we are doomed. I've written about this several times before - DC is the biggest wussy when it comes to snow. We collapse. But I don't care, the Manor is loaded with firewood, tortilla chips, Religious Experience Salsa, Tab, and Virginia Gentleman. We're ready for the Apocalypse...

WWI - almost paid for...

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1516499.php/Germany-still-paying-World-War-I-reparations

Bug Fights!

For those of us who long for the days of to-th-death gladiatorial combat...

http://www.disinfo.com/2009/12/japanese-bug-fights/

I'm hoping to find a flea circus dude who can make little chariots with spiked wheels. Bug Hur!

The IBM cat brain hoax

http://news.discovery.com/tech/cat-brain-computer-hype.html

Not a surprise, my own dealings with IBM left me with the impression that they're nothing more than a pack of liars...

Happy Birthday Karl Wagner!

A great writer of horror and sword & sorcery literature. Almost forgotten and under-appreciated. One of my faves. A genius.

http://www.darkecho.com/darkecho/features/kew.html

http://www.popcultmag.com/obsessions/profilesingreatness/karlwagner/wagner01.html

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

The best of Cartman singing

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/04/cartmans-best-musical-mom_n_379098.html

I believe the Eiffel Tower is actually in Des Moines...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6720672/Nicolas-Sarkozys-Life-in-France-video-shot-in-US.html

This...Is....Rich...

the cutting edge of terminal nerd-dom

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6718706/Japanese-man-marries-computer-game-character.html

What if it really was Santa?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6718616/Steeplejacks-retrieve-Father-Christmas-hats-from-Cambridge-spires.html

Who better?

Britain's Worst Christmas Tree

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6719602/Britains-worst-Christmas-tree-replaced-with-equally-bad-one.html

I believe there's a Charlie Brown story in all of this...

the tiniest snowman

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6724969/Scientists-create-the-worlds-smallest-snowman.html

Happy Birthday Southside!

http://www.southsidejohnny.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJLo5EkU7Lo

One of my faves.

This Year's Bad Sex Literary Award!

http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-news/littell-wins-bad-sex-literary-award


(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

The Brothers Johnson perform Strawberry Letter #23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju40_i5NoPg

Nice song. If I remember correctly, (and I may not), this was a hit around this time of year in 1975 - 34 years ago! Incredible....

The Sisters of Mercy perform Vision Thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmK1RXU1mZo&feature=related

Always liked this band.

Quicksilver performs Fresh Air

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

Wonderful example of the San Francisco Sound.

the art of James Corbett - made from car parts

http://www.johndaviesgallery.com/exhibitionsView.asp?exhibitionTitle=James%20Corbett%20Exhibition%202009&exhibitionID=27

Pretty neat!

military wing suits?

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12/look-out-below-wingsuits-pushed-for-airbone-assaults/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WiredDangerRoom+%28Blog+-+Danger+Room%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Another look into the future. At the very least, I can see commando units wanting and using these. I also suspect that the Air Force would love to get something like this for their elite unit(s) and grab some of the glamor away from the SEALS and Green Berets...

a review of Clark Ashton Smith in the LA Times!

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-caw-sirens-call29-2009nov29,0,4123201.story

One of my all-time fave writers.

the evolution of 100 years of cinematic special effects in 5 minutes

http://gajitz.com/watch-100-years-of-cinematic-special-effects-in-5-minutes/

Very cool! I only regret that they left out effects from the original (silent) Thief Of Baghdad.

the horror of the Moscow subway

http://englishrussia.com/?p=2854&f=2l

I believe our METRO is about 2 years away from this stage...

Wikipedia - the hardback copy

http://www.speedytown.com/index.php/2009/06/19/print-out-and-sell-wikipedia-articles/

the ripsaw tank

http://www.popsci.com/invention

Predictions about military systems are always a craps shoot, but I think we're looking at the future, here.

Voynich decoded?

http://www.edithsherwood.com/voynich_decoded/index.php

Very cool, if accurate. One of the great puzzles from history.

Royal Society releases treasure trove of historical papers

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/royal-society-greatest-hits/

Neat!

neat article on Tesla coil hobbyists

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-tesla-coils-zones-02-dec02,0,3913995.story

Nano-art and the remarkable artist behind it

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120204152.html?referrer=emailarticle&sid=ST2009120204199


(Thanks for the link, Karen!)

The underground bowling alley

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-carr/the-secret-bowling-alley_b_376623.html

Neat!

I believe this is how most horror movies begin

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232681/Couple-wake-mystery-giant-hole-lawn-swallowed-skip.html

Now, the child will start having conversations with beings in the TV set...

my fave headline of the day

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/01/ap/strange/main5855915.shtml?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesAreaMain;cbsnewsLeadStoriesHeadlines

50 years of the top Christmas toys

http://www.urlesque.com/2009/12/02/50-years-top-selling-holiday-toys/

Hmm, I'm not sure I believe this. At the very least, I'd like to see some actual sales figures and whther we're talking simply money made, or units sold, (there was a big price difference between a computer and a troll, for instance). I'm a little surprised that the mid-60's don't feature any spy stuff. James Bond and the Man From Uncle were pretty popular, as I recall. And showing D&D in 1974 is pure rubbish. It was nearly impossible to find copies then outside of a few hobby shops in the midwest. I owned the first and ONLY copy in the DC region in that year. Virtually all copies purchased had to be mail ordered from Gary Gygax himself, (operating out of his house), the print runs were small, etc. No way this was a big seller until the marketing to younger children* began and larger print runs with professional distribution took place, (which was around 78-79). Just this example alone tends to make me doubt the rest of the list. But, it's still an interesting little memory flogger.



*When D&D was first produced, it was marketed solely to wargamers. For the first two or three years, the vast majority of players, both locally and nationwide, were young adults in their 20's. It wasn't until later that teens and pre-teens dominated the market.

just so wrong - wife beating as an advertising technique

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1519263.html

I'm not sure that slugging your wife until she picks up the right Scotch for you is really the best way to market spirits. Especially since it implies that hubby is already so far into his bender that he can't do it himself. From now on, when I think of Johnny Walker Red & Black I'll assume it's referring to the bruises on this woman's face.

Happy Birthday Ozzy!

http://www.ozzy.com/

http://www.myspace.com/ozzyosbourne

the cutting edge of bug zappers...

http://networkedblogs.com/p19711290

The Beach Boys cover California Dreaming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-ThPN8ZY4I

I know I've posted this before, but it's a perfect day for it - a cold drizzle has been going all day here at the Manor. I also think this is a cool video - probably the last musical thing John Phillips was involved in before he died. And of course, anything with Roger McGuinn is worth two extra points. One question - who is the girl? I'm guessing Chynna Phillips. Any ideas?

fanvid for Smokey & The Miracles performing Tears Of A Clown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxj1hP3dxdg

I love this song. Perfect Motown.

fanvid for Jo Jo Gunne performing Run Run Run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buMg7cDtlls

Great song, perfect example of early 70's American rock.

Flash'N'The Pan's video for Down Among The Dead Men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-q1H9N_u10&feature=fvw

Sometimes I think I'm the only one who remembers this band, and their only fan. This incredibly lame video won't remedy that situation, I'm afraid. But I still think they had some nice songs.

Bette performs Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x1R50zNV1I&feature=related

Great pop/cabaret, (and no, I'm not coming out of the closet...).

NORAD tracks Santa

http://www.noradsanta.org/

My annual plug for this site. I just think it's a cute idea. My only (small) complaint is that the graphics and some of the sections seem kinda rinky-dink, but maybe that's just me. I still think it's a cool thing.

Hubble Advent Calendar

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/hubble_space_telescope_advent_1.html

Pretty neat!

the cutting edge of firefighter dating in Montgomery county

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=94439&catid=168

The Leningrad Cowboys

http://www.leningradcowboys.fi/

Just heard about these boys, they look mildly amusing, but am not sure how far that can carry 'em - there are several albums out.

The myth of the killer video game

http://denofgeek.com/games/372671/the_cosmos_most_ridiculously_implausible_videogames_polybius_the_most_mysterious_game_of_all_time.html

Nice article. It'd be interesting to see what a professional folklorist would make of this information, (they may already have done so - I haven't done any checking), as this sounds like standard urban legend-type stuff.

amazing starling photos

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232385/Stunning-natural-display-thousands-starlings-form-shape-whale.html

neat!

the cutting edge of pensions

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/01/taking_liberties/entry5844585.shtml

Happy Birthday Jonathan Frid!

http://www.jonathanfrid.com/

How to solve a printer problem

http://www.flixxy.com/laser-printer-problem.htm

I believe this is my usual procedure, as well.


(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

You're Guilty, Hon!

http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/21665154/detail.html

This would never happen in DC. Oh, not the part about thievery; hell that happens on an hourly basis. I mean the trial and conviction. To be the Mayor of DC is to be on Olympus, and immune to any earthly concerns. Marion Barry is practically a Being Of Light, beyond our understanding and control. And Fenty isn't far behind...

Zombies! board game

http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Oh-No...-Zombies%21-Board-Game.html

fanvid for Joy Division performing Love Will Tear Us Apart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ii8m1jgn_M

One of my faves. Geniuses. Essential. Music for the Collapse.

Dusty performs I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHOnMd6Eqs&feature=fvw

Achingly beautiful.

Traffic performs Mr. Fantasy

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

So cool.

The Stranglers' video for Walk On By

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

Another band and cover that I love. The Stranglers never got much respect, either from the punks or the mainstream, which is too bad, they were a fine band.

Tal Bachman video for She's So High

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbWyq6MRUX8

Always liked this song.

Matchgame '75

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2009/12/match-game-pm-1975.html

For those of you too young to know/remember. This started out as a typical game show, but rapidly evolved into a sort of vaguely stoned/drunken half hour of sloppy entertainment. Mildly amusing. You had to be there...

People, we have just got to educate our criminals better

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/suspects-rob-bank-funeral-home-113009

A funeral home is not a bank...

the cutting edge of Google search results

http://imagechan.com/img/7775/Baby%20Drinking%20Blood/

the cutting edge of grotesque red-headed baby bigfoot toys

http://pictureisunrelated.com/2009/11/29/now-thats-a-good-time/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pictureisunrelated+%28Picture+is+Unrelated+-+WTF+Pictures%29

(Thanks for the link, Audrey!)

The Matrix - in Legos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDe4v318f64&feature=player_embedded#

Pretty cute!

the watermelon demon

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4964/foodwithpersonality05rl9.jpg

a new book on the Kempeitai

http://www.feer.com/reviews/2009/november51/japans-gestapo-murder-mayhem-and-torture-in-wartime-asia

A very neglected part of WWII brought to light.

Outlawing Death

http://www.aroundglobe.net/2009/12/prohibition-of-death-there-are-really.html

Trapping rainbows for optical computing

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18205-rainbow-trapped-for-the-first-time.html


Neat!

more Karloff readings for download

http://jasonemartin.blogspot.com/2009/11/four-boris-karloff-albums.html

The Muppets perform Bohemian Rhapsody

http://mashable.com/2009/11/24/muppets-bohemian-rhapsody/

(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

I have seen the Future of R&B - and it's from the Past

This may be old news, but I just discovered a singer named Raphael Saadiq while channel surfing and catching a show in which he was featured, (I think it was something called Artist's Den). Incredible show - the man is a walking encyclopedia of Soul from around 1964 - 1975. He comes across with a heavy glasses David Ruffin look and some moves that are a combination between Sam Cooke and the Temps, (and can sound like them too). If I were to pick his major influence, I'd say Marvin Gaye dominates. But in the half hour I viewed, it was like a class in American R&B - this guy has absorbed everything. I heard it all - Eddie Kendricks, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, the Brothers Johnson, the O'Jays, the Stylistics, the Staples, Stevie Wonder - just in 30 minutes, and I know he's probably offering tidbits from more obscure artists that I never caught up with. Linda thought I was crazy - I just kept laughing at each song, racking up all of the influences in my brain. The guy is incredible, his band is tight, and the backup singers are fantastic. Highly recommended!

http://www.raphaelsaadiq.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5g73nsIDfk

http://www.theartistsden.com/episodes/saadiq.shtml

neat library idea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/8385313.stm

name that flag

http://www.sporcle.com/games/worldflags.php

I confess that I'm ignorant about all but the top 30-40 flags.

The Scottish Walk is this weekend

http://www.scottishchristmaswalk.com/

Yes, it really is a tradition around here.

Happy Birthday Woody Allen!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/

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

One of those people I'm conflicted on, I enjoy his earlier work more than the later cerebral stuff; and his personal life strikes me as a real mess.

Happy Birthday John Densmore!

http://www.johndensmore.com/

http://www.myspace.com/tribaljazzdensmore