Happy Walpurghisnacht!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZlgRf4ec1c

Our gallant French allies

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7652641/French-Jewish-grandmother-banned-from-telling-school-gendarmes-handed-her-over-to-Nazis.html

I guess the kindest thing one can say is that France was hardly alone*. Virtually every country, inlcuding the U.S., had people who supported fascism and naziism - right up to the very end of the War. There were groups in all of the occupied countries who helped out the Axis - with troops, supplies, police, intelligence services and transport. And other countries helped out actively, including militarily (I'm looking at you, Sweden...). There are far less halos than one would have hoped for and the facts continue to be hidden, stonewalled and lied about.

*I can't resist piling on, however. There's reasonably good evidence that the last SS troops guarding the fuhrer's bunker in Berlin in April of '45 were French volunteers...

newly released Velvet Underground material!

http://www.sundazed.com/vu_quine.php

Why isn't it available on CD?

the cutting edge of dealing with grief, or not dealing with it...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7651312/Widow-builds-children-a-life-size-cardboard-cut-out-of-their-dead-father.html

A great collection of photos of the Pacific Theatre during WWII

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/03/18/captured-blog-the-pacific-and-adjacent-theaters/

Some of these are quite famous, but others are more obscure. A very important resource on the conflict.

Electron Boy Saves Seattle

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011740342_electronboy30m.html

Very cool!

Because nothing says "Fun" like an economic collapse

http://friendsofirony.com/2010/04/30/ironic-photos-depression-fun/

China, doing what it does best

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8644156.stm

It's very hard, but at this point I try to avoid eating, touching, using or depending upon anything grown, manufactured or designed in China. I believe I've doubled my life expectancy.

A Friend?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Kids-strangle-friend-nail-him-to-wall-/articleshow/5866257.cms

An interesting use of the term "friend", whose definition has clearly expanded to include "person whom I can garrote and crucify". I have many friends.

Happy Birthday Wayne Kramer!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Kramer_(guitarist)

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

Interview with Patti Smith

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/29/punk_rock_legend_patti_smith_on

Wonderful!



(Thanks for the link, Pete!)

fanvid for Grand Funk performing Bad Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tskiYfBQlI&feature=related

Always liked this tune. Was a big hit in the Summer of '75, which really was a bad time to be in love...

Jo Dee Messina performs Heads Carolina, Tails California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg5XVJUeBdI

Great tune. Perfect for 85mph, (if I could only find a stretch that'll let me do that anymore).

fanvid for the Jefferson Airplane performing Good Shepherd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOWX2-l788A

A great and under-appreciated song. Jorma had to compete with some heavy competition in the Airplane, and didn't get the exposure that he should have.

The Supremes perform Back In My Arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbUITsXr7qg

Perfect Motown.

The Association perform Windy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHpwzpaFI4g&feature=related

Another song of lost innocense for me. #1 on the charts in that late spring of '67, listening to Cousin Duffy spin it on WPGC on my beloved little RCA transistor radio. Not a care in the world...

The Standells on the Mike Douglas Show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSMvrG554qU

Someone needs to do a serious analysis of Douglas some day. The man was absolutely a sqaure, but had some of the coolest guests, and seemed to genuinely get along with them.

Medieval children's drawings discovered

http://slavic.freeservers.com/onfim.html

I love this and easily identify with it - I STILL draw childish pictures of me impaling my enemies....

The cutting edge of hit-and-run

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_14976165#axzz0mWfav7LP

Today's Best Star Trek Reference

http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=5254116

the cutting edge of equal opportunity

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/529344.html?nav=742

"Sonar" helping the Blind?!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1269717/Dolphin-boy-Meet-incredible-4-year-old-learnt-navigate-using-sonar-clicks.html

This is pretty incredible, if it's true...

Hypersonic glider disappears

http://gizmodo.com/5526308/air-forces-falcon-hypersonic-glider-disappears-mysteriously


I believe I smell a conspiracy theory coming...

neat little article on Maine and the u-boat threat during WWII

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100429-LIFE-4290332

Belligerent drunk

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/25216-drunken-elk-worries-children


Amateur...

the video scouts

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/28/boy-scouts-new-video-game-award-sellout-say-critics/

Sigh, I guess I should've signed up, back in the day. I could have gotten my merit badges in D&D, wargaming, listening to the radio, poker and pachinko.I had no idea I was Scout material.

Giant fish bait found!

http://www.krem.com/news/local/Scientists-say-theyve-found-fabled-Giant-Palouse-earthworm-92239084.html

The Hunger

http://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_45c908c2-52ed-11df-97cc-001cc4c03286.html

Am I the only one laughing out loud that this woman's reaction to being told that she eats too much was to attempt to eat her tormenter.

the continuing mini-hells of airplane travel

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-34002773

Magic 8 Ball - The Movie

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/04/28/magic-8-ball-movie/

I'm holding out for Chinese Fortune Sticks - The Miniseries

Governor General Kirk!

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0428/Star-Trek-s-William-Shatner-for-Governor-General-of-Canada

new "ultimate guide" to Bruce's music

http://www.uncut.co.uk/magazine/specialissues/

Bacon People!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/makinbacon

So cute!


(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

Skulls & Bacon

http://skullsandbacon.blogspot.com/

neat collection of grindhouse and b-movie posters

http://www.wrongsideoftheart.com/

The cutting edge of knitting

http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/2010/knitted_dissected_animals.htm

Happy Birthday Tommy James!

http://www.tommyjames.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8inV7hZErM

Happy Birthday Tammi Terrell!

http://www.tammiterrell.com/

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

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

fanvid for Marvin & Diana performing My Mistake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JwKSPHqA1A&feature=PlayList&p=FB35B5D321D89B90&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=8

In my opinion, one of the last of the classic Motown hits.

The Lovin Spoonful perform Do You Believe In Magic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKyGyH9mWHk

For me, a perfect soundtrack for childhood and lost innocence when one could believe in the magic. John's lost his voice, Zally's dead, and we're a long way from childhood....

The Velvet Underground perform Heroin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8VIXnTL6O0

So cool...

Steely Dan perform My Old School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj9Rs56u8YY

If I remember correctly, Steely Dan claims this song has nothing to do with Virginia. Sorry boys, I'll never believe that. A great song of loss and defeat. And I think the oleanders are blooming in Annandale right about now...

The Beach Boys perform God Only Knows

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

Beautiful. I've always considered this one of the prettiest love songs ever written.

Beyond the Segway...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/engadget-rides-the-honda-u3-x-personal-mobility-device-video/

I guess you'd call this the cutting edge of unicycles.


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A nice little interview with Mary Chapin Carpenter

http://www.lhj.com/blogs/ladieslounge/2010/04/26/the-musings-and-music-of-mary-chapin-carpenter/

Sanka cures paranoia

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1902234.html

the cutting edge of funeral preparations

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/puerto-rican-funeral-home-presents-shooting-victim-on-his-motorc/


(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

upcoming Arkham House titles

http://batteredbox.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/arkham-house-forthcoming-list-2010-2011/

The Time Travellers

http://www.abyssandapex.com/200710-wikihistory.html

Fun stuff!



(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Happy Birthday Carolyn Jones!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427700/

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

Meerkat dating service...

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/823610-meerkat-finds-love-through-online-dating-profile


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Driving Thumbs Insured For 13 Mil

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63P4GL20100426?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

Hmmm, if we're talking about digits being essential to our driving style, I believe my middle finger is worth about 20 mil....

power point...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/27powerpoint.html?hp

I hate pp. I've never seen one that could match a half-way decent written presentation. They remind me of the old-fashioned slide shows we used to watch in grade school, I keep expecting to hear that annoying beep whenever it's time to move to the next screen. I hate the lack of a written narative, (for the most part), I hate the stupid pictures that people insist on putting in them to fill up screens in an attempt to show how little is on them, and I hate the fact that you need someone talking to explain it to you nine times out of ten. PP is not a serious medium.

Die! Die! Die!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7634671/Teacher-shouted-die-die-die-as-he-attacked-pupil-court-told.html

Ah yes, the old ways are the best....

Science Fair!

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/04/27/30-hilarious-real-and-fake-science-fair-projects/

WWII on Facebook

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1802364


Pretty neat!

Happy Birthday Frank Belknap Long!

One of my favorite horror writers.

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

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/frank-belknap-long/

How To Speak Zombie

http://www.amazon.com/How-Speak-Zombie-Guide-Living/dp/0811874885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&tag=shadmano-20&qid=1269599911&sr=8-1

some cool scarecrows

http://autumnforestghosthunter.blogspot.com/2010/04/scarecrows.html

Wonderful!

Psycho Clown: the cutting edge of birthday gifts

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/821591-evil-clown-hired-for-stalking-threats-and-a-pie-in-the-face

Klingon Fun

http://io9.com/5521050/being-cuckolded-by-klingons-is-hypnotic

Josh Whedon to direct The Avengers

http://io9.com/5516409/joss-whedon-in-final-negotiations-to-direct-the-avengers

new film trailer for The Whisperer In Darkness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd5gWGfnK5M&feature=player_embedded


I am so looking forward to this!

half-way measures

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/DN-airlinerules_25bus.ART.State.Edition1.3da8dfc.html

As always, the airlines are getting off easy. It's called kidnapping, and it should be a hanging offense. Leave a couple airline and airport executives floating in the breeze for a few days and I guarantee this loathsome crime will end.

the end of the floppy disk

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/194959/sony_to_end_floppy_disk_production.html

the mind reading machine

http://www.discoveryon.info/2010/04/mind-reading-machine.html

Spock retires

http://www.beatweek.com/news/4965-spock-no-longer-to-be-brought-to-you-by-leonard-nimoy/

Happy Birthday Stevie Nicks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH6TBEbP77Q

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

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Carol Burnett!

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

http://carolburnettfan.com/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH6TBEbP77Q

Genius. Essential.

Happy National Pretzel Day!

Yum!

http://www.juliussturgis.com/

Richmond's Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is coming up

http://www.beerandbourbon.com/virginia/show-info


So tempting....

Three weeks until the Virginia Renaissance Faire!

http://www.varf.org/index.html

Casettes as nostalgia

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/magazine/25fob-consumed-t.html


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

The Toys perform Lover's Concerto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGDZc9bdUZM

Beautiful girl-group sound.

John Fogerty performs Fortunate Son

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_wWxj4-5mM&feature=related

One of my faves...

James Brown performs Night Train

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


So cool...

fanvid for Blondie performing 11:59

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk7SliecxZ0&feature=related

Great song, probably my favorite by them.

The 1910 Fruitgum Company perform Indian Giver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD0wUHUCuIo

A guilty pleasure. Always liked this song.

Dictator Style!

http://jalopnik.com/5522740/this-is-chinese-president-hu-jintaos-crazy-official-limo?skyline=true&s=i

the fishing story

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/04/24/Shellfish-workers-net-WWII-era-grenades/UPI-74941272152918/

Stephen Ambrose controversy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/25/stephen-ambrose-eisenhower-biography-scandal

Uh oh! This could be the tip of a big and ugly historical iceberg...

just another day with The Exorcist

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2010/04/24/13705186-ap.html

the usual hypocrisy

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/04/24/13707911-qmi.html

When a student doesn't follow the rules, it's an "F". When a teacher doesn't, it's a "misunderstanding". I can remember these bracelets going back at least 45 years, probably longer than the lame-ass teachers and school administrators have been alive...

I've always prefered the meat of jackalopes...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100423/od_nm/us_food_haggis_odd?killitwithfire

MSNBC brings you the News you needed last century!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/16/breaking-news-msnbc-owned_n_540989.html

Tee hee!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/apr/18/bunker-mentality-ultimate-underground-shelter

I always love and admire the new ways smart people come up with to relieve the wealthy of their money.

the cutting edge of anti-gay descrimination

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/the-other-side/gay-dogs-not-welcome-diner-in-south-australia-told/story-e6frfhk6-1225857878565

great article about Exile On Main Street

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/25/stones-exile-on-main-street


(Thanks for the link, Pete!)

Robot Championship

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=robots-run-wild-as-this-years-first-2010-04-19

neat article on archer fish

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18777-zoologger-robin-hood-meets-his-underwater-match.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Speed Flying

http://news.discovery.com/earth/speed-flying-screaming-fast-heart-thumping-deadly.html

Unbelievable.

neat little "water harvester"

http://news.discovery.com/tech/box-harvests-water-in-the-driest-places.html

I love clever stuff like this.

Asimov and Hawking on trying to contact alien civilizations

http://www.examiner.com/x-27763-Skepticism-Examiner~y2010m4d23-Was-Isaac-Asimov-right-about-contacting-extraterrestrial-civilizations?cid=examiner-email

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article7107207.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

Some local (DC) lore about Smokey Bear

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/24/AR2010042402441.html

I should point out that the voice of Smokey in all of those commercials was local radio legend, Jackson Weaver. There was something pretty cool about being a kid in DC and having the ability to easily go and see Smokey, (and bragging about it to your out-of-town friends). My memory may be foggy, but I believe you could get pretty darn close to him in his pen in those days, 50 years ago. (This was before the wussification of America - if there were any accidents, well, it was all for a good cause. Smokey needs his protein to fight fires...)
Along with my Grandmother and Santa Claus, I believe Smokey was the only being I ever wrote to as a small child. The volume of mail to him was great enough that when zip codes came out he was given his own individual one!
And now - Times change. Smokey and my Grandmother are long-gone, (and I'm a little worried about Santa's status); and I'd have to drive for many hours before hitting anything I'd call a forest.

new book out on NYC during WWII

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2011668014_br25newyork.html?prmid=head_more

This looks pretty interesting.

Cthulhu bobble head due out in September

http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=FU2156

nice interview with Nichelle Nichols on Count Gore's site

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

E. A. Poe Community College

http://www.flashnews.com/news/wfn3100415fn11799.html

Happy Birthday to The Adventures of Robin Hood!

One of my all-time fave movies. Premiered on this date in 1938. Absolutely essential.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029843/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvxnquKdui8

Happy Red Hat Society Day!

http://www.redhatsociety.com/

Happy Birthday Jerry Leiber!

http://rockhall.com/inductees/jerry-leiber-and-mike-stoller/

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


Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Meadowlark Lemon!

http://www.meadowlarklemon.org/biography/index.shtml

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

Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Björn Ulvaeus!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulvaeus

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

Happy Cuckoo Day!

http://marsdencuckooday.synthasite.com/

Petula Clark performs Don't Sleep In The Subway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jda2ivskI8

My fave song by her. I'll always have a crush on Pet. I still remember going out to buy this 45. So many memories connected to this, of lost times and places. Hard to believe that it was released 43 years ago, almost to the day, (I no longer remember the exact date)! Sigh. See ya tomorrow...

Chuck Berry performs Johnny B. Goode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8enzt3JP-I&feature=related

American Bedrock. Absolutely Essential. The REAL King of Rock'N'Roll.

The Tubes perform Mondo Bondage

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

One of the great rock cabaret acts. Fun stuff!

The Radiators From Space perform Television Screen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP1DXxxIBrM

A wonderfully obscure (in the States) Irish band on the old Chelsea label. I honestly think that I might be their only American fan...

fanvid for The Dukes of Stratosphear performing What In The World

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

Wonderful.....

for you Star Wars fans

http://www.buzzfeed.com/raphyr/its-a-crap-19eo

Sleep Tight, Don't Let The Gun Discharge!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1893692.html

An astounding ad! I wonder how many folks tested this proposition. (I am always amazed by the so-called "child proof" caps on drug containers, etc. I suspect most children would have no problem getting through them. I, on the other hand, am nearly always thwarted and end up relying on tools usually reserved for house demolition).

Unbelievable

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7105733.ece

It's nice to see that Russian youth are as lazy and uneducated about history as their American counterparts.

Bowser Beer...

http://www.doglovergiftbaskets.com/store/1586691/product/DB-BowserBeer

We used to call this Coors....

a few lightweights trying to cover My Back Pages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ni-xZDkV7Q&feature=youtube_gdata



(Thanks for the link, Edmund!)

Space Marines?

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/planes-uavs/plans-for-marines-in-space?click=main_sr

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Absolutely Brilliant!

http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=5237499


A wonderful compilation. (Actually, this pretty much resembles my average day of fear and loathing...).

Zombie Rights!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/11/20100422/tpl-pro-zombie-party-provides-pain-in-th-0a1c1a1.html

the newest religion

http://gawker.com/5522324/the-quasi+catholic-sex-cult-that-requires-yogurt+smeared-sex-in-public

An A+ for originality!

I had no idea!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7608153/New-speed-cameras-trap-motorists-from-space.html

Clearly, Great Britain IS the pristine city on the hill. A land without want and awash in plenty. Without crime, disease, poverty, debt, pollution or ignorance. A Kingdom so overflowing in unneeded cash that it can set up billion dollar speed cameras. I can only stand in awe of such a utopia and congratulate them on being in a state of Olympian Grace.

"Secret" planets

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100414/full/news.2010.182.html

Pretty silly on NASA's part. Yea, like someone's going to hop right over and plant their flag on the good ones...

ironic thievery

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7615355/Burglars-break-in-to-Dutch-prison-to-steal-televisions-from-inmates.html

Oh yea, the ol' termite defense....

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/white-ants-ate-24-kg-charas-prosecution-tells-court_100347850.html

Something's going on this week. I've only cited a very few of the many strange, violent, and twisted stories involving various drugs and narcotics. It's like some wave of brutality, silliness, and just plain weirdness has enveloped druggies and stoners for the past couple of days, (I mean, more than normal).

The Chaplin Obsession

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8631348.stm

This is pretty cool, actually.

the cheese ball murders

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879800.htm

Hide & Seek

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879460.htm

Of course, Monty Python was ahead of the wave on this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sqTmhB0BNQ

Remember kids - Science Class can help you out later in life

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/20/2878022.htm

the ultimate piano bar for cool cats

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/19/katzenklavier-music-piano-cats

It's okay to kill old people

http://www.1010wins.com/Woman-Charge...as-Old/6869742


Ah yes, Wild In The Steets...

Blow Gun Spree

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/91873459.html

Well, everybody needs a hobby...

The cutting edge of appeals reasons

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/22/26650.htm

crystal meth...

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100422/LOCAL07/304229977

What a charming life style...

Lin Yu Chun & Capt Kirk take on Total Eclipse of the Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuASrW7fOU

The Master....




(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Ed Walker!

http://wamu.org/about/people/ed_walker.php

http://www.thejoyboys.com/

One of my faves. The Joy Boys are local legends and pioneers of radio.

Happy Birthday Roy Orbison!

http://www.royorbison.com/us/home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw0fngpM2GY

Happy National Picnic Day!

There's A Fungus Among Us

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36722426/ns/health-infectious_diseases/

Good grief! This really does sound like the beginning of a horror movie!



(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The return of slot cars?!?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/22/AR2010042202154.html?sid=ST2010042203902


I suppose I should be excited about this, but the fact is that HO scale was always for the little kids. Slot cars were HUGE around NoVa in the mid 60's. There must have been two dozen tracks. It was the 1/24th scale that rocked. I still have my BZ Banshee, and was pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. And you could get some serious speed going on those tracks. While I grant you that 100 feet of track is mighty impressive for HO, the scale and speed is just too small for my tastes.
The whole hobby collapsed in a manner of weeks back in '67, under circumstances that I still don't really understand. Wish it would return.

Happy Birthday Linda!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k31c8i9DPHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju4l0Sah2yw

Happy Birthday Peter Frampton!

http://www.myspace.com/peterframpton

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCe82WXr0Cg

Happy Birthday Glen Campbell!

http://www.glencampbellshow.com/

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

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

Happy Birthday Rondo Hatton!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369061/

http://thehumanmarvels.com/?p=850

Happy Earth Day!

http://www.earthday.org/

The Skank Theory of Volcanoes

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-%26-technology/are-volcanoes-caused-by-skanks?-201004212660/

I just love Science, don't you?


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

999 perform Homicide

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

Great song for desperate times.

Sam cooke performs You Send Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqzv1ZS6uZs

Beautiful.

The Tuff Darts perform Nuclear Waste

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVaNuvZRu8&feature=related

I think DC was just about the only market this tune was ever played in. Pity.

The beat perform Rock'N'Roll Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cEvEUKN4Fw

Great power pop.

A salute to the last of Doolittle's Raiders

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/b-25-bomber-fly-over-largest-of-its-kind-since-wwii-659788.html?cxtype=rss_local-news


(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Man As Industrial Palace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmrDPXUlF2k&feature=player_embedded

Fun! There have been similiar demonstrations in the past. I think James Burke may have done one. And the coolest was by Woody Allen in his film Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex. Brilliant.

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

the robotic mouth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57zsMfuTk1U

Kinda creepy...

future soldier

http://www.neatorama.com/spotlight/2010/04/16/future-force-warrior-a-look-at-the-soldier-of-tomorrow/

The Onion takes on Wuss America

http://www.theonion.com/audio/concerned-parents-demand-removal-of-arsenic-from-p,13863/

my second favorite criminal story of the day

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x749206511/Hamilton-schools-teacher-Daniel-DuPuis-faces-felony-charge-for-indecent-exposure

So, the janitor is going around smelling all of the items in the garbage?!?!

hitler is down - but not out

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/04/20/hitler-downfall-parody-videos-removed-from-youtube/

Science Fair Volcanoes!

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/04/21/23-awesome-science-fair-volcanoes/

tool use amongst crows

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8631486.stm

Pretty neat!

my favorite crime report of the day

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/crime/woman-with-parrot-perched-on-face-arrested-after-throwing-inhaler-662491.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss

I will always regularly vaccuum underneath my sofa from now on

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/8633012.stm

The Rectum Bar

http://www.walyou.com/blog/2010/04/16/rectum-bar-vienna/

new Springsteen DVD on the way

http://brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html

The Cthulhu Water Bottle

http://www.neatoshop.com/product/Cthulhu-Water-Bottle

Snoopy Wins!

The Red Baron was shot down on this date in 1918.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxzg_iM-T4E

Happy Birthday Iggy!

http://www.iggypop.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGDb8X8limY

the joy ride

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1267136/Father-banned-driving-getting-wheel-toy-Barbie-car-drunk.html

good to the last drop

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/world/asia/18civetcoffee.html?ref=homepage&src=me&pagewanted=all

a teachable moment...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/04/19/man-lap-dance-resign-contract.html


I can't help but find this amusing, times have changed, or perhaps Canada is different. There never would have been a problem at my old high school. Not because folks would have accepted the teachers' behavior, but because no students I know of ever attended pep rallies.

technology for finding the dead

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36602201/ns/technology_and_science-science/

the cutting edge of arguments against the death penalty - allergies

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100420/ap_on_re_us/us_ohio_execution

I can't remember the exact routine, but I'm reasonably sure that this is a twist on an old Woody Allen line about being allergic to bullets.

nice collection of posts on life exetension

http://infidel753.blogspot.com/2010/04/list-of-posts-on-healthy-life-extension.html

My ol' penpal, Infidel753, has collected links to his various postings on this topic. I highly recommend his blog on this and many other matters, (he also has a great list of links to related sites).

a little-known tidbit of history about Arlington Cemetery

http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=100239

I admit that I was unaware of this site. On the other hand, I suspect there many similiar villages scattered around NoVa, virtually of whom are buried underneath 60+ years of development.

Happy Birthday George Takei!

http://www.georgetakei.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001786/

Happy Count Gore De Vol Day!

http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=BDVD0007

http://countgore.com/gore/index.html

In honor of the official release of the documentary about him, "Every Other Day Is Halloween". It's a wonderful little blast from the past for all serious fans, (and you should be).

The Father of Our Country - and Late Fees...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/us-founding-father-george-washington-racks-up-serious-late-fees-at-ny-library/article1538083/

This won't affect me...

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/15/online-shoppers-unknowingly-sold-souls/

I already have a lease-to-own deal going...

Attack of the pixel creatures!

http://www.vimeo.com/10829255

Fun stuff!

Happy Birthday Tim Curry!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000347/

Happy National Amaretto Day!

http://www.disaronno.com/

Yum!

Happy National Garlic Day!

Yum!

Happy Birthday Dudley Moore!

http://www.dudleymoore.com/

Happy Birthday Phlorescent Leech!

http://www.theturtles.com/

Happy Patriot's Day!

http://www.nps.gov/mima/patriots-day.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots'_Day

The shot heard 'round the world.

Cthulhu & Hobbes!

http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=SSC-CTHULHUHOBBES&Category_Code=ALLSHIRTS

Anniversary of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere in 1775

http://poetry.eserver.org/paul-revere.html

http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/

The Achiever

http://guyism.com/2010/04/british-girl-banned-from-literally-every-bar-and-pub-in-england.html


I'm impressed. But what the hell did/could she do to receive this type of nation-wide ban? I mean, there's no mention of criminal charges, etc.

the dumbest murderer

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/miramar/fl-miramar-murder-arrest-20100415,0,185168.story

You beheaded her, asshole. She's NOT texting you.

"Trust in God and keep your bowels open"

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1874375.html


I'm in trouble....

an interview with Tom Lehrer

http://www.paul-lehrman.com/insider/1997/12insiderfulltext.html

Happy National Cheeseball Day!

Yum!

Happy Birthday Liz Phair!

http://www.myspace.com/lizphair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQ3Vi0G6iE

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Senor Wences!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%B1or_Wences

Genius. Essential.

Happy Record Store Day!

http://www.recordstoreday.com/Home

A bittersweet reminder for all of us who remember how cool they were....

Volcano Cam!

http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

(Thanks for the link, Elina!)

The Dating Scene

http://www.theonion.com/articles/most-men-are-too-intimidated-to-date-a-successful,17257/

I believe we went out once to the Childe Harold...

John Cleese VS the volcano

http://slatest.slate.com/id/2251159/?wpisrc=newsletter

Priorities...

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/821707-new-zealand-man-leaves-1-year-old-baby-in-car-while-watching-strippers

The cutting edge of medical consciousness raising - Coco goes on tour!!!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/822078-coco-the-inflatable-colon-erected-at-entrance-to-shopping-centre

You gotta love this...


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Rolling Stone Magazine's archive going online

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=114&sid=1935673

But pricey....

What music to websites make?

http://www.codeorgan.com/

Type in a site address and hear how it sounds.



(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Edison-type lightbulbs for sale

http://www.destinationlighting.com/storeitem.jhtml?iid=263552

Cool!

The cutting edge of the paparazzi

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuff/3590839/Octopus-flees-with-camera

Darwin Award nominee

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/7589093/Handyman-injured-after-chopping-down-branch-he-propped-his-ladder-against.html

The return of the REAL Real Thing

http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-fizzes-as-bolivia-produces-the-real-thing-20100415-shrr.html

Oh my god - 42 IS the answer!

http://io9.com/5517436/and-the-answer-to-one-of-cryptographys-mysteries-is----42

Mysterious radio waves from outer space

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18775-mysterious-radio-waves-emitted-from-nearby-galaxy.html

I just hope they play something other than Freebird on those stations...

The Candidate

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7595644/Dead-man-elected-as-US-mayor.html

I guess this puts Tennessee ahead of Chicago, (where only the voters are deceased).

the loser

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/local/ci_14881552

This clown sounds like a real charmer...

Escaping justice

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,687922,00.html

A sad tale of the failure to kill a guy who needed killing. The postwar period made for strange and terrible bedfellows, and us cosying up the Germans was one of those instances. They pretended not to be nazi thugs, (or pretended not to help them), and we pretended to believe them.

Kaliiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://slatest.slate.com/id/2251079/?wpisrc=newsletter

The disturbing thing is that, as everyone knows, sacrifices to Kali involve strangulation and then the burial of the victim, NOT beheading and showing it off like some souvenir. (Sigh), nobody respects tradition anymore...

Spring Harvest in DC!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_dc_munitions_dig

NASA's Robot

http://mashable.com/2010/04/15/nasa-robonaut2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Neat-O!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Emacipation Day!

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

Happy Birthday Gerry Rafferty!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi2h5lD4yl8

Happy Birthday Dusty Springfield!

http://www.dusty-springfield.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA48IL6bQQU

Happy Birthday Charlie Chaplin!

http://www.charliechaplin.com/

new game coming out based on Jekyll & Hyde

http://www.wargamer.com/article/2856/jekyll-&-hyde-adventure-game

This sounds like fun! Am I going to end up purchasing a computer game???


(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

nice blog entry about Count Gore and the new film about him

http://jjchandler.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/and-25-plus-years-of-gore-de-vol-later/

The mementoes at Section 60

http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=100064

Christmas at Arlington is always a mixture of interesting and heartbreaking. There are the "official" wreaths, of course, which I've written about in the past, and are quite impressive. But the personal items left are equally so - cards, flowers, teddy bears, letters and even lit Christmas trees (battery powered).
With good weather come many visitors and tourists to DC and there are a few things to see I always recommend when asked. The first is to at least walk by the White House, just to say you've seen it in person, after so many shots of it on the news. The second is the Lincoln Memorial - at night; there's just something quite moving about it as you walk around and up to it. The third is Mt. Vernon, not only because it is beautiful and can be fun, but because for those who choose to do so, it can be very educational and revealing of the man and his times. And finally, Arlington Cemetery, (with the Tomb of the Unknowns). It's as close to calling something Sacred Ground as I get.

the history of painting - in song

http://vimeo.com/9752986

Cute!


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday da Vinci!

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

Happy Birthday to In Living Color

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098830/

Great show. Premiered on this date in 1990.

Happy Birthday Dave Edmunds!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqIQE4du6co

One of the greats.

Happy Birthday Hans Conreid!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175788/

http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/hansconried/

One of my faves.

Devo performs It's A Beaurtiful World

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

Fun stuff - enjoy the rot!

Stan Ridgway's video for Drive She Said

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLXLEghUgo0

Brilliant! Raymond Chandler meets Rock'N'Roll.

Heavy metal for tots

http://www.disinfo.com/2010/04/hevisaurus-heavy-metal-for-scandinavian-toddlers/

It's sort of the old Banana Splits meets Motley Crue...

the cutting edge of suicide prevention - piss them off

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1265739/Suicide-helpline-priest-nods--depressed-man-decides-live-complain.html

Happy John Hanson Day!

http://www.marshallhall.org/hanson.html

Happy Birthday Gerry Anderson!

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/

Happy Birthday Tony Burrows!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4nrhse6YoU

So many hits, so little recognition.

The Badass Alphabet!

http://unrealitymag.com/index.php/2010/03/25/the-most-badass-alphabet-ever/


(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

a new military museum for NoVa

http://nmaw.org/

When the mighty fall....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFevH5vP32s&feature=player_embedded

The cramps perform New Kind of Kick and Green Fuzz!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTpN3Nawts8

Perfect rock'n'roll. Green Fuzz may well be the single coolest rock song that you've never heard of. The original is by a guy named Brian Alvey, and it may be the worst (technically) recorded song of all time.

fanvid for Edward Bear performing Last Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPeAL657lnk

Yes, I know it's kinda schmaltzy, but it's a nice reminder of a rainy Spring in '73 that was full of worries and disappointments, (much like today).

The Bluebells video for Cath

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

Wonderful song, it and the group should've been bigger.

Bruce performing Candy's Room

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoH6NgwI7_Q

Fantastic. Great song with great lyrics. I loved that '78 tour.

Newly released concert recordings by Otis Redding!

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=53657

horse fucker has "no stable address"

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7053426/man-admits-sex-with-donkey-and-horse/

Yuk yuk yuk!

Missing the bowl OR cancer - it's your choice

http://m.gawker.com/site?sid=gawkerip&pid=IphonePost.detail§ion=Allpost&targetId=Gawker-5515697


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Blind Porn

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7581230/Pornographic-magazine-for-the-blind-launched.html

Hubba hubba!



(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Only 200 Days until Halloween!

Happy Birthday Harold Stassen!

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

A man who never considered giving up, (and the only Presidential candidate I've ever actually met).

Happy Birthday Al Green!

http://www.algreenmusic.com/

Happy Birthday Mighty Max!

http://maxweinberg.com/

Happy Birthday Don Adams!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010915/

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

My next t-shirt

http://nateduval.com/squidcycleblue



(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

Caped Crusaders....

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/evildoers_nyc_own_superheroes_beware_C07qjscAB2eh34P1CsUOCO

I Can See!

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

interesting article on Castle Wewelsburg

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,687435,00.html

I admit to being a bit confused as to what myths are being "exploded" here. Himmler was obsessed with occult-like rituals and paraphanelia, and envisioned the SS as some sort of "holy" order along the lines of the Jesuits or Teutonic Knights of old. There are oceans of documentation and eye witnesses to this. Wewelsburg was to be a symbolic center for that, as the article itself points out. So again, I'm not sure what "myths" are being disproven.

the cutting edge of white elephant sales

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/why-burmas-dictatorship-is-desperately-hunting-for-a-white-elephant-1934018.html

Chinese child rearing practices in the news!

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2010/04/10/3-yearold-tight-rope-walks-tigers/

I hope they build tightropes and safety harnesses better than they build everything else...

Rip Meinhardt Raabe

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-miller/meinhardt-raabe-a-death-i_b_533657.html


(Thanks for the notice, Edmund!)

30 Years...

Linda and my first date was thrity years ago today.

The Mothership Is Missing

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/11/AR2010041103996.html?wpisrc=nl_cuzhead

Interesting. I hadn't heard this tale before.

Happy National Licorice Day!

Yum!

HappBirthday John Kay!

http://www.steppenwolf.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm5DPlNCmtk

So cool...

Rock Around The Clock!

Recorded on this date in 1953 by Bill Haley & His Comets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5fsqYctXgM

Another beautiful Spring day here at the Manor

The good news is that our neighbor had a large red oak cut down that was threatening their house* - and they let us have as much wood as we wanted (about a cord)! The bad news is that I had to haul it. My back and elbow are now officially a disaster area. But with what we already had, I think we might make it through the next two Winters without having to purchase any more.


*By "threatening" I don't mean to say that the tree was making rude noises and gestures or sending anonymous letters, etc., (I tend to be the only one in the neighborhood who does that). But the tree was leaning badly over the neighbor's place and a good wind might have sent it crashing down.

Stupidest horror movie ever?

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

12 fingers for pizza

http://consumerist.com/2010/04/there-is-something-not-quite-right-about-this-dominos-pizza-box.html

This reminds me of a toy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hmDs2vKASo

Flipper - NO!

http://www.themorningstarr.co.uk/2010/03/26/woman-claims-to-be-impregnated-by-dolphin/

Why I always keep my umbrella handy

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18735-earth-struck-by-most-powerful-space-storm-in-three-years.html

Wonderful typewriters!

http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/early_interface_designs_make_me_thankful_for_the_modern-day_keyboard_16174.asp


Some of these are quite beautiful. And, as someone who learned to type on an old manual, I think these things are cool!

Zombie Tax Returns

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Tax-Returns-of-the-Living-Dead-90266732.html


Hmm, isn't one fo the peripheral characters in The Hitchhiker's Guide dead for tax purposes?

Awwww....Rainbow Cthulhu!

http://knithacker.com/2010/04/10/dull-rainbow-cthulhu/

The Velvet Underground meets Marvin & Tammi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqwQS2O6PMA

Happy Birthday Richard Berry! And Happy Louie Louie Day!

http://www.louielouie.net/03-richardberry.htm

http://www.louielouie.net/blog/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cec1JInytH0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiDbB-Ur8c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhM5k_EGzaQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5nppa3cEjM&feature=related


American Bedrock. Absolutely Essential.

Happy 8-Track Tape Day!

Not my favorite playback medium. But what the heck...

Happy Alferd Packer Day!

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/history/alfred_packer/index.html

The Ultimate Hamburger Helper...

Neil Innes is coming to Vienna this month!

http://jamminjava.com/home/events/neil-innes-monty-python-rutles

The National Haunters Convention coming up

http://www.nationalhauntersconvention.com/

It is a beautiful Spring day here at the Manor...

The Spring Beauties* and many other flowers are now in full bloom, the lawn is coming back from the deprivations of the snowfall, and a flock of robins are gorging themselves in the front yard.


*One of my fave flowers

Happy National Siblings Day

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/April/siblingday.htm

http://www.siblingsday.org/bodyframe.htm

Update on the Hadron Collider Destroying the World

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

The cutting edge of labor disputes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8612531.stm


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Hmmmm

I love The Clash, and I love Chucks, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the combination.

http://www.classicsportshoes.com/converse-the-clash-chuck-taylors.html

18 Hillbilly Smash Hits!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1846472.html

hitler art for sale

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5441101,00.html

I don't really care, one way or another about this, but would have serious doubts about the authenticity of every piece up for sale. The dude was a failed artist - unknown and unappreciated. What few works he sold were done so at bargain basement prices and a many years before any fame came to him. How many of these paintings would have been kept and preserved, and how many would the owners have paid attention to who the painter was, etc.? By all accounts, hitler was a painter of quite modest talent. There are not legions of art experts going over these pieces, knowledgeable in the finer points of his technique, as might happen with a Da Vinci, etc. And copies wouldn't need to use materials and attempt to look as if they were done in centuries past - only a hundred years or so. The whole market seems ripe for plucking under such circumstances.

Neptune's moon, Triton, has seasons

http://www.discoveryon.info/2010/04/seasons-discovered-on-triton.html

For some reason, I am reminded of Terry Jacks..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd_Fdly3rX8

The Whizzinator

http://cbs5.com/local/whizzinator.maker.sentenced.2.1619847.html

Jail is bad enough, but I'd really hate to have a media story saying that I was "cooperating" with further investigations of artificial penises....

New York has alligators in its sewers, and Utah has cows...

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/weird_news/20100408_ap_cowspendsdaystrappedbeneathutahstreet.html

Happy Birthday Carl Perkins!

http://www.history-of-rock.com/perkins.htm

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

One of the Immortals.

Happy Birthday Tom Lehrer!

http://www.tomlehrer.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTKn1aSOyOs

Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Avery Schreiber!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0775213/

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

RIP Malcolm McLaren

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

RenCon starts tomorrow

http://renconvention.com/

DC RollerGirls!

http://www.dcrollergirls.com/

I've not been to a match yet. Gotta do this.

the cutting edge of outsourcing

http://chronicle.com/article/Outsourced-Grading-With/64954/

How pathetic. There are so many things wrong, and downright evil, about this that it'd take me about a hundred pages (ungraded by a Malay) to get it all out....

Honeypots VS Hackers

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/20100408.aspx

Nice little article on the "cyber war" going on between us and our Chinese "allies".


(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Cthulhu is on LinkedIn!

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/cthulhu-the-great/1b/a7b/885

the baby powder ad from hell

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1843286.html

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers perform Why Do Fools Fall In Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvUW0n2TdWs

Great group and song.

Joey Ramone & The Dictators cover The Kids Are Alright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUKk6JXPFec&feature=related

So cool...

Costello, Lowe, Difford & Tilbrook cover Pretty Flamingo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oDsSRZT77k

It doesn't get any better than this, folks.

fanvid for the Left Banke performing She May Call You Up Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ag4EV9iyS0

Great band and sound.

Eric Burdon & War peform Spill The Wine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0DMbCKnAg

I've always loved this song. It is almosst impossible to wrap my head around the fact that it was released FORTY years ago!

Known Pleasures - the t-shirt

http://www.likecool.com/Known_Pleasures--TShirt--Style.html

This is great! (but you have to be a fan of the band Joy Division to get the joke)


(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

Summer in early April

This is the second day in a row it's been over 90 degrees here at the Manor. Impressive, and I believe unprecedented. It's supposed to get cooler towards the weekend, but it looks like our hellish Summer is starting up fast.

nice article on the SR-71

http://gizmodo.com/5511236/the-thrill-of-flying-the-sr+71-blackbird?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29&utm_content=Google+Reader


(Thanks for the link, John!)

neat coffin car

http://thatwillbuffout.com/2010/04/07/funny-car-photos-coffin-hillside-remains/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TWBO+%28That+Will+Buff+Out%29

Mobius Strip Music Box

http://vihart.com/blog/mobius-music-box/

Mother's Little Helper

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1835970.html

Whiskey & Lettuce can beat hitler!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1837059.html#cutid1

Works for me...

Wonkette tries to get the Natl. Zoo's Octopus to be named Cthulhu!

http://wonkette.com/414683/vote-to-name-national-zoos-dumb-octopus-cthulhu

Ia! Ia!

Anniversary of the Bavarian Republic of Workers Councils

From 1919. Virtually fofgotten now. Another possibility, lost.

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

Happy Birthday Janis Ian!

http://www.janisian.com/

Happy Birthday Ravi Shankar!

http://www.ravishankar.org/

Eddie & The Hot Rods cover Get Out Of Denver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ELfRL75vME

I loved this band, back in their heyday 33 years ago. One of the greatest you've never heard of.

The Vanilla Fudge perform You Keep Me Hanging On

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

They were so cool. I used to listen to this album constantly around '69.

fanvid for the Jaynettes performing Sally Go Round The Roses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTnAqELEYb8&feature=related

Fun stuff!

fanvid for Gene Chandler performing Groovy Situation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDM1Rh3KxeM

Another great light soul song that I can't believe there isn't a video recording of. Perfect for a warm Spring afternoon.

fanvid for King Floyd performing Groove Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7hEyTghGd4

I can't believe there isn't a live performance of this out there somewhere. Great song.

Ann Peebles performs I Can't Stand The Rain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEI2PJEOco

Beautiful.

Exorcist film locations

http://movie-locations.com/movies/e/exorcist.html

There was also a brief scene shot along the C&O Canal in Gtown.

new thinking on wind power

http://news.discovery.com/earth/power-of-the-wind-thinking-bigger.html

Rondo Award Winners! (Yay! Count Gore!)

http://www.rondoaward.com/rondo/rondos.html

The Shadow Knows....

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

Very cool routine. A little bit is based on a wonderful bit from Groucho and Harpo.

Hadron Collider Hijinx!

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/0,39029552,49305387,00.htm

Needless to say, I am stocking up on Mountain Dew and Kit-Kats....

Bill Mauldin postage stamp!

http://www.nj.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2010/03/stamp_remembers_soldier_cartoo.html

Neat-o!

The cutting edge of smuggling

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1202959_women_try_to_smuggle_body_on_to_flight

And Hell come to NoVa...

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/_Extreme_-construction-projects-set-to-rock-area-roads-89732572.html

Howl-O-Ween

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/04/photo-of-the-day-howl-oween-come-early/1

Happy Birthday John Waterhouse

http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/

One of my fave painters.

Happy Tartan Day!

http://www.tartanday.org/

Happy Birthday Phil Austin!

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

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

Genius. Essential.

The Last nazi Hunter

http://www.parade.com/news/2010/04/04-the-last-nazi-hunter.html

So many escaped, (too many...), but I'm always heartened when these guys catch one.

Vasectomy In A Box

http://www.vasectomyinabox.com/

The Robot Skeleton Sidekick

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4350887.html

Happy Birthday Agnetha Faltskog!

http://www.agnetha.net/

Happy Birthday Robert Bloch!

http://mgpfeff.home.sprynet.com/bloch.html

One of the great American horror writers. A fave.

Happy Birthday Nigel Hawthorne!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001329/

http://www.yessirnigel.com/

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Roger Corman!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000339/

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

King of the B's!

Happy Tomb Sweeping Day!

http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/qingming/qingming.html

Happy Tater Day!

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

Happy Dyngus Day!

http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/

The 500 Worst Passwords

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kateconsumption/4458065285/sizes/l/

insects covered in dew

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1260946/The-stunning-pictures-sleeping-insects-covered-early-morning-dew.html


Really incredible photos

Just another day around the District

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/04/AR2010040401949.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/02/AR2010040203208.html

interesting article on Laszlo Almasy during WWII

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,686940,00.html

There's an interesting footnote on Anwar Sadat in this too.

Sushi Peeps

http://laughingsquid.com/how-to-make-peepshi-sushi-made-from-peeps/

Cthulhu On Vacation!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/cthulhu-on-vacation-bif


(Thanks for the link, Chris!)

Happy Easter!

http://www.nickolsmanor.com/2010/04/easter-bunny-hates-you.html

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/30-sketchy-easter-bunnies-with-dogs

Happy Birthday Muddy Waters!

http://www.muddywaters.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBywcdZ65Z8

An American Original. Genius. Essential.

The Name Game

http://mmalkath.blogspot.com/2010/03/canadian-magazine-beaver-changes-name.html

I suggested Cooter Quarterly as the new name...






(Thanks to Infidel753 for the link!)

Sepia Town - mapped historical images

http://www.sepiatown.com/

This is very cool - old photos of places that one can locate through a map.




(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Washington Irving!

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

Happy Birthday Rumpole!

Premiered on this date (in the UK) in '78. One of my faves.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078680/

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

Cool Old Cars

http://www.chuckstoyland.com/potpourri/coololdcars/

Manhattan Project Pizza

http://flamingzombiemonkeys.blogspot.com/2010/04/manhattan-project-pizza.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FlamingZombieMonkeys+%28Flaming+Zombie+Monkeys%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

In Case Of Hippies....

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTXgcdJvh6HyjWO2JjzzTOvZhyphenhyphenOiqiH2m4jUDEnXLK9geg40DFrMWFbnKWXnAE6z2zLaOsF2Cod_gFYuk7d55zVhuOr7ZW0ADeJ-Be5vQFt-eZ6YLICKF2YaYhRmZUZ4_4TA/s1600/951fb9aa4f442125399af091c15a9be1.jpg



;)

a form of encephalitis with hallucinations

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100331/NEWS01/4010346/She+had++monster+tumor+

Ultra-frighteningly weird....

Exorcism Etiquette

http://naturalplane.blogspot.com/2010/04/to-exorcist-next-doordo-it-on-weekends.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhantomsAndMonstersAPersonalJourney+%28Phantoms+and+Monsters%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Michelle Shocked is coming to Vienna!

http://www.jamminjava.com/home/events/michelle-shocked

Very cool!


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Great news about Hank Johnson - He's one of Ours!!!!

It turns out that the mathematically,linguistically and geologically challenged Congressman from Dumbfuck was educated in DC! Woo Hoo! Way to go! No Congressman left behind!





(Thanks for the info, Mike!)

Happy birthday Leon Russell!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o93jTKhil9Y

http://www.leonrussellrecords.com/


So cool....

Happy Birthday Marvin Gaye!

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Marvin%20Gaye.html

http://www.marvingayepage.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

One of the Immortals.

more on Guam

I sent out the following missive to some of my friends, and thought I'd share it:

I am deeply fearful, as you probably are, that Guam might tip over. I am also deeply fearful that I won't be able to benefit from this fear. Therefore, I am submitting a proposal to Homeland Security on stabilizing the island. My proposal will consist of three options. The first is to install giant pontoons around the island, maintaining it's floatability, (I had no idea that it floats, but hey, Congressman Johnson knows best!). I realize that some will object to this from an aesthetic or ecological point of view. In keeping with these oh-so-PC sentiments, my second proposal will rely on the indigenous Pacific native crafts, and outfit the island with traditional outriggers. They'll have to be huge mothers, so this should help our great timber industry, with the added bonus of providing extra seasons of those stupid logger shows on the Discovery Channel - two economic engines will be helped all at once! The third option is my most ambitious. First, we weigh everyone on the island. Then, we'll fit up each resident on Guam with a GPS unit, and monitor them constantly. This will be combined with a multibillion dollar software program that will keep track of the exact weight distribution at any given moment. We'll tie that into the traffic light system there. If any imbalance is detected, the lights won't let anyone into the over-weighted quadrant unless/until some of the folks there have already left. Balance will be achieved, and Rep. Hank Johnson will be able to stop worrying and spend his time on more worthwhile pursuits, like learning how to talk. We must save our Pacific islands from tipping over!

Cheers,
Gilligan

Congress At Work

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001567-503544.html

What a fucking moron.

Time-space synaesthesia

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18723-time-lords-discovered-in-california.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Fascinating

Hey, Little Buddy - NO!

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=116070&catid=3

A review of the Zombie Combat Manual

http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/review-of-the-zombie-combat-manual-by-roger-ma/19421377

nice article on Rome and Croatia during WWII

http://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=169378

Even within Balkans politics, I've always found Yugoslavia's to be the most complex and shaded. The machinations that went on before, during, and soon after WWII are fascinating, (and quite brutal). I'm not sure there's a single definitive history, and I'm not sure there can even be one. A lot of what went on was quite secret/sordid. Many deals, both tactical and strategic, were made, and the details and knowledge of them died with the partipants, (and I don't just mean between the Yugoslavs themselves, but also the Axis and Allies).

Happy Birthday Lon Chaney Sr.!

http://www.lonchaney.com/

Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Ronnie Lane!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYPTX12L5Uw

An under appreciated genius. Essential.

Happy National Sourdough Bread Day!

http://www.sourdo.com/

Yum!

Happy April Fools Day!