RIP William "Trelane" Campbell

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-trek-favorite-william-campbell-183795

Nike Ninja Nuns Note Ninnies' Nuptial Non-event

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382149/Royal-Wedding-Ninja-nun-sat-inches-Prince-William.html

Rent-A-Country

http://www.disinfo.com/2011/04/rent-your-own-country-liechtenstein-available-at-70000-per-night/


Given the total collapse of their economy and society, I suspect Nauru will be trying this scheme soon.

Beer in Alexandria - A Guide

http://dcbeer.com/2010/05/12/find-good-beer-alexandria-va-beer-guide/

Darth Vader meets Jean Paul Sartre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-uQWNd540I&feature=player_embedded#at=61


I love it!  A great idea, and one that's been done before.  I remember a film from, (I think) the mid to late 80's that took a Kung Fu movie and did the same thing.  But for the life of me, I can't remember the name of it.

Early Soviet Sci-Fi Classic Online!

http://io9.com/#!5795368/watch-aelita-queen-of-mars-one-of-the-earliest-science-fiction-films

I pretty much agree with the article on this.  It is an important sci-fi film, stylistically and historically speaking.  But the plot is a boring mess, for the most part. 

See the Homeless Streetperson of the Future - Today!

http://io9.com/#!5795075/adorable-panhandling-robot-will-take-your-money-and-steal-your-heart

Future library tech?

http://io9.com/#!5795022/augmented-reality-app-for-librarians-instantly-shows-which-books-are-misfiled

Ten creepy parasites

http://io9.com/#!5794622/the-10-creepiest-parasites

The Unspeakable oath #19 is finally out!

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=90885&affiliate_id=5769

Probably the leading zine devoted to Mythos RPG.

A nice article on August Derleth and the beginnings of Arkham House

http://miskatonicbooks.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/in-pursuit-of-giants/


I admit that I didn't think much of Derleth's interpretation of the Cthulhu Mythos, but there's no doubting his importance as a publisher and visionary in the horror field.

more reasosn to hate facebook

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/facebook_and_free_speech/2011/04/21/AFEBZ0JE_blog.html?wprss=faster-forward

I love The Onion

http://www.theonion.com/articles/man-raised-by-parents-struggling-to-adjust-to-huma,20263/

At last! Something about the royal wedding to interest ME!

http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2011/04/29/6556070-facebook-cthulhu-hat-a-bold-choice-for-royal-wedding-

Mug Shot of the Day

http://www.mcso.org/Mugshot/


(Thanks for the link, Bill!)

Happy Birthday Wayne Kramer!

http://www.waynekramer.com/wk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Kramer_%28guitarist%29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41_r-c_EO4o

Happy National Raisin Day!

Yum!

Babylon 5 is online!

http://www.thewb.com/shows/babylon-5/midnight-on-the-firing-line/60e0cd2ec8


It had its flaws, but I really enjoyed this series. And it is one of the few (sci-fi, or not) that has a certain understanding in its portrayal of geopolitics, (I consider most Hollywood productions that touch on this to be a joke).

Josh Whedon's horror movie finally being released

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/long_delayed_joss_whedon_horro.html

Neat interviews with Grace Slick

http://www.jazzwax.com/2011/04/interview-grace-slick.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703778104576287303493094530.html?KEYWORDS=grace+slick



Fun stuff!  (There's actually a minor error in it - the writer talks about Grace singing with Paul Kantner in Somebody To Love.  It was actually Marty Balin, Paul is very much in the background on that song.)

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

A mooving story of theft

http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/apr/27/walmart-cow-suit-milk-shoplifting-ar-1000251/

the BOOKstore

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/a-bookstore-thats-book-singular/?src=mv

Mind-Controlled Prosthetics

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028105.000-mindcontrolled-prosthetics-to-help-amputees.html


Unbelievably cool. 

some more nice reasons to hate facebook

http://www.defamer.com.au/2011/04/how-facebook-lets-whining-trolls-censor-everyone/

New way to put out fires

http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/18301.html

Apparently, you can just beat at the flames with a dog...

A Novachord & Theremin Duet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVfhzLl5C9U


Beautiful!

The Eight Regions of Virginia

http://www.virginialiving.com/blogs/virginia-living-blog/eight-regions-of-virginia

Overall, I think this is a pretty good paper. I'd note that in overall terms, it's still NoVa VS RoVa. The folks in the swamps of the Eastern Shore still share more with the guys living in the Southern Appalachians than either do with folks like me. I'd also note that NoVa is expanding Southward from where it might have been defined just fifteen years ago. Culturally speaking, I think you'll soon see a sort of gerrymandered NoVa region stretching West along Interstate 66 to Front Royal and Southwest along Route 29 all the way down to Charlottesville.Very thin in places, but ballooning out in the larger and prettier towns.

Happy Birthday Tommy James!

https://www.tommyjames.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKyEyxwqS2c

Happy Birthday Tammi Terrell!

http://www.tammiterrell.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbX66Ddxtow

Eddie Money & Ronnie's video for Take Me Home Tonight

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

It's a warm Spring evening, and that means it's time for Ronnie....

Tee hee!

http://www.inthemedievalmiddle.com/2007/04/spotted-in-saint-louis.html

The Tom Robinson Band's video for Ain't Gonna Take It

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

The Specials perform Ghost Town

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

X-Ray Spex performs Oh Bondage, Up Yours!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogypBUCb7DA

The Clash perform White Riot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9eLeZS9OeY

So, the wedding is tomorrow, eh?

I can only quote Monty Python: “Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. Well, you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBo0LLlKu5Q

When Radium Was Cool

http://www.howtobearetronaut.com/2011/04/atomic-brand-names/

Klingon Monopoly!

http://startrek.com/article/do-you-have-the-guts-to-play-klingon-monopoly


Okay, this is pretty cool....

Headline of the Day

http://jezebel.com/#!5796135/women-fight-with-police-at-ihop-as-boba-fett-looks-on


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!

Today's Metro atrocity

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2362672

Wuss Britain

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42779407/ns/world_news-europe/


People need to get a fucking grip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhUkGIsKvn0

Apparently, the typewriter is still alive...

http://technologizer.com/2011/04/26/typewriters-not-dead/

Six terrifying foods

http://www.cracked.com/article_14979_the-6-most-terrifying-foods-in-world.html?wa_user1=2&wa_user2=Weird+World&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=recommended

Origins Game Fair in June

http://www.originsgamefair.com/Home/tabid/2737/Default.aspx

The littlest soccer star

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Dutch-club-VVV-Venlo-sign-1-year-old-child?urn=sow-wp1216



(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Happy Birthday Carolyn Jones!

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

14 strange monuments/statues

http://www.cracked.com/article_19155_the-14-most-unintentionally-terrifying-statues-in-world.html

How books were made

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/25/how-books-were-made.html?dlvrit=36761


Fun stuff!

SETI shut down

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17926565?nclick_check=1


Very sad. I always liked this program.

Doing what they do Best

http://www.thelocal.se/33428/20110427/

Dogs smell cancer?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/dogs-detect-cancer-experts-compounds-breath-signal-breast/story?id=13452475


Fascinating.

Dobie Gray's video for Drift Away

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


Nice song for a slow Spring day.

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The cutting edge of 404 File Not Found pages

http://blogof.francescomugnai.com/2008/08/the-100-most-funny-and-unusual-404-error-pages/

Nice article on Samuel Tom Holiday - Navajo Code-Talker

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=93139

Zombie-Proof House

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2pSXJh/all-that-is-interesting.com/post/4956385434/the-first-zombie-proof-house

I love relieving rich people of their money...

RIP Phoebe Snow

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2011/04/teanecks_phoebe_snow_made_endu.html

Happy Birthday Frank Belknap Long

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?1123


One of the great dark fantasy and horror writers.

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils perform If You Wanna Get To Heaven, You Gotta Raise A Little Hell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYvOsnhV6ZY

It's a warm Spring night, just like it was when I used to listen to this tune so many years ago.  Some things never change.  Still listening to this.  And still questioning and challenging.  But I drink a better range of liquor while doing so, now....  See ya tomorrow.

ZZ Top performs Tube Snake Boogie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU56_4x71jk&feature=related

Wonderful!

Bravo!

http://www.slate.com/id/2292078?wpisrc=newsletter_tis

I've never understood the obsession and attention paid to so-called royalty. 

Well Hung Heart perform I Can't Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ylbdwCRqs

Brand new video - released about 5 minutes ago....

Happy Birthday Stevie Nicks!

http://rockalittle.com/

Happy Birthday Carol Burnett!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000993/bio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6bOpJ5elW8

An American Treasure.  Genius.  Essential.

Happy National Pretzel Day!

http://www.juliussturgis.com/


Yum!

Day of the Triffids

It is a warm spring day, here at the Manor, with a good chance of a thunder storm later on in the afternoon.  But the most notable feature is that everything is covered in a snot-yellow dust of oak (and other) pollen.  One needs to clean off the windshield before attempting to drive a car, the air is cloudy with the stuff, and even those of us not allergic have problems breathing.  We're literally being asphyxiated by trees fucking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIaxAWIv3OE

RIP Poly Styrene

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/apr/26/poly-styrene-dies-aged-53



X-Ray Spex rocked. 


(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

A good article on why college radio is necessary

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2011/04/25/why-college-radio-is-worth-saving/

People really do seem to ignore the possibility to be exposed to something new, it seems.  College (radio, or not) can and should do that well.



(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

nice article about Robert Johnson and the new reissue of his music

http://www.jazzwax.com/2011/04/robert-johnson-complete-recordings.html


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

The End Of An Era

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/last-typewriter-factory-in-the-world-shuts-its-doors/237838/


Sigh.  I am feeling old.  I used a manual typewriter right up until marrying, (Linda owned an electric - woo hoo!).  This is one of those devices, (along with slide rules and dial telephones) that will quickly separate one from the younger generation(s).  Now, please don't misunderstand me.  I love word processors, and I very much regret not having them around when I was having to type up term papers and book reports.  There's no doubt about it, the new technology is about a hundred times better than the old.  But there is something very comforting to me about the noise of a typewriter clacking away noisily.  Linda (and others) still make fun of me because I hammer away on my computer keyboard (I go through 'em at a rate of one every three years or so - they can't take it).  I was trained on ancient iron behemoths, older than I,  that would need pounds of pressure to get the keys to put ink to paper.  You didn't need gyms to lose weight in those days, just a willingness to type. At the end of a thirty page paper you'd have arms as big as building girders. 
 An entire technology, gone.  Kinda strange.

Drive around your neighborhood

http://geoquake.jp/en/webgame/DrivingSimulatorPerspective/

Pretty neat!

Cancel My Appointments

http://www.rowdydow.co.uk/eotw/

Matrix Dancing

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/guy-does-unbelievable-matrix-dance-on-britains-got-talent--2818

Fun stuff!


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Elephant poo paper

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/22/eco-friendly-company-makes-paper-out-of-elephant-poo/

I'm getting slimmer!

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-scientists-kilo-weight.html

A sensible diet, a little exercise, and the mysterious disappearance of matter and the alteration of the physics of the Universe - that's my program!

The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-20056188-10391705.html?tag=cbsnewsTwoColLowerPromoArea;morenews

A new (and cheaper) type of solar power

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110414161404.htm


Neat!

The Onion scores on the NYT!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110425/ts_yblog_thecutline/new-york-times-falls-for-onion-spoof



Tee hee!


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

John Fred & His Playboy Band perform Judy In Disguise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaWaQBxc0aI

Perfect example of mid-60's Top 40.

fanvid of Catfish Hodge performing The Boogieman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzW3KO83XEA

Hodge was a favorite in DC in the 70's.  Put on some great shows.  This was his signature song then.  Classic.

Clapton performs Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad

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

Cool...

Happy birthday, Mr. Chip!

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/today-marks-50th-anniversary-of-first-silicon-integrated-circuit/


50th birthday of the silicon based integrated circuit.  Amazing.


(Thanks for the link and title, Mathew!)

The Flaming Lips push the envelope of music packaging

http://www.spin.com/articles/flaming-lips-drop-music-edible-gummy-skull


Cool!


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Jerry Leiber!

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

http://www.leiberstoller.com/

Happy Birthday Meadowlark Lemon!

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


http://www.meadowlarklemon.net/

Happy Birthday to The Adventures of Robin Hood!

One of my all-time fave movies.  premiered on this date in 1938.

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

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

Happy Birthday Björn Ulvaeus!

http://www.abba-world.net/facts/bjorn.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyihoLh4I-8

Happy Dyngus Day!

http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/

The Ohio Players perform Love Rollercoaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBkVV9xxCHE&feature=related


Fun stuff!  Brilliant marketing on this song at the time, with rumors of a Snuff-like murder, etc.  Yea, nothing like a little senseless slaughter to boost sales...

Total Eclipse Of The Heart - The Literal Version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA

Have posted this before, but I just love it....

In honor of the Holiday - three tunes by Mitch Easter & Let's Active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auTf17_arZQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auTf17_arZQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsIMNEeqCSw&NR=1&feature=fvwp


Great power pop.



(Thanks for the links, Perry!)

The Mystery of 6174

http://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue38/features/nishiyama/index

REAL Underground Cinema...

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/04/unlocking-the-mystery-of-paris-most-secret-underground-society/

A listing of Official State Soils

http://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_soils.htm

This is a new one for me.  I had no idea.  I'd note that there are quite a few vacancies.  Virginia should be our cursed red clay.  The District would be potholes.  Perhaps New Jersey's could be Jimmy Hoffa?

My new all-time favorite "ghost captured on film" video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KedGncdV-T4&feature=fvwrel



(Thanks for the link, Phil!)

New Alan Lomax bio out

http://magazine.columbia.edu/reviews/spring-2011/world-jug

Wuss America

http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/119067/no_hit_pinatas_the_key?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=rss&utm_content=big_kid_rssfeed

I was going to say that this is unbelievable, but given this country's terminal case of wussiness, it's all too believable, I'm afraid.



(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Easter ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sih9OVokuQ&feature=related

A nice series of photos on trains and railroads in Alexandria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNf-l1RiQpQ&feature=player_embedded#at=40

A little bit of local history.



(Thanks for the link, Ed!)

Cthulhu Snowglobe!!!!!

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=EMC10012&mode=retail



Neat-o!

Just another day in DC

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/22/charlie-sheens-dc-police-escort-accused-violating-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

It is typical that, even now, days later, the DC police are essentially claiming that they have no idea who was doing what to whom on this little waste of money.  These are the Sherlocks we count on to protect us, and even solve crimes, and yet they aren't even conscious enough to 'remember' anything beyond the last doughnut.  Very well, I shall clear things up.  The whole police escort thing was a Pavlovian response - a DC-oriented habit, as it were.  When they heard that some crack addled big mouth needed to get somewhere they just naturally assumed it was Marion Barry and went into PROTECT AND SERVE mode - just like old times, and just like now.  Simple. 

Happy Birthday Ed Walker!

A local (DC) radio legend.  Along with Willard, one of The Joy Boys!

http://www.thejoyboys.com/

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

Happy Birthday Roy Orbison!

http://www.royorbison.com/us/home?gclid=CNmYzMmEsagCFcMQNAod70POHw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PLq0_7k1jk&feature=related

Happy National Picnic Day!

fanvid for The Third Rail performing Run Run Run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9zZuiS3Obo


Ah, I still remembering running out to buy this 45 back in '67.  Little has changed, has it?

fanvid for T-Bone Burnette covering Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

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

Wonderful version - my fave. 

fanivd for Crazy Elephant peforming Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN_d37aJ29o

One of the last great bubblegum hits.  If my brain cells are still colliding correctly, it was a hit around this time in the Spring of '69.  Stupid and fun, with many pleasant memories of listening to it on a tinny little AM radio.

Katrina & The Waves perform Walking On Sunshine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWHYh5YRniE


Fun stuff!  Great mid 80's pop.

fanvid for an outtake of the Beatles performing And Your Bird Can Sing

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


One of my favorite tunes by them.

Happy Birthday Linda!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERuLF1Dtmk&feature=related

Happy Birthday Rondo Hatton!

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

Happy Birthday Peter Fampton!

http://www.frampton.com/

Happy Birthday Glen Campbell!

http://www.glencampbellshow.com/

Happy Earth Day!

http://www.epa.gov/earthday/

Internet Explorer 9

Sigh.  So, I just installed Internet Explorer 9.  There was the usual corporate bullshit about how my life would be improved immeasurably by it, etc.  But I installed it anyway.  It wiped out my web start-up preferences, I get warnings and pop ups for all sorts of bullshit reasons, and my system is now working about half as fast.  Thanks microsoft.  And fuck you.  Never trust a company named after penile dysfunction...

Frazetta was a cover model for sleazy exploitation paperbacks!

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/21/frank-frazetta-was-a.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

How weird....

Awww!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/861546-cute-alert-goose-looks-after-blind-dog

Lovecraft's "Shunned House" is for sale!

http://miskatonicbooks.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/lovecrafts-shunned-house-is-up-for-sale/

More and more bullshit

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2354412
I have written about this disaster in the past.  The fact of the matter is that when this monstrosity opens up, it's going to create massive gridlock across much of central and Western Alexandria.  It was obvious from the first moment someone vomited up the idea.  I am absolutely convinced that this whole thing from start to finish was based upon bribes and corruption, and nothing will dissuade me from that view.  The idea that the clowns in the military didn't know, until now, that there isn't a Metro line within miles of this place is completely ridiculous. They are pathetic liars.   And if any one of these numb skulls had ever thought to actually drive out to the location ahead of time, they'd of known that the streets and parking in the area are already BEYOND capacity.  The fact that the community of Springfield, DID have open land, DID have a Metro connection, DID desperately need the development to upgrade what is becoming a blighted corner of NoVa and DID lobby for the building, and was ignored, makes my point.  Someone got paid off.  Big time.  And now the rest of us are stuck with this abomination.  I am going to be cursing these assholes every god damned day for this, because I, (and many of you) are going to be stuck in traffic jams that will make plate tectonics seem like the Indy 500. 

Great moments in legislative customs

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/21/us-kyrgyzstan-sacrifice-idUSTRE73K57H20110421?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

BEHOLD AND TREMBLE BEFORE THE MIGHT OF PERSIA!

http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/gallery/National-Army-Day-in-Iran/4926/

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!  I'm not sure where to begin - the obvious Aurora models that are apparently now being used as missiles, or perhaps their dreaded Puli Brigade?  Maybe the ninjas riding in a tin rocket contraption that I SWEAR came from an old amusement park ride I was on in 1964.  Or could it be the dudes with the padded staves, each wearing perfect desert camouflage, only slightly marred by the "HEY!  HERE I AM - SHOOT ME NOW!" bright red and blue armor and helms.  I'm told that there was going to a fly-over by their air force during the parade, but the rubber band broke. 

One is reminded of the much feared Iranian Police Women training film, which may well be the best Monty Python routine, that was never performed by Monty Python. 

Looking for love in all the wrong places

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110421-34539.html

the cutting edge of tea marketing

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1378870/PG-Lips-Chinese-tea-plantation-seeks-virgins-pick-leaves-MOUTHS.html

A new (to me) footnote to Bela Lugosi's career

http://www.radiohorrorhosts.com/mysteryhouse.html

Weird Al's takeoff on Lady Gaga

http://gawker.com/#!5794216/heres-the-weird-al-lady-gaga-parody-that-almost-never-was

Hopefully we'll get a video soon.


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

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 Pop!

http://www.iggypop.com/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqM_7X7PRH4&feature=relmfu

It's starting....

I've seen a couple announcements now for pre-orders on this year's new Halloween decorations....

A nice article on our new media-saturated world

http://www.slate.com/id/2291532?wpisrc=newsletter_tis

fanvid for Alien Sex Fiend performing I Walk The Line Between Good & Evil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptyiwWi9P70

Tell me about it...

Ramsey Lewis performs Hang On Sloopy

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

Fun stuff!

Labelle performs Lady Marmalade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDlHaZz9PNo

Ow!

The Pointer Sisters perform Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKuNNgjNA5g&feature=related

A wonderful cover.

Viagra Beer

http://www.disinfo.com/2011/04/royal-virility-performance-the-first-beer-brewed-with-viagra/

I suppose it was inevitable...

HauntCon is coming!

http://hauntcon.com/

I wish I could attend...

The Sistine Rubik's Cube

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/8460977/Sistine-Chapel-masterpiece-recreated-using-Rubiks-Cubes.html

I, for one, welcome our new and tasty Alien Overlords

http://io9.com/#!5793656/siberian-alien-on-youtube-revealed-to-be-an-edible-fake-made-out-of-bread-and-chicken

A nice little article about some of the film promotion tricks of William Castle

http://www.strangehistory.net/2011/04/18/the-fright-break/

I love stuff like that!

Headline of the day

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13415419

Show of Hands

http://infidel753.blogspot.com/2011/04/videos-of-week-patriotic-rock.html

My ol' penpal, Infidel753, just posted about this English folk rock band, (whom I was unfamiliar with).  Great sound!

Six strange ways to get around

http://www.cracked.com/article/18359_6-transportation-innovations-more-baffling-than-segway/

Happy Birthday to L'Auberge Chez Francois!

One of my all-time fave restaurants, simply wonderful!  They started up on this date in 1976.

http://www.laubergechezfrancois.com/

Happy Birthday George Takei!

http://www.georgetakei.com/

fanvid for New Math performing They Walk Among You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfEpGR5Ifkk

Great early Goth.  Very rare, does anyone besides me remember these guys?

Suzanne Vega's video for When Heroes Go Down

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

Love this tune, my favorite by her. 

The Tubes perform Mondo Bondage

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

Fun stuff!  From Rock'N'Roll's greatest cabaret act.

The A's perform CIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE3nMp3HHGQ

One of the greatest power pop bands that you've never heard of, singing a song that's perfect for Langley...

fanvid for The Ventures covering Wild Thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjERJT-Cf5M

I've loved this since I was a kid.  A great band covering a great song.  The whole Peter Lorre vocals are pure genius.

fanvid for J.J. Jackson performing But It's Alright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RRx7UPbkNs&feature=related

Classic mid-60's R&B.  Really like this tune.

Eating Thumper

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/04/18/cook-easter-bunny/

Actually, I LOVE rabbit, and Linda fixes it very well.  The article mentions a veal-like taste.  I guess that's so, but for me it's closer to the dark meat on turkey.  Yum!

Life-Sized Barbie

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42595605/ns/today-today_people/

I prefer Raggedy Ann...

Ten Charts About Sex

http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/10-charts-about-sex/


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Wuss America

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110418/NEWS12/110418023/New-day-camp-regulations-spark-debate-over-risks-kids-health

We are fucking pathetic...

the latest on extreme ironing

http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/extreme_ironing_m1_motorway/

extreme stupidity...

another nice little article on the complexity of post-war Germany and its nazis

http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/Germany+sent+silence+prosecutors+Eichmann+trial/4636512/story.html


Interesting that the article doesn't go into detail as to what deals were struck, etc.

A South Park Soundboard

http://www.crocopuffs.com/soundboard/southpark.html


(Thanks for the link, Linda!)

SPECIAL Delivery....

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/04/18/2011-04-18_portland_postal_worker_caught_pooping_in_neighbors_yard_its_just_wrong_camera_gu.html?r=news

(Thanks for the link and title, Mike!)

Happy Birthday Phlorescent Leech!

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

Happy Birthday Dudley Moore!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001545/

http://www.dudleymoore.com/

Happy Birthday Tim Curry!

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

http://www.timcurry.at/

Happy National Garlic Day!

http://www.liketocook.com/50226711/national_garlic_day_april_19.php

Yum!

Happy National Amaretto Day!

Yum!

http://www.disaronno.com/

Happy Patriot's Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots'_Day
(It's generally celebrated on a Monday, but this is the real date of the Battle of Lexington & Concord)

Gordon Lightfoot performs Carefree Highway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sznVn4R-Gps&feature=related

I know he's not considered cool, but I still like him.  Decades ago, mid-Spring would hit, and I'd start thinking about Summer travels.  I suppose I still do, and this tune has always been rattling around in a small part of my brain while doing so. 

Paul Westerberg's video for Dyslexic Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcMIWKu0ZYE

One of the great and under-appreciated rockers. 

fanvid for This Mortal Coil performing Song To The Siren

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuxYIUsKDx0

Always thought this was kinda pretty.

Turnabout Is Fair Play!

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-man-deported-to-uk/story-e6frea83-1226041265288

Australia finally gets to deport criminals to Britain!

Knitting - The Dark Side

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

(Thanks for the link, Susan!)

The Church of File-Sharing

http://torrentfreak.com/file-sharers-await-official-recognition-of-new-religion-110410/

Super Glue Medicine

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1377764/Nurse-deadly-heart-tumour-saved-doctors-SUPERGLUE.html

Amazing...

Well, exactly how long will a restaurant hold a table for 13?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377828/Was-Last-Supper-24-hours-earlier-Scientists-claims-historic-meal-TWO-days-Jesus-crucifixion.html

The cutting edge of pun-laden vagina murder plot stories

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/15/brazilian_husband/

A lullaby for me...

http://www.wyff4.com/news/27558316/detail.html

I'm with Bela on this one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xmz-p9FYW8

The Raod Sign

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/strangenews/Joker-hijacks-road-sign-warn-crisis-ahead/article-3367808-detail/article.html

Stoney eyese

http://www.livescience.com/13713-primitive-sea-creature-rock-eyes.html


Weird...

Chocolate Cthulhu!

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/04/17/just-in-time-for-easter-chocolate-cthulhu/

Anniversary of Paul Rever's Ride

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

nice article on beer labels and bottles

http://aleheads.com/2011/04/07/labelmania/

A revoutionary new car engine?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42460541/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

The Cars perform You're All I've Got Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEEUGaQTTQ0


The Cars were one of those bands able to take what was going on out on the fringe and in the clubs, and make it commercial enough for great success.  Really like this tune.

fanvid for The Cramps covering The Way I Walk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaIW7KJXKfQ&feature=related


One of the coolest bands, ever.

fanvid for The Electric Hellfire Club covering Calling Dr. Luv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaHT7Wzot_Y&feature=related


Always loved this band...

Wanda Jackson performs Fujiyama Mama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVs3iwkAP0k

A classic by the Queen of Rockabilly.  Wanda Rules!

The Flamin' Groovies perform Shake Some Action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7aoWX8ENT0

Classic pop song by a band that was never as popular as they should've been.

Behold! Manos - The Hands Of Felt!

http://seattlest.com/2011/04/16/puppet_this_manos_-_the_hands_of_fe.php

Happy Birthday Senor Wences!

Genius.  Essential.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEio4rQDU5A

Happy Birthday Liz Phair!

http://www.lizphair.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM60GAPIXTY


One of my faves.

Happy National Cheeseball Day!

Yum!

http://www.cheesetique.com/

Elvis Lives!

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/slideshow/photos-amazing-animals-stink-bug-looks-like-elvis-8537483

A documentary for our times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G-wGbCEaCmE#at=125

Serbe Gainsbourg duet with Screamin Jay Hawkins!

http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/screaming_jay_hawkins_and_serge_gainsbourg_performing_constipation_blu/

Put a lid on it...

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/860576-kung-fu-master-swings-weights-from-his-eye

perfume for vampires

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/860574-vampires-rejoice-blood-scented-perfumes-launched

The coolest promotion at a school!

http://thechive.com/2011/04/14/nothing-like-a-t-rex-terrorizing-children-at-our-schools-video/

Neat-O!


(Thanks for the link, Infidel753!)

Marlene VS hitler

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/femail/article-1377378/Marlene-Dietrichs-plot-murder-Hitler.html

Now that would've been something!  I find her one of the most fascinating people, there's just something about her.  Most of her films were crap, but she just seems to radiate in them, nevertheless.  She still owns the tune, Lili Marlene, and always will.

Neat Kolchak comics and trinkets

http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=25

The cutting edge of Green Lights

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/861011-traffic-light-sex-couple-leaves-town-baffled

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Literacide!

http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/14042616_gOB5m1Iw_c.jpg



(Thanks for the link and title, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Gerry Rafferty!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Rafferty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BogKAVESxUE

One of my faves, very under-rated.

Happy Birthday Dusty Springfield!

http://rockhall.com/inductees/dusty-springfield/

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

Beautiful.

Happy Cuckoo Day!

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=24580

Happy Birthday Charlie Chaplin!

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

Genius.  Essential.

Happy Record Store Day!

http://www.recordstoreday.com/Home

Jorma Kaukonen peforms Genesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sC0cWMo4TY&feature=related


It's been a tough week, one friend dead and a bunch more hurtin'.  I think of you, and wish you better times.  See ya tomorrow.

RIP Bill Basom

It will strike many of you who know me as more than a little ironic that I am writing of a minister in such glowing terms. So be it. One could talk about his contributions to his family, church and community, (and they are many and substantial), but I prefer to stick to my own experiences with him. As with most of my tales, this one has a Star Wars beginning: It was a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. I was a kid just starting high school and very interested in philosophy, politics, and religion, (I was a weird kid). My good friend Ken knew of this, (and shared those interests), and invited me to attend the Youth Fellowship group at the local Methodist Church, promising debates and discussions about the usual Douglas Adams topics: Life, The Universe, and Everything. I attended a meeting and was hooked. Bill Basom was the minister, and every Sunday at 6:30 he’d host a group of us youngsters for a few hours of such talks and bull sessions, punctuated by an occasional game, or weekend outing. This kept up all through high school, and I loved every minute of it. What debates! And what friends I made, still active today, many decades later, and that will last till the end of my life. And we’re still debating, (I’m looking at you, Moana…). Mr. Basom was always generous with his time, intelligent in his (mild) supervision and direction of our discussions, and infinitely patient. (I suspect he found me, and my arguments, to be alternately amusing and exasperating, (the story of my life)).


And the weekend outings were wonderful! There were a variety of picnics, hikes and adventures. He introduced me to the climbs along the Billygoat Trail at Great Falls, and canoeing on the C&O Canal – two of my all-time favorite activities for which I will always be grateful. I’m grinning as I type this, the stories and memories of past adventures just flooding into my remaining brain cells.

He knew I’d not followed along a religious path, but he was never condemning. And we maintained contact decades afterward. He passed away last weekend. It was not unexpected, nor unusual, given his age. But it is still a loss, and I hate losing. The world isn’t quite as intelligent or interesting to me as it was. I learned a lot from him (perhaps not in ways he’d foreseen), and I miss him.

Rip Kent Morrill

http://www.thefabulouswailers.com/

The Wailers were a legendary Northwest band.  One of the great, along with folks like Paul Rever & The Raiders, the Sonics, and the Kingsmen.  They also did a nice imitation of Mr. Zimmerman that I play every Christmastime here at the Manor....

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGTQGtZxuJ0

Joey Ramone died 10 years ago on this date...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1oLQ55IfPA

One of the Greats....

Multi-Tasking

http://uk.royalwedding.yahoo.com/blogs/royal-wedding-to-serve-as-rehearsal-for-queens-funeral-4364

The toilet of tomorrow?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20054018-1.html?tag=nl.e404


Hmmm, I'd agree with some of the comments and advocate that this is where voice commands would be preferable to a tablet control system.

a new film on Led Zep's (possible) concert in Maryland

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2346431

The Threat

http://www.thedailyload.com/2011/04/kentucky-man-invents-car-that-runs-on-bourbon/

Needless to say, I am against anything, other than myself, that consumes bourbon.  We must conserve our national resources!

What is it about schools these days?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/crying-foul-kindergartener-gets-suspended-for-tearing-up/article1963875/

Ironic, it's difficult to tell who is the greater cry baby, the kid or the little hitler administrators. Sheesh!

Washington FINALLY gets his library

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/14/gates-breaks-ground-gw-presidential-library/

Neat!

Ah, that special love between a parent and child

http://www.kptv.com/news/27534565/detail.html

Special bonus quote destined to make him parent of the year:  "What am I supposed to do, let them run around the house and get into everything? What kind of [expletive] parenting is that?'"  It's sort of the Alcatraz Method of child rearing, isn't it?

Extra Credit!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localchi/20110414/ts_yblog_localchi/marengo-students-decide-to-go-big-or-go-home

This is soooo cool!  Bravo!

Bacon perfume

http://www.baltimoresun.com/videobeta/?watchId=9b1a3828-3970-41cd-99a3-9cafdc6995ad

a wonderful wooden building

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110414/od_yblog_upshot/largest-wooden-building-unveiled-in-spain

Pretty neat!

nice article on Traffic's Mr. Fantasy album

http://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/this-month-in-music-traffic-take-it-to-the-country

good grief....

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jEcXu_rcI6_Vfx-3g30ksiiGfUIw?docId=344ec089bc5e46bba3440611f8a44aa5

Apparently, air traffic controllers aren't the only ones asleep at the switch.

A nice interview with Marshall Crenshaw

http://www.examiner.com/music-q-a-in-national/q-a-with-marshall-crenshaw-on-his-30th-anniversary-concerts-part-1-of-3

An animation of the world's first tank VS tank battle

http://grognews.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-fight-between-tanks.html

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

To Boldly Go Where No Porn Has Gone Before

http://www.ugo.com/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation-xxx-trailer

Actually, this is a brilliant idea.  This company stands to make some big bucks.

Happy Birthday to In Living Color!

Brilliant show.  Premiered on this date in 1990.

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

Happy Birthday Hans Conried!

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

http://www.hansconriedbook.com/

Happy Birthday Dave Edmunds!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlqJc8qYU_o

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Leonardo Da Vinci!

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

fanvid for Paul Roland performing Gabrielle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p18nnSkquEI&feature=related

Wonderful tune by one of my faves.

fanvid for The Rose Garden performing Next Plane to London

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFUAjY8nyw

A nearly forgotten fragment of Southern California Top 40 pop, circa '67.

Alan Price performs O Lucky Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81IOO9EC1nE

Classic.  Almost forgotten now, nevertheless.

fanvid for The Animals performing Sky Pilot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_VJoDOdJH0

Always loved this tune.  When I was a kid I thought this was the coolest.  It might be the first use of bagpipes in a Top 40 hit.

Finger Art

http://www.killmydaynow.com/2010/04/amazing-pictures-of-finger-art-20-pics.html

Very cute!


(Thanks for the link, Audrey!)

Happy Birthday Sarah Michelle Gellar!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001264/

NoVa Is Doomed

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/arlington-route-50-to-be-torn-up-really-really/2011/04/14/AFTAJQcD_blog.html
And here I always thought we'd  die in a nuclear blast.  But No, it's going to be a slow, brutal strangulation that kills us off.  What's particularly nasty is that the article doesn't even mention that stupid government boondoggle of the Mark Center building that bribed it's way into getting built where Shirley Highway crosses under Seminary Road.  That's going to create total and complete gridlock throughout most of the West end of Alexandria.  There are large portions of that area and Arlington that are going to become virtual islands of desperation amidst seas of construction and destruction. 

Time Travel Banned In China

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/14/china-bans-time-travel-tv-shows/?test=faces

Thank goodness they nipped that at the bud! 


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

My next bumper sticker (again)

http://www.bumperart.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=2003091733&productID=165

TLC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8jeuYMHX9Y&feature=player_embedded

Is that a dragon carving in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?

http://laughingsquid.com/wonderfully-creepy-sculptures-carved-from-bananas/

Darwin Award Nominee

http://bonehead.lerman.biz/php/FirebirdsWithoutWings.php

That is one impressive crash....

Patton Jr.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/13/us-army-fake-idUSTRE73C4OV20110413?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

An Anitpode Map

http://www.antipodemap.com/

Very cool!  You can look up any location on earth, and this will show you the opposite point on the globe. 

Carry-On Luggage?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/04/13/couple-tried-to-check-in-dead-cow-on-virgin-atlantic-flight-to-london-115875-23057292/

It's called Cross-Marketing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-13070369

The cutting edge of weight loss programs

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/13/cops-weight-loss-doctor-told-patients-to-burn-calories-with-org/

The Ripper Identified - that makes about an even dozen of 'em

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110407-34257.html#

It'd be (darkly) amusing if ALL the Ripper theories were correct.  That there were actually a bunch of psychopaths stalking London, sometimes copying and sometimes coincidentally mimicking each other's M.O.'s. 

Ready for the aliens

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/03/st_obsessed_missile_base

I just love it when folks come up with ways to relieve rich people of their money!

The cutting edge of door holders

http://www.stfrancisnow.com/news/119615529.html

It's A Miracle! I'm Healed!!!!!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/860904-kate-middletons-face-found-on-jelly-bean

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

I can't heeeaaarrr youuuuu!

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/verizon-guy-gets-let-go-turns-out-that-wasnt-his-name-anyway/


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The Pro

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/12/man-steals-judges-gavel-from-courtroom-video/

Insert joke here

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/04/13/man-engulfed-in-flames-at-san-francisco-porn-shop/

The Return of Creepy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqiOb96Nvyo&feature=related


Neat little video.

The Friendly Skys?

http://www.lvrj.com/news/air-ambulance-lands-at-reno-airport-while-air-traffic-controller-sleeps-119778219.html

Obviously, these aren't isolated incidents, but a long-term industry culture that only now we're being alerted to.  Thanks, FAA!  Maybe we could wake them up long enough to do their job to wake up the controllers.

Kinks reissues on the way!

http://www.goldminemag.com/news/universal-music-preps-deluxe-editions-of-first-three-kinks-albums


Sweet!

Blondie meets The Doors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnhKPw2NXIw

Cute!

The Pumpkin Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4IC7qaNr7I

Very cute!

(Thanks for the link, Becky!)

Pennies For Poe

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-vozzella-poe-house-pennies-20110413,0,4523176.story

Stax reissues on the way!

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2011/04/concord-to-begin-releasing-classic-stax.html

Wonderful news!

Happy Birthday Tony Burrows!

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

King of Bubblegum.

Happy Birthday Gerry Anderson!

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0026755/

http://gerryanderson.wikia.com/wiki/Gerry_Anderson_Encyclopedia

http://ufoseries.com/

Genius.  Loved his series, UFO.

Happy John Hanson Day!

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

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

It was an April Fools' Joke

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/content/alien/index.php

I'd suspected as much when I posted it, but the date that referenced what I saw was 4/2.  At any rate, I hereby withdraw my proclamation of welcoming our evil alien cacti overlords.

Brahms and "cat fishing"

http://beachcombing.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/brahms-cat-murderer/

If true, what a disturbingly cruel dude. 

Flipper's Furry Friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rynvewVe21Y&feature=player_embedded
(Thanks for the link & title, Mathew!)

The Post's Peeps Show is online!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/peeps-show-v/2011/04/11/AF3NYHSD_gallery.html?hpid=z2

These are always neat.

Wuss America

http://www.jarts.com/media.htm

Imagine how many people have been killed or injured by sticks and branches over the years.  Better cut down all the trees.  Avenge Sonny Bono!  I think we should also insist that all sporting and game equipment be made out of nerf.

Super Tumbler!

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Leszek-Blanik-super-tumbler-and-internet-sensat?urn=oly-wp87

Wow!


(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

DC now has a beer!

http://www.dcbrau.com/

Cloud Girlfriend

http://cloudgirlfriend.com/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2383485,00.asp


Sigh.  I despair.  Gods help someone that they might go out in real life and get a real girlfriend.  But Nooooo - that's too much bother.  What losers we're becoming...



(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Get A Life!

http://store.startrek.com/products/104941-enterprise-and-shuttle-salt-and-pepper-shakers

New album from William Shatner on the way!

http://www.williamshatner.com/Article419.phtml

Happy Birthday Harold Stassen!

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

Never a Quiter!  You'll not be surprised to know that he's the only major party Presidential candidate that I've ever met in person...(Thanks, Ross!)

Happy Birthday Don Adams!

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

http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/dona.html

Happy Birthday Mighty Max!

http://maxweinberg.com/

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

Happy Birthday Al Green!

http://www.algreenmusic.com/

Happy National Bookmobile Day!

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/nbdhome.cfm

http://olos.ala.org/columns/?p=257

http://jmrl.org/br-bookmobile.htm

The old Alexandria bookmobile that I used as a kid was run by someone that knew their stuff.  Every Wednesday it would come into the old neighborhood and  it would dutifully park next to the Baskin Robbins.  Books and ice cream, it doesn't get any better then that!

Only 200 Days Until Halloween!

Tommy Keene Performs Places That Are Gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCj0nw24UaQ

A local fave who should've been bigger.  Great song, and True.  Most of the places that I knew are now gone.  And so it goes.  See ya tomorrow.

Berlin's video for No More Words

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIb9QUGjdIc

I love this song and video.  Beautiful Bonnie & Clyde Depression-era homage.  Get used to the images, they're comin' back...

fanvid for Ringo performing Goodnight Vienna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQJVb8Hq83U

Stupid but fun.  If my remaining brain cells serve me correctly, this was a minor hit in very early 1975, or maybe late '74.  It's difficult to say.  Ringo was almost undoubtedly not sober when recording this, nor I while listening to it. 

The Righteous Brothers perform Soul and Inspiration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-I4sawK-o

Wonderful!  The ultimate in blue-eyed Soul.

The 1910 Fruitgum Company performs Indian Giver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2KNmB69EM

One of the great bubblegum hits; I always loved this tune.

Marshall Crenshaw performs You're My Faovrite Waste Of Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JnPA4Ad-3s


Poor recording, perfect song.

An Anniversary

Linda and I had our first date on this day in 1980 - 31 years ago!

Dr. Freud, call for you on Line 1

http://2headedsnake.tumblr.com/post/4475724724/venusobservations-blogspot-com-herbert-james

Portraits of closed record stores

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/40-sad-portraits-of-closed-record-stores?s=mobile
Sigh.  This just breaks my heart, in so many little ways.  At the risk of being accused of permanent old-fartdom, I feel sorry for youngsters who won't grow up having some of the same (fun) experiences that I and my contemporaries had.  There is something deeply attractive about listening to and discovering new tunes on an old transistor radio, and running down to the record store to purchase a few 45's.  I was just talking about this with my old dear friend, Millie.  She was the first one of us in the old neighborhood to get her driver's license.  At last!  Freed from parental timetables and priorities, we could head out on our own!  Friday nights often involved a quick trip to McDonalds for sustenance, and then on to Giant Music up on Columbia Pike to pick up the latest singles, (or if one hoarded their money for a while - a whole LP!).  Later on, with my own license, it was on to Rainbow Tree, Penguin Feather, and Discount Records.  They were Temples....



(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

An interview with "Morn"

http://startrek.com/article/mark-allen-shepherd-was-born-to-be-morn-part-1

One of the stranger footnotes to Star Trek history.

Fascinating article on Josh Whedon, his fans, and their effect on the economics of the media

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/139346-joss-whedon-its-about-power/

Readings of The Raven online!

http://www.needcoffee.com/2011/04/01/raven-poe-grumpy-college-translation/

Including Vincent Price and James Earl Jones!

Oddities

http://science.discovery.com/tv/oddities/

Just discovered this show by accident the other day.  It's probably old news for many of you.  I really enjoy the episodes I've seen - follows the owners of one of the coolest odditoriums - buying and selling unusual and biazrre items.  Neat stuff!

((One clown tried to palm off to the store a jackalope specimen as real!!!)) 

The man inside the Gorn suit

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail?entry_id=86762

A little bit of Star Trek trivia.

National Grilled Cheese Sadnwich Day!

http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/national-grilled-cheese-day


Yum!

Rock Around The Clock Anniversary!

Bill Haley & His Comets recorded Rock Around The Clock on this date in 1954.  Absolutely Essential.

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

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

Happy Birthday John Kay!

http://steppenwolf.com/

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

Happy National Licorice Day!

Yum!

A nice article on Mr. Zimmerman

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/opinion/10dowd.html?_r=1

Pretty much repeating what I'd written earlier - a song and dance man who is an idiot savant.  Nothing more.

Pork cupcake!

http://slyoyster.com/foodanddrink/2011/the-pork-cupcake-and-other-food-stories/

Weapons that don't exist, (but should)

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_weapons_that_don't_exist,_but_should#Melee_Weapons

This year's additions to the National Recording Registry

http://jazztimes.com/articles/27506-jazz-recordings-among-the-25-new-additions-to-national-recording-registry


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Happy National Cheese Fondue Day!

http://www.411iscoming.com/

Yum!

Happy National 8-Track Tape Day!

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

Happy Louie Louie Day!

And Happy Birthday Richard Berry!

http://www.louielouie.net/01-welcome.htm

http://www.xs4all.nl/~tdg/louie1.html

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

Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you the real National Anthem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vae_AkLb4Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2CKsaq5r8

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNXJBXBoiN0

Happy Alferd Packer Day!

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

Mr. "Hamburger Helper"!

fanvid for the Creatures performing Wild Thing

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

It was around '81 when this came out, and I was working the Friday night shift at the record store, and we'd always play this towards closing.  Kinda strange how you remember stuff like that....

Eddie Floyd performs Knock On Wood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92NpzXXpQtg

I always thought this was a great song and Eddie sang it well.  I don't know why his career never went anywhere, (except as a middling songwriter).

fanvid for Ananda Shankar performing Streets of Calcutta

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

I discovered him accidently, (by a fan playing his music on a little hand-held cassette player after a Ravi Shankar concert up in Baltimore that I attended), and I've been a minor fan ever since.  Ahead of his time - into Worldbeat about ten or fifteen years before the word/classification existed.

fanivd for The Dovells performing You Can't Sit Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1VBGZxcRow

Fun stuff!  I always considered this sort of a mid-point between (blue-eyed) Soul and frat rock.

Patti Smith performs Redondo Beach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9f4C4iZ9o8

Beautiful.  Patti's first three albums were part of that group that I'd listen to almost daily for years after their release. 

Aerosmith performs Walk This Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ORkR9E8t78

Classic American Rock'N'Roll.

Personal Brewery

http://www.thenoisecast.com/2011/04/ditch-your-water-cooler-for-the-williamswarn-personal-brewery/

I read about this first on Fark, and totally agree with their description - this is Pure Beer Porn - and I love it!  This thing is out of my price range, but it does appear to be quite cool.  My one complaint is that everything is in one unit, rather than modular.  A selling point would be to have multiple cooling/storage vats, that one could add or subtract.  As it is, it appears that you have to finish off one batch before starting another.  If I were going to spend 5K on brewing, I'd want the option for multiple kegs (sometimes I want an IPA, sometimes a heavy ale, or perhaps a lambic - I want to be a triple threat).

The coolest diaper bag

http://www.thefest.com/store/beatles-strollers/portholes-diaper-bag-p-3570

The Long & Winding Road....

The Beatles broke up on this date in 1970.

A new documentary on George Martin

http://www.beatlesnews.com/news/the-beatles/201104091333/beatles-producer-sir-george-martin-saluted-by-major-new-documentary.html

Happy National Siblings Day!

Happy National Library Week!

http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek/index.cfm

http://jmrl.org/br-bookmobile.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6g_S63Y8zI

A very seductive and radical idea, when you think about it.  Providing citizens with information - as a function of government.  Something so accepted (and frequently ignored) that we don't realize how really astounding a thing it is.  I still remember my first visit to the old Alexandria library on Queen Street,  It was a little school field trip, I think I was five.  The place was a little dark and musty, (no problem there, so am I).  But the books!  Each of us got a library card, (I wish I still had mine - a heavy piece of cardboard with a rectangular steel 'badge' in the corner - my first bit of officialdom!); and I went mad - scurrying around the shelves finding Dr. Seuss and other treasure,  ((I remember a short series featuring a French mouse that I was quite fond of at the time, damned if I can remember the author or any titles, though).  At any rate, it was a thrill.  And fortunately for me, my parents were very big on reading, so Saturday's meant my Mother taking me down to load up on more booty.  Later on, (around 2nd grade) Alexandria got a bookmobile that stopped within walking distance of my house, (next to the Baskin Robbins at Fairlington).  A virtual one-stop for ice cream AND books!  Life was GOOD, I gotta tell ya!  At any rate, the whole point of this little memory flogger of mine is two-fold.  If you've got kids, get 'em into reading early, neither they, nor you, will regret it.  And secondly, please support, check out, and fanatically protect your local library system.  I know all the arguments about the Internet replacing libraries, etc.  They all have flaws, books and libraries are a resource we absolutely need. 

Marlowe the Monster

http://www.sawdustbear.com/marlowe/

http://io9.com/#!5790274/marlowe-the-monster-a-sculpted-webcomic-of-melancholy-moments/gallery/1


Just discovered this little claymation web comic.  Very cute!

Streaming source for old-time radio shows

http://theiotrs.com/

I love some of these old programs, and consider it a nearly-lost art form.

Nyarlathotep plush now available!

http://www.toyvault.com/cthulhu/index.html

A"lost" Josh Whedon film

http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/archives/25337

Patty Duke, George Takei, Star Trek & Social Security

http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/04/patty-duke-geeks-out-with-george-takei-in-star-trek-social-security-psas.html

Happy Birthday Tom Lehrer!

http://www.casualhacker.net/tom.lehrer/

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

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

Genius.  Essential.

Happy Birthday Carl Perkins!

http://rockabillytennessee.com/legend_carl_perkins.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUNcZqZq2QM

Happy Birthday Avery Schreiber!

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

Bowie performs Changes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQ0Ryy01yE


Probably my second favorite song by Bowie, (Heroes will always be #1).  Gods, so long ago.  What was it, late '74?  We were all going through Changes then, I suspect.  Now, I suppose, we need a new song - Ossification.  Sigh....

Chuck Berry performs No Particular Place To Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIY4OEAd6Yk

Love it.  The Master.  The REAL King of Rock'N'Roll!

Frigid Pink performs House of the Rising Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t40INnb6DnY


What a wonderful, over-the-top name for a group!  I loved this version.  It was about this time in '70 when it was a hit.  And it is sooo 1970, let me tell ya.  Very cool!

The Dead perform Box of Rain

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

It's calm Spring day here at the Manor, but there's been a cold rain all day, and this seems appropriate.

The Diamonds perform Little Darlin' - 49 years apart

http://www.flixxy.com/the-diamonds-little-darlin-1957-2004.htm

Wonderful1  Fun stuff!


(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

A kinder gentler morning star

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/04/soft-pillowy-mace.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

A new 3-D effect

http://io9.com/#!5789635/the-white-light-technology-that-could-make-holograms-awesome

The Bela Lugosi Guitar

http://www.ugo.com/best-of-web/bela-lugosi

When Harry Met Sally II

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/0247468f28/when-harry-met-sally-2-with-billy-crystal-helen-mirren?playlist=featured_videos

Brilliant!

The End Times - all of them

http://web.me.com/lorenmadsen/endings/pick_a_year.html

The priest who foiled the nazis

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-1374534/The-heroic-Vatican-priest-ran-rings-round-Nazi-colonel.html

A very interesting footnote to the war.  I actually like the Gregory Peck film about him.

Shackleton's whiskey....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8431280/Whisky-found-in-Sir-Ernest-Shackletons-hut-recreated.html

Just another day at the office - cleaning the COBRA PIT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIMigVo1pyA&feature=player_embedded

(Thanks for the link, Ed!)

The Jesus & Mary Chain's video for Kill Surf City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJePRUIw0as

I love those guys. 

fanivd for the Del-Vikings performing Come Go With Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1eU_lDQaVM&feature=related

Classic doo wop.  One of those tunes that'll hang around bouncing in your brain for hours afterward. 

fanvid for The Supremes performing Nathan Jones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKU8TVXqI4o
So many folks ignored the Supremes after Barry peeled Diana away from them.  Not me.  They were still great, and this was one of their bigger hits.

10,000 Maniacs peforms Hey Jack Kerouac and Eat For Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJLyWomZNq8&feature=related

Beautiful.  Nat's voice has that certain quality of innocense mixed with wisdom. 

Curved Air performs Backstreet Luv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUnjMI81vAA

I think they were MUCH more popular in Britain than here.  Pity, they had a great sound.

Aphrodite's Child perform 5 O'Clock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4WkKLmbBQo

A wonderful Greek early prog-rock band.  Almost forgotten today.

Hi-Tech Cowboy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA-ST8nXl4U

(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

Headline of the day

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/cerabino-gay-bias-claim-vs-transsexual-a-drag-1381736.html


I usually try to avoid Floridian news stories, this blog would fill up too fast, otherwise.  The state is BY FAR the most batshit crazy one that we've got.  But this headline was too good.

"I was just following orders"

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/06/nazi-cake-a-recipe-for-trouble-for-austrian-pastry-shop/

They always use that excuse, don't they?

(For those of you familiar with the great comedy movie, One Two Three, you might remember a scene when one of the German characters tries to extricate himself from the accusation of having served in the SS by claiming he was nothing more than a pastry chef there.  A bad pastry chef.  Life imitates art...)

Bob Dylan, My Friend, Is Blowin' In The Wind (and it follows the money)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-times-they-are-a-censored-bob-dylan-makes-first-appearance-in-china/2011/04/06/AFHNv8qC_story.html

I think this article is a nice way to introduce my views on Mr. Zimmerman.  I consider myself a moderate fan, hardly as hard-core as many, and certainly not as obsessed as some have become.  I own a couple dozen albums, listen to them from time, have a tremendous love for his earlier work, regret not seeing him perform in those days, and feel no real need to see him now.  And I feel with Dylan, as I do with most artists, that there's a separation between their art and themselves.  I don't need to admire/love/agree with them personally to enjoy what they create.  Hell, I don't even have to like them or give a thought to their personal life. Oh, occasionally, someone becomes so villainous that I begin to get creeped out by even such a mild association as listening to their records, (Michael Jackson and Gary Glitter approach this level).  But otherwise, I'm just not that involved, (even my boy Springsteen, I try not to get too worked up over, in terms of his personal life).  What this means, when it comes to Dylan, is that I just don't get all twisted up when he does something,, but the reason for my passivity might in turn insult him.  I think he's a performer.  Pure and simple.  There was an interview many years ago in Britain, (I think) where he was asked by some clueless reporter to define himself as a folk or protest singer, and he (jokingly) replied that he was just a "song & dance man".  I don't think it was a joke.  I do think he's a brilliant poet, perhaps the finest of the Boomer generation.  And I think he is (or was) able to almost effortlessly take what was happening with and to people around him and beautifully capture it in song.  Where I differ from his disciples is that I think he's almost an idiot savant of our culture - he wanted to be successful, and he had this extraordinary ability, and that was it - no real commitment to anything other than his own success.  In other words, he's just like most other and lesser performers - he's just a hundred times better than them.  One in a billion, tallent-wise. But he has no more commitment to a given style or movement than those lesser mortals do.  When it we commerically convenient, he was a rebellious folkie.  When the Beatles put a crimp on that, he became a rocker, and then was into country rock, and then lounge-y disco (listen to the Budokan album), and then born-again right winger, etc. etc. It goes on - his tawdry using of Joan Baez, his pathological lying about his background in the early Greenwich Village days, his (electric) glove on the ground performance at Newport, the playing at casinos, religious conversions back and forth, even a Christmas album.   Each time leaving the fanatics wondering and frequently crying sell-out, other times they might say he's "expanding" or "exploring".  Yea, whatever.  I know what he's really doing - he's trying to market himself and gain a new and/or bigger audience.  He's trying to make money.  That's what song & dance men do.  That's what they're really committed to.  Sinatra and dozens of other old Vegas hacks covered Beatles songs - a group they despised.  Dino even added psychedelia to his hit, Houston.  The list goes on and on.  And old rockers have frequently done the same thing "selling out" their original sound in (frequently desperate) efforts to remain "relevant", (I'm looking at you, Neil Young, thanks for "Trans"). 
So, what does all this mean?  I'll tell you.  Just enjoy the music that you want to.  It's separate from the people that created it, (usually).  I can't get worked up personally about Dylan, pro or con.  But there are tunes of his that are part of my DNA.  That's what's important - not Bobby.  I will say I think it's a pity that he feels the need to make so many extra millions of dollars that he's willing to kowtow to a bunch of people I consider fascist thugs.  But so be it.  And one sentence in this article really brings that home:
"For many of the Chinese fans in the audience, the concert was the chance to see an American icon in person — even if they didn’t understand the songs or even know much about his legacy."    Ha!  Neither does Bob....

Peeps In Space!

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/04/05/dnt.peep.goes.to.space.KPHO?hpt=T2

Miniature horses are Service Animals?

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1563559

I'm lobbying heavily to get the Hounds of Tindalos accepted as my service animals


(Thanks for the link and title, Mike!)

Comedy/Stunt Pilot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0WykKgQFLs
Unbelievable.


(Thanks for the link, Rob!)

George Takei as Spider Man

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/popcandy/post/2011/04/george-takei-wants-to-be-spider-man/1

Nice blog article on Karlos Borloff & Monster Madhouse

http://www.frolixweb.com/blog/?p=319


Another great local horror host keeping that fine tradition alive. 

Happy Birthday Janis Ian!

http://www.janisian.com/

Happy Birthday Ravi Shankar!

http://www.ravishankar.org/

Can I borrow $24.49? I'll pay you back on December 22nd.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/05/doomsday-is-coming-escape-earth-on-dec-21-2012-for-as-little/

Bionic Eye

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/230107/bionic-eye-implant-offers-hope-to-the-blind


Amazing.

Cthulhu cheesecake!

http://www.jwz.org/blog/2011/04/cthulhu-pin-up-t-thirt/

The world just got a little ickier....

Quote of the day

http://www.writeclickscrapbook.com/.a/6a0115703fdafe970b0147e378733b970b-pi


(Thanks for the link, Tom!)

Happy Birthday John Waterhouse!

http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/

One of my fave painters/illustrators.

Happy Birthday Phil Austin!

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

http://austin.weblogger.com/

Happy Tartan Day!

http://www.tartanday.org/

Thinkin' of '73

Memory is a tricky thing. Perhaps it was today's shitty weather, (cold, windy and rainy), or the angle of the sun when it poked out this afternoon.  But something triggered memories of this time of year in 1973.  It wasn't a particularly interesting time in my life, or anyone else's, for the most part.  Can't quite figure out why I can't shake the feeling.  I'll try to exorcise it with some tunes.  If my remaining brain cells serve me correctly, these were all hits around that time.

Loudon never liked this song.  His only hit.  But I've always had a soft spot for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UejelYnVI3U&feature=related

The O'Jays were/are under-rated.  It was inevitable that Love Train would become the theme to Soul Train.  It was also a nice song to cruise to on a Spring afternoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo4_1l_gU58&feature=related

And then we have Lou, always there with a seductive alternative of freedom, decadence and lost abandon...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiVUqwXAXx0

Finally, there's Steely Dan.  It's somewhat embarrassing to think of the world weariness in this tune, and know that we've almost come another 40 years. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDRd0Z0O4o

And so, we keep reelin' in the years, and I'm gonna reel in another bourbon.  See ya tomorrow.

A blog/site devoted to The Lincoln Highway

http://brianbutko.wordpress.com/

Route 66 gets all of the press, (and I'm a fan of it, also), but the Lincoln was the first real cross-country highway, and I've always had a soft spot for it, probably because I remember riding with my folks on bits and pieces of it during my childhood vacations.  A nice bit of Americana.

Rebecca Black's "Friday" - The Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24yUUHYlJEI

Happy First Contact Day!

http://startrek.com/article/happy-first-contact-day


(get a life....)

A few more tidbits about post-war nazi resistance

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373037/Killer-sausages-Nazis-plotted-fight-losing-war.html

The werewolf operation was pretty much a failure.  The question I would have if there was any serious attempt to incorporate into the plans the use of sarin gas which the Germans had stockpiled.  That would have made things frighteningly bad.

While My Ukelele Gently Weeps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k

Cool!

(Thanks for the link, Nick!)

The Human Camera

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2MBBxU

Unbelievable.


(Thansk for the link, Sandy!)

Happy Birthday Roger Corman!

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

Happy Birthday Dan Perkins!

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

http://thismodernworld.com/

Happy Birthday Robert Bloch!

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

Happy Birthday Agnetha!

http://www.agnetha.net/

Happy Birthday Nigel Hawthorne!

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

Happy Tomb Sweeping Day!

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

Gmail's April Fools' Joke now a reality...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/gmail-motion-a-reality-thanks-to-usc-kinect-hackers/2011/04/04/AFHmWLbC_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_tech

Nice article on Simon & Garfunkel (and the new reissue of Bridge Over Troubled Water)

http://www.jazzwax.com/2011/04/bridge-over-troubled-water.html


A good read.  But, I would disagree with the writer on S&G being ignored these days.  Everytime there's been a reunion it's considered a big deal.  I suspect the old albums sell at about the rate one would expect 40+ year old music to do, (it pains me to think that they're that old).  Simon got his Kennedy Center award, etc.  I think they're doing okay, recognition-wise.


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Happy Birthday Muddy Waters!

http://www.muddywaters.com/

Happy Tater Day!

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

Smokey & The Miracles perform Tears Of A Clown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kxlZDOHeQ

Great song by an American Treasure.  Story of my life.  See ya tomorrow.

Dudette 07

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123249387


A precedent (of sorts)!  It'll be interesting to see how the whole male/female military plays out in combat situations. It's always been unrealistic to divide the military into combat/non-combat.  Due to the weaponry and tactics, one can die just about anywhere for the past 50 years.  I suppose the big question remaining is combat infantry.  My understanding, (which may be erroneous), is that the Israelis, who pinoneered this, gave up on it.  NOT because the women were somehow lacking, but because the men were taking too many unnecessary risks to "protect" them once the shooting started.  Risks they probably would not have made for another guy.  I will leave it to others to debate/determine if this is instinctual or cultural conditioning.  But it is an interesting aspect to my question.

King Zor

http://www.spookshows.com/toys/zor/zor.htm

A neat little toy that I had..

Dick-Tation

http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/201104/149983.php

It's Gardening Time At The Manor!

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/botanist-finds-mysterious-plant-in-nm

Oh...My...Gods.....this is so cool!  I always hate it around April Fool's, because the type of articles I look at are pretty much already in that category, and let's face it, reality these days is matching up with articles in The Onion with great regularity.  So, it's damnably hard to tell when something's a twisted joke - or "real".  But I keep hopin'!  I mean, look what we got here:
1.  Glow-In-The-Dark:  check
2.  Carnivorous:  check
3.  From another planet:  check
4.  Weird looking:  check
5.  Undoubtedly evil:  check

Friends and regular readers can know one thing for certain - If it exists, I want this little glowing polyp of death and destruction!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVXEA7_y344

25th anniversary of the first commercial cellphone call

http://gizmodo.com/#!5061790/25-anniversary-of-the-first-commercial-cellphone-call-timeline

A revolution.  My only problem with this technology has been the addiction that some folks have for these things.  Put 'em down, enjoy life a little. 


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

more on the FBI's little mystery code

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/31/fbi-inundated-tips-encrypted-notes-1-murder-mystery/

U.S. Army Center of Military History Publications Catalog

http://www.history.army.mil/catalog/browse/pubnum.html

A wonderful collection of documents of interest to anyone into American military history, particularly WWII.

British WWII bunker now open

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-12941002

To make a long story short, an invasion of Britain was a very real possibility in late Summer and early Fall of 1940.  It was damn close, I assure you.  And most military historians seem to be coming around to the idea that it would have succeeded, (I happen to disagree, I think the British would have won - just barely, and at the horrific cost of the Royal Navy and RAF).  The auxiliaries would then have come into play.  It would have been very bloody, especially for the civilian population.