Weirdness: May 2013

Just Add Monsters

http://laughingsquid.com/monsters-added-to-dull-yard-sale-thrift-store-landscape-paintings/
A neat way to enhance ordinary paintings!

(Thanks for the link & title, Mathew!)

Fantasy Animal Sculptures

http://www.baba-mail.com/Content.aspx?emailid=4569&memberid=751896#.Uajd8u9OWSp
Pretty amazing, a few of these verge on steam punk.

(Thanks for the link, Margrete!)

Happy Birthday to A Big Hand For The Little Lady!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060165/

Premiered on this date in 1966. One of my faves, and the only movie that I've ever seen that portrays what it's like to be a True Gamesman.

Happy Birthday Clint Eastwood!

http://www.clinteastwood.net/

Happy Birthday John Bonham!

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

Cicada Cam!

http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/cicadas/cicada-cam.htm
Yes, they're supposedly think & heavy around DC, although I have yet to hear or see one.

Grains of Sand

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/index.php?q=magnified-grains-of-sand.html

Beautiful, when magnified.

(Thanks for the link, Margrete!)

RIP Jack Vance

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/may/30/jack-vance-dies-96-science-fiction
One of the greatest fantasy authors of all time. A genius.

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Spring in Colorado!

Friends and long time readers will note my love for Colorado, having spent many Summers out there in my youth, due to my Mother growing up there and still having a wonderful group of cousins who still live throughout the state. So, this visit involved a lot of catching up and socializing with them, but also some sightseeing and renewing the acquaintance of little towns from my youth. Many of them now include shops promoting local artists and craftsmen, making it all the more interesting.
My wife and I landed in Denver and immediately drove over to the Western Slope to attend something I've longed to see since its inception, the Mike The Headless Chicken Festival, in my Mother's old hometown of Fruita. It's small, but fun, (I need to contact the organizers with some ideas, this can be a much bigger event with a few more ideas and activities). Areas and towns visited included:
Grand Junction
Grand Mesa (Beautiful - and some of the smaller roads were still snowed in)

Hotchkiss
Montrose
Ridgway
Ouray
Lake City (had snow flurries here, in late May!)
Sapinero
Ft. Collins
Estes Park
Palisade (the center of the Colorado wine industry)

Hedonistic highlights included pizza at the famous Hot Tomato in Fruita. Lunch at the legendary True Grit Cafe in Ridgway. Bourbon tasting from the Strothman Distillery in Grand Junction, (Yum!). Mead from the Meadery of the Rockies. Zack's Barbecue in Hotchkiss; and beer at Coopersmiths in Ft. Collins.

My only problem with visiting Colorado is leaving. It has always been a second home to me. Thanks for a wonderful time, Cousins!

RIP Clarence Burke Jr.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-clarence-burke-20130530,0,7388361.story
I loved their sound...

The Electric Newspaper

http://framework.latimes.com/2013/05/23/the-times-richfield-electric-newspaper/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy National Hamburger Day!

http://www.fiveguys.com/
Yum!

Today is Memorial Day

http://www.usmemorialday.org/

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/

Frozen Movies

http://iwdrm.tumblr.com/

An interesting site devoted to displaying moments from cinema. Pretty neat!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A great article on LA's Paisley underground

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/may/16/paisley-underground-history-80s-los-angeles-psychedelia

(Thanks for the link, Peter!)

Back!

Greetings,

Am back from a vacation out in Colorado. Had a wonderful time visiting with my cousins
and seeing the sights. I hope to post a little more details on it later on, but am exhausted and
also experiencing some computer problems, so it may be a few days before this blog is up and running
properly.

Happy Armed Services Day!

http://www.defense.gov/afd/

The Cocktail Chart of Film & Literature

http://guyism.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cocktaili-chart-of-film.jpg

Essential!

The DC Zombie Crawl on May 25th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cp1Z6i8xf14#!

http://www.dczombiecrawl.org/home.html

A 70 year old treasure trove in Paris

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323297/Inside-Paris-apartment-untouched-70-years-Treasure-trove-finally-revealed-owner-locked-fled-outbreak-WWII.html#ixzz2T8EXLK6k

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Metronome Synchronization

http://io9.com/5947112/watch-32-discordant-metronomes-achieve-synchrony-in-a-matter-of-minutes

This is a pretty neat little effect, actually.

(Thanks for the link, Rick!)

Not much being posted

Dear Readers, Am going to be very busy for the next two weeks, so postings will be much lighter than normal. But we should be back up and running by Memorial Day. See you then!

Happy Birthday George Carlin!

http://www.georgecarlin.com/

Happy Birthday Burt Bacharach!

http://bacharachonline.com/

Happy Birthday Steve Winwood!

http://www.stevewinwood.com/

Happy Birthday Avalon Hill!

The first wargame company. Founded on this date in 1954.

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

Happy Limerick Day!

http://www.inquisitr.com/23873/limerick-day/

The potato cannon

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/514636/us-air-force-measures-potato-cannon-muzzle-velocities/

John 9:25

http://thedaily23.blogspot.com/2012/12/blinded-by-vodka-cured-by-whiskey.html#more

The Ace of Swords

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/my-afternoon-with-the-ace-of-swords/

A fascinating article/interview with a master sword collector.

A ncie artilce/explanation of why oldies are sometimes re-recorded

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/05/re_recordings_runaway_and_other_classic_songs_redone_in_the_studio_can_we.single.html
The re-recordings NEVER are better, in my opinion.

One of the most unusual and beautiful performances I've ever seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnDeo0yhIws&feature=player_embedded#!
This is incredible. Really. A new (to me) art form.

The German 'Wolf Children'

http://www.dw.de/lost-and-forgotten-german-wolf-children-in-lithuania/a-16798830?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

A very sad footnote to the War....

Book Tattoos

http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/tattoos-inspired-by-books

Some of these are pretty cute!

Witches and Brambles - a brief article

http://www.strangehistory.net/2013/05/09/witches-and-brambles/

The mystery of the Van Meter Monster

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319503/The-unsolved-mystery-Van-Meter-Visitor--winged-creature-glowing-horn-caused-terror-Iowa-town-110-years-ago.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Offhand, there seem to be elements of Moth Man and the Jersey Devil in this little tale.

A nice collection of ghost photos

http://www.ghosttheory.com/2013/05/10/some-of-the-most-hair-raising-photos-youve-ever-seen

Lennon's Car

http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/03/a-wagon-that-rocks-n-rolls/

(Thanks for the link, Perry!)

DARPA, the CIA, and Acoustic Kitty

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-05/cias-cyborg-cat?src=SOC&dom=tw

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

The English Civil War - On Your Smartphone

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2011/the-battle-of-naseby-on-your-smartphone

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Happy Birthday to Bride of the Monster!

One of the worst movies ever made. Genius. Essential.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047898/

Happy Birthday Eric Burdon!

http://ericburdon.ning.com/

One of my all-time faves.

Happy Birthday Salvador Dali!

http://www.salvadordali.com/

Happy Birthday Phil Silvers!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799014/

The cutting edge of mascots

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/there-is-a-brazilian-mascot-for-testicular-cancer-named-mr-b

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Happy Birthday Donovan!

http://www.donovan.ie/

Happy Birthday Bono!

http://www.u2.com/

Happy National Shrimp Day!

Yum!

The last great nazi air raid?

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/revealed-nazi-bid-to-blow-up-fleet-off-orkney-1-2904006
This is an interesting story. I am unconvinced that a rather junior German officer had communication access to the RAF, or much of anyone else in the British military to leak the plan to in such detail. I'd also be highly doubtful on the mission's success if it had gone off. By January 1945, Allied air control over Britain was a pretty solid success (which is why the Germans needed V weapons...). I'd be curious how many heavily laden bombers would have been able to make it to the target zone and then be able to accurately drop their load.

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Nice article on the end of the Game Store...

http://misternizz.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/has-the-sun-set-on-the-friendly-little-game-store/

The Little Soldier Shop mentioned in the article was my hangout, and a legend in the DC gaming scene.

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Breathing Without Air

http://www.techwench.com/scientists-invent-oxygen-particle-that-if-injected-allows-you-to-live-without-breathing/
A fascinating breakthrough!

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Happy Birthday Dave Prater!

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

Happy Birthday to The Muppets!

http://blog.rifftrax.com/2008/05/09/happy-53rd-birthday-muppets/

http://kidshow.dcmemories.com/sam1.html

What car would Spock drive?

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

This is a very cute commercial - for all Trekkies!

(Thanks for the link and title, Mike!)

Happy Birthday Ricky Nelson!

http://www.ricknelson.com/

Happy Birthday Bob Clampett!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163332/

Happy Birthday Robert Johnson!

http://www.robertjohnsonbluesfoundation.org/

Happy Furry Day!

http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/helston.shtml

A sad anniversary

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005188
Today marks the anniversary of the death of Mordecai Anielewicz and the end of the Warsaw ghetto uprising of 1943. "Courage" doesn't even begin to describe him and his fellow fighters.

Happy VE Day!

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

RIP Ray Harryhausen

http://www.cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/rip-ray-harryhausen/

Happy Birthday Gabby Hayes!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371025/?ref_=sr_1

The ultimate Western sidekick.

Happy Birthday Darren McGavin!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569000/

Happy National Roast Leg Of Lamb Day!

Yum!

Germs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eh-Ty65u4

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Doug!)

Anniversary for (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

On this date in 1965, Keith Richards created the classic guitar riff that would become "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." He played it for Mick Jagger in a hotel room in Clearwater, Florida.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%28I_Can%27t_Get_No%29_Satisfaction

Happy Birthday Sigmund Freud!

http://www.iep.utm.edu/freud/

Happy Birthday Orson Welles!

http://www.orsonwelles.org/

Nothing new about Firefly

http://www.blastr.com/2013-5-3/netflix-exec-explains-why-theyd-never-bring-back-firefly
All that this little interview demonstrates is stuff that I already know - that suits always hated Firefly, they don't know it, they don't understand it, and they never will - even from a business point of view. If the show ever gets revived, it will be over the dead bodies of clowns like this, an event I'd pay money to see. I wouldn't expect a lowest-common-denominator company like Netflix to do so, anyway. Way too mainstream, too boring, too flaccid. If there's a Firefly relaunch it'll come out of someplace else - someplace totally unexpected. And it'll be a complete surprise to the suits when it succeeds, (and they'll then busy themselves with shoddy imitations and shoddier excuses for how they missed it). And nobody will remember the names of capons like this dude.

The best obituary that you'll read today

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=antonia-larroux&pid=164596250#fbLoggedOut

The Return of Karl Wagner's Kane!

http://singular--points.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/karl-edward-wagners-kane-returns-in-new.html

I love these sword & sorcery epics!

Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ2SgrdOt4s&feature=share

I've attended one of these about 15 years back, in Salem, and it was hysterical.

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

The Ultimate GAO Investigation

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/03/what_a_piece_of_junk_death_star_report?page=0,0

This is soooo like DC....

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Norman Geddes - Game Maker Extraordinaire!

http://www.believermag.com/issues/201205/?read=article_szerlip
Fascinating little story; I'd of loved to have seen that wargame.

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

Happy Birthday Michael Palin!

http://www.palinstravels.co.uk/
http://www.cardinalfang.net/biographies/palin_biog.html

Happy Birthday Bob Seger!

http://www.bobseger.com/

Happy National Hoagie Day!

Yum!

Happy National Oyster Day!

Yum!

http://www.harriscrabhouse.com/

My aluminum foil hat is cheaper...

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/01/tiny-device-will-detect-domestic-drones
I would note that, "Drone owners will be asked to record the sound of their drones to be included in the database" in order for the device to work. Yea, they're really going to undercut their sales by allowing this guy free access to the data needed to counter them...