Weirdness: May 2014

Vikings on the Great Lakes?

http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/usa-viking-artefacts-discovered-near-great-lakes/

This doesn't surprise me in the least. By now, there are all sorts of contenders from the Old World visiting the New before the Spanish got here - Phoenicians, West Africans, Cathaginians, English, Welsh, Irish, and of course, the Norsemen. Storms would account for some, and wanderlust or delusion for others. And a few probably were able to set up at least a minor and temporary home here, perhaps even some (extremely) limited trade. But that is the important part - only the Spanish had the political will, organization and technology to stay forever and expand. The rest faded away. So, unlike many of the more conservative historians, I've got no beef with claims for other contenders in the "who got here first" sweepstakes. Because it almost doesn't matter. For me, it's who made the Atlantic a permanent trade route, with the resulting colonization and conquest.

Germany's Corpse Factory

http://hubpages.com/hub/World-War-1-History-Britain-Exposes-Germanys-Corpse-Conversion-Factory

An interesting article about propaganda in WWI.

Guitar Lessons in the DC area

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aZPyMElblw

Karl's an old friend of mine, and an excellent guitarist and songwriter.

The Re-Opening of the Poe House in Baltimore

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2014/05/22/edgar-allan-poe-house-to-reopen-saturday-under-new.html

Happy Birthday Clint Eastwood!

http://www.clinteastwood.net/

Happy Birthday John Bonham!

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

Today is National Save Your Hearing Day

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/saveyourhearingday.htm

A plug - Save Our Skins

http://www.fearnet.com/news/news-article/us-online-premiere-sos-save-our-skins-here

http://www.bite.ca/bitedaily/2014/04/s-o-s-save-skins-episode-1-theres-nothing-new-tv/

I just discovered this Intenet series - and really enjoyed it. I'd say that it was more than a little influenced (stylistically) by The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, with hints of Shaun of the Dead, Idiocracy and Red Dwarf.

New book about Babylon 5

http://www.cafepress.com/b5books/11088350

Dead Guru?

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/indian-guru-dead-or-meditating-170-million-depends-answer-n117691

Of course, Monty Python dealt with this issue decades ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218&feature=kp

Headline of the Day

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2014/05/birmingham_police_may_have_flu.html#incart_m-rpt-2

(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

Happy Birthday to Copacabana! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1947.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039277/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Happy Birthday Mel Blanc!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000305/
A National Treasure.

Happy National Mint Julep Day!

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

Happy Water A Flower Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/waterflowerday.htm

Awkward Classical Music Photos

http://awkwardclassicalmusicphotos.com/

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

I'm Doomed...

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/05/28/being-a-cynic-linked-to-tripled-risk-of-developing-dementia-finland-study-suggests/

A nice little article about warplane insignia

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/05/28/flying-colours-a-vivid-history-of-warplane-insignia/

Keep those turtleneck sweaters handy!

http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/27/britain-has-15000-vampires-apparently-4741861/?ito=facebook

Happy National Paperclip Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-strawberries-and-cream-day-may-21/

Happy Birthday Melissa Etheridge!

http://www.melissaetheridge.com/splash/

Happy Birthday Patrick Henry!

http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biohen.cfm

RIP Radu Florescu

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/books/radu-florescu-scholar-who-linked-dracula-and-vlad-the-impaler-dies-at-88.html?_r=2

Happy Birthday Dr. Joseph Guillotin!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph-Ignace_Guillotin

Happy Birthday John Fogerty!

http://www.johnfogerty.com/

Happy Birthday Gladys Knight!

http://gladysknight.com/

Happy Slugs Return From Capistrano Day!

http://www.wellcat.com/may/slugs_return_from_capistrano_day.htm

Happy National Hamburger Day!

Yum!

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Happy Amnesty International Day!

http://www.amnestyusa.org/

Tesla's Spirit Radio

http://themindunleashed.org/2014/05/build-spirit-radio-creeped-tesla.html
Neat-O!

The Best of Tony Wilson's 'So It Goes'

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/punk_1976_78_the_best_of_tony_wilsons_so_it_goes

Some classic punk and new wave footage, here.

The World's Biggest Paper Airplane

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/05/27/arturo_s_desert_eagle_gopro_video_world_s_biggest_paper_airplane_flies_over.html

Paper airplanes were a minor passion of mine in childhood. A wonderful hobby.

Combined GIF's

http://mashable.com/2014/05/25/combined-gifs/?utm_campaign=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Scottish Independence and Panama

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27405350
I had no idea! A fascinating chapter in British history.

The legend of Rommel in the Shenandoah Valley

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/05/27/rommel-shenandoah/

Pillows

http://diply.com/trendyjoe/15-pillows-youll-wish-you-had-on-your-bed/38900

Happy Birthday to the God Save The Queen!

Released on this date in 1977.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z2M_hpoPwk&feature=kp

Happy Birthday Bruce Cockburn!

http://brucecockburn.com/

Happy Birthday Ramsey Lewis!

http://www.ramseylewis.com/

Happy Birthday Dashiell Hammett!

http://www.biography.com/people/dashiell-hammett-9326903#awesm=~oEsfYM565MZ1cx

Happy Birthday Christopher Lee!

http://christopherleeweb.com/

Happy Birthday Vincent Price!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001637/

One of my faves!

For Sale - The World's Biggest Record Collection

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/338457/worlds-biggest-record-collection-is-selling-dirt-cheap-but-nobody-wants-it.htm

(Thanks for the link, Moana!)

Alert Bilbo!

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Womans-car-attacked-by-self-identified-high-elf-battling-evil-259598811.html

Entombed animals

http://www.paranormalpeopleonline.com/toad-in-a-hole-the-weird-story-of-entombed-animals/

This is one of those topics that pops up in many Fortean compendiums of weird phenomena.

Happy Birthday, Dracula! (the novel)

http://beladraculalugosi.wordpress.com/contemporary-reviews-of-bram-stokers-dracula/

Published on this date in 1897.

A nice article on the code names used in military operations

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/05/20/whats-in-a-name-a-lot-when-it-comes-to-naming-military-operations/

Current images of the battle sites of WWI

http://io9.com/sobering-images-show-famous-world-war-i-battle-sites-a-1581624280

A harrowing little reminder...

The whale that 'spoke'

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/story-one-whale-who-tried-bridge-linguistic-divide-between-animals-humans-180951437/?utm_source=smithsoniantopic&no-ist

Fascinating stuff.

Sinclair's Dinoland at the World's Fair

http://www.retronaut.com/2014/05/sinclair-dinoland-and-ny-worlds-fair/

I have fun memories of visiting their exhibit - and still have the toy dinosaur souvenir that my Father purchased for me, 50 years ago...

A nice collection of pictures of the Quarry Men

http://www.retronaut.com/2012/09/the-quarry-men-1957-1959/

Happy Birthday Bobcat Goldthwait!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001281/

Happy Birthday Matt Stone!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001778/

Happy Birthday Stevie Nicks!

http://rockalittle.com/

Happy Birthday John Wayne!

http://johnwayne.com/

Happy Birthday Peter Cushing!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001088/

Happy Sally Ride Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/sallyrideday.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/sally-ride-9458284#awesm=~oEscCsJNztQOpT

Happy National Hamburger Day!

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Today is Memorial Day

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html
http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp?utm_source=3birds&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=AUBURNVW_Fun+Facts+About+Memorial+Day

Happy Birthday Paul Weller!

http://www.paulweller.com/

Happy Birthday Richard O'Brien!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O%27Brien

Happy Birthday Hal David!

http://haldavid.com/

Happy Towel Day!

http://towelday.org/

Happy National Wine Day!

http://www.virginiawine.org/

Yum!

DVD Box Set of Halloween on the way

http://gotchamovies.com/news/own-all-ten-halloween-films-one-collection-september-23-180363
I confess that the first one is the only one that I particularly enjoyed, Caught the next two and they didn't do much for me. The rest, I've no idea about.

Germany's illegal army

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/wehrmacht-veterans-created-a-secret-army-in-west-germany-a-969015.html
Finally! I've been looking for some confirmation of some rumors I had heard about years ago regarding this. A fascinating footnote to both WWII and the Cold War. However, one of the additional rumors I heard was that this group was not some sort of German proto-addition to NATO, and strictly anti-Russian; But actually planning a sort of putcsh/revolt against the Allies, and "liberating" West Germany from occupation, etc., and that Adenauer knew about this and tacitly supported it. I can only imagine the geopolitical nightmare that would have resulted if an attack on Anglo-American troops in Germany were to have occurred in the mid 1950's.

Happy Birthday Little Nell Campbell!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0132752/

Happy Birthday Tommy Chong!

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

Happy Birthday Mr. Zimmerman!

http://www.bobdylan.com/us/

Happy Birthday Patti LaBelle!

http://www.pattilabelle.com/

Happy National Escargot Day!

Yum!

The weirdest anti-public defecation video that you're going to see today

http://freakonomics.com/2014/05/21/mr-poo/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

English

http://www.tickld.com/x/90-of-people-cant-pronounce-this-whole-poem

This is wonderul!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A lost tape of Tolkien's

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/noble-smith/jrr-tolkien-reveals-the-t_b_5373529.html
I confess to not being a huge fan of his work. I tend more towards dark fantasy and sword and sorcery.

Geomagnetic Energy and Paranormal Experiences

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/05/is-paranormal-experience-the-result-of-geomagnetic-energy-acting-on-our-brains/

Fascinating stuff!

A nice little article about ghosts

http://mindreader.com/2014/05/12/what-do-we-know-about-ghosts/

A little more on the Webdriver Torso mystery

http://www.thevine.com.au/life/tech/the-unsolved-mystery-of-youtubes-weirdest-channel-20140518-281418/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsLiV4WJfkTEHH0b9PmRklw/videos

I still guess this as being a code or cryptogram.

Google's UFO

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/google-showed-us-its-secret-internet-balloon-that-everyone-thought-was-a-ufo

The cutting edge of dropping out

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/19/us-usa-connecticut-threat-idUSKBN0DZ1BE20140519?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Yup, pretty impressive display of intelligence, there.

Art

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/05/someone_is_painting_dog_feces_gold_in_brooklyn.html

This is your sheep on drugs

http://www.yourjewishnews.com/2014/05/20-n32832.html

The love that dare note speak its name

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/05/19/drunk-attempts-to-have-sex-with-cash-machine-picnic-table?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Happy Birthday to The Thin Man! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1934. One of my faves.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025878/

Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001196/bio

Happy Lucky Penny Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/pennyday.htm

Newly found photos of the Red Baron

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2631807/Rare-photographs-WWI-German-fighter-pilot-Red-Baron-action-shoebox-British-car-boot-sale.html

Pretty neat!

The original codetalkers of WWI

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26963624

A new live box set from CSN&Y!

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/crosby-stills-nash-young-live-1974-box-set-out-this-summer-20140522?utm_source=dailynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Forgotten English

http://mentalfloss.com/article/56845/16-weird-forgotten-english-words-we-should-bring-back

Actually, Night-Hag, Petty-Fogger, and Crapulence are words that I've seen and used within recent memory...

Happy Birthday Bernie Taupin!

http://www.berniejtaupin.com/

Happy Birthday Arthur Conan Doyle!

http://www.sherlockholmesonline.org/

Happy World Goth day!

http://www.worldgothday.com/

Happy Harvey Milk Day!

http://www.harveymilkday.co/

Happy International Day for Biological Diversity!

http://www.cbd.int/idb/

Dog Texts

http://aplus.com/a/dog-texting-messages

Very cute!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Rocket Propaganda from WWII

http://www.germanpostalhistory.com/php/searchviewpage.php?country_spec=Mailsales.mailsale153&pageitems=300&pagenum=0&orderby=3
This is a really interesting, and apparently quite rare, collection of V-1 delivered propaganda flyers. I had no idea that it was used for such purposes.

(Thanks for the link, John!)

Happy National Strawberries & Cream Day!

Yum!

Happy Anniversary to Bogey & Bacall!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/humphrey-bogart-lauren-bacall_n_3936175.html

Happy Birthday Ron Isley!

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

My next bottle opener...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSuH9u0kvhU?rel=0

I really want this...

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Bookmarks

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/20/creative-bookmarks-to_n_5353814.html

Happy Birthday Cher!

http://www.cher.com/

Happy Birthday Joe Cocker!

http://www.cocker.com/de-en/home

Happy Birthday Jane Wiedlin!

http://janewiedlin.com/

Beginning of month of Prairial in French revolutionary calendar

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

Happy Birthday Toussaint Louverture!

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

Happy Pick Strawberries Day!

http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pick-strawberries-day/

Today is the anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration

http://allthingsliberty.com/2013/02/second-coming-of-a-revolutionary-war-patriot/

A precursor to the Declaration of Independence.

The atom bomb dance

http://www.retronaut.com/2014/05/the-showgirl-and-the-atom-bomb/

Happy Birthday Joey Ramone!

http://www.joeyramone.com/

Happy Birthday Dusty Hill!

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

Happy Birthday Malcolm X!

http://www.malcolmx.com/about/bio.html

http://www.biography.com/people/malcolm-x-9396195#troubled-youth&awesm=~oElwb4ZhpuaoDO

Scares That Care Con coming to Williamsburg!

http://scaresthatcareweekend.com/

Happy Birthday Dwayne Hickman!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0382722/

Headline of the Day

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Florida-Man-Says-He-Stabbed-Friend-Over-Last-Beer-259243211.html?fullSite=y&_osource=SocialFlowFB_CHBrand
First of all, I wouldn't reach across a table for a Natural Ice, much less kill for it. Secondly, I'm trying to wrap my head around the next to the last sentence in this article. Only in Florida.

Ancient stone circles discovered in Virginia

http://www.roanoke.com/news/virginia/couple-discovers-stone-circles-on-property/article_1a74e748-d8b5-11e3-9cfa-0017a43b2370.html
Pretty neat.

A nice little article about remote viewing during the Cold War

http://narrative.ly/the-spies-among-us/journeys-of-a-psychic-army-spy/

Happy Birthday Mark Mothersbaugh!

http://www.mutato.com/

Happy Visit Your Relatives Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/visitrelativesday.htm

Happy International Museum Day!

http://icom.museum/events/international-museum-day/

There's now a game based on the Bunnyman legend of NoVa!

http://www.countgore.com/PlayRoom.htm

The Mike The Headless Chicken Festival is going on!

http://www.kjct8.com/home/headlines/259624391.html

Happy Birthday John Penn!

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/penn.htm
A Patriot.

A nice map of DC....

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/05/14/map_of_murder_bay_vice_map_of_washington_dc_in_the_1890s.html

A nice little article on the Rhine Research Center

http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/durhams-rhine-research-center-one-of-the-countrys-last-parapsychological-institutes-seeks-to-quantify-the-ethereal/Content?oid=4163344

Synchronicity (somewhat) between cattle mutilations and an old horror movie

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/05/cattle-mutilations-and-a-curious-movie/

An Edward Gorey Documentary is on the way!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisseufert/the-edward-gorey-documentary-project

Happy Birthday Craig Ferguson!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0272401/

Happy Birthday Trent Reznor!

http://www.nin.com/

Happy Birthday Country Dick Montana!

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

Happy Pack Rat Day!

http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pack-rat-day/

Happy Birthday Maureen O'Sullivan!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001577/

Happy Birthday Seth Warner!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Armed Forces Day!

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

Some fun Amazon Reviews

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Ouija-Board-Pink/dp/B001HEKJ2M

A long-lost Marx Brothers Broadway Show to be performed!

http://ymlp.com/z0pjtR
I hope that they film this, would love to see it!

The Ultimate Pez Dispenser

http://shewalkssoftly.com/2010/08/29/alien-pez-dispenser/

Happy Birthday to Pet Sounds!

Released on this date in 1966.

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

Happy Birthday David Boreanaz!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004770/

Happy Birthday Jonathan Richman!

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

Happy Birthday Studs Terkel!

http://studsterkel.org/#archive_categories

http://conversations.studsterkel.org/

Happy Love A Tree Day!

http://blog.nwf.org/2011/05/the-five-best-ways-to-celebrate-love-a-tree-day-may-16th/

Another Firefly film? Not yet....

http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/joss-whedon-on-kickstarter-and-firefly

A nice show on Chesapeake blue crabs

http://video.mpt.tv/video/1182496752/

This is a delicacy/obsession/cult in the Chesapeake region. Anyone visiting here - I always try to get them to eat some crabs.

H.R. Giger in Hell

http://www.dorkly.com/post/62941/the-terrifying-afterlife-of-hr-giger

;)

Happy Birthday Ralph Steadman

http://www.ralphsteadman.com/

Marx Brothers Day of Laughter online tonight!

http://www.shindig.com/event/marxfest

U. S. Military prepared for Zombies

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/05/zombie_apocalypse_military_plan_walking_dead_pentagon_conop_8888.html

(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

A nice article bout the Jackalope

http://www.wired.com/2014/05/fantastically-wrong-jackalope/

Wuss Virginia

http://jalopnik.com/5724684/virginia-dmv-revokes-worlds-greatest-license-plate/all

Pathetic bureaucrats and busybodys..

Happy Birthday Utah Phillips!

http://thelongmemory.com/

One of the great folk singers.

Happy Birthday Brian Eno!

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

Happy Birthday L. Frank Baum!

http://www.biography.com/people/frank-baum-9202328#awesm=~oDY9wH3vLlQkHB

Happy International Day of Families!

http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/

The cutting edge of government regulation

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-167032/witchdoctors-kilifi-be-vetted-given-licences-says-mwambire

Some help for travellers regarding bedbugs

http://www.wtop.com/1390/3621013/Tips-to-stay-safe-during-bedbug-season
http://www.bedbugregistry.com/

Happy Birthday David Byrne!

http://davidbyrne.com/

Happy Birthday Jack Bruce!

http://www.jackbruce.com/

Happy Birthday Samuel Holden Parsons!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday Robert Owen!

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/436254/Robert-Owen

A Hops Crisis On The Way?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/05/13/hops_price_doubled_ipa_madness.html

Needless to say, I'm stocking up as fast as I can. Stone Brewery is gonna make a killing...

Happy Birthday Arlington!

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Arlington-Marks-150th-Anniversary-of-First-Burial-259031021.html?_osource=Newltr_Station_Hdlines_DC

As I've mentioned before, Arlington National Cemetery is about as close to Sacred Ground that I am willing to concede to. I always recommend it to visitors as one of the essential sites of my hometown.

RIP H.R. Giger

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/360839/scitech/geeksandgaming/aliens-creator-h-r-giger-passes-away

We've lost a giant in the field of weird and disturbing art.

Happy Birthday to Let It Be! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1970.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065976/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Happy Birthday to Getting Straight!

One of my faves. Premiered on this date in 1970.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065775/

Happy Birthday Ritchie Valens!

http://www.ritchievalens.com/

Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder!

http://www.steviewonder.net/

Happy Frog Jumpning Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/frogjumpingday.htm
http://www.frogtown.org/

Anniversary fo the Rebecca Riots

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

Anniversary of the Whiskey Rebellion

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

Happy Leprechaun Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/stpat/leprechaunday.htm

Happy Jamestown Day! (the official date...)

Well, if you aren't Native American...

http://historyisfun.org/jamestown-day.htm

The Dinosaur Hunt

http://cryptomundo.com/cryptozoologists/mokele-mbembe-a-new-hunt-is-on/

This beastie has been banging around Fortean circles for decades. I used to be somewhat optimistic about a possible dinosaur existing in that region. But previous failed expeditions and the general lack of evidence in an increasingly small world leave me much more pessimistic, now.

New DVD releases of the Marx Brothers!

http://www.newsfromme.com/2014/05/11/multimedia-marxes/

I'm REALLY looking forward to this!

Obscure words dealing with books and reading

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oliver-tearle/10-words-every-book-lover-should-know_b_5297284.html?utm_hp_ref=books

A fun little article.

Happy Birthday Avalon Hill Games!

The company was started on this date in 1954. The first major wargaming company.

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

Happy Birthday Steve Winwood!

http://www.stevewinwood.com/

Happy Birthday George Carlin!

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

Genius. Essential.

Happy Birthday Burt Bacharach!

http://bacharachonline.com/

Genius. Essential.

Happy International Nurses Day!

http://www.icn.ch/publications/international-nurses-day/

Happy Limerick Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/stpat/limerickday.htm

Coke VS Lava

http://www.iflscience.com/environment/molten-lava-meets-can-coke

The Ultimate Grill?

http://www.jaggrill.com/

I confess, this looks pretty cool to me!

Happy Birthday to Bride of the Monster!

Premiered on this date in 1955. One of Ed Wood's finest.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047898/

Happy Birthday Eric Burdon!

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

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Salvador Dali!

http://www.biography.com/people/salvador-dal%C3%AD-40389#awesm=~oDpvTYjZJDI95F

Happy Birthday Phil Silvers!

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

Happy Twilight Zone Day!

http://www.twilightzone.org/

Happy Mother's Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day_%28United_States%29

Get Your Own UFO!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-FUTURO-Home-1-Of-20-In-US-Like-SpaceShip-Mobile-Home-UFO-/221432005189

A very cool guide to gothic literature

http://www.theguardian.com/books/interactive/2014/may/09/reading-gothic-novel-pictures?CMP=twt_gu

This really is quite good, and kind of fun.

Spurious Correlations

http://tylervigen.com/

A wonderful website devoted to false conclusions.

Blackboard Art

http://www.viralnova.com/weekly-chalkboard-art/

Pretty neat!

Happy Birthday Bono!

http://www.u2.com/index/home

Happy Birthday Donovan!

http://www.donovan.ie/

Happy Birthday Bruce Pennington!

http://www.brucepennington.co.uk/

One of my fave illustrators.

Happy National Train Day!

http://www.nationaltrainday.com/s/

Happy National Shrimp Day!

Yum!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Avenue_Fish_Market

An analysis of the 1918 "spanish" Flu epidemic

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-04-mystery-pandemic-flu-virus.html

An interesting analysis to one of the greatest killers of the last century. This event seems almost ignored now, despite it's horrific effects in that time period. I lost an Uncle to this.

Amelia Earhart VS Crabs?

http://io9.com/did-coconut-crabs-really-hide-amelia-earharts-remains-1571944416

The Slang Of WWI

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/05/06/wwi_slang_soldiers_terms_for_germany_s_munitions.html

A neat little historical reference.

Founding, and then trying to stop, Mother's Day

http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30659/founder-mothers-day-later-fought-have-it-abolished
An interesting and sad little history of the Holiday.

Long before Harold & Maude....

http://hauntedohiobooks.com/news/fiends-funeral-amateur-mourners/

Neanderthals didn't go extinct?

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/new-study-suggests-neanderthals-never-went-extinct-001603

I've certainly had to deal with a few in my lifetime....

A little something for the Ladies...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617868/The-good-old-days-Horrendously-sexist-vintage-ads-wont-believe-made.html

First Family Fighters during WWII

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/05/08/fighting-first-families-meet-the-relatives-of-ww2s-most-famous-leaders/

Another interesting footnote to the War.

Out of print Beatles releases that are still missing in action

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/6-best-out-of-print-beatles-releases-20140509

A little rarity by Bruce is now available to listen to online!

https://soundcloud.com/chrisphillips-5/cambridge-5-9-74-early-i-sold-my-heart

Very cool!

My next feast

http://firstwefeast.com/eat/call-bacon-wrapped-alligator-whole-chicken-mouth/

Monty Python box set is on the way!!!

http://shop.virginemi.com/montypython/*/*/Monty-Python-s-Total-Rubbish-Deluxe-9-CD-Box-Set-Free-Exclusive-Poster/3BCB0000000

A nice listing of upcoming books about vampirism

http://thevampirologist.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/upcoming-books-3/

The Patent Office

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140507/04102327144/us-patent-office-grants-photography-against-white-background-patent-to-amazon.shtml

I have just submitted my patent proposal for taking photos of a person while the guy standing next to them pokes two of their fingers out from behind the subject's head.

(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

Icelandic Hymn in a train station

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4dT8FJ2GE0

Really beautiful.

Soviet Women Fighters of WWII

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/05/drb-history-issue-world-war-two.html

A nice collection of photos of some very extraordinary folks.

Life in the DC area

http://watchdog.org/143289/bus-stops-arlington/
Ah, I remember my youth, standing by a cheap aluminum sign atop a yard post. With labor, it probably cost about $100 (in today's dollars) to put it up. But we live in a brave new world, here - dominated by two words: boondoggle and kickbacks.

Tiny Lobsters Divide Us

http://www.businessinsider.com/22-maps-that-show-the-deepest-linguistic-conflicts-in-america-2013-6?op=1

The Truth About Teddy Bears

http://www.gdfalksen.com/post/10796694042

Very cute!

Happy Birthday to The Muppets!

The Muppets fist appearance occured on this date in 1955.
http://blog.rifftrax.com/2008/05/09/happy-53rd-birthday-muppets/

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

Happy Birthday Dave Prater!

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

Happy Birthday John Brown!

http://www.biography.com/people/john-brown-9228496#awesm=~oDdKrkYqqWqbBs

Happy Military Spouse Day!

http://www.militaryspouseday.org/

Happy Lost Sock Memorial Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/lostsockday.htm

Building a Time Machine....

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/05/08/how_to_build_a_time_machine_documentary_by_jay_cheel_about_time_travel.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=32c24ff91c&mc_eid=a898612483

Richard Simmons = Death Metal

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/richard_simmons_gets_all_death_metal

A bad year for Blue Crabs, and a good year for Old Bay

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-05-01/features/bs-gr-bay-crabs-low-20140501_1_bay-crab-population-maryland-watermen-maryland-crab-harvest
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/07/why-old-bay-seasoning-might-be-on-the-cusp-of-making-it-big/

If you're from around the Chesapeake watershed, then you know about these delicacies. At the risk of sounding like a corporate shill, I can't recommend Old Bay enough. I love it on crabs, scallops, shrimp, cole slaw, eggs, potato salad, french fries, potato chips, and just about anything else you've got.

The Wedding Band Ad

http://www.tickld.com/x/this-craigslist-ad-was-removed

Classic!

The deepest hole

http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/05/08/kola_superdeep_borehole_is_the_world_s_deepest_hole.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=6cd38d0019&mc_eid=a898612483

The Soviets may have won the contest for deepest hole. But as long as DC has lil' Danny Snyder, we've got the biggest asshole.

Germany's electric u-boat

https://medium.com/p/aba074f47363

Another interesting footnote to the War. I am not just impressed with the reporting here, but also the analysis that many of the so-called 'wonder weapons' cost more than they were worth, and perhaps even hastened the defeat of the nazis by taking up too much in the way of resources. I wish that the various history and military TV channels would pay more attention to that, instead of their constant braying about how if only the war had gone on another 3 hours or so, the Allies would have been defeated by nuclear orbital jets and whatnot.

Interesting article on European VS Japanese swordsmen

http://www.tameshigiri.ca/2014/05/07/european-vs-japanese-swordsmen-historical-encounters-in-the-16th-19th-centuries/

Happy Birthday Ricky Nelson!

http://www.ricknelson.com/

Happy Birthday Bob Clampett!

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

Happy Truman Day!

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/truman-day

Happy Birthday Robert Johnson!

http://www.robertjohnsonbluesfoundation.org/biography

Happy Furry Day!

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

Today is the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War

http://www.un.org/en/events/remembranceday/

Happy VE Day!

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

Anniversary of the death of Mordecai Anielewicz & the end of the Warsaw ghetto uprising

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Anielevich.html
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/uprising1.html

I always am overwhelmed thinking of the raw courage and desperation of those people in that situation.

Real life is a Spelling Bee...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/adamdavis/people-who-need-their-spelling-privileges-revoked

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Local News Is The Best!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/40-reasons-local-news-is-the-best-news

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A fool and his money...

http://curbed.com/archives/2014/05/07/24-crazy-things-that-come-with-leo-dicaprios-latest-pad.php

As I've said before, I love it when people can take advantage of the stupidly rich and soak up some of that extra cash in various scams, fads and tulip frenzies. Well, except for the wine refrigerator. That's a necessity here at the Manor...

(Thanks for the link, Missy!)

The Transylvanian Society of Dracula

http://blooferland.com/tsd.html
Neat-O!

Happy Birthday Darren McGavin!

http://www.darrenmcgavin.net/

Happy Birthday Gabby Hayes!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371025/

Happy National Roast Log Of Lamb Day!

Yum!

My next lair!

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/75547/draculas-castle-sale#axzz30yGWgaxN

Your favorite rock band - in Legos

http://time.com/33908/bands-recreated-with-legos/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The original D&D dice!

http://www.cnet.com/news/ancient-d20-die-emerges-from-the-ashes-of-time/

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, John!)

The Valley of the Dolls

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/05/valley-of-dolls/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+colossal+%28Colossal%29

Kind of creepy...

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday to "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 National Teachers Day!

http://www.nea.org/grants/teacherday.html

Happy Birthday Frank Nelson!

http://www.franknelson.net/

A great (and fun) character actor.

Happy Birthday Orson Welles!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000080/

Happy Birthday Robespierre!

http://www.biography.com/people/maximilien-de-robespierre-37422#awesm=~oDdvsbDrPP0CDZ

Happy Birthday Sigmund Freud!

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

Headline of the day

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/05/05/las_vegas_police_purity_abstinence_event_links_sex_to_a_life_of_crime.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=f13a0345c5&mc_eid=a898612483
It's pretty amusing to see an element of Las Vegas government arguing against sex - or even narcotics use.

Back to tape???

http://gizmodo.com/sony-crams-3-700-blu-rays-worth-of-storage-in-a-single-1571508568

I guess that I'd have several questions that always plagued old-style tapes: Will this get brittle with age? Will repeated usage stretch it and possibly damage or corrupt what is on it? Is the tape and/or box more vulnerable to heat than current formats? What, if any, are the effects of exposure to anything magnetic, or x-ray machines?

The Black Dog Mystery of Cornwall

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/05/04/1937-cornish-black-dog-scare/

Fun stuff!

The 'secret' libraries of New York

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/secret-libraries-of-new-york-city

Some neat looking ones.

Happy Birthday Michael Palin!

http://www.palinstravels.co.uk/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001589/

Happy Birthday Bob Seger!

http://www.bobseger.com/

Happy National Hoagie Day!

Yum!

Happy Oyster Day!

http://www.elliottsoysterhouse.com/

http://www.harriscrabhouse.com/

Yum!

Old Bay Beer

http://www.wtop.com/46/3615986/Maryland-beer-to-honor-Old-Bay-seasoning
I'll be curious about this.

For fans of history (and libraries)

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_lUbXLSQ40nIydC0SkCKDrl51vIErn8ahXuPI75hHuXhxwD1DMpckMi1Y66vQ7vmwgC502EJ59A6K5afJgO2gNomTH3cXQGK2Gxxl3nrnUNRn_O7d3dMLWxkllp_3tMtf4A4/s1600/1library+of+alex.jpg

(Thanks for the link, Infidel753!)

eBooks just became much more interesting to me...

http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/may/01/scanner-ebook-arms-anus-optical-character-recognition
(Thanks for the link, Infidel753!)

Happy Birthday Dick Dale!

http://www.dickdale.com/

Anniversary of the Kent State Massacre

http://www.may4.org/

Anniversary of the Freedom Rides of 1961

http://www.core-online.org/History/freedom%20rides.htm

Happy National Homebrew Day!

Yum!

The return of Green Acres?

http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/green-acres-movie-broadway-show/

I wish they wouldn't. I enjoyed the TV show, but it was a product of a particular time, and it won't work now, especially the way Hollywood writes things nowadays.

Happy World Naked Gardening Day!

http://www.chron.com/life/healthzone/article/8-exercises-to-get-ready-for-World-Naked-5435731.php

The cutting edge of public shaming

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/spitting-image-shows-reid-park-keepers-plight/article_c79d8ae8-d224-11e3-9f69-0019bb2963f4.html

Toys 'R' Us - white trash version

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/24/toy-stolen-from-grave-ontario-ohio_n_5208728.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

The possible aliens for the film 2001

http://www.2001italia.it/2013/10/2001-aliens-that-almost-were.html
Neat article.

Coca Cola during the war

http://www.drinkingcup.net/coca-cola-history-didnt-know-santa-nazis-astronauts/
Fascinating little history.

Geek Home Theaters

http://www.homesandhues.com/11-Amazing-Geek-Home-Theaters/

Fun stuff!

Britain's Bullion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTtf5s2HFkA

An interesting video.

Hexapod Robot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn3FWb-vQQ4

Brilliant, and creepy...

My next toy

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/Default.aspx?PID=5145636&sku=12185&source=cj&utm_campaign=CJ&utm_medium=CPA&utm_source=Affiliate

Of course, we'd quickly re-engage that torch for in-flight mode...

Jack Straws

http://www.finch-and-co.co.uk/antiquities/d/napoleonic-prisoner-of-war-work-finely-fretcut-bone-set-of-spellicans-or-jack-straws/63911
I confess to having never heard of this game before. Beautiful playing pieces!

Soviets In Space!

Pretty psychedelic!

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/04/pic-of-day-cosmonauts-bling.html

When to use Old Bay Seasoning

http://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/ways-to-use-old-bay

I agree with the subtitle - it does well on everything.

RIP Deon Jackson

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/04/rip_ann_arbor_native_soul_sing.html

I just heard...

Eddie Munster's Haunted Mansion

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2014/04/17/Munsters-star-Butch-Patrick-plans-to-save-a-haunted-mansion/3491397749806/

A nice little article on Spectrophilia

http://whofortedblog.com/2014/05/01/brief-history-spectrophilia-eve-keha/

Diapers for the paranoid

http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/01/the-underwear-choice-for-a-nuclear-winter-radiation-proof-pants-4715229/

The cutting edge of religious monuments

http://www.vice.com/read/heres-the-first-look-at-the-new-satanic-monument-being-built-for-oklahomas-statehouse

Irony

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2615964/More-100-people-come-suspected-food-poisoning-attending-summit-FOOD-SAFETY.html

Headline (and personal name) of the Day

http://globalnews.ca/news/1300067/ottawa-police-arrest-donald-popadick-for-indecent-exposure-in-public-park/

Happy Birthday to The Mummy! (the 1999 film)

Premiered on this date.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120616/

America Attacks Denmark!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/01/denmark_dynamited_by_cunning_american_minecraft_vandals/

Will nothing stay this country's imperialistic ambitions?!?

(Thanks for the link, Kevin!)

Happy Birthday Frankie Valli!

http://www.frankievallifourseasons.com/

Happy Birthday to The Black Cat! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1934. Great horror movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024894/?ref_=fn_al_tt_6

Happy Birthday to The Cocoanuts!

Premiered on this date in 1929, introducing the Marx Brothers to film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019777/

Happy Birthday Machiavelli!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
Patron saint of students of politics, and secret enemy of royalty, feudalism and aristocracy.

Happy Birthday James Brown!

http://www.biography.com/people/james-brown-9228350#awesm=~oD9fPyW51tqfYd

Happy Birthday Pete Seeger!

http://peteseeger.net/wp/

Happy Nettle Day!

http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/may_day.htm

An ultra-obscure English Holiday that I'm resurrecting.

Happy World Press Freedom Day!

http://www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday/

Happy Paranormal Day!

http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/paranormal-day/

Wuss America

http://happyplace.someecards.com/31066/this-kids-detention-slip-explains-his-very-good-reason-for-getting-in-trouble

We are the most delicate orchids that have ever existed in history.

Alert Ken-L Ration!

http://www.retronaut.com/2013/03/brookie-the-largest-horse-ever-recorded/

Neo-Pagan Partisans in the Ukraine in WWII

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/05/02/neo-pagan-partisans/

A fascinating tidbit about the War.

A (very short) collaboration between Jim henson & Raymond Scott

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/experimental_film_collaboration_between_jim_henson_and_raymond_scott_1967

Classic Amazon Reviews of a wonderful product for modern America

http://www.amazon.com/AutoExec-Wheelmate-Steering-Attachable-Surface/dp/B00E1D1GY6/ref=sr_1_1?tag=ohmy0c-20

A new Internet mystery...

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27238332
I don't know if this is a code, but it certainly has all of the earmarks of one.

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)