Weirdness: August 2014

ONLY NUMBER 3 ?!?!?

http://redbricktown.com/2014/08/30/report-washington-d-c-drivers-longer-worst-usa/

http://www.allstate.com/resources/Allstate/attachments/tools-and-resources/ABD-Report-2014.pdf

C'mon, DC - where's the Pride?!? Of course, I question the survey results. For one thing, they cleave the suburbs from the city, (Beloved Alexandria is listed as #8). It's like a physician giving you a clean bill of health while ignoring that grapefruit-sized tumor on your neck, ("Oh, that's a different place."). And for another thing, clearly these Allstate clowns have never been to Baileys Crossroads or Seven Corners at rush hour. Just that two mile stretch alone would put our Fair City in the Number One slot, no question. Throw in Pennsylvania Avenue during tourist season, or Shirlington at dinner time, and we're talking a Hieronymous Bosch nightmare. And what about Nutley Street and 66? Why, the traffic reporters don't even bother to mention the length of delay anymore, merely that day's body count. The whispered mention of these locations has been enough to put insurance claims adjusters into catatonic shock. Pfft! Number 3, indeed....

A site devoted to the disappearance of Ambrose Bierce

http://donswaim.com/bierce-disappearance.html

And if you don't know about Ambrose, do yourself a favor and check him out http://www.ambrosebierce.org/works.html.

His Devil's Dictionary is an essential part of my life...

Happy Birthday Frank Conniff!

http://frankconniff.com/
http://mst3k.wikia.com/wiki/Frank_Conniff

Happy Birthday John Phillips!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Phillips_%28musician%29

Happy Birthday Lewis Black!

http://lewisblack.com/

Happy Birthday Molly Ivins!

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

Happy Birthday Joan Blondell!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000951/

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley!

http://www.biography.com/people/mary-shelley-9481497

Happy National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

Yum!

Today is the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

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

Happy International Bacon Day!

Yum!

The Ultime Chuck Berry CD Collection!

Incredible!

http://www.bear-family.com/en/by-brand-manufacturer/berry-chuck/rock-and-roll-music-any-old-way-you-choose-it-the-complete-studio-recordings-plus-16-cd-2-books.html?force_sid=80959cf22d34ab34724985041fa7b3d3

(Thanks for the link, Art!)

The (possible) return of Ballantine's IPA

http://gizmodo.com/how-pabst-brought-a-136-year-old-beer-back-from-the-dea-1628690352

it seems to me that there are far too many if's and but's this to call it a resurrection of the original beer. In one way, that's unfortunate, but it might still be quite good, and I plan on trying it.

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The mystery of Death Valley's moving stones - solved

http://time.com/3210582/sailing-stones-death-valley-solved/

Amazon's Customer Service

http://laughingsquid.com/customer-has-a-hilarious-norse-mythology-themed-chat-with-an-amazon-customer-service-person/
Neat-O!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!

The first two albums by David Sancious are being reissued!

http://theseconddisc.com/2014/08/29/greetings-from-asbury-park-n-j-esoteric-reissues-david-sancious-first-two-albums/

(Thanks for the link, Art!)

Anniversary of George joing the Quarrymen in 1958

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-quarrymen-mn0000491441/biography

Happy Birthday Charles Gray!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336509/

A great character actor.

Happy Birthday Elliott Gould!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001285/

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday John Locke!

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

A new Doors film...

http://www.eagle-rock.com/product/feast-of-friends-2/#.U_-Yn2MXMSP

Eating Holy Clay

http://hauntedohiobooks.com/news/eating-holy-clay/

Very strange....

Mrs. Wakeman VS The Antichrist

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/08/28/review-mrs-wakeman-vs-antichrist/
A nice review of what sounds like a fascinating book!

Happy Birthday Animal Crackers!

Premiered on this date in 1930. Great movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020640/

Happy Birthday Jack Vance!

One of my favorite fantasy authors.

http://www.jackvance.com/

Happy Birthday C. Wright Mills!

http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/users/f/felwell/www/Theorists/Mills/

Happy Birthday J.S. Le Fanu!

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

Happy Birthday John Stark!

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

A Patriot.

Anniversary of the 1963 March On Washington

http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_march_on_washington_for_jobs_and_freedom/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

One of the most important American political events - ever. Perhaps the greatest speech ever delivered on American soil.

And yet another theory on Egyptian pyramid construction

http://io9.com/physicists-have-a-simple-answer-for-how-egyptians-built-1627604283

Ramones film in the works!

http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/a_martin_scorsese_film_about_the_ramones_is_in_the_works

Happy Birthday Martha Raye!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0713106/

Happy Birthday Joseph Reed!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Reed_%28politician%29

A Patriot.

My Hometown

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/aug/26/northern-virginia-motorway-line-stripes-video
The official explanation is interesting, and because it's official, almost certainly a lie. For those of you not familiar with NoVa, Interstate 66 may well be the worst road of all, when it comes to accidents, delays, gridlock and inconvenience. It may also remain the most expensive piece of the Interstate system, due to the many lawsuits attempting to thwart it as it carved its way through the already developed suburbs. It remains one of the world's great parking lots, every rush hour.

Nice article on the secret writings of Isaac Newton

http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/the-secret-writings-of-isaac-newton

Dylan's Basement Tapes are finally being released

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylan-complete-basement-tapes-bootlegs-released-november-20140826?utm_source=regular&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&email=mendip@gmail.com

It's tough to be a Soviet monument

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/22/russia-to-bulgarians-please-stop-painting-over-soviet-era-monuments-to-look-like-ronald-mcdonald-and-superman/

Ghost Tape Number 10

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2013/10/30/trick-or-treat-the-strange-tale-of-ghost-tape-no-10/
I'm familiar with this story of psyops from the Vietnam War, but the link to Youtube to actually hear the tape is new to me. Pretty interesting footnote to the War.

Anniversary of "Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" by the French National Assembly, 1789

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp

Fawlty Towers In Lego

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_fawlty_towers_hotel_meticulously_recreated_in_lego

At last! Something appropriate for singing 99 Bottle Of Beer!

http://gizmodo.com/good-god-someones-selling-a-99-pack-of-beers-1626890533

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

The Beloit Mindset List for this year

http://www.wtop.com/1373/3688464/College-freshmen-dont-remember

Happy Birthday Shirley Manson!

http://www.biography.com/people/shirley-manson-21084967

Happy Women's Equality Day!

www.nwhp.org/resourcecenter/equalityday.php

Reviews for Salsa Con Queso

http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/blllleeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuggggggghhhhhh#ayawa9

Well, it certainly sounds like a versatile product!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Record Store Day - The Documentary

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=mm#inbox/1480cef261714441?projector=1

Pretty neat!

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Does the suspect have any distinguishing features?

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/08/24/massachusetts-man-fears-his-horns-666-forehead-tattoo-will-make-a-fair-trial-impossible/

Happy Birthday to The Monster Mash!

Released on this date in 1962. The national anthem of Halloween!

http://themonstermash.com/

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

Happy Birthday to Born To Run!!!

Released on this date in 1975. What can I say, my all-time favorite album.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap1yVqPL0lA

Happy Birthday Sean Connery!

http://www.seanconnery.com/

Happy Birthday Tim Burton!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000318/

Happy Birthday Elvis Costello!

http://www.elviscostello.com/

RIP Richard Attenborough

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-28923074

The dark illustrations of John Kenn Mortensen!

These are really neat - sort of a combination of Edward Gorey and Maurice Sendak.

http://www.boredpanda.com/creepy-monsters-sticky-note-drawings-john-kenn-mortensen/

(Thanks for the link, Doug!)

A nice article on the currrent state of D&D

http://www.vice.com/read/dungeons-dragons-is-officially-cool-again-115

Anniversary of the Battle of Bladensburg

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/warof1812/p/battle-of-bladensburg.htm
The worst military defeat that America has ever endured. A complete disaster, from start to finish.

Happy Birthday Niagara!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_%28painter_and_singer%29

Cthulhu?

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/901892-strange-sounds-in-the-ocean-source-unknown-listen-here/?photo=1

The oldest flame

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/08/22/oldest-flame/

Interview with Michael Dorn about Captain Worf series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSO1jc2asfE

Some haunted attractions in Virginia

http://screamfreak.com/

We're getting closer to that time of year....

For Record Lovers

http://www.buzzfeed.com/perpetua/things-vinyl-collectors-love#ayawa9

Anniversary of the murder of Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti

http://spartacus-educational.com/USAsacco.htm

Happy Birthday to The Big Sleep!

Premiered on this date in 1946.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038355/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

Happy Birthday Mark Russell!

http://www.markrussell.net/

Happy Birthday Keith Moon!

http://thewho.com/history/keith-moon/

Happy Birthday Gene Kelly!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000037/

Happy Birthday Malvina Reynolds!

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

Happy Birthday Oliver Perry!

http://www.history.navy.mil/bios/perry_oliver_h.htm

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday Jonathan Wainwright!

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jwainiv.htm
An under-appreciated general of WWII.

Today is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

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

The Standells and Bing?!?

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_standells_rock_with_bing_crosby_1965

I don't remember this show at all!

A nice recounting of the witch of WWII

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/08/22/wartime-witchcraft-the-strange-tale-of-helen-duncan-and-the-sinking-of-hms-barham/

The hermit

http://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201409/the-last-true-hermit
Originally, I was going to classify this story as interesting, but upon reflection, it just strikes me as one about a sad and off-kilter dude.

Happy Birthday John Lee Hooker!

http://www.johnleehooker.com/

Happy Birthday Dorothy Parker!

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/dorothy-parker

One of my faves.

Great Cosplay

http://io9.com/creepy-cosplay-thats-as-horrifying-as-anything-we-see-i-1625187200

Happy Birthday Joe Strummer!

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

Happy Birthday Jackie DeShannon!

http://www.jackiedeshannon.com/
One of my faves.

Happy Birthday Friz Freleng!

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

Happy Senior Citizens Day!

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/senior-citizens-day

http://www.graypanthers.org/

Happy Poets Day!

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/country/America/American_poets.html

Mining engineer's blowpipe

http://www.wired.com/2014/08/crazy-blowpipe-apparatus/

Pretty neat technology!

Zombie Ant Fungus!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/08/19/fungus-turns-zombie-ants-into-booby-traps/
Fascinating!

(Thanks for the link, Edmund!)

Happy National Radio Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/August/radioday.htm

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/16638/radio-free-georgetown

Anniversary fo the crushing of the Prague Spring

The Russians have a lot of practice....

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

Happy Birthday Robert Plant!

http://www.robertplant.com/?frontpage=true

Happy Birthday Phil Lynott!

http://www.thinlizzy.org/phil.html

Happy Birthday James Marsters!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551346/

Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft!

http://www.hplovecraft.com/

Happy National Lemonade Day!

http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/national-lemonade-day

Cthulhu Fez!!!

http://fez-o-rama.com/shop/current/cthulhu-fez/

It doesn't get any cooler than this, Folks!

A nice article about George Washington's Guards

http://allthingsliberty.com/2014/08/his-excellencys-guards/

An interesting article on the state of historical reenactment groups

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/08/18/theatre-of-war-14-unexpected-historic-reenactment-groups/

Lost Games

http://mentalfloss.com/article/58439/29-games-nobody-plays-anymore

(Thanks for the link, Tom!)

Happy Birthday Ginger Baker!

http://www.gingerbaker.com/

Happy Brithday Gene Roddenberry!

http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-gene-biography

Happy National Potato Day!

Yum!

Happy National Hot & Spicy Food Day!

https://www.thewrath.com/

Happy world Humanitarian Day!

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

Gunshot to a Neanderthal?

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/opinion/columnists/wraithscape/was-neanderthal-shot-by-a-time-traveller-1-6786186

A cool mystery! While not having any education in forensic medicine and analysis, I would ask this - Could such wounds be accounted for by the use of slings with lead pellets? At close range, the things are damnably devastating, and even long range, (a couple hundred yards, apparently), they can kill.

Happy Birthday Criswell!

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

Happy Birthday Meriwether Lewis!

http://www.biography.com/people/meriwether-lewis-9381267

Beginning of month of Fructidor in French revolutionary calendar

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

Happy Bad Poetry Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/August/badpoetryday.htm

http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Vogon_poetry

The Rapture!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJGz9VKTk7c

Move over, Citizen Kane, there's a new kid in town...

Birdemic!

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

Call Girl of Cthulhu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwqJ9IXn4WU&feature=youtu.be
Keepin' it classy...

Crocs Versus Japanese soldiers

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/08/the-horrific-crocodile-massacre-of-ramree-island/

As the story implies, I've also read reports that claim that this is an exaggeration...

The 'talking' vampire plant

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/08/vampire-plant-talks-to-victims-while-sucking-their-life-out/

75 Days Until Halloween!

Happy Birthday Mae West!

http://allaboutmae.com/

Genius. Essential.

Happy National Rum Day!

Yum!

http://www.bacardi.com/us/lda

Anniversary of the death of Bela Lugosi

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000509/

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

Anniversary of the Ramones debute at CBGB's in 1974

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

Happy Birthday Glenn Strange!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0833363/

Happy Birthday Hal Foster!

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

The cutting edge of grilling...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/08/01/bompas_parr_join_forces_with_robert_wysocki_of_syracuse_university_to_barbecue.html?wpisrc=obnetwork

The Beltway turns 50!

http://wtop.com/862/3682358/Capital-Beltway-celebrates-50-years
This is actually something of a big deal for the DC area. I still remember my Mother, brother and I going on a little road trip when a portion of the Virginia section was opened. It really was fun to no longer rely on what were still basically country roads once you got beyond Arlington and Alexandria. It's difficult to underestimate the effects that the Beltway has had on our region. It meant the explosive growth of suburbia, and with the simultaneous development of Dulles airport, and the Tyson's Corner Shopping Center, it meant that NoVa was going to become a major economic hub, (that no one really predicted at the time). It also gave us a geopolitical reference point. From then on there would be two worlds - Inside the Beltway, and Outside the Beltway. And never the twain shall meet...
I will point out one flaw in this article/site, it was not written by a long-term native. The original use of the term "Mixing Bowl" did not refer to the conjunction of the Beltway with 95, but further North, on Shirley Highway at the Pentagon. The 495 usage of that term is a recent invention...

Happy Birthday Woodstock!

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

Happy Birthday Jimmy Webb!

http://www.jimmywebb.com/

Anniversary of the Beatles Playing Shea Stadium in 1965

http://www.maccafan.net/Gallery/SheaStadium/Shea.htm

Happy Birthday Huntz Hall!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355653/

Happy Birthday Rose Marie!

http://www.missrosemarie.com/

National Lemon Meringue Pie Day!

Yum!

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/articles/view/175/1/National-Lemon-Meringue-Pie-Day.html

Happy VJ Day!

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

Maryland RenFest is coming!

http://www.rennfest.com/

Led Zeppelin Played Here

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_director_of_heavy_metal_parking_lot_returns_with_led_zeppelin
Of course, this has been a part of DC music folklore for decades. It'll be fun to see this little movie about it. (And yes, I happen to think that it's true).

Religious Persecution At Its Ugliest

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/pastafarian-s-relationship-with-icbc-strained-over-licence-photo-1.1312189

First they came for the Pastafarians, and I did not speak out...

(Thanks for the link, John!)

Happy Birthday to The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Premiered on this date in 1975.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/

http://www.rockyhorror.com/

Happy Birthday Dash Crofts!

http://www.sealsandcrofts.com/main.html

Happy Birthday David Crosby!

http://www.davidcrosby.com/

Gary Larson!

http://www.thefarside.com/

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

Happy National Navajo Codetalkers Day!

http://navajocodetalkers.org/

Amazing Patriots.

Happy Liberty Tree Day!

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

http://www.libertytreesociety.org/

Darwin Award Nominee

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/12/nigel-willis-vibrator-death_n_5671791.html?cps=gravity

Steampunk Guinea Pig!

http://io9.com/every-pet-guinea-pig-needs-a-pair-of-leather-steampunk-1620976016

This is really amazing work!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A nice article on the history and myths behind The Emerald Tablet

http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/legendary-emerald-tablet-001956#!bCDdwI

Irony

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/world/middleeast/suicide-bomb-instructor-accidentally-kills-iraqi-pupils.html?referrer&_r=1

A nice article about CD Baby

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/arts/music/cd-baby-a-company-for-the-niche-musician.html?_r=0

I've been purchasing from them for many years.

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Happy Birthday South Park!

Premiered on this date in 1997.

http://southpark.cc.com/

Happy Festival of Hecate!

http://www.hecatescauldron.org/The%20Goddess%20Hecate.htm

Happy Birthday Alfred Hitchcock!

http://www.biography.com/people/alfred-hitchcock-9340006

Happy National Filet Mignon Day!

Yum!

http://www.food.com/food-holidays/filet-mignon-day-0813

RIP Betty

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/12/339931830/actress-lauren-bacall-dies-at-89?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20140812&utm_campaign=breakingnews&utm_term=nprnews

One of my faves.

Arlington Bat Festival!

http://www.arlnow.com/2014/08/12/get-batty-at-the-arlington-bat-festival/

I need to find those plastic vampire teeth.

The National Leprechaun Museum

http://www.leprechaunmuseum.ie/
Cute!

(Thanks for the link, Rick!)

Monty Python Lives!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/07/us-britain-holygrail-idUSKBN0G71X120140807

The Search for the GRRRRAILLL Continues!

Happy Birthday to The Wizard Of Oz! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1939.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/

Happy Birthday Dan Curtis!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193303/

Happy Birthday Mark Knopfler!

http://www.markknopfler.com/

Happy Vinyl Record Day!

http://www.vinylrecordday.com/

RIP Robin Williams...

I am seriously bummed. A great talent.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2014/08/11/a165171c-21aa-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce_story.html

Happy Birthday to Solid Gold!

Premiered on this date in 1980.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080277/

Interesting article about experiments with EVP

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/853809-study-explores-whether-dead-can-communicate-through-electronics/

DIY Satellite Control

http://betabeat.com/2014/08/civilians-in-abandoned-mcdonalds-seize-control-of-wandering-space-satellite/

Pretty neat!

Super Moon Tonight!

http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-supermoon#how-many

Happy Birthday to The Sunderland Experiment!

Premiered on this date in 2013.

http://www.thesunderlandexperiment.com/

Happy Birthday Horse Feathers!

Premiered on this date in 1932.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023027/

Happy Birthday Ian Anderson!

http://jethrotull.com/

Happy Birthday Bobby Hatfield!

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

Happy Birthday Ronnie Spector!

http://www.ronniespector.com/

One of my faves.

Happy Birthday to the Smithsonian Institution!

Founded on this date in 1846.

http://www.si.edu/

Happy National Banana Split Day!

Yum!

http://justinesicecreamparlor.com/

Happy Puck Fair Day!

http://www.puckfair.ie/

Counterfeiting as a weapon

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/08/08/funny-money-the-amazing-history-of-wartime-counterfeiting-2/
I'd heard about the fake $100 bills before. In fact, that's my understanding as to why they were redesigned a few years ago. But the rumor that I'd heard was that the source was Iran, and not North Korea. It seems that just a short time before he was deposed, the Shah had purchased a few high-grade American-style printing presses for his bills, (supposedly identical to the ones that this country uses). When the priesthood overthrew him, they put 'em to good use. And that's why they were so accurate.

Pure America

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/07/mom-finds-porn-on-tv_n_5659487.html?cps=gravity

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/mom-calls-cops-over-porn-675432

A nation of crybabies and delicate snowflakes. I also love the idea that there's a cop named Bobo.

Halloween Countdown Site

http://seasonaltraditions.co.uk/halloweencountdown/

A list of small "cities" to visit

http://www.buzzfeed.com/h2/fbsp/fuze/coolest-small-cities-its-time-to-roadtrip-to
I don't consider any of these to be cities, and get tired of towns being classified as such. But I like the list, having visited about 2/3 of these places and enjoyed them. I'd add a few more:

Woodinville, WA
Charlottesville, VA
Burlington, VT
Salem, MA
Madison, WI
Telluride, CO
Ft. Collins, CO
Durango, CO
Ouray, CO
Silverton, CO
St. Michaels' MD
Lititz, PA
Lancaster, PA
Astoria, OR
Lewes, DE
Jerome, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Dolores, CO
Pagosa Springs, CO
Nederland,CO
Annapolis, MD

Cancel my appointments...

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/497171/Supermoon-triggers-end-of-world-Sunday

Hitchhiking robot

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/08/07/hitchhiking-robot-has-survived-one-third-of-journey-across-canada/?wpisrc=nl-innv&wpmm=1

An Amazing Article

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/winding-history-maze-180951998/?no-ist

An ancient sword made with modern technology?

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/mysterious-viking-sword-made-technology-future-001944#!bxSbUa

An interesting anomaly.

American nazi summer camp of 1937

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/08/05/history_of_nazis_in_the_united_states_film_of_american_nazi_summer_camp.html

Little turds...

The cutting edge of Victorian fashion

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-28357269

WWI secret weapon flamethrower

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/31738
Pretty impressive, if unwieldy.

hitler picture probably a fake

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2717026/Famous-image-showing-Adolf-Hitler-celebrating-start-First-World-War-FAKE-s-partly-length-moustache.html
Interesting. This has been kicking around in various history books for years.

Afghanistan in the 1950's

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2014/newsspec_8529/index.html

Weird/Neat vehicles

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/08/futuristic-sofil-1953-vehicle.html

A new collection of Cthulhu Mythos tales!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1781164525

Happy National Garage Sale Day!

Happy National Bowling Day!

http://www.bowl.com/

Nixon's The One! Anniversary of his abdication...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/watergate/

Happy Birthday David Steinberg!

http://thedavidsteinberg.com/

Happy International Day of the World's Indiginous Peoples!

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

Happy Book Lovers Day!

http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/book-lovers-day/

http://www.overthemoonbookstore.com/

Office Safari!

http://tumblr.tastefullyoffensive.com/post/94163590693/office-safari-by-mike-ben-previously#.U-VQk2OB801

Cute!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Disco the Parakeet takes on Monty Python!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNavxvvN9QI

The technology of the first half of my life is now a source of humor

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

Babylon 5 Reboot?

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/08/j-michael-straczynski-wants-to-reboot-babylon-5-as-a-big-budget-movie/

Great series, I'm not sure I see the value of a film version.

He's ready to work for the TSA

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2014/08/07/d-c-already-hates-us-says-co-founder-of-pizza-app/?wpmm=AG0003386

Once again, someone fucks up about DC and where it fits in. It's called geography people, learn it. At least this clown didn't work for the Feds.

Oedipus Veg

http://www.openculture.com/2014/08/the-story-of-oedipus-retold-with-vegetables-in-starring-roles.html

Abbey Road Anniversary

http://www.beatlesbible.com/1969/08/08/the-abbey-road-cover-photography-session/
It was on this date in 1969 that one of the most famous photos in rock'n'roll history was taken.

Happy Birthday to The Edge!

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

Happy Birthday Dustin Hoffman!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000163/

Happy Birthday Allan McLane!

http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/mclane.html

A Patriot.

Maps Online

http://www.openculture.com/2014/03/new-york-public-library-puts-20000-hi-res-maps-online.html

Very cool!

Daddy gives princess a pony

http://happyplace.someecards.com/crime/the-rumors-about-the-lapd-police-chief-his-officer-daughter-6k-and-a-horse-turned-out-to-be-true/

School Daze

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/06/lorie-ann-hill-teacher-drunk-pantsless-first-day_n_5656373.html

Invasion that never occurred

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/08/07/cruel-intentions-seven-planned-invasions-that-were-never-carried-out/
An interesting list. Several comments: Despite what the article says, the Kaiser's insane invasion plans for the U.S. were known long before the 2002 date given. I'd heard about 'em back in my college days. There was even an amateur wargame campaign based around it at the time (early 70's). The supposed Soviet invasion of nazi Germany is pure bullshit, I'm amazed it's even written up here. The German plans for invading Switzerland were real, but I'm tired of the 'official' reasons for them being discarded due to an impregnable and plucky Swiss army. The idea that you hide in (very stationary) mountain caves away from the population and resupply that can then be easily surrounded and defended against has never impressed me. Nor do I have much faith in the population's willingness to fight. A score of halberdiers guarding the pope is hardly a great background of military experience. I've always believed that the Germans decided against invading because it wasn't necessary. The Swiss were already quite pro-nazi and helping the fascists in a variety of (very profitable) ways. Neutral, my ass....