Weirdness: December 2014

State Mottos

http://news.distractify.com/beth-buczynski/sarcastic-state-mottos/

RIP Edward Hermann

http://wtop.com/tv/2014/12/stage-screen-actor-edward-herrmann-dies-at-71/

Well, that's it. No more docudramas on FDR...

Happy Birthday George C. Marshall!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Marshall
An under-rated genius and Patriot. Essential to America's success in the 20th Century.

The World's Most Beautiful Libraries

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/29/most-beautiful-libraries_n_6391600.html?utm_hp_ref=books

After I get fabulously wealthy, I'm going to have a room just like the Mazarine Library, except I'll take out a few tables and chairs, add a huge stone fireplace, a stereo system perfectly attuned to the room, and a bar with a wine cellar that would make you weep in envy. You'll need a crowbar to get me out of it.

A nice article attacking the current fad within office fascism

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/30/google-got-it-wrong-the-open-office-trend-is-destroying-the-workplace/?tid=sm_fb

I hate these little tricks of authoritarianism. Like most things supposedly thought up by today's tech toddlers, this one precedes them. Check out around 3:10 in the film trailer for The Trial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_7weUR0oMY

Not so merry Christmases

http://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/2014/12/not-such-merry-christmashistorically.html

The Witch Pits of Cornwall

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/grisly-british-witch-pits-were-used-in-rituals-until-1970s-archaeologists-discover/story-fnb64oi6-1227169121453?nk=7f5059cdf397aa6a138a4ced14947720

Historical Anniversaries coming up in 2015

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/12/30/military-milestones-15-of-the-coming-years-historic-anniversaries/

Happy Birthday Eliza Dushku!

http://www.elizapatriciadushku.com/

Happy Birthday Jeff Lynne!

http://www.elo.biz/

Happy Birthday Patti Smith!

http://www.pattismith.net/intro.html

Happy Birthday Tracey Ullman!

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

Happy Birthday Skeeter Davis!

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

Happy Birthday Mike Nesmith!

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

Happy Birthday Davy Jones!

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

Happy Birthday John Otto!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Otto_%28park_ranger%29

Happy Birthday Bo Diddley!

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

Happy National Bacon Day!

Yum!

Musicians we lost this year...

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/2014-in-memoriam-musicians-we-lost-this-year-20141226

Interesting that Rolling Stone couldn't find a photo of Paul Revere...

Great headlines For Our Troubled Times

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/readbait#.oazmKD9wQ

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Ray Thomas!

http://www.raythomas.me/

Happy Birthday Barbara Steele!

http://www.barbarasteele.com/

Happy Birthday Mary Tyler Moore!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001546/

Happy Birthday Marianne Faithfull!

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

The Chef

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/06/chef-cooks-girlfriend-marcus-volke_n_5940150.html?cps=gravity_2246_-9178407404107832854

Who Was That Masked Man?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/23/jared-kreft_n_6373878.html

The Proof Is In The Name

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/25/jack-daniels-baby-named-jim-beam_n_6380318.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

Interesting advice on cellphone batteries

http://gizmodo.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-smartphone-battery-the-right-w-513217256

Happy Birthday Alex Chilton!

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

Happy Birthday Nichelle Nichols!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629667/

Happy Birthday Return Jonathan Meigs!

A Patriot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_J._Meigs,_Sr.

Happy Birthday Mike Pinder!

http://www.mikepinder.com/

Happy Birthday Sydney Greenstreet!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002113/

Happy Birthday Marlene Dietrich!

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

One of my faves.

Happy National Fruitcake Day!

I've always believed that Fruitcake suffers a bad rap from Americans; mostly because so much of that which is produced is the usual factory crap. When done well, (homemade), it's wonderful!

Computer Game of the Year?

http://www.goat-simulator.com/
(Thanks for the link, Mike!

Happy Birthday to I Want To Hold Your Hand!

Released in the States on this date in 1963. And the world changed....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds3R0Zxh26g

Happy Birthday to Monterey Pop! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1968. One of my faves.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064689/

Happy Birthday Thomas Nelson, Jr.!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nelson,_Jr.

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday Elisha Cook, Jr.!

One of the greatest character actors of all time.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176879/

Happy Birthday Steve Allen!

http://www.steveallenonline.com/

Happy National Candy Cane Day!

Yum!

Happy Thank You Note Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-thank-you-note-day-december-26/

Happy Wren Day!

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

Happy Boxing Day!

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

An X-Files Christmas

http://www.millennium-thisiswhoweare.net/tiwwa/topic/14982-reprising-an-old-x-files-christmas-parody/

'Tis the Season

http://abcnews.go.com/US/utah-man-hospitalized-winning-eggnog-chugging-contest/story?id=27792905

Children's Letters to Satan

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/childrens-holiday-letters-satan

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

Happy Birthday to The Exorcist!

Premiered on this date in 1973.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/

Happy Birthday to After The Thin Man!

Premiered on this date in 1936.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027260/

Happy Birthday Shane MacGowan!

http://shanemacgowan.com/

Happy Birthday Rod Serling!

http://www.biography.com/people/rod-serling-9479196

Happy Birthday Cab Calloway!

http://www.biography.com/people/cab-calloway-9235609

Happy Birthday Bogey!

http://humphreybogart.com/

Happy National Pumpkin Pie Day!

Yum!

Merry Christmas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJOm72QDDA

Let's hope it's a good one...

The Christmas Collector

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1197676

A nice article/analysis of The Maltese Falcon

http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/dec/23/reading-group-the-maltese-falcon-dashiell-hammett

The Old West Gunfight - With Narration

https://www.youtube.com/v/mYP-2UCS5nY

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Rob!)

Happy Birthday Fritz Leiber!

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

Happy National Eggnog Day!

Yum!

just a few hours to go before NORAD starts tracking....

http://www.noradsanta.org/

The scientology Christmas catalog!

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-scientology-christmas-catalog-is-totally-insane-1673241003
I love it when someone finds ways to get money out of rich stupid people.

Zombie Nativity!

http://www.fox10phoenix.com/story/27695437/ohio-homeowner-told-to-take-down-his-zombie-nativity-scene

(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

The Water Skiing Santa is in Old Town tomorrow

http://redbricktown.com/2014/12/waterskiing-santa-comes-old-town-alexandria-christmas-eve/

Bad Elf On The Shelf

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/21/brian-chellis-elf-on-the-shelf-dwi_n_6362264.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

Anniversary of the publishing of Thomas Paine's "The Crisis" in 1776

http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/crisis/c-01.htm

Happy Birthday to The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly!

Premiered on this date in 1966.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060196/

Happy Festivus!

http://festivusweb.com/

Happy Tom Bawcock's Eve!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bawcock%27s_Eve

Happy HumanLight Day!

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

Happy Roots Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/December/rootsday.htm

RIP Joe Cocker

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30582761

I am seriously saddened by this. Cocker was one of my faves.

Huzzah!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CSv_YS2Zd0

It's interesting how dangerous they kept this. The blunting on the lances was minimal, and no face protection! Even at these speeds, I can see one of the poles striking an opponent's chest plate, and swiftly sliding upward under the chin or into the face- snapping the neck or entering the skull. Well done, Lads!

Happy Birthday to They Call Me Trinity!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067355/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Premiered on this date in 1970. Fun film!

Happy Birthday to The Mummy! (the original film)

Premiered on this date in 1932.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023245/

Happy Birthday James Burke!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Burke_%28science_historian%29
One of my heroes. I always say that there's no way that television comes close to books in conveying knowledge. Burke is the exception. His series are pure genius and essential viewing to anyone with an interest in their society.

Happy Forefathers Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forefathers%27_Day

Dr. Evil VS North Korea

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/21/dr-evil-snl-sony-north-korea_n_6362422.html

Arlington in December

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

I've just returned from the cemetery, and the view there is both moving and impressive. Every grave has a wreath displayed on it.

Happy Birthday to The President's Analyst!

One of my favorite movies. Premiered on this date in 1967.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062153/

Happy Birthday Vampira!

http://www.vampirasattic.com/

Happy Birthday Frank Zappa!

http://www.zappa.com/whatsnew/

Happy Mumping Day!

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Mumping_Day

Happy National Kiwi Fruit Day!

Yum!

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=41

Happy National Hamburger Day!

Yum!

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Today is the Beginning of month of Nivose in French revolutionary calendar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niv%C3%B4se

Happy Midwinter's Day!

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

Happy Winter Solstice!

http://earthsky.org/earth/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice

Count Gore DeVol is webcasting Santa Claus Conquers The Martians this week!

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

DC's Ghost Host With The Most!

The Beatles Fan Club Christmas Recordings

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/12/beatles-christmas-songs

Nice article on Japanese 'secret' weapons of WWII

http://io9.com/11-secret-weapons-developed-by-japan-during-world-war-2-1669775923

I'd add two footnotes to this. The first is the rumor that the Japanese were toying with the idea of manned fu-go balloons. And that experiments with captured ones might explain the infamous Roswell flying saucer crash of 1947.
The second is that Unit 731, besides being some of the biggest bastards in a world crammed full of them, may also have been incompetent and completely worthless for their so-called expertise in the Cold War. Word on the street is that their research and documentation hardly reached the junior high school level for accuracy, experiment protocols, isolating variables, etc. And that American scientists following up on it found it worthless. If true, and I suspect it is, it would make their escape from the gallows all the more deplorable.

RIP Mandy Rice-Davies

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/20/mandy-rice-davies-secret-meetings-bridget-fonda-film-portrayal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L15e7KDxbBk

Happy Birthday to The Graduate!

Premiered on this date in 1967.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/

Happy Birthday Billy Bragg!

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

Happy Games Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/games-day/

Happy National Fried Shrimp Day!

Yum!

http://www.blueridgeseafood.com/

Happy International Human Solidarity Day!

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

A TV Christmas message from long ago

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

Simple and Classic. The media sure has changed.....

How NORAD got into the Santa Tracking business

http://storycorps.org/listen/terri-van-keuren-rick-shoup-and-pamela-farrell/

A charming story....

(Thanks for the link, Mark!)

Happy Birthday Phil Ochs!

One of my all-time faves.
http://www.sonnyochs.com/

The Believe Mug

http://www.shotdeadinthehead.com/believe-mug.html

Tee Hee!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Cthulhu Wreath

http://www.blastr.com/2014-12-17/image-day-creepy-diy-cthulhu-christmas-wreath

Happy Birthday to For A Few Dollars More!

Premiered on thisd ate in 1965.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059578/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Happy Birthday to How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Premiered on this date in 1966

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060345/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Happy Birthday Christopher Fry!

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

The author of my favorite play, The Lady's Not For Burning, featuring a character named Thomas Mendip....

Happy Birthday Keith Richards!

http://www.keithrichards.com/

Happy Birthday Michael Moorcock!

http://www.multiverse.org/

Happy National Roast Suckling Pig Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/December/sucklingpigday.htm

Happy Chewidden!

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

Happy National Bake Cookies Day!

Yum!

http://www.cute-calendar.com/event/bake-cookies-day/16950.html

Happy Picrous Day!

http://www.cornishculture.co.uk/picrous.htm

A nice article about the people and procedures of burial at Arlington

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/11/arlington-cemetery-they-move-heaven-and-earth

Happy Birthday to The Simpsons!

Premiered on this date in 1989.

http://www.simpsonsworld.com/

Happy Birthday to Night of the Demon!

Premiered on this date in 1957. Great horror film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050766/

Happy Birthday Paul Rodgers!

http://paulrodgers.com/

Happy Birthday Eddie Kendricks!

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

Happy Wright Brothers Day!

http://wrightbrothers.info/

Happy National Maple Syrup Day!

Yum!

http://www.berkshiresweetgold.com/Farm_Page.html

Happy Saturnalia!

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

Mutant Menorahs!

http://mashable.com/2014/12/14/awesome-menorahs/?utm_campaign=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Anniversary fo the start of the Battle of the Bulge

It was 70 years ago today that the whole thing started. You can look up the details online easily enough. I've always considered myself a rather serious student of WWII, and find this to be its most interesting battle, because of the units involved and the tactics used.
I also view it as the argument against the constant drone of military historians' discussion of the U.S. Army at that time not being particularly good, and certainly not up to German or British standards. I won't bore you with the details, Gentle Reader, but this battle proves the critics wrong, with the heroism, ingenuity, speed and fighting abilities of the Americans put to a severe test, and coming out on top in almost every tactical and grand tactical way and in almost all occasions. These guys weren't second to anybody.

Tee Hee!

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/12/cards-against-humanity-sells-30000-boxes-of-actual-poop-to-mock-holiday-consumerism.html?cmp=fbtl

Happy Birthday Billy Gibbons!

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

Happy Birthday Benny Andersson!

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

Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

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

Wreaths Across America at Arlington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cUuGX_bCDE&feature=youtu.be

It really is impressive and moving.

Pre Velvet Underground Nico recording!

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/pre_velvet_underground_nico

Zombeavers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7onFrBK_hKE&feature=youtu.be

Clearly, we're talking Oscars, here....

NORAD's Santa Tracker is online and gearing up...

http://www.noradsanta.org/

Leadbelly Box Set On The Way!

http://www.folkways.si.edu/leadbelly

Happy Birthday Young Frankenstein!

Another big favorite of mine. Premiered on this date in 1974.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072431/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Happy Birthday to One, Two, Three!

One of my favorite movies. Premiered on this date in 1961.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055256/

Happy Birthday Alan Freed!

http://www.alanfreed.com/

Happy Birthday Dave Clark!

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

Happy Birthday Tim Conway!

http://www.timconway.com/

Happy Birthday John Hammond Sr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hammond_%28producer%29

Happy Birthday Samuel Blatchley Webb!

A Patriot.

http://www.townofclaverack.com/good-living/claverack-history/webb1.html

Happy Bill of Rights Day!

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights.html

A mystery in the Baltic

http://earthweareone.com/ufo-at-the-bottom-of-the-baltic-sea-cuts-off-electrical-equipment-when-divers-get-within-200m/

I am curious as to what the hell this is.

My next shirt...

http://teespring.com/superbeerdrinker?var=pb

Happy Birthday to I'm Gonna Git You Sucka!

One of my faves. Premiered on this date in 1988.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095348/

Happy Birthday Morey Amsterdam!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0025440/

Happy Birthday Patty Duke!

http://www.officialpattyduke.com/home.htm

Happy Birthday Spike Jones!

Genius. Essential.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jones

Happy Halcyon Days!

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/halcyon-days.html

Today is Worldwide Candle Lighting Day

http://www.compassionatefriends.org/News_Events/Special-Events/Worldwide_Candle_Lighting.aspx

The Orgasmatron is now opeational...

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_orgasmatron_is_here_at_last_chinese_hospitals_install_hands_free_sperm

Satire is dead, society keeps passing it by....

solar Power In A Spray Can?

http://ultraculture.org/blog/2014/12/05/future-solar-power-will-come-spray-can/

A nice article about A Charlie Brown Christmas

http://www.rebeatmag.com/how-underdog-charlie-brown-changed-the-meaning-of-christmas-forever/

Overdoing Christmas Decorations

http://home-design.diply.com/different-solutions/overboard-christmas-decorations/66936/1

What's Good For The Goose....

http://wonkette.com/568404/satanic-temple-getting-the-devil-all-over-florida-now

Happy Birthday to Patti Smith's album, Horse!

One of my faves. Released on this date in 1975.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_%28album%29

Happy Birthday Dick Van Dyke!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001813/

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

http://www.hopkinsfarmcreamery.com/

Son of Dracula film article and link to online viewing

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/son_of_dracula_harry_nilsson_and_ringo_starr
It was an awful movie, the writer here is too kind. But a great soundtrack and interesting cast of characters.

Paul Revere/Sam Adams time capsule found?!?

http://theweek.com/speedreads/index/273553/speedreads-time-capsule-buried-by-paul-revere-and-samuel-adams-unearthed-in-boston?utm_source=links&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=speedreadsfacebook
I hope this isn't some stupid overblown hoax...

The cutting edge of Christmas sweaters!

http://middleofbeyond.com/collections/sweaters

An exhibit at the Folger on Renaissance era codes and cyphers!

Neat-O!

http://www.biblio.com/blog/2014/11/renaissance-codes-ciphers-exhibition-folger/?utm_source=Complete+List&utm_campaign=106f81141e-Rare_Finds+18+-+11-18-14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c63007520b-106f81141e-51021245

A nice interview with Darlene Love

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/12/darlene_love.html

A fun horror model

http://www.mooncrest-models.co.uk/on%20line%20store.htm?~~mode=product&~~id=19858563#!/Universal-Horror-mount/p/19858563

Ten Classic German Expressionist Films Online!

http://www.openculture.com/2014/12/10-classic-german-expressionist-movies-for-free.html
I've seen about half of these, and they are wonderful!

A Little Somethin' For The Ladies...

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/suffragette_city_propaganda_posters

Happy Birthday to The Wolf Man! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1941.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034398/

Happy Birthday Karl Wagner!

http://karledwardwagner.org/
One of my faves. A great writer of horror and sword & sorcery stories.

Happy Birthday Robin Tyner!

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

Happy Birthday Dionne Warwick!

http://dionnewarwick.us/

Happy Birthday Edward G. Robinson!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000064/

Happy Birthday John Jay!

A Patriot.

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

Happy Lost & Found Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lost-found-day/

Happy Birthday to The Capitol Steps!

Started up on this date in 1981 - DC's premier inside-the-beltway comedy act.

http://www.capsteps.com/

How to make a Submarine Sandwich

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/12/submarine-sandwich-a-fantastic-new-stop-motion-short-by-pes/

Very cute!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday V For Vendetta!

Premiered on this date in 2005.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/

Happy Birthday George Mason!

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/biographies/george-mason/
http://www.gunstonhall.org/georgemason/

Happy Birhtday Isaac Shelby!

A Patriot.

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

Happy International Mountain Day!

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

Early Lou Reed recordings online!

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/primitive_lou_reeds_pre_velvet_underground_recordings

The 2014 Haters Guide to the Williams-Sonoma Catalog

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-2014-haters-guide-to-the-williams-sonoma-catalog-1667452305/+laceydonohue

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birhtday CBGB's!

Opened on this date in 1973.

http://www.cbgb.com/

Happy Birthday Emily Dickenson!

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/emily-dickinson

Happy National Lager Day!

http://www.stonebrewing.com/

Happy Human Rights Day!

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

Ah yes, the old "Fish Batter" Defense....

http://m.channel3000.com/deputies-man-suspected-of-10th-owi-says-he-ate-beer-battered-fish/30138970

(Thanks for the link, Katie!)

Happy Birthday to A Charlie Brown Christmas!

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

Happy Birthday Neil Innes!

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

Happy Birthday Michael Dorn!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/

Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks Jr!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001195/

Happy Birthday Joan Armatrading!

http://www.joanarmatrading.com/index.php

Happy Birthday Margaret Hamilton!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002121/

Happy International Anti-Corruption Day!

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

The Deadskins

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/as-another-season-goes-down-the-drain-redskins-are-again-disintegrating-publicly/2014/12/07/10eba61c-7c1b-11e4-84d4-7c896b90abdc_story.html?wpisrc=nl-most&wpmm=1

It couldn't happen to a more deserving owner....

The War On Christmas - Possible Scenarios

http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/12/war-on-christmas-north-pole-invasion

(Thanks for the link, Chris!)

Happy Birthday Sinead O'Connor!

http://www.sineadoconnor.com/

Happy Birthday Jim Morrison!

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

Happy Birthday Flip Wilson!

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

Happy Birthday Jerry Butler!

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

Happy Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pretend-to-be-a-time-traveler-day/

Happy National Brownie Day!

http://www.food.com/food-holidays/brownie-day-1208

Yum!

The 'return' of Silent Movies

http://paulroland.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/silent-movies-part-1/

A wonderful article, and one which I agree with totally. Some of these films are Classics and I've watched them a dozen or more times.

Happy Birthday Rudolph!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/05/showbiz/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-anniversary/index.html?hpt=hp_t4

Happy Birthday Allan B. Calhamer!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_B._Calhamer

Happy Birthday Harry Chapin!

http://www.harrychapinmusic.com/

Happy birthday Tom Waits!

http://www.tomwaits.com/

Happy Birthday Eli Wallach!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908919/

Happy Birthday Vlad Tepes!

Mr. Excitement!

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

Happy National Letter Writing Day!

http://farmersalmanac.com/home-garden/2014/12/01/national-letter-writing-day/

Today Is Pearl Harbor Day

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm

The biggest stone block

http://www.dailygrail.com/Hidden-History/2014/11/Archaeologists-Uncover-the-Worlds-Largest-Ancient-Stone-Block-Baalbek

I remember attending a lecture about the 'original' Baalbek stone, at a Fortean convention about 30 years ago. It's neat to find that it's got a bigger brother. And interesting that no one today really has a clue how one would move such a thing at the time of its carving.