Rumpole and the Sex Pistols

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/rumpole_novelist_john_mortimer_defends_sex_pistols_in_bollocks_trial_1977

What a neat bit of pop history.

A new album of duets with Smokey is on the way!

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-smokey-robinson-and-elton-johns-tracks-of-my-tears-premiere-20140731?utm_source=dailynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Potemkin Rye Whiskey

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/28/your-craft-whiskey-is-probably-from-a-factory-distillery-in-indiana.html
Sacrilege!  Fortunately, I don't like/drink Rye...

Happy Birthday Lobo!

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

Happy Birthday Gary Lewis!

http://www.garylewisandtheplayboys.com/

Happy Birthday Ted Cassidy!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144252/

Happy Birthday Marinus Willett!

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

A Patriot.

The biggest asshole in DC

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/former-redskins-players-launch-new-campaign-to-defend-the-teams-name/2014/07/29/d2a6b27a-1761-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_story.html?tid=hpModule_99d5f542-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394
It's gotta be tough.  As a young athlete, the world is your oyster - money and adulation are rolling in, etc.  But finally age and decay catch up, and you're on the outs.  The money doesn't last, and the fame plays out.  Soon, you can't even get hired to help open a used car lot.  And it went so fast!  And then some rich boy's flack comes along, tells you all the things you want to hear - you're an icon, a role model, someone who's needed; and they flash some serious money.  What do you do?  Well, you'd do anything.  Because you feel that you've got nothin', not like when you were in your twenties.  And so you memorize the talking points, and you go out and SELL.  And suddenly, you're being interviewed again, and the people who've been paid to come see you give you complements, listen to what you're saying and ask for your autograph.  Just like old times!  You really get into the sell. It last a year, maybe two; but sooner or later the plan plays out, the flack lets you go as he moves on to new lies.  In the end the shilling of offensiveness doesn't work, and you're left back where you started, but with one more affliction.  You're no longer just an ex-jock.  You're now little danny's ex-whore.  Enjoy the ride, boys....

A nice article about the big (worthless) breweries VS craft breweries

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2014/07/craft-beer-revival
I don't know why anyone would drink that watery corporate swill.  Coors Light may be the most pathetic thing to ever be marketed as beer.  Regular Coors was already a total lightweight.  The gods only know what they found in it to be removed in order to call it "Light".

Fly Jefferson Airplane!

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AUSTRALIA_DRUG_WARNING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

How to be a spy in 1918

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/07/30/spying-commandments-1918/

A little bit of Britain in Germany during WWI

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28420676

Treehouses

http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/25-of-the-most-intense-tree-houses-in-the-world-youve-never-seen-a-treehouse-till-youve-seen-this/
These are so cool!


(Thanks for the link, Margrete!)

A nice analysis and slam against Fredric Wertham - crusader against comic books

http://io9.com/5985199/how-one-mans-lies-almost-destroyed-the-comics-industry?fb_action_ids=810017919029375&fb_action_types=og.likes

Happy Birthday to The Modern Lovers! (the album)

Released on this date in 1976 - one of my faves.

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

Wild Thing hits #1 for 2 weeks in Billboard starting on this date in 1966

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hce74cEAAaE

Happy Birthday Alton Brown!

http://altonbrown.com/

Happy Birthday Smedley Butler!

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

Happy International Day of Friendship!

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

Happy National Father-In-Law Day!

http://holidayinsights.com/other/fatherinlawday.htm

Steve Van Zandt to produce a new Darlene Love album!

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steven-van-zandt-finally-cooks-up-star-studded-darlene-love-album-20140729

This sounds very cool!

Spooky Photography

http://www.viralnova.com/surrealist-photos/


Pretty neat!

Interesting article about the (supposed) return of vinyl records and the pressing plants that supply them

http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9467-wax-and-wane-the-tough-realities-behind-vinyls-comeback/

Building your own tank...

http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/17/saints-and-soldiers-behind-the-scenes-ep2/

(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Happy Birthday Patti Scialfa!

http://brucespringsteen.net/the-band/patti-scialfa-2

Happy Birthday Maria Ouspenskaya!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0653642/

Happy Birthday William Powell!

http://themave.com/Powell/

Happy Birthday Thelma Todd!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865298/

Happy Birthday James Warren!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Warren_%28publisher%29

A corrupter of my youth....

Happy National Lasagna Day!

Yum!

walmart's fake 'ice cream'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/walmart-ice-cream-sandwiches_n_5621240.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022&ir=Weird+News

By my definition, there's no way that's ice cream, just some chemical glop.

Book Hoarder - Guilty As Charged

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-80889686/

I would say that I do try to read every book that I've ever purchased or been given, or at least try to.  At this point, I will give a tome about 50 - 100 pages (depending on it's page count) to catch my attention.  If it hasn't done so by then, I know that it's probably best to pass it along - never throw it away.  But if it is of interest, I almost always keep it, and will often reread it, ten or fifteen years down the road.  

A new article about the moving coffins of Barbados

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/07/the-mysterious-moving-coffins-of-barbados/
A great Fortean mystery, and one of the first Fortean situations that I ever discovered/read about as a young teen. 

The most nonchalant sheep of all time

http://www.petdoof.com/got-really-scared-vicious-dog-started-barking-sheep-happened/

Spider-Man wants his money!

http://news.yahoo.com/york-times-square-spider-man-charged-punching-police-183046563.html

I bet Satan owns an iPhone

http://austriantimes.at/news/Around_the_World/2014-07-28/51499/Priest_Claims_Hate_Texts_Are_From_Demon_Spirit_

The end of the Chesapeak Blue Crab?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-chesapeake-bays-blue-crab-needs-our-help-now--or-never/2014/07/25/a7cedc26-1383-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html

If true, this would be a real ecological, culinary and cultural tragedy for the region.

Happy Birthday Phil Proctor!

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

'96 Tears' is now official

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2014/07/mayor_to_dedicate_96_tears_as.html#incart_river

My commute just got made into a movie

http://io9.com/heres-the-first-max-max-trailer-and-it-will-make-you-a-1611701107

Agent Garbo

http://priceonomics.com/the-greatest-double-agent-in-history/
A nice article about probably the most successful bit of espionage double crossing in WWII.

My next calculator

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/06/antique-digital-calculators-other.html

A very nice article about the game of Go

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/06/lets-go-ancient-chinese-game-boards.html
I've always considered Go to be in the half dozen or so greatest and most important games ever made.  I am amazed that it didn't become more popular in this country.

Homes & Gardens magazine: The hitler issue

http://wow.blogs.com/words/2003/10/post.html
I've never heard of this!

The cutting edge of packing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad6L-AfNrmY

Record Collectors

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2014/06/18/eilon_paz_photographs_record_collectors_in_his_book_dust_grooves_adventures.html

Fun stuff!

Strange (to some) collections

http://www.obsessionistas.co.uk/the-collections/

I firmly believe that almost every commodity has one or more collectors, at this point.

Cars with propellers

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/06/cars-with-propellers-part-1.html

Some of these look so cool!

A documentary about the Seeds!

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

The oldest song

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-general/ancient-sumerian-song-recreated-3400-year-old-cuneiform-tablets-001905#!bmUugo

A (too) short article on lycanthropy

http://www.wired.com/2014/07/fantastically-wrong-fiendish-werewolf/

Do-It-Yourself WWI Fighter Plane

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10990313/Retired-pilot-builds-WW1-plane-and-runway-in-garden.html

Neat-o!

The solution to the 'mysterious' dolls

http://disinfo.com/2014/07/solved-porcelain-dolls-showing-doorsteps-california/

Yea, the initial storyline seemed a bit overly dramatic to me.

Robin Williams meets Koko

http://blog.petflow.com/hollywood-actor-meets-koko-the-gorilla/

Very cute!

A haunted house in York, PA?

http://fox43.com/2014/07/25/ghost-attacks-in-hanover-haunted-house/#axzz38c8cHLRD

Sounds a little dramatic, to me.

Weirdness In A Case

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/11/06/found-in-the-trash-a-box-of-otherworldly-notes/

Fascinating...

The return of Evil Dead with Bruce Campbell!!!

http://www.blastr.com/2014-7-25/get-your-boomstick-ready-raimi-developing-evil-dead-tv-series-bruce-campbell


Fun stuff!

Interesting article about the importance of the obscure battle at Bouvines

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28484146
The battle led to the Magna Carta.

Happy Birthday Bugs!

Premiered in Wild Hare on this date in 1940.

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

Happy National Parents Day!

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

Happy Birthday Gary Gygax!

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

Happy National Scotch Day!

http://www.johnniewalker.com/en-us/scotch-whisky-blends/home/

Yum!

MST3K Cocktails

http://colleenrants.tumblr.com/tagged/MST3K-Cocktails

I put this link here purely for educational purposes.  most of these concoctions sounds vomitous to me

The last European headhunters?

http://www.strangehistory.net/2011/07/27/last-european-headhunters/

600 years of slang terms for sex

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57872/31-adorable-slang-terms-sexual-intercourse-last-600-years

Happy Birthday to the Friendship Firehouse of Alexandria!

http://www.alexandrianews.org/friendship-firehouse-festival-celebrates-240th-birthday-of-historic-fire-company/

In my old stomping grounds of Old Town...

Happy National Bagelfest Day!

Yum!

http://www.bagelsforever.com/

Happy Birthday Carl Jung!

http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/jungprofile.htm

Happy Birthday Kate Beckinsale!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000295/

Happy Birthday Mick Jagger!

http://www.mickjagger.com/

Happy Birthday Darlene Love!

http://darleneloveworld.com/

Happy Birthday Gracie Allen!

http://www.biography.com/people/gracie-allen-9542415

Genius.  Essential.

Happy National All Or Nothing Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-all-or-nothing-day-july-26/

Happy National Aunt & Uncle Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/July/auntandunclesday.htm

Happy National Day of the Cowboy!

http://nationaldayofthecowboy.com/wordpress/

It's nice to be Loved....

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/07/25/3464169/aclu-sues-gop-mayor-who-compared-atheist-group-to-nazis-and-kkk/

Interesting that a goon who is (supposedly) against reactionary authoritarians is so willing to behave like one...

Chinese Toads

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-28439812

Color photos from WWI

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3033398/exposure/10-rare-color-photographs-from-world-war-i?partner=rss#9

Rare - I've not seen these before at all!


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

A small broadcast about the nazi weather station in Canada

http://www.weather.com/video/secret-mission-in-north-america-discovered-51106


A tiny footnote to the War.

Some hair tips for the Ladies...

http://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.it/2014/07/the-truth-about-big-hair-of-1770s-part_24.html

Groucho and The Exorcist

http://moviemovieblogblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/groucho-marx-and-the-exorcist-you-bet-your-soul/

A little bit of Marxian trivia.

The Dolls...

http://www.wtop.com/209/3669374/Creepy-porcelain-dolls-placed-at-homes-of-girls-they-resemble

I'm not sure that I'd use the word "creepy", yet.  But it is pretty odd...

Dylan Goes Electric!

It occurred on this date in 1965 at Newport.

http://folkmusic.about.com/od/bobdylan/a/Bob-Dylan-Goes-Electric.htm

Happy Birthday Walter Brennan!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000974/

Happy Birthday Henry Knox!

A great Patriot.

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/army/p/knox.htm

Happy National Culinarians Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/2013/07/24/july-25-2013-national-culinarians-day-national-threading-the-needle-day-national-merry-go-round-day-national-hot-fudge-sundae-day/

Happy National Merry Go Round Day!

http://news.yahoo.com/july-25-threading-needle-day-national-merry-round-150900506.html

Headline of the day

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/24/sex-toy-stuck-womans-vagina-10-years_n_5617590.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

if you're a sexist asshole and accessory to rape you're allowed to retire on full pension

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/24/1316411/-Montana-judge-officially-reprimanded-for-disgusting-comments-about-teen-rape-victim?detail=facebook#

I am so glad that I live in the U.S., as opposed to some third world pest hole like Montana.....

Happy Birthday to Radio Free Oz!

Premiered on this date in 1966.  A precursor to the Firesign Theatre.

http://www.radiofreeoz.com/

http://rfo.chromiumswitch.org/

Happy Birthday Summer Glau!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1132359/

Happy Birthday Amelia Earhart!

http://www.ameliaearhart.com/

Happy Birthday Lord Dunsany!

http://www.dunsany.net/18th.htm

Happy Cousins Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-cousins-day-july-24/

A nice little article about Eddie Cochran

http://www.goldminemag.com/article/techie-singer-writer-star-rockabilly-pioneer-eddie-cochran

I remain a huge fan and am convinced that he was one of the great American rockers who would have continued successfully beyond his early years.

The Woman In Black...

http://www.wspa.com/story/26071865/mysterious-woman-in-black-spotted-in-tennessee

Happy National Hot Dog Day!

Yum!

The CUTTING Edge of Anglo-French Relations

http://io9.com/british-inventor-to-aim-the-worlds-largest-fart-machine-1609514817

Clearly, Thor is Cornish

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Cornwall-hit-bolt-lightning-shape-Cornwall/story-21741382-detail/story.html

I can see the made-for-TV movie, already

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/Traps_set_after_reports_of_giant_snake_on_NJs_Lake_Hopatcong.html

One small step for asshole, one giant leap for ignorance

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/21/creationist-ken-ham-calls-to-end-space-program-because-aliens-are-going-to-hell-anyway/

The Afghan Curse of '39'

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/afghan-car-buyers-urged-defy-curse-39-133127971.html

Ramtha has a drinking problem

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/21/new-age-leader-sues-ex-students-over-leaked-video-of-her-drunken-racist-anti-gay-rant/

Tee hee!  Superior Being, indeed.....

A nice article on tunnels from military history

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/07/23/dig-this-nine-wartime-tunnels-you-can-still-visit/

Sam's Piano Is For Sale

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/22/casablanca-film-piano-auction-bonhams?CMP=twt_gu

Happy Birthday to Castle Keep!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064137/
Premiered on this date in 1969.  The weirdest war movie that I've ever viewed.

Happy Birthday Charisma Carpenter!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004806/

Happy Robert Anton Wilson Day!

http://obsolete-press.com/uncategorized/july-23rd-is-robert-anton-wilson-day/

Happy National Vanilla Ice Cream Day!

Yum!

http://www.hopkinsfarmcreamery.com/

A new article on electronic voice phenomena

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/804943-fascinating-study-of-purported-phone-calls-from-the-dead-phenomena-some-confirmation/
A fascinating subject, I am most intrigued by the final paragraph in the article, as that has been my assumption for that past 30 years, or so:  There is a real and currently unexplained phenomena going on, but it seems to be centered on the person(s) present at the recording session. Such would explain why EVP isn't more common, (there must be many thousands of hours of recordings taking place all over the world ever hour, and yet EVP remains confined to those folks specifically searching for it); and that the language spoken is always one that can be understood by the participants.  I'd also note, that over 40 years of research and recordings hasn't really advanced out understanding or communication with these supposed 'dead' folks.  Not much more is known now then in '74 when I first heard about it.

Happy Birthday to The Daily Show!

Premiered on this date in 1996.

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/

Happy Birthday to My Aim Is True!

Elvis Costello's first album, and one of my faves.

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

Happy Birthday Vaughn Bode!

http://www.markbode.com/site/vaughnbode.html

Happy Birthday George Clinton!

http://georgeclinton.com/

Happy Spooner's Day!

http://www.answers.com/topic/spooner-s-day-william-spooner-birth-anniversary

Happy National Rat Catchers Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratcatcher%27s_Day

100 Days Until Halloween!

The Lost Skeleton Walks Among Us Kickstarter Campaign

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1911769963/the-lost-skeleton-walks-among-us-larry-blamire-sci
A plug - I really like these guys, and love their movies.  If you're into Kickstarter-type investing, I suggest that you check this out.

The 'Lucky Villages' of Britain

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10976875/First-World-War-centenary-The-13-lucky-villages-where-all-men-returned.html
No losses from either World War.

A nice article about Johnny Appleseed

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jul/19/johnny-appleseed-exhibit-to-hit-road/

Happy Birthday Garry Trudeau!

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

Happy Birthday Kim Fowley!

http://www.kimfowley.net/

Happy Birthday Robin Williams!

http://www.robinwilliams.com/

The Ring.....

http://io9.com/reviews-for-this-tengwar-script-mens-lord-prayer-ring-1608053286

Cthul-AID!

http://society6.com/beastwreck/cthul-aid_print#1=45

Fun stuff!

RIP Carl Romney

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=carl-f-romney&pid=171788418

Like so many others, one of the nearly-unsung people who helped this country monitor/spy on the USSR during the Cold War, and an old acquaintance of my family's.

New John Keel books are out!

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/01/john-keel-selected-writings/



Essential for any student of Fortean phenomena.

My fave fashion accessory

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/07/the-weird-science-of-tinfoil-hats/

The cutting edge of handbags

http://vanessajackman.blogspot.ca/2012/03/new-york-fashion-week-aw-2012daria.html

RIP James Garner

http://nypost.com/2014/07/20/actor-james-garner-dead-at-86/

Anniversary of the release of Do Anything You Wanna Do by Eddie & The Hot Rods in 1977

One of my all-time favorite songs.

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

Anniversary of the 1st appearance of Bowman Body (as a Summer replacement) in 1970

http://www.bowmanbody.com/

A Virginia Ghost Host of great renown.

Happy Birthday John Lodge!

http://johnlodge.com/

Happy Birthday Diana Rigg!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001671/

Happy Birthday Carlos Santana!

http://www.santana.com/

Happy Birthday to Pleasant Dreams by The Ramones!

Released on this date in 1981.  One of my faves. 

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

Happy National Fortune Cookie Day!

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/articles/view/139/1/National-Fortune-Cookie-Day.html

Yum!

Happy International Chess Day!

http://news.yahoo.com/international-chess-day-celebrates-worldwide-phenomenon-201600344.html

Happy Moon Day!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11_40th.html#.U7gq1rFCwSM

That was quite a day!

Happy National Lollipop Day!

Yum!

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/icecreamday.htm
http://www.hopkinsfarmcreamery.com/

Happy Sundae Sunday!

http://justinesicecreamparlor.com/

Britain's Cannibal Club

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/cannibal-club-racism-and-rabble-rousing-victorian-england-180952088/

Sounds like a later version of the old hellfire clubs.

Forget about bitcoins - here's the ultimate pyramid scheme

http://cthulhu.tk/

Anniversary of UFOs over the White House in 1952

http://ufos.about.com/od/visualproofphotosvideo/p/washingtondc.htm

Happy Birthday John Martin!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Martin_%28painter%29

Great painter.

Beginning of month of Thermidor in French revolutionary calendar

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

Unlucky Sword...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2689177/Is-England-s-unluckiest-sword-Viking-broadsword-losing-four-history-s-greatest-battles-just-120-000.html

The Drunkard's Coat Of Arms

http://historyofloveblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/a-merry-life-a-short-one-the-drunkards-coat-of-arms-1707/

An army of the dead....

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/11/y2k-bug-us-army-conscription-1800s-pennsylvania?CMP=twt_gu

How to be a 17th century Witch

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/07/18/want-become-early-modern-witch-16-steps/

When Captain America Goes Bad

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/16/politics/kennedy-compound-break-in/index.html?sr=tw071614kennedyhouse11aVODtopLink

The Beer Thief

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/crab-steals-beer-video_n_5583960.html

Passive Aggressive Watermelon Murder

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/15/watermelon-stabbing-arrest_n_5587566.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird+News

Happy Birthday Hunter Thompson!

http://www.biography.com/people/hunter-s-thompson-9506260#synopsis&

Happy Birthday Dion DiMucci!

http://www.diondimucci.com/

Happy Birthday Red Skelton!

http://www.redskelton.com/

Happy Birthday Martha Reeves!

http://www.missmarthareeves.com/

Happy National Caviar Day!

Yum!

Happy Nelson Mandela Day!

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography

A nice slam against the scientology fruitcakes

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/have_you_ever_wondered_how_many_scientologists_there_really_are1

Stewart & Colbert & Star Wars

http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/07/17/jon-stewart-stephen-colbert-omaze-star-wars-force-for-change/

I'm not a big fan of the series, but this is pretty cool.

Possible outcomes of human cloning

http://io9.com/9-unexpected-outcomes-of-human-cloning-1606556772

An interesting article.  I am hardly an expert on the techniques involved, etc., but I suspect that the possibility of human cloning may be more than a little ways off.  At least with some folks that I know, there is a big difference between sheep, mice, and humans.  I would also note that the article misses what I consider to be a distinct possibility for the wealthy - cloning as a way to generate organ and tissue implants for replacement in their own bodies.  A (possible) farm for immortality.  I will invite you, gentle reader, to imagine secretive "spas" in places like Switzerland and the Bahamas, where vats containing some sort of cloned beings are kept sedated on life support, and unaware, while pieces are harvested from them to augment their owners/sources. 

The Moving Dead

http://hauntedohiobooks.com/news/dead-move/

True Weirdness.

Great Ads & Products from the Victorian Era

http://1890swriters.blogspot.com/2013/12/top-10-weird-adsproducts-of-1890s.html

A man-eating sand dune?

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/06/the-mysterious-man-eating-dune-of-indiana/?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-mysterious-man-eating-dune-of-indiana

Weird....

Ten Stupid Duels

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/07/05/stupidest-duels-history/

A spiritualist psychiatrist

http://journalofthebizarre.blogspot.com/2014/07/paranormal-pioneers-dr-carl-wickland.html

Interesting little footnote to paranormal research.

Welsh Castles Filmed By Drones

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/31353

Really beautiful.

I don't think that this is a good idea - it'll get them thinking...

http://news.moviefone.com/2014/07/16/chimps-watched-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/

I for one, welcome the stinking paws of our future dirty ape overlords. 


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

It was inevitable

http://thecheeky.com/tea-bagging-bag

The Reply

https://twitter.com/matthyde/status/489128554324836352


(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

The cutting edge of aquariums

http://enpundit.com/public-phone-booths-transformed-into-giant-fish-aquariums/

Fascinating article on morphic resonance

http://www.dailygrail.com/Fresh-Science/2014/7/Rupert-Sheldrake-Discusses-Morphic-Resonance-and-Animal-Telepathy-Scientific-Am

RIP Johnny Winter

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/blues-legend-johnny-winter-dead-at-70/

Happy Birthday Yellow Submarine! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1968.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063823/

Happy Birthday Vince Guaraldi!

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

Happy Birthday Janes Cagney!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000010/

One of my faves.

Happy Wrong Way Corrigan Day!

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

We've Got Beer!

http://factually.gizmodo.com/the-u-s-hasnt-had-this-many-breweries-in-operation-sin-1605403350

(Thanks for the link, John!)

We had to destroy the village to save it....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/16/man-burns-down-house-spider_n_5591234.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

TSA In The News!

http://www.wtop.com/41/3663639/Reporters-reminder-to-TSA-DC-is-part-of-US

Neat.  An employee of the Federal Government doesn't know where that's located. 

Cookie Monster Miracle!

http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/16/cookie-monster-appears-in-pasta-pot-4799828/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Hunting vampires in Sweden

http://vamped.org/2014/07/15/can-crossbows-be-used-to-hunt-vampires-in-sweden/

Happy Birthday D.C.!

Founded on this date in 1790.

http://dc.gov/

Happy National Hot Dog Day!

Yum!

My next keyboard

http://www.fubiz.net/en/2014/07/09/qwerkywriter-for-ipad/

This is a wonderful idea!


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

I'd like this in a three piece suit, please.

http://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-create-worlds-darkest-material-super-black/?tag=nl.e404&s_cid=e404&ttag=e404&ftag=CAD1acfa04

The Poltergeist

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Monster+under+Seattle+couple+turns+methhead/10022449/story.html?google_editors_picks=true

The Cure

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/watch-japanese-people-point-bums-3861420

Headline of the Day

https://twitter.com/ThePoke/status/488931003843764226/photo/1

A new play/performance art piece about Poe

http://www.wtop.com/541/3661940/How-did-Edgar-Allan-Poe-really-die

This sounds pretty neat.

Happy Birthday Ian Curtis!

http://joydivision.homestead.com/

Happy Birthday Roky Erickson!

http://rokyerickson.net/

Happy Birthday Linda Ronstadt!

http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/

Happy National Gummi Worm Day!

Yum!

The Ultimate Dead Parrot

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-07-14/giant-dead-parrot-unveiled-in-london-to-pay-tribute-to-monty-python

Wuss America

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/07/14/and-now-the-criminalization-of-parenthood/
I never would have made it past 5th grade in our wussified country.  And apparently, neither would my parents....

Manhattanhenge!

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/07/economist-explains-6?fsrc=nlw|newe|14-07-2014|5356bd68899249e1cca06738|

Fun stuff!

Happy Birthday Woody!

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/

Genius.  Essential.  An American Treasure.

Happy National Grand Marnier Day!

http://www.grand-marnier.com/dispatch.php

Yum!

Happy Bastille Day!

http://bastille-day.com/

The cutting edge of imperialism

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-man-plants-flag-claims-african-country-calling-it-kingdom-of-north-sudan/2014/07/12/abfbcef2-09fc-11e4-8a6a-19355c7e870a_story.html?wpisrc=nl_most

My next chandelier

http://www.fullerroberts.com/portfolio/austrian-bronze-bat-chandelier-with-glass-orbs

My next letter opener

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=779430205417919&fref=nf

(Thanks for the link, Joe!)

Happy Birthday Cheech Marin!

http://cheechmarin.com/

Happy Birthday Patrick Stewart!

http://www.patrickstewart.org/

Happy Birthday Roger McGuinn!

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/

Happy Birthday John Dee!

http://www.johndee.org/

Happy National French Fries Day!

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Yum!

Happy National Beans & Franks Day!

Yum!

Prehistoric 'monster' in Africa?

http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-emela-ntouka-new-corroborative.html

Tee Hee!

http://io9.com/more-proof-that-pregnancy-neednt-be-a-hinderance-to-cos-1604069868

New glasses for your beer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/07/11/can-this-glass-actually-make-beer-taste-better/?wpisrc=nl_inn

Newly released material from the Bluebells!

http://www.avclub.com/article/hear-unearthed-80s-gem-scottish-indie-pop-band-blu-206790

They were a great pop band.

RIP Tommy Ramone

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2014/07/11/tommy-ramone-dead/

Very sad...

Happy Birthday Christine McVie!

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

Happy Birthday Bill Cosby!

http://billcosby.com/

Happy Birthday Bucky Fuller!

http://bfi.org/

Happy Birthday, Alexandria, VA!

Founded on this date in 1752.  My Hometown.

http://alexandriava.gov/

http://www.visitalexandriava.com/

Eat More Hasenpfeffer!

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/medieval_times_attack_of_the_giant_killer_rabbits

The Thunderbird Photo

http://www.prairieghosts.com/tbirdaz.html

A nice recounting of this Fortean mystery/legend.

The cutest little telling of the American Revolution that you're going to see today

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseamarshall/the-american-revolution-as-told-by-sloths#

A little something for the Ladies...

http://georgianera.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/secrets-of-the-cosmetic-art-part-2/

A nice little article about hardtack

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/07/11/hard-to-swallow-a-brief-history-of-hardtack-and-ships-biscuit-2/
I finally purchased ant tried some hardtack last year.  Have always wanted to see what it was like.  My experience was that it looked like a giant saltine cracker, and tasted like that, too - but without any salt.  With about four times the thickness - and VERY dense.  It wasn't something I feel the need to eat again, but was not as awful as some descriptions that I've read.  I found that soaking it in a bowl of chili for a minute or so worked pretty well. 

The Rude Names Map!

http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/11/5889913/map-of-rude-names
Fun stuff!  I need to plan a road trip!


(Thanks for the link, John!)

Let a hundred Pinocchio jokes bloom!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/10/veronica-chaos_n_5571376.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

The Worst Muse

http://io9.com/do-not-take-writing-advice-from-the-worst-muse-1603438929

Fun stuff!

Happy Birthday to Creature Feture! (The Internet show)

Premiered on this date in 1998.  One of my faves.

http://www.countgore.com/

Happy Birthday Bonnie Pointer!

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

A documentary about F.W. Murnau and Nosferatu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0egcqCGqiYQ&feature=youtu.be

The Poacher...

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/steven_spielberg_animal_killer_inhumane_prick

A new D&D starter set is on the market

http://io9.com/the-d-d-starter-set-is-a-great-way-to-introduce-newbies-1602583516?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_facebook&utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
Sounds nice, I just hope that it gets young people into role playing, and that that gets them into game design, research and literature.

A nice article on the history of zombies

http://weirdtalesmagazine.com/2014/06/13/from-voodoo-shamblers-to-encephalopophagist-sprinters-the-evolution-of-the-zombie/

Anniversary of the attack on the Rainbow Warrior

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/ships/the-rainbow-warrior/rainbow-warrior-I/
A cynical person might argue that this was France's only military 'victory' in the 20th century.  A cruel one might note that the murderers surrendered...

Anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/menk.htm

Happy Birthday Ron Glass!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322002/

Happy Birthday Arlo!

http://www.arlo.net/

Happy Birthday Nikola Tesla!

http://www.teslasociety.com/biography.htm

Happy Teddy Bear Picnic Day!

http://lancasteronline.com/business/new-owner-creatures-at-teddy-bear-emporium/article_050b876d-de4f-5d9b-89bd-9b5c1fca8697.html

Lunch

http://www.strangehistory.net/2014/07/07/immortal-meals-15-full-ferrara/

I don't give one...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P4J2P8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=ohmy0c-20

Not quite Pooh with a honey jar

http://ilovedogs.tv/766/What-This-Farmer-Found-In-A-Field-Shocked-Him.-But-What-He-Did-Is-Amazing

Lovecraftian films online!

http://lovecraftzine.com/movies/free-lovecraft-studio-movies/


Some of these are pretty good.  Horror Hotel is a particular favorite of mine.

Anniversary of Rock Around The Clock hitting #1 on the charts in 1955!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-haley-and-the-comets-record-quotrock-around-the-clockquot

Happy Birthday Richard Roundtree!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0745780/

Happy Birthday Lee Hazelwood!

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


One of the most unique American songwriters. 

"The Lost Skeleton Walks Among Us" Kickstarter Campaign Continues

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1911769963/the-lost-skeleton-walks-among-us-larry-blamire-sci
I'm a big fan of these movies.  Brilliant satire. 

danny just lost a sock puppet

http://www.wtop.com/363/3658389/Blogger-helping-Redskins-resigns-abruptly

The Dead Skins....

Anniversary of the release of Radio Free Europe by REM in 1981!

Their first single.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe_%28song%29

Happy Birthday Marty Feldman!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001204/

Happy Birthday Eugene Pallette!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657874/

Anniversary of Kett's Rebellion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kett%27s_Rebellion

Happy Heritage Day!

http://heritageday.org/

The Ultimate Souvenir from the film, Manos, The Hands Of Fate!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/195600927/the-masters-robe-made-to-order-by-debbie?ref=shop_home_active_1

Happy Birthday to Good Eats!

Premiered on this date in 1999.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/good-eats.html

Happy Birthday Ringo!

http://www.ringostarr.com/home/

Happy National Strawberry Sundae Day!

Yum!

http://justinesicecreamparlor.com/

Zombies in Virginia

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/zombies-lurk-at-the-end-of-a-gravel-road-in-virginia-and-they-must-die/2014/07/05/bd88e620-0220-11e4-b8ff-89afd3fad6bd_story.html?wprss=rss_local-virginia-social&wpisrc=nl_va

Historicon is coming up in Fredericksburg

http://hmgs.site-ym.com/?page=HconHome

Anniversary of the release of the B-52's first album in 1979!

http://theb52s.com/

Happy Birthday to The Jefferson Airplane!

Formed on this date in 1965.

http://www.jeffersonairplane.com/

Happy Birthday to A Hard Day's Night!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058182/

One of my faves.  Premiered on this date in 1964.

Happy National Fried Chicken Day!

Yum!

Happy Birthday Pat Paulsen!

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

Happy Birthday Jennifer Saunders!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766837/

Happy Birthday Bill Haley!

http://rockhall.com/inductees/bill-haley/

Happy Birthday John Paul Jones!

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

A great Patriot.

Happy Birthday Joshua Barney!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday Daniel Morgan!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Morgan
A great Patriot.

Anniversary of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Causes_and_Necessity_of_Taking_Up_Arms
An important precursor to the Declaration of Independence.

Happy Make A Scarecrow Day!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Scarecrow

The Maryland Renfest is coming up next month!

http://www.rennfest.com/

My Hometown

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2014/07/02/an-open-letter-to-vandals/?wpisrc=nl_mwk

Happy Birthday to Earth VS. The Flying Saucers!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049169/
Am not sure of the exact date, but it premiered around this time of year in 1956.

Happy Birthday Bill Watterson!

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

Happy International Day of Cooperatives!

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

A real Black Adder in WWI?!?!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10923942/Blackadder-and-company-really-did-fight-in-World-War-One-records-show.html
I keep checking to see if this is an April Fool's joke or something...  I simply don't believe in this amount of coincidence.

The study of human sacrifice

http://www.strangehistory.net/2010/06/25/the-return-of-mayan-style-human-sacrifice/

The old ways are the best....

Spooky Places

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/84184321/
A nice little roundup.

The stories behind Weird Al's songs

http://music-mix.ew.com/2014/07/03/weird-al-songs-stories-eat-it-fat/

Fun stuff!

Happy National Caesar Salad Day!

Yum!

Happy Indivisible Day!

http://secularseasons.org/july/indivisible_day.html

Happy Birthday Rube Goldberg!

http://www.rubegoldberg.com/

Happy Independence Day!

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence-Day.shtml

The cutest little car wreck that you'll see today

http://jalopnik.com/adorable-old-couple-flip-honda-take-best-selfie-in-his-1596022719

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Rock'N'Roll as a Plague

http://www.thirdmanrecords.com/news/view/outbreak-of-a-rare-and-unidentified-contagious-disease
A pretty neat little promotion!


(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Alert Linda Blair!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/international-association-of-exorcists_n_5552121.html

Lou Gehrig's Speech - 5 Years Later

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-first-basemen-recite-lou-gehrig-s-luckiest-man-speech-in-honor-of-75th-anniversary-070214?cmpid=tsm:fscom:foxsports

A very moving tribute; and a call to arms against a devastating disease.
http://www.alsa.org/


(Thanks for the link, Ed!)

Film from a dead soldier of WWII

http://www.viralnova.com/soldiers-world-war-2-photos/
Fascinating that it held up so well.  Some of the pictures are quite moving.

The cutting edge of laundering

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jul/03/hanging-out-after-work/

(Thanks for the link, Edmund!)

The mystery of Jim Sullivan's disappearance

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/missing-ufo-singer-songwriter/

Interesting story.  I confess that I've not heard of this guy before.

The best ice cream shops in Virginia

http://blog.virginia.org/2013/06/favorite-virginia-ice-cream/

Puzzling Tombstones...

http://www.waterlooogs.ca/cemeterypics/RushesCemetery.html

Anniversary of the death of Jim Morrison in 1971

http://www.biography.com/people/jim-morrison-9415576#troubled-times-and-death&awesm=~oHVKkQ2EIxY2jq

Happy Eat Your Beans Day!

Yum!

http://www.anasazibeans.com/beans.html

Happy Dog Days!

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

Mushy Crabs from the Chesapeake

http://www.wtop.com/884/3655250/Why-some-crabs-taste-mushy

Sigh, that's all we need.  It seems like there's nothing but bad news about the harvest of our specialty food.

A nice article about Baltimore's painted screens

http://www.wtop.com/541/3655581/Keeping-Baltimores-painted-window-screens-alive
On the few times we visited when I was a kid, I remember seeing loads of these.

The mystery of the Beatles 'Train Song'...

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-beatles-mystery-song-train-hard-days-night-20140702-story.html

Kansas is anti-Imperial stormtrooper!

http://www.avclub.com/article/kansas-open-carry-laws-do-not-extend-stormtroopers-206487

Once again, a minority is targeted...


(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Dice Shaming

http://screenburn.kotaku.com/rpg-dice-shaming-1597546498

For all RPG fans - this is wondeful!

(Thanks for the link, John!)

The Vampire Squirrel

http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2014/06/vampire-squirrel-has-worlds-fluffiest-tail

Solar-powered donkeys...

http://rt.com/news/169440-donkey-solar-power-internet/

The cutting edge of ponds

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/abandoned-bangkok-mall-incredible-koi-pond-article-1.1851186

Happy Birthday Airplane! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1980.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/?ref_=nv_sr_1


Brilliant.  Essential.

Happy Birthday Shaft! (the film)

Premierd on this date in 1971.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067741/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Happy Birthday to Plan 9 From Outer Space!

Premiered on this date in 1959.  A Masterpiece.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052077/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Happy Birthday Stephen Stucker!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0835992/

Happy Birthday Roy Bittan!

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

Happy Birthday Paul Williams!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_%28The_Temptations%29

Happy Birthday Hermann Hesse!

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1946/hesse-bio.html

Happy National Literacy Day!

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/70186e.htm
Appropriately enough, this Day is almost totally ignored and forgotten, now.

Soviet 'Concept Vehicles'

http://io9.com/these-soviet-concept-vehicles-are-clearly-from-an-alter-1597889367

Some of these are pretty cool!

Kansass shocked to discover that some people aren't afraid of books!

http://watchdog.org/157030/leawood-little-library/
You'll note the final sentence in this article - where books are still considered to reduce property values in the state. 

Bigfoot sighting in Virginia

http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/30/big-foot-spotted-for-a-second-time-in-woodland-near-fishing-hotspot-4782168/
Hmmm, maybe...  I'd note the total lack of location details in the story.

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Isaac Sears!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday Dan Aykroyd!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/

Happy Birthday Fred Schneider!

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

Happy Birthday Debbie Harry!

http://www.deborahharry.com/

Happy National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day!

http://justinesicecreamparlor.com/


Yum!