Weirdness: May 2015

A neat article about how old English terms and words have survived in America

https://outofthiscentury.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/the-survival-of-archaic-english-in-the-american-dialect/

Happy Birthday to A Big Hand For The Little Lady!

Premiered on this date in 1966. One of my fave films, and the only one that I think accurately portrays gaming fanatics.

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

A nice article about the "Doomsday Monument"

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/05/georgia-guidestones-doomsday-monument.html

I seem to remember a rumor about twenty years ago that someone had figured out who the person was who was behind this thing...

Tome Raiders

An interesting, and very sad, article about book thieves.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/17/rare-book-experts-join-forces-to-stop-tome-raiders

a neat blog devoted to the history of witchcraft

http://www.winsham.blogspot.it/

Just discovered this one.

Happy National Hamburger Day!

http://www.fiveguys.com/home2014/index_us.html

Yum!

Happy Birthday Paul Weller!

http://paulweller.com/

Happy Birthday Richard O'Brien!

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

Happy Birthday Hal David!

http://haldavid.com/

Happy Towel Day!

http://www.towelday.org/

Happy National Wine Day!

Yum!

http://www.virginiawine.org/

Today is Memorial Day

http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp

RIP Anne Meara

http://wtop.com/entertainment/2015/05/ap-newsbreak-actress-anne-meara-mom-of-ben-stiller-dies/

Happy Birthday Tommy Chong!

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

Happy Birthday Nell Campbell!

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

Happy Birthday Patti LaBelle!

http://www.pattilabelle.com/

Happy Birthday Mr. Zimmerman!

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

Happy National Escargot Day!

Yum!

http://www.food.com/food-holidays/escargot-day-0524

Happy Birthday to The Thin Man! (the film)

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

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025878/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Happy Birthday Drew Carey!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004804/

Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.!

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

Happy Lucky Penny Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-lucky-penny-day-may-23/

The cutting edge of littering

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/05/possible_dog_brains_found_in_st_lawrence_county_a_mystery.html

(Thanks for the link, Dennis!)

What I did on my Spring vacation

Spent a week strolling around New England, mostly in the area in and around Portland. (I suppose that it supplies some balance in my life that two of my favorite towns are named Portland, and located on opposite coasts). The purpose was to visit some friends and family, do a little shopping, and eat some of the best seafood on earth. A few highlights:

I honestly believe that 10% of the population of Maine is engaged in pottery. There’s some really great craftspeople up here, and it’s difficult to drive two miles without passing a potter’s shop. One of my faves is located in the heart of Portland: www.mainepottersmarket.com. Another good one, located a few miles north of town was www.sheepscot.com. But there are dozens of others all over the state.

For eating in and around Portland:

Great nouveau cuisine, the best lobster roll that I’ve ever had, and a nice selection of raw oysters: http://www.eventideoysterco.com/.

The best clam chowder that I’ve ever had: http://www.gilbertschowderhouse.com/

A wonderful seafood restaurant with some of the nicest staff: https://plus.google.com/106834627498898257010/about?gl=us&hl=en

On the way back home, we stopped in Yarmouth, Massachusetts to see the Edward Gorey House. After this famous illustrator passed away, his home was made into a museum of his works. If you’re a fan, (and you should be), it’s well worth the visit! http://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/

X-Minus One - 1950's radio drama about our future

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/magazine/letter-of-recommendation-x-minus-one.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share&_r=0
https://archive.org/details/OTRR_X_Minus_One_Singles

Pretty neat, will begin exploring this exploration of our present...

(Thanks for the link, Karen!)

Not too many posts...

Will be out for a few days, so please don't expect to see too many blog posts until the weekend. Talk to ya soon!

Happy Birthday Dusty Hill!

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

Happy Birthday Pete Townshend!

http://thewho.com/

Happy Birthday Joey Ramone!

http://www.joeyramone.com/

Happy Birthday Dwayne Hickman!

http://www.dwaynehickman.com/

Happy Birthday Mark Mothersbaugh!

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

Happy Visit Your Relatives Day!

http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/visit-your-relatives-day

Happy International Museum Day!

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

Happy Pack Rat Day!

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

Happy Birthday Craig Ferguson!

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

Happy Birthday Maureen O'Sullivan!

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

Happy Birthday Trent Reznor!

http://www.nin.com/

Happy Birthday Seth Warner!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday John Penn!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Penn_%28Continental_Congress%29

Happy Birthday Pet Sounds!

Released on this date in 1966.

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

Happy Birthday David Boreanaz!

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

Happy Birthday Jonathan Richman!

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

Happy Birthday Harry Carey, Jr.!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001013/

Happy Birthday Studs Terkel!

http://studsterkel.org/

http://conversations.studsterkel.org/bio.php

Happy Love A Tree Day!

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

Happy Armed Forces Day!

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

The Gate To Hell

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/archaeologists-discover-guardians-gate-hell-001052

I hate to dispute scholars, but am reasonably certain that the Gate To Hell is located along Interstate 66 at Nutley Street in Virginia.

Reunited - The 13th Floor Elevators!

http://pitchfork.com/news/59594-13th-floor-elevators-perform-first-show-in-45-years/

I'm So Happy!

(Thanks for the link, Hannah!)

RIP BB King

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32747861

RIP BB King

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32747861

Happy Birthday Ralph Steadman!

http://www.ralphsteadman.com/

Happy Birthday Eno!

http://brian-eno.net/reissues/

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

Happy Birthday L. Frank Baum!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum

Happy Endangered Species Day!

http://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/

Happy Birthday Utah Phillips!

http://thelongmemory.com/

Happy International Day of Families!

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

World Religion Tree

http://000024.org/religions_tree/

Very cool!

The "Kilted Killer"

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/maj-tommy-macpherson-the-kilted-killer-who-tackled-a-panzer-division-on-his-own-as-a-touch-of-class-would-ride-around-the-enemy-country-side-in-a-black-french-car-with-a-british.html

Fascinating story of one man's actions against the nazis.

Happy Birthday Robert Owen!

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

Happy Birthday Richard Deacon!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212586/

Happy Birthday David Byrne!

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

Happy Birthday Jack Bruce!

http://www.jackbruce.com/

Happy Birthday Samuel Holden Parsons!

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

A Patriot.

Humans VS Rats

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/13/8592817/rat-patrol-new-york-alberta-canada-south-georgia-eradication
An interesting article about the eternal struggle...

(Thanks for the link, John!)

Scully & Mulder attempt to sing Neil Young

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/watch_x-files_scully_and_mulder_sing_neil_youngs_helpless

Headline of the Day

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/drunk-man-chases-bear_n_7265770.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

Happy Birthday Let It Be! (the film)

Premiered on this date in 1970.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065976/

Happy Birthday Getting Straight!

Premiered on this date in 1970.

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

Anniversary of the founding of Arlington Cemetery

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/

Happy Birthday Ritchie Valens!

https://www.ritchievalens.com/

Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder!

http://www.steviewonder.net/

Happy Frog Jumping Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/frog-jumping-day/

Happy Leprechaun Day!

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

Happy Jamestown Day!

http://www.historyisfun.org/

Happy Palindrome Week!

http://www.livescience.com/50807-palindrome-week-rare-dates.html

(Thanks for the link, Barb!)

Nanu! Nanu!

http://disinfo.com/2015/05/budapest-resident-snaps-photograph-of-alien-believes-he-was-abducted/

Happy Birthday Burt Bacharach!

http://bacharachonline.com/

Happy Birthday Avalon Hill!

Started on this date in 1954, ushering in the modern wargaming hobby.

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

Happy Birthday George Carlin!

http://georgecarlin.com/

Happy Birthday Steve Winwood!

http://www.stevewinwood.com/

Happy Limerick Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick_%28poetry%29

Happy International Nurses Day!

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

Hell - It's Not The Heat, It's The Humiditiy

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2015/05/new-photos-from-the-door-to-hell-are-really-hot/

The last surrenders

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/04/30/hitlers-holdouts-meet-the-last-german-troops-to-surrender-in-ww2/
An interesting footnote to VE Day. I was unaware of the revolt of the Georgian troops.

Don't cook around a telescope!

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/05/microwave-oven-caused-mystery-signal-plaguing-radio-telescope-for-17-years

What an odd little footnote to astronomy!

(Thanks for the link, John!)

Happy Birthday to Bride Of The Monster!

Premiered on this date in 1955. A classic of bad cinema!

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

Happy birthday Salvador Dali!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD

Happy Birthday Country Dick Montana!

Happy Birthday Phil Silvers!

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

Happy Birthday Eric Burdon!

http://www.ericburdon.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Burdon

Happy Twilight Zone Day!

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-twilight-zone-day-may-11/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052520/

Happy Birthday Bono!

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

Happy Birthday Donovan!

http://www.donovan.ie/en/

Happy Birthday Bruce Pennington!

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

Happy National Train Day!

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

Happy National Shrimp Day!

Yum!

Happy Mother's Day!

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

Cthulhu flexes his psychic muscles...

http://whofortedblog.com/2015/05/09/navy-sailor-shares-eerie-story-about-horrific-unexplained-radio-signals-that-killed-his-ships-power/

Happy National Miniature Golf Day!

I have many fond memories of doing this in high school....

We're #2! We're #2!

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/transportation/internet-ranking-driving-in-washington-still-terrible.php

Happy Birthday to The Muppets!

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

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

First broadcast on this date (in DC!) in 1955.

Happy Lost Sock Memorial Day!

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

Happy Birthday Dave Prater!

http://rockhall.com/inductees/sam-and-dave/bio/

Happy Birthday John Brown!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_%28abolitionist%29

The DC Flyover online

http://events.dacast.com/?webcast_id=9
I believe that this recording will only be kept up for a day or two. An even honoring VE Day, with a flyover of DC of many of America's combat aircraft from those days. You'll not see this type of event ever again.

Happy Birthday to The Triffids!

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

According to the book, the invasion starts on this date...

Happy Birthday to Let It Be!

Released on this date in 1970.

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

Happy Birthday Bob Clampett!

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

Happy Birthday Ricky Nelson!

https://rockhall.com/inductees/ricky-nelson/bio/

Happy Birthday Robert Johnson!

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

Happy Birthday Let It Be! (the album)

Released on this date in 1970.

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

Happy Furry Day!

http://www.timetravel-britain.com/columns/traditions/traditions03.shtml

Happy Truman Day!

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

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

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

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

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Anielevich.html
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005188

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/military-spouse-appreciation-day/

Happy VE Day!

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

What's good for the goose...

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/satanists-defending-abortion-rights-meet-5-conservatives-freaking-out-about-it-20150506

RIP James Garner

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/movies/james-garner-actor-dies-at-86.html?_r=1

Happy Birthday Gabby Hayes!

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

Happy Birthday Darren McGavin!

http://www.darrenmcgavin.net/

Happy National Roast Leg of Lamb Day!

Yum!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/rosemary-and-garlic-roast-leg-of-lamb-recipe.html

Happy National Day of Reason!

http://nationaldayofreason.org/

The cutting edge of coffee tables

http://moron.com/man-keeps-dead-wife-in-glass-enclosed-coffee-table/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Investment Opportunity!

http://moron.com/florida-man-attempts-to-cash-368-billion-check/

What could go wrong?

The Skeleton's Tea Party

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/06/underwater-skeleton-tea-party-colorado-river_n_7221476.html

And the cover up begins...

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-11/29/bloop-mystery-not-solved-sort-of

Clearly, the authorities are out to try and stop the panic that would ensue from the acknowledgment of Our Lord Cthulhu. Nice try, boys...

The Return of the Knights Templar!

http://ktla.com/2015/05/06/3-arrested-after-creating-fake-international-police-force-lasd/
I assume that their purpose continues to be the armed escort and protection of Catholic pilgrims to the so-called Holy Land....

(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Who Knew British Politicians Were So Soulful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=KyISprZphtM&app=desktop

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday to (I Can't Get NO) Satisfaction!

Keith Richards created the rift on this date in 1965.

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

Happy Birthday Robespierre!

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

Happ;y Birthday Sigmund Freud!

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/219848/Sigmund-Freud

Happy Birthday Orson Welles!

http://www.wellesnet.com/

Happy Birthday Frank Nelson!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0625372/

A great comedic character actor.

Happy Birthday Bob Seger!

http://www.bobseger.com/

Happy Birthday Richard Bland!

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

A Patriot.

Awkward....

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/entertainment/television/price-right-criticized-offering-woman-wheelchair-t/nk9JG/

Record Label Art

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/a_magical_mystery_tour_of_vintage_record_label_art

Neat-O!

Happy Birthday Michael Palin!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001589/

Happy National Teacher Day!

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

Happy Oyster Day!

Yum!

http://www.harriscrabhouse.com/

http://www.hcoysterhouse.com/

Detention

http://offbeat.topix.com/slideshow/15674?utm_source=facebook-offbeat&utm_campaign=15674&utm_term=56227618

Chad Vader tries to get into Star Wars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzOJo6Z7kPA

Those Bavarian Rhythms!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-C-bPH2uao

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Headline (and asshole reasoning) of the Day

http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2015/03/03/dea-warns-utah-lawmakers-that-legal-pot-could-lead-to-stoned-rabbit-attacks/

Of course, MGM was way ahead of the curve on this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulXFB3-A3c

RIP Grace Lee Whitney

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/05/04/grace-lee-whitney-obit/26857621/

Happy Birthday to The Mummy! (The '99 remake)

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

Happy Birthday Dick Dale!

http://www.dickdale.com/

Happy National Hoagie Day!

Yum!

Happy National Homebrew Day!

http://www.homebrewden.com/events/may-4-is-national-homebrew-day/

Yum!

Anniversary of the Kent State Massacre

http://www.kentstate1970.org/

Anniversary of the start of the Freedom Rides

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedom-rides

What to do with the empties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmSX8eX34Hs

Happy Birthday to The Black Cat!

Premiered on this date in 1934.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024894/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4

Happy Birthday to The Cocoanuts!

Premiered on this date in 1929.

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

Happy Birthday Machiavelli!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli

Happy Birthday Frankie Valli!

http://www.frankievallifourseasons.com/

Happy Birthday Pete Seeger!

http://peteseeger.net/wp/

Happy Birthday James Brown!

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

Happy Nettle Day!

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

Happy Paranormal Day!

http://subscribe.forteantimes.com/

Happy World Press Freedom Day!

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

Full Flower Moon Tonight

http://www.almanac.com/content/flower-moon-may-full-moon-phases

Polish Movie Posters

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/fantastic_polish_movie_posters_of_well-known_american_films

These are fantastic!

Laser Turntable

http://www.decodedmagazine.com/the-eip-laser-turntable-plays-records-without-touching-them/
I've been reading snippets about this technology for about twenty years now. I wish the cost would go down. It seems the answer to the wear on LP's from normal stylus action.