Weirdness: December 2015

A nice article about the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

http://www.reviewjournal.com/travel/getaways/elko-home-the-range-cowboy-poets-photos

I've not been in Elko since college, have always wanted to attend the Gathering and see the Folklife Center, will need to get back there some day.

Lovecraftian Films Online!

http://lovecraftzine.com/movies/watch-awesome-fan-created-lovecraftian-movies/

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

The Cutting Edge of Tech Support

http://patch.com/virginia/arlington-va/man-holds-computer-technician-hostage-say-police

Ah yes, the self-important spoiled brats of DC. Deprive them of their toys, and watch the tantrum begin!

Happy Birthday Burton Cummings!

http://burtoncummings.com/

Happy Birthday Edward Hand!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hand

A Patriot.

Bowling - The Next Generation?

https://crunchy.co/unreal-bowling/

(Thanks for the link, Ed!)

Can You Hear Me Now?

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/30/ufo-hunters-claims-800-year-old-mobile-phone-dug-up-in-austria-proves-aliens-visited-earth_n_8893190.html?ncid=fcbklnkukhpmg00000001

A possible cure for Alzheimer's?

http://www.sciencealert.com/new-alzheimer-s-treatment-fully-restores-memory-function

A nice article about "Gloomy Sunday" - the suicide song

http://www.unbelievable-facts.com/2015/12/suicide-song-gloomy-sunday.html

The recrod postage stamps of Bhutan!

http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-releases/the-curious-tale-of-bhutans-playable-record-postage-stamps/

This is so cool!

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Happy Birthday Eliza Dushku!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0244630/

Happy Birthday Skeeter Davis!

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

Happy Birthday Tracey Ullman!

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

Happy Birthday Jeff Lynne!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Lynne

Happy Birthday Patti Smith!

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

Happy Birthday Mike Nesmith!

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

Happy Birthday Davy Jones!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones_(musician)

Happy Birthday Bo Diddley!

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

Happy Birthday John Otto!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Otto_(park_ranger)

A local legend in Western Colorado.

Happy National Bacon Day!

Yum!

http://www.sclydeweaver.com/

That religion of peace

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/islamic-state-rape-fatwa_568237e7e4b0b958f65a55ae?ir=World&section=world&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

RIP John Bradbury

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35194738

New Orleans' Pharmacy Museum

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jan/16/new-orleans-pharmacy-museum-opium-soaked-tampons-voodoo-elixirs?CMP=share_btn_fb

This sounds pretty interesting, actually.

A neat article about the Dr. Who theme

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/81b360df-d869-42ab-9acf-ef306c4a7ab1?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_radio_3&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=radio_and_music

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Listing of the 'Best' Cryptozoology Books of 2015

http://www.cryptozoonews.com/czbks-2015/

Happy Pepper Pot Day!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13136/authentic-pepper-pot-soup/

Happy Tick Tock Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tick-tock-day/

RIP Lemmy

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lemmy-kilmister-motorhead-singer-and-heavy-metal-legend-dead-at-70-20151228

Happy Birthday Ray Thomas!

http://www.raythomas.me/

Happy Birthday Marianne Faithfull!

http://www.mariannefaithfull.org.uk/

Happy Birthday Mary Tyler Moore!

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

Happy Birthday Barbara Steele!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824489/

A nice article on current psychological research

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/the-six-most-interesting-psychology-papers-of-2015

The first one I find to be the most interesting/disturbing one.

Proof - Condoms aren't always the safe method!

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35189938

RIP Meadowlark Lemon

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/12/28/meadowlark-lemon-obit.ap/

I am seriously saddened by this man's passing. What a wonderful entertainer.

Happy Birthday Alex Chilton!

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

Happy Birthday Nichelle Nichols!

http://www.uhura.com/

Happy Birthday Return Jonathan Meigs!

A Patriot.

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

RIP Stevie Wright

http://thedwarf.com.au/news/21287/easybeats-singer-stevie-wright-dead-at-68

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

Happy National Fruitcake Day!

Yum!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruitcake

RIP William Guest

http://www.soultracks.com/story-william-guest-dies

Anniversary of the U.S. release of I Want To Hold Your Hand

In 1963...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_to_Hold_Your_Hand

Happy Birthday Monterey Pop!

Premiered on this date in 1968.

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

Happy Birthday Thomas Nelson, Jr.!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Birthday Elisha Cook!

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

Happy Birthday Steve Allen!

http://www.steveallenonline.com/

Happy Wren Day!

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

Happy Thank You Note Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/thank-you-note-day/

Happy National Candy Cane Day!

Yum!

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/candycanes.shtml

Happy Boxing Day!

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

Cold War Mysteries

http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2015/12/cold-war-mysteries-conspiracy-theories/

There are some good ones here. The fate of the USS Scorpion is a classic.

Happy Cold Moon!

http://www.almanac.com/content/cold-moon-december-full-moon-phases

Happy Birthday to After The Thin Man!

Premiered on this date in 1936.

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

Happy Birthday to The Exorcist!

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

Premiered on this date in 1973.

Happy Birthday Shane MacGowan!

http://shanemacgowan.com/

Happy Birthday Cab Calloway!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cab_Calloway

Happy Birthday Rod Serling!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Serling

Happy Birthday Bogey!

http://humphreybogart.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000007/

Happy national Pumpkin Pie Day!

Yum!

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pumpkin-pie-day-december-25/

Merry Christmas!

Regardless of one's beliefs on the day. I hope you have a very safe and happy Holiday, Gentle Reader.

Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards

http://hyperallergic.com/261847/have-a-creepy-little-christmas-with-these-unsettling-victorian-cards/

Happy Birthday Fritz Leiber!

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

Happy National Eggnog Day!

Yum!

http://www.winemag.com/2013/12/23/national-eggnog-day/

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

Premiered on this date in 1966.

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

Happy Birthday José Arturo Castellanos Contreras!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Castellanos_Contreras

Anniversary of the publishing of The Crisis in 1776

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/

Happy Tom Bawcock's Eve!

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

Happy Festivus!

http://festivusweb.com/

Happy Roots Day!

http://www.familytree.com/blog/national-roots-day/

Happy HumanLight!

http://americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2011-12-humanlight-a-holiday-for-humanists

Happy National Bake Day!

Yum!

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/

Ray & Dave - together (at least for one song...)

http://wmgk.com/2015/12/21/icymi-ray-dave-davies-perform-together-stage/

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Bedbugs Can Kill

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/crime/2015/12/22/charges-son-upset-about-bedbugs-killed-mother/77734588/?source=nletter-%%__AdditionalEmailAttribute1%%

Happy Birthday to They Call Me Trinity!

Premiered on this date in 1970.

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

Happy Birthday to The Mummy!

Premiered on this date in 1932

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

Happy Birthday James Burke!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Burke_(science_historian)

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

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

Happy Yule!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule

Happy Forefathers' Day!

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

Happy Winter Solstice!

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

NORAD Tracking Santa

http://www.noradsanta.org/

Happy Birthday to The President's Analyst!

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

Premiered on this date in 1967. One of my faves, and a film ahead of its time.

Happy Birthday Frank Zappa!

http://www.zappa.com/

Happy Birthday Vampira!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maila_Nurmi

Happy Mumping Day!

http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/mumping-day.html

Happy National Kiwi Fruit Day!

Yum!

http://www.examiner.com/article/december-21-is-national-kiwi-fruit-day

Happy National Hamburger Day!

Yum!

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Happy National Fried Shrimp Day!

Yum!

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-french-fried-shrimp-day-december-21/

The Cthulhu Crib!

http://patrickat.tumblr.com/post/135186242673/persian-slipper-camwyn-bjornwilde

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Infidel753!)

Happy Birthday to The Graduate!

Premiered on this date in 1967.

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

Happy Birthday Billy Bragg!

http://www.billybragg.co.uk/index.php

Happy Birthday Nicole de Boer!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0207498/

Happy Games Day!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_Day

Happy International Human Solidarity Day!

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

The Jersey Devil in Maryland?

http://twocrowsparanormal.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-jersey-devil-in-maryland.html

An article updating what's going on with Little Richard

http://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/719-prayers-for-richard

Sad....

Happy Birthday Phil Ochs!

http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/

One of my all-time faves.

1939's view of the clothing of 2000

http://mentalfloss.com/article/52284/what-1939-thought-fashion-2000-would-look

Happy Birthday to The Grinch!

Premiered on this date in 1965.

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

Happy Birthday to A Few Dollars More!

Premiered on this date in 1964. My favorite spaghetti western.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059578/

Happy Birthday Michael Moorcock!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Moorcock

Happy Birthday Keith Richards!

http://www.keithrichards.com/

Happy Birthday Christopher Fry!

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

Happy National Roast Suckling Pig Day!

Yum!

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/articles/view/376/1/National-Roast-Suckling-Pig-Day.html

Happy Bake Cookies Day!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bake-cookies-day/

Yum!

Happy Birthday to Night of the Demon!

Premiered on this date in 1957. A great horror movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050766/?ref_=nv_sr_3

Happy Birthday to The Simpsons!

Premiered on this date in 1989.

https://www.simpsonsworld.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096697/

Happy Birthday Eddie Kendricks!

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

Happy Birthday Paul Rodgers!

http://www.paulrodgers.com/

Happy Wright Brothers Day!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Brothers_Day

Happy National Maple Syrup Day!

Yum!

http://www.berkshiresweetgold.com/

Happy Picrous Day!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picrous_Day

Happy Saturnalia!

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

Happy Chewidden!

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

Happy Birthday Benny Andersson!

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

Happy Birthday Billy Gibbons!

http://www.zztop.com/

Anniversary of Boston Tea Party in 1773

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

Christmas idea for all Trekkies!

http://makezine.com/2015/12/10/behold-wreath-khan/

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday Young Frankenstein!

Premiered on this date in 1974.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072431/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Happy Birthday to One, two, Three!

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

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055256/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Happy Birthday Garrett Wang!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0910897/

Happy Birthday Tim Conway!

http://timconway.com/

Happy Birthday Alan Freed!

https://rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed/bio/

Happy Birthday John Hammond, Sr.!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hammond_(producer)

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

Lovecraft Inspired Bottles

http://mentalfloss.com/article/66270/spooky-glass-bottles-inspired-hp-lovecraft

For you Star Wars fans - the lightsaber wiper blade!

http://toyland.gizmodo.com/wiper-blade-lightsabers-protect-your-cars-windows-from-1747884242

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

New Star Trek Trailer

http://comicbook.com/2015/12/10/star-trek-beyond-trailer-released/

UFO's in Fairfax County!

http://www.inquisitr.com/2631925/two-low-flying-elongated-cylinder-shaped-ufos-spotted-over-alexandria-in-virginia/

Happy Birthday to I'm Gonna Get You Sucka!

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

Premiered on this date in 1988.

Happy Birthday Patty Duke!

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

Happy Birthday Spike Jones!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jones

Happy Birthday Morey Amsterdam!

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

Today is Worldwide Candle Lighting Day

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

The Beginning of Halcyon Days!

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/halcyon_days

A ncie article about the Old Ebbitt Grill

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2015/12/10/how-old-ebbitt-grill-brought-in-more-than-28-million-last-year/

A DC institution.

(Thanks for the link, Ed!)

Happy Birthday to Patti Smith's "Horses" Album!

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_(album)

Happy Birthday Dick Van Dyke!

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

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

http://www.hopkinsfarmcreamery.com/index.cfm?ref=13100

Happy National Popcorn String Day!

http://www.wikihow.com/String-Popcorn-on-a-Christmas-Tree

A vending machine for crates of beer!

http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/12/belgiums-new-vending-machine-dispenses-whole-crates-of-beer/419751/?utm_source=SFFB

Well Done, Belgium!

Tesla provides wi-fi!

http://mentalfloss.com/article/63299/nikola-tesla-may-be-dead-hes-still-providing-wi-fi-silicon-valley

Willard Scott to retire

http://www.today.com/news/willard-scott-announces-retirement-plans-after-35-years-today-show-t61026

A legend of local DC TV and radio.

The first show by the Velvet Underground - 50 years ago!

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/velvet-underground-first-live-appearance/

MST3000 Is Back!!!!!

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/12/mst3k-becomes-the-biggest-crowd-funded-video-proje.html

I contributed early on, and am so happy about this. As stated in the past, this was my second favorite TV show of all time, (after The Prisoner). I can't wait the new episodes!

Happy Birthday Robin Tyner!

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

Happy Birthday Karl Wagner!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Edward_Wagner

Happy Birthday Dionne Warwick!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionne_Warwick

Happy Birthday Edward G. Robinson!

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

Happy Birthday John Jay!

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

Happy National Cocoa Day!

http://www.wilburbuds.com/

Yum!

The latest on the Flat Earth Society

https://upvoted.com/2015/12/07/flat-earth-believers-are-real-and-they-blame-nasa-for-your-ignorance/

It's turtles all the way down....

Goats Singing Christmas Carols

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/christmas-album-goats_566a8a91e4b009377b249282

Miskatonic Railroad

http://www.ottgallery.com/MRR.html

An amazing model railroad layout!

The Signs As Troubled Birds

http://astronogy.tumblr.com/post/119131649609/the-signs-as-troubled-birds

Fun stuff!

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Happy Birthday to The Capitol Steps!

This famous DC troupe of satirists started on this date in 1981.

http://www.capsteps.com/

Happy Birthday to V For Vendetta!

Premiered on this date in 2005.

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

Happy Birthday George Mason!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason

Happy Birthday Isaac Shelby!

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

A Patriot.

Happy Lost & Found Day!

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

Happy International Mountain Day!

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

Happy Have A Bagel Day!

Yum!

https://www.bagelsforever.com/

Celebrities on the new MST3000

http://www.avclub.com/article/jerry-seinfeld-mark-hamill-and-joel-mchale-request-229635

Prague's Alchemy Museum

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/pragues_creepy_alchemy_museum

Cool!

Slap Kirk!

http://www.slapkirk.com/play

Fun Stuff!

(Thanks for the link, John!)

Happy Birthday CBGB!

Opened on this date in 1973

http://www.cbgb.com/

Happy Birthday Emily Dickinson!

https://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/

Bach - As you've never heard him before...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CyLWOWz5uc&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

Steampunk Wristwatch!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/imnl/?cpg=nngnsornret&nan_pid=1845256411

Neat-O!

Wreaths Across America Comes To Arlington This Saturday

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/category/arlington-national-cemetery-2/

I have written before about this. Normally, activities of this nature aren't really my thing, but I admit that there's something about this that really moves me. Seeing Arlington with all of those wreaths is quite a sight. I always recommend it to visitors of DC, as one of my 'top 3' places to see when visiting town.

A documentary film about Creem Magazine is in the works

http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2015/12/08/boy-howdy-a-documentary-film-on-creem-magazine-is-in-the-works

RIP John Trudell

http://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2015/12/08/american-indian-activist-poet-john-trudell-dies-at-69

Happy Birthday to A Charlie Brown Christmas!

Premiered on this date in 1965.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059026/

Happy Birthday Margaret Hamilton!

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

Happy Birthday Neil Innes!

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

Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.!

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

Happy Birthday Michael Dorn!

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

Happy Birthday Dalton Trumbo!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalton_Trumbo

Happy Birthday Joan Armatrading!

http://www.joanarmatrading.com/

Today is International Anti-Corruption Day

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

Anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_John_Lennon

Happy Birthday Sinead O'Connor!

http://www.sinead-oconnor.com/

Happy Birthday Mario Savio!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Savio

Happy Birthday Jim Morrison!

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

https://www.thedoors.com/

Happy Birthday Jim Morrison!

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

Happy Birthday Jerry Butler!

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

Happy Birthday Flip Wilson!

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

Happy National Pretend To Be A Time Traveller Day!

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/pretend-to-be-a-time-traveler-day-december-8/

I'm a little curious - all of the time travel stories that I've heard of that involve someone visiting this time period involve someone from the future. Has anyone ever tried a story of someone travelling forward from the past?