People and Things You Should Know About

Just the Way You Are

2011-12-24T00:02:00.000-08:00

What a cool tune.

The song was written by Billy Joel and made its world debut on BJ's 1977 album The Stranger.

Here is Billy doing the song live in 1977. Awesome.

It's a great song, so it has obviously been covered a time or two. Here's two great versions.

First, the inestimable Barry White. That's rare concert footage from a concert Barry did in Belgium.

And finally, the gorgeous and extremely talented Diana Krall really took the song somewhere else. Some of you may know Diana Krall as Elvis Costello's wife. I will always know her as the girl I should have married if not for that pesky Elvis Costello. She's a sublime artist and here she is taking on the Just the Way You Are.

Much respect to Mr. Joel for writing it, but that Diana Krall version is a chill-bumper. If you like it, do yourself a favor and check out Diana's Live in Paris concert footage where she sings this song as well as many others. She kills it in that show and wow does she own that piano.

So there's three pretty different takes on the tune. I think you will agree though that no matter how it's performed it's a pretty amazing piece of work. Touching lyrics and great music. It's a rare gem and here's hoping that after watching these links, you hum it in the shower tomorrow morning.

DT3

Opera: The Great Outdoors in Style

2011-10-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official. Elegant living and the great outdoors are no longer mutually exclusive. The clever design team from down under, YSIN, has built a luxurious and enchanting camper/caravan/pop-up trailer contraption that might just have you longing for a weekend in the wild.

The creation is named "The Opera" as it's exterior design is obviously inspired by the "sails" of the Sydney Opera House. Now let's go have a look inside.

The kitchen has two modular elements that allow you to use as a two-pit stove, gas or charcoal grill and a beech wood cutting board.

There is also a teak veranda; two electrically controlled beds that can be adjusted to one; a boiler that supplies warm water to the kitchen, the fountain (!) and the outdoor shower; ceramic toilet; top loading refrigerator and low energy led lighting from awning to floor.

Needless to say, The Opera has won several design awards. The suggested retail price rounds out at about $65, 000 USD.

Here's a video slide show that captures the design from various angles and views:

Eddie Goes Again

2011-08-28T00:49:00.000-07:00

Due to the huge response from you loyal readers about the Eddie Would Go post yesterday, here is some vicarious tubage for you:

(Warning: Borderline Ridiculous.)

Eddie Would Go

2011-08-25T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the tragic and beautiful story of a great Hawaiian superhero...

Eddie Would Go...we see this on several t-shirts hats and surfboards.

This guy. That's Eddie Aikau.

Eddie was a pure superhero. He saved more lives than you can imagine on the treacherous north shore of Oahu.

Dude could surf those huge breaks like nothing you have ever seen.

Eddie slaved away working at the Dole Pineapple Cannery to buy his first board.

The powers that be recognized Eddie's unbelievable command of the waves. Yeah it was handed down through the generations but Eddie had a special talent. He was unmatchable on the waves.

So, in 1978 the Polynesian Voyaging Society snatched up some worthy volunteers for a 30 day 2,500 mile journey that was to replicate the voyage from the Tahitian islands to the Hawaiian islands.

Eddie, by this time, was a legendary lifeguard. At the age of 31 he jumped right into the voyage.

The crew headed out into the open seas on a double hulled voyaging canoe. About 12 miles south of Molokai the vessel sprung a leak.

Eddie jumped and paddled on his surfboard. Miles and miles away from any land Eddie's lifeguard instincts kicked in.

Unfortunately, he was lost at sea. Luckily for the rest of the crew, the Coast Guard came to the rescue. But Eddie was still out there. The search for Eddie became the largest air-sea rescue mission in Hawaiian history. Eddie shed his life jacket to better paddle to the nearest shore, which was over 12 miles away. Did Eddie care? Nope. He was out to save his shipmates.

Eddie would go.

So...flash forward. The surf company Quicksilver launched a huge surf contest in Eddie's honor.

Here's the deal, they only hold the event if the swells reach 20 feet. Since 1985 it's only been held 8 times. The very best surfers in the world fantasize about catching those monstrous north shore waves.

So bumper stickers and T-shirts started popping up with the phrase "Eddie Would Go." Still very prevalent on the Hawaiian Islands. Here is what it means:

Eddie was a legend on the north shore...pulling people out of waves that no one else would dare to. Eddie would go when no one else would or could.

The phrase was born during the first Eddie Invitational Surf Contest. The waves were huge and the conditions were extremely dangerous. The contest organizers were discussing whether or not to go ahead with the contest. Legendary surfer and good friend of Aikau's named Mark Foo said...simply..."Eddie Would Go." And the show went on. The phrase stuck. The "Eddie" went. Because Eddie would go.

So the next time you are trying to decide whether to go for it or not, whatever the challenge may be...just remember...

Eddie would go.

Check this out.

TRONGS

2011-08-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

As soon as I heard about Trongs I knew I had to share it here on PATYSKA. A very interesting invention by Eric Zimmermann and I must point out that what intrigued me more than it’s natural, organic brilliance is something that Eric alluded to in a podcast called PRI’s The World Tech , that essentially high tech inspired low tech which is my absolute favorite aspect of this creation. After all you've got to be able to get to that i-phone/pad at a moments notice.

I have a feeling that high tech will be driving/pushing low tech much more often in the days to come.

Snail Mail My Email

2011-07-31T00:54:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic project.

I doubt I could tell the story better than Ivan and the rest of the crew could so here it is in their own words:

"Snail Mail My Email is a month-long (July 15 - August 15), interactive community art project which seeks to both share the warm-fuzzy feeling of receiving a personalized letter as well as inspire people to send their own snail mail. Anyone with internet access can partake by simply sending an email, after which the very same message will be handwritten and physically mailed to the chosen recipient anywhere in the world, completely free of charge."

Snail Mail My Email

INVASION!

2011-02-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Reports of Unidentified Flying Objects are as old as the pyramids or the Inca temples, both of which have been rumored to have been created by our friends from outer space who needed to create navigational aids.

Here are some accounts of UFO sightings from some people you may have heard of before:

John Lennon

John wrote a song Nobody Told Me, about a UFO he claimed to see hovering above his New York City apartment in 1974. He reported that the craft changed shape with each rotation. He and a friend photographed the ship but when they tried to develop the film, it turned out the photos were blank. UFO photos have been reported to draw blank images. So has operating a camera on high grade mescaline.

Police records show that five calls were made to the NYPD reporting UFO sightings in the East Side sky that night.

Gordon "Gordo" Cooper

This accomplished American astronaut reported in a United Nations panel discussion on UFO's in...you guessed it, NYC in 1985.

Here are his exact words from that event:

"I believe that these extraterrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets, which obviously are a little more technically advanced than we are here on Earth. I feel that we need to have a top-level, coordinated program to scientifically collect and analyze data from all over the Earth concerning any type of encounter, and to determine how best to interface with these visitors in a friendly fashion."

I agree, Gordo. I want to be friendly to anyone from a planet more technically advanced than we are here on Earth. Sheesh, wonder what their smartphones can do?

Cooper was one of the seven astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned space effort by the United States. He was also the last astronaut to be launched into orbit alone for an entire solo orbital mission. I imagine you would see some pretty crazy stuff out there all on your own.

Muhammad Ali

The champ. Ali claimed to have seen UFOs hovering over Central Park while working with his trainer, Angelo Dundee.

The two observed a large, round UFO as it came out from behind the city skyline and moved slowly across the sky for about 15 minutes.

In total, Ali claimed a total of 16 sightings.

For what it's worth, each and every one of his opponents reported at least seeing stars once or twice while being indoors.

(image via The Stencil Studio)

Ronald Reagan

President Ron is still considered the first president to seriously discuss the possibility of alien invasion. He believed that if such an incident should occur, all of the Earth's nations should unite to fight off the attackers.

This was actually one of the topics he discussed with Mikhail Gorbachev during their first summit meeting in Geneva in 1985.

Jimi Hendrix

This one shouldn't be a surprise, should it? So here's the rundown: Jimi claimed he was followed around by UFOs. He was also allegedly saved from freezing to death in 1965 by an eight-foot angel who thawed the snowdrift in which Jimi's van was stuck.

On a related note, aliens on Pluto have reported sightings of Jimi Hendrix.

(This post is dedicated to the soon-to-be-memory of the Nasa Shuttle Program.)

The Great Story of Miss Martina

2011-02-21T13:11:00.001-08:00

Martina. Say that name in tennis circles and it's the other Martina people will be thinking about. While Ms. Navratilova is a legend in her own right, this is a tribute to the "other Martina."

Martina Hingis.

She spent 209 weeks as Women's Tennis Association's number one player.

She won five Grand Slam singles titles. She also won nine Grand Slam women's doubles titles.

Unfortunately, heavy ankle injuries forced her into early retirement at the old age of 22.

So she spends some years having surgeries and riding her horses and returns to the game in 2006.

In November of 2007 she announced her retirement from the sport after testing positive for cocaine.

Martina endured a rollercoaster of ups and downs in her career but when you really take a look at her game, she was one of the best to ever pick up a racquet.

Despite all of the highs and lows though, what many do not realize is what a mouth this girl had on her.

And so now, to celebrate Martina Hingis and her talent and her drive are the best press release statements from the Swiss girl with the iron arm and the acid tongue:

(1) Referring to Amelie Mauresmo's lesbianism on the eve of their 1999 Australian Open final, Hingis told reporters, "She's here with her girlfriend. She's half a man already."

(2) When asked in the late 90s how she felt about the budding rivalry between herself and the then-up-and-coming Anna Kournikova, Martina responded, "What rivalry? I win all the matches."

(3) At the peak of the Williams sisters' and Hingis' competitive and fierce rivalry, Hingis stated in a press conference: "They always have big mouths. They always talk a lot. It's happened before so it's gonna happen again. I don't really worry about that."

And finally:

(4) Responding in a 1999 press conference on why she terminated her doubles partnership with former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna, Hingis remarked, "She's old and slow."

Acid tongue, liquid arm. Professional tennis is such a weird machine that puts 30 year olds into life long retirement. We enjoyed watching you Martina. You were one of the greatest. Now go wash your mouth out with soap.

My Favorite Podcast (hands down)

2011-02-06T00:59:00.000-08:00

It's called "Friday News Feedbag" ....

I absolutely love these guys..

http://news.discovery.com/human/friday-news-feedbag-for-friday-january-28-2011.html

In thanks and smiles

Scarnecky

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-21T03:41:00.000-08:00

Fun Facts

Turkeys are known to spend the night in trees.

Domesticated turkeys cannot fly, however wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour over short distances.

Corn is one of the popular symbols of thanksgiving. It came in many varieties and colors - red, white, yellow and blue. Some Americans considered blue and white corn sacred. The oldest corns date 7000 years back and were grown in Mexico.

Turkeys can drown if they look up when it's raining.
There was no milk, cheese, bread, butter or pumpkin pie at the original Thanksgiving Day feast.

The cranberry got its name because the pale pink blossoms on the plant resembled a crane’s head and neck. The name craneberry stuck, eventually becoming cranberry. Fresh cranberries are ideal for cranberry sauce.

Part of the reason that Swanson started creating T.V. Dinners in 1953 was because they needed to find something to do with 260 tons of frozen turkeys that were left over from Thanksgiving. Talk about a lot of Turkey dinners!

Here's one of those funny Thanksgiving facts: Turkeys have heart attacks. When the Air Force conducted test runs, breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead.
Sarah Josepha Hale is credited as the person most responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States. She also authored “Mary Had A Little Lamb”

Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas 10 million years ago.

91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Fifty percent of Americans put the stuffing inside the Turkey.

President Abraham Lincoln established the original date for our National Thanksgiving Day celebration in 1863. President Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the idea of establishing a national “Thanksgiving Day.” Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was "the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard."
According to the National Turkey Foundation, when Armstrong and Aldrin sat down to eat their first meal on the moon, their foil food packets contained roasted turkey.
The average person consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day and Americans feast on 535 million pounds of turkey.

Contrary to popular belief, the Pilgrims did not have big buckles on their clothing, shoes, or hats. Buckles did not come into fashion until the late 1600s – more appropriate for the Salem Witchcraft trial time period.

The Plymouth Pilgrims dined with the Wampanoag Indians for the First Thanksgiving.
Turkeys have had a pop-culture effect in that Big Bird's outfit is made entirely of turkey feathers.
Turkeys were one of the first animals in the Americas to be domesticated.
Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be our national bird.

The night before Thanksgiving is the single biggest day for bar sales in the United States. Bigger than New Year's Eve. Bigger than the Super Bowl. Even bigger than St. Patricks Day.

Only male (tom) turkeys gobble. Females make a clicking noise. The famous gobble is actually a seasonal mating call.

Turkey is the traditional dish for the Thanksgiving feast. There is no official reason or declaration for the use of turkey. They just happened to be the most plentiful meat available at the time of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, starting the tradition.

Do you know which state is the top turkey-producer in the country? The great state of Minnesota.

Cranberries of the highest quality will always bounce! (If you try this at home, please wash the cranberries before eating. Twenty percent of cranberries eaten are eaten on Thanksgiving.
Congress did not declare Thanksgiving a national holiday until 1941.

On the West Coast Dungeness crab is commonly used as an alternate main dish instead of turkey, as crab season starts in early November.

The Detroit Lions are the reason there's football on Thanksgiving. The Detroit Lions are also the reason a lot of other teams have gotten easy wins on Thanksgiving. The NFL games that are now an indispensable part of Thanksgiving started back in 1934. That year, a guy named G.A. Richards bought the franchise, which, at the time, was called the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans and moved it to Detroit. In order to compete with the Tigers for a market share of Detroit's sports fans, he had to get creative. So he decided to schedule one of their games that season for Thanksgiving, against the defending world champion Chicago Bears. The game sold out, it was broadcast nationwide on NBC radio, it was a huge success and the tradition stuck.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." – John F. Kennedy

So Fly

2010-05-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

Patyska has been on an indefinite hiatus for the past several weeks due to other projects. Well, I'm happy to announce that People and Things You Should Know About is back.

With a vengeance.

I'm sure, that in that incredibly important brain held at bay within his skull, Carl Jung imagined a time when Synchronicity and Technology would meet.

Eat your heart out Carl. And for the rest of you, I introduce the amazing Flyfire.

Sit back, buckle your seatbelts, go full screen and imagine the possibilities.

Full details here.

FLIGHT

2010-04-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

Fun Facts about the Butterfly

The top butterfly flight speed is 12 miles per hour. Some moths can fly 25 miles per hour!

Representations of butterflies are seen in Egyptian frescoes at Thebes, which are 3,500 years old.

Some people say that when the black bands on the Woolybear caterpillar are wide, a cold winter is coming.

Monarch butterflies journey from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of about 2,000 miles, and return to the north again in the spring.

Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees.

Some Case Moth caterpillars (Psychidae) build a case around themselves that they always carry with them. It is made of silk and pieces of plants or soil.

In 1958 Entomologist W.G. Bruce published a list of Arthropod references in the Bible. The most frequently named bugs from the Bible are: Locust: 24, Moth: 11, Grasshopper: 10, Scorpion: 10, Caterpillar: 9, and Bee: 4

There are more types of insects in one tropical rain forest tree than there are in the entire state of Vermont.

The name 'Butterfly' was first coined to describe the Yellow Brimstone Butterfly, a variety commonly seen across Europe. It was actually known as 'Butter-colored Fly' and that later became 'Butterfly'.

The wings of Butterflies are actually transparent. The vivid colors are due to overlapping bright scales.

Butterfly wings are very delicate and can get damaged if handled. The scales too can get rubbed off if touched.

Some Butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of specific plants, others lay them in mid-flight.

Butterflies taste food by standing on it. This is because their taste sensors are found in their feet.

Butterflies weigh as little as two rose petals.

Adult Butterflies do not grow in size as they get older.

Plenty of Butterflies indicate a healthy, well-balanced ecosystem, and a dearth of Butterflies can denote a possible environmental problem.

Conservation of natural habitats and reduction in the use of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals is required for the proliferation of Butterflies.

After bees, butterflies are the second largest group of pollinators.

Transform

Scarnecky

Nighthawks

2010-02-14T22:13:00.000-08:00

The beautiful painting named Nighthawks by Edward Hopper from 1942.

This piece says so much, doesn't it? Hopper began painting it immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The original currently resides in the Art Institute of Chicago.

The scene depicts a corner in Greenwich Village where Mr. Hopper grew up. The scene accurately shows the mood of the time. The war led to an overall gloominess, which is obvious in the painting.

The streets are empty. Late at night, there are but a trio of patrons at "Phillies Diner" (which did really exist at the corner of Seventh Ave and W 11th Street, but has long since been demolished.)

There is a couple, with "hawk-like" noses, a nice nod to the title. Even though they are together, they are obviously distant from one another. The third patron sits with his back to us, alone. Who knows what demons or inner dialogue he is battling with?

Then there is the "employee." His posture and demeanor clue us in on the fact that he is not the owner of the establishment. His age suggests that he is probably working past retirement, for a boss much younger than he is.

Despite the inherent depression in the piece, there is a quiet solitude. As we race around in this day and age, wireless and mobile, yet still so connected that we rarely have time for a quiet thought, it is easy to envy the placid reverie that Hopper has created. Remember the moments when you could sit in a silent place with nothing but your thoughts? Look how empty the streets are.

As with any great piece of art, their have been homages and replications.

First, here is George Segal's life size sculpture The Diner:

Segal deserves a blog post of his own for his body of work (pun intended). His life size sculptures do a marvelous job of existing beyond their space(s). The Diner has a certain posture to it that winks back in time at Hopper's painting. More than the composition itself, the attitude itself lends itself to homage.

Then there is Roger Brown, whose painting Puerto Rican Wedding (1969) borrows a little bit of Escher with his take on the urban landscape. He delivers a nearly immaculate ratio of black and white while saving a nice portion of the real estate for his somewhat inhuman tip of the hat to the Hawks:

From there, the influence of Hopper's original effort tends to spread. For instance, the Photorealist Ralph Goings seemed to be interested only in painting diners, ketchup bottles, and rounded cafe corners. While he does not specifically claim Hopper's painting as an inspiration, I'm sure you will agree that the influence of Nighthawks is in Going's work, even if it was due to a subconscious force. Here is Tiled Lunch Counter by Mr. Goings, dated 1981.

Of course one cannot write about or discuss Nighthawks without mentioning THAT painting. You know the one. Gottfried Helnwein's Boulevard of Broken Dreams. I'll include a shot of it here for the sake of completion, but you could just as easily go buy one at a Spencer's gift shop in a mall and enjoy the work emblazoned with neon lights.

Don't get me wrong. I get it. Icononclastic emblems of a bygone era placed in the landscape that originally had resonance due to the cultural motif of the era and all that, but I really cringe every time I see this image. James Dean would be rolling over in his grave if he knew his visage was being used to disfigure such a work of art for the sake of selling $500 framed lamps.

Sorry for the rant...back on topic...

Here's an image that should make you smile from my new favorite blog Artinthepicture:

Nighthawks perfectly recreated in Lego.

In conclusion, if you can get your hands on a copy of The Best American Poetry 1991 then you will find in its pages a beautifully written piece of literature by Joyce Carol Oates, titled Edward Hopper's Nighthawks:1942 where she has written internalized monologues for each of the quartet of characters. The piece was originally written for The Yale Review but I would recommend you pick up the copy of the story in The Best American Poetry 1991 for two reasons: (1) There are 74 other wonderful entries in the collection and (2) the cover art is by a man named Edward Hopper:

(Cover art for The Best American Poetry 1991 by Edward Hopper, a 1951 painting titled Rooms by the Sea.)

Destino: 2 Hearts II

2010-02-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

I had no idea this existed until my friend Andy S. tipped me to it earlier today.

My two favorite artists are Walt Disney and Salvador Dali. To continue the tradition of two unlikely but perfect artists working together on one project, here is Destino.

This is truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I don't have the words in my vocabulary to describe it, so here's a brief take from the wiki:

Destino is a short animated cartoon released in 2003 by The Walt Disney Company. Destino is unique in that its production originally began in 1945, 58 years before its eventual completion. The project was a collaboration between American animator Walt Disney and Spanish painter Salvador Dali, and features music written by Mexican songwriter Armando Dominguez.

Destino from only one on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Andy for the nod, and also to Artinthepicture for posting the Vimeo and allowing me to embed it here.

On a final note, I couldn't embed it from Youtube, but if you click on the YT link, you can watch it full screen, which of course, you should do.

Two Hearts

2010-02-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

Two of the greatest musical artists of all time...both of two totally different genres, sat down one evening together and cranked out a very little known piece of magic.

Bobby Darin was an incredible "crooner." After taking over America with hits like "Splish Splash" Darin went on to establish himself as one of the best song and dance guys around, working with Sinatra's former arranger and cutting the Copa as a class act.

Then, after all of that, he retired and came back re-inventing himself as "Bob" Darin, the folk singer.

That's three different re-branding phases he went through, each one quite successfully, and all of this from a guy who wasn't supposed to live out his teens due to a bad heart. Well, his heart was strong enough to get him through to his late thirties, and by the time he was done he had conquered multiple genres and multiple demographics.

Stevie Wonder is one man who definitely lives up to his name. From "Little Stevie" to hardcore Stevie (who indisputably changed R and B for the better) to pop sensation Stevie with one of the strongest songwriting efforts known to several generations ("I just called...to say"...you know the rest) Mr. Wonder chiseled his own mountains.

The effect he has left on soul and funk will never be matched. (If you haven't already, you HAVE to hear "I Believe" from the album Talking Book. It's one of those rare life changing tunes.) Stevie is a great example of why there really is no such thing as "handicapped."

Imagine the two of these forces together in one sitting. Until recently, I didn't even know such an event existed. I was both freaked out and amazed when I ran across this clip. I hope you enjoy it too.

Here are two men, one blind and the other a miracle to still be walking with his heart condition, together making magic that had to come from somewhere other than our own planet:

(Do us both a favor and click the "full screen" button)

Steve Martin as MJ

2010-01-27T20:04:00.000-08:00

Steve Martin as MJ.

NYE, 3,2,1!

2009-12-31T17:14:00.000-08:00

New York City's ball-dropping tradition in Times Square has pretty much become synonymous with New year's Eve. Here's how towns across the United States have gotten in on the act.

-The ball dropped in New York City weighs more than 1,000 pounds and contains hundreds of Waterford crystal triangles. The ball dropped now is more than twice as bright as the original thanks to state-of-the-art LED lighting effects.

-The highlight of the First Night event in Atlanta, Georgia is the dropping of an 800-pound peach.

-Celebrations in Key West, Florida ring in the New Year in three ways: by dropping a conch shell, a pirate wench from the mast of a tall ship, and a six-foot-tall red high-heel shoe carrying a drag queen.

-Port Clinton, Ohio, known as the Walleye Capital of the World, drops a 20-foot, 600-pound walleye from the sky each year at the stroke of midnight. During the celebration, the town serves walleye chowder, walleye sandwiches, walleye cinnamon chips, and walleye popcorn. A local winery has even created a "walleye white."

-In 2000, the fishing community of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, dropped a ten-foot wooden replica of an Atlantic baitfish. "Mo the Millennium Mossbunker" was covered with 1,500 mylar scales.

-A sardine, the symbol of Eastport, Maine, is dropped in the easternmost city in the United States. The 22-foot structure is made of lumber and chicken wire and is decorated with silver sequins. Between appearances, it is stored in a restaurant named The Pickled Herring.

-Pennsylvania boasts an unusual lineup of New Year's Eve celebrations. Residents of Lebanon, witness the dropping of a 100-pound, 16 foot stick of bologna; in Dillsberg, it's an 8-foot-tall papier-mache pickle. The folks in Falmouth lower a stuffed goat to honor the town's goat races, and in Wilkes-Barre, a chunk of coal "transforms" into a diamond as it descends.

-At Don Theo's House in central Florida, I drop my left eyelid in a ceremonious wink goodbye to the last year while shooting a big thumbs up to the new one.

Antoni Gaudi: God's Architect

2009-12-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

Antoni Gaudi was born in rural Catalan, Spain in 1852. As a boy, he was fascinated by the shapes peculiar to the natural environment of his boyhood home--a lifelong inspiration taht would later take form in the irregular, fantastical designs of his buildings.

After studying architecture in Barcelona in the 1870's he began work on a series of commissions for private homes and commercial buildings, some of which stand as the most shockingly innovative architecture ever built.

In 1883, Gaudi, a devout Catholic, accepted a commission from a wealthy publisher to build a new church in the heart of Barcelona. Inspired by the strange mountains at nearby Montserrat, his design for the Temple of La Sagrada Familia called for 18 towers more than 300 feet tall, with a central tower that represented Jesus Christ and stood 580 feet tall. Incorporating his distinctive use of organic shapes and surfaces decorated with pieces of ceramic and mirror, his intitial towers soon swelled with offshoots of baroque sculpture.

As the years went on and backers balked at escalating expenses, Gaudi sank all of his own savings into continuing the cathedral project. Work nearly ceased as Barcelona's economy collapsed and Gaudi suffered the deep personal losses of a beloved neice and his long-time companion. He grew more reclusive and more devout, and his appearance became increasingly eccentric. In fact, Gaudi may have been deep in thought about his epic construction when he walked into the path of a tram in 1926. Thousands attended his interment at La Sagrada Familia.

Work resumed on the church in the 1950s and continues today, funded by private donations and admissions fares. During his life, Antoni Gaudi was often ridiculed by his peers, but in death he became known as "God's Architect."

To make a donation or just to learn more about La Sagrada Familia, you can visit the official site here.

Research courtesy of J.K. Kelley

Ten "Christmas" Facts That You Didn’t Know

2009-12-14T21:35:00.000-08:00

1)What percentage of mall Santa applicants were discovered to have criminal backgrounds: 7%
Approximate amount generated by photographs with Santa in shopping malls in the USA in dollars: $2,255,750,000

2) How many houses must Santa visit on Christmas? 842,000,000

How fast must he travel to visit all those homes? 4,796,250 Mph

3) Percentage of Americans who believe Santa in the off-season drives a sports car: 4%
drives an SUV: 25%

4) How many presents would you receive if you were to get every present in “The 12 Days of Christmas”? 364 How much would all those gifts cost? (according to PNC Financial Services) $18348.87

5) Percentage of Americans who finish off their Christmas Shopping on Christmas Eve:20

6) Percentage of pet owners who have their dog or cat pose and photographed with Santa Claus: 27

7) Percentage of Americans who re-gift: 28

8) Which type of Christmas tree is displayed more during the holiday season, artificial or real?Artificial trees are the most popular with 40,694,463 on display in comparison to real trees at 34,335,809

9) How many Barbie dolls are sold every minute around the world? 180

10) How much trash is generated annually from the gift wrap and shopping bags: 4,000,000 Tons

Bang, Bang, Choo-Choo Train!

2009-12-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

This is simply unbelievable. The Miniatur Wunderland model railroad in Hamburg, Germany is the largest in the world, covering 16,146 square feet of space with more than 10,000 train cars running around its 6.8 miles of HO scale track.

Now, the makers of this huge layout have created a video that gives you a jaw-dropping look at the vast scope of this intricate work of art.

Its construction started in 2000, and is still underway, with a tiny airport due for completion by the end of this year. This is just the beginning — there are plans to double to layout by 2014.

Check out the Las Vegas portion, complete with dazzling LEDs lighting up the night.

The following video attempts to bring youthe full impact of this remarkable achievement, which has taken in excess of 500,000 working hours to build.

There's good reason why this is Germany's most popular attraction, already visited by more than 5 million flabbergasted tourists.

Augment This!

2009-11-14T20:57:00.000-08:00

Know what? It's been quite a while since we've seen anything "innovative" from traditional print media.

Enter Esquire magazine with something very fresh and

exciting.

There's a hot new buzz word/phrase out there these

days: "Augmented Reality."

According to the Wikilards:

Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery - creating a mixed reality.

I've always been a fan of Esquire magazine. I mean hey, if David Sedaris writes for them they have to be doing something right.

The truth of the matter is that the magazine industry, not unlike traditional newspaper journalism, is in trouble thanks to the you-know-what. Will AR technology save magazines? Maybe not, but major kudos to Esquire. Instead of cursing the internets for ruining business, they have embraced technology and are striving to find a way to embed this concept within their own form.

Check out the Esquire AR tour above if you haven't already. And go pick up this month's issue. In addition to the AR stuff, you can read Robert Downey Jr.'s interview about the new Sherlock Holmes movie (directed by Guy Ritchie!)

Esquire is 77 years old. Great to see them step up to the plate instead of wasting real paper complaining about "kids these days." Cheers, Esquire!

Esquire Official Site (additional content.)

The World's Greatest Soda Pop Shop

2009-11-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

In the age of globalization, when the long tentacles of Pepsi and Coca-Cola have touched even the most remote places in the world, Galco's Soda Pop Stop is an unique place. It is a throwback to the age when every county had its own small soda manufacturer and every town its own beer brewery. This shop carries an immense variety of soda brands from all corners of the US, and as far away as Romania. Its catalog includes obscure, almost forgotten, old brands and imports available in only a few spots on the planet. Here you can find flavors as strange as rose water and cucumber soda.

The true treasure of this place is its owner Mr. John F. Nese, a man who may be the world's preeminent expert on matters of soda flavors. He can authoritatively explain why glass bottles are better than plastic ones and why Kosher-for-Passover Coca-Cola is better than the normal variety. He stands always ready to suggest a new variety or flavor.

Galco Soda Pop Stop offers online purchases with limited international delivery.

Galco's Soda Pop Stop

via

The Pavement Picasso

2009-10-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

Julian Beever is an English, Belgium-based chalk artist who has been creating 3D chalk drawings on pavement surfaces since the mid-1990s. His works are created using a projection called anamorphosis, and create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the correct angle.

Amazing talent...and here is his official site.

Mrs. Brady Saves The World

2009-10-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Florence Henderson, (A.K.A Mrs. Brady) has taken it upon herself to save old people from those wicked internets...Thanks Flo!

For those of you who get so confused with all those facepages and tweesters out there, take a deep breath...Flo is here to help.

Here is the information you have been looking for.

A lot of those social networking sites are really just out there to take your hard earned money by taking advantage of you.

Don't let it happen! Mrs. Brady is here to help and it will only cost you $249.99 a year. That's an annual savings of $50.00! Get ready for some pork chops and applesauce.

So what does Mama Brady give you as a member of Flohclub? Well here's a rundown...I've decided to follow Mrs. FloH's footsteps by translating each one of her bullet points so that you are not confused by the young con-artists that run the world wide webs.

From the FloHclub official site:

1.*Based in North America, our highly trained experts are patient and friendly.

Translation: "No brown people."

2.*We focus on empowering older adults, and really anyone who wants more confidence with technology.

Translation: "Go ahead and sign up and let's keep this a secret. That meddlesome son or daughter of yours does not need to know about it."

3.*We can access your computer remotely (from a distance), letting you watch and learn.

Translation: "It's best if you contact us with your questions during banking hours."

Well there you have it elders. And once you are truly happy with your facetwit skills, Flo will teach you the magic of YouTube where you can post things like this:

Natural Mystic from the Tribe of Joseph

2009-10-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

Go full screen. He deserves it.

Trailer Art

2009-10-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some very interesting shots of "tractor trailers" in Europe. As you can see, they have blended visual creativity with their marketing messages to create a memorable experience. Which one is your favorite?

Best. Mashup. Ever.

2009-10-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

Go full screen. You know you want to.

Return of the Dream King

2009-09-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

"THIS COULD SOUND, I realize, like the start of a spy novel or a Hollywood bank caper, but it is rather a story about genius and madness..."

Sara Corbett has written an amazing and enthralling article for The New York Times Magazine about the discovery and publication of the long lost "Red Book" by Carl Jung.

Good news for all you fellow Jungians. After almost 100 years, the book is being released (the official title is "The Red Book, Liber Novus" and is edited by Sonu Shandasani) and is now availble to the public.

Corbett writes:

"This is a story about a nearly 100-year-old book, bound in red leather, which has spent the last quarter century secreted away in a bank vault in Switzerland. The book is big and heavy and its spine is etched with gold letters that say “Liber Novus,” which is Latin for “New Book.” Its pages are made from thick cream-colored parchment and filled with paintings of otherworldly creatures and handwritten dialogues with gods and devils. If you didn’t know the book’s vintage, you might confuse it for a lost medieval tome.

And yet between the book’s heavy covers, a very modern story unfolds. It goes as follows: Man skids into midlife and loses his soul. Man goes looking for soul. After a lot of instructive hardship and adventure — taking place entirely in his head — he finds it again.

Some people feel that nobody should read the book, and some feel that everybody should read it. The truth is, nobody really knows. Most of what has been said about the book — what it is, what it means — is the product of guesswork, because from the time it was begun in 1914 in a smallish town in Switzerland, it seems that only about two dozen people have managed to read or even have much of a look at it."

Corbett has written a beautiful article about the book and its provenance. The article is dated September 16, 2009 and can be read in its entirety here.

Coaster Toaster

2009-09-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Dirk Auer has set a new world record…for insanity.

This past July, the adrenaline junkie raced down the rickety, wooden Mammoth roller coaster at 56mph, in his specially made inline skates. Auer made it through the entire length of the roller coaster (2820 feet) in just over a minute.

"Spending two months planning the outrageous stunt, Mr Auer also designed and made the monster skates, which took him a total of 110 hours' work.

Mr Auer, from Gross-Gerau near Frankfurt, is considered to be the most extreme in-line skater in the world.

He already holds the world record for reaching speeds of 190mph as he was dragged along behind a Porsche GT2."

Lucid Dreaming

2009-09-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Spend Your Nights Here

I have always had issues with sleeping. I'm a definite night owl, and a sometimes insomniac. One of the coolest things I have ever learned about however, is the art of Lucid Dreaming.

Lucid Dreaming is basically controlling what you dream. Imagine...tonight before going to bed you decide that you would like to take a vacation in Hawaii...or you would like to be the starting pitcher for the Yankees...or you would like to go on a date with Scarlett Johannson or George Clooney...or...well the list goes on and on.

Lucid Dreaming is not only possible, it's actually not even that difficult. After several months of training, I can dream lucidly about three or four times a week. Imagine you have a big important meeting tomorrow. You can get a head start by going to that meeting tonight, and being completely prepared by the time the real meeting rolls around.

How do you do it? Well there are many different ways to practice. The most important thing to do is to keep a notebook and pen beside your bed. Whenever you wake up after having a dream, even if it's in the middle of the night, turn on your bedside light and write down as many details as you can about the dream. This puts you in much deeper touch with the dreams you have.

As you go throughout your day, do a "reality check." This sounds weird, but just ask yourself "am I dreaming, or is this real?" Build this habit so that you find yourself doing it sometimes without realizing it. Then, in your dreams, you will find yourself doing the same thing.

The first time you are lucid during a dream is an unbelievable, indescribable feeling. You do your reality check, find that you actually are dreaming, and all of a sudden you are in control.

There is much more to it than that, but those are two things to get you started. For more information, articles and some great resources, you can sleepwalk your way over here.

Sweep the Leg!

2009-09-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

For all of you fellow Karate Kid fans.

In 2008, William Zabka (who played that dastardly Johnny Lawrence in KK) wrote and directed this video for the band No More Kings. A lot of the original cast members show up, and Zabka plays himself as a middle aged loser who is still obsessed with his role as Johnny.

In memory of Pat Morita, 1932-2005

An Illuuuuusion!

2009-09-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

.
Try it again ;-)

Jedis Unite!

2009-09-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

Daniel Jones, 23, who created the International Church of Jediism, claims he was “victimised over his beliefs” by staff at the supermarket in Bangor, North Wales.

The religion, inspired by the sci-fi films, is practised by 500,000 around the world and requires believers to cover their heads in public places. But Mr Jones, from Holyhead, said that staff ejected him from the store over security fears when he refused to remove his hood.

Mr Jones, also known by his Jedi name Morda Hehol, told The Sun:

"I told them it was a requirement of my religion but they just sniggered and ordered me to leave. I walked past a Muslim lady in a veil. Surely the same rules should apply to everyone."

The handbook of the UK Jedi Church, founded by the Star Wars fan last year, states: "Jedis must wear a hood up in any public place of a large audience."

Daniel added: "It was discrimination. I was really upset. Nobody should be treated like that. I'll advise worshippers to boycott Tesco if it happens again. They will feel the Force."

A Tesco spokesman said: "Jedi are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all went hoodless without going to the Dark Side. If Jedi walk around our stores with their hoods on, they’ll miss lots of special offers."

UH OH!

2009-09-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Legendary New York broadcaster Ernie Anastos had a momentary lapse of reason Wednesday night when he dropped the F-bomb live on TV.

During some playful banter with local weatherman Nick Gregory, Anastos complimented Gregory, or at least attempted to, by saying, "It takes a tough man to make a tender forecast, Nick."

Looking confused, Gregory responded, "I guess that's me."
Without missing a beat, Anastos continued, "Keep f***ing that chicken," a completely bewildering phrase that made co-anchor Dari Alexander's eyes bug out of her head.

Gregory, for his part, just threw his hands up and shook his head.

Lost Dog

2009-09-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Remember the old days, before cell phones when AT&T was really good at making those commercials that tugged at your heart strings? Looks like they have gone back to basics. This is a cool commercial, and a refreshing shift from the normal cell phone service ads.

By the way, that's Tyler Hansbrough in the commercial, a recent UNC Tarheel graduate that just got drafted by the Indiana Pacers.

2009-09-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend saw (at least) two displays of really bad attitudes.

First, Kanye West threatened to shove a @#$&* tennis ball down a lineswoman's throat for calling a foot fault, then Serena Williams stormed the stage at the VMA's during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to let everybody know that Beyonce's video was better.

Disney Makeover!

2009-09-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

Big Disney news today! First they bought Marvel for 4 billion dollars, and today they announced a multi-million dollar upgrade to Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. The magic mouse has been busy!

By 2013, Disney World will transform Fantasyland into a magical fairy tale forest with new and upgraded rides, character meet-and-greet areas and a themed restaurant, Disney announced today.

The centerpiece of the expansion, the largest in Magic Kingdom history, will be a new Little Mermaid dark ride that will take visitors on a musical journey under the sea with Ariel and her friends. Disney’s California Adventure in California will get an identical version of the ride in 2011.

Located behind Cinderella’s castle, the new Fantasyland will also include:

– A new circus tent theme for the existing Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride with interactive elements.
– Themed meet and greet areas for Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Tinker Bell.
– A Beauty and the Beast-themed restaurant inside the Beast’s castle.

Alleged blueprints of the Fantasyland project were leaked online in July, leading some Internet pundits to suggest Disney was launching a preemptive marketing offensive in anticipation of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opens at Universal Studios Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010.

Can't wait! Fantasyland is definitely in need of an update, and whenever Disney does something, they really do something.

Space Butterfly Via Hubble

2009-09-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

This celestial object looks like a delicate butterfly. But it is far from serene.

What resemble dainty butterfly wings are actually roiling cauldrons of gas heated to more than 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The gas is tearing across space at more than 600,000 miles an hour -- fast enough to travel from Earth to the moon in 24 minutes!

A dying star that was once about five times the mass of the Sun is at the center of this fury. It has ejected its envelope of gases and is now unleashing a stream of ultraviolet radiation that is making the cast-off material glow. This object is an example of a planetary nebula, so-named because many of them have a round appearance resembling that of a planet when viewed through a small telescope.

(This Hubble observation of the planetary nebula NGC 6302 is part of the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 Early Release Observations.)

Smile

2009-09-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

Should I really be posting this? I've used it as my own special secret weapon for so long. All right. Here goes.

Imagine this: You are out having drinks or dinner with a friend and you notice a table of Italian tourists nearby. You excuse yourself from your company and introduce yourself to the Italians. You are heard to be sputtering off beautifully excecuted Italian for a few minutes and when you are done, the whole table of Italians fall over with glee and laughter. Hang with me here.

There is an old adage that the one thing that translates through all languages is a smile.

I am about to share a very fun secret with you. This being said, it might be too much for you to handle. You might want to just click on to a different page or blog, because this is very funny, but also extremely powerful, and it might be a bit much to deal with if you are just casually browsing the web.

I won't be offended if you surf on to somewhere else. What I am about to share is way too intense for a lot of people.

However, if you are so inclined, then you are very much invited to share this with me. It's your choice, and as much as I would like you to stick around and read on, NObody is twisting your arm. Fair enough?

Still here? Cool. You will love this.

Remember how I said that the old adage says a smile translates all languages? Well think about if you amped it up a little. Laughter.

Laughter has no accent or dialect. When someone laughs in Cambodia, it sounds the same as someone laughing in London.

Laughter is infectuous...

Recent studies have shown that a good joke releases the same endorphins as a line of cocaine.
(That's true, and a good joke costs much less and is not illegal!)

Here is something wicked. Imagine you could share this power of laughter and smiling across the globe. Well, cool thing is that you can.

Here's a great little tip that will make you happy, make other people happy, and impress the socks off of whoever you are with. Are you ready for this?

Simply do this:
Learn one really good joke. That's not difficult. You probably already have one. But here's the thing, learn one that is funny to any culture or nationality. That is a little more difficult, but you are online right now, so a few minutes on Google should garner you your ammunition.

Now learn that joke in as many different languages as you can.

Think about that. Anytime you hear a foreign language, you saunter up to the party at hand and deliver a hilarious barrage of lines that leaves them laughing hysterically.

Everyone around will be very impressed. The people you have just bamboozled with laughter will feel welcome in a strange land. And you will feel like a superhero.

When choosing your joke, remember to keep it clean, devoid of cultural references and stay away from political humor.

I will leave it up to you to figure out what joke to use. I have many favorites of my own, and feel free to message me via this blog if you need one. I think it's a better idea to leave it up to you because each of us tell different jokes better according to our personalities, timbre, cadence and style.

Also, when translating and learning your "weapon" in other languages, be careful of using free online translators. They often carry with them a good bit of suckage, and you would risk having your international subjects laughing at you before you got to the punchline.

Keep this powerful tool a secret, and amaze all of your friends and enemies.

Momentum

2009-09-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

The 17-year-old, 5'6" giant killer strikes again. Melanie Oudin of Marietta, Georgia takes down Maria Sharapova today, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. She's got a long way to go, with both Williams sisters still in the show, but it was almost like watching a young female Michael Chang out there today. Some of the best footwork ever! Go Mel!

Match Point

2009-09-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

Day 4 of my yearly 2 week hibernation when the U.S. Open kicks into gear in Flushing Meadows, NY.

All the usual suspects are here, and it will be a big surprise if your winners are not Roger Federer and Selena Williams.

However, America loves an underdog, and the best part of the yearly tournament is cheering on the new standouts that show up to throw their hearts, minds, and bodies into the contest.

This year, working the men's bracket, I'm really enjoying watching the acrobatics of Gael Monfils. This Frenchman has been around on the circuit for a few years now, but with new coach Roger Rasheed, Gael is more on point than we've ever seen him. His circus act style is still there, but there is a much more solid Monfils slapping the ball as he slides, spins, and jumps his way through the bracket.

Here's some slo-mo of the great Gliding Gael:

Over on the women's side of the bracket, there's (as always) some incredible talent going on. As in the past several years, the Russians are dominant, but I want to tell you about a young up and comer that hopefully represents the future of Women's Tennis.

Meet the fireball of energy that is Melanie Oudin. She's only 17 years old. She's from Marietta, Ga (U.S.A.!, U.S.A.!) and she serves at over 100 miles per hour.

Today, she just spearheaded the biggest upset so far in this year's tournament. She defeated #4 seed Elena Dementieva.

And this was after having to have her entire thigh wrapped up late in the final set. She played through tears and today...she's a 5'6" giant killer. Go Mel!

A Fun Game

2009-09-01T21:44:00.001-07:00

Here's a fun game I learned on the Facebooks.

1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random”
or click here.
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click here.
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click here.
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Share!

Craigslist Goes Wholesome.

2009-09-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

A Connecticut man put his parents up for sale on Craigslist this past weekend.

Michael Amatrudo, a 51-year-old Madison resident and insurance executive, says in the ad that he's gotten "lots of use out of these guys over the past 50 years, but it's time to move on."
He says he'll take $155 or a trade for a younger set of parents, an Erector set or a "hot blonde."

Amatrudo says he's gotten dozens of responses from around the country, including inquiries about who would pay the shipping cost and how many days it would take to receive them.

He says his parents, Ed and Arlene Amatrudo of Noank, have a good sense of humor and took the ad in stride.

1973-2009

2009-08-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Is it me, or is this all starting to get out of hand?

R.I.P. Adam.

Heartbreaker

2009-08-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous Sarah Mclachlan song fits the Peter Pan movie so well. Not for the weak of heart, and call me a sissy, but this one always hits me hard. Enjoy!

Holy Spirit!

2009-08-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

I think someone has been reading too much Harry Potter.

Missing Mike

2009-08-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Now watch it again, but go full screen. It's worth it, trust me!

1925-2009

2009-08-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

From his official site.

DOMINICK DUNNE 1925-2009
We are sad to report the news that Dominick Dunne passed away on Wednesday, 26th August, at the age of 83 at his home in New York City, after a long and brave battle with cancer.

That one hurts. Thanks for all you did, Dom. We will miss the hell out of you.

LEE

2009-08-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

The debate is open on if it's real or fake. Personally, I don't care one way or the other. Either way, great vid.

Psychedelic Fish

2009-08-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Nature is amazing!

More information here:

Smoothly

Scarnecky

VOCA PEOPLE!

2009-08-21T19:43:00.001-07:00

Look Closely

2009-08-21T09:48:00.001-07:00

What do you see?

Roger

2009-08-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

If you don't know him already, allow me to introduce you to the fantastic Roger Dean.

Here's the abbreviated Wiki on him:

Roger Dean (born August 31, 1944), is an English artist, designer, architect and publisher. He is best known for his work on album covers for musicians which he began painting in the late 1960s. The covers usually feature exotic, fantastic landscapes.

I learned about Rog from all of the YES album covers he did. Somehow, he actually captured the essence of the music and illustrated it. How amazing is that?

Dean is also an accomplished architect and designer. The picture at the top of this post shows Dean in the Willow Water home he designed. Here is a shot of the amazing Casa Batllo by Antoni Gaudi. As you can tell, it's pure Roger Dean.

Finally, here is a perfect example of "Fantasy Art" except without the wolves. It's called Floating Islands. Thanks for all of your amazing work, Roger.

Wait. What?

2009-08-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

Can anybody tell me what this means?

From the hilarous folks at engrishfunny.com

Kopi Kobana

2009-08-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

"Kopi Luwak comes from the Indonesian Island of Sumatra, an area well known for its excellent coffee. Also native to the area is a small civet-like animal called a Paradoxurus. The locals call them Luwaks. These little mammals live in the trees and one of their favorite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry. They eat the cherries, bean and all. While the bean is in the little guy's stomach, it undergoes chemical treatments and fermentation. The bean finishes its journey through the digestive system, and exits. The still-intact beans are collected from the forest floor, and are cleaned, then roasted and ground just like any other coffee. The resulting coffee is said to be like no other. It has a rich, heavy flavor with hints of caramel or chocolate. Other terms used to describe it are earthy, musty and exotic. The body is almost syrupy and it's very smooth."

Really?

1938-2009

2009-08-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Charles Gwathmey (June 19, 1938 – August 3, 2009) was an American architect. He was a principal at Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, LLP, as well as one of the five architects identified as The New York Five in 1969. One of Gwathmey's most famous designs is the 1992 renovation of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York City.^[1]

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Gwathmey attended the University of Pennsylvania and received his Master of Architecture degree in 1962 from Yale School of Architecture^[1], where he won both The William Wirt Winchester Fellowship as the outstanding graduate and a Fulbright Grant.

We lost a good one yesterday.

Village Spidey

2009-07-31T10:20:00.001-07:00

No matter where in the world you are, your age, or the type of livestock at your feet, you can always play Spider-Man.

DK

2009-07-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

The amazing, beautiful, charming, delightful Diana Krall.

A Castle in Space

2009-07-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

The Pillars of Eagle Castle

What lights up this castle of star formation? The familiar Eagle Nebula glows bright in many colors at once. The above image is a composite of three of these glowing gas colors. Pillars of dark dust nicely outline some of the denser towers of star formation. Energetic light from young massive stars causes the gas to glow and effectively boils away part of the dust and gas from its birth pillar. Many of these stars will explode after several million years, returning most of their elements back to the nebula which formed them. This process is forming an open cluster of stars known as M16.

Santiago Calatrava

2009-07-19T14:41:00.001-07:00

Meet the enchanting Santiago Calatrava.

Santiago also designed the Chicago Spire.

Calatrava’s style has been heralded as bridging the division between structural engineering and architecture. His style is very personal and derives from numerous studies he makes of the human body and the natural world.

The amazing Auditorio de Tenerife.

The Turning Torso in Malmo, Sweden

1916-2009

2009-07-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Sky Play

2009-07-15T21:18:00.001-07:00

For more amazing images and a bunch of optical illusions check out this incredible blog:

http://ama-zing-arts.blogspot.com/2008_06_22_archive.html

Smoothly

Scarnecky

Nakedinator

2009-07-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) -- A 19-year-old man awaits a court appearance after being arrested on suspicion of running naked through the Stateline casino area on Lake Tahoe's south shore.

Douglas County sheriff's deputies say Sean Stanley Smith was arrested before a group of startled children in the Harrah's Tahoe arcade.

He reportedly told officers that he had used marijuana and LSD, and was running naked because he thought he was the "Terminator."

Deputies say the suspect was spotted running by the Pony Express statue outside Harrah's on Tuesday afternoon, and entered the casino after ignoring an officer's command to stop.

After a deputy used a Taser to subdue him, the suspect was covered with bedsheets and taken to jail.

He was booked on charges of indecent exposure and resisting a police officer.

Starry Night

2009-07-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

Every day NASA features a picture of “our fascinating universe.” Today's picture is of Mount Rushmore at night.

Jeff Hein

2009-07-05T16:01:00.001-07:00

Quite an amazing artist located in the heart of Salt Lake City Utah. Originally from New York, Jeff Hein has some wonderful work you should most definitely check out: http://www .jeffreyhein.com/

Check out Jeffs blog:
http://jeffhein.wordpress.com/

The New Deal

2009-07-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

The newest modern architecture design concept is called Dynamic Architecture. Modern architecture skyscrapers will keep moving, forever changing their shape to better fit nature and your imagination. Dynamic Architecture reveals three major innovations – changing shapes, industrial production of units and self-production of clean energy.

1958-2009

2009-06-29T04:45:00.001-07:00

1958-2009

2009-06-26T04:24:00.000-07:00

I don't really have the words to say what I feel right now. Here's the lyrics for a song of his:

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

Here's some mashups:

Rest in Peace, Captain EO.

Coming Soon

2009-06-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Brand new effect called "The V-8 Levitation" is scheduled to be released at some time in another dimension.

See you all there

Scarnecky

Utah

2009-06-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

MOAB Utah is like no other place on earth.

If you are ever driving through Utah, you should definitely make plans to visit.

Thanks Dave!

2009-06-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Dave Buchwald who sent in this picture of his brilliant Escheresque Lego creation.

Great work Dave!

A Special Day

2009-06-21T06:59:00.001-07:00

Did you know that yesterday was International Surf Day?

Wow, I hope you had as much fun as I did.

And today? I hereby announce that today is International Lego day.

Make stuff! Send Pics!

ISD

2009-06-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

All Aboard!

2009-06-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

If you have half as much fun as these guys do this weekend, then you are in for a spectaculous couple of days. Have a good weekend!

Blue Megamix

2009-06-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

Ah, the Blue Man Group. I have nothing more to say about them that can't be said by just watching this clip.

The Official Website

Fred and Ginger

2009-06-16T04:18:00.000-07:00

Frank Gehry's Dancing House

With a vision of creating an iconic building in Prague , ING contracted Frank Gehry for this forward-looking architectural project, giving him an almost unlimited budget and artistic freedom. The construction for the Dancing House began in 1994 and finished in 1996. The house has also been nicknamed the Fred and Ginger for its vague resemblance to the two dancers or the Drunken House for its twisted and unruly shape. The roof is host to a French restaurant with magnificent views over the Vltava.

Test your instincts

2009-06-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have already seen this. I think this little experiment is really neat. Just click this link, then rate your overall outlook on life, and confidence rating of your skill at discriminating between fake and real smiles.
Then click next to see how well you can spot the fake smile.

Have fun

Scarnecky

Rock Like MJ

2009-06-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

My vote for the coolest thing on Ebay today. $200.00

Shawn Farquar

2009-06-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Shawn does magic to music. I love the way he uses the lyrics.

Awkward

2009-06-11T04:19:00.000-07:00

This one is pretty viral, so you may have seen it before, but if not, you are truly in for some laughs. Spend a few side splitting moments at the Awkward Family Photos site.

(Thanks to Nathan for the tip.)

Super Magic

2009-06-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Wow. So the Magic (barely) takes game 3.

In NBA Finals history, in 30 attempts only 3 teams have conquered the 2-0 deficit to win.

Tonight was a nailbiter, but have faith Magic fans...

Sportswriters were pissed when the Magic upset the Cavs, destroying the NBA's hopes for a big ticket selling Kobe/Lebron finals.

If you happen to pass thru Orlando these days, you will see Magic stickers on toll booth windows.

Go, Magic go!

And special thanks to Dwight Howard for showing up for work tonight.

Is This a Sign?

2009-06-08T04:11:00.001-07:00

In these trying economic times, sign makers struggle to find a reason to keep their doors open.

Words of Wisdom

2009-06-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy the amazing movies that simpletruths.com creates and shares. Here are a few simple secrets to a happy life presented in an elegant way.

http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

Enjoy

Not to cut you short, but...

2009-06-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

How impressed would you be to see a Swiss Army Knife running a PowerPoint presentation?

As impressed as the Swiss Army, when they saw the first "Officer's Knife" opening a bottle of wine?

Back in 1897, officers had trouble deciding which was more remarkable: The corkscrew, or that somehow Swiss Army had been able to add it to the "Soldier Knife" without increasing either the size or weight.

Enter the new "Presentation Master."

How about this?

A Bluetooth remote that controls your laptop.

A laser pointer.

The 256 bit biometric fingerprint sensor with data encryption that secures all the files on the detatchable 32GB memory stick.

Macgyver, do you have a laptop?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

2009-06-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

Uh Oh.

2009-06-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's worse. Guns in bars or guns in church:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Handguns will soon be allowed in bars and restaurants in Tennessee under a new law passed by state legislators who voted to override the governor's veto.

The legislation that takes effect July 14 retains an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun, and restaurant owners can still opt to ban weapons from their establishments.

Thirty-seven other states have similar laws.
The state Senate voted 21-9 on Thursday against Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto, a day after the House also voted 69-27 to override.

They overrode critics, including Bredesen, who said it's a bad idea to have guns and alcohol in close proximity.

Democratic Sen. Doug Jackson, the main sponsor of the bill, said state Safety Department records show handgun permit holders in Tennessee are responsible.
Of the roughly 218,000 handgun permit holders in Tennessee, 278 had their permits revoked last year, records show. Since 2005, state records shows nearly 1,200 people have lost their permits.

Revocations are issued for felony convictions, while permits can be suspended for pending criminal charges or for court orders of protection.

Then there's this. Sheesh.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky pastor is inviting people to bring their guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment.

New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church on June 27, a Saturday.

An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.
Church pastor Ken Pagano says guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors.

He says recent church shootings make it necessary to promote safe gun ownership.

Marian McClure Taylor is executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches.
She says churches work to prevent violent harm and promote peace, but most "allow for arms to be taken up under certain conditions."

Zip a Dee Doo Dah!

2009-06-05T04:40:00.001-07:00

If you could go to Shanghai for a vacation, buy two or more of these cars, one for your wife and one for yourself, and one for each of your kids, have them shipped to Canada and still spend less money than if you bought a car in Canada. Getting the car(s) into USA, still an ordeal.

This is not a toy, not a concept car. It is a newly developed single seat car.

Highly aerodynamic, tear-shaped, road-proven. It is ready to be launched as a single-seater for sale in Shanghai in 2010 for a mere RMB 4,000 (US$600)!

It will cruise at 100-120 Km/Hr with an unbelievable 0.99litre/100Km (258 miles/gallon).

The Most Economic Car in the World will be on sale next year

Mic Droppin'

2009-06-04T04:15:00.000-07:00

Bernie Mac did it. Chris Rock does it. At the end of a set after delivering that last killer punch line, they would lift their hand high with the mic, and simply let go...creating a huge thump and a definite end to the show.

It's the equivalent of a running back spiking a football after a 43 yard touchdown.

Today your life will be filled with peaks and valleys. At the highest peak, take a moment...lift the mic, and let it go. Strut off of the stage with your head held high.

Super Falcon

2009-06-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

Unlike other submarines, the 22-foot Super Falcon uses a single propeller to tumble and roll to depths of 1,000 feet. Reinforced cockpits offer panoramic views.

"Now available to private buyers."

The newest model, which debuts this month, runs 1.5 million dollars. You can do a half-day charter for $5,000 or take a three-day pilot course starting on June 15 in Monterey Bay for $15k.

Made by the fine folks at Deep Flight.

Cause & Effect

2009-06-03T01:55:00.000-07:00

Greatness is he who reminds you of no other.

A successful person is one who thinks himself so.

Warmth and Light

Scarnecky

Best iPhone apps

2009-06-01T17:50:00.001-07:00

I've been using the iPhone since it hit the market lo those many years ago. (thanks Marty!)

Recently my lil bro PC picked up a new 3G. He wanted to know the best apps available so I sent him my top 5 list.

Thought it would be good to post it here in case anyone else out there needed a little guidance with their new device.

I may be biased, because I personally use these often, but just the same, here are my top 5 favorite iPhone apps in no particular order:

(1) iPLUNGER-turn your iPhone into a toilet plunger if you run into fecal matters.

(2) MOBILE DOOR STOP-keep those pesky doors wedged open with the push of a button.

(3) iSOHORNY-having a problem getting that left shoe on early in the morning? iSOHORNY uses the latest technology to turn your iPhone into a shoe horn.

(4) iCANDY-the amazing advances of telecommuscience allow you to use a simple iPhone as a tray for mints and hard candies. This one is pricey but it's worth it.

(5) CATSLAPPER-when extremely annoyed by your little feline best friend, this app allows you to slap the crap out of it.

I would go on, but the beauty of the iPhone is that there are just too many great apps to mention.

Highsmith

2009-06-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

Have you read this book? If you like chilling psychological fiction then run, don't walk to go get it. It was written in 1961.

Patricia Highsmith's novels are jaw-droppingly engaging. Ever heard of her? I bet you've heard of Alfred Hitchcock. His iconoclastic film Strangers on a Train was based on PH's novel of the same name.

Her main claim to fame was the Ripley books, which have been immortalized on films featuring Damon, Law, Malkovich, and Alain DeLon
( the "French James Dean."

That final mention references an amazing film account (though a bit of a departure from the book The Talented Mr. Ripley) made in the sixties. The film is entrancing if you can handle French subtitles. It's titled Purple Moon and was blissfully brought back to widestream availability thanks to Scorcese's film production company.

All that aside...get the books. You will find that all of a sudden you have the ability to read much faster than you ever thought possible.

Flux Capacitor...Fluxing.

2009-05-31T14:51:00.001-07:00

The DeLorean Motor Company was a short-lived automobile manufacturer formed by industry executive John DeLorean in 1975.

It is remembered for the one model it produced-the distinctive stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 sports car featuring gull-wing doors.

DMC's brief and turbulent history ended in receivership and bankruptcy in 1982, three years before the release of "Back to the Future."

Near the end, in a desperate attempt to raise the funds his company needed to survive, John DeLorean was filmed accepting money to take part in drug trafficking.

Of the 9,000 DMC-12 cars made, an estimted 6,500 are still on the road today.

If you find yourself lucky enough to get one, please check the glove box before you go back in time.

Victory

2009-05-30T20:19:00.001-07:00

It's official. The Magic are in the finals.

They beat the reigning champion Celtics.

They beat the team with this year's MVP.

And as of 11:04 pm tonight, they are on their way to bring that big gold statue back to Florida.

It's been 13 years since, and tonight the Magic won by 13 points.

The planets are aligned.

Go Magic Go!

The Cap is Back

2009-05-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Since my recent post about Captain Harold, many of you have contacted me in concern for his current status.

As you can see above, he is now back in business and badder than ever.

And without that troublesome head he had before. Which means he will never again make a bad decision.

Anonymous

2009-05-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

"Anonymous" is an online group that has "waged war" on Scientology using "cyber-terrorism" techniques like shutting down the "Church" of Scientology's "websites."

They are often seen protesting on European "streets" wearing the "V for Vendetta" masks that you see above, with signs that say things like "Question Scientology, knowledge is free."

If you ask me, I think "Anonymous" is just a crazy cult that claims to change the world by bilking innocent people out of their life savings.

Avast!

2009-05-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

Meet Captain Harold the pirate. These wooden pirates are quite prevalent in the touristy towns of Florida, but Captain Harold is special. For years, he has been posted behind bars overlooking the ocean at the pier in Daytona Beach.

What makes Harold different than the rest of the wooden pirates littered across the state is that Cap Harry truly knows no fear. In fact, this year he had the audacity to stand up to the most unruliest of unruly scallywags...the Daytona Beach spring break crowd.

And here is where that got him:

A Magical Night?

2009-05-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight, if the Orlando Magic wins, they will face their second NBA Finals competition.

The last (first) one was 14 years ago.

Sorry for such a regional post, but this is a big deal for us Central Floridians.

That being said, my apologies for these local comments:

Rumour has it Bob Dance and Grace have floor seats where everybody rides.

Sam Pak, as always, has a monoply on all the Skyboxes which is just plain Wakkie Nu Nu.

David Maus is still boycotted until he can figure out what to do with his hands during his commercials.

And Tip-Off is at 8:30.

And for those of you who don't do B-Ball, the Scripps Spelling Bee tips off at 8:00 tonight.

Go Magic Go!

I Want One!

2009-05-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

glumbert - The Folding Chair

Circadian Rhythm

2009-05-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Did you know that our heart beats inside of a Fractal rhythm?

Interesting piece of information