Month: November 2011

Ross Eugene Long’s Contribution to The World

On 26 March 2002 awesome happened. Ross Eugene Long III of Oakland California was awarded U.S. Patent 6360393. He invented the stick.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as a toy by an animal, for example a dog, to either fetch carry or chew includes a main section with at least one protrusion extending therefrom that resembles a branch in appearance. The toy is formed of any of a number of materials including rubber, plastic, or wood including wood composites and is solid. It is either rigid or flexible. A flavoring (scent) is added, if desired. The toy is adapted to float by including a material therein that is lighter than water or it is adapted to glow in the dark, as desired, by the addition of a fluorescent material that is either included in the material from which the toy is made or the flourescent material is applied thereto as a coating. The toy may be segmented (i.e., notched) so as to break off into smaller segments, as is useful for smaller animals or, alternatively, to extend the life of the toy. Various textured surfaces including camouflage colorings are anticipated as are straight or curved main sections. The toy may be formed of any desired material, as described, so as to be edible by the animal.

Not only did Eugene Long III invent the stick, he attached 20 claims to it based upon different materials and options that might be used to manufacture it. Pure brilliance, that.
[Full text of Patent here. Story discovered here. Additional info on the history of the Patent here. More awesome Contributions to The World here.]

Saturday Matinee – Tom Waits, Leon Redbone, The Remains, Mink DeVille, The Black Keys

“Ol’ 55” became one of my favorite Tom Waits songs once I found that The Eagles only did a cover.

“Diddy Wah Diddy” is one of my favorite Leon Redbone songs, even though it was  a cover of Blind Blake’s original, not to be confused with Bo Diddley’s DWD. that was covered by Captain Beefheart as well as The Fabulous Thunderbirds (All four versions linked are worth a listen because Bunk knows what Diddy Wah Diddy means.)

The Remains‘ version of Bo Diddley’s song is, um, a version, but the retroness kinda makes up for the lameness of the Boston band’s cover.

Willy “Mink” DeVille was a punk rocker before the Sex Pistols screwed it all up. Moon Martin’s “Cadillac Walk” was a classic, and DeVille did a great cover.

The Black Keys just blow me away, and not just because of the retro rock sound. A 3-man group has to be good to crank, but for two guys to load and pull the trigger is pure awesome.

Have a great weekend folks. Be back here tomorrow.

Thanksgiving 1621

Only two descriptions of the Thanksgiving of 1621 are known to exist. (Image of reconstructed settlement from here, quotes below are from here.)

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others.  And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want,  that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”

Edward Winslow, Mourt’s Relation.
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“They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; fFor as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want.  And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees).  And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion.  Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained,  but true reports.”

William Bradford, Of Plimoth Plantation.

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In Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford lists the Mayflower passengers and also tells us who died during the first winter of 1620/1621 and spring of 1621.  No other ships arrived in Plymouth until after the “First Thanksgiving” celebration.  The [53] Pilgrims at the “First Thanksgiving” are all the Mayflower survivors.

Fixing an Embarassing Dog Fro


Sorry, it’s just wrong. It can’t be fixed, even if you say it’s cool. I’d rather see marmaduke mullets than canine q-tips.

[Related post here.]

BTW, according to WorpDress stats, this is the 1,800th post on Tacky Raccoons since 3 August 2007, and I didn’t steal it from anybody! BoogahBoogah!

All Your Bass Are Belong To Us

I remember when I was young;
Times were hard when I was young.
Daddy would sit us in a circle, try to teach us vocal parts.
But we sounded so absurd,
’cause nobody ever sang the third.
For a singin’ group, we just weren’t all that sharp.

Daddy sang bass, Momma sang tenor;
Me and little brother sang bass and tenor;
Singin’ Gospel songs so bad it was a sin.

Daddy sang bass, Momma sang tenor;
Me and little brother sang bass and tenor;
All the dogs out in the yard would join right in. – Pinkard & Bowden

Country Joe and the Fish? Looks like Stephen King.

He plays off-key because everyone knows _________________.

[Found here and here.]