August 2013 – Tacky Raccoons

Saturday Matinee – Lovin’ Spoonful, Temptations & WSS

Kinda hot here the past few days, and with some unusual humidity for Bunkville, I had to turn off the a/c occasionally on a 2-hour commute just to let it de-ice. While we’re waiting for Dear President to start pushing the Affordable Air Conditioning Act, let’s spin some tunes that are too hot to handle and too cold to hold on The Saturday Matinee.

The Lovin’ Spoonful in September 1966. A few years after that song came out I discovered that John Sebastian wasn’t black, yet he had soul.

The Temptations were great, and this is one of their greatest: “I Wish It Would Rain.” According to Wiki, it was originally released as a B side to a Melvin Franklin song on Motown Records in 1967 and made it to No. 4 on Billboard’s Top 100 the following year. [The songwriter, Roger Penzabene, was distraught after finding that his wife had been cheating on him and offed himself a week after the song’s release.]

Let’s cool off with this classic. It’s got subtitles, too.

Yep, real cool, except for the pirouettes. Have a great 3-day weekend, folks.

The .Gif Friday Post No.295 – Disgruntled FAIL, 4WD Roll WIN & Steampunk Surveillance

[Found here, here and here.]

Fixing A Crappy Sponge-Paint Finish

I’d be embarrassed to show that to anyone, It’s a very lame repetitive sponge-paint finish. and they didn’t even bother to mask the ceiling trim for the background coat.

So how to fix it? You’ll never match the color exactly, let alone the pattern of the splotchbrush. Oh wait! I know! Let’s put something even crappier and more hideous in front of it as a distraction!

[Parental alert: Might disturb little ones. Image below the break.] Continue reading “Fixing A Crappy Sponge-Paint Finish”

Mr. Slinky’s Dream Vacation

Bueren Mountain is not a real mountain. It is a 374 steps long staircase in Liège [Belgium]. The stairs were built in 1881 to allow soldiers on top of the hill to go down to the centre without having to walk through the dangerous alleys.

Fun Facts To Know & Tell

374 risers x 7.5 inches (assumed existing) makes it about +234 feet in elevation. If that staircase were constructed in the US under current handicap accessibility codes (ADA), not only would the stair run be longer, the required ramp (assuming a straight run with no switchbacks, and including 5-foot long landings every +30 inches) would reach 2/3rds of a mile in length.

Aside from Mr. Slinky, it’d be a skateboarder’s vacation dream. Get air 94 times before you eat the pavers or blast some poor soul at the bottom of the run. Take away the landings and brakes, and Mr. Wheelchair & Mr. Skateboard end their 12 second journey at over 120mph.

On the other hand, Mr. Slinky, at 1 second per step (do Slinkys speed up?) would make it to the bottom in about 6 minutes, ready for another go. I’d rather be Mr. Slinky.

[Found here via here. I also noticed that the esteemed, highly regarded and fetching Ms. Cellanea beat me to the post. Again.]

Retro Green Beer Delivery

Steam Whistle, arguably Canada’s greenest brewery, has added a custom-built, eco-friendly vintage ride to its delivery fleet. Called Retro Electro, this green machine started life as a 1958 Chevy Apache truck. Steam Whistle retrofitted it with an AC motor capable of cranking out 465 pound-feet of torque, which is on par with the power output of gas-guzzling muscle cars, yet the Retro Electro is emissions-free as it’s Bullfrogpowered with electricity generated by wind turbines. [via]

I’ll refrain from cranking on the insults to “gas-guzzling muscle cars” but that photo is awesome. [Found here.]

186 mph

[Found here.]

Ruben & The Hot Links

Chet Phillips’ flip-face thingy is kinda fun.

This song is awesome. Ruben & The Jets’ first album was produced by Frank Zappa, (and is not the same band or record as the Mothers’ previous album “Cruisin’ With Ruben & The Jets“).

Yay! Woosk is back from a seven-month vacation!

Here’s an interesting collection of historical oddities.

Head Full Of Snakes Magazine.

Ninja Hamster House [via].

Like early 20th century animation? Tralfaz is a good place to start.

Saturday Matinee – Doggie Fun, Tom & Jerry, Rastaman Joe Cocker, and Dale Watson

Fetch. [via]

The original Tom & Jerry in “Swiss Trick” (Van Beuren Studios 1931) is just bizarre. Historical background at the Utoobage link.

The Great Rastafarian Idol Joe Cocker does what he does best,

Dale Watson is an anomaly. Tattooed Texan playing Nashville Johnny Cash style.
And with that we’re out. That’s it for another episode of The Saturday Matinee. Have a great weekend, folks.