Month: November 2016

Monday Morning Puzzle

trapped-bowls

The photo was taken after an earthquake in the Tottori Prefecture on October 21st, in a hotel owned by the Kishida family.

Given:
Cabinet with glass panels, earthquake-shifted valuable bowls.
Task:
Extract the bowls intact without breaking any glass.

There are some great solutions offered, like this one:

Open the cabinet door just enough to allow the nozzle of an expandable insulation foam canister. Fill up the cabinet with expansive foam, wait for it to set. Open the door and chip off the insulation with a screwdriver.

I don’t know who posted that solution, but it’s brilliant.

[Found here.]

Roof On A Tin Cat Hot Links

lima-beans

lima bean (n.)
1756, associated with Lima, Peru, from which region the plant (Phaseolus lunatus) was introduced to Europe c. 1500. Among the earliest New World crops to be known in the Old World, Simmonds’ “Dictionary of Trade” (1858) describes it as “esteemed,” but it has the consistency of a diseased dog kidney.

I grew up with a subscription to Mad Magazine. Check out what writer Dick DeBartolo is doing these days.

Jupiter’s fanny.

Interesting list of “hate crimes” that were hoaxes (with links).

Antnado.

Grifters. I’ve seen ’em everywhere I’ve ever lived. I remember growing up in Ohio and hearing the warning that “the Williamsons are in town.” Their gig was to offer to reseal your asphalt driveway with hot mop. The “hot mop” washed away with the next rain, and by that time they were out of town.

10 Best Leon Russell Songs (R.I.P. 1942-2016).

Potato & Carrot Weaponry.

A turkey’s gender can be determined from its droppings–males produce spiral-shaped poop and females’ poop is shaped like the letter J. More fun turkey facts here.

[Top image from here.]

Saturday Matinee – Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Joe Cocker & Tom Jones, George Benson, and…

Gary Lewis & The Playboys‘ “She’s Just My Style” reached #3 on The Billboard Hot 100 in January 1966. The chicks dug it.

https://youtu.be/R2944ZzKHNo

Joe Cocker‘s take on “Delta Lady” earned him a hit in 1969, and in 1970 he doubled down by performing it with Tom Jones. The chicks dug it.

https://youtu.be/T8eXCdjdSHE

George Benson‘s recording of “This Masquerade” was a soft jazz R&B hit in 1976, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot Soul Singles charts [Wiki]. The chicks dug it.

What do those songs have in common? They were all written by this guy:

Yeah, another great rock/soul/jazz/country icon passed away this week. R.I.P. Leon Russell (1942-2016).

Have no worries, these things happen all the time, and nobody lasts forever. Let’s have fun while we can. See you back here tomorrow.

The .GIF Friday Post No.460 – Sheep Dog, Bowzer Break & Doggie Duckies

sheep-dog

dog-dood

doggie-duckies

[Found in here, in here, and here via here.]

How To Sell Inflatable Geese

Is this a Great Country or what? (Swans and ducks are geese, so don’t even go there.)

[Inspiration from here, other images from here.]

No.

try-it-before-you-buy-it-2

[Found here. Related post here.]

Nothing Much Happened Today.

nothing-much-happened-today-25

[Found here.]

A Super Moon, The Moon Bunny Lady & Apollo 11

the-moon-face-full-gallileo

SuperMoon is scheduled to peak at 8:52AM EST Monday (and no, I’m not gonna set my alarm). This full moon will be not only the closest and brightest supermoon of 2016 but also the largest since 1948, and the full moon won’t come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034.

The moon rabbit in folklore is a rabbit that lives on the Moon, based on pareidolia that identifies the markings of the Moon as a rabbit. The story exists in many cultures, prominently in East Asian folklore and Aztec mythology. In East Asia, it is seen pounding in a mortar and pestle, but the contents of the mortar differ among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean folklore. In Chinese folklore, it is often portrayed as a companion of the Moon goddess Chang’e, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her; but in Japanese and Korean versions, it is pounding the ingredients for rice cake [Wiki].

apollo-11-convo

 

pbf120-moon_bunny

[Top image from here; Apollo 11 quotes documented here and here, recording from here ; PBF strip here.]

Live Streaming Hot Links

timber

Late Election predictions by media talking heads were spot on.
Here’s one reaction. Here’s another. Okay, I’ll stop.

The Dig Tree was where the Burke and Wills Expedition buried supplies in 1861. It was Australia’s version of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, except they had camels instead of horses. Out of 19 explorers, only one man survived the trek.

How to make Holy Water [via].

Very cool World Map puts things in better perspective [via].

Clever Billy Bass Hack.

The Timberline Lodge should look familiar to horror film fans.

Woman describes why she (legally) immigrated to the U.S.

Another WMD (Washing Machine Destruction) video [via].

[Top image from here.]

Saturday Matinee – Sha Na Na, The Broke Brothers & The Wailers

Sha Na Na was best known for opening for Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, doing covers of early R&R and R&B hits, but they wrote some original songs as well. “The Vote Song” appeared on their album “The Night Is Still Young” in 1972, also a presidential election year, and if you replace “Nixon” with “Obama” in the lyrics, it still works.

The Broke Brothers‘ cover of the The Stone’s hit is an interesting take. It’s also an appropriate song that sums up my feelings about last Tuesday’s Election Day results.

As a resident of the People’s Republic of California, my vote didn’t count for anything, not even on the specious ballot measures, but at the same time I’m pleased that a certain someone will not become President.

The Wailers perform their classic 1977 hit “Three Little Birds” (sans the late Bob Marley) in 2014. For everyone on all sides of the political spectrum, this seems appropriate as well.

Have a great weekend, folks, and steer clear of the hooligans.