Click smaller images to engorge.
[Found in here. Top one from the 2016 RNC… kinda.]
Author: Bunk Strutts
Boogah Boogah.
C’mon. You know what it says.
Old School Selfie
Bigass Ammonite Fossil is not a Bigass Ammonite Fossil
Yep, that looks like a bigass prehistoric ammonite fossil, and it’s not a snail fossil as the caption states.
Ammonites are perhaps the most widely known fossil, possessing the typically ribbed spiral-form shell as pictured above. These creatures lived in the seas between 240 – 65 million years ago, when they became extinct along with the dinosaurs. The name ‘ammonite’ (usually lower-case) originates from the Greek Ram-horned god called Ammon. Ammonites belong to a group of predators known as cephalopods, which includes their living relatives the octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus [via].
I found the top image (with the erroneous caption) in here, and wondered about the story behind it. Since fossils are typically embedded in rock and I didn’t see any hole or excavation, something seemed off.
Ammonite fossils are common, but are rarely larger than about 9 inches in diameter. Sure, some larger species have been found, but why wasn’t this one encased in plaster, crated up and shipped to an archeological museum? How could something so heavy and brittle stay in one piece while being tilted up? How could four guys lift it, let alone one?
A Tineye search brought me to the source – a 2005 documentary filmed in Lyme Regis, England for the BBC series “Journey of Life.”
“This giant ammonite was actually a replica that we used to show how big ammonites could grow. Made of polystyrene it squeaked as we rolled it down the beach. The look of gob-smack on the faces of Jurassic Coast fossil collectors was priceless!”
Paul Williams, 3 September 2013.
This “fossil” was a prop, and it had a cameo role in Episode 1: Seas of Life.
[Full story with photos here.]
Perhaps you’re wondering why I suddenly found an interest in large fabricated ammonite fossils. It’s because I saw that top picture and wanted to do this with it:
Unperturbed 3×4 Hot Links
The Anacreontic Song as sung by the University of Michigan American Music Institute Chorus, with Scott Van Ornum on harpsichord and soloist Jacob Wright, conducted by Jerry Blackstone.
The complete words to “Defence of Fort M’Henry.”
The National Anthem, The Great War & The 7th Inning Stretch. There’s a connection.
13 Illinois Toads & Frogs living in squalor and what they sound like. The Green Frog sounds like the intro to Seinfeld, but The Wood Frog is a serious contender for my next ringtone.
Here are some sources in case you ever need one.
Just Googled “Eyelash Peacock Dumpster.” I was not impressed.
Black Napkins is my personal choice for the theme song of the 2016 Presidential Election. If it all goes awry, I’ll replace it with Watermelon In Easter Hay.
[Personal to Weez: Thanks for the phone call.]
[Top image: “They are roughly 3 inches by 4 inches.” Found here.]
Saturday Matinee – NASA 1961, Jason D. Williams, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, & The Yonder Mountain String Band
This magnificent feat was engineered with slide rules, and it amounted to blasting a giant bullet containing a human into the sky, then recovering both it and Alan Shepard intact [via]. Those early astronauts had big brass ones, and the creepy music made it even better. (John Glenn appears at 04:15.)
Speaking of Great Balls of Fire, here’s the next best thing to The Killer. Jason D. Williams pounds the ivories with Sticks McGhee‘s 1947 classic “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-dee-o-dee.”
Spodiodi was street slang for chipping in for a cheap bottle of fortified wine in a brown paper bag and sharing it with your buddies. Urban Dictionary says “Spodiodi” is a glass of wine spiked with bourbon. Nah.
BTW, Sticks McGhee was the brother of Brownie McGhee, who partnered with harmonica player Sonny Terry known for his harmonica whooping. “Key to the Highway” was covered by many, including what’s his name. That famous British guy. You know. That guy.
Here’s some Easy-On-The-Ear-Holes stuff from The Yonder Mountain String Band. They need some authentic whooping in my opinion. Maybe even some eefin.
Have a great weekend, folks, and be glad that you’re not in Turkey.
The .Gif Friday Post No. 443 – Muy Alto Gato, Leapin’ ‘Lectricity & Bettin’ on the Bulls
Grinch.
Timothy Leary’s Playhouse
More proof that carpentry and drugs don’t mix… or proof that they do. You be the judge.
[Found here.]
How to tell when the Xbox is broken.
[Found here.]
Tacky Raccoons 