Mr. Slinky’s Dream Vacation

Montagne_de_Bueren_-_stairs_-_Liege_2

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

1958 Chevy Apache

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

HD 183-miles-per-hour

[Found here.]

Ruben & The Hot Links

Chet Phillips Flip Faces

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.

The .Gif Friday Post No.294 – Adding A Quart Of Oil, Pay Attention To The Kiss Cam & Waxy Girl

Quart of Oil
KissCam Fail
Waxy Girl

[Top one via email, h/t Dan S. Others found here and here.]

Great Timing, Poor Judgement

Super Timing

Funny picture, but neither one of them lives like the one in the boat.

[Found here.]

Nominated for Best Supporting Actor

Wilson

In the [2000] film [Cast Away], Wilson the volleyball serves as Chuck Noland’s personified friend and only companion during the four years that Noland spends alone on a deserted island.The character was created by screenwriter William Broyles, Jr.

While researching for the film, he consulted with professional survival experts, and then chose to deliberately strand himself for one week on an isolated beach in the Sea of Cortez, to force himself to search for water and food, and obtain his own shelter. During this time, a volleyball washed up on shore. [Wiki]

[Image found here.]

I’m A Spider. Deal With It.

I Am A Spider DEAL WITH IT

[Found in here.]

This place bugs me big time.

grasshopperzilla

That town’s got a huge insect problem. Must be somewhere near here.

[Found here.]