Category: Contributions to the World

Arrrgh.


How can you improve upon improvised pirate swords?

“Bobby! Let’s play pirates!”
“Great idea! I’ll go get the Plastic Guards! I’ll be back in an hour!”

Clever idea, but it won’t fly. Any kid who grew up near fallen branches could tell you that swords of the windfall variety don’t last long, and once your weapon has broken you need to find a replacement fast, otherwise you’re declared dead by default. Stopping to change your guard guarantees it.

Oh, well, it’s the thought that counts, and I wish I’d thought of it first.

[Found here.]

The Slugman

One of the lesser-known superheros, enjoying his retirement.

[Found here.]

Captain Kangaroo 1927-2004 [Updated]

Captain Kangaroo, aka Bob Keeshan, was my favorite as a lil’ tad. There he is, with a pocket full of carrots, and Bunny Rabbit in the other. My memory of Cap’n K does not include that screaming red jacket. It had to be blue, because I watched him every day in glorious black and white. Now check this out:

Yep. Captain Kangaroo liked Heineken. BTW, the urban legend is false – Bob Keeshan did NOT fight on Iwo Jima in WWII, and neither did Lee Marvin, although both were Marines.  Film at 11.

[Update: Apparently that photo is from a Halloween party circa 1980 something, and is not Bob Keeshan. It’s still awesome. Hat tip to Dave.]

[UPDATE 2023: The Full Story!]

Saturday Matinee – Foli Rhythm, Mickey Hart, Booker T & The M.G.’s, John Lee Hooker & Floyd Dixon

Pure rhythm, and it’s worth watching to the end. [Found here.]

Mickey Hart‘s Planet Drum is awesome, no matter how many drugs he took while he was with The Grateful Dead.

Booker T & The M.G.’s were the best session band in the business.

John Lee Hooker. If you don’t know who he was, you’re already lost.

Floyd Dixon. Same as above.

Have a great weekend, folks, and be back here tomorrow for more fun.

The Real Captain Hook?

London’s Miss Zena Dare, in a pantomime production of  “Peter Pan,” 1906.

[Found here.]

6 June 1944 – Remember the Sacrifice

[Image found here.]

And On This Day Awesome Happened.

[Found here.]

Baby Zombie Rats With Trichinellosis Hot Links

Title of this post courtesy of Lemur King.

The history of the mouse [via Neatorama].

WOW. The U.S. Library of Congress now has a free on line “National Jukebox” with a huge collection of recordings going back to 1900. WOW.

Mr. Obvious: The Critter.

DON’T FALL FOR THIS FRAUD. I almost did.

Here’s a collection of biker tatts. [h/t Ken A.]

Trig functions interactive thingy is kinda cool.

Chris leaves notes around NYC and takes pictures of them.

Cheese + Onions Forever.

Falling cubes of Jello in slo-mo.

Pendula waves.

This guy is the King of the Trolls. CD player for sale.

This WILL keep you busy because it’s pure awesome. Really.

R.U.R. Robot

Looks like the tin man’s wants to pop Dorothy because Toto peed on his leg. Fortunately he’s been restrained. He wasn’t a nice guy in those days.

Actually it’s a promo for a 1928 production of the 1921 play R.U.R. [“Rossum’s Universal Robots”] that introduced the word “robot” to the world. Ever since then the control panel has always been in the front.

[Found here.]

Whack

Tip of the Tarboosh to Mongoose for this.