Category: Cool

Scrobiculated Hot Links

Theme to The Prisoner, Ron Grainer, composer (1967)
The Prisoner was a 1960s spy vs. spy television show starring Patrick McGoohan as No. 6. McGoohan chose Ron Grainer’s theme over others, with the requirement that it be re-scored with a faster tempo and emphasis on the tympani.

Cool rays.

Kind of blue.

Pot farming.

The Hootlet.

The Haalarit.

A Ginger Song.

Village dances.

Illegal axolotls?

The Swiss Portal.

Lotta work to do.

A proper breakfast.

Dancing in the duct.

20¢ spaghetti or ravioli.

Rockstars who died in 2024.

Sweep tight [via Bunkerville].

Froggy Went A-Campin’ (and more).

Blockbuster, Netflix & the Cult of Ben.

The Kittyman Shanty [via Memo Of The Air].

The Prince Hall Nobles [via Everlasting Blört].

[Top image: Still from the hypnosis segment of The Pee Wee Herman Show – Live at the Roxy Theater 1981.]

From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

Saturday Matinee – Justin Johnson, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, and Otis Clay

Master of the 3-string electric shovel, Justin Johnson slides on anything.

Too Slim & The Taildraggers go slidin’ all over the two lane. The award-winning trio has had six albums peak in the top 10 of the Billboard Top Blues Albums. Members currently consist of Tim “Too Slim” Langford (lead vocals, guitar), Robert Kearnes (bass, vocals) and Jeffrey “Shakey” Fowlkes (drums).

Gospel, soul and blues singer Otis Clay (1942-2016):
Gospel would remain Otis’ primary focus. After arriving in Chicago during the mid-1950s, he joined the Golden Jubilaires, then hooked up with Charles Bridges’ Famous Blue Jay Singers in 1960. “Here we are singing acappella, and we’re singing in elementary schools, high schools, hotels and colleges and things like that. We were known as variety singers, or we were billed as (performing) ‘Old Negro Spirituals and Plantation Melodies.’ ”

Nice to have 2024 behind us, but 2025 better settle its ass right down pronto or I’m getting out The Belt. Have a great weekend, we’ll weigh down the porch tomorrow, noonish o’clock.

Happy New Year’s Eve 2024 – End of Year Playlist

The end of a long year deserves a playlist to bring in the new one, and just as we did a mere twelve months ago, here’s a compilation of songs that buzzed my earballs in 2024.

Set 1 – January, February, March & April

Set 2 – May, June, July & August

Set 3 – September, October, November & December

[I omitted most of the tunes from the Halloween playlist, but you can hear them all here.]

And one more thing: Happy New Year!

[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of these recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only.]

2024 Naval & Maritime Photo Contest Winners

[More photos with descriptions and credits at https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2024/december/2024-naval-maritime-photo-contest ]

Metagrobolized Hot Links

The Fever, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (1976) The Fever was written by Bruce Springsteen, with back up provided by members of the E-Street Band. John “Southside Johnny” Lyon, 76, recently (and abruptly) cancelled tours and retired due to unspecified medical issues.

Self-serve.

1.5 (PBJ) = y

Trishasode 9.

The Perfect Time.

Illustrations of Oz.

Living dangerously.

El Arte de El Chango.

Know the Difference.

How pencils are made.

“Alexa. Play ‘Sea Shanty.’”

Blue house [via IDHMGO].

Buster Keaton has lunch.

A song about a random guy.

Is it safe? [via Feral Irishman].

Las Pelilargas [via Mme. Jujujive].

Swiss orchestra box [via Bunkerville].

Norty Blues Episode 96 (Christmas edition).

The Shadwell Forgeries [via Memo Of The Air].

Post Christmas Farts [via The View From Lady Lake].

[Top image: The Armies of Greenland prepare for war. h/t Gord S.]

From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

Saturday Matinee – Snooks Eaglin, Latvian Blues Band & Clutch

Snooks Eaglin took Wilson Pickett’s Memphis classic down to N’awlins.
[h/t hotfox63.com]

In 2008, Latvian Blues Band became the first European-based group invited to perform in the Chicago Blues Festival. From Riga, Latvia, members include Jānis ‘Bux’ Bukovskis (guitar, vocals), Jonatans Rācenājs (guitar), Rolands ‘Rolx’ Saulietis (drums, backing vocals), Reinis Ozoliņš (bass), Nauris Strežs (trombone) and Artis Ločmelis (sax).

Clutch picks it up, throws it to the floor and kicks it square in the crackerbockles. From their 2007 album From Beale Street to Oblivion.

Just got a breather from the Christmas festivities, and here comes the New Year barrelling down the tracks. I’m not ready for it, but I’ve had just about enough of 2024. Porchtime? Whenever o’clock.

The .Gif Friday Post No. 886 – Spooks & Spooks & Spooks

[All are the work of Erdi Inci.]

La Noche de Rábanos

La Noche de Rábanos (the Night of the Radishes) takes place every year on the 23rd of December in Oaxaca, Mexico, and is one of the most impressive vegetable festivals around the world.

The radish was brought to the Americas by the Spaniards in the 16th century, and vendors used to carve them and use them on their market stalls to attract customers. Although the origins of the festival cannot be traced to an exact period, it is considered that it all began in the year 1897, when the mayor of Oaxaca organized the first radish-art exposition. Ever since that first celebration, every year this humble vegetable is meticulously carved into animals, warriors, kings, dancers and pretty much any shape you can imagine. The artists sometimes make use of other vegetables, like onion and lettuce, to complete their work. There’s also a prize for the most beautiful piece displayed.

The carver’s work begins about three days in advance and on the 23rd of December, the day of the festival, the results of all their hard work is presented to the public. On that same day, especially in the morning, children have the chance to learn this incredible art of radish-carving, or at least some of its secrets.

The celebrations don’t end that day. They continue on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with other joyful fiestas, parades of floats, fireworks, music and dancing.

[Images found scattered around the internest, description from here.]

Nepheligenous Hot Links

Party Hard, Little Isidore & the Inquisitors (ca. 2012)Little Isidore is the  alter ego of David Forman, a little known musician with a great resume; he fronts The Inquisitors, aka The Golden Inquisitors, aka The Mighty Inquisitors. Live stream December 2024 reunion show here: https://volume.com/t/gGilog/

Tree is lit.

Driftwood.

Styro Steve.

Input/Output.

Snowcatcher.

The Shadows.

WWII Torpedo Juice.

Christmas hedgehogs.

Getting down to work.

Norty Blues Episode 95.

London, December 1940.

Smoke alarm sing-along.

Butterflies, bats & wolves.

The Tree People [via Mme. Jujujive].

Sharing the bounty [via Bunkerville].

Merry Xmas from Panzergruppe Süd.

“…no shops, no temptations, no waste time…”

A volumetric 3D display [via Memo Of The Air].

[Top image: Raindrops on Weeds in a Broken Wall, Hollie Jane Wright photographer; via IDHMGO].

From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

Saturday Matinee – Keb’ Mo’, The Mavericks, Skatune Network, & Gwen Stefani / No Doubt

Keb’ Mo’ breaks it down and throws it back.

The Mavericks are Raúl Malo / vocals, guitar; Paul Deakin / drums; Jerry Dale McFadden / keyboards, vocals; Eddie Perez / guitar. Early jump blues piano style that morphed into ska.

One man ska band JER / Skatune Network covers Otis Redding‘s cover of Charles Brown‘s 1947 hit. The guy’s amazing.

In 2003, Gwen Stefani & No Doubt spread the Oi of the season with their cover of the Vandals.

Lemme see. Christmas Eve isn’t until Tuesday, so I still have tomorrow’s porch time to make a list and check it twice, and Monday for shopping. No sweat. Stop by tomorrow and we’ll compare lists.