The House in the Middle of the Street: A car stops beside a house in the middle of a newly built road in Wenling, Zhejiang province, November 22, 2012. An elderly couple refused to sign an agreement to allow their house to be demolished. They say that compensation offered is not enough to cover rebuilding costs, according to local media.
That place screams for a safety sign mounted high on both sides of the house:
It’s the end of another year says Captain Obvious, and we’d like to thank those who took precious minutes out of their lives to visit Tacky Raccoons. We don’t know who you are, but we know where you live. You’re good peeps.
Although this place isn’t really a forum-type site, the occasional comments remind us that we’re not alone in the half-vast blogosphere.
Amy Oops, andBerlin, Arend Maatkamp, Ashraf, azmrmacs, Barbara Swarm, bob-decco, Bunkessa, Bunkarina, Calo, Catherine Andronik, Chiqui, da_truth6, da_truth36, Dale Weeks, Dan Johanson, David (1), David (2), devilintheflesh, df’s puddy tat, doriangrey1, Dr. N. Igma, edrevets, EmmetEarwax, Eni Lidiaw, G Eagle Esq, Gabriel, Guy in Ohio, hahabuda, idiotprufs, Ispeakjive, istillgotmyguitar, Jane, Jeremy, Jimmy, joanne casey, joe, John M., Jose Galofre Manero-SPAIN_europe, justanotherinsignificant, Kay Jessica Critchfield, kdub, LC Aggie Sith, Leeuna Foster, Lemur King, Lily, M. Hassan, macduffer1, Macker, ~mari, mfhorn, midnightvisitor, Mike, Mrmacs, myworldlyobsessions, nonoymanga, nursemyra, Nul ptyx, Pasties, PetsLady, planetross, raincoaster, RazoR Burnes, RisingPhoenix, Rocket, ryankane, scot, site, Soylent Green, Stan, Stephen Brooke, taylorjorjorian, thechildhoodhero, theliteraryhorse, The Necromancer, The Iatrophobe, theuglymoose, The Watcher, Tony Convey, Tony McGurk, VE, Wheels, W. R. Woolf & yourmotherhere.
Happy New Year, folks. Wish you the best. — Bunk
“Each AK-47 Paper Model Kit comes with all the materials and instructions to construct this amazingly life-like paper model of an AK-47. [via]
Here’s a solution to the Anti-2nd Amendment (Anti-Self-Defense) crowd.
I propose that every child over the age of 10 be instructed in the safe handling and use of firearms; and that every adult shall be required to purchase, carry and display either a genuine weapon or a paper facsimile (painted flat black) at all times. The criminal element will be unnerved and uncertain as to who might return fire.
Licensed law-abiding citizens who desire to may carry the real deal, while those who are scared of the prospect of having to defend themselves with weaponry may use this inexpensive biodegradable camouflage and hope that a thug doesn’t challenge them with a flick of the Bic to the barrel. If that happens, the masquerade is as effective as a blackened bratwurst in a toilet paper tube.
But that won’t happen because Mister Gangbang can’t be sure that the real deal isn’t aimed at Mister Happy by an unseen bystander – with a bright red laser sighted on his cojones.
Pew.
(West Poondongwalla, Australia) – Strutts News Services
Only the wealthiest of the wealthy were able to keep their lights on when the entire power grid of Australia failed just days ago, and no one knows why the continent now glows blue. Some locals blame global warming, while others point accusatory fingers at The Mayans for their probably prophetic Calendar of Doom that caused the utility companies of Oz to hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete simultaneously and just for the hell of it.
In any case, the well-to-do panicked wisely and moved inland to avoid the rising seas that subsequently swamped the coastal regions.
[There’s more info here that can’t possibly be true. Related post here.]
With all the recent Huffin’ N Puffin’ N Rapier Rattlin’ from some small sectors about States seceding from The Union (due to rampant fiscal insanity emanating from Washington D.C.) kudos to Key West and Mayor Dennis Wardlow. His preceding secession succeeded.
On April 23, 1982, the Florida keys seceded from the Union. Frustrated that a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint was obstructing the main artery to the mainland, Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow opted for a lighthearted public relations campaign: He proclaimed his “Conch Republic” a separate nation, declared war on the United States, surrendered one minute later, and applied for $1 billion in foreign aid.
Since then the republic has maintained an uneasy peace with its giant neighbor. On Sept. 20, 1995, when an Army reserve battalion forgot to notify Key West of local training exercises, Wardlow mobilized for war. He sent letters to Bill Clinton, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and secretary of state Warren Christopher, and his militia engaged La Dichosa Bakery to bake Cuban bread with which to pelt the convoy (“our historic weapon of choice for dealing with Federalist Forces”) and Key West Lager “to provide the beer.”
By 10:50 p.m. they had received a fax from the battalion’s leaders stating that they had “in no way meant to challenge or impugn the sovereignty of the Conch Republic.” An official surrender ceremony was held two days later.
[Story burgled in its entirety from Futility Closet because Greg Ross is so entirely bitchin’ and everyone should send him money. There’s a somewhat related post here.]
15 Seconds.
Helicopter/Camera Synch. [via]
Happy Shining.
Big Splash.
BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Etta James at the Ebony Showcase Theatre Los Angeles, 15 April 1987, with The Wicked Wilson Pickett‘s “Midnight Hour.” (Check out the amazing background of Nick Stewart, founder of the EST linked above.)
Great way to wrap up this edition of The Saturday Matinee. Have a great weekend folks, see you back here tomorrow.
If I was going to rip off a liquor store equipped with a surveillance camera, this is exactly how I’d do it, except that I’d use a trained emu instead. [Found here.]
This election is going to determine the fate of Our Nation. Are we going to emulate failed European-style socialism, or are we going to stand up, get bureaucracy out of the way and let the free-market engine of prosperity take us and the rest of the civilized world out of the doldrums that we’ve experienced for the past four years? In sailing terms, the US economy is in irons, and it shouldn’t have to be this way.
The very people who caused this geopolitical financial mess claim that people like me who oppose the economic self-destruction of this Great Country are racist homophobic women-haters, anti-science, knuckle-dragging drooling cavemen who want to destroy the environment and eat your babies in front of your God Denying Eyes. If you believe any of that crap you have no credible reason to vote.
By definition I’m a liberal. I want to change things. I want to elect officials who are fiscally conservative, morally sound, and who will protect our nation and allies from danger, both here and abroad, regardless of party affiliation. The Democrat Party offers none of that today, only lies, smears, cheap shots and half-truths. Throw the bastards out tomorrow.
The Chicks will dig you.
Bunk
[Found here.]
Tacky Raccoons 