Category: True Stories

Postprandial Hot Links

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On 24 January, Mozilla disabled the popular “Web Of Trust” (WOT) add-on to the Firefox browser due to security / privacy breaches. Other browsers that allow the add-on (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.) are affected as well. The problem was verified by a German team last November, and has yet to be remedied by the WOT engineers.

Lightning strikes as seen from space.

Lightning strikes caused by a volcano.

Bears with chainsaws. Some of the images are very cool.

Hunting snakes in the ‘Glades: Professional snake trackers were brought in from India to help with a python problem.

Amazing makeup timelapse [via].

Anxiolytic effect of hepatocyte growth factor infused into rat brain. I typed in some random letters into a Google search to find this gem.

#NotMySuperbowl is hilarious.

[No, that’s not a coyote carcass on a stake in the top picture. It’s a scaregoose. Really. Story here, via here.]

Chúc mừng năm mới – Năm Dậu

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Tet 2017 – The Year of the Rooster.

My late Papa Strutts always referred to it by its original descriptive, The Year of the Cock. Both he and I were born in those years, so go figger.

The photos above were taken during a Tet Parade in Little Saigon, California, the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam. The pretty girls in the bottom photo are waving the flag of the vanquished Republic of Vietnam, not the communist state.

Years ago I made friends with a local Vietnamese shopkeeper and gave her my copy of the current issue of National Geographic that had a lot of photos of the country. She and her non-English speaking husband were amazed, recognized a lot of the places pictured, and I asked her where she was from, expecting the name of a city or province in South Viet Nam. She replied, “Kansas.”

[Images from here. Related posts here and here.]

High Fidelity Hot Links

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It’s all Whack.
(Click on the image at the link.)

President George W. Bush touching the heads of bald men.

Sports.

34 Weasel Balls.

Weasel Ball spooks an emu.

How many men does it take to capture an emu?

Emu and Ostrich facts.

The song of the Ostrich.

Johnny Cash: “I was almost killed by an ostrich.”

Top image: Tribute painting of Johnny Cash battling the ostrich by Erika Jane.

 

Chew Mail Pouch

“If you can find a job that you would do without being paid, that’s what you should do.” – Harley Warrick

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Large abandoned structure in Dillonvale, Ohio, in Jefferson county. Mail Pouch Tobacco ad barely visible.

[Found here.]

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That’s Mail Pouch barn painter Harley Warrick (1924-2000).

Here’s an excellent tribute site to those who travelled the sticks to hand-paint the ubiquitous advertisements:

Mail Pouch Barnstormers.

That quote on top? It’s similar to what my own grampa told me:
“Find something you like to do, figure out how to get paid for it, and you’ll never work a day.”

The Feast Of The Bean Kings

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Fest des Bohnenkönigs (Feast of The Bean Kings)
Jakob Jordaens (ca. 1640-45)

The Lord of Misrule:

The functionary with the above whimsical title played an important part in the festivities of Christmas in the olden time. His duties were to lead and direct the multifarious revels of the season, or, as we should say at the present day, to act as Master of the Ceremonies. The following account of him is given by Stow:

‘In the feast of Christmas, there was in the king’s house, wheresoever he lodged, a Lord of Misrule, or Master of Merry Disports, and the like had ye in the house of every nobleman of honour or good worship, were he spiritual or temporal. The Mayor of London, and either of the Sheriffs, had their several Lords of Misrule, ever contending, without quarrel or offence, who should make the rarest pastime to delight the beholders. These lords beginning their rule at Allhallond Eve, continued the same till the morrow after the Feast of the Purification, commonly called Candlemas Day, in which space there were fine and subtle disguising, masks and mummeries, with playing at cards for counters, nayles and points, in every house, more for pastimes than for game.’

If that description is correct, the Fest des Bohnenkönigs was a celebration that ran for three months every year starting at Halloween, and there’s probably a good reason why the Feast was banned… twice. Click on the link, then zoom, scroll and enjoy the debauchery.

Somewhat related was the British tradition of “The Bean Feast.”

[Top image and description found here.]

Bob & Jean’s Driveway, Hazard, Nebraska

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During the Christmas season, travelers along a country road west of Hazard can see the over 2,000 ft. of Christmas lights along Bob and Jean’s driveway and yard. After Christmas, the big Husker “N” can be spotted as well.
An after hours view of downtown Hazard during the holiday season.
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The Hazard Cafe can be faintly seen across the street from our welcome sign. Photo taken the evening of December 9th, 2001.
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During Christmas season, Hazard’s nativity scene can be seen each year along its main street.
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A drive by photo of a Hazard home during Christmas season. The US flag illuminates on this brisk December evening in 2001.

Traditional Christmas celebration. I love it.

[Images with unedited captions found here.]

Elderly Man Is Happy With Graffiti On His Door.

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A company in Amsterdam [True Doors] came up with a clever idea: a way for seniors in retirement facilities to personalize their own otherwise bland entrances.

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This works on several levels: The resident can have some fun, it’s easier for those with failing eyesight to find their apartments, and relatives don’t have to follow the room numbers to visit their elders.

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The stock designs start at €9o + €24 shipping, which equates to about $124 USD, but if you spread the cost out over several years it’s inexpensive.

Papa Strutts would have chosen a custom design that looked something like this:

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[More images (& slightly inaccurate) story here. Other available designs here.]

“Chased him down the street in me undies and he got too far, so I went back and got my car…and then I chased him down the street in my little purple car.” – Dan McConnell

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Unlicensed Brisbane driver fled the scene after crashing into a fish and chips shop and was chased down by a father of four wearing only his chonies.

Exclusive interview here:

Here’s an Exclusive Interview:

Exclusive Interview with Daniel McConnell:

For Exclusive Interviews with Dan McConnell, CLICK HERE.

[h/t The Feral Irishman.]

Partly Cloudy With A Chance Of Hot Links

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11 Epic RickRolls.  This one’s classic-al in case you missed it. Here are two more.

Andrew Loomis’ Fun With A Pencil [1939] was his first book, and my all-time favorite. Download it and give it to your favorite budding artist.

Pink Halibut is not a medical affliction.

Tardigrade plush animals [via].

How to read divinations signs from candle burning – the Hoodoo Method.

An image of a woman wearing hat and sunglasses with a plastic bee on her nose is available for purchase here.

99 + 86.

The Divje Babe flute, estimated at 43,000 years old, is the oldest surviving wind instrument. It was played by Neanderthals.

The Geißenklösterle flute is pretty old, too.

[Top image of a drive-in restaurant movie theater found in here.]

Boy’s Life Magazine November 1927 – Happy Thanksgiving!

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Excerpt from L.K. Smith’s short story:

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In the early years of this country’s formation, Thanksgiving was celebrated intermittently as a time of a bountiful harvest, an insurance policy against winter starvation, and thanks were given to God. It wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Have a great Holiday, and I hope that the children and grandchildren still fight over the wishbone.  –Bunk

[Previous posts about Thanksgiving here.]