July 2009
1 post
Free Muffin at Starbucks
[I approach counter with enormous smile on face] Barista: Look at this guy! What are you so happy about? Me: Oh, you know, just excited about my muffin. Barista: If I give it to you for free, will you just start skipping out of here? Me: Maybe? Barista: Here. Seriously, just take it, for being so happy. Me: Yay. [Exits, skipping.]
March 2009
4 posts
Sewing for Men and Boys
http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Boys-Simplicitys-How-Illustrated/dp/B000ASB2WM
“Fashion in the Seventies lets a man express his individuality as an exciting clue to his personality.”
(picture from http://www.flickr.com/photos/chanadaal/ )
Michael Lewis on Icelandic Crisis
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/04/iceland200904?printable=true¤tPage=all
“You spent seven years learning every little nuance of the fishing trade before you were granted the gift of learning from this great captain?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“And even then you had to sit at the feet of this great master for many months before you felt as if you knew what you were doing?”
...
Dailies Gone, One More Round, Dailies Gone
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-onthemedia1-2009mar01,0,4383071.column - San Francisco Chronicle to close
http://www.cobo.org/goodman/siip.html#dgone - Steve Goodman album I keep listening to
Anime Voice Actresses Sing Punk Songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH6cASSPBoo
February 2009
23 posts
Hootie Redux
On March 11, Hootie & the Blowfish stopped by the Silverton for the renaming and re-grand opening of the official “Hootie & the Blowfish’s Shady Grove Lounge.” Members of the band, who will be taking over naming rights and adding menu items and band paraphernalia to the lounge, mingled with fans.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/032005.htm
Hootie and the Blowfish: The Ballet
http://www.columbiacityballet.com/season_events/hootie_and_the_blowfish/
Reform Candidates for Harvard Board of Overseers
http://media.www.hlrecord.org/media/storage/paper609/news/2009/02/19/News/Silverglate.Seeks.Spot.As.University.Overseer-3637855.shtml
If you’re an alum, you can vote.
Angela Dufresne
is cool. I wish I could buy prints.
Wall Street Journal on World's Fairs
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123499805562316993.html#articleTabs_interactive%26articleTabs%3Darticle%26project%3DWORLDFAIR09
There’s an infographic about the US fairs, but it wasn’t loading properly in Firefox.
And, they omitted Seattle ‘62. Luckily there’s a photo gallery at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/worldsfair/
Win/Win Situation
General Motors asks for up to $16.6 billion in loans, Chrysler $5 billion. In return, the automakers say, they’ll slash jobs.
(from LA Times front page)
There's Flies in the Kitchen
John Prine apparently wrote, and first recorded, “Angel from Montgomery.” (!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_from_montgomery (yes, it cites reputable sources)
I actually think his version is better than Bonnie Raitt’s.
Back Issues of Hygeia
http://www.tias.com/10697/InventoryPage/1878484/1.html
Daily Routines - Robert Caro
http://dailyroutines.typepad.com/daily_routines/2009/02/robert-caro.html
Indeed, though they have each devoted their lives to him for more than three decades, the Caros have a policy of not discussing Lyndon Johnson, at dinner or anywhere else. Ina presents her research to Bob in typed reports, which her husband then marks up. “I know what he’s looking for without him telling...
Ain't No Monkey, But I Know What I Like
http://bpfastball.com/Neko%20Case-Buckets%20of%20Rain.mp3
Neko Case recording of Buckets of Rain. Thanks to NY Times for reminding me.
Vermont Country Store Introduces Sex Toys
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/16/us/AP-Catalogs-Quandary.html
”The intimate massagers are certainly not what will uplift the youth of America but instead will lead them to be perverted pleasure seekers,” wrote one customer, asking to be removed from the mailing list. ”Please rethink what you are doing.”
From Hygeia, the Health Magazine, August 1931
To the editor - I have tuberculosis. I am not very ill but I have an abnormal fear of spreading infection to others. In two of my desks, there are books, papers, pencils and pens that have come in contact with me. The pens and pencils I have placed in my mouth; I may have wet my fingers in turning the book pages or my hands may have been sputum soiled. Do you think that my desk and its contents...
The Reed School: For Nervous and Backward Children
and for the correction of defective speech.
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/advert&CISOPTR=193&CISOBOX=1&REC=4
Wassenaar, Wassenaar, Wassenaar
Dutch pop song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTcqvsYwMag
Translated lyrics: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Flirama.net%2Fsong%2F56972&sl=nl&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
I waited on the bus, my card ready Saturday I said “driver, I have to Wassenaar” I got off the bus, called to her ha - She said “come up, iba man, come but” r I ran it...
Some Nights the Neon Gas Gets Free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh_5cK3XSLI (Arcade Fire cover of Born on a Train)
Zoo Story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zoo-story-kufa-betz_19.JPG
Location-Finding Via DTV
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/tune-your-tv-into-gps.ars
Traditional Robin Williams Interruption of TED...
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/02/my-ted-story.html
50s/60s Motel Postcards
http://www.postcardy.com/motel1.html
(from Metafilter)
Awkward Set of User-Contributed Pics to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Hmwith/pics
Solo Cups, Toga Party, Holding Hands, Sleepover, Fancy Rat, Flotation Device, Anaphalactic Shock
Inherent Vice
Upcoming Python novel - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherent_Vice
Unlikely I’ll read it - I couldn’t finish any of his books except Lot 49, but I did always like that phrase.
(hyper (super (meta)))
See http://www.globalnerdy.com/2009/02/05/hacklabtos-lisp-machine-keyboard/ for pictures of keyboard from Symbolics Lisp Machine
January 2009
13 posts
More Awkward Tom Jones Covers
http://tinyurl.com/bt8otv - Send in the Clowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jPzzy-tMZk - Are You Gonna Go My Way (feat. Robbie Williams, opening sounds suspiciously like Stewie Griffin)
Slot Machines
Interesting article: http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2009/01/08/foxwoods-sugarhouse-pennsylvania-gaming-control-board
Interesting MIT Professor: http://www.natashadowschull.org/
Interesting-sounding movie by interesting MIT professor: http://www.ovoland.com/buffet/aboutthefilm.html
Great Chieftain o' the Puddin-Race!
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/574265
Haggis, for Robert Burns’ birthday:
Once they were darkly red, glistening specimens of varying texture: firm hearts; resilient, elastic kidneys; puffy, yielding lungs; glutinous liver. Soon, they would be simmered down and ground up.
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/address_to_a_haggis.htm (with modern translation)
Internet Facts, From a Cereal Box
For some reason the makers of Shur-Fine raisin bran (as in “Want some generic, over-sweetened raisin bran? Shur, fine”) decided it would be a good idea to explain “The Internet and How It Works” on the back of the cereal box. Presumably, as the fiber-to-sugar ratio approaches some critical point, cartoon animals doing mazes and word searches are phased out for bona-fide...
Im in ur House...
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1871761,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtOW1CxHvNY
Bizarre Pelosi cat/rickroll video
Box of Tricks
Gary Chang, a Hong Kong architect, lives in a tiny apartment, but thanks to accordion-like wall units, he can create at least 24 different room configurations.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/01/15/garden/20090115_HONGKONG_index.html
Voxtrot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8jJNLoxUeg - cover of “Heaven” by Talking Heads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNwB1zwGlJk - “Your Biggest Fan”
Escape from the weight of your corporate logo?
Mr. Harvard Freshman Contest
http://www.freezecollegemag.com/college/10109_contest.php
Describe your ideal date night. It would start with dinner at this great restaurant by the beach in the south of France where I have a beach house. Then we’d fly to New York City and swing dance for a couple hours in a club. Then fly to London and go to this awesome salsa club I went to last year. The night would end on a terrace,...
Pseudobamas for Inauguration Rehearsal
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/us/politics/12inaug.html?_r=1&hp
Is Being a Mailman Really Worse Than Being a...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123119236117055127.html
And That's Why I'm Turning You In
Love Me, I’m a Liberal - Phil Ochs 60s version, Jello Biafra early 90s version
http://www.seeqpod.com/search/?plid=8a2974df2d
December 2008
17 posts
The Warren Buffett of Snuggling
http://www.cuddleparty.com/articles/getmost.cfm
4. Practice checking in with the people you’re cuddling every once in a while by asking them things like “Is this okay?”, “Is how I’m touching you right now good for you?”, “Is there another way you’d prefer to be touched?”, “How would you like to be cuddled?”, and so on. Invite them...
Zappa Cover of "Sunshine of Your Love"
http://www.seeqpod.com/search/?plid=43ec8dad87
Sounds almost like Negativland (but more concise).
I have a twitter
but I probably won’t use it much. Unless everyone watches it and fawns over me.
http://twitter.com/smelendez
Muscle and Blood and Skin and Bones
Mysterious Russian archive of recordings of 16 Tons.
http://www.16tons.ru/muz/16tons/
JavaScript regexp tester
http://jsregex.com/
Giant KGB-Bred Terriers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Russian_Terrier
Things You Would Not Expect, Living In the...
This year, news talk ranked as the most popular radio format in the United States, surpassing country music for the first time ever.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/business/media/22radio.html?8dpc
Smell Like a Whopper
http://www.rickyshalloween.com/flame_0153_body_spray_p/flame.htm
The WHOPPER® sandwich is America’s Favorite burger. FLAME™ by BK® captures the essence of that love and gives it to you. Behold the scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat.