Month: July 2008

Lotsa links

Clearing out a whole bunch of saved links:

  • Wow. I’ve never found anything as interesting as a Christmas card signed by Frank Baum or a Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card in any of the books I’ve bought. [via]
  • You know those pictures where the eyes seem to follow you wherever you go? Yeah, this is like that, only more so. [via]
  • Steampunk Dalek and a steampunk Justice League, the Guild of Justice-Minded Citizenry. Seriously, if the later (or some variation thereof) isn’t a comic book, it should be. [via]
  • I notice that those photos are from Jared Axelrod, partner in crime (and fellow 365 tomorrows founder) of J.R. Blackwell, whose flash story, “The Role of Plumage in the Mating Habits of the Karraw,” appeared in the April 2007 issue of Kaleidotrope. (Have I mentioned 365 tomorrows, or Blackwell’s current photo project here before?) Small world.
  • I love this book-lined stairwell. [via]
  • Four words: dinosaurs on the moon. I’m reminded of Sharon Cichelli‘s flash story, “Space Dinosaurs,” which appeared in October 2006 issue of Kaleidotrope. [via]
  • It’s amazing what you can do with computers nowadays:

    Well, that and a little creativity. Rarely has the expression “we’ll fix it in post” meant so much. [via]

  • It often seems like PETA goes out of its way to pick the worst possible means of making their point. [via]
  • “In the X-Men comics, the superhero Wolverine is armed with three sharp claws on each arm. They extend through the skin of his hand, and the resulting wounds are closed by up his superhuman ability to heal. Now, in a bizarre case of life imitating art, scientists from Harvard University have discovered that a group of African frogs use similar weapons.” (link) [via]
  • My sister used to live just outside of Baltimore — and still has friends there — so this interactive Baltimore Sun map, which shows you the locations of all the murders in the city (sorting by age, gender, race, city district, etc.) is a little unnerving. I mean, I’ve seen The Wire, and I’ve seen Homicide, and I’ve been to the city — as recently as this past May, in fact — but just one look at all of 2007 and it’s not hard to see why Charm City is the City that Bleeds. [via]
  • The Speech Bubbler. [via].

Don’t look back

“Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” – Mel Brooks

In a recent blog post, Roger Ebert writes about movies too painful to revisit:

I remembered it too clearly, perhaps, and dreaded re-living it. When I reviewed it, its situation was theoretical for me, and I responded to the honesty and emotion of the drama. Since then, I have had cancer, and had all too many hours, days and weeks of hospital routine robbing me of my dignity. Although people in my situation are always praised for their courage, actually courage has nothing to do with it. There is no choice.I used to smile at reader letters saying things like, “My husband is sick and I need a movie to cheer him up.” I doubted the Norman Cousins theory that laughter is curative (I still do). The experience with “Wit” was a revelation. Yes, movies can be immediate and real to us–sometimes too real. Sometimes they record events we do not want to experience, or remember. It is a tribute to their power.

Go forth in song

Happy Fourth of July — or Friday, to my international readers. We have family coming over for a barbecue in a couple of hours. It’s still a little cloudy outside, but the rain has stopped, which is nice.

So I’m posting this, the random guess ten, a little early. First, here’s last week’s answers. And now, here are this week’s lyrics:

  1. “The American Dream” from Miss Saigon
    My father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong
  2. “Piazza, New York Catcher” by Belle & Sebastian
    Elope with me, Miss Private, and we’ll sail around the world
  3. “Genius” by Warren Zevon, guessed by Betty
    I’ve got a bitter pot of je ne sais quoi
  4. “Movin’ Right Along” by Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, guessed by Betty
    We’ll hitch-hike, bus, or yellow cab it
  5. “These Eyes” by the Guess Who, guessed by Kim
    This heart could not accept and pretend
  6. “Abilene (The Eisenhower Waltz)” by Peter Mulvey, guessed by Kim
    And, sir, it is a sight just to behold
  7. “Taxman” by the Beatles, guessed by Generik
    Let me tell you how it will be
  8. “Hey Bulldog” by Toad the Wet Sprocket (orig. the Beatles), guessed by Kim
    What makes you think you’re something special when you smile?
  9. “3-Minute Rule” by the Beastie Boys
    On the mic I score just like the Yankees
  10. “Top” by Live, guessed by Kim
    It’s the distribution of fear

As always, guess the lyric, win no prize. And good luck!

And have a great 4th (or Friday)!

Nice work if you can find it

I was off on Monday for a doctor’s appointment. I left early yesterday for physical therapy. And today, the office is closing at 3 o’clock, to get an early start on tomorrow’s national holiday.

Seriously, if my leg didn’t hurt so much this would be the best work week ever.