FROM THE VATICAN!
Seriously...sometimes people say funny things. This particular person happens to be Father Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory - and this is his line...
"Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates."
Yes...because Gjod has a beef with the HUMANS! Mebee it was cause we ate his sacred fruits, and later turned them into a successful cash crop. Whatever the reason, it doesn't seem fair to me, when some extraterrestrial being (probably with a fetish for invasive probing (wait, ain't that a sin too? Dang this gets complicated)) gets off scott-free.
Well, I guess I shouldn't really take this news item to the next level like this, especially when there's a news item like this that's gotten practically no coverage at all in the national/world media.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
At the risk of angering the Volcano Gods again...
I do have to let you know...
Yesterday, I caught something out of the corner of my eye, outside my office window directy outside the Casa Aloha. Something unusual, and big was hanging in the sky. I looked out, and had to take a Gjoddang picture, because this shit is starting to get unbelieveable. Seriously. (clicking will embiggify to a horrifying extent!)
Seaplanes and Flying Boats
I dunno why, but I have quite a fascination with flying boats. In fact, my home is mostly decorated with vintage travel posters for the Pan Am Flying Clippers from the 30's...like this one.
Anyhoo, while casting around to find some daytrip destinations around my fair burg, I discovered there was a seaplane base out in Long Beach, which led me to this super great site for amphibious planes that went from L.A. to Catalina Island (which is...I dunno 15 or 20 miles off the Southern California coast) back in the day. Some really neat stuff over there if you like the old-timey glamour of air travel.
Anyhoo, while casting around to find some daytrip destinations around my fair burg, I discovered there was a seaplane base out in Long Beach, which led me to this super great site for amphibious planes that went from L.A. to Catalina Island (which is...I dunno 15 or 20 miles off the Southern California coast) back in the day. Some really neat stuff over there if you like the old-timey glamour of air travel.
Here's some extra shots of a Pan Am Clipper I found somwhere on the webmonster a while ago, and then forgot I had until just now.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Since I'm not positive that's the last thing I wanna leave you with
I'll just re-post this one that might have gotten lost in the multi-media extravaganza over the last week or two. It is super great.
Great Moments Are Far Between
"That is the real problem," Friday said, "There are too many moments."
"What?" Said Wednesday.
"Moments." Friday repeated, "There are too many of them."
"Well," Tuesday said, his head popping down from a concrete tunnel above them, that joined the larger storm-drain pipe where the weekdays were walking. "For an immortal weekday, that's sort of irrelevant." He swung himself down to land in a splash in the dirty water in front of the gathered weekdays. "Anyways," he continued, "Like we thought that tunnel just goes to a surface drain."
They continued walking - each had small headlamps which cast beams of light crazily about the tunnel. Occasional rats scurried out of their way. As they moved forward, the concrete tunnel joined a much older drain made of ancient moss covered brick.
Thursday noticed something. "Thank Gjod, a walkway. I'm glad the invitation suggested a change of shoes and socks!" He pulled himself up out of the shin-deep water, and was quickly followed by the others. There was a slightly amusing scene as five immortal weekdays took off their shoes, and socks, reached into packs and bags, and replaced them with fresh and dry footwear. Thursday had finished the act before the others, and picked up the original conversational thread. "I don't think the problem is too many moments. I'm pretty sure the problem is too many of those moments suck."
"Yeah." Said Tuesday, "And how long exactly is a moment?"
"No more than a half-hour." Said Wednesday.
"Half-hour!" Exclaimed Friday, putting the finishing touches on the bow of the laces on a stylish pair of Stacy Adams shoes.
"What? " Said Wednesday with some force, "That's the most common smallest time increment. Are you really saying people measure time in quarter-hours?"
"No." Friday said, standing up. "But moments are faster than time can measure."
"Or slower." Monday added.
"Or slower." Friday agreed.
"Pearl Harbor happened in a moment...I'd guess it was longer than 15 minutes." Thursday stated.
"Probly seemed a lot longer than that for the guys getting bombed and torpedoed."
"And the 9-11 attacks on the trade towers..." Quipped Tuesday, "Pretty fast. But was that a moment? I guess it probably was."
"Titanic sank in a moment..." Stated Monday.
"200,000 people died in the '05 Tsunami...in just a moment."
Wednesday began moving down the walkway, tired of the banter. "Come on, we've still got to get to find this party, and it could be miles from here."
"Not according to the flyer." Tuesday said hopefully, playing his headlamp onto a crumpled piece of paper in his hands. He read the text outloud. "Seven hundred meters from the drain opening at the river...it says."
They all began following.
Friday spoke. "See that's what I'm talking about."
"What? That we've travelled four hundred meters down a dirty stormdrain pipe in just moments?" Snapped Monday.
"No, all those moments you just brought up are bad moments!" The tunnel echoed with his voice and their footsteps as they continued their journey. "But what about all the good times? Those just lasted moments too - but nobody brings up the time we jumped the Pacific Ocean in rocket cars, wiped out a bunch of evil time controlling scientists, or met a talking rhinoceros in a bar!"
"Hang on." Said Wednesday in front of them. "There's a junction up here!"
The Weekdays all crowded around the end of the tunnel, which ended sharply at a huge chamber, where a number of huge tunnels converged, dumping trickles of water high above a massive pool of water twelve feet below. From across the room, on the water, a zodiac motored towards them, disturbing the water with crazy wakes, that sent a kaleidoscope of reflections across the chamber roof from their headlights. In a moment the zodiac was underneath them, and a man at the motor called up.
"Are you here for the party?"
"No." Spat Monday, "We just decided we'd walk down a stinky storm drain for fun and..."
He was cut off by Thursday.
"Yeah we are! Couldn't miss the Subterranean Catacomb Fiesta!"
"Okay then. Follow those steps down to water level - and I'll get you there." He pointed to a staircase carved into the wall, that disappeared into the water. They all began descending as the man moved his boat closer."
"I'm not knocking moments..." Friday said, finishing his thought before they got to the bottom step, "I'm just knocking the fact that the bad ones always seem so memorable."
Thursday stopped with a moment of realization. "And why are there so few...really good moments?!"
"Huh." Said Wednesday, getting into the boat. "It's almost like they hardly happen at all."
"That's what I'm saying," Said Friday, waiting for the rest to get into the boat. "Unless you're ready to live, expecting bad things to happen, you're going to be disappointed...a lot. That's pretty fjucked up."
"But..." Said Tuesday, sitting in the boat, "If you're always looking for a bad moment to happen, might that imply you're overlooking anything that happens that's good?"
"Yes." Said Friday, stepping onto the zodiac. "That's why I say there are too many moments. I choose to look for the good ones, and am constantly disappointed."
"You won't be disappointed." Said the man at the outboard engine of the zodiac. He turned the boat away from the brick wall, and sped across the chamber. He shouted more to be heard over the motor. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you'll find tonight...a moment to remember.
Happy Friday
"What?" Said Wednesday.
"Moments." Friday repeated, "There are too many of them."
"Well," Tuesday said, his head popping down from a concrete tunnel above them, that joined the larger storm-drain pipe where the weekdays were walking. "For an immortal weekday, that's sort of irrelevant." He swung himself down to land in a splash in the dirty water in front of the gathered weekdays. "Anyways," he continued, "Like we thought that tunnel just goes to a surface drain."
They continued walking - each had small headlamps which cast beams of light crazily about the tunnel. Occasional rats scurried out of their way. As they moved forward, the concrete tunnel joined a much older drain made of ancient moss covered brick.
Thursday noticed something. "Thank Gjod, a walkway. I'm glad the invitation suggested a change of shoes and socks!" He pulled himself up out of the shin-deep water, and was quickly followed by the others. There was a slightly amusing scene as five immortal weekdays took off their shoes, and socks, reached into packs and bags, and replaced them with fresh and dry footwear. Thursday had finished the act before the others, and picked up the original conversational thread. "I don't think the problem is too many moments. I'm pretty sure the problem is too many of those moments suck."
"Yeah." Said Tuesday, "And how long exactly is a moment?"
"No more than a half-hour." Said Wednesday.
"Half-hour!" Exclaimed Friday, putting the finishing touches on the bow of the laces on a stylish pair of Stacy Adams shoes.
"What? " Said Wednesday with some force, "That's the most common smallest time increment. Are you really saying people measure time in quarter-hours?"
"No." Friday said, standing up. "But moments are faster than time can measure."
"Or slower." Monday added.
"Or slower." Friday agreed.
"Pearl Harbor happened in a moment...I'd guess it was longer than 15 minutes." Thursday stated.
"Probly seemed a lot longer than that for the guys getting bombed and torpedoed."
"And the 9-11 attacks on the trade towers..." Quipped Tuesday, "Pretty fast. But was that a moment? I guess it probably was."
"Titanic sank in a moment..." Stated Monday.
"200,000 people died in the '05 Tsunami...in just a moment."
Wednesday began moving down the walkway, tired of the banter. "Come on, we've still got to get to find this party, and it could be miles from here."
"Not according to the flyer." Tuesday said hopefully, playing his headlamp onto a crumpled piece of paper in his hands. He read the text outloud. "Seven hundred meters from the drain opening at the river...it says."
They all began following.
Friday spoke. "See that's what I'm talking about."
"What? That we've travelled four hundred meters down a dirty stormdrain pipe in just moments?" Snapped Monday.
"No, all those moments you just brought up are bad moments!" The tunnel echoed with his voice and their footsteps as they continued their journey. "But what about all the good times? Those just lasted moments too - but nobody brings up the time we jumped the Pacific Ocean in rocket cars, wiped out a bunch of evil time controlling scientists, or met a talking rhinoceros in a bar!"
"Hang on." Said Wednesday in front of them. "There's a junction up here!"
The Weekdays all crowded around the end of the tunnel, which ended sharply at a huge chamber, where a number of huge tunnels converged, dumping trickles of water high above a massive pool of water twelve feet below. From across the room, on the water, a zodiac motored towards them, disturbing the water with crazy wakes, that sent a kaleidoscope of reflections across the chamber roof from their headlights. In a moment the zodiac was underneath them, and a man at the motor called up.
"Are you here for the party?"
"No." Spat Monday, "We just decided we'd walk down a stinky storm drain for fun and..."
He was cut off by Thursday.
"Yeah we are! Couldn't miss the Subterranean Catacomb Fiesta!"
"Okay then. Follow those steps down to water level - and I'll get you there." He pointed to a staircase carved into the wall, that disappeared into the water. They all began descending as the man moved his boat closer."
"I'm not knocking moments..." Friday said, finishing his thought before they got to the bottom step, "I'm just knocking the fact that the bad ones always seem so memorable."
Thursday stopped with a moment of realization. "And why are there so few...really good moments?!"
"Huh." Said Wednesday, getting into the boat. "It's almost like they hardly happen at all."
"That's what I'm saying," Said Friday, waiting for the rest to get into the boat. "Unless you're ready to live, expecting bad things to happen, you're going to be disappointed...a lot. That's pretty fjucked up."
"But..." Said Tuesday, sitting in the boat, "If you're always looking for a bad moment to happen, might that imply you're overlooking anything that happens that's good?"
"Yes." Said Friday, stepping onto the zodiac. "That's why I say there are too many moments. I choose to look for the good ones, and am constantly disappointed."
"You won't be disappointed." Said the man at the outboard engine of the zodiac. He turned the boat away from the brick wall, and sped across the chamber. He shouted more to be heard over the motor. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you'll find tonight...a moment to remember.
Happy Friday
deet deet...deet deet deet...Fjordnews...deet deet...
Ohmygodomygod...OH MY GJOD!
It's what I've suspected all along!
Great tits cope well with warming
(The author remains firmly behind the headline...the story...not so much)
It's what I've suspected all along!
Great tits cope well with warming
(The author remains firmly behind the headline...the story...not so much)
A Unique Response
To finding yourself on the wrong end of government authorities, proven innocent, yet still on their watchlist because it's impossible to get off.
Here's a brief clip from the Colbert Report, which, while funny, actually gives the deets.
There's something just too strange about this...yet, there's something super great about it too. Like, along the lines of "Fjuck you authority...here's where I've been THE WHOLE TIME"
You can gaze in wonder where Hasan Elahi is, and was, and at the powers of self surveillance at his site right here. It does sort of fulfill yer standard blogger's wet dream of making their whole live viewable for judgement from their commenters...but the sad thing is, it's kinda' really fjucking serious. I'd prefer to have this kind of information available for me to look at, in regards to my elected representatives. After all, they're supposed to be working for me.
Here's a brief clip from the Colbert Report, which, while funny, actually gives the deets.
There's something just too strange about this...yet, there's something super great about it too. Like, along the lines of "Fjuck you authority...here's where I've been THE WHOLE TIME"
You can gaze in wonder where Hasan Elahi is, and was, and at the powers of self surveillance at his site right here. It does sort of fulfill yer standard blogger's wet dream of making their whole live viewable for judgement from their commenters...but the sad thing is, it's kinda' really fjucking serious. I'd prefer to have this kind of information available for me to look at, in regards to my elected representatives. After all, they're supposed to be working for me.
Blogger Complaints
I have very few complaints when it comes to the blogger publishing system. They made some up-grades over the last couple of years which has really made it a solid system. I used to loose a post or two every couple of weeks. Now...it never happens. That's pretty good. However, after the last couple of picture-heavy posts, that is the one thing that I still have a gripe about.
Formatting where your pictures will go on the page, and how text will appear next to-or around said photos, is still amazingly cumbersome, and almost never publishes in the way you expect. That being said, it's possible to work around these layout shortcomings, but it would be nice if someone somewhere did a little work to improve this problem, that appears more often than you'd suspect.
Okey, back to your regularly scheduled Fjordcast...
Formatting where your pictures will go on the page, and how text will appear next to-or around said photos, is still amazingly cumbersome, and almost never publishes in the way you expect. That being said, it's possible to work around these layout shortcomings, but it would be nice if someone somewhere did a little work to improve this problem, that appears more often than you'd suspect.
Okey, back to your regularly scheduled Fjordcast...
Why...OH WHY DID I GIVE INTO THE MADNESS?!??
What with all the blimp madness, I appear to have angered the VOLCANO GODS! Crap crap crap. What do I have to do to appease thee!?!?
There's a nice gallery with more over here.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Just Giving Into The Blimp Madness
Some Coyote News
This really isn't very high on the "wow that's crazy" meter, but I needed to post this quote.
"People cannot be ambivalent about coyotes," said Harry Morse, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game. "When that coyote starts toward you, it's not coming to be nice."
Good advice people...remember it for later.
"People cannot be ambivalent about coyotes," said Harry Morse, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game. "When that coyote starts toward you, it's not coming to be nice."
Good advice people...remember it for later.
More Blimps??!!?? What the #*%@?
So in perusing the local Craigslist for potential new moneymaking endevors, I came across this. Since this is bound to evaporate into the webmonster after too long, here's the text for future generations.
Feel free to skim...it's only amazing with the bizarre blimp mojo I'm dealing with at the moment.
Airship Pilot (Los Angeles, CA (Gardena, CA))
Be a part of the famous Goodyear tradition.
Are you an aviator who is passionate about flying? Are you an excellent communicator who is comfortable speaking to groups of people and the media? Do you have the outstanding management skills required to oversee the airship team? If this sounds like you, this could be your chance to pilot one of the world's most recognized symbols, the Spirit of America! This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a dedicated aviator to experience the control and handling of an aircraft as unique as the Goodyear blimp. Not only that, you will have the opportunity to earn your “Lighter-Than-Air Certification” as a Goodyear Blimp Pilot! Even if you already have it, you've got to admit that the chance to pilot one of the world's most recognized icons is just too great to pass up.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is as famous for our blimps as we are for our tires and other automotive products… if not more so. We launched our first airship, the Pilgrim, in 1925 and now all three Goodyear icons - the Spirit of Goodyear, the Spirit of America and the Spirit of Innovation - fly year-round throughout the US. There's a certain magic that goes along with the challenge of being professionally involved with a Goodyear airship. You can discover that feeling yourself when you join us at our Los Angeles, California-area blimp airfield as a Pilot.
As a Goodyear Blimp Pilot, you will operate an assigned airship safely, effectively and efficiently to assure optimum utilization of that aircraft for favorable exposure of the Goodyear name. In concert with the Pilot-in-Charge, the Pilot accomplishes public relations assignments by planning, organizing, directing, operating, maintaining and administering a specific airship operation which includes airship, personnel and ground support equipment. The pilot also acts as the Goodyear Blimp Spokesperson, speaking to the public and the media, fielding questions and ensuring that the Goodyear reputation for excellence and professionalism is never compromised. As the sole pilot aboard, the Pilot commands and is responsible for the aircraft and functional operation during take-off, flight and landing. Assists and assumes command in the absence of the Pilot-in-Charge in the supervision of operations personnel in order to fulfill operations' missions in compliance with FAA regulations and company policy.
Activities requiring outside contact include conferring with vendors, news media, airport management, motel managers (travel and tour arrangements) and the public, customers and potential customers. The Pilot assists in forward planning of airship mission requirements with respect to travel accommodations (airports and motels) and movement of the airship and ground support service vehicles and airship personnel. Additionally, the pilot assists the Pilot-in-Charge in ensuring compliance with all company standard practices and policies.
While flying the airship, the Pilot will obtain maximum exposure of the company name by achieving optimum flight time of the airship through pilot and crew efforts. Note: Optimum flight time to meet public relations requirements within the safety and operations parameters of airship design.
The pilot assists in reviewing, evaluating and controlling airship operations functions in order to maintain and operate an efficient, safe and professionally staffed flying operation.
Traveling up to 180 days per year with consecutive extended periods, the Airship Pilot guides the Goodyear Blimp to a variety of venues throughout the United States that can include NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and NASCAR events, as well as the Academy Awards.
Requirements include:
Current Commercial Pilot with instrument rating (airplane or helicopter rating) with minimum 500 hours
Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent
Minimum second-class medical certificate
Willingness to travel for extended periods of time
Preferred, but not required:
Commercial Lighter-Than-Air Airship rating
A & P certification
Certified Flight Instructor
FCC license
CDL
College degree
Goodyear, with marketing operations in nearly every country around the world, offers a highly competitive compensation package commensurate with education and experience, as well as the opportunity to work with an industry leader. Please note that this position does not offer relocation assistance.
If you meet the above criteria and are interested in working in a rewarding, yet challenging environment, please apply online at https://goodyear.recruitmax.com/eng/candidates/, select the “search” button under the Job Search section to view the Pilot position.
Man - whadda job! If I only stuck with my original plan, and got my Commercial lighter-than-air Airship rating. Oh well, maybe next time.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Does anybody know who now controlls Max Headroom?
Because I'd love to see him pop back. I really would.
Hell - I'd love to write the words coming out of his mouth!
Hell - I'd love to write the words coming out of his mouth!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The last post was done on a whim...seriously
Monday, May 05, 2008
How about some blimp action?
Sure, why not.
Here's something old...
And something new.
And then there's this...
Here's something old...
And something new.
And then there's this...
May 5th? No! Cinco de Mayo!
We get a lot of the Latino vibe here in Los-Angeleeze, and I for one, welcome any holidaze that make any excuse for drinking mexican beer. (or any kind of beer, actually) But, this was the first time I actually looked up what happened May 5th in Mexico. Here's a brief rundown, and over here's a little different take from the online encyclopedia.
Anyhoo getting back to Mexican beer...I prefer Sol to the other usual suspects. Why? Because magical things like this happen!
However, that being said, I don't mind supporting the Corona people, even tho their stuff isn't as good. Just because I like seeing things like the following on my teevee, Corona commercials stand out because they are so amazingly calm and quiet. The difference It always reminds me how desperate the television people are to keep your attention. Advertising like this works much better for me.
As well, their products are pretty cool. If any of you have a cool $500 and wanna get me a Cinco de Mayo gift. This would be sweeeeeet.
Anyhoo getting back to Mexican beer...I prefer Sol to the other usual suspects. Why? Because magical things like this happen!
However, that being said, I don't mind supporting the Corona people, even tho their stuff isn't as good. Just because I like seeing things like the following on my teevee, Corona commercials stand out because they are so amazingly calm and quiet. The difference It always reminds me how desperate the television people are to keep your attention. Advertising like this works much better for me.
As well, their products are pretty cool. If any of you have a cool $500 and wanna get me a Cinco de Mayo gift. This would be sweeeeeet.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Ahhh, Pirates...
How many times has your news saved me from actually writing a new post? It's not as good as this one, which was from last month...but is a lot more interesting, plus it also has smugglers!
***Update***
Here's an amazing map of pirate activity off of the coast of Somalia! There's a ton of information on here - it's worth the PDF download...promise.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Mr Pigglesworth and Mr Gimpson VS The Evil-Eye!
"I say Gimpson," asked Mr. Pigglesworth, "do you place any weight to the notion of the evil eye?"
Mr Gimpson put down his newspaper, and shifted his slippered feet on the ottoman, looking at his friend. "You mean those with a power over dark forces, with which they might becurse a man who crosses their path with an unsavory look?"
"The very same."
"I don't give any weight to it whatsoever. Why do you ask Pigglesworth?"
Mr Pigglesworth walked to the fireplace, which now held only glowing embers, placed a new log upon the grate, and used a poker to summon a small tongue of flame licking over the new wood. "You remember my pocketwatch had recently stopped?"
"Of course, you complained about it last weekend." Gimpson frowned, "Since you hadn't mentioned it, I had assumed you had taken care of it."
"Well, after mentioning it, I felt I shouldn't bring it up again. However, earlier today I went to the watch repair shop, to have it seen to."
"What was the problem?" Gimpson asked.
"A gear had broken a tooth, which had become lodged in another, preventing it from moving. It took all of five minutes to fix." Pigglesworth watched the fire, which was now happily cracking, and moved to sit upon the sitting chair opposite Gimpson.
"Well that's a relief." said Gimpson.
"Yes. However, outside the watch repair shop, I was accosted by five Gypsy urchins who wanted money."
"Not an uncommon occurrence for a dweller of a metropolis."
"Of course." Said Pigglesworth. He squirmed in his chair for a moment, then rose to fix himself a drink. He looked over at Gimpson as he poured scotch from a crystal decanter, "But as I was pushing my way through the rabble, and knocking their hands away from my pockets and other valuable items, an old Gypsy hag emerged suddenly from around the building, and in my haste, I stepped on her foot!"
"I say!" Exclaimed Gimpson.
"Quite." Said Pigglesworth as he took a sip of his drink. "So the woman says, "'Ere Govn'a, shouldn'a treat my youngins as tha they was the plauge! Alls they wanna is a Shillin'." Well, I responded by begging her pardon for stepping on her foot, but stated that I wasn't about to give anyone my money, especially after being molested in such an uncouth manor."
"Then what happend!?" Gimpson asked excitedly.
Mr. Pigglesworth continued his tale. ""Uncouth!" She spit at me, which she really did, as she had no upper teeth, "I'll show ye uncouth! 'Ave a gaze 'ere at my evil-eye!" at which she gave me the most foul look I have ever seen on a human's face."
"My word old chap," said Gimpson, "has anything unfortunate befallen you since then?"
Pigglesworth Moved back to his chair, settled down more comfortably than the first time. "Well, I was nearly run over by a dogcart near Trafalgar, a load of roofing slate fell from the top of Lloyds and crashed practically at my feet, and as I went to the shed for more firewood, I discovered a nest of possums, three of which made for my ankles! Luckily I wasn't wearing loafers."
"It does seem as if you've had your share of near things today. Do you give weight to this Gypsy woman's evil-eye?"
"Against my better judgement, I would guess there may be something to it." Pigglesworth stood up, refilled his glass, and had another sip. He stood by the fire for a moment, then drew himself up and spoke in a more defiant tone. "Now Gimpson, you know I'm a rational man, I believe in science and technology, and won't be drawn into believing in curses! But I daresay I see the old hag's look each time I blink. It's unnerving."
"Pixies!" Gimpson said.
"Pixies?" Pigglesworth looked over confused.
"Pixies. Gimpson stated as if he was done speaking about it.
"Gimpson," asked Pigglesworth, "what do you mean, Pixies?"
"You remember when I used to rent rooms out of the old Holdenhurst Mannor?"
"Of course, they were quite stately...gave you quite a respectable front I might add."
"Yes. But did I ever tell you why I left those stately rooms to take up diggings with you?" Gimpson asked knowingly.
"No."
"Old Holdenhurst Mannor was haunted will all manner of spooks. There was one horrifying apparition which frequented my rooms, which appeared in spectral form with a bloody stump for a neck, and carried it's head under an arm. The head would then hurl a huge vocabulary of insults at me, and then laugh madly."
"My god Gimpson, how often did this happen!?"
"Nightly!"
"You lived there for nearly two years! How did you maintain your sanity!?"
"Pigglesworth, it is why I mentioned Pixies. Whenever I saw things which I think should shake me, I knew that they were impotent in the material plane. However, they did scare me. But that's when I remembered the Pixies, small mischievous fairy creatures which mean no good to mortal man, but really capable of only small tricks. Each time I was faced with such things, I would just think to myself, it's only Pixies playing tricks. And that's how I mastered that! You should try it for yourself."
"You're saying, this old Gypsy hag who gave me the evil-eye was nothing more than a trick played on me by three-inch fairy creatures?"
"Yes! If you're believing in Gypsy curses, you may as well believe in Pixies. And if you believe that, I'd say a Pixie trick is a lot easier to deal with than a Gypsy curse."
Pigglesworth looked at his friend, pondered for a few moments, and without thinking drained the rest of his glass. It appeared that he had made up his mind, because he smiled slightly.
"Pixies!" He laughed, "Who would have thought I'd run into Pixies in the middle of London, right outside the watch repair shop! Gimpson, you've made me much happier. I am in your debt for your take on this affair."
"Not at all, my good man, not at all. Now then, either we spend the rest of the night making some manner of Pixie trap, or we could go to the billiard hall, and see if we can overcome Pixie mischief with the logical physics of solid balls being struck with a stout cue!"
"Capital idea Gimpson. I'll fetch my cloak."
Happy Friday
***Update! Incase you haven't seen the previous adventures of Mr. Pigglesworth and Mr. Gimpson, you can find them directly below!***
Episode One
Episode Two
Episode Three
Episode Four
Episode Five
Hoooo Boy, Whadda Week!
There might be hundreds, nay thousands of words I could use to describe this horrific beast, but I won't. (crap, there's two)
All I will say with true emotion is I FOUND MY HAT!
That's so awesome.
All I will say with true emotion is I FOUND MY HAT!
That's so awesome.
I suppose you're wondering why I haven't
Done anything on the Giant Squid dissection. Well, it's cause it's super boring. There's nothing there at all. Here's a link with video. It will put you to sleep. There's nothing there but a giant lifeless blob that barely looks like a squid, and that's why I don't care. Maybe it's ennui setting in, or maybe, like from my last post, I'm just getting tired of the novelty of the internet...but the internet is boring me to death. Maybe it's just time Pigglesworth and Gimpson had another adventure.
Anyhoo...over here are some awesomely beautiful photos of shipwrecks.
Anyhoo...over here are some awesomely beautiful photos of shipwrecks.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
I have this little quote
From Warren Ellis - from some interview he did a little while ago. I printed it out, and cut the paper so I could have it lying around making clutter in the vast kitchens of the Casa Aloha Resort and Spa. (soon to be casino - but I have some legal hoops to jump thru to prove I'm part Native American - but that's another, and hopefully massively profitable, story. Anyhoo - the part of the quote I like best is the last bit, which goes like this.
"The motor of innovation and novelty is really kind of cranked up right now, but, in contrast, the general culture is still in a sort of post-millennial shock, just laying there and drooling over its nipples."
There's something really important in there...I can feel it. I can sense it. He's right, but, I just can't quite get my head around what it is, or what it means.
According to the free online encyclopedia "...culture is generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance."
Well, that's rather vague...but maybe that's the point. Trying to reimagine, reinvent, or just create new symbolic structures that give meaning to patterns of human activity ain't like doing yer laundry. It's (seems to me) about creating something (art, relationships, organizations, I dunno...add yers here) that is not only understandable to a vast majority of the population, but is powerful enough to fundamentally alter the meaning of how people relate to the world around them.
Yeah, well, that's a stab at it. I'm not saying that's correct, nor am I saying if it is correct, that I have any idea of how to make something that powerful, much less make something that powerful, that would actually work. I just wanted to shoot this into the webmonster, for consideration.
"The motor of innovation and novelty is really kind of cranked up right now, but, in contrast, the general culture is still in a sort of post-millennial shock, just laying there and drooling over its nipples."
There's something really important in there...I can feel it. I can sense it. He's right, but, I just can't quite get my head around what it is, or what it means.
According to the free online encyclopedia "...culture is generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance."
Well, that's rather vague...but maybe that's the point. Trying to reimagine, reinvent, or just create new symbolic structures that give meaning to patterns of human activity ain't like doing yer laundry. It's (seems to me) about creating something (art, relationships, organizations, I dunno...add yers here) that is not only understandable to a vast majority of the population, but is powerful enough to fundamentally alter the meaning of how people relate to the world around them.
Yeah, well, that's a stab at it. I'm not saying that's correct, nor am I saying if it is correct, that I have any idea of how to make something that powerful, much less make something that powerful, that would actually work. I just wanted to shoot this into the webmonster, for consideration.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Just to letcha' know
The Big Boys are finally catching up to the Penis Shrinking story we broke last week!
Haha, no, not those Big Boys, I ment the Major League Media Demons, like this guy...
Haha, no, not those Big Boys, I ment the Major League Media Demons, like this guy...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hurt my hand, tired as fjuck, got a nasty cough...and stuff
Things are just a wee bit tough at the Casa Aloha right now as I one-handedly type this. However, I did need to dial you into this.
(since it's yahoo news and their links always end up M.I.A. I'm putting up the thing for future generations.)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.
Reports of so-called penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa, where belief in traditional religions and witchcraft remains widespread, and where ritual killings to obtain blood or body parts still occur.
Rumours of penis theft began circulating last week in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling capital of some 8 million inhabitants. They quickly dominated radio call-in shows, with listeners advised to beware of fellow passengers in communal taxis wearing gold rings.
Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear, in what some residents said was an attempt to extort cash with the promise of a cure.
"You just have to be accused of that, and people come after you. We've had a number of attempted lynchings. ... You see them covered in marks after being beaten," Kinshasa's police chief, Jean-Dieudonne Oleko, told Reuters on Tuesday.
Police arrested the accused sorcerers and their victims in an effort to avoid the sort of bloodshed seen in Ghana a decade ago, when 12 suspected penis snatchers were beaten to death by angry mobs. The 27 men have since been released.
"I'm tempted to say it's one huge joke," Oleko said.
"But when you try to tell the victims that their penises are still there, they tell you that it's become tiny or that they've become impotent. To that I tell them, 'How do you know if you haven't gone home and tried it'," he said.
Some Kinshasa residents accuse a separatist sect from nearby Bas-Congo province of being behind the witchcraft in revenge for a recent government crackdown on its members.
"It's real. Just yesterday here, there was a man who was a victim. We saw. What was left was tiny," said 29-year-old Alain Kalala, who sells phone credits near a Kinshasa police station.
I for one welcome this anti-sorcerer vigilanteism, and any civilian action that is pro-phallus. As it turns out, I'm not the only one. Please watch the following Reuters video, and be amazed.
(since it's yahoo news and their links always end up M.I.A. I'm putting up the thing for future generations.)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.
Reports of so-called penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa, where belief in traditional religions and witchcraft remains widespread, and where ritual killings to obtain blood or body parts still occur.
Rumours of penis theft began circulating last week in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling capital of some 8 million inhabitants. They quickly dominated radio call-in shows, with listeners advised to beware of fellow passengers in communal taxis wearing gold rings.
Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear, in what some residents said was an attempt to extort cash with the promise of a cure.
"You just have to be accused of that, and people come after you. We've had a number of attempted lynchings. ... You see them covered in marks after being beaten," Kinshasa's police chief, Jean-Dieudonne Oleko, told Reuters on Tuesday.
Police arrested the accused sorcerers and their victims in an effort to avoid the sort of bloodshed seen in Ghana a decade ago, when 12 suspected penis snatchers were beaten to death by angry mobs. The 27 men have since been released.
"I'm tempted to say it's one huge joke," Oleko said.
"But when you try to tell the victims that their penises are still there, they tell you that it's become tiny or that they've become impotent. To that I tell them, 'How do you know if you haven't gone home and tried it'," he said.
Some Kinshasa residents accuse a separatist sect from nearby Bas-Congo province of being behind the witchcraft in revenge for a recent government crackdown on its members.
"It's real. Just yesterday here, there was a man who was a victim. We saw. What was left was tiny," said 29-year-old Alain Kalala, who sells phone credits near a Kinshasa police station.
I for one welcome this anti-sorcerer vigilanteism, and any civilian action that is pro-phallus. As it turns out, I'm not the only one. Please watch the following Reuters video, and be amazed.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Yeah, I been slackin'
But I have been doin' stuff that ain't quite blog material...perhaps you'll get a small glimpse if I'm feelin' feisty. However, I have also noticed that most of you don't give a rats ass, so I don't feel that bad about it. But I've got that feeling like you've clicked over to find something new and awesome, so I'm going to leave you with this.
This one don't got the best video quality - but it's soundtrack is superior to the other's I've watched.
This one don't got the best video quality - but it's soundtrack is superior to the other's I've watched.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Checkin' in on sciency news
I guess this is a good thing. A few good hearted people are suing to stop the Large Hadron Collider! Why? Well, there's this...
But Walter L. Wagner and Luis Sancho contend that scientists at the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, have played down the chances that the collider could produce, among other horrors, a tiny black hole, which, they say, could eat the Earth. Or it could spit out something called a “strangelet” that would convert our planet to a shrunken dense dead lump of something called “strange matter.”
Apart from that - everything's great!
But Walter L. Wagner and Luis Sancho contend that scientists at the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, have played down the chances that the collider could produce, among other horrors, a tiny black hole, which, they say, could eat the Earth. Or it could spit out something called a “strangelet” that would convert our planet to a shrunken dense dead lump of something called “strange matter.”
Apart from that - everything's great!
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Here's a good shirt
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
I'm not sure if this is worth your time
but John's beer drinking records is quite a dedicated work.
(P.S. - this and the last were nabbed from Look at this - which I've raved about before)
(P.S. - this and the last were nabbed from Look at this - which I've raved about before)
Monday, April 07, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
930 don't mean I've all forgotten about 4/4
It might seem a bit shallow that I noticed the passing of 4/4 wid-out a mention. However, back in January of '08 I did pen this little diddy.
Anyhoo, I was scanning thru some second-tier blogs I try and frequent and found this little video I'm about to post up. There's something cool about it, because it says what needs to be said in a way that's constructive. It's all bad, no doubt - so you can feel free to skip it if you came here for some tjypical Fjordian content...there is a new Friday post up, that I think is pretty fun, but whateva', I'm past that today, and starting from Gjods clean slate. It's short, but purtty dang good. Oh yeah, it's also mothafjuckin' 40 years old.
Bee cjool to one another...it's about character.
That dude was also killed by a white man. Looking at this vid for the second time, I don't wanna leave ya with that, I'd rather leave ya with this...just a stupid speach by Bono accepting the NAACP's Chairman's award. You're probly one of the many who wrote that dude off in the 90's (like I did, then later, I did change my mind) but it's a pretty dang good thing to hear.
(P.S His first 30 seconds are drivel, no doubt. The venue is retarded, no doubt, but his words are pretty much no joke, and it get's pretty killa')
Anyhoo, I dig that this (small) post is purtty back-n-white. But that changes in no way, the retardo injustices which have been perpetrated on members of every nationality and race and ethnicity, and religion across our fair planet since we've been recording history in written words and organizing into civilizations which compete for...um...whatever civilizations compete violently for.
There is one struggle that we are all well aware of, that's to love or to hate. Hate requires no understanding, and no higher-level work...it's simply a movement (or emotion, or reaction, or what the fjuck ever) of subjugation, or destruction. It's easy and rewarding...and it easily rewards those who embrace it.
Love is usually the opposite...it is not easy. And the rewards for embracing it, cannot be measured in teevee time, fancy cars, a long life, and massive bank accounts. It's about connecting with people and reaching a common understanding. All sorts of fjucking people, all across the globe that you never thought or believed, you could ever find a single connection with, you could. You have it, (the connection) you are human. It's just motherfjuckin' hard work to filter thru the chaff to find it.
Anyhoo, I was scanning thru some second-tier blogs I try and frequent and found this little video I'm about to post up. There's something cool about it, because it says what needs to be said in a way that's constructive. It's all bad, no doubt - so you can feel free to skip it if you came here for some tjypical Fjordian content...there is a new Friday post up, that I think is pretty fun, but whateva', I'm past that today, and starting from Gjods clean slate. It's short, but purtty dang good. Oh yeah, it's also mothafjuckin' 40 years old.
Bee cjool to one another...it's about character.
That dude was also killed by a white man. Looking at this vid for the second time, I don't wanna leave ya with that, I'd rather leave ya with this...just a stupid speach by Bono accepting the NAACP's Chairman's award. You're probly one of the many who wrote that dude off in the 90's (like I did, then later, I did change my mind) but it's a pretty dang good thing to hear.
(P.S His first 30 seconds are drivel, no doubt. The venue is retarded, no doubt, but his words are pretty much no joke, and it get's pretty killa')
Anyhoo, I dig that this (small) post is purtty back-n-white. But that changes in no way, the retardo injustices which have been perpetrated on members of every nationality and race and ethnicity, and religion across our fair planet since we've been recording history in written words and organizing into civilizations which compete for...um...whatever civilizations compete violently for.
There is one struggle that we are all well aware of, that's to love or to hate. Hate requires no understanding, and no higher-level work...it's simply a movement (or emotion, or reaction, or what the fjuck ever) of subjugation, or destruction. It's easy and rewarding...and it easily rewards those who embrace it.
Love is usually the opposite...it is not easy. And the rewards for embracing it, cannot be measured in teevee time, fancy cars, a long life, and massive bank accounts. It's about connecting with people and reaching a common understanding. All sorts of fjucking people, all across the globe that you never thought or believed, you could ever find a single connection with, you could. You have it, (the connection) you are human. It's just motherfjuckin' hard work to filter thru the chaff to find it.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Friday, April 04, 2008
Just A Friday Video Bonus!
If you don't read "Danger Room" (one of wired's mil-blogs) they've done a series of crazy posts about how to (in real life) stop a 600 foot cloverfield/godzilla monster, how to stop a terminator robot, and this last one how to survive a zombie apocalypse. (if you follow the last link, links to the other stories are at the bottom.) The comments are fjucking great and totally worth exploring...people have great real world ideas, even tho some get way too tech for a guy like me who don't know dick about ammo and military-type specs. Anyhoo from that post, I got this vid, which is exactly what you want from a "non-made-up-threat-to-your-gjoddang-immortal-soul...which you already know are the mummies."
Anyhoo - hopefully you've already armed yourself against the inevitable, and we can move on to more fun stuff. Like this song I heard the other day, and thought, what the fjuck is that song. Fortunately Fjord Borg came up with the answer.
(The vid might not be the keenest, but the audio is pretty right in the pocket)
And finally, this yummy little chunk of goodness from back in the day...
Anyhoo - hopefully you've already armed yourself against the inevitable, and we can move on to more fun stuff. Like this song I heard the other day, and thought, what the fjuck is that song. Fortunately Fjord Borg came up with the answer.
(The vid might not be the keenest, but the audio is pretty right in the pocket)
And finally, this yummy little chunk of goodness from back in the day...
Got hops, big ups, mad handles, and other words and phrases I'd rather not ever hear again.
Friday was on the deck with the other weekdays, reposed in circularly arranged deck furniture. He reached over and grabbed the joint Thursday was passing. He took a hit, and settled back into his chair as smoke oozed its way into his lungs.
"I'm so fucking high." Said Wednesday to nobody in particular.
"There's a motherfjucking coyote in your yard." Said Monday, pointing down and across towards some topiaried shrubs, where there definitely was some kind of feral canine, looking back at them. Monday took the jay from Friday, had a hit and coughed a little while expressing his feelings in an unequivocal, "huh."
Tuesday spoke slowly. "I didn't even know I had a yard."
"Dogote." Said Wednesday. (It came out of his mouth like dog-o-tee)
"What?" Asked Friday.
"Dogote." Repeated Wednesday, "cross between a dog and a coyote."
"There's no such thing!" Thursday said while reaching for an iced tea, resting on a nearby wooden table.
"Sure is. Look it up on my Iphone!" Wednesday pulled his device from a pocket and handed it over, Thursday quickly scrolled to a web-page (which is here. Fjucking interactive Friday post mothafucka'!)
"Whaddayaknow...dogote! Well, I guess it's real, but how do you know that's a dogote?" He pointed out across the yard, but the dogote, or coyote, was nowhere to be seen. "Huh, it's gone."
"I just know it was." Said Wednesday leaning back in the cushions of the self-standing swinging chair he reposed in, closed his eyes, and proceeded to rock the chair with his legs.
"Wait a second," expressed Tuesday with confusion, "I don't have a yard, I have a condo with underground parking, a rooftop pool, and a heli-pad!"
Monday, who had been holding the joint and taking drags all this time looked up, and said to nobody in particular, "I'm so fucking high right now." He looked out of beet-red eyes, which were mere slits, across the rails of the deck and mentioned, "There's a coyote in your yard." He pointed to a grove of trees, where sure enough, some kind of feral canine was resting.
"Dogote." Wednesday said without opening his eyes.
"Seriously guys," began Tuesday, "and I am being totally serious, whose house is this?"
"Trickster God." Friday said.
"What?!" Replied Wednesday and Monday together.
"The Coyote...a Trickster God, in Native American mythos. Clever little fuck, got me more than a few times myself."
Thursday fucked around on the internet with the Iphone (he was still holding) and came up with this. He quickly responded to Friday.
"Sounds like a cool customer."
"Sure." Replied Friday, "lotsa fun. But let yer guard down for a second, and yer in the middle of Times Square in winter - with no clothes!"
"That's the Coyote, not a dogote, which is what is in your yard." Said Wednesday.
Tuesday was exasperated. "Seriously! I don't care if it's a coyote, the Coyote, or a dogote! It's not my yard and it's not my motherfjuckin' house!" He stood up, ready to head towards the sliding glass doors of the deck, into the house, and out onto the street.
"Be cool Tues.," Said Thursday, "It's my house." Tuesday stood for a moment weighing Thursday's words, then slowly sat down.
"I am so fjucking high right now." He said, and shook his head.
Monday began making a series of strangled sounds which the others looked over at. After a few seconds, it was clear he was laughing, but so hard the only sounds that came from his mouth were, "Chit, chit chit, chit..." This continued for a good two minutes. After a moment, he regained enough composure to wipe tears from his face. "Oh my gjod." Was all he was able to say, before cracking up again.
The others smiled like crazy at the display, and wanting to join in the fun, peppered him with "What's so funny?" until he was able to calm down enough to spit out, "Dogote!" He slapped his thigh, and finally reached out for his lemonade, had a sip, took a breath and said, "That is one fjucking funny word."
Happy Friday!
Thursday, April 03, 2008
I knew I couldn't keep this a secret forever...
Yeah, by day I'm a mild mannered earth resort owner/operator, but those dang astronomers have released the first movie of Tsunami on the sun.
I can't get into exactly what I was up to on the sun, but lemme assure you, it was something really, really cool.
I can't get into exactly what I was up to on the sun, but lemme assure you, it was something really, really cool.
If yer up for reading something dense
This little post gives a few neat connections reagrding oil, and the war machine.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Hahaha! Teen Spirit!
I've often mentioned to anyone who would listen, that Nirvana is Led Zeppelin. Not so much that they are at all similar stylistically, musically, or lyrically...but as groups which drive radio (and jukebox) play. Music fans of both classic rock, and alt-rock will forget all sorts of sonic indignities thrust upon them as soon as Zeppelin or Nirvana come on the airwaves...it's bizarre. I happily quip, whenever Nirvana's on, that "I love Zeppelin!" And how much "I love Nirvana!" Whenever Zeppelin shows up.
People seem to get a little annoyed by my habit of doing this, but I am already (and clearly) a little annoyed myself. There were better bands, contemporaries of either one of these groups...and contemporaries which were commercially successful as well. Yet, they don't rank the continuous rotation that either of these groups do. Why? I dunno...I'm not really a "music industry insider," but it is what it is, I guess.
I do, however, think, it would be hard to find a Zeppelin song that Paul Anka could nail like this.
People seem to get a little annoyed by my habit of doing this, but I am already (and clearly) a little annoyed myself. There were better bands, contemporaries of either one of these groups...and contemporaries which were commercially successful as well. Yet, they don't rank the continuous rotation that either of these groups do. Why? I dunno...I'm not really a "music industry insider," but it is what it is, I guess.
I do, however, think, it would be hard to find a Zeppelin song that Paul Anka could nail like this.
I'm so totally back!
And what do you get when I'm back? Why you get amazingly great things...like THE RETURN OF FAFBLOG!
(Quote the Tsunami)
"OhmigjodomygjodOOOOOhMiiiiieeeeGJOOOOD!"
If you don't know what I'm talkin' about, you can click over there, and then find -on the right side of the page- find the archives, and read some of the shit that's there. Fafblog was a total inspiration to a gargantuan number of fjordposts back in 05-06 (which you can find in the "archives" of Fjord - located to the lower left-hand side of this page).
I for one, welcome my return, and the amazingly great things I bring back with me. Don't you?
(Photo ganked from here)
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