Dylan XMas Video

I take back negative comment I've said about Dylan's new Christmas album. I love this video!

Buy the CD for $9.99 or download the MP3s for $10.99. Huh???

(Thanks Shel-tone)

Feds Raid Gibson Plant

First they come for your guitars... Gibson Guitar plant in Nashville raided by feds.

An international crackdown on the use of endangered woods from the world's rain forests to make musical instruments bubbled over to Music City on Tuesday with a federal raid on Gibson Guitar 's manufacturing plant, but no arrests.

Agents of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service made a midday appearance and served a search warrant on company officials at Gibson's Massman Drive manufacturing plant, where it makes acoustic and electric guitars.

Gibson issued a statement saying it is "fully cooperating with agents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as it pertains to an issue with harvested wood." The company said it did nothing wrong.

Federal officials declined to say whether anything was removed from Gibson's plant or what specifically the agents were trying to find. But some exotic hardwoods traditionally used in making premium guitars, such as rosewood from the rain forests of Madagascar and Brazil, have been banned from commercial trade because of environmental concerns under a recently revised federal law.

Some were puzzled:

Environmental activists say the search of Gibson's plant took them by surprise because the company's top executive, CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, has taken a lead role for at least the past six years in urging the music industry to use only sustainable wood products.

(Thanks jssec)

Porridge Competition

You've probably heard about the big porridge contest, but in case you've been living in a cave: Rude Health and Giraffe join forces to launch porridge competition.

The 10 best entries will be invited to the final cook-off at Giraffe restaurant on the Southbank. The winner will be crowned Rude Health's London Porridge champion 2009 and presented with their prize.

Competitors will be provided with a single porridge pan and stove, and can pick their mixing implement of choice, be that a spoon, spurtle or spon. They have 20 minutes to prove their worth.

So polish up NEVER EVER polish your spurltle, and put a shine on your spon.

Bible Bee Results

As it turns out, reading the Bible can be worthwhile. Some big prize money was given out at the 2009 National Bible Bee.

On November 4-6, 300 contestants gathered in Washington, D.C. for the first annual National Bible Bee, a motivating Bible memory competition for children and youth from 7 to 18 years of age. Nine contestants emerged as contest winners.

A total of $260,000 in prize money was awarded. Daniel Staddon (Salem, WV) walked away with the top prize, $100,000.

Organizers say that the National Bible Bee is much more than a competition - that at its core, it is all about encouraging young people to memorize the Scriptures so that they may learn, speak, and live out their Christian faith.

Safer Blue Discovered By Accident

A new blue for you: Accidental discovery produces durable new blue pigment.

An accidental discovery in a laboratory at Oregon State University has apparently solved a quest that over thousands of years has absorbed the energies of ancient Egyptians, the Han dynasty in China, Mayan cultures and more - the creation of a near-perfect blue pigment.

Through much of recorded human history, people around the world have sought inorganic compounds that could be used to paint things blue, often with limited success. Most had environmental or durability issues. Cobalt blue, developed in France in the early 1800s, can be carcinogenic. Prussian blue can release cyanide. Other blue pigments are not stable when exposed to heat or acidic conditions.

But chemists at OSU have discovered new compounds based on manganese that should address all of those concerns. They are safer to produce, much more durable, and should lead to more environmentally benign blue pigments than any being used now or in the past.

Details:

An unusual "trigonal bipyramidal coordination" of manganese compounds was used to create a new blue pigment that is safe to produce, durable and environmentally benign.

Palin-Beck 2012

A Republican dream ticket: Palin-Beck 2012?

Sarah sez:

"I can envision a couple of different combinations, if ever I were to be in a position to really even seriously consider running for anything in the future, and I'm not there yet," Palin tells Newsmax. "But Glenn Beck I have great respect for. He's a hoot. He gets his message across in such a clever way. And he's so bold - I have to respect that. He calls it like he sees it, and he's very, very, very effective."

Now there's an experienced and well-qualified leadership team. It would be a hoot to watch him cry when they lose.

Praying For The President

It's a new meme for Obama-haters:

There's a hilarious new meme in the wingnut sectors of the internet: someone's coined a bumper sticker slogan encouraging people to pray for Barack Obama. But here's the funny part: it's really a secret Christian code for "Kill the President!'

What is it?

May his days be few; may another take his office!

I first saw this in a post at Banjo Hangout a few days ago. That post didn't last long.

Tooth Rings

Nice tooth ring.

All works are handmade in Melbourne, with sterling silver, human hair and human teeth. Human teeth are locally donated and sterilised, and human hair is either locally donated or sourced from India and China. Teeth are particularly difficult to come by, so any donations are gratefully accepted.

(via Foolish Gadgets)

Jonestown Today

Today is the 31st anniversary of the Jonestown mass suicide.

Jonestown was the informal name for the "Peoples Temple Agricultural Project", an intentional community in northwestern Guyana formed by the Peoples Temple, an American cult led by Jim Jones. It became internationally notorious when, on November 18, 1978, 918 people died in the settlement as well as in a nearby airstrip and in Georgetown, Guyana's capital. The name of the settlement became synonymous with the incidents at those locations.

909 Temple members died in Jonestown, all but two from apparent cyanide poisoning, in an event termed "revolutionary suicide" by Jones and some members on an audio tape of the event and in prior discussions.

What's it like today?

Now deserted, the compound at Jonestown was first tended by the Guyanese government following the deaths. The government then allowed its re-occupation by Hmong refugees from Laos for a few years in the early 1980s. The buildings and grounds were looted by local Guyanese people, but were not taken over because of their association with the mass killing. The buildings were mostly destroyed by a fire in the mid-1980s, after which the ruins were left to decay and be reclaimed by the jungle...

There is now little left apart from an old oil tank turned on its side, and very little indication at all of the former settlement, other than aging fruit trees that were part of the Jonestown orchard, and an abandoned truck that was presumably owned by Peoples Temple.

The photo is from last year's 30th anniversary coverage at Time.

I was 26 at the time, and I don't really remember very much about it. I didn't pay much attention to news back then.

Buzkashi

Buzkashi is big in Afghanistan: Galloping to get one's goat.

Is the world ready for a sport played with a headless goat carcass?

Haji Abdul Rashid thinks it is and has big plans: corporate sponsors, television rights and beyond. "We want it to become an Olympic sport," says Rashid, who heads the Buzkashi Federation.

To understand how ambitious - even crazy - this is, consider the game. Buzkashi, which means "goat grabbing," is a violent sport with virtually no rules. Players, called chapandaz, gallop at breakneck speed over a dusty field, fighting over a dead animal without a head.

Buzkashi is undergoing a renaissance in Afghanistan since the Taliban regime was ousted from power by U.S. forces in 2001. There are more games, players and spectators than ever before. Rashid says he has already contacted some Olympic officials.

I wonder how it would affect the game if they left the goat's head on?

Interview With Thrash Cardiom

An interview with the guy who reminds me of a trashy cardigan.

How did you first hear of the J-Walk Blog, and how long have you been reading it?

I think from around 2004 and I just stumbled across it, probably through a google search on some strange subject.

What's the significance of your screen name?

It's an anagram.

Do you read this blog from work or at home? How many times a day?

At home any time from about 3:30am through to 7:00am. I check it after I get home from work at 4:00pm. I work from home on Fridays and so check it from time to time during the day and the same during weekends.

Basic stats?

47, Male, New Zealand, 30 hours per week employed, 30 hours+ self employed.

Send a copy of the weirdest photo of yourself...

We have a 12 metre by 8 metre pool which is very popular in the summer. About four years ago we held a poolside accessory competition with an HP printer as the prize. We had between 15 and 20 entries ranging from a Bumble Buoy (designed to aid in the removal of bumblebees from the pool), The Ultimate Poolside Accessory (a fridge with an attached changing area, entertainment devices, chopping boards, clock, rubber chicken [which squawked when the door was opened] and more), a tile mosaic wall hanging which doubled as a snackfood tray, The Bin (a rubbish bin) and others.

The strangest was contributed by a woman whose pet dog had recently died. It was The Poolside Past Pet Memorial Centre. This photo is of me testing it out prior to the competition judging. I am remembering a cat from over 20 years ago.

The winner of the competition was the mosaic wall hanging. It won because the person who made it filled it with snacks and invited the judges (everyone who was there) to help themselves during the judging process. We did state that bribery and corruption was an accepted practice in the competition rules. Sadly it was destroyed in strong winds during the winter of that year. The PPPMC fell apart in a matter of weeks. However, The Bin is still in use and the Bumble Buoy has been used on a number of occasions, most recently in January.

Have you ever met any of the other commenters? Would you like to?

No I haven't but I would like to.

How many different places have you lived in?

About 11, I think. When I was younger I moved all over the country, throwing clothes in an old pack and heading off for the hell of it. I'm more stable now. I've only moved twice in the last 11 years.

What other blogs to you follow?

Hardnews, Dvorak Uncensored, The Strategist, The Wine Wanker, Editing the Herald, and a number of others.

Which are your favorite topics covered at the J-Walk Blog?

Politics, religion and science though not necessarily in that order . I get the interest science from my parents. My father was a soil scientist and my mother was a registered pharmacist. I get the interest in religion from my parents. My father was the equivalent of a bishop in their church and my mother was slated to be the co-convenor of the church (which is basically the head of the church nationally along with one other person) only she died before she could take up the position. I think my father basically has no real faith any more. This conjunction of science and religion is something I have never really understood. I'm neither a scientist of any type or religious in any way.

The interest in politics comes through my annoyance of politicians and their tendency to pander to low common denominators, use of sound bite speak, lack of depth, and hypocrisy. They should make an effort to communicate in a way that treats their audiences as adults, as intelligent people. I get frustrated by the way politics is enginered to slogans and partisanship.

Which are your least favorite topics covered here?

Dare I say it, Banjos. I'm not very interested in banjos though I like hearing them in music occasionally. Not when they dominate though.

Who is your favorite J-Walk Blog commenter (other than yourself), and why?

Bisbonian. Usually well thought out posts and seems to be in general agreement with me over politics and religion, or at least the comments I read are.

What is your favorite type of music?

No favourite type though I lean towards fairly harsh/raw music that is different - Tom Waits after about 1980, Iggy and the Stooges. I'm not limited to this though. I have 5gb of old blues and jazz MP3s as well. Then there is all the big band jazz, rap, rock, go-go, punk, metal, folk (including a little banjo music), avante garde and other music.

What foods do you absolutely hate?

Porridge. Absolutely loathe it. If anyone has porridge in my house I make them wash and dry the pot and all other implements involved with it and then clean out the sink as soon as possible as I dislike even looking at its remains.

Was there ever a J-Walk post that you found so offensive you temporarily stopping visiting the blog?

Nope. I think I'm pretty hard to offend and, if you'll pardon me from saying this, you post pretty mild stuff really.

Which celebrity would you most like to have a beer with?

Tom Waits

What is the strangest thing you believe?

Believe? Regardless of the fact that I, like most people, use the term "I believe" in conversation I don't think there is anything I "believe" except for mundane stuff like "I believe this stone will fall to the ground if I throw it in the air (unless something intervenes to prevent that from happening)" or "I believe otherwise" when in an argument or discussion. I certainly don't use it in a sense of faith or spirituality as I have no sense of faith or spirituality.

Practical Crucifix

It's called a Bit Cross.

With its combination of symbolical and practical strength, it's hard to think of a situation where this pendant would not have you covered.

The bits sizes are based on actual screwing bits, including an IKEA standard tool - handy for those touch up jobs you never get around to. Though not as hard as ‘real' tool bits, a bit cross can be used for light jobs.

Availability - a bit cross will be available shortly.

Eating Cheap

A blog called 30 Bucks A Week.

This blog is an attempt to document spending $30 a week on groceries for two people living in Brooklyn, NY (yes, $15 each). While we're trying to squeeze all of our weekly home-cooked meals with that $30, we still go out to eat once in a while. New York City has too many amazing restaurants to cut ourselves off completely. It's still unclear what we'll do about cooking for dinner parties…

All the meals featured here are 100% vegetarian, though they will often feature eggs and dairy. We like our cookbooks, but often make some crazy concoctions with whatever we have on hand.

From an entry last month: Bread for Dinner.

I ate a half loaf of bread for dinner last night. It was an accident. But it made for a cheap dinner. 42 cents to be precise...

Tonight's dinner: steamed potatoes from the garden and leeks, apples and cabbage braised with cider vinegar, butter and sea salt. Yum. Enough for four people cost about .50 for the apple and the olive oil.

Todays' lunch: pasta cooked in homemade broth with spinach wilted on top. (about 15 cents a serving if you consider that the broth was made from scraps, the pasta was $1 a box, and the spinach came out of the garden.)

Venn

Four people have sent me this Venn diagram, so it must be something I'd like.

eAlibi

Coming up with an alibi in the internet age: I'm Innocent. Just Check My Status on Facebook.

The message on Rodney Bradford's Facebook page, posted at 11:49 a.m. on Oct. 17, asked where his pancakes were. The words were typed from a computer in his father's apartment in Harlem.

At the time, the sentence, written in street slang, was just another navel-gazing, cryptic Facebook status update - meaningless to anyone besides Mr. Bradford. But when Mr. Bradford, 19, was arrested the next day as a suspect in a robbery at the Farragut Houses in Brooklyn, where he lives, the words took on greater importance. They became his alibi.

His defense lawyer, Robert Reuland, told a Brooklyn assistant district attorney, Lindsay Gerdes, about the Facebook entry, which was made at the time of the robbery. The district attorney subpoenaed Facebook to verify that the words had been typed from a computer at an apartment at 71 West 118th Street in Manhattan, the home of Mr. Bradford's father. When that was confirmed, the charges were dropped.

(Thanks haiku)