Swingin’ The Alphabet

An excerpt from Violent Is The Word for Curly.

My favorite part is at 1:30 when they sing, "Curly is a dope." And then Mr. Fine kicks in with some fine fiddling.

$2 Per Drawing

He must be crazy to make an offer like this. Yirmumah Will Draw Anything for $2.

Remember that kid in the back of the class who would draw anything and usually get sent to detention? Well now he's all grown up kind of. Browse the Satisfied Customer Gallery! - And of course, you can request your own for only $2,

Here's just one example of what you can get for $2: Belching Contest Gone Terribly Wrong.

It's like 1/10 the price charged by Eric F. Myers.

I just requested "banjo vs. bacon." We'll see if he's a match for Eric.

Mrs. Toad’s Necklace

Apparently, Mrs. Toad (Toad's much better half) is doing artsy-craftsy stuff. She sent Pamn a nice rock necklace -- which she wore a lot when we were in Hawaii.

Here's a closer view.

Very nice, Mrs. Toad. Can you make me some cuff links? I have so many unlinked cuffs...

Coconut Tips Wanted

When we were in Hawaii, there was a vacant house next door to the cottage we rented. One day, some people drove up, parked in the driveway and did some surfing. One of the guys, who looked Hawaiian, started climbing a coconut tree (barefooted), and dropped several coconuts to the ground. Then he climbed back down and proceeded to husk the coconuts open on the lava rock. I watched him for a while and it looked like hard work.

The next morning, there was a fresh husked coconut on our porch railing.

I brought it home (it passed the HI Agriculture inspection, and TSA), and we still haven't cracked it open.

So let's talk about coconuts...

What's the best way to get it open? Hammer? Saw? Do you drink the coconut milk? What are your favorite things to do with coconut?

Advances In Pencil Sharpeners

Have you ever wondered when the pencil sharpener got streamlined? It was in 1934: Pencil Sharpener is Streamlined.

This stream-lined pencil sharpener is a novel addition to any office, home, or workroom. It was designed by Raymond Loewy, well-known designer of automobiles and office equipment.

Even though the sharpener is much smaller than conventional units, the inventor asserts it is just as efficient and even easier to use. The stream-lined chromium-plated finish with tear-drop design head adds a dash of modernism to the tiny device.

This new sharpener can be fastened to any table top or to the wall. Shavings are readily removed from the base.

I think the last time I sharpened a pencil was around 1985.

Strange Hurricane Photo

Photo that accompanies the MSNBC article titled Hurricane Dolly hits near South Padre Island.

Andre Nicoli walks on Gulf Boulevard as Hurricane Dolly bears down on South Padre Island, Texas, on Wednesday.

From what I can tell, she has a plastic grocery bag on her head, she's using another plastic bag (with a URL printed on it) as a raincoat, and she's carrying a football in a little purple bucket.

DIY Wonder Woman Outfit

For knitters: How to make a Wonder Woman Costume.

I started knitting this Wonder Woman costume to wear to the San Diego Comic-Con in July (2008), but escalated production when my friend decided to throw a costume birthday party for me at the end of June. I made up my own pattern for the bodysuit embellished with star and eagle motifs, wristbands and headband. It took me about 6 weeks, finished the night before the party! I'm happy with the results. Hope that you think that it's fun too!

Technical data:

Knit on US4 circular needles in Elann Esprit (red, white, and blue) and Cascade Fixation (yellow).

Follow the instructions, and you'll look like this:

Highview Episcopal Church

This looks like a good Church: Highview Episcopal Church of Christ Ascension.

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This is just a reminder that the church will be having its annual Save a Nonbeliever Day on Saturday, July 26th.

Please remember that as good Christians, it is our duty to convert even those who might otherwise scorn, humiliate or even physically assault us.

That being said, I ask that everyone remember last year's "incident" with the local chamber of commerce.

While we the staff at Highview Episcopal respect the sentiment behind some of our congregation's actions, it is ILLEGAL in the eyes of the law - if not God - to spike a person's drink with sleeping pills, restrain him or her, and attempt conversion against his or her will. Accordingly, we ask that members obey ALL state and federal laws in requesting the presence of a friend or neighbor.

On a related note, last Sunday's donations came up short of our weekly goal. Thus, meeting court-mandated restitution requires the canceling of Sunday School classes until further notice.

The pastor, Emmanuel Wildwind Moonjava, is shown here.

Stacked Tables

Something you don't see too often: Stacked Picnic Tables.

Something else you don't see too often: People dumb enough to sit inside of such a structure:

Product Placement On The News

In Las Vegas: TV news program tries product placement as revenue source.

Two cups of McDonald's iced coffee (BUY!) sit on the Fox 5 TV news desk, a punch-you-in-the-face product placement (BUY!) to chase down your morning news.

They've been on the Las Vegas station set for about two weeks, following the lead of a few TV stations across the country, and they're still looking every bit as frosty and tantalizing (BUY!) as they were the first day you laid your eyes on them.

But wait, here's the best part: They're not real. Fake coffee on the real news, two plastic cups permanently filled with some kind of bogus drink. The anchors aren't even supposed to acknowledge them, McDonald's reps explain. That's part of their genius, my little lambs! They get into your mind without you knowing it. So they just sit there, two logo-emblazoned plastic cups, percolating into the psyche. Made-to-scale models that weigh something like seven pounds each - refreshing, and bottom-line boosting!

Astute viewers will notice that they have the drinks, but they never drink them. Therefore, it must be some pretty raunchy stuff.

It's important to note that they have some scruples:

The cups are put out only after 7 a.m., when the hard news gives way to light lifestyle news.

Images Of Missing Images

Collected by Martjin Engelbregt. A gallery of images used to depict missing images.

Here's one:

Winning Wars

From the LRC Blog: McCain's Mantra.

"I know how to win wars," McKill told an audience of 200 GOP hacks in Baltimore last night. Here's McKill's secret formula:

1. Fly an airplane several miles in the sky dropping incendiary bombs on civilians;
2. Get shot down;
3. Spend the rest of the war in prison.

And by the way, we LOST that war.

Real Estate Photos

A collection of poorly chosen photos from real estate listings: It's Lovely! I'll Take It.

This photo captured a dead goldfish floating in a kitchen aquarium.

This house is in Chicago, and is listed for $239,900.

(via Cynical-C Blog)

Shirley’s World

What's Shirley McClain doing these days? Selling stuff. Here's her catalog for physical, mental, and spiritual wellness: Shirley's World.

How about a Chakra Sky Ring?

Sky Rings symbolize the connection to the Divine, the Universe while at the same time grounding the wearer with a natural stone that enhances the energy of the corresponding chakra.

These are a significant fashion statement! But... They are also energetically enhanced through technology to promote a feeling of well being. All of my Chakra Sky Jewelry has been enhanced with breakthrough technology that can help energize and awaken the chakras.

Only $286 -- if you're a member of Shirley's World.

Note: Not suitable for use as finger picks.

CBS Hearts McCain

CBS is doing its part to hide the fact that old man McCain is completely unfit to be president: CBS edits McCain gaffe from interview, provides fake answer for viewers to cover for McCain.

This one is hard to even explain, it's so bizarre. McCain, looking just awful on camera, made yet another major gaffe about national security policy, on CBS. So what did Katie Couric do? She aired the interview with McCain, aired the question that led to the gaffe, and then inserted an "answer" to the question that wasn't the real gaffe-filled answer - it was something McCain said in a total other part of the interview. It's absolutely astounding how far the corporate media is willing to go in order to defend John McCain.

With a video that shows what McCain actually said, along with the CBS edits.