Friday Ephemera
Autocorrect of note. (h/t, dicentra) || Unwanted caller. || Oh, Waitrose, never change. || Why blue is rare in nature. || 8-bit cat. || Abandoned castles. || “What a cute little chicken.” || How to take a photo of a stealth bomber flying over the Rose Bowl, from above. || Flying bathtub. Well, a hovering bathtub, but still. || The Bourne Identity (1988), starring… er, Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. (h/t, Elephants Gerald) || Japanese people attempt to eat Marmite. || The future is now. || Pretty fish. || Action figures. || This. || They do this better than you do. (h/t, Obnoxio) || The thrill of Bismuth. || Cardboard beings. || The Great Hedge of India. || Night light. || Norwegian train-driver cam. || A holiday memory to cherish. || And finally, painstakingly, marbles, magnets and music.
We Aussies do that Marmite trick with Vegemite also…the most common form it takes is when we give it to Americans, who – thinking it’s Nutella or a similar chocolate spread – take a huge spoonful of it.
Here’s some Japanese eating Vegemite.
Heh, autocorrect. Horse ovaries should always be served with Rocky Mountain oysters. Everyone knows that.
Ironing Water
Back in the day, we called that “Distilled Water” …
sheesh… someone or another born every minute …
And distilled water generally means having the impurities being removed. I think adding flavoring would defeat the purpose.
(Oh, and today I’m able to comment via Firefox. No idea why this keeps changing.)
The thrill of bismuth
Those are stunning. Many of them bring to mind the detailing of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House, as featured in Blade Runner and elsewhere on screen. If only more of the “artists” featured here could create things of beauty like those miniature sculptures, as opposed to the tedious naked dancing or vaginal knitting that’s so often the focus these days.
Will never get old, those Hollywood types trying to tell the rest of the hoi polloi that we should all be like them.
http://catallaxyfiles.com/2018/01/10/lessons-in-morality-from-hollywood/
Flying bathtub.
The future is now.
Also, some years ago scientists engineered a goat that produces spider silk in its milk. No word on whether it was radioactive.
Sublime
Ironing Water
I like that it’s not only scented ironing water – because apparently that’s a thing – but that scented ironing water is deemed part of the Waitrose ‘essential’ line, i.e., a basic, an everyday staple. “Let’s see… Carton of milk, sliced loaf, some perfumed steam…”
And finally, painstakingly, marbles, magnets and music.
Someone spent LOTS of time working that out.
#channelyourOCD
We Aussies do that Marmite trick with Vegemite also…the most common form it takes is when we give it to Americans, who – thinking it’s Nutella or a similar chocolate spread – take a huge spoonful of it.
The chap does seem to be weighting the scales a little, in that the amount of Marmite in play is a tad generous. A more sparing amount, spread thinly on toast, might prompt fewer convulsions and looks of sickening horror.
Flying bathtub
Five-year-old me thought the FF’s modular flying bathtub was the coolest thing ever.
Oh come on.
Though I’m still trying to work out how each module could be steered in three dimensions with only two chunky levers.
Though I’m still trying to work out how each module could be steered in three dimensions with only two chunky levers.
After all, you’ve got the comic book right there, if there were any complications with the operation, you’d see that . . . .
Fire escape of note.
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2018/01/fire-escape-ice-tower-chicago/
Autocorrect of note. (h/t, dicentra)
They should be the mane course.
(This would also explain the jar of pickled eggs.)
Though I’m still trying to work out how each module could be steered in three dimensions with only two chunky levers.
Basically like a flying Segway.
For the more bathtub minded…
[ Slides small bag of dry-roasted nuts to Farnsworth M Muldoon. ]
Thanks, I was a pit peckish, and I hate pickled eggs, even with the added lint.
Here is a short video of the Hiller Flying Platform above.
Note that aside from flying well there are a couple of major drawbacks, one being that in general one wants to make oneself a small target, and this violates that rule, and at about 1:50, every time he fires the rifle, the “kinesthetics” of the recoil appear make the pilot stop and adjust something. Given that the picture above has him firing an M-1 carbine (as it also appears the case in the video) that has little recoil, firing a Garand (still in service at the time) would have been a bit more adventurous, not that the thing would be a very stable gun platform to begin with.
@Farnsworth
Is that a recoilless rifle to the left of the passenger? “Recoilless” or not, I can’t imagine that thing not invoking Newton’s Third Law in spades upon sending a projectile down range.
“A rare picture of an 8-bit cat from the 90s”
Yeah – ha, ha! – because by the ’90s, everything was 16-bit!
*snigger*
What?
Why are you all looking at me like that?
“And finally, painstakingly, marbles, magnets and music.”
And that’s why we love the Internet.
Genosse Sherman,
Yep, that was the intended armament but it looks like a mock up in that photo, though the Army claims it was “was surprisingly effective as a weapons platform,” which would be a surprise to me too as back then there were no stabilization systems such as on an Abrams.
So as you can see, we have “had” flying cars since the 1950’s or so. But thanks to the hard work of not just myself but my numerous dedicated co-workers, we have kept this monstrous abomination from flying over your homes and offices for over 50 years now. And we’d feel very confident in our abilities to keep this madness at bay for years to come if it wasn’t for those damn kids and their meddling with drones. Pray for us as we enter this latest phase of our work. We are your only hope.
A holiday memory to cherish.
#ThatTimeWeAllNearlyDiedLOL
Yeah – ha, ha! – because by the ’90s, everything was 16-bit!
Of course. Because in the 8-bit 80’s it was well known by the greatest minds of the industry that 640K software is all the memory anybody would ever need on a computer. Failed to keep that one in the bag.
though the Army claims it was “was surprisingly effective as a weapons platform,”
Heh, this will teach me to read from the bottom up…
So it was intended to use the recoilless rifle for the Davy Crockett nuke, so “tack driving” accuracy wasn’t really an issue.
oh come on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW50f4QBDEo
the Army claims it was “was surprisingly effective as a weapons platform,”
Heh. If the Army actually said that, it certainly would explain any number of billion dollar boondoggles. Effective where? But of course it was used. I believe that. Just that it’s all hush-hush. Because it really failed and that quote is just a CIA cover story for its miserable failure. Sabotage, or so I hear (wink-wink, nudge-nudge).
I still want a W.A.S.P.. T’would make my morning commute much more fun:-).
Basically like a flying Segway.
Much as the Fantasticar blew my five-year-old mind, it occurs to older, wiser me that the vehicle’s impressive speed and manoeuvrability, combined with the lack of windscreen, might play havoc with Susan Storm’s otherwise immaculate hair-do.
Among crime-fighting foursomes, these things matter.
…might play havoc with Susan Storm’s otherwise immaculate hair-do.
As impeccably coiffed as she may be, it looks more like the lack of windscreen has given her a case of permanent Resting Bitch Face.
I am also guessing the whole thing is made of titanium down to the last nut and bolt as Fire Boy or whatever his name is hasn’t turned the whole thing into slag.
I am also guessing the whole thing is made of titanium
I’m now slightly irritated by the fact I’ve no idea what it’s supposed to be made of.
Also…got no answer last week but I presume my question was missed on a walked-on thread…Can anyone recommend the new Churchill movie? Was there much PC stuff in it? I don’t have a problem with warts-and-all but WC is one of the few historical figures that I respect, warts and all. Don’t want to waste my time on a propaganda piece and I wasn’t too crazy about what I saw in the trailer…though I have heard some positives…but from mildly suspicious (rah-rah) sources.
WTP:
https://legalinsurrection.com/2018/01/movie-review-darkest-hour/
Flying bathtub
Can anyone recommend the new Churchill movie?
It was pretty good. I hear that they made some changes for dramatic reasons, but nothing PC. I’ll refrain from saying more lest I spoil any scenes.
Another in the series “Numbers are Racist”.
I’m now slightly irritated by the fact I’ve no idea what it’s supposed to be made of.
Steel, as we learned from our betters regarding 9-11, fire can’t melt steel, so it must be steel. Steel and Nomex. I wonder if they had to take any asbestos out.
The future is now.
“Please do not look away from The Nozzle.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8yQhXDquII
“Numbers are Racist”:
Okay, now they’re just taking the piss.
We’re having a honking big snowstorm and the toilet brush just snapped in half. Damn global warming.
When I get out I’m buying 2 brushes. We had a spare of everything else, oddly enough.
We’re having a honking big snowstorm and the toilet brush just snapped in half.
I suspect there may be a story there. But I’m… not sure I should ask.
Nameless one of note https://twitter.com/natureisscary/status/949477410948440064
David, it is known that toilet brushes never broke before global warming.
Ia ia seal fhtagn!
Be worried – Don’t Happy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbTxfN8d2CI
“I can sense your hostility.“
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1pwnb0NpQw
Think of the 8-bit cat from the cat’s point of view. The world is fractured, discontinuous, things seem to jump from one place to another with the slightest move of the cat’s head. It seems impossible to pin down exactly where something is and whether it is moving. Are we looking at Heisenberg’s Cat?
You’re thinking outside of the box?
Scenes from the Apocalypse.
Elephants G, that was one incredible little white boy. But I can’t help wondering what happens when he hits puberty.
But I can’t help wondering what happens when he hits puberty.
His voice just got better.
Oh…and here reprise of the original song.
2018 is going to suck harder than 2017 in SJW land.
Eating tofu is cultural appropriation, of vegans and vegetarians if you only eat tofu because you like it (though why anyone would remains a mystery).
Honestly, it is past time we need to ship all these twits with made up problems to Venezuela.
I like tofu. Goes with everything. I will continue to appropriate it whenever it’s on sale.
If you don’t like tofu, you may be leaving it too watery. Rinse it off good, set it on a plate in the sink, put a saucer on top, stack a couple of heavy cans on top of the saucer, then let the sculpture sit for an hour or so.
Set the saucer aside, Take your drippy tofu off the plate, wrap in a whole bunch of paper towels, and have whoever opens tight jar lids in your family squeeze hard. Now all that water is pressed and squeezed out, leaving room for your tofu to soak up the flavor of your recipe.
Nameless one of note
‘Thulhu wants you, this we know,
For the voices tell us so,
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are food in Cthulhu’s sight.
Yes, ‘Thulhu wants you.
Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn.
Yes, ‘Thulhu wants you.
The voices tell us so.
She [the vegan] said: ‘Tofu is strictly for vegans vegetarians [sic].
Millions of Chinese, Japanese & Southeast Asians would like a word or two with this bint.
When being a victim is hip and cool, people will find ways to make themselves seem like victims.
I love Brendan dMac’s voice…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbcSVxP4cZk
But I also love a man in uniform (or in this case, out of one…)
Go Navy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOmPmzHGmTY&t=39s
“Millions of Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asians…”
Plus one none-of-the-above. How dare she appropriate our tofu!
A perfect venue for a night out:
http://twitter.com/bkmagazine/status/950577968706973696
I am reminded of a contemporary description of WIndows 9x: a 32 bit extension and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprossessor, written by a 2 bit company that can’t stand 1 bit of competition.
Enough of this Brendan fellow, here is Christone “Kingfish” Ingram at the ripe old age of 14 singing, actually playing the guitar, and leading the band. Something a little more recent.
Go Navy!!
I have to tell you, that video isn’t exactly covering in the Navy with glory, or, speaking as a former member of the senior service, dispelling any stereotypes about our sister service, we (and I am guessing the Marines) may have had.
Well, it wasn’t quite as bad as https://youtu.be/pNFF1ZTl1oY
Well, it wasn’t quite as bad as…
In the old days that would have required seppuku for all involved.
“might play havoc with Susan Storm’s otherwise immaculate hair-do” she could put a force field around her head.
“Five-year-old me thought the FF’s modular flying bathtub was the coolest thing ever.”
It was great and when 5 it made perfect sense but I thought the FF’s air jet cycle was even cooler. Farnsworth probably means tungsten with a melting point near 6000°C vs titanium at 1600°C. Related (to being 5) : while you mentioned that you felt the humor of Thor Ragnorak fell flat I saw it in a theater on a Saturday full of small children and they laughed a lot.
From Why blue is rare in nature:
“Creating some blue pigment out of the blue should have required inventing new chemistry and there was no way to just add that recipe to their genes. It was much easier for evolution to change the shape of their bodies ever so slightly at the microscopic level and create blue using physics instead. They solved a biology problem with engineering. ”
Didn’t they solve a biology problem with biology? One of my pet peeves is people ascribing agency to evolution as if evolution has a master plan (while sitting on a cloud with a lightning bolt in hand)
Farnsworth probably means tungsten with a melting point near 6000°C vs titanium at 1600°C.
No I meant titanium which does indeed have a melting point of 3,036 (vs. 6192°F not C for tungsten), which is why much of the SR-71 is made of it, and tungsten is far too brittle.
Regardless, there is no way Blazing Lad or whatever his name is could get that hot as lava only maxes at around 2000°F, otherwise he’d be melting the earth everywhere he walks unless he has tungsten shoes…
One of my pet peeves is people ascribing agency to evolution as if evolution has a master plan
Yes, it’s a small mistake with quite big implications. I find myself chafing at astronomy programmes that refer to such-and-such a planet or moon as being “alive,” with a hint of sensationalism, when what they mean is geologically active.
Ah! I’m not the only one.