Friday Ephemera
Best friend. (h/t, Damian) || One battery, two magnets. || At last, a mobile bowling alley. || As WWII-zombie-Nazi movies go, this one isn’t bad. || “I hope you find a way to abolish criminals, too.” || Grey Sun. || Radical solution. || Steep sprinting. || A sidelined history of slavery. || Cactus encounter of note. || Today’s word is neoteny. || How computers work. || That’s exactly how I would’ve done it. || The thrill of the Western Electric Model 500. (h/t, Elephants Gerald) || Moment of triumph. || The pale devil and his works, a small compilation. (h/t, Amalama) || The 20 most expensive penthouses in New York. (h/t, Things) || And finally, encouragingly, via Perry, some ladies ponder the issues of the day.
Today’s word is neoteny.
Iconic. Curated.
The 20 most expensive penthouses in New York.
Oh, right, also upscale, when what is claimed is quality, rather than tacky, glitzy, glaring.
Radical solution.
Now, I’m not the most devout church-going Christian you’ll ever find, but that act strikes me as being flat-out blasphemous. All three of those adults should be flogged.
(Sorry, but I just can’t come up with any sort of witty comment for this one…)
Thanks to Elephants Gerald for finding our old phone from when I was in grade school. And memorializing it for its 15 minutes of fame.
That girl on the bike is really something
The girl on the bike is impressive I guess. I mean, I could do it too but my wife won’t let me move all the furniture out of the ballroom.
I’m seeing comments online of STOP THE COUNT!!!!!
Hmmm.
Come to think of it, I actually haven’t seen a lot of the old Hammer films yet.
That’s exactly how I would’ve done it.
Skills! *watches it again*
Morning, all.
Man with two helmets.
What?
As WWII-zombie-Nazi movies go, this one isn’t bad.
Didn’t have you down as a zombie movie guy.
Didn’t have you down as a zombie movie guy.
I’m not, not at all. But that’s sort of my point. I was pleasingly surprised by it. It’s not a pinnacle of cinema, you understand, but I did find it entertaining. Which is something I didn’t expect.
The thrill of the Western Electric Model 500
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHNEzndgiFI
And finally, encouragingly, via Perry, some ladies ponder the issues of the day.
I wasn’t encouraged.
I wasn’t encouraged.
No refunds. Credit note only.
The pale devil and his works, a small compilation. (h/t, Amalama)
It remains a mystery to the left, both here and in the US, as to why they don’t get a majority of white votes.
The most hilarious claim in those clips, to me, is that ‘ White people don’t have any culture!’. (laughs in Shakespeare)
The most hilarious claim in those clips, to me, is that ‘White people don’t have any culture!’
Somewhat related.
Now imagine the mind of a Salon reader, someone immersed in such things.
I’ll just leave this here, for no reason whatsoever.
Somewhat related.
Also Somewhat related. Warning: might make some people angry.
On a lighter note; I’m not sure if you’ve posted This before David, but it makes me happy. (p.s: white people don’t have a culture…)
That’s exactly how I would’ve done it.
Wow, that’s beautiful. What a perfect palette cleanser for this Friday morning.
—Old Man Marveling at the Wonder of Youth
Wow, that’s beautiful.
[ From the stockroom, a crashing sound. Muffled swearing ensues. ]
Would anyone like to buy a bicycle? Barely used.
White people don’t have any culture!
An infant hardly notices the womb.
Thanks to Elephants Gerald for finding our old phone from when I was in grade school.
Several of those rotary dial phones were still in service at Kennedy Space Center when I left in 1989. Unless they broke, no reason to replace them. It would not surprise me if many were still in service into the 21st century.
It would not surprise me if many were still in service into the 21st century.
I’d assumed they’d all been swept into oblivion by the arrival of devices such as this magnificent creature, which came in various shades of beige and, I think, maroon. I vaguely remember thinking it looked terribly futuristic, like a prop from Space: 1999.
Actual LOL
https://twitter.com/Andrew_Adonis/status/1324649343870099458
Now, I’m not the most devout church-going Christian you’ll ever find, but that act strikes me as being flat-out blasphemous. All three of those adults should be flogged.
This made the rounds on Weird Catholic Twitter (TM) a while ago. The photo was staged as a joke after the real baptism — baptism with a squirt gun is illicit and almost certainly invalid.
Probably worth flogging them for letting the photo get out into the wild, though.
Several of those rotary dial phones were still in service at Kennedy Space Center when I left in 1989.
I seem to recall reading a story years ago about a guy who made his fortune by buying a large supply of old handsets for pennies each and selling them in eastern Europe for dollars per unit. I think this happened in the 90’s.
An infant hardly notices the womb.
Now that there’s a brilliant observation/comeback. Consider it stolen.
(And Will, thanks for the back-story on the baptism pic. Though I’m still angered that they’d turn a baptism into a prank. But then perhaps it’s just me…)
I’d assumed they’d all been swept into oblivion by the arrival of devices such as this magnificent creature,
Heh. That looks decidedly “across the pond” to me (almost said “European” but caught myself…see? I try…). Though we had similar trim-line and such phones over here, they were never as sturdy as those old Western Electric models. You could kill a fairly large sized man with one of those. The trim-line ones not so much. What? It’s just something that was once an option, if necessary. But it seems we lost that, long ago…Plus it’s something to keep my mind off of the current insanity. Honestly. Anything helps right now.
On the latter part, I am desperately looking for suggestions. The last couple of nights we got interested in the 2018 Amazon series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. The first two episodes were engrossing, then the third took this weird turn that I had to explain to my wife. Not that either of us liked my PC-based explanation. For many reasons.
Sir Sean isn’t even cold….
Read it, and weep, Here
Read it, and weep
From the linked piece:
So I’m not sure what the hoo-hah is about. Besides the misleading clickbait bit, I mean.
That said, while I generally enjoy Bond films, the trailer for the latest offering hasn’t fuelled my enthusiasm. Not sure why, just not feeling it. As the switched-on happening people like to say.
This is an example of this.
Or maybe not.
Not sure why, just not feeling it.
I know that feel.
I managed to get through about 1/2 of Spectre and I just lost interest; you should feel better after watching a Bond film and I just don’t want an introspctive, drunken, loser James Bond.
you should feel better after watching a Bond film
That.
The best Bond film in the last decade?
Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy.
Prove me wrong.
Read it, and weep
The movie is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga.
A name to be conjured with. A mis-typed vowel in the last name could cause untold shenanigans
I dunno about “untold”. I’d reckon such a conjuring would get told far and wide…
I’m sure The Big Bus (1976) had a bowling alley.
“Actual LOL”
From the thread:
That’s CNN, Russian Collusion Conspiracy HQ, he’s talking about.
This line might have been vaguely plausible if the “mainstream” media hadn’t spent the last four years calling Trump a Russian stooge and Kavanaugh a rapist on absolutely no credible evidence whatsoever. You can only get away with dismissing accusations with solid evidence as “fringe conspiracy theories” if you haven’t been frantically indulging utter balderdash pushed by cranks and criminals yourself.
How much closer to real guillotines in the streets?
How much closer to real guillotines in the streets?
Time to take up knitting perhaps?
The interview piece clarifies that Nomi is the “secret agent who inherits the 007 title while Bond himself is in exile.”
So I’m not sure what the hoo-hah is about.
Quite.
If the producers were attempting to proclaim Ooooh, she’s going to be James Bond!!! . . . Ah, no.
Rather, of the quite fictional 00 section, agent #7 is merely the seventh of a pool of mebbe three to fifteen—depending on story and time—and someone‘s going to be using the number . . .
Now for quality of movie, no bloody idea on that one . . . . “Spectre” was quite extremely well put together and done, up to the very first jump cut. For everything after that first five or so minutes, it was very well produced and executed utterly and unambiguously unworkable crap, all the way to the closing credits . . .
So we will have to see . . . .
White people don’t have any culture!
An infant hardly notices the womb.
And somehow, at the same time: “White privilege is like the air we breathe. We don’t really know it’s around us unless it’s unavailable.”
https://www.bustle.com/articles/149452-what-is-white-privilege-here-are-9-everyday-examples
King Tut’s Mysterious Black Dagger Was Truly out of This World.
Ok internet, bring on the Ancient Aliens memes.
Elon Musk’s ancient April Fools’ gag about ‘Tesla Tequila’ made real in lightning-shaped bottle.
From the comments:
There’s definitely a touch of Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler in Elon.
Heh.
A snapshot of the political culture.
Time to take up knitting perhaps?
Only if it’s woke knitting.
Been thinking about these: The 20 most expensive penthouses in New York
Unlike lefties, seeing all that wealth never inspired envy nor hatred in me in all my previous days. My previous days. Right now, while still no envy, I really would like to see it all burn. 70% of those fuckers are lawyer and related scum who got all that crap off of our labor. The other 30% lacked the balls to say or do anything about the other 70%, not because they were outnumbered but because they were too comfortable. While I doubt helicopters are in their future, if antifa got sufficiently out of control and burned those bastards out, I wouldn’t shed a tear. These s um sit high in their penthouses and look down on antifa scum harassing jews and such and do nothing.
Everyone hates lawyers until they need one.
If it weren’t for lawyers we wouldn’t need (most of) them.
[ Quietly hides breakables. ]
Lovely people, spreading love, lovingly:
https://legalinsurrection.com/2020/11/aoc-jen-rubin-wapo-and-former-buttigieg-staffers-launch-effort-to-purge-trump-supporters-from-public-life/
Cary Joji Fukunaga sounds like the un-naturally busty Japanese agent assigned to assist Bond or, more likely, Austin Powers.
the un-naturally busty Japanese agent assigned to assist Bond
What?
… un-naturally busty…
Are you suggesting fake boobs, or very large real boobs?
p.s. I’m not obsessed with boobs.
p.p.s. Honestly, I’m not.
What?
Everyone hates lawyers until they need one.
My attorney buddy likes to say this, and you’re both wrong. Imagine if disputes were settled by murderous gladiators instead. That you want your gladiator to win doesn’t mean you like them, or are happy hiring one, and wouldn’t lessen the relief when you’re finally rid of gladiators.
Imagine if disputes were settled by murderous gladiators instead.
They were called berserks – the real ones, not the “berserkers” of fantasy and bad history.
They were known to be assholes.
Now that you’ve made me consider it, the reasons why weren’t fundamentally different.
Gladiators don’t get to make their own rules. Nor the rules everyone else has to live by. I have watch the legal system draw out an HOA case about where someone planted an f’n tree over a dozen years. It was sickening. And all because of little rules and customs and such that go on beyond the purview of many of the most aware citizens. Little time bombs they drop. Seemingly (heh…seemingly) intentionally vague wording of contracts, the abuse of “usual and customary” to create laws that no one ever endorsed in the light of voters.
Also, amongst “conservatives” the greatest concentration of elitist NeverTrumpers is in the legal profession. They’re grifters. Rats. And this is why we are where we are today. An unelected class of leeches sucking the life, liberty, and property out of each of us. But they do it (mostly) slowly. Like The Fed dilutes the money supply.
Cringe … Cringe everywhere … A vast wave of cringe.
Cringe as far as the eye can see and in every direction, cringe.
Tech support scammer dialed random number and Australian Police’s cybercrime squad answered
From the comments
For 2019-20, Tate galleries received £36.7 million from the UK taxpayer and made a further £38 million from merchandising and other sales; about £40 million came from fundraising activities and donations.
The Tate galleries’ mission statement:
Our mission is to increase the public’s enjoyment and understanding of British art from the sixteenth century to the present day and of international modern and contemporary art.
The Tate galleries’ Tate Kids activities for children includes:
QUIZ: WHICH ART ACTIVIST ARE YOU?
Question 2 is Do you work well with other people? for which two of the four options are I love my group of fellow activists! and Yes, especially if everyone is equal.
Other questions include completing the statement Your best skill is, which includes the option Making people aware of the injustices in the world, What would you consider a productive day?, including the option If I’ve made one person aware of the importance of climate change, and In one word, you’d describe yourself as: with the option Lover – you know that can’t get rid of hate with more hate.
Another section is:
MAKE A PROTEST POSTER
In the latter, children’s attention is drawn to Patrick Brill who goes by the Pseudonym “Bob and Roberta Smith”. This makes sense since Bob and Roberta’s art consists of making sloganed posters such as the presumably unironic I Should be in Charge (2011) and The Creation of Tate Modern Has Been as Important to British Life as the National Health Service(2013).
Not really a long or particularly slow march through the institutions so much as a victory lap with fanfare.
Not really a long or particularly slow march through the institutions so much as a victory lap with fanfare.
They’re largely unopposed and they have your wallet. A certain hubris is to be expected.
BLM and Biden supporters show just how solid their coalition against
White peopleTrump Is.This isn’t sinister at all:
via Battle Beagle
What could possibly go wrong when Biden has just promised to unify not divide?
However in the unlikely event that the called for non violent confrontations get a bit boisterous there may be the occasional whiff of grapeshot. There’s rather a lot of grapeshot along with the expertise and means of deploying it properly in much of the USA.
Google “privapath diagnostics covid test statistics” and you will see this…
See that? 100% accurate results. We truly live in an age of wonders.
David, did you mention a while back that you were on Parlor? Many people whom i know have just today mentioned it but the interface seems…mmm…iffy…
David, did you mention a while back that you were on Parlor?
Parler. I did, yes. Though I only use it to link to the blog, and I haven’t found it to be exactly humming with activity.
Well that might/could change with this election given that three people that i know who don’t know each other inside of an hour or so mentioned it. I just joined but having authentication problems between different devices. May have been because wife and I were trying to register same account at nearly the same time on different devices but it also hasn’t updated certain information twixt devices. Not sure what I think of it. Will see. Curious if anyone else here has used it much.
Curious if anyone else here has used it much.
Well, as I said, I basically post links to blog posts and that’s it, so my own (low) level of engagement may help explain the (low) level of engagement I see. But having the same kind of conversations on two different platforms, in parallel, just seemed a recipe for endless repetition (and madness).
Well that might/could change with this election
I have to say, it’s interesting how self-styled progressives appear largely unconcerned by the possibility that the election may have been subject to an unprecedented level of, shall we say, irregularities. Despite what that may entail for the country’s future.
But hey-ho.
I’m guessing you didn’t get “real world verified”? I’m hoping that’s an option that isn’t impacting my account verifications.
Now up to six people I know who have joined in the last 24 hours and mentioned it…
I’m guessing you didn’t get “real world verified”?
I have no idea what that is, so, er, no.
Something I stumbled upon in the profile area. Asks for a driver license or passport and photo. Kind of a bluecheckmark type thing, I’m guessing. Seemed a bit too much to ask one to volunteer but the verification glitches made me wonder if it was required. After recommending it now, I suspect I will soon be getting questions from my less technical friends. My God, what have I done…
WTP
It’s probably just a once in a lifetime thing.
Yeah. I’m letting the days go by.
Yeah. I’m letting the days go by.
…let the water hold me down…
Same as it ever was
The best Bond film in the last decade?
Assuming you can get past the ludicrous premise that Richard Grieco is a teenager, the 1991 If Looks Could Kill tries so hard to parody Bond films that it ends up aping them so well as to be a damned good homage instead.
The best Bond film in the last decade?
The last three Mission: Impossible films have been entertaining. More so than, say, Spectre.
I hadn’t been gripped by the earlier films – they were things I’d watched distractedly on TV. But Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation and Fallout drew me to the cinema and were great fun.
[ Edited. ]
Always respect the media.