Housekeeping

I cleaned up the links. Some of them -- Biased BBC, The Gormogons and Gates of Vienna -- just needed to be redirected. Others had gone dormant for a long time. I deleted most of the dormant links, but left a couple for the sake of nostalgia. 
 

Merry Christmas

From a Roof Top in India

Fixate on the news too much and the World is going to hell in a hand basket. Step back and things are something else altogether. Above, Dub FX featuring CAde & Mahesh Vinayakram in No Rest for the Wicked.  

Found Eyeglasses

Click on any image to enlarge

“When I was young, I used to admire real glasses but my dad was a bit harsh and he never wanted me to have real glasses. That’s the reason I started making the glasses.”

Kenyan artist Cyrus Kabiru on his striking and very odd eyeglasses made from found objects. View more after the jump.

HT: Colossal.

 

Faux Good 'Ol Days Meet Brittany Spears

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester performing Oops ... I Did It Again. Yes, I am beating this Good 'Ol Days theme to death, but I doubt I can get more absurd with it to carry on. Then again, never say never.

More Good 'Ol Days

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Far better, or at least more Good 'Ol Daysish than Toto Coelo singing I Eat Cannibals, are the pictures of these old blackboards. In 1917, while renovating classroom walls, these blackboards were covered over and largely forgotten. They have only recently been rediscovered when new walls were being installed.

To see more pictures of them and read about them at Hyperallergic.

Maybe the Good 'Ol Days weren't so good after all

I Eat Cannibals by Toto Coelo. Hopefully this tune doesn't get stuck in your head.
 

Never Forget

Heaven never defaults. The wicked are sure of their wages, sooner or later.

- Edwin Hubbell Chapin

 

Underground in Berlin

" I also addressed the fish directly in my mind. I am in mortal danger, abandoned by everyone, I told them. You are innocent creatures, just like me. Please intercede for me, you silent fish, when human beings abandon me."

From Marie Jalowicz Simon's Underground in Berlin

Mama, take these guns away from here

Wyclef Jean's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"

I remember playing my guitar in the projects
Playing in the PJ's
A product of the environment
Pour some liquor for those who passed away
I told my mom I'm gonna get up out of the hood
Mama
My dad taught me the American dream, baby
You can be anything that you wanna be
If I did it y'all could do it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Mama, take these guns away from here
Mama, I can't shoot them anymore
Cease fire
I feel a dark cloud coming over
So poor, so dark
It feels like I'm knocking on the heaven's door

To Biggie Smalls and Tupac
Knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
Hip-Hop
To Freaky Tah and Big Heavy
Lost boy
Knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
Yeah
And to the Princess Aaliyah
We're knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
To my brother Big Pun
Terror Squad
We're knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
Oh Lord, Oh Lord

Would someone take these guns away from here
Take these guns from the street, Lord
I can't shoot my brothers anymore
I seen a thug cry
I feel a dark cloud coming over me
Over me
It feels like
It feels like I'm knocking on the heaven's door
So sing along street children

We're knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
And to my daddy that passed away
Rest in peace
Knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
To the God, Fred Jordan, we're
And put the Fugees on
Knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
To my people doing time
We're
Locked up
Knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door

Crips and Bloods, Latin Kings
Please just chill wit the violence
Though even though I know that the bad boy move in silence
I'm asking y'all please chill wit the violence
Said even though I know that the gangsters move in silence
Whoa
We're knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
To my people in the Twin Tower
We're knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
And to my soldiers in the Pentagon
We're knock, knock, knocking on the heaven's door
New York
New York
New York
New York
New York
Mama
To my people in the streets
I'm talking to you now
Please put down your heat
Oh Lord
To my brothers that's on the corner
Oh God
Ay get out quick or you too will be knocking on heaven's door

For Mothers on Mothers Day

Girls Just Want to Have Fun as covered by Busby Marou

Recruiting for War

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For the 20th Century's large wars young men and women were recruited to go to war with stark and aggressive messages. During the winding down of the Cold War, and the peace that followed it, martial recruiting posters became a relic. "Join the Navy and See the World" replaced warnings about the savagery of the Japs and Huns.

On this page, and after the jump, are samples of that old style of recruitment. Sadly, I suspect we'll see its return.

Well, this is different ...

Crazy Train as covered by Camille and Kennerly.

RIP vnjagvet

James Rhoads 1940-2015

Jim was one of the original YARGB's, as we had all gotten familiar with each other via Roger Simon's blog.

RHOADS, James B. James Brinser Rhoads (age 75) died Monday, March 30th, surrounded by loved ones in his Sandy Springs, Georgia home. His death was due to natural causes. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania on March 10th, 1940, Jim devoted his life to his nation, profession, church, and family. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Lehigh University, Jim went on to obtain a Law Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. A member of the ROTC during his college years, Jim next fulfilled his requirements by serving in the United States Army. He proudly served in both the Armored Infantry and Judge Advocate General Divisions. Jim ended his distinguished military career 4 years later with the rank of Captain. He was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam Conflict and was awarded the meritorious service and bronze star medals. Jim then went on to practice Law in the Atlanta area for several firms including Fisher & Phillips and Burr & Forman. He joined Wayne Hyatt in 1974 to form Hyatt & Rhoads, a firm specializing in condominium law. He was rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. He also founded the Benjamin Franklin Legal Foundation, a non-profit public interest law firm organized as a 501(c)(3) public charity. After retiring from law Jim continued to use his superb legal skills to assist veterans at his local VFW post in Dunwoody, Georgia. He was a member of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia where he served as President of the Church Council on several occasions. Pastor Randy Palm described Jim as an "active and dedicated leader of the congregation". A lifetime fan of classical music and opera, Jim also sang in the church choir. Jim is survived by his beloved companion of 47 years, Roberta Schillinger Rhoads, brother Robert Rhoads and sister Mary Ann Hamilton. He and Roberta raised five daughters: Susie Dean, Sara Kitt, Kristen Rhoads, Amy Rhoads-Lowry and Lauren Thompson. Jim also was survived by his five grandchildren: Mackenzie Lowry, Harper Rhoads-McLeod, Noah Saripkin, Jaxon Thompson and Eleanor Dean. He was preceded in death by his Grandson Graham Kitt. Services will be held at 11 a.m, Tuesday, April 7th, at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, 5135 Memorial Dr, Stone Mountain, GA. Burial will be held with family and close friends. Relatives and friends are welcome to visit with the family preceding the service at 10:30 a.m. in the Rock of Ages reception hall. In lieu of flowers the family would like you to send donations to the following organizations: Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, 5135 Memorial Dr, Stone Mountain, GA VFW Post 10822 1548 Mt. Vernon Rd. Dunwoody, GA

The Pieta in part

Click on any image to enlarge

For Easter I was going to post a picture of the Pieta. Instead I'll post an image of a detail from it. Taken in isolation you might not know what it is. It is a confusion that stems from an artifact of scale.

Below, and after the fold, are other details of things natural and man-made. Have a good Easter.