Roller coaster ice cream

The above video is of a cart somewhere in India that sells roller coaster ice cream. It is made by filling a drum with ice and salt and then, as the drum is rotated, covering the outer surface with milk, fruit juices and bits of fresh fruit. Toppings can be added. It is not the most hygienic looking operation, but I imagine the ice cream it produces is a tasty treat. 

These types of carts seem to be popular throughout southwest Asia. Many are motorized, but some, like the one in the video, are hand cranked. My hat is off to the guy who spends all day cranking that thing.  

  

Faceless grief

Memorial Day's cost

But listen. Even that story is made up.

I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth.

Here is the happening-truth. I was once a soldier. There were many bodies, real bodies with real faces, but I was young then and I was afraid to look. And now, twenty years later, I'm left with faceless responsibility and faceless grief. 

― Tim O'Brien

  

Fruit carts

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For some reason, the other day, fruit carts popped into my mind. I have no idea why. The only time I am ever aware of them is during a movie car chase scene, because inevitably a fruit cart will get whacked into during the chase. I guess that there's nothing like flying oranges and apples to add color and excitement to it all. 

At any rate, here is a small sample of fruit carts -- all in their natural, non-cinematic habitat.

Hei-La

Get ready for a cutting the rug weekend with Ayumi.

  

A coal powered motorcycle

I previously posted a video about a fellow who built and then rode a jet powered scooter. Today we have a video about an English gent who has a coal powered steam motorcycle. He gives a very detailed explanation of how it works. I can't say that, even with all the redundant safety valves and features, sitting atop a boiler so I can chug down a street sounds all that appealing to me. I will say that it looks nice.

 

Paintings of fog and mist

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These are paintings of fog and mist. These are difficult subjects to capture because so much of their effect is their humidity and sound amplification. Still, the paintings capture their visual appearance quite nicely.

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Get ready for an offscouring weekend with McDylbot.

 

Making luggage in Vietnam

Above is a visit to a Vietnamese luggage factory. The annoying music at the start doesn't last long. The place looks like a bit of a sweatshop. Then again, in my youth I worked in a couple of factories and they were sweatshops as well. Regardless, I imagine the workers are happy with the money they make.

The luggage they made looked to be on the cheap side. I doubt that they would hold up well.  However, a place called Limefox has them for sale and they list the price at about $21 USD which seems reasonable for what you get.

 

Soldiers smoking cigarettes

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This post was inspired by a video I watched a couple of days ago. It was from the Ukraine War. Three captured Russian soldiers were kneeling, with their hands zip-tied behind their backs. As a small act of kindness, the Ukrainians gave each of the POWs a cigarette to puff on as they worried about their future.

Although these days it is frowned upon, if not outright banned, the image of a soldier relaxing with a cigarette is common. These pictures are from various armies and eras. 

Happy Mother's Day

A Mom trying her best to relax this Mother's Day
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And then one day we decided we were tired of sleeping in and doing whatever we wanted in a clean house, so we had kids. - unknown

  

Yes! We Have No Bananas

Get ready for a vegan's nightmare weekend with Anthony Newley.

 

Civil War foods

During the Civil War food was often a problem. There was a scarcity of some items and so a fair amount of improvisation went into their meals. This video is a good introduction into the problems, and solutions, hungry civil War soldiers faced.

    

George Tooker paintings

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George Tooker was a mid-20th Century American artist. He's best known as a magic realist. It was a time of post-war cookie-cutter housing developments, efficiency experts with their clipboards and stopwatches, and, in large corporations at least, of the feeling of being a cog in a machine. Many of his works deal with the alienation of modern life.

He was not a prolific painter because he worked in tempera and mixed all of his own pigments. This is a very old technique that was supplanted by oil paints in the West, and so his works have a hint of antiquity mixed in with his more modern themes. 

George Tooker self-portrait

Kandumathi

Get ready for a garland draped weekend with Anya.

 

Smuggling oil

The video discusses and explosion aboard the tanker Pablo off the coast of Malaysia. It was empty at the time, although due to poor handling its tanks were full of explosive gases. It was likely involved in a ship-to-ship transfer of a cargo of oil. The ship was sailing out of China, and due to return to China with its new cargo.

The Pablo was part of the dark fleet. These are ships operating without the expected certifications and licensing. They compromise about 10% of the world's tanker fleet and are used to bypass sanctions on Venezuela, Iran and Russia. 

Good information in both videos. The videos are from the YouTube channel What is Going on With Shipping? which covers commercial shipping issues. It is a good resource. It has also been covering the back-and-forth tanker seizures by the U.S. and Iran over the last few weeks.

Happy May Day Comrades!

May Day is upon us again! It is a day that brings joy to the hearts of the workers of the world, socialist cadres, and American college professors while simultaneously striking fear into the hoarders, wreckers and kulaks wherever they may be hiding to do their nefarious deeds!  

This year I ask you to take a break from such May Day pastimes as reading the Little Red Book, engaging in struggle sessions and watching the traditional towing of the T-14 Armata through Red Square to watch the above video!

Last year I mentioned that visiting Rungna People's Pleasure Park was on my May Day bucket list! The above video was done by Yu Mi, who is one of North Korea's top social media influencers! I must admit that I am baffled as to why she does not have an Atlas VPN sponsorship! Somebody in their PR department is dropping the ball!

At any rate, she visits the park, and with her you can view its many wonderous sights and thrilling rides! Have a happy May Day!

 

If I Didn't Care

Get ready for an indifferent weekend with Declan O'Rourke.

 

Chinese snuff bottles

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Snuff is dried and powdered tobacco. In usage a small amount is inhaled through the nose. While Chinese of the Qing dynasty had outlawed smoking tobacco, they considered snuff to be medicinal and it was widely used. Snuff use started with the upper classes, but soon spread to other segments of society. In fact, it became common to offer snuff to others in social settings.

Europeans used snuff boxes, but the Chinese preferred bottles which had a tighter seal and could keep moisture out more effectively. These images are of old Chinese snuff bottles, primarily from the Qing dynasty period. There are more after the jump, and more at Picryl's collection of snuff bottles where I found these images.

Scenes in Samarkand

Above is a video of a stroll through a market in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It is as very old city, around 3,000 years old having been founded in either the 7th or 8th century BC. It sat on the mid-point of the Silk Road, and so received influences from both the East and the West. At times at was very affluent and large.

It is an attractive looking city. In the above market video, I was struck by how well ordered it seemed compared to others we've visited in this walking in cities series. Also, some of the fabrics the women were wearing were quite striking. Immediately below is a walk down some of its streets in what I assumed is the downtown area. They are very well maintained with a lot of greenery. 

The final video is a walk through the Registan Square area. It feautures a number of highly decorated mosques. I think the Soviets rebuilt, or at least refurbished, some of these buildings. It ends with a stroll through some back streets.

A Strange Day

Get ready for a refulgent weekend with Jihyo.