Season's Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah

A Different Christmas Song

Above is a video by Mbuvi, a Kenyan gospel singer. It is a Christmas song.  It revolves around the Kenyan tradition of returning home to family and friends to celebrate Christmas. I figure that, after a month of Jingle Bells in the background, it is a change. Enjoy.

Ghosts of Christmases Past

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“Who, and what are you?” Scrooge demanded. 

“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”  

“Long Past?” inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature.  

“No. Your past.”  

Perhaps, Scrooge could not have told anybody why, if anybody could have asked him; but he had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap; and begged him to be covered.  

“What!” exclaimed the Ghost, “would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give? Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap, and force me through whole trains of years to wear it low upon my brow!”  

Scrooge reverently disclaimed all intention to offend or any knowledge of having wilfully “bonneted” the Spirit at any period of his life. He then made bold to inquire what business brought him there. 

“Your welfare!” said the Ghost.

-from The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

We all have our past Christmases with their own ghosts. Here, and after the fold, are some ghosts of unknown people's Christmases. Whether these ghosts bring welfare or not is another matter altogether.

Flowers Inside of Light Bulbs

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 From the 1930s through the 1970s the Aerolux Light Corporation made a series of novelty light bulbs that featured filaments in the form of tiny sculptures. Along with animals and other subjects, flowers were popular.

View more of these bulbs, including some videos of them, at Colossal.

The Next Nefarious Rooskie Plot

My CIA sources tell me -- and yes, I have unimpeachable spy agency sources so this aint fake news -- they tell me that, after hacking the US election to make Trump President, they now plan on moving on to step two of their Eeeeevil scheme: brainwashing American tweener girls via commie boy bands.

Above is a sample of one of their highly polished and professional boy bands Steklovata, singing their smash hit Novi God. Parents, don't leave your daughters fall under the hypnotic spell of these lads. It's a trap I tells ya, a trap.

Moths & Butterflies Drawn by Naturalists

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 Prior to photography all scientific illustrations were drawn or painted. On the roster of all scientific expeditions was the artist. Here, and below the fold, are some of those old drawings of moths and butterflies. While some of the drawing are just listings of different moths or butterflies, frequently the illustrations show the plants they feed off, and the various stages of the insect's development.

From the Smithsonian Libraries Collection.

Variations on Making Tortillas

Making tortillas in the Mixteca Region, Oaxaca:



Making tortillas in a modern kitchen:



Making tortillas by machine:

Top Secret Military Info Leaked

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 Julian Assange isn't the only one with inside links to leaks. I too have my sources. In fact, my well placed sources have revealed to me the following shocking top secret military news!

With Calexit gaining strength California's decision makers have realized they'll be needing their own military to guard their borders, march in parades, invade Arizona, and what-not. With that in mind they've started producing their own military hardware and are training the cadre of their new army. Above is a picture of a California tank unit practicing blitzkrieg tactics.

By the way... is it my imagination, or is the fellow commanding the tank familiar looking? You can enlarge the image to see him better.

Monsters

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In 1665 Fortunio Liceti published an illustrated edition of his work De Monstris. Supposedly a work exploring deformities in nature, as you can see from the illustrations his monsters were quite fanciful. Not that it really explains his made-up monsters, he explained it as nature being like an artist that worked with what it had. As he said, "It is said that I see the convergence of both Nature and art because one or the other not being able to make what they want, they at least make what they can."

From The Public Domain Review. There are more images below the fold.

The Newest News Cycle

The eight steps of the newest news cycle:

1. - There is an attack, using a gun, knife, car, etc., against multiple people in a public space.
2 - I think to myself, "Crap. The Mohammedans are at it again."
3 - Officials warn me not to jump to conclusions about the nature of the attacker.
4 - The media speculates it may be the work of a right-wing gun nut.
5 - It turns out that the attackers name is Mohamed, Abdul, Faisal, etc.
6 - They are reported to have yelled, "Allahu Akbar" while attacking.
7 - The news media puzzles over what their motives could have been.
8 - My cynicism, disgust and frustration deepen.

Miss Ridgid

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Back in the day, in spaces where men stored tools -- workshops, garages, etc. -- they also hung cheesecake calendars provided by vendors. One of the most classic of those calendars was the Ridgid Tools calendar, featuring the Miss Rigid of the month.

When I was old enough to notice cheesecake, the Miss Ridgids were models (Raquel Welch was a Miss Rigid), but before that they were illustrated. On this page, and below the fold, are some of those older illustrated cheesecake girls. Enjoy.

By the way, as for their current calendar Rigid Tools states, "The 2017 Calendar is not a pin-up style calendar. Instead you’ll find mantras chosen by tradespeople like you and unique artwork designed by tattoo artists and illustrators." Bleh.

Happy Angry Thanksgiving

For those unlucky enough to have political zealots on both sides of the aisle, well ... enjoy them screaming at each other while you munch on your turkey this year. Remember -- patience is a virtue. For those with civil relatives, count that as another thing to be thankful for.

At any rate -- Happy Thanksgiving all.
 

I don't think that's going to work

Below are a couple of quotes pulled from the Washington Post article Keith Ellison, Howard Dean offered as possible DNC chairs as Democrats seek to regroup.

Sanders said the reasons for Clinton’s loss were “fairly obvious” and cited two factors: lower turnout by the Democratic base and the Republican nominee’s far greater appeal to white, working-class voters, which Sanders dubbed “a humiliation for the Democratic Party.”

“White working-class people are deserting the party in droves,” Sanders said.

...

In an interview, Sanders said he is lobbying for (Keith) Ellison (for the position of DNC Party Chairman) and argued that the DNC needs to be reoriented so that it becomes less of an insiders' club “preoccupied” with raising money and more of an advocate for the concerns of the working class.

Really, the Democrats think the working class whites in fly-over country are craving the likes of Keith Ellison to return them to the fold?
 
There is a Scene at the end of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure where the two time-traveling high schoolers have brought back historical figures for the final project of their history class. They are on a stage giving a presentation, part of which is Napoleon standing in front of a table with a map of Europe on it. On the map Napoleon has little toy soldiers arrayed in preparation for the invasion of Russia.

Bill (or was it Ted?) wanders over, looks at it and says, "no offense dude, but I don't think that's going to work."
 
Seems like an appropriate response to Keith Ellison as the Great White Hope.

Lopsided Democracy

Below is an old post of mine, originally put up on July 4th of 2010. In light of the election it seems relevant. Indeed, "People will come together and cry: enough! ". Only it wasn't in fond nostalgia of the wise old elite, instead it was a lot of people who resented being called simpletons for their opinions. Anyway, the election brought this song and post to mind...



Above is the song Dimonkransa sung by Myra Andrade of the Cape Verde Islands. Cape Verde received their independence from Portugal on July 5th, 1975. The liberation movement was led by the socialist African Party of Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). Andrade's father was a member of it, and in fact she was born in Cuba.

Upon independence Cape Verde was a single party government, but in 1990 at a party congress the PAICV approved the introduction of multiparty democracy. In the election that followed the opposition fared well, and Cape Verde has evolved into a stable multi-party democracy.

However, this is not a post about her politics, nor the sort of third world socialism that bubbles through the undeveloped world. It seems to me there is a deeper strata, a bedrock so to speak, which lies under the languid melancholy of her lyrics.

It was said that democracy,
Lopsided democracy,
It was said that democracy
Was like a hidden treasure,
But now that it has been found.
We have all opened our eyes
And each one, relying on his judgment,
Confidently declared that what was round was in fact square,
And went to work, with a great many theories,
To prove that he was right.

(lyrics from the version she sung on her first album Navega)

Andrade is ill at ease with democracy, but for social rather than political reasons. Early in the song she calls it 'lopsided democracy' and as its lyrics unfold her complaint is that each person, not matter how foolish they are (and she clearly thinks many if not most of them are fools), now express a cacophony of opinions and arguments that bury the truth. 

She ends the song singing of English businessman and listing names from Cape Verde's past, some who have been elevated and some who she fears are being forgotten, and expresses distress at this reordering of authority. 

Stripped to its bone, the song is about a lost elite. Andrade is expressing nostalgia for a short-lived one party rule and for an escape from European domination. Of course it is her party that should rule and she now makes her home in Paris. Perhaps it is she that is lopsided, rather than all of the happy fools she mocks?

The time will come when old Náxu’s opinions
Will not be held in higher esteem than those of a babe in arms.
People will come together and cry: enough!    

Americans forget how revolutionary we are. Jefferson's "all men are created equal..." is both intoxicating and destructive. It is a hell of a thing not to have to step into the gutter to clear the side walk for a swaggering aristocrat. Andrade is intimidated by and dismissive of people who have opened their eyes, and each one, relied on their own judgment, but a free man knows better.

As for coming together and crying "enough"? That is exactly what our 4th of July celebrates and we'll have our Gadsden flags mingled with the Stars and Stripes. Happy 4th of July to you all.

Then I awake and look around me

Jerry had a teenage girlfriend too. However, the times being what they were, he ended up marrying her instead of sending text messages. There were consequences for Jerry over that.

There have been consequences for Anthony as well. A hard drive full of more than penis pictures. Emails that most certainly talk about other topics than yoga and wedding plans.  Those other emails must be coming and so a CYA letter is dispatched.

Hopefully, the excuses and evasions will be too little and too late.. Instead of Mary, it will be Billy running down that path. Hey, a fella can dream, can't he?

Railroad trains as progress

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These days trains are mundane things. My encounter with them is when I sit at a crossing watchiing the Juice Train go by.I think little of the technology of them,, instead noticing how the graffiti artists are careful not to paint over logos or the identifying numbers of the cars. It must be an unwritten rule.

At one time trains were new and on the fore front of transportation. They were iconic. As these old railroad posters show,  in their day the trains' modern lines, power and the exotic locations they could carry one to were emphasized.

There are more posters after the fold.

More Housekeeping

The center sidebar with the links in it blew up today, so I am having to rebuild it. I know some people use this site primarily as a link aggregator, so I want to get them back. It is a bit tedious of a process -- I'm going back to the Internet Wayback Machine to look at archived Flare's pages to find what all the links I had were.

They should all be back in a day or two.

An odd competition

Nope, not the debate, although it would qualify. Rather, this post is a video featuring Christina Aguilera vs The Andrews Sisters.

A matter of perspective

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A common genre of internet click-bait is Perfectly Timed Photos. The above example of that genre entertained me because, depending on which photographer you are, it is either perfectly timed or looking completely in the wrong direction altogether.

Well, sometimes you eat the bar, sometimes the bar eats you.

Never Forget

Can I see another's woe, and not be in sorrow too?

Can I see another's grief, and not seek for kind relief?

William Blake

 

Eating birds and drinking snow

Finally, the truth is told. Sheds a whole new light on the election, don't it?

 

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

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“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

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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.

What every man and girl should know

Here is a small collection of vintage coffee ads. Not surprisingly, they mainly show smiling people holding a cup of coffee, but there are variations to the theme. Also, they tend to emphasis the aroma over the taste. There are a few more samples after the jump.

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The Metabolically Challenged

We Will Live Again from Brooklyn Underground Films on Vimeo.

Considering the whole 'Rising from the Dead' vibe this is probably an incredibly inappropriate video for Easter weekend, but man... is this odd or what?
 

Eccentric Stomp

Monday morning, start of the work week blues by Albert Nicholas.

Close encounter with a meteor

Anders Helstrup, a Norwegian skydiver, had a couple of GoPro cameras mounted on his helmet when he did a jump. When he reviewed his video (seen above) he saw something zoom past him as he fell. Slowed down, and studied by a geologist, it appears he caught a meteor whizzing past him at 300ph.

You can read about it in the Universe Today article Norwegian Skydiver Almost Gets Hit by Falling Meteor — and Captures it on Film (via Slashdot).

I wonder how many meteors have almost bonked me and I just haven't been playing close enough attention?
 

Accordion Boogie

Monday morning, start of the work week blues by the Mojo Blues Band.
 

Vintage quakery

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These days for our quakery we have spiritual crystals, aroma therapy and the like -- in the old days I think they were rather more creative. Certainly more entertaining as these old patent medicine ads, and the ones after the jump, demonstrate.

Whatever Lola Wants

Get ready for a possessive weekend with The Gotan Project and Sarah Vaughan. 
 

Superman finds a GoPro

Gee... I wouldn't want anybody to think I'm slacking off in my blogging, so here is one of my beloved GoPro point-of-view videos. Enjoy.
 

From KSC to LAX and beyond

Scott Andrews shot a large number of photographs of the space shuttle Endeavor's last trip from Florida to its resting place in a Los Angeles museum. Odd to see it on a city street. You can read more about the move at Space Shuttle Endeavour Exclusive: A Timelapse of the Final Ride.