Distraction 186: Pirate Radio aka The Boat That Rocked

This trailer kind of sucks because it makes it sound as though the movie is about some American dude saving rock n roll in the UK, and it's not.   That said, this movie is wonderful! 


Depending on where you are in the world, it's either called "Pirate Radio" or "The Boat That Rocked."   Rhys Darby steals the show and is second only to the soundtrack.

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Distraction 185: Wuthering Heights

I'm currently reading "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, that lady painted up there.  I'm about 1/3 of the way into it & this is my favorite passage so far:

"He took a seat opposite Catherine, who kept her gaze fixed on him as if she feared he would vanish were she to remove it.  He did not raise his to her often:  a quick glance now and then sufficed; but it flashed back, each time more confidently, the undisguised delight he drank from hers.  They were too much absorbed in their mutual joy to suffer embarrassment."

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Distraction 184: Tom Jones - "It's Not Unusual"

We watched "Mars Attacks" on the 4th of July and this song has been stuck in my head ever since.






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Distraction 183: The Revival of Authentic Flips, Fizzes, Ades, Yips, Floats, Malts, Rickeys and Cows

Yesterday's New York Times featured an article about some new olde time soda fountains popping up across the country.  Though none were mentioned, there has to be one somewhere around the Bay Area.  Anyone?  Anyone?

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Distraction 182: Macaque Self-Portraits

Macaque borrows photographer's camera to take self-portraits


"To capture the perfect wildlife image, you usually have to be in exactly the right place at precisely the right time.


But in this instance, David Slater wasn’t there at all and he still got a result.


Visiting a national park in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, award-winning photographer Mr Slater left his camera unattended for a while.


It soon attracted the attention of an inquisitive female from a local group of crested black macaque monkeys, known for their intelligence and dexterity.


Fascinated by her reflection in the lens, she then somehow managed to start the camera. The upshot: A splendid self-portrait."


Read & see more here.


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Distraction 180: The World's First Tickling Spa

Make your reservations now!  The world's first tickling spa is now open in Spain.  I'm not sure if it's meant to relax or torture.

As I was imagining what the place must be like, Tex Avery's "Shhhh!" popped into mind; about a poor jittery man just trying to relax, despite the crazy folk in the room next door.  It's based off of "The Laughing Record #1," originally from Okeh records, but can also be found on the cd "Only in America" from Arf! Arf! Productions.

Distraction 179: Panique au Village

Panique au Village (A Town Called Panic) is a GREAT and very silly stop-motion animation film currently available streaming via Netflix.  




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Distraction 178: Sulic & Hauser

It's not often that the terms "bad ass" and "celloists" are used together in the same sentence, but Sulic & Hauser are some BAD ASS CELLOISTS!!!






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Distraction 177: Green With Envy Trailer [HD]

Ooooh, can't wait!  Can't wait!  Can't wait!






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Distraction 175: Oldest Art in Americas

The first teaser I saw about this said something like "The oldest art in America has been found in Florida" to which I was wondering "which America; north, south, both?!"


Leave it to National Geographic to properly specify it by simply adding an 's'; the above image is the oldest art in Americas found to date.


Read more here.




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Distraction 171: Breakfast at Tiffany's

I've read the book and heard the song, but have yet to see the movie!  Below are some of my favorite lines from the book.

"Oh, you get used to anything," I said, annoyed with myself, for actually I was proud of the place.

"I don't.  I'll never get used to anything.  Anybody that does, they might as well be dead."

"It may be normal, darling; but I'd rather be natural."

"Never love a wild thing, Mr. Bell," Holly advised him.  "That was Doc's mistake.  He was always lugging home wild things...  But you can't give your heart to a wild thing:  the more you do, the stronger they get.  Until they're strong enough to run into the woods.  Or fly into a tree.  Then a taller tree.  Then the sky.  That's how you'll end up, Mr. Bell.  If you let yourself love a wild thing.  You'll end up looking at the sky...  Good luck:  and believe me dearest Doc-  it's better to look at the sky than live there.  Such an empty place; so vague.  Just a country where thunder goes and things disappear."

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Distraction 166: Geocaching

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide & seek containers with other participants.


Owings Memorial Grove (aka Redwood Gulch), off Hwy 1 is the location of a geocache spot... but I didn't know that until after I spent the afternoon climbing the waterfall.  Regardless of missing out on treasure, there was a ton of great nature-made monkey bars to play on.




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Distraction 157: Stump - "Charlton Heston"

23 years later and it's still one of the strangest, most wonderful songs ever.


"Lights!  Camel!  Action!"




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Distraction 156: Walt Whitman

"This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body." 

- Walt Whitman, 1819-1892

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Distraction 155: Bilateral Gynandromorph Cardinal

This bird is clawing its beak (since it can't thumb its nose) at standard bird convention.  It's male on one side and female on the other.  

Interesting and very similar to stereotypical human behavior:

"While observing the cardinal, he noticed that male cardinals would try to chase it out of their territory as soon as they saw it.  Females however, were not bothered by it."

Read more here.

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Distraction 153: Egypt!

Egypt has been in the news a lot lately.  Sure, there's all that talk of revolution, but some cool archaeological junk is going on as well.

Egyptian Pyramids Found by Infra-red Satellite Images

Pyramid-Exploring Robot Reveals Hidden Hieroglyphs

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Distraction 151: Mathematical Sculpture

These mathematically derived sculptures were on display at Maker Faire last week.  They were created using a 3-d printer.

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Distraction 149: Maker Faire Bay Area

Maker Faire is this weekend!  As long as the world does't end before I can drive up there, I'll be there!  

Does anyone know what local time today's Rapture is supposed to start?  According the billboard down the street, the Bible guarantees it... So what do I get if it doesn't get here on time?  Free pizza?  Anything?

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Distraction 148: Adorable Things David Rees's Puppy Has Said

I've ben a fan of David Rees ever since he started Get Your War On back in late 2001-ish.  I remember sending him $20 via Paypal just because and he thanked me for the ability to sew patches on the elbows of his suitcoat, as any self-respecting intellectual would.  

Distraction 147: Noodling

That thing is just nasty and there is no way I'd stick my hands down its gullet so as I could catch 'em 'n eat 'em!

That said, god love those nutty enough to noodle (the hobby/skill/craft/art of catching fish by yes, jamming your hands down their throats.)  Check out this article.  Apparently, the po-po down in Texas don't look too kindly upon people noodling thar fishes!

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