They say that a lot in movies, but they never seem to actually call back! The list of clips used in this supercut is at Slackstory. Link -via The Daily What
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PeteyHendrix wrote an updated version of the classic comedy routine called "Who's On First?" with a twist -now the scene contains the names of real Major League baseball players. You can look them up! Anyone familiar with the original Abbot & Costello version will find themselves reading this in their voices. Link -via Metafilter
Once again, it's time for our collaboration with the always amusing What Is It? Blog! Do you know what the object in this picture is?
Place your guess in the comment section below. One guess per comment, please, though you can enter as many as you'd like. Post no URLs or weblinks, as doing so will forfeit your entry. Two winners: the first correct guess and the funniest (albeit ultimately wrong) guess will each win a T-shirt from the NeatoShop.
Please write your T-shirt selection alongside your guess. If you don't include a selection, you forfeit the prize, okay? May we suggest the Science T-Shirt, Funny T-Shirt and Artist-Designed T-Shirts?
Check for more clues at the What Is It? Blog. Good luck!
Update: this scary-looking tool is a slater's axe. It's also called a sax, saxe, slate cleaver, slate cutters' trimmer, slate trimmer, and zax. It was used to trim and punch holes in roofing slate. Anker was the first with the right answer, and so wins a t-shirt from the NeatoShop! The prize for the funniest answer goes to marcintosh, who said, "It’s a Panel Trowel. It’s used for spreading white grout in the gaps between comic book panels. That’s why it’s shaped like a word balloon." That one deserves t-shirt, too! Thanks to everyone who played along. See the answers to all this week's mystery items now at the What Is It? blog.
This valentine was given to a second grade teacher. If it's real, it is definitely in the running for the best valentine of 2012. Link
After World War II, collecting whimsical ceramic dishes, accessories, and figurines became very popular in the U.S. -and for a while they were all made in America. Some designers became more popular than others, and their works were in high demand. Collectors Weekly talks to Donald-Brian Johnson, author of the book Postwar Pop: Memorabilia of the Mid-20th Century about some of those designers, who were mostly named Betty.
These ceramic works from the 1940s and '50s are regaining popularity, but the original American-made designs are not so easy to find. Link -Thanks, Ben!
(Image credit: John Petzold)
“Betty Cleminson’s pieces were whimsical, but also useful,” says Johnson. “A lot of them had cute sayings on them that Betty wrote. She made string holders, pie birds, wall pockets, and other things you’d use around the house. Her razor-blade bank was a popular one, as was the girl with freckles that looked like a head vase. When I first saw it, I thought it was a mug, except it didn’t have a handle. Turns out you were supposed to put a dish scrubber in it.”
With ceramic figurines, the biggest sellers were usually the pairs. “People put them on end tables on either side of a couch, or on night tables at either side of a bed,” says Johnson. “There was just more of a market for pairs.”
Ceramic Arts Studio made the most of this trend by making its pairs as both regular figurines and salt-and-pepper shakers. That way, they could appeal to multiple audiences. “The unlikeliest figurines were sometimes made into salt-and-pepper shakers,” says Johnson. “One Betty Harrington design paired a ‘Fire Man’ and ‘Fire Woman’, each around 11 inches tall, that were artistic representations of what fire would look like if it assumed a human form. They had human faces, but their clothing and such were all rendered as flames. They’re wonderful figurines, but it’s difficult to imagine using them as salt-and-pepper shakers.”
These ceramic works from the 1940s and '50s are regaining popularity, but the original American-made designs are not so easy to find. Link -Thanks, Ben!
(Image credit: John Petzold)
Researchers at the University of Manitoba are working on a robot that plays hockey. They called it Jennifer, after player Jennifer Botterill. The robot was built by the Korean company Robotis, and the university has modified it and is working on its hockey and skating skills. As far as George Carlin's three activities of hockey, Jennifer does pretty well with a puck, she could use some work on her skating, but can she fight? The project team hopes to get Jennifer into the the DARwin-op Humanoid Application Challenge in May. Link -via BroBible
There are eleven, count them, eleven puppies in this litter. Eleven. Ah-ah-ah! It looks as if they have imprinted on the guy in the bathrobe. -via Buzzfeed
A preschooler in Raeford, North Carolina, was given a school cafeteria lunch when a state inspector deemed her sack lunch inadequate by USDA nutritional standards. The 4-year-old girl ate three chicken nuggets from the cafeteria meal.
Now, you may think that apple juice, potato chips, and a banana would count as at least two fruits or vegetables, but it appears to be a matter of interpretation. Jani Kozlowski of the state's Division of Child Development said there was nothing wrong with the bagged lunch, and the parent should not have been charged for the cafeteria meal. She hinted that the school may need more "technical assistance," meaning training. Link -via reddit
(Image credit: Flickr user Jeffrey Beall)
The girl’s turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the interpretation of the agent who was inspecting all lunch boxes in her More at Four classroom that day.
The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home.
When home-packed lunches do not include all of the required items, child care providers must supplement them with the missing ones.
The girl’s mother — who said she wishes to remain anonymous to protect her daughter from retaliation — said she received a note from the school stating that students who did not bring a “healthy lunch” would be offered the missing portions, which could result in a fee from the cafeteria, in her case $1.25.
Now, you may think that apple juice, potato chips, and a banana would count as at least two fruits or vegetables, but it appears to be a matter of interpretation. Jani Kozlowski of the state's Division of Child Development said there was nothing wrong with the bagged lunch, and the parent should not have been charged for the cafeteria meal. She hinted that the school may need more "technical assistance," meaning training. Link -via reddit
(Image credit: Flickr user Jeffrey Beall)
You've seen time-lapse videos of the night sky here before, but this one is particularly beautiful, awe-inspiring, and soothing. It's even more impressive in full-screen mode. Randy Halverson shot the scenes in South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, and Wisconsin. You have to get way out beyond the light pollution to see the stars this way! The music was specially composed for the project by Bear McCreary, who does the music for the TV shows The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, and more. You can learn more about the video at Halverson's website. Link -via Geeks Are Sexy
See also: Bad Astronomy's post about the astronomical events in the video. Link
See also: Bad Astronomy's post about the astronomical events in the video. Link
Today's Google Doodle is a video Valentine story of how a guy learns the way to a girl's heart. Music by Tony Bennett.
Neatorama presents a guest post from actor, comedian, and voiceover artist Eddie Deezen. Visit Eddie at his website.
The Monkees were a Beatles-inspired TV pop group consisting of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith. For two seasons (1966-1968) the band starred in a very entertaining, creative, and ground-breaking TV series, based mainly on the Beatles' hit movie A Hard Day's Night, and featuring the band's zany comedy and some excellent songs.
The genesis of Head, which was to be the one and only film made by The Monkees, was a weekend in early 1968, spent in Ojai, California, in which the four Monkees, plus Bob Rafelson and then B-movie actor Jack Nicholson, turned on a tape recorder and randomly took turns verbally tossing ideas into it. These "ideas" were to become the basis and script for Head.
The ill-fated movie got off on the wrong foot from the first day of filming on February 11, 1968. A rock-bottom budget of $750,000 was scraped together to finance Head (during production, the film had the working title Changes).
The four Monkees wanted a writing credit for the ideas they'd contributed to the script, but producers Rafelson and Bert Schneider denied them their request. This caused an upset resulting in three of the four group members not showing up on the set for the first day of shooting. Only Peter Tork was present, as Davy, Micky, and Mike staged their revolt and stayed home. The three did show up the next day, but the damage was done. The "three Monkee revolt" severely damaged the working relationship (and friendship) between the group and the producers.
The semi-hostile relationship was characterized by Rafelson and Schneider playing cutting edge albums loudly on the set and saying things like "Now that's really rock and roll!," in order to bait the Monkees about their pop, bubblegum-style music and image.
The cast of Head was quite eclectic and included Annette Funicello (just two years from her last "beach party" film), boxer Sonny Liston, singer Frank Zappa, a young Terri Garr, Green Bay Packer linebacker Ray Nitschke, and the Radio City Rockettes, plus Mike Nesmith's wife and Davy Jones' wife (both in uncredited cameos). Veteran actor Victor Mature signed on, too, after reading the script, which he admittedly did not understand at all: "All I know is, it made me laugh." Mature's character in Head was "the Big Victor." This was reportedly a jab at RCA Victor, the company that released the Monkees' records and who owned and aired the TV show The Monkees. Even Jack Nicholson and friend Dennis Hopper made brief cameos. But even this mixed group of talented people could not save Head.
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The Monkees were a Beatles-inspired TV pop group consisting of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith. For two seasons (1966-1968) the band starred in a very entertaining, creative, and ground-breaking TV series, based mainly on the Beatles' hit movie A Hard Day's Night, and featuring the band's zany comedy and some excellent songs.
The genesis of Head, which was to be the one and only film made by The Monkees, was a weekend in early 1968, spent in Ojai, California, in which the four Monkees, plus Bob Rafelson and then B-movie actor Jack Nicholson, turned on a tape recorder and randomly took turns verbally tossing ideas into it. These "ideas" were to become the basis and script for Head.
The ill-fated movie got off on the wrong foot from the first day of filming on February 11, 1968. A rock-bottom budget of $750,000 was scraped together to finance Head (during production, the film had the working title Changes).
The four Monkees wanted a writing credit for the ideas they'd contributed to the script, but producers Rafelson and Bert Schneider denied them their request. This caused an upset resulting in three of the four group members not showing up on the set for the first day of shooting. Only Peter Tork was present, as Davy, Micky, and Mike staged their revolt and stayed home. The three did show up the next day, but the damage was done. The "three Monkee revolt" severely damaged the working relationship (and friendship) between the group and the producers.
The semi-hostile relationship was characterized by Rafelson and Schneider playing cutting edge albums loudly on the set and saying things like "Now that's really rock and roll!," in order to bait the Monkees about their pop, bubblegum-style music and image.
The cast of Head was quite eclectic and included Annette Funicello (just two years from her last "beach party" film), boxer Sonny Liston, singer Frank Zappa, a young Terri Garr, Green Bay Packer linebacker Ray Nitschke, and the Radio City Rockettes, plus Mike Nesmith's wife and Davy Jones' wife (both in uncredited cameos). Veteran actor Victor Mature signed on, too, after reading the script, which he admittedly did not understand at all: "All I know is, it made me laugh." Mature's character in Head was "the Big Victor." This was reportedly a jab at RCA Victor, the company that released the Monkees' records and who owned and aired the TV show The Monkees. Even Jack Nicholson and friend Dennis Hopper made brief cameos. But even this mixed group of talented people could not save Head.
This blogger is trying to find the town of Tecuci, Romania, under the snow! For some reason, the Google translation renders the town's name as Tecumseh. There are more pictures of the huge snowfall at the site Criserb. Link -via Buzzfeed
Johnny Barnes is one of the most popular citizens of Bermuda. The 88-year-old spends six hours a day greeting everyone. Watch this short film about him if you'd like a dose of happiness for yourself. From Matt Morris Films. Link -via Metafilter
The best way to deal with not having a sweetheart on Valentine's Day is to have a sense of humor about it. If you're at all familiar with the "forever alone" meme, you know that it's all in fun, and nothing is forever. With that in mind, Ranker has collected the 40 best images about how those who are "forever alone" deal with the most romantic of holidays. Link
History is full of stories of grand gestures or sacrifices people made for love. And sometimes it worked out just fine; other stories are tragic. But they still inspire us, sometimes hundreds of years later. For example, President William McKinley’s wife, Ida, suffered from seizures and general ill health.
Read all ten of these stories at Smithsonian magazine. Link
But when McKinley took office in 1897, he didn’t hide Ida from view. Instead, defying the protocol of the day, he insisted that his wife be seated beside him at state dinners, so he could help if a seizure struck, or cover her face with a hankerchief to ward off an impending attack.
And when President McKinley was fatally shot in 1901, his thoughts were of fragile Ida, whispering to his secretary: “My wife—be careful…how you tell her.”
Read all ten of these stories at Smithsonian magazine. Link
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