Dr. Professor Yamoto's Dept. of Grievances

Milton Bradley is my ace.

2010-04-13T22:39:00.001-07:00

Jonathan Lee Riches

2010-04-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Lee Riches is one of the coolest and stupidest prisoners ever incarcerated. Instead of wasting his time working out, reading books or making friends with other inmates, Riches has spent his last several years in jail suing some of the world's most famous people for absolutely no reason whatsoever.Riches, who was convicted of wire fraud in 2006, has filed thousands of lawsuits in federal

Rappin' Rodney

2009-12-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

It's very likely that Rodney Dangerfield was the coolest guy to ever live...

"Le Nez"

2009-12-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

Check out this great animated short by Alexander Alexeieff based on the story "The Nose" by Nikolai Gogol.

North By Northwest Title Sequence

2009-12-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

I saw this the other night for the first time in a while. I had forgotten how cool the opening sequence is. Once you see it you realize how often it is borrowed from...

The Nameless One Hits the Web!

2009-12-16T21:26:00.001-08:00

Turns out the internets are good for something after all. The complete works of HP Lovecraft are on line. Here. All of them. For real. Go technology!

Nobokov on book jacket design

2009-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Check out this video of Vladimir Nobokov sharing his favorite covers of "Lolita" while puttering around his study in his bathrobe. Yeah!

A Tribute to the Wilhelm Scream

2009-12-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

The scream that is embedded in our very genetic structure by now. Oddly enough, though, they left out The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The Wilhelm Scream is used when an elf is thrown from the top of the wall at the battle for Helm's Deep. *adjusts glasses*

Phil Hartman

2009-12-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

I fully understand that missing someone you've never met is weird, perhaps kind of creepy, but damn it I miss Phil Hartman.

Simplicissimus

2009-12-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Simplicissimus was a German satirical political magazine that boasted one of the most impressive collections of staff illustrators and designers ever assembled at one publication. The list of contributors is a who's who of turn of the century German writers and artists including but not limited to: George Grosz, Hermann Hesse, Alfred Kubin, Heinrich Kley, James Ensor etc. etc. The magazine went

Max Klinger

2009-12-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Recently I had the good fortune to see a collection of amazing etchings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Of the collection Max Klinger's "Paraphrases About the Finding of a Glove" was a big highlight. The series consists of ten etchings that are all based on the artist's real life experience of finding a woman's glove at a roller rink. Apparently Klinger found the lost glove,

Movies movies movies

2009-12-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Looking for interesting updates for your netflix queue? Check out ilovehotdogs.net for awesome stills from lots of great films ranging from the classic to the cultish to the down right weird. I know there are a bunch of movies on there that I really need to see. A couple of examples of the screenshots, can you name them all?

Going West

2009-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

Crikey! This is an unbelievably cool video for the New Zealand Book Council, an equally cool organization dedicated to promoting reading in New Zealand. Good on ya'!

Do you know what this is?

2009-11-25T10:46:00.000-08:00

That's right. It's a mug, woven of crispy bacon filled with melted cheese. If there is a heaven I imagine this is involved in some way..

Jay Mohr Gives Awesome Tracy Morgan Impression, Anecdote

2009-11-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

It's a few minutes long, but it's incredible. PCP is smoked, shirts are removed, waiters punched. Tracy Morgan is my hero.UPDATE: I almost forgot, then at the very end he goes into a dead-on Colin Quinn. I forget that Jay Mohr can be really funny.

A Cruise Down Memory Lane

2009-11-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

Guy Mariano from the Mouse video. You gotta love this. Great skating and great music...

The Folio Society

2009-11-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

I always find it to sound like an over reaction when people speak of "the death of print". Sure with the interwebs, the digitizing of newspapers and the rising popularity of products like "Kindle" it feels sometimes like the printed word is being edged out, but I don't see how real books could ever become passe. As objects they are immensely satisfying; to me just the weight, the smell, the

New York Post: Genuine Class part II

2009-11-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

As my esteemed colleague has pointed out the New York Post is a shining beacon of journalistic integrity, a true national treasure. For those of you who don't live in New York and aren't able to enjoy the wacky headlines the Post specializes in, here are just a few examples of the Post's unique brand of subtle, highbrow editorials...Ok, the newspaper is a total rag with absolutely nothing to

The New York Post: Genuine Class..

2009-11-18T09:40:00.001-08:00

It's subtle, but if you look closely, you can see where they mention the impending trial for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. You probably just glossed right over it though. Take a second look.

R. Crumb gets biblical...

2009-11-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

About a month ago Robert Crumb released a new comic that I am quite excited to read, an illustrated version of...The Book of Genesis?The Big Guy UpstairsThat's right, the comic world's most famous misanthropic grouch is tackling religion in a fully illustrated version of The Old Testament's story of creation. And why not? Sounds like God in the Old Testament was one hell of grouch too. It looks

Howdy Y'all!

2009-11-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

Ever wish you could talk like a crusty old 1840's prospector? Me too! Here is a list of slang from the Old West to get us started towards our goal of being genuine, grizzled frontier folk!To DadburnFunction: verbDefinition: to curseEtymology: ; "Dad” is a substitute for “God” in turn-of-the-century Southern U.S. vernacular. “Godburn” certainly sounds like Old-Testament-style divine retribution;

Poster Re-Do!

2009-11-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

UK designer Olly Moss does some pretty cool Saul Bass style movie poster revamps. Like all good design these are simple and smart...P.S. I hope to do a proper Saul Bass post soon...

Claire Morgan

2009-11-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

I spent a LONG time on Claire Morgan's site looking at her unbelievably awesome installations.Unfortunately it looks like she only shows in Europe. I would kill to see these things in real life...

Lars von Trier's Antichrist

2009-11-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a really amazing poster for the recent hilarious romp "Antichrist", out now in a slummy dive theater near you. Click here for a larger version. I got to finally see it last night, and as far as I can tell, I was really impressed/scared/unsettled/confused. Take your pick. It meanders, but Lars von Trier is definitely saying something with it, but what that is I'm not entirely sure, and

Skate or Die (in a fiery ball of glory)

2009-11-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

Whether you're a fan of skateboarding or not, you gotta love the intro to Girl/Lakai's "Fully Flared". I'm something of an old curmudgeon when it comes to skate videos, it's hard for me to really enjoy most skating filmed after the year 2000, but "Fully Flared" has a lot of good ol' fashioned street shredding and for the most part isn't too new fangled. There's not too many slo-mo tricks or wacky

Carl Sagan Day

2009-11-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

Saturday November 7, 2009 would have been Carl Sagan's 75th birthday and in celebration Broward University is hosting the 1st annual Carl Sagan Day. Sagan, who died of cancer in 1996, was best known for his amazing "Cosmos" series on PBS, his many books (The Pale Blue Dot, Contact, The Demon Haunted World, etc) and his tireless championing of science, research and education. What really

"The North American Indian"

2009-11-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

Photographer and fellow Seattleite Edward S. Curtis embarked in 1907 on an ambitious project, "The North American Indian." It was an ethnological encyclopedia/photo album of over 80 Native American tribes cataloging each group's history, language and religious observances. The project lasted over twenty years with Curtis taking almost 50,000 photographs. Some controversy remains over the extent

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

Night on Bald Mountain

2009-10-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

More Disney Halloween stuff. This one is the grandaddy of them all...

Ol' Ichabod Crane

2009-10-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

Disney's version of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow used to scare the CRAP out of me when I was a kid but I loved it. Still do...And here's a musical number being crooned by none other than Bing Crosby (a great choice for a kid's movie). Sure it's a bit dated but the animation is incredible, look at how much personality Ichabod shows without using words.

The Tell Tale Heart

2009-10-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome animated version of Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart." It's from 1953, was made by a British animation studio and was the first animated film to receive an X rating in the UK. Jam!

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

2009-10-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

To continue the seasonal theme I thought I'd take a look at what is widely regarded as the first horror film, Robert Weine's "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". Filmed in Germany in 1920 the story centers around the nefarious Dr. Caligari who, under the guise of a traveling hypnotist, and with the help of his somnambulist assistant Cesare, roam the German countryside committing murder.The story is

Max Ernst gets spooky

2009-10-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

Max Ernst's Dadaist/Surrealist collages are rarely horrific, more unsettling and creepy. They remind me vaguely of Lovecraft's writing.

Harry Clarke illustrates Poe

2009-10-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

Let the Halloween-centric posts continue! Just a few of Harry Clarke's fantastically eerie depictions of some of Edgar Allan Poe's best stories. Clarke has the perfect blend of art nouveau and horror...(click the images to get all the gory details)The Murders in the Rue MorgueThe Premature BurialThe Masque of the Red DeathThe Fall of the House of UsherThe Black Cat The Cask of AmantilladoLigeaMs.

For the fierce.

2009-10-14T19:50:00.001-07:00

Firstly,And then,Because that is how it goes.Notice who is walking with Rubin in the Jay-Z video, I never noticed it but it is none other than Prince Vince. Hard like Rottweiler.

Japanese manhole covers

2009-10-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

It must be nice to live in a country were design is taken seriously. In Japan everything is well thought out and given a touch of artistry, right down to the gutters. Apparently every neighborhood in every city has specific manhole covers to highlight land marks, historical events and local customs. A sizable community of "drainspotters" has sprung up to document this unlikely venue for art.

Face Smash!

2009-10-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

If last Sunday's complete and utter destruction of the Jaguars is the end result, Owen Schmitt needs to do this every week. Furthermore, I propose we institute full blown self-flagellation ceremonies (players AND fans) before Seahawks games. Blood offerings to the Football Gods to ensure our victory. We've tried our hand at legitimate athleticism, now we need to go back to the ancient ways..

The Large Hadron Fucking Collider

2009-10-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is some wild shit. The New York Times ran a fascinating article today about the terrifyingly powerful and mysterious Large Hadron Collider, the largest particle accelerator ever built, right near Geneva, Switzerland. Particle accelerators, for the uninitiated, fling protons around massive circular tubes at ridiculous speeds, smashing them into each other at the other end. The eggheads then

Lotte Reiniger

2009-10-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Lotte Reiniger was a pioneer of animation. Born in Germany in 1899 she created dozens of silhouette stop-motion films, paving the way artistically and technologically for the likes of Walt Disney. Her movies are heavily atmospheric, a little creepy and very beautiful. Take a gander...The Adventures of Prince AchmedHansel and Gretel

The Saturn Hexagon

2009-10-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Interesting stuff...

It's always Halloween in Japan

2009-10-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

"He seemed so normal"I'm a huge fan of Ukiyo-e master Taiso Yoshitoshi. His woodblock prints are unmatched in their dynamic, comic book-like sense of movement, action and story telling (you can tell he is a clear influence on modern comic artists, namely Frank Miller). For the most part his subject matter dealt with Japanese epics, Kabuki theatre and poetry, but the guy also had a real love of

Animals with Lightsabers

2009-10-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Tracy Morgan's "Me-Cards"

2009-10-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

Tracy Morgan has Hallmark in a chokehold. Introducing Tracy Morgan's line of greeting cards, in celebration of his upcoming memoir, I Am The New Black, which stands a pretty good chance of being hilarious.Check out the rest of the cards here! There's one for every occasion!

Adam Wainwright is kinda a punk.

2009-10-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

Ah, the MLB Baseball playoffs. This is my favorite time of the year to be sure, and with the drama of the postseason comes all the requisite bull-roar and tom-foolery of a sport where 162 (and in the case of the Minnesota Twins, 163) hard played games puts a team in a unique position to be eliminated from the whole deal in 3 meager games. We won't go into detail over the absurdity of the best of

Mr. Poe Gets A Funeral

2009-10-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

One of America's most famous and most well loved authors is finally getting a proper funeral. Edgar Allan Poe died 160 years ago this Sunday after being found in the streets of Baltimore bedraggled, broke and raving mad. At the time of his death his cousin, Nielson Poe, neglected to tell anyone of the writer's passing and as a result Edgar Allan Poe's funeral was attended by only 10 people and

Just a reminder.

2009-10-09T00:34:00.001-07:00

Jack Kirby is King.

The Octopus: Nature's Bravest Warrior..

2009-10-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

This is a very brief video of the Indonesian Coconut Octopus. When threatened, the octopus will bravely grab any nearby materials (such as shells or sunken coconuts) and...hide inside of them. Over time, this noble fellow discovered that instead of actually having to go through the trouble of finding nearby submerged coconuts, he could just make his malleable body look like a submerged coconut,

Tiny Piglets

2009-10-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

Adorable tiny pigs have taken the place of the ridiculous accessory dog trend spearheaded by Paris Hilton’s gross-looking Chihuahua, “Tinkerbell” in the early 2000s, according to a recent article in the UK’s Daily Mail. Though it generally makes a lot more sense NOT to carry an animal around in your purse or pocket, if you are lonely or bored and really feel like you need to

Where The Wild Things Disappoint You Slightly

2009-10-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Preface: This quick review was also sent over to Aintitcool News, because they've posted other movie-related rants I've sent in. They may or may not post it, who knows. Yes, I am a traitor to the Department of Grievances, and no, I don't care too much. Now lets get this party started!I attended a super special sneak preview advanced screening of Where the Wild Things Are last night, hosted by

I thought this was America!

2009-10-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Check out this fascinating interactive map of book bans and challenges across America. And here is a list of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000. The list is full of classic children's literature that would be criminal to deprive kids of. Books like: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", "The Witches", "A Wrinkle In Time", "To Kill A Mockingbird", "A Light In The Attic", "The

"My love belongs to Mommy" (click on photos to enlarge)

2009-10-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Spider Kills Bird

2009-10-03T09:28:00.001-07:00

The Golden Orb spider is not only a velvet glove (see textile post below), it is also an iron fist. Here is a picture of a Golden Orb killing a bird.

Insect Art

2009-10-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

The Golden Orb spider from Madagascar can spin silk that is 5-6 times stronger than steel and the cloth below is the first hand-woven textile in the world made completely from spider silk. All that to say that if it didn’t cost half a million dollars to make you could probably jump up and down on it and it wouldn’t break.

The Coolest Dog in the World

2009-10-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

Werner Herzog

2009-10-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Werner Herzog released a book earlier this year called "Conquest of the Useless; Reflections on the Making of Fitzcarraldo" and it sounds really interesting. But of course it is, it's written by the most interesting person ever. As the title suggests it is an account of the unbelievably arduous filming of "Fitzcarraldo". Here are a few excerpts from the book (which is largely a compilation of

Yoink!

2009-10-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Kool G Rap - On the Run

2009-10-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite hip-hop videos of all time. Lil Wayne is good, but Kool G Rap holds the title of Best Rapper Alive, it is a known scientific fact.Early 90's New York RAP. I don't know if there's anything better.

It's October already!?

2009-10-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

What the hell happened to the last month? It seems like it was September for about a week, now we've flashed forward to spooky ol' October. Ah well, I guess it is time to start thinking up cheap Halloween costumes again. Here are a couple ideas for some do it yourself get-ups courtesy of Utagawa Toyokuni, all guaranteed to make you look like you are completely insane. Here we have an owl (which

I could totally do this if I wanted to...

2009-09-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

I just don't feel like doing it right now...

Gluttonous Chocolate Luxury for Middle Eastern Princes

2009-09-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

The world’s most expensive dessert is called the “Frrozen Haute Chocolate” (That’s “frozen” with an extra “r”) and it costs $25,000. Invented by Serendipity 3 owner Stephen Bruce in 2007, the extravagant chocolate sundae includes a combination of 28 cocoas—many of them exotic, 5 grams of edible 23-karat gold, gold-covered whipped cream, and a side of Knipschildt Chocolatier’s

Picture Parade!

2009-09-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Words to live by...

2009-09-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is from what is widely regarded as the best example of Film Noir in movie history, "The Third Man". Directed by Carol Reed and with an amazing screenplay by Graham Greene (though this little speech was actually written by Orson Welles himself).

Friday Afternoon Cartoons

2009-09-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

I guess it was never really considered a Disney "classic" but as a wee lad I loved Robin Hood more than anything, and this clip reminds me why. Roger Miller doing the soundtrack... Upon reflection, it may have been A bad thing that as a kid my favorite movie was all about running from the cops...Also, the Russian and French versions are quite good...

The Best Website There Ever Could Be.

2009-09-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

Bacon Today is an online bacon-centric periodical that tackles all of the hard hitting topics that bacon lovers need to be informed of. The tireless journalistic professionals at Bacon Today are dedicated to answering the tough questions. Questions like: "How can I creativley prepare my bacon?", "How can I add bacon to traditionally non bacon-centric meals?" or, "How can I maximize my bacon

Nate Robinson is a True Product of Seattle

2009-09-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is a bit old, back from February, but I hadn't seen it until now. Nate Robinson shoots a career-high 41 point game, gives daps to Will Ferrel, and, before a free throw, does a Call of Duty salute. Apparently he had been playing COD online and told one of his teammates he was in fact Nate Robinson. They didn't believe him, so he told them he would give a COD salute before a free throw in his

HEIST NEWS: Swedish Helicopter Robbery!

2009-09-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

The NY Times reports..Come on, America. We are getting left in the dust in the international 'spectacular crime' race. First it was Britain with it's 60 million dollar diamond heist a few months back, and now Sweden ups the ante with a thrilling helicopter stunt that is bound to inspire dozens of children around the world into a life of crime. These heroes stole a helicopter, rappelled down into

On That Note...

2009-09-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here's my entry for one of the best film intros ever. Orson Welles' "A Touch of Evil" has one of cinema's most impressive tracking shots. While previous films, most notably Hitchcock's "Rope" (which was essentially all tracking shots), had dabbled with the technique of uninterrupted takes, it took the creativity of Orson Welles to take a neat trick and turn it into an expression. It may not be

Crikey! Freak Sandstorm in Sydney!

2009-09-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Oy! Kinda makes everything all dodgery-doo! There's sand in the lift, in the lorry, in the bond wizard, and all over the malonga gilderchuck! Good on ya, weatha!

The Fall - Opening Titles

2009-09-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

While I enjoyed Tarsem's The Fall very much, I kind of feel the intro was a little too good. It overshadows the entire movie for me. These opening titles are some of the best I've ever seen in a movie. The whole sequence is immaculate. The imagery combined with one of Beethoven's best pieces really sets my loins aflame. Music is Beethoven's 7th symphony, Movement 2: Allegretto.This same music was

The Original Bad Boys

2009-09-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

These two little chain smoking tough guys are Johnny and Luther Htoo, the pint-sized leaders of “God’s Army”, a rebel group from Burma (or “Myanmar’ if you want to get technical. I don’t). These twins were 9 years old when their village was attacked by the Burmese army (they are member of the Karen ethnic minority which apparently the government of Burma has it out for) and where heralded for

UPDATE: Insane Killer Apprehended; Gives Extremely Rational Excuse for Escape

2009-09-22T13:58:00.001-07:00

Updated from Saturday's posting:Murdering psychopath and guitarist Phillip Arnold Paul was caught near Goldendale, WA. His explanation for his escape was that he "wanted a little fresh air."Good friends of mine are crazier than this guy. What a letdown.

Jeepers...

2009-09-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Awesome Political Figure of the Week: Boris Yeltsin

2009-09-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know he's dead, but who is Death to keep an Awesome Political Figure from appearing on our blog? Nobody, that's who!This is an excerpt from an upcoming book detailing a recent in-depth interview with Bill Clinton..."He also relayed how Boris Yeltsin's late-night drinking during a visit to Washington in 1995 nearly created an international incident. The Russian president was staying at

Insane Killer Escapes on Field Trip to County Fair

2009-09-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

AP reports..At this risk of being unpopular, I'm going to go on the record to say that it's not a good idea to take unrestrained criminally-insane murderers in nondescript street clothing to local social gatherings. This man in particular, Phillip Arnold Paul, age 47, had killed an elderly woman whom he believed to be a witch, back in 1987. He'd been in the Eastern State Hospital in Spokane, WA

The Night of the Hunter

2009-09-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

Famous for being overlooked and generally under appreciated, Charles Laughton’s “Night of the Hunter” is one of the best thrillers ever made. The story follows two children whose father is arrested for robbing a bank, but before he is carted off by the police he lets his little boy and girl in on the whereabouts of the stolen loot. While in jail the father lets slip to his cellmate (the amazing

Jam!

2009-09-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

A little animated pick-me-up. It's hard to be in a bad mood after watching this.

This is why every American carries a gun...

2009-09-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

For fear of being invaded by any country whose citizens can pull off this kind of wild shit.

Kansas City Library

2009-09-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

Also known as "The Kansas City Liberry"Looks like Cardiff, Wales has gotten in on the action too. Notice, however that while KC is bedecked in such literary masterpieces as "Romeo & Juliet", "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "A Tale of Two Cities" Cardiff is sporting some decidedly more bargain bin material. Notably Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben and John Grisham! Sorry Cardiff, looks like you just got

"Avocado" is ancient Aztec for testicle.

2009-09-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting A-Z list of the origin of certain English words from far off places:A is for…Avocado, which comes from Nahuatl, a language spoken by the Aztecs. Their name for it, ahuacatl, also meant ''testicle".B is for…Bonsai. Although we think the tree-cultivating art is Japanese, it originated in China.C is for…Coleslaw. Supposedly eaten in ancient Rome, it comes from the Dutch

Hitchcock in Hitchcock

2009-09-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

Speaking of movies, here's a video showing some (not all) of Alfred Hitchcock's cameos in his own movies. Usually he would take the opportunity to poke a little fun at himself, and I have to respect someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously...

Ever Wonder...

2009-09-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Why was it that HAL, in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, sang "A Bicycle Built for Two"? Well, it would seem that he got the idea from a television program. Oddly it seems no less strange and haunting than in the movie...

A Classic

2009-09-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get enough of this story when I was a kid...by Arlene Mosel. Drawings by Blair Lent.

Roald Dahl Day!!!

2009-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

That's right! September 13th is officially Roald Dahl day! Cheers to one of the coolest people to ever live!info here:http://www.roalddahlday.info/Default.aspxAnd this site has an amazing virtual tour of Dahl's "writing hut", a little dilapidated shed in his garden where he would hole up and write. Further evidence of the man's coolness...http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/discoverdahl/exploring/

Sunday Morning Gross Out!

2009-09-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

From a collection of Japanese anatomical scrolls from the nineteenth century. More here http://www2.library.tohoku.ac.jp/kano/09-000910/09-000910.html

Swearing is an art form

2009-09-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

Clarence Beeks is an expletive virtuoso

Poland v. Ghana

2009-09-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

More Polack movie posters here: RetroCRUSHAnd an even more extensive selection (available for PURCHASE!) here: polishposter.comI'm going to blow every last red cent I have on a bunch of these gems.

Fact: Movie posters are far cooler in Ghana

2009-09-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

More here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kipw/sets/72157594484995671/ and here http://glamour-news.blogspot.com/2009/08/ghana-movie-posters.html

The Anatomy of Banh Mi

2009-09-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

I say any dish that doesn't have at least three kinds of pork isn't really a meal. Pork paste?! The possibilities are endless! Oh man, I'm starving.

2009-09-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Mystery!

2009-09-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hands down the best, most clever opening credits for a television show ever. Edward Gorey's intro brings back fond memories of tuning in to Mystery! as a kid. On a related note, I've seen many ads recently for the new Sherlock Holmes action movie, which looks pretty silly to me. Robert Downey Jr. is an interesting choice for Holmes (I say "interesting", not necessarily good). For my money you

Killer Squirrels!

2009-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

And now they have a taste for flesh. An account of Russian black squirrels attacking, killing and eating a stray doghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4489792.stm

Acrobatic Vocabulary

2009-09-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine taught me a great new word recently: vicambulate. It's a verb meaning "to walk the streets". I am constantly amazed at the versatility, specificity and overall size of the english language. It makes me feel a little bit better about not speaking any other languages. The mastery of English alone is a life long project. I also recently stumbled upon an interesting post at

Guy Billout

2009-09-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

Here's an illustrator I really admire. Guy Billout has gone through several stylistic changes through the years but has in the last decade settled on a very intricate yet simple style that I think is tops. His subtle and often bizarre visual puns are always fun to hunt for. Reminds me of a parsed down Herge. In the modern illustration field it is nice to see a traditional watercolor artist able

Legendary Status.

2009-09-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here is an awesome new development in the history of the best city park in the world:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009803509_cougar04m.htmlDiscovery Park will one day hold my ashes.

Cheval Noir.

2009-09-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

I have always had an affinity for European comics. The works of Moebius, Hermann, Carlos Ezquerra, Jean Van Hamme and William Vance, and of course the grandpappy of it all, Herge. As an American, it has not always been easy to find good European comics. Certainly you can read any number of British writers (some better than others) that cut their teeth on the seminal mag "2000 A. D.", but by and

So Epic.

2009-09-03T16:59:00.001-07:00

Yes, that is who you think it is.

BODY HORROR

2009-09-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

So me and a few business associates watched the film "Dead Ringers" last night. It's got Jeremy Irons showing everybody else how shit is done by playing twin gynecologists who slowly lose their grip on reality. It's quite good. Oh, and it's directed by Canadian mad scientist David Cronenberg.David Cronenberg's films almost always deal with disfigurements and infections and bodily transformations

Japan's New First Lady Is The Tops..

2009-09-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

"While my body was asleep, I think my soul rode on a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus," Miyuki Hatoyama, the wife of premier-in-waiting Yukio Hatoyama, wrote in a book published last year. "It was a very beautiful place and it was really green."

How to start your day off right...

2009-09-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Feeling blue? Low energy? Forget breakfast, let Rosie get you energized to tackle the day...

Censorship. I think it is hilarious.

2009-09-03T02:38:00.000-07:00

OK. Just a quick piece here on the foolishness of censorship. Tony Harris took over cover work for Dark Horse Comics' amazing series "Conan with issue 24. Here is the cover he submitted initially:Tasteful and erotic. Awesome. I have the issue in my collection and I am very happy for it. But...Even Dark Horse, a publisher that is always top-notch, must submit to the wheels and gizmos of the world