Dr Lecter’s twilight years. || The underwater hotel suite you’ve always wanted. (h/t, Dicentra) || Witchcraft. (h/t, Tim) || Cinema takes its toll. (h/t, Ben) || Motion-sensor flower lamps. || Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster, 1965. || Joys of parenthood, part 604. || Parasite fighters. (h/t, sk60) || Contemporary tape use. || What coronavirus does. || 100 minutes of nest-building. || Icy door of note. || Pudding of note. || Tempting fate. || Important question, answered. || How to remove a wisdom tooth. || The thrill of grooming. || The worm dance. || Do you see bush? || The chairs of Blake’s 7, an illustrated guide. || Related, the assorted seating of Doctor Who. || And finally, today’s word is suboptimal.
The underwater hotel suite you’ve always wanted.
Interesting, curtains in the sitting area but not the bedroom.
Posted by: Steve E | April 24, 2020 at 00:27
The underwater hotel suite you’ve always wanted.
Scroll down to "Not Just Classical" on the same thread link.
Posted by: Steve E | April 24, 2020 at 00:40
Scroll down to "Not Just Classical" on the same thread link.
Sorry that's for the Motion sensor flower lamps link.
Posted by: Steve E | April 24, 2020 at 01:12
The worm dance.
Now I have Tom Jones tunes in my head.
Posted by: Daniel Ream | April 24, 2020 at 01:45
“Now I have Tom Jones tunes in my head” - that’s not unusual...
Posted by: Ed Snack | April 24, 2020 at 04:43
Now I have Tom Jones tunes in my head.
What'd you say your name was?
Posted by: Hal | April 24, 2020 at 04:44
The chairs of Blake’s 7, an illustrated guide.
A labour of love. :-)
Posted by: Liz | April 24, 2020 at 06:29
"The chairs of Blake’s 7, an illustrated guide."
"Alexa, define the meaning of the word 'niche'..."
Posted by: JuliaM | April 24, 2020 at 06:47
Morning, all.
A labour of love. :-)
And surprisingly informative, I thought.
There will, of course, be a test later.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 06:58
Repeat after me, Antifa are just like normal people.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 07:27
And for those who missed it yesterday, she teaches Gender Studies and Critical Feminisms.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 07:38
Husbands of the world, take heed:
Via Ace.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 08:32
Hmmm... according to that Blake's 7 chair site, the Elda chair was named after Columbo's wife but we know that can't be true, as her name was Kate. Presumably Elda was the wife of Joe Colombo (with three 'o's), the guy who designed the chair. But, funnily enough, Columbo's wife ended up captaining her own starship. Circles within circles and all that...
Posted by: George | April 24, 2020 at 08:59
Hmmm...
The pull of the rabbit hole is strong, I see.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 09:13
today’s word is suboptimal.
LOL Poor guy.
Posted by: Mags | April 24, 2020 at 09:17
LOL Poor guy.
It would take a man of uncommon confidence to carry off that particular hairstyling solution.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 09:22
Just shave it all off. By the time the lockdown is over it'll be fine.
Posted by: Ray | April 24, 2020 at 10:24
Cinema takes its toll.
Wow. Mike used to be handsome. Looks like watching really crap films really ages you.
Posted by: Jen | April 24, 2020 at 10:44
I was growing concerned that those piglets were hexing their mother by running widdershins round her, but then they reversed the flow so.... I suppose that’s all right.
Posted by: TimT | April 24, 2020 at 10:49
Weren't the Maldives supposed to be entirely under water by now?
Posted by: jones | April 24, 2020 at 11:13
The chairs of Blake’s 7, an illustrated guide.
Some serious work went into that.
Posted by: sk60 | April 24, 2020 at 11:25
The "parasite" concept of aircraft mission design used to fascinate me as a child. When the news was full of stories about US airman getting shot down during the Vietnam War I naively thought about maybe attaching an escape airplane to the mission one? Then the UFO series came out and that concept was used in one if their designs as well. As an adult, I am fascinated by the amount of time and energy that has been wasted over the last century on what certainly seem like childish ideas. The WWI concept of zeppelins and such made significant sense to pursue back then, and yes the one-way release idea certainly works. But some of these other ones, especially that Soviet contraption...that grown adults with some understanding of engineering were willing to waste time and money...SMDH. Of course it seems like the worst of these involved consuming other people's time and money.
Posted by: WTP | April 24, 2020 at 11:56
Looks like watching really crap films really ages you.
You can imagine what 13 years of blogging does.
[ Applies industrial-strength age-retarding moisturiser. ]
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 12:06
For you Star Wars fans, get your tickets early.
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | April 24, 2020 at 13:08
For you Star Wars fans, get your tickets early.
And as a famous Star Wars character once said, “That… is why you fail.”
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 13:40
For you Star Wars fans, get your tickets early.
Will they be filming this new series in English, or in whatever language is being spoken in the clip?
Posted by: MC | April 24, 2020 at 14:04
Will they be filming this new series in English, or in whatever language is being spoken in the clip?
Hey! Cut her some slack, she's a... writer? She's not also supposed to be an articulate speaker of the language she's paid, no doubt handsomely, to write in.
Also, I seem to have lost several digits off of my IQ since listening to that clip. Save yourselves and just watch it with the sound muted!
Posted by: Tom | April 24, 2020 at 14:46
she’s a... writer?
Our woke Meat Loaf lookalike is obnoxiously dogmatic, bizarrely inarticulate… and seemingly more interested in narrow identity politics, expressed crassly, than, you know, storytelling.
Bodes well.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 14:56
Will they be filming this new series in English, or in whatever language is being spoken in the clip?
Speaking of speaking English
Posted by: Fay | April 24, 2020 at 15:01
Repeat after me
'K: after me after me after me after me after me after me after me after me . . . . .
Posted by: Hal | April 24, 2020 at 15:07
I really hope my wife doesn't see those flower lamps. I'm getting too old for ladders.
Posted by: BrassG | April 24, 2020 at 15:09
“Important question, answered.“
Well, that's my contribution for this week up the spout. Um... [searches through browser history]... how about 40 minutes on the mighty TDK D cassette?
(I'm dealing with the lockdown perfectly well, thanks for asking. No, really...)
“The chairs of Blake’s 7, an illustrated guide.”
The Terazza sofa is the most Blake's 7 thing ever. I think I want one.
“Related, the assorted seating of Doctor Who.”
Ooh, and Pebble Mill at One! Nothing said “day off school” like Pebble Mill.
Posted by: Sam Duncan | April 24, 2020 at 15:11
Interesting, curtains in the sitting area but not the bedroom.
That's one way to boost snorkel gear rentals.
Posted by: Burnsie | April 24, 2020 at 15:14
Husbands of the world, take heed:
Optional gloves for non-food handling . . . .
A local bus system now has the front part of the bus blocked off with signs that read something to the effect of No one past this point except passengers with mobility devices and operators. . . . It's not explained where the person with the mobility device is supposed to acquire an operator for such occasions, or if said person is also supposed to have the "operator" be a bus driver, or instead some other meaning for the euphemism . . . .
Posted by: Hal | April 24, 2020 at 15:16
how about 40 minutes on the mighty TDK D cassette?
That’s… that’s a lot of minutes.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 15:18
That’s… that’s a lot of minutes.
TBF, about the same amount of time before you have to find a pencil because it jammed and got eaten...
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | April 24, 2020 at 15:46
how about 40 minutes on the mighty TDK D cassette?
I’m now fondly remembering my Hitachi boom box, on which I recorded the original radio version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and with which I would aggravate parents and neighbours with the first two albums of The Human League. As I recall – and I don’t mean to brag or anything – it had both “loudness” and a “stereo wide” setting.
I think it was one of these.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 15:50
This might be one for your "Speaking as were the other day ..." file:
The group were taking part in Tribal Gathering, a festival in Panama billed as “an amazing indigenous musical journey through time and space” [ ... ] Then the weather changed.
Posted by: Nikw211 | April 24, 2020 at 18:11
This might be one for your “Speaking as we were the other day...” file
I suppose even an “indigenous musical journey through time and space,” cosmic as it is, must eventually lose its charm. Say, shortly after the E wears off.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 18:23
For you Star Wars fans, get your tickets early.
I find myself wondering, given the phenomenal success of The Mandalorian, whether somebody at Disney isn't surreptitiously setting up some A/B testing. If you've got two Star Wars shows running simultaneously and one flops and the other one gets raves and drives subscriptions, nobody can claim that audiences have lost interest in Star Wars or there's some other movie series pulling away dollars, etc. It's the ultimate you failed BECAUSE you're woke proof. I may be hoping too hard for a Hard Travellin' Heroes conclusion to this experiment, but I sincerely hope somebody at Disney makes the right decision when they see the metrics.
on which I recorded the original radio version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Many years ago, while working in the phone technical support salt mines, we had an...unusual day where every single caller demanded to put back in the phone queue as soon as we picked up the call. Went on for hours. Our metrics were in the toilet and nobody could understand why. Eventually someone toddled down to the IT department and discovered that the sysadmins had secretly replaced the Mozart CDs in the hold music sound system with the CDs of the HGTTG radio production. Our entire customer base had been happily sitting in their offices on hold on speakerphone listening all afternoon.
Posted by: Daniel Ream | April 24, 2020 at 18:27
The Mandalorian,
Which I’ve been enjoying, despite not being a Star Wars enthusiast. It sort of works as a spaghetti western about, er, parenting, as much as anything else.
Our entire customer base had been happily sitting in their offices on hold on speakerphone listening all afternoon.
Heh. The radio version is still, I think, the best. It was funny precisely because you couldn’t see what was happening. As a wee seedling, I stumbled across it by accident and found myself rummaging frantically for a cassette to record the thing.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2020 at 18:41
The group were taking part in Tribal Gathering, a festival in Panama...
From a related link:
I don't know, but from the original link, I think the Foreign Office and embassy just might be doing the right thing.
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | April 24, 2020 at 19:05
From Down Under. An obviously heartfelt Thanks Celebrities!
Posted by: Karl | April 24, 2020 at 19:57
I’m now fondly remembering my Hitachi boom box . . .
Ah, yes, I'll see you and raise you The Queen Mary, aka, Darth Vader's wet dream.
Posted by: Hal | April 24, 2020 at 22:19
It’s the ultimate you failed BECAUSE you’re woke proof.
Some industry speculation / gossip on the subject.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 08:09
“NOT TOILET PAPER.”
Via Damian.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 09:35
with which I would aggravate parents and neighbours with the first two albums of The Human League.
Relevant
Posted by: Ted S, Catskill Mtns, NY, USA | April 25, 2020 at 12:26
Relevant.
Heh. Seems somehow apt.
And lest we forget.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 12:52
A clear and concise guide to what the rules are during Lockdown
via Steve Sailer
Posted by: Jonathan | April 25, 2020 at 13:37
“NOT TOILET PAPER.”
They'd be a bit small. :-D
Posted by: Joan | April 25, 2020 at 13:42
They’d be a bit small.
Given the size of the average till receipt, the, er, task at hand would require some… precision.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 13:48
Shots Fired:
via Battle Beagle
Posted by: Jonathan | April 25, 2020 at 14:07
Shots Fired
[ Hides breakables. ]
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 14:13
Hi David,
Have you ever fisked a “family president “ before?
https://www.salon.com/2020/04/23/how-researching-tomboys-and-gender-helped-me-prepare-for-a-pandemic/
Posted by: Lady Cutekitten of Lolcat | April 25, 2020 at 17:50
Have you ever fisked a “family president “ before?
I kept tripping over the begged questions about “privilege,” spatial skills, and so forth. Then, as it’s a sunny day here, I decided I’d rather listen to the birds singing. One of the pleasures of living by woodland.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 18:07
A gin and tonic helps, of course.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 19:09
Ms. Family President has led a literally inconcevably sheltered life if this is her first encounter with disruptions to her detailed life plans.
I'm roughly of the same social "class" as the writer, and in my extended family's last decade there's been two cancer deaths, a broken neck, a broken hip, a military training death, an attempted suicide, and a fatal stroke. Among other things. All of which had major effects on everyone's plans.
You get help. You keep family close. You suck it up. You keep calm and carry on. "Closure" don't enter into it.
Posted by: Fred the Fourth | April 25, 2020 at 19:29
Ms. Family President...
There is a shocker for you.
I know when I want an expert analysis of neuroscience and endocrinology, the first person I go to is an experimental feminist videographer. I am sure the quality of her research is unimpeachable.
*(The HTML was ganked on preview - I had spelled "blockquote" as "bolockquote" which is actually rather apt...)
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | April 25, 2020 at 20:19
had no idea what to do with my degree in experimental feminist video...
[ Sips second gin and tonic. ]
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 20:26
[ Sips second gin and tonic. ]
We throw in a splash of Amaretto. Just a suggestion.
Posted by: WTP | April 25, 2020 at 21:16
Heh.
Via Damian.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2020 at 21:22
Woods are great, except when the stupid birds kick in pre-dawn in the summer.
The family president was the only thing I found lately that was potentially fisk-worthy. The jump from tomboys to Coronavirus seemed to call for a touch of Thompson.
My area’s supposed to open up 1 May. I doubt it’ll stay open long. They’re already floating a long shutdown in the fall.
Posted by: Lady Cutekitten of Lolcat | April 25, 2020 at 22:33
"I'm a relatively new cat owner. This is my life now."
Posted by: Darleen | April 25, 2020 at 22:55
At least cats don’t click loudly when walking across a hardwood floor.
Posted by: Lady Cutekitten of Lolcat | April 25, 2020 at 23:15
I'm family president at my place.
Unfortunately there's a lot of Chester Draws Derangement Syndrome around, so it's not working out too good.
Posted by: Chester Draws | April 26, 2020 at 04:01
I chose Head of State at my house, instead of President. A ceremonial role, involving wine-cork inspection and looking intellectual and/or glamorous, as occasion calls for.
Online classes will be available soon.
Posted by: Fred the Fourth | April 26, 2020 at 04:44
I’m the Goddess of Cutekitten Manor, myself.
Posted by: Lady Cutekitten of Lolcat | April 26, 2020 at 06:49
Woods are great, except when the stupid birds kick in pre-dawn in the summer.
Hereabouts in summer, with the windows open, the dawn chorus is a thing to hear. Layer upon layer of tweets and elaborate chirrups, and a great sense of distance. It’s quite remarkable, almost like a rainforest, and not a bad way to wake up. Assuming, that is, you don’t mind being awake at 4:30am. Otherwise, I recommend earplugs.
Posted by: David | April 26, 2020 at 09:58
I’m the Goddess of Cutekitten Manor, myself.
I am President, CEO, entire Board of Directors, only shareholder and sole employee of 68814257966 Ontario Ltd d/b/a Daniel Ream's Apartment.
It worked so well for my
tax dodgeconsulting company I figured I'd give it a try at home.Posted by: Daniel Ream | April 26, 2020 at 16:43
It’s quite remarkable, almost like a rainforest, and not a bad way to wake up. Assuming, that is, you don’t mind being awake at 4:30am. Otherwise, I recommend earplugs.
If you go to bed at 8 you'll be ready to wake up at 7. :-D
Posted by: pst314 | April 27, 2020 at 12:54
I am President, CEO, entire Board of Directors, only shareholder and sole employee of 68814257966 Ontario Ltd d/b/a Daniel Ream's Apartment.
Let us know how the annual Shareholders Meeting goes.
Posted by: pst314 | April 27, 2020 at 12:56