...that has such people in it."
For aficionados of the fantastic (and now 10 year old!) series Brass Eye, this clip from the Daily Show may have some resonance. Excepting of course, that Brass Eye traded in extreme satire and the people in this story, unfortunately, are all too real. Watch and know the meaning of beggaring belief.
Off to bed with me,
- Mr. Ed
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
The Sunday Reptile Report
Greetings! It is my pleasure, on this lovely Sunday morning, to welcome you to what may become a regular P Club featurette - a round-up of the week's reptilian goings-on. I got up just before sunrise this morning - I know, I know - and went out to drink my tea on the porch, where I found a little green anole perching on my banana plant. Green anoles (Anolis carolinesis) are very common around here and I've often tried to take pictures of them, but usually they don't come out very well.
You might notice that it was a lot lighter in later photos - did I mention that I got up at sunrise today? Oh, that's right, I did.
In other reptile news, Steinbrenner found a Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in a conference room at MUSC. She caught the little bligher in a cup and brought him to show me. We looked him up on the web and found out that they are an invasive species that has become quite common in the Southeast US. They are often found in urban areas and are frequently confused with the 'house gecko' (Hemidactylus frenatus), another non-native species found in the US. Since he didn't belong here in SC, let alone in a conference room, and since he is devastingly cute, we decided to name him Bernard and keep him. I haven't got a photo of him yet because he's still settling in, and I don't want to put him under any more stress right now. But rest assured, Bernard will get a full post on the P club in time, with pictures, gecko-gek info and maybe even the tale of how he almost became a 'house gecko' here at 125A.
Anyway, that's about all for now then.
- Mr. Ed
You might notice that it was a lot lighter in later photos - did I mention that I got up at sunrise today? Oh, that's right, I did.
In other reptile news, Steinbrenner found a Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in a conference room at MUSC. She caught the little bligher in a cup and brought him to show me. We looked him up on the web and found out that they are an invasive species that has become quite common in the Southeast US. They are often found in urban areas and are frequently confused with the 'house gecko' (Hemidactylus frenatus), another non-native species found in the US. Since he didn't belong here in SC, let alone in a conference room, and since he is devastingly cute, we decided to name him Bernard and keep him. I haven't got a photo of him yet because he's still settling in, and I don't want to put him under any more stress right now. But rest assured, Bernard will get a full post on the P club in time, with pictures, gecko-gek info and maybe even the tale of how he almost became a 'house gecko' here at 125A.
Anyway, that's about all for now then.
- Mr. Ed
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Posh nosh returns
Yesterday, while shopping at my favourite grocery store, Whole Foods, I spotted some heirloom tomatoes. I'd heard they're delicious so I decided to give them a try - and I wasn't disappointed.
The precise definition of an heirloom tomato seems to be a contentious subject, but in general, the term is applied to any open-pollinated or non-hybrid variety of tomato. While some heirloom strains are geniunely antique - some alledgedly hundreds of years old - others are more recent additions to the tomato canon and are considered heirlooms because of their rarity or simply because of their unique flavour, shape or colour. Apparently, the colour also gives a good indication of the tomato's flavour and texture too. For example, yellow and orange varieties are generally softer and sweeter, whereas the darker red and brown ones tend to be firmer and have a bit more bite. For the record, I think my favourite was one of the 'newer' heirloom varieties, the rather cool looking green zebra. If you're really interested, here's a site where you can buy seeds and find out a bit more about the different varieties available.
Anyway, to enjoy the full heirloom experience I decided to make a simple tomato salad. I chopped them into roughly one inch pieces, added some similar-sized chunks of fresh mozerella and then some shredded rocket. To top it off, I made a light dressing with olive oil, basalmic vinegar, a crushed clove of garlic, a pinch of sugar and salt and some fresh ground pepper. Quick, easy and delicious!
- Mr. Ed
The precise definition of an heirloom tomato seems to be a contentious subject, but in general, the term is applied to any open-pollinated or non-hybrid variety of tomato. While some heirloom strains are geniunely antique - some alledgedly hundreds of years old - others are more recent additions to the tomato canon and are considered heirlooms because of their rarity or simply because of their unique flavour, shape or colour. Apparently, the colour also gives a good indication of the tomato's flavour and texture too. For example, yellow and orange varieties are generally softer and sweeter, whereas the darker red and brown ones tend to be firmer and have a bit more bite. For the record, I think my favourite was one of the 'newer' heirloom varieties, the rather cool looking green zebra. If you're really interested, here's a site where you can buy seeds and find out a bit more about the different varieties available.
Anyway, to enjoy the full heirloom experience I decided to make a simple tomato salad. I chopped them into roughly one inch pieces, added some similar-sized chunks of fresh mozerella and then some shredded rocket. To top it off, I made a light dressing with olive oil, basalmic vinegar, a crushed clove of garlic, a pinch of sugar and salt and some fresh ground pepper. Quick, easy and delicious!
- Mr. Ed
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Soulful Saturday 10
This week it's South Carolina's favourite son, James. Effing. Brown.
Need I say more?
Mercy!
- Mr. Ed.
Need I say more?
Mercy!
- Mr. Ed.
Scandinavian Silliness
Here is a totally bizarre story involving a reindeer costume, trespassing and polaroid pictures, from everyone's favourite Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten.
Via Neatorama
- Mr. Ed
Via Neatorama
- Mr. Ed
Get Some Funny
I have enjoyed some refreshingly good new British Comedy. The Mitchell & Webb Look is new and f'ing funny
Scout
Scout
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Yet more mantid action!
Alison found another mantid on our porch last night. This one is big and green and seems to have picked Alison's orchid as it's home. We picked it up and let it sit on our hands, which oddly enough it didn't seem to mind too much. Here are some pictures from last night and this morning.
Raaarrr!
- Mr. Ed
Raaarrr!
- Mr. Ed
What went wrong with the lone star state?
Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas, died yesterday. As a firm feminist and a staunch supporter of minority and gay rights, she was the last of the long line of progessive politicians from Texas, streching back to LBJ and beyond. She was known throughout the US for her straight-talking style and sharp wit. One of her most memorable lines was delivered during her keynote speech to the 1988 Democratic convention.
From the New York Times:
“Poor George, he can’t help it,” Ms. Richards said, speaking about the current president’s father, former President George Bush. “He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.”
Read more from the NYT here.
Ann was unseated in the 1994 election by a then unknown shrub, George W. Bush. If you ask me, things have been going downhill in Texas ever since.
- Mr. Ed
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Winning the war on terror
In an response to all the hysterical fear-fuelling nonsense that the our dear media masks as sombre 'memorializing,' I would like to present what just might be the key to victory in the War on Terror. And failing that, this has to be the very very best youtube find I've made so far. It's a clip of The Band and the Staple Singers performing "The weight." The rest of the video features some entertaining boozy jibber with a violin followed by a pretty good rendition of "The night they drove old dixie down," but for me, it's all about when Mavis Staples starts singing. I almost cried - the holy-shit-she-can-sing kind of tears - the first time I heard it. Now, I don't really know how this actually relates to the GWOT. However, I do know that if I'm watching The Band, then I'm not watching some mendacious made-for-TV docu-fiction about what a sissy Clinton was, or some shiny-haired gleem-for-brains anchor-twat, prittle-prattling away as the fear ribbon ceaselessly crawls along the bottom of the screen.
Well that was a long sentence with a lot of hypens. That felt rather cathartic too.
Anyway, this is a clip from Martin Scorsese's fabulous movie, The Last Waltz. I bought the DVD the other day at the supermarket for $10, which I thought a steal and some clever marketing person probably also thought was rather nifty. What sort of sucker picks up a $10 item waiting in the checkout line? Well, if that item happens to be the greatest rockumentary of all time, then it would be me. The whole movie is beautifully shot and sounds fantastic, it's hard to play favourites, but I think that this clip is the high point for me. So, let's watch the clip, and think about good, simple, happy things for a change.
Mmm Hmmm.
- Mr. Ed
Well that was a long sentence with a lot of hypens. That felt rather cathartic too.
Anyway, this is a clip from Martin Scorsese's fabulous movie, The Last Waltz. I bought the DVD the other day at the supermarket for $10, which I thought a steal and some clever marketing person probably also thought was rather nifty. What sort of sucker picks up a $10 item waiting in the checkout line? Well, if that item happens to be the greatest rockumentary of all time, then it would be me. The whole movie is beautifully shot and sounds fantastic, it's hard to play favourites, but I think that this clip is the high point for me. So, let's watch the clip, and think about good, simple, happy things for a change.
Mmm Hmmm.
- Mr. Ed
Monday, September 11, 2006
The age of vanished normalcy
I came across this Martin Amis essay (in three parts) and I thought I'd share it with the P Clubbers. Martin Amis takes on the issue of violent, extremist Islam and whittles it down to it's rotten core of backward, death-worshipping, misogynist superstition. It's long, but well worth a read.
Goodnight then.
-Mr. Ed
Goodnight then.
-Mr. Ed
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Soulful Saturday ~ Nein!
Oh ja, ja, ja mein lieblings! Now in it's new-nice-and-shiny ninth edition, here's this weeks dish of Soulful goodness.
Initially, this week I thought I might take a turn for the roots-funk and jazz side of things when I stumbled acorss a pretty good video of Manu Dibango playing Soul Markosa (also spelled Mokassa?). Unfortunately the video doesn't have the best sound quality, and while worthy of a mention, I thought I'd keep looking for something else.
Bugger me, did I find it.
Now, at first listen you'd be forgiven for thinking I've lost my mind, my hearing, or at the very least, my sense of decency and taste. Fear not. You see, this song is so bad it trancends it's noxious beats and over-lubricated bas-line to become a classic. The woeful lyrics and hyperbolic story, detailing the discovery of some skany trist, are worthy of Lorenzo Da Ponte. More than that though, it's so tragically trashy - "How the xxxx is she your friend, if you don't know if she got kids?" - that it becomes both excruiating and devilishly compelling. Picture Eastenders, but with nicer houses and swankier cars.
On a more serious note though, I feel like this video highlights, rather perfectly, everything that's wrong with what passes for Soul and R'n'B nowadays. But enough of this build-up. Now, without further ado, I present to to you, for your viewing displeasure but great amusement, The Isley Brothers and Busted:
[update: let the video load completely before playing it - trust me, it's worth it. No, no, really it is.]
Shudder.
- Mr. Ed
Initially, this week I thought I might take a turn for the roots-funk and jazz side of things when I stumbled acorss a pretty good video of Manu Dibango playing Soul Markosa (also spelled Mokassa?). Unfortunately the video doesn't have the best sound quality, and while worthy of a mention, I thought I'd keep looking for something else.
Bugger me, did I find it.
Now, at first listen you'd be forgiven for thinking I've lost my mind, my hearing, or at the very least, my sense of decency and taste. Fear not. You see, this song is so bad it trancends it's noxious beats and over-lubricated bas-line to become a classic. The woeful lyrics and hyperbolic story, detailing the discovery of some skany trist, are worthy of Lorenzo Da Ponte. More than that though, it's so tragically trashy - "How the xxxx is she your friend, if you don't know if she got kids?" - that it becomes both excruiating and devilishly compelling. Picture Eastenders, but with nicer houses and swankier cars.
On a more serious note though, I feel like this video highlights, rather perfectly, everything that's wrong with what passes for Soul and R'n'B nowadays. But enough of this build-up. Now, without further ado, I present to to you, for your viewing displeasure but great amusement, The Isley Brothers and Busted:
[update: let the video load completely before playing it - trust me, it's worth it. No, no, really it is.]
Shudder.
- Mr. Ed
More mantid action
Alison, my new neighbour, seems to have quite a knack for spotting bugs. We were just chatting on the porch a moment ago when she noticed a mantid climbing up her door frame. In the two weeks she's been here we've seen two mantids, where as I didn't even catch a glimpse of a mantid for the previous two months. She is a self-confessed "bug person" and perhaps her eyes are just better tuned to the creepy crawlies around us
Anyway, here are some photos of the mantid, the door frame and Alison's finger, which the mantid seemed to be sizing up for a meal.
This mantid is much smaller than the one we saw on the palmetto the other day, and he has a brown body but bright green legs, which looked rather cool. This got me thinking that maybe that other mantid wasn't one of mine after all. Or maybe he was and this guy isn't. Or maybe neither of them are? Or maybe they both are, and this guy just didn't get as much to eat as the first one? Or maybe it doesn't really matter and I'm just jibbering on and on about nothing now...
that's probably it.
-Mr. Ed
Anyway, here are some photos of the mantid, the door frame and Alison's finger, which the mantid seemed to be sizing up for a meal.
This mantid is much smaller than the one we saw on the palmetto the other day, and he has a brown body but bright green legs, which looked rather cool. This got me thinking that maybe that other mantid wasn't one of mine after all. Or maybe he was and this guy isn't. Or maybe neither of them are? Or maybe they both are, and this guy just didn't get as much to eat as the first one? Or maybe it doesn't really matter and I'm just jibbering on and on about nothing now...
that's probably it.
-Mr. Ed
Only in Sudan
After being caught doing the nasty with someone else's goat, Mr. Alifi was told by a council of tribal elders to pay a dowry for the goat, since he had "used the goat as his wife." Seriously.Image from The Steel Deal.
-Mr. Ed
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Edisto
Here are some pictures from our drive out to Edisto Island.
I think I liked the drive out there more than the snakes and aligators we saw, to be honest. Here is a list of the venomous snakes found in South Carolina. Scary!
- Mr. Ed
I think I liked the drive out there more than the snakes and aligators we saw, to be honest. Here is a list of the venomous snakes found in South Carolina. Scary!
- Mr. Ed
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Soulful Saturday Ate
Well here we are again, and I tell you, this week I found a real treat. Wilson Pickett, at the apogee of his wickedness, singing live in Germany in 1968. The crowd is really loud at the beginning, which is slightly annoying, but it gets better later in the video. Go on, watch it all the way to the end - you know you won't regret it. Seriously, this is one of the best things I've found on youtube so far - the breakdown is super tight and my goodness, has Wilson ever mastered that souful scream. And if not for all of that, watch it just too see what the definition of cool is.
Steinners and I are off to some reptile place on Edisto Island for a fun-filled, snakey Saturday treat. And don't forget that if you're at a loose-end today, you could always go and see Snakes on a Plane. More on that later though - I'm getting ahead of myself.
- Mr. Ed
Steinners and I are off to some reptile place on Edisto Island for a fun-filled, snakey Saturday treat. And don't forget that if you're at a loose-end today, you could always go and see Snakes on a Plane. More on that later though - I'm getting ahead of myself.
- Mr. Ed
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