Album Covers: Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Ahhh... "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. One of my favorite album titles, and covers ever. Done by the late "Neon Park XIII". Neon was also known for doing mst of the Little Feat covers among other bands, but he realy nailed it with "Weasels". ONe of the funniest things about this is doesn't the guy shaving look like Ray Liotta?

FIrst a tricorder, and now...a deflector shield for the masses!

Read this on Sci-fi.com. Still no sign of bubble cities.

"If the British have their way, we'll never have any superheroes created by cosmic-ray mishaps in space. Scientists from across the pond are working on a Star Trek-like energy shield that would protect spacecraft from harmful — and potentially superpower-bestowing — radiation.

The basis of the idea is to build around the ship a small-scale replica of Earth's magnetosphere, which prevents the planet from getting showered with energetic particles. To create the deflector shield, the craft would have to first surround itself with a magnetic field, then fill it with plasma, which would be held in place by the field. When badass particles from things like solar wind hit the plasma, their energy is sapped and they slow down.

And presumably, if another spaceship were to fire, say, a high-energy particle beam at a ship equipped with one of these shields, it would sap the energy of that, too. Eat it, Ur-Quan! Less fictional applications might include a second layer of radiation protection for the permanent moonbase that NASA wants to build, so astronauts could make critical repairs during periods of solar-flare activity. Not quite as much fun, but useful nonetheless. — Peter Pachal"

Album Covers: King of the Road

In keeping with the Van Day theme, I present the cover of the Fu Manchu album King of the Road. I can't really say much that would improve this cruise night picture. I love the early vans. If I had room and time to work on it, I'd buy an early Dodge. Of course then that would bring my count up to three vans, but I'd have one of each generation. Regardless, I hope you dig the cover of this album too.

From the album King of the Road here's Boogie Van

Later...

Happy Van Day!!

Happy Van Day to all! Every year when I take my van out of the garage from it's winter nap I like to make it a little event I call "Van Day". Sort of like my own little holiday. Every year I look it over and think the same thing too... "It could really use a new paint job". This year is no exception. I have a few little bubbles that have surfaced, but I can live with that. I am just happy it's Van Day. To me that signifies the start of summer, and the vanning season. (even though I have been driving my other van all winter) This one has a special place in my heart and this marks the 11th year I have had it.



What a gorgeous day out too! Hard to believe it looked like this only 2 weeks ago!

Super Mario rant

I found this link to a video of the most impossible and most frustrating level of SMB ever. I guess the guy who did this didn't actually play it, he just provided the...um... color commentary. Regardless, it's probably the funniest thing I have heard in a while, and as I remember finding this level and playing it, I have to say I can definitely relate to his reactions.
The video is long (23 min) but damn, this guy was killing me.
By the way, if you are easily offended by language then you have been warned. If not...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6204903272262158881&q=mario+frustration

Storm update: Rocky Road

Today I wanted to see what the final toll of the storm was to the area I posted pictures of the other day, so I went down there to find a "Road Closed" sign, and this. I drove thru anyway, which was probably not the smartest choice I have ever made, but the van took it just fine. I did see some other people attempting it in low built cars. They were pretty much plowing stones. Here's some cool pictures of storm damage:

(as always... click to enlarge them)

I never found that sign funny until today. Now I see the irony in it.

Some of the rocks left by the waves were quite large. Most of them actually...

When I came up over the rise this is what I saw. Amazing that water did all this.

Before they fixed the road some years back, this used to happen on the other side and take out the roadbed. Thank goodness that is done with. This was just about knee level when I stood next to it. A little higher in some spots.

Like I said... Wow.

Minor coastal flooding is possible

Yesterday we got one of the biggest storms we've had in a while here. (well, all the northeast did really, but...)
I went out at high tide and got some pictures of the water. They were calling for astronomical high tides and some coastal flooding, so I thought I'd check it out. Here's some pics:

(click for closer view)

As you can see the waves were quite impressive. If I had to guess I'd say they were at least 8' seas right offshore. The pictures don't really do it justice, but the water was fierce. The most impressive thing about this, is the bottom of the ocean here is not conducive to waves of this type. It's not like a long sandy beach which allows the water to build as it nears the shore. It's rocks, and craggy ledge.
I continued to drive on, past an area which used to be notorious for the road washing out when I was growing up every time we had a storm of this type. They fixed the road so that doesn't happen anymore, but the waves still come up over it, and throw rocks onto it.

As you can see, there isn't much between the front tire and the briny deep. (well...actually it's not that deep there.)




Watch out for flying rocks!

Even up into the harbor, it was rough. This rarely happens, but when it does the results can be quite impressive.

I'd say the tide was a good 1-2 feet higher than usual.
By the way, as an ironic side note, the town I grew up in was where they filmed one of the worst movies ever... "Storm of the Century", so while I was taking these pictures I kept saying
"Give me what I want, and I'll go away!!" :D

...and of course Finnegan was there to assist me

Why not get within reach of a crocodile: Reason #16

I found this over at National Geographic. Geez.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan, April 11, 2007—Armed and dangerous, a Nile crocodile prowls the Kaohsiung zoo (top). Veterinarian Chang Po-yu was reaching through iron bars to remove tranquilizer darts before treating the 440-pound (200-kilogram) reptile when the inadequately sedated animal bit the vet's forearm off.

But for the vet, it wasn't quite a farewell to arm.

After being shot at twice, but apparently unhit, the croc dropped the arm. After seven hours of surgery, doctors successfully reattached the appendage, shown at bottom on a smiling Chang on April 12.

The largest African crocodile species, the Nile croc may be threatened in some parts of its range, according to the World Conservation Union. The reptiles can reach 16 feet (5 meters) in length and are estimated to kill 200 people a year.

Next step... bubble cities!

Check out this link. It's to an article I found regarding breathing underwater without the aid of SCUBA gear. This has always been a dream of mine, (but then again I always wanted to live in an undersea Bond Villanesque hideout style house too) and it would be truly amazing if it came to be.

http://www.isracast.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=63

Mousetrap

Hi. It's me again. The Central Scrutinizer..... whooops. Wrong page. Never mind.


Anyway I managed to put me guitar down long enough to search fruitlessly for something cool to post. Stumbled upon this life sized model of 'Mousetrap'. I have a lot of super cool fun memories of building this rube goldberg-esque game as a kid. I'd love to see the one pictured.

Here's the article:
The Life-Sized Mousetrap will make its Maker Faire debut this year. Don't miss out on this 25,000-lb, superbly interactive kinetic sculpture reminiscent of the classic board game. Its makers say -

The unique design of this giant, Rube Goldberg-style contraption was cleverly gleaned from the memories of childhood, twisted out of scale, then sketched beyond life size. It features an enormous construct of crazy stairs, a flame-throwing lamppost, careening bowling balls, and a hand-built, 30-foot-tall crane capable of lifting and dropping 5 tons! The object of this vaudevillian encounter is to "accomplish by complex means what seemingly could be done simply"! So our lucky players get to lift a 400-lb cast-iron bathtub 13 feet into the air, crank cranks, load springs and turn impossibly huge gears, all in a supreme effort to crush a trinket of meaning (say, a 1,200 lb pumpkin) under a falling 2-ton bank safe! The Mousetrap is impressive as a static sculpture, but it is the motion, started by a human, that is the heart of its existence.


The Maker Faire is May 19 & 20 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. Get your tickets in advance now, avoid the lines and save a few bucks.

Posted by philliptorrone |

My new toy

I picked this sweet little bass guitar up Saturday. It is a Johnson copy of a Hofner viola "Beatle" bass, which was made popular in the 60's by Paul McCartney, and then many other British Invasion bands. I have fooled around with guitars for years, but never anything serious. To me tho, bass is where it's at, and I have always wanted one of these. Now if I can just put it down so I can get some other stuff done....
:)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all! (especially members of the Hare Club for Men...)
Rather than do my traditional celebration of watching Night of the Living Dead (or more appropriately Dawn of the Dead) I am just going to wish a happy day to all, and post an Os Mutantes track. Here's 'Haleluia' from the album 'A Divina Comedia Ou Ando Meio Desligado'. Freak out man.

Haleluia- Os Mutantes

Super Mario theme song as played on an 11string Bass

This is simply amazing!

Ground beef alphabet

Since I work part time in a grocery store, I found this particularly amusing.

Puppy Party (and post #50!)

Sorry about the recent lack of posts, but yer ol' Cap'n has been a wee bit sea sick lately. (Case o' scurvy)
First of all... Yay! 50 posts!! Thank you for the support I have gotten from the folks who read this blog. :D
I know I just did a doggy post, but this past weekend we went to a puppy birthday party. All but one of the litter (Mr. Smee) was there. A blast was had, and some tuckered out dogs went home that evening. Here's some pics:



Finnegan and Titan fooling around. Titan is the largest in the litter, Finnegan is second.



Finnegan and his sister Isha playing tug o' war. Titan is refereeing.



The matriarch of the clan: Maizy. She was some upset as she had a band-aid on her tush due to a sore she had. :(



The litter (save one): left (top to bottom)
Isha, Finnegan, and Monty (the dad)
Right: (clockwise)
Titan (red collar), Winston (has a more of a tail), Sophie (back to), and Maizy (the Mum)