There have been a couple of incidents recently involving old guysfalling off boats into the water and dying.
I’m not making fun of them: mad props to these guys for being out there. But, as Lawrence put it: “Important safety tip: try not to fall off the boat.”
From the National Safety Council, circa 1972: “Find a Float”.
Bonus #1: in honor of the late Bobby Unser, “Hazards of Mountain Driving”.
Bonus #2: “Blasting Cap Danger” brought to you by the “Institute of Makers of Explosives” circa 1957.
I remember when I was young and reading “Boy’s Life”, every now and then they’d have a public service advertisement depicting various types of blasting caps and warning young Boy Scouts not to mess with them. My question was: why? Was there a real problem with people just leaving blasting caps lying around for kids to find?
Two videos on unrelated topics today. One short-ish, one admittedly long.
Short-ish: This is an episode of the old “True Adventure” TV show called…”Serpent Cult”, about snake handling religion in Kentucky. I possibly could have put this in last week’s travel entry, but it didn’t feel right there.
I actually kind of like the host’s introduction. When was the last time you heard someone on TV say:
I was brought up religious.
I believe in people’s right to worship as they please.
I have a point of view on this, but I’m not going to force it on anybody else.
Long (about 70 minutes): “Raid on the Northfield Bank: The James-Younger Gang Meets Its Match”.
I wanted to link this for two reasons:
1. There’s a pretty good movie that the Saturday Night Movie Group watched not too long ago: “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid”, which you can find on YouTube with a carefully crafted search or on Amazon (affiliate link). I don’t believe it is exactly historically accurate, but…
This has been well covered locally (and on ESPN) but for the historical record: Jake Ehlinger, linebacker for UT, was found dead in his apartment yesterday. He was 20 years old.
This one is for Lawrence: Milva. I’d never heard of her, either, but she was apparently a very prominent Italian singer.
This popped up in my feed, and you know I had to post it here: “TRS-80 Color Computer: Radio Shack’s $399 Micro from 1980!”
It me. Mine had 4K of memory: not 4 GB, or 4 MB, but 4,096 8-bit bytes of memory, and used cassette tape for storage.
Bonus #1: I’m marginal about using this one, but it calls back to an earlier blog entry: “The Norco Shootout, 40 Years Later”.
Not officially part of the content here, but: the “Behind the Badge” channel posted the Norco documentary in one (54 minute) chunk. I linked to that in my previous Norco post, but that version divides the video up into three chunks.
Bonus #2: Here’s something we hope you really like (especially you, RoadRich): a video on “Use of Force” from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).
Bonus #3: This is short, but I thought it was worth putting up here. Simon Sinek on “The Most Toxic Person In The Workplace”.
Jason Matthews. This is a guy I’d never heard of, but am now intrigued by. He was a former CIA officer who wrote three spy novels (affiliate link) that are highly praised for their realism.
Johnny Crawford. He was one of the original Mouseketeers, and later played Mark McCain, son of Lucas McCain, on “The Rifleman”.
Billie Hayes. Yes, “Witchiepoo”, but also “Mammy Yokum” in “Li’l Abner” (she replaced Charlotte Rae on Broadway, and played the role in the 1959 film version and the 1971 TV movie version).
“The Lumberman”, a 1971 film from the good folks at Encyclopedia Brittanica. It was part of a series called “Our Changing Way of Life”.
Bonus #1: When was the last time you thought about rice? For me, it was last night. But I am somewhat food obsessed.
Phil Robertson says “America Doesn’t Know How to Cook Rice Anymore”.
In addition to Romans 12:13, I am also reminded of Luke 24:42, where the risen Jesus appears to the apostles and asks, “Hey, you guys got any food up in here?” ‘Cause you never know when Jesus might show up, and who wants to be placing an order from Domino’s while Jesus is hanging around?
(If it comes to that, though, I have to warn you: the Bible is very clear that just introducing the delivery guy to Jesus is no substitute for a tip. You still need to tip your delivery driver, and I’d suggest 25% under normal circumstances. Do you really want Jesus to think you’re a cheapskate?)
(Also, if it comes to that: Jesus likes the meat lover’s pizza, or whatever your local equivalent is. Acts 10:15: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”)
Walter White Alton Brown discusses his “fast and foolproof” method for rice cooking.
Bonus #2: Okay, the quality on this isn’t great, but it is short. And this is the “Month of Mayberry” according to MeTV. Don Knotts advertising the Dodge Tradesman van.
Bonus #1: “Position Firing”, an animated 1944 Army Air Corps film about hitting moving targets.
Extra bonus: “Trigger Joe” is voiced by Mel Blanc.
Bonus #2: “Arctic Mission”. This is yet another Bell System (actually Western Electric) propaganda film, but I think it more appropriately belongs here: it covers the construction of the DEW Line, and specifically deals with the difficulties of construction and transport above the Arctic Circle.
Jill Corey. This was a little before my time, but still an interesting story. She grew up in Avonmore, Pennsylvania (literally a coal miner’s daughter) but was discovered at 17 and went on to a career in music.
In one of those odd cases that seem so common during that decade, where the line between “romance” and “creepy stalking” becomes blurred, she was pursued by Don Hoak of the Pittsburgh Pirates (even though she was already engaged) and married him in 1961. She gave up singing, but Mr. Hoak died in 1969 and she went back to performing.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Self, I wonder how light bulbs are made?” Specifically, incandescent lights, not LED bulbs: the latter are probably also interesting, but that’s not today’s subject.
Really, how often do you think about light? I’ve been thinking about it a fair amount recently: throughout the whole history of man, we have really only had the ability to control lighting for about 150 to 170 years now. If you want to get an idea of what things were like in the days before, pull a Samuel Pepys. Go into the smallest windowless room in your house (a bathroom is fine) with a book and a candle. Light the candle: just one candle, because candles cost money in Pepys day. Now try to read the book. Now imagine doing that every night for the rest of your life.
This is a vintage GE documentary about the making of their “Mazda” brand light bulbs.
Bonus #1: Perhaps I am fudging the definition of “science” a bit here, but you’ve heard the expression “build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door”, right?
“West Germany vs. East Germany Mouse Traps. Mousetrap Monday”.
Also, this gives me a chance to retell the classic Soviet joke (which I think was used in “Chernobyl”): “What’s as big as a house, burns 20 liters of fuel every hour, puts out a shitload of smoke and noise, and cuts an apple into three pieces? A Soviet machine made to cut apples into four pieces.”
Bonus #2: Let’s get back to something that is at least a close approximation to science. Plus bonus fun!
“Shaking Buildings Over a Mile Away!” from “Tech Ingredients”. Basically, this involves igniting decently large amounts of hydrogen mixtures.
“Let’s bring everything in soon so if the cops come there’s nothing here.” That’s my kind of science.
Bonus #3: I wanted to do some biology last week, but compromised. Here’s something that comes closer to what I wanted to do: a 1954 film about the virtues of antibiotics.
“Don’t Tell My Wife”. This is a promo film for Piper from sometime in the 1960s. The husband decides he wants to learn to fly…and so does his wife. But neither one wants the other to know.
I’m kind of fascinated by the idea of disaster recovery. Back in the day when I was a sysadmin, and later when I was doing backup/recovery support, disaster recovery was a part of my life. These days, other people plan disaster recovery for what I do (and we have a lot of redundancy) but every now and then, I see someone who’s got themselves jammed up…
What does the phone company do?
“Operation Desert Switch”. After Gulf War I, Kuwait’s phone system was completely destroyed. AT&T came to Kuwait in early March 1991 to get at least some limited phone service back to the country:
The Second Avenue fire is not one I remember, but I do recall the Hinsdale Central Office fire: I was reading TELECOM Digest on USENET pretty avidly at the time, and the Hinsdale fire was a big freaking deal.
Why don’t we continue with our tour of the United States and visit another exotic destination?
“More Per Mile”, a 1950s travelogue about the great state of Kentucky, “the state where the young have fun”.
Bonus: “Real Appalachia with Shane Simmons” visits Harlan.
Bonus #2: This stretches the definition of “travel” a bit, but I found it amusing: “Flight Attendant: Is There A Doctor On This Flight? Dad: Yeah, Me [It Happened Again]”. This guy seems to get dragged into in-flight medical emergencies a lot.
Also, to be honest, I’m fascinated by this portable Bluetooth EKG machine. Not that I have heart trouble, but at $149, this almost falls into “impulse buy” territory. Throw it in your carry-on if you are a doctor and are traveling…not that I know anybody who falls into that category…
I’m feeling in the mood for some random gun crankery.
DeviantOllam – DEFCON speaker, locksport guru, penetration tester, gun guy, bon vivant, and international man of mystery – has a YouTube channel. I plan to put up some more videos from him on other topics in the future, but I thought I’d link this very recent one: “What’s Inside the Rifle Bag that Tarah and I Both Use?”
There are things I don’t care for in this video. But that’s because my needs and my preferences differ from Mr. Ollam’s. Neither of is wrong, we just do things differently and have different ideas. For example, I would get a different bag: not just because the one in this video is currently unavailble, but because I don’t like storing my rifles broken down. (Many of them don’t break down anyway. Though a takedown pre-1964 Model 70 would be a really bizarre and interesting thing to have a gunsmith build.)
But watching this video gives me a lot of ideas for things that I would like to start carrying, and things I would like to do.
Here’s another perspective and another guy’s bag: “Jon’s Bag Gun Setup – An EDC Bag That Packs A Punch!”
Again, I’m not saying I agree with everything here. But I like the lightness and compactness of this guy’s setup for a truck/car bag. (I have to say, though: that Unity Tactical Clutch belt seems a little on the high side for me, price wise.)
Bonus: Maggie, from the “God Family and Guns” channel, explains “What Happens If You Lie On Your Background Check?”. I’m sure all of my readers know this, but I thought I’d link this video here so you can use it as a handy refutation next time someone starts spouting off.
Related: “How To Pass Or Fail A Background Check”. For the next time someone says “It’s easier to buy a gun than it is to vote.”
“That’s what we do here. We adopt babies to good homes to people who can pass their background checks.”
One more, just for giggles: “Top 5 Guns With Cult Followings” from TFB TV.
He went on to become active in Republican politics and became rich. Then in 1972, he found Jesus, but with a twist: he built his own religious community and specialized in taking down scam evangelists.
I cannot tell a lie: “permanently banned from the ‘700 Club'” is what hooked me. (And “often obscenity-laced, sometimes violent Bible study sessions”. And “a Trinity member who, like Mr. Anthony, had taken a vow of poverty before acquiring a private investigator’s license”.)
Among those “margins of Dallas society” he attracted: Joe Bob Briggs.
Newman is the third DA to be removed from office in North Carolina. (The other two were Jerry Spivey in 1995, and Tracy Cline in 2012. Mike Nifong was disbarred in 2007, and then resigned, so he technically doesn’t count here.)
Well, I threatened some mixology, and it has been a while since I’ve done anything with cocktails…
Two videos on the gin and tonic, with associated discussion on malaria and quinine: the “How to Drink” guy:
And Alton Brown:
Bonus, also from the “How to Drink” guy: “A history of Tiki: Donn the Beachcomber”. Personally, I find the backstory behind Donn Beach interesting, which is why I’m linking the video here. The cocktails strike me as sort of fussy and requiring various specialized syrups and ingredients (“Velvet Falernum”, “Fassionola Syrup”), which you may be able to get mail order (if the store isn’t sold out). Frankly, I like cocktails that I can make from a relatively small number of ingredients that are available locally.
The “Missionary’s Downfall” does sound feasible, though I don’t generally keep peach brandy around.
Today’s videos go out to FotB RoadRich, as they involve two of his favorite things: planes and submarines.
This is an older documentary (about 1990) from Connecticut Public Television on the USS Nautilus.
Back in a previous life, when I was going to Rhode Island semi-frequently, I was lucky enough to visit the Submarine Force Museum in Groton twice. The first time I went, the Nautilus was closed for renovations. So I made a second trip a while later just to see the Nautilus. I really like the museum itself, and the Nautilus: once things open back up again, if you have the chance, I recommend visiting.
Bonus: “Saga of the Skyraider”, a short video about the Douglas A-1 Skyraider.
This is one of those planes that I think would be hella fun to fly as a civilian, and maybe not that expensive to run.
Bonus #2: Since that last one was short, I’ll throw one more in here: “Tactical Weapons Effects Tests”, a 1963 Air Force promo film featuring Century series fighters blowing stuff up.
I have not found a mainstream source for this yet, but it seems to have been confirmed in various places: Dan Kaminsky, noted security researcher.
His politics were not mine, and he was not a personal friend or even acquaintance of mine. But I was lucky enough to see him speak at DEFCON and Black Hat a few times, and the guy was wicked smart. Especially when it came to TCP/IP and DNS: man probably forgot more about DNS than I’ll ever know. (One of my favorite talks involved him demonstrating how he could run streaming audio, in real-time, over the Internet…by embedding data in DNS queries. I believe this was that talk.)
There’s a good Hacker News thread here, and an obit from The Registerhere.
I wanted to do some biology today. Specifically, I wanted to do some stuff about malaria, as that would give me an opportunity to work in a couple of (appropriate!) videos about the gin and tonic.
But I couldn’t find any real science videos about malaria that I liked. I might do the G&T videos another day, if I decide to do a day of mixology.
Anthropology is kind of close to biology, though, and is science: “The Natural History of our World: The Time of Man”. I apologize for the naked man a-s early on, but you can safely fast forward past that. Also: narration by Richard Basehart!
Bonus: “How Does Forensic Anthropology Help Solve Crimes?”, with Dame Susan Margaret Black.
Bonus #2: I find something kind of soothing in Dame Black’s voice, so how about another lecture from her?
“Forensic anthropology in the real world – this is not CSI!”
“So if I do nothing else this evening but remind you to switch off the television when ‘CSI: Fleetwood’ or whatever it is comes on next, can we please not?”
(And I quote Dame Black as a person who actually has a certain amount of affection for “CSI: Original Recipe”, at least the first eight or so seasons. I also say this as a person who can distinguish TV from reality, which I guess means I need to “check my privilege” or something.)
(I also say this as someone who is interested in forensic anthropology, but has never studied it formally.)
Somewhat similar question: how can you have a bad axe?
Answer: “The Worst Axe I’ve Ever Tested”. Surprisingly, this is from Spyderco, a company whose products I am generally fond of.
Bonus #1: “Bacon Grease as Engine OIl? Let’s try it!”
I’m posting this specifically because: over the weekend, Mike the Musicologist came up for our birthday dinner. And somewhere along the way, a group of us got into a discussion of whether, and how long, you could run an AR with no lubrication…other than mayonnaise, the vile emulsion. No, I don’t remember where this idea came from, and it wasn’t terribly late when we came up with it. I mean, mayo is mostly oil, right? I suspect what would mess things up is the eggs.
We were actually discussing doing a YouTube video on this, using Duke’s, Hellman’s, homemade mayo…and Miracle Whip, which isn’t mayo, but is two lies in one.
I know somebody who has a GoPro and would probably let me borrow it, in addition to our phone cameras. We just need to find a range that will let us do the filming and isn’t busy, and someone who’s willing to let us mess up their AR (maybe temporarily?) for science.
(On an unrelated side note, I now have my snazzy new ballistic chronograph in hand. And MtM and I were discussing some more serious ideas for YouTube videos. I have a little list, if we can ever get around to it.)
One more, just for fun: “18 Straight Minutes of Useless Catholic Trivia”.
