Tuesday, June 27, 2006

More wacky links. What dinosaur are you? Here's mine:

Cryolophosaurus

Current research suggests that Cryolophosaurus was a medium-sized, social, carnivorous creature...according to your answers so are you!Cryolophosaurus was the first meat-eating dinosaur fossil discovered in Antarctica . Although it's a frozen land nowadays, Antarctica wasn't always covered in ice. When dinosaurs were alive the world was mostly a lot warmer.Antarctica itself was further north than it is today, which meant it was nearer the equator and so less icy-cold. All sorts of plants and animals flourished there.

This is part of the DinoJaws exhibit going on over in the UK, which begins this weekend.

Make your own air conditioner! This may come in handy around August.

The Driv-E-Mocion tells other drivers what you're thinking. This could be useful, or it could get you killed, depending on your temperament. I do like the "thanks" option, though.

Has anyone tried Amazon's Grocery concept yet? We're impatiently waiting for online groceries to make it to the midwest...

Swiped from Pop Culture Junk Mail: Chew By Numbers! The mind boggles.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Well. Last week was sort of a disaster in terms of time management. Everyone's trying to get everything done before the 4th of July weekend, apparently. This includes me, who's taking off for New England Friday morning while Bunny holds down the spooky library fort! Therefore, in honor of the shortened week and the backlog from last week, we're throwing the themed days out the window and just posting whatever, whenever, until Thursday. Got a link you want to share with the world? Send it in!

And now, on to the varied links. Thanks to everyone who sent stuff in!

From Holly: a Turkish student is out to protest the mandatory centralized exam by attempting to answer every single question wrong. I'm not exactly sure how this helps the cause, but hey.

Also from Holly: combine Stalin with surf music and you get...Gulag Tunes. Yes, it's real!

Also from Holly again: a bizarre story involving virgins, insurance, and the second coming of Christ.

From Courtney: it's a card catalog! It's art! It's the Cartalog!

Swiped from my cousin (once removed or second once removed or something) Brendan: Wikipedia's controversial topics include Islam, the 2004 election, and...George Bernard Shaw?

Worth 1000 always has fantastic PhotoShop contests. A recent one on "real life merit badges" produced some true gems. There are badges for everything, from Monty Python knowledge to gay merit to modern video games.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Argh! Currently buried under a pile of research requests. Check back in a little while for an update.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Why not get a Stonehenge watch in honor of the summer solstice this week?

Moving around the world...in Turkey, the Kirkpinar Oiled Wrestling Festival is taking place this weekend. Yes, it's just what it sounds like. Meanwhile, the International Poetry Festival of Medellin happens in Colombia, and in Montana they're reenacting Custer's Last Stand .

If you yearn for a Haunted Mansion singing statue, yearn no more - you can make your own! And you can keep it in a room with a devilish doorstop!

And lastly, something for the linguistics and/or geography geeks: I've always wondered how streets get their names, especially in high-density areas like subdivisions. The LA Times went to find out who names their local streets and why he picks the names he does.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The jetpacks still aren't here, but now we can at least have DigitalDawn curtains. Ooooh! Ahhhh! And we can also travel by being strapped to a helium balloon, sort of! (I wish I'd seen this earlier; I would have gone up to Columbus to try it out on the demonstration day.)

Scientists need volunteers to help them measure oxygen deficiency effects, and they're going to conduct the experiments at the base camp of Mt. Everest. If, like me, you're fascinated by the Himalayas but will probably never be a skilled mountain climber, this is one way to see them.

Meanwhile, down here around sea level, there are pink grapefruit-flavored Mentos (in Canada) and experiments with making gigantic candy via Pimp That Snack. (The Twix of Terror and the Pimpermint Patty are two recent notable results.)

Monday, June 19, 2006

Thanks to all who came out for the yard sale! We met some very cool people and caught up with some cool people we already know. It was a bastion of coolness in the middle of the heat!

If it's Monday, that means it's time for art, music and language...

Art: what do portraits tell viewers about the subject? Or the painter? Please use both sides of the paper if necessary.

Music: Classical music and MySpace may seem an odd combination, but apparently it's working out pretty well for everyone concerned. Speaking of classical music, Vladimir Horowitz took his piano everywhere he performed, and evidently the piano was akin to a corked bat in baseball. Interesting stuff.

Language: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It's the soft glow of Google's Shakespeare database, where you can read the Bard to your heart's content. Or to your homework's requirements, whichever is more pressing.

More language: I used to be a journalism major, and then I stopped carrying my manual of style around with me and my grammar went to hell. Fortunately, the online collection of common errors in English helps a bit.

Thursday, June 15, 2006


Okay, this is it! Tomorrow and Saturday, our place. There will be fun people and fun times. Stop by, and if you still don't know where we are, email us for directions. (Our address doesn't show up in Google Maps, see. We are incognito spooky librarians as far as they're concerned.)

Since we'll be sort of busy tomorrow, Folderol probably won't get updated. So here's a combo post, with interesting, somewhat library-friendly links and then links from others.

After a few years of individual (and wildly successful) efforts on their own websites, Pamie and Glark have combined forces to begin the Dewey Donation System, You have to love an organization that has "Libraries Are Sexy. Pass It On." as a slogan. Go donate to libraries that really need your help!

Did you know we just had a Strawberry Full Moon? Wow, the things you learn in the Farmer's Alamanac...

The University of Buffalo has a great online exhibit of yesteryear ads featuring now-illegal substances. I wonder what it was like to have cocaine throat lozenges and wine around.

After Modern Mechanix posted this wonderful story on the bizarre tunnels beneath the home of Dr. H.G. Dyar, I got all intrigued and found a short biography of the man. And people think scientists are boring. Wow!

From Holly: The Emperor finds out what happened to the Death Star. (If you're not watching Robot Chicken these days, you should be.)

From Bunny: What movie should you be in? We both got Fight Club. This is a strange result. (Well, not for him, really...)

From Danny: a wonderful treasure chest of links (and video!) for fans of the Elegant Gothic Lolita look.

Also from Danny: trailers for Finnish documentaries, mostly regarding death metal bands who eat each other. Well, occasionally, anyway.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone! See you this weekend, or Monday.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006



The good, the bad and the ugly, all for sale this weekend for a fistful of dollars!

If you're not into the World Cup all that much, perhaps the Robot World Cup would be more interesting? There are over 400 teams ready to go!

Rob Zombie is the newest horror host on the block; he'll be showing flicks on Turner Classic Movies, starting this fall. We remind everyone to support your friendly local horror hosts as well as the bigwigs.

Beautiful and spooky: the mythical city of Galvez. My dreams look like this sometimes.

Off the Deep End features all sorts of cool stuff, including this Skellybone wind chime. Yarrr!

And finally, when thinking about death and burials and other light matters, consider a green funeral. There are all sorts of options out there now.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006


Once again, the yard sale is Friday & Saturday. We're having friends show up on Saturday with more stuff to sell, so come both days! (Saturday may also include cute toddlers, cute little dogs, and refreshments. Possibly.) Again, email us if you need directions.

If you can't make it, or you prefer swapping stuff from behind a computer, check out Gimme Your Stuff!, which is a very cool way to exchange candy from other countries. I think I may jin in the fun.

Then again, there is tofu. Not edible tofu, but stuffed little tofu cubes. The idea of pink and grey tofu unnerves me a little.

Retro fun time: DeLoreans are back! (No word yet on whether you can get one with a flux capacitor built in.) The Henson production team is back with a late-night talk show called "Late Night Buffet" - no Muppets are involved as yet, but you never know. And if you were a fan of mixtapes in the '80s, now you can wear them as fashion accessories. (This makes me feel really old. Oi.)

And finally, for those of us who are into periodic tables (shut up, they're cool), here's a really nifty interactive version.

Monday, June 12, 2006


Yes, it's time once again for one of our yard sales! This one has some great stuff, especially if you're of the geeky persuasion. (If you're in the Cincinnati area and you don't know where we live, email us and we'll give you directions.) More obnoxious posters will pop up during the week.

And now, on to the links...

Would Congress just please leave PBS alone? Sheesh.

Here's a great idea for an art installation: trees which draw. How awesome is this? (Many images are included; click on the numbers to see more.)

More interesting art news: evidently Kandinsky had synaesthesia, which significantly influenced his paintings.

The Soviet regime may not have been all that admirable, but their art was awfully cool.

And finally, you have not truly lived until you've seen David Hasselhoff singing "Secret Agent Man" while wearing a tuxedo and a jetpack. Yes, really.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Today being Friday, we have a random assortment of fun links for you.

From Holly: the evolution of dance. It gets really good when he hits the 1980s.

Batgirl, who brought us so much joy via baseball LegoVision last summer, has now depicted the AJ Pierzynski-Michael Barrett fight from last month. Hee.

The mad photoshoppers at Fark took on the theme of inappropriate Barbies. Some of the results are hilarious.

Carthedral: it's a car with a cathedral! How cool is this?

Chengwin: it's a chicken and a penguin at the same time! How weird is this?

Lastly, if anyone can figure out Click, Drag & Type, let me know. I'm still stuck on the first level. I think I need to type something, but I'm not quite sure what.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone. See you Monday!

Thursday, June 08, 2006

[Blogger is STILL being annoying as hell; updates may be belated.]


Cool librarian of the week: the Zenformation Professional. I'm not just saying that because he works near me and likes Nick Cave, either. But it helps.

The ACLU has taken up the cause of the librarians who were put under that gag order some time ago...and they've come up with some nifty posters, too.

Speaking of nifty, the Library of Congress is trying to preserve digital information via WebCapture, which looks interesting. If you haven't seen MINERVA yet, incidentally, check it out.

Google's put together a neat little mashup for your summer vacationing needs. The Summer of Green shows environmentally friendly places to see and things to do. You could potentially tie it in with Kiplinger's 50 Smart Places to Live. You will see that Ohio is nowhere near a smart place to live, according to the list. But do these other places have Opera Dog Day? I think not!

Tomorrow: links from others. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Wow, Blogger has had the flu lately or something. Updating has been a pain. At any rate...

The weekend activities are pretty much geared toward the World Cup -- the Germans have even thoughtfully provided a different pizza for each nation in the tournament! -- so if you're not interested in soccer, the pickings may be slim. In such an event, you could curl up with some nice paranormal publications, courtesy of Adventures Unlimited Press, or perhaps peruse the library of Dr. Gargoyle (I can't say much for his professional claims, but the library is pretty decent!), or ponder the curse of the Omen movies, or go in a lighter direction and study the mythic literature which abounds within the Mythopoeic Society.

Alternatively, you could try outfitting your dog in a stunning Storm Defender, which is supposed to make dogs feel better during storms. I think this may depend on how your dog feels about wearing a vinyl cape.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

It's the 62nd anniversary of D-Day. Wow. Of course, it's also the National Day of Slayer and the time when the seas will turn to blood and all that, which seems a little contradictory. (I did like hearing what the Satanists will be doing tonight, which sounds pretty ordinary.)

Another sign of the imminent apocalypse: the robots are getting smaller and better. Yay, robots! Meanwhile, the humans are trying to build a real-life Mario Brothers game. Sign up for it if you like.

Happy news for the geeky: Choose Your Own Adventures are back!

Your moment of...well, not zen; perhaps more of absurdity: the Muppet Show theme set to The Lord of the Rings. Someone somewhere is a brilliantly goofy genius.

Lastly, some personal bits. If you want to see what I look like (from the back), check out the cover art to the upcoming release by The Silent Screen, a band which plans to take over the world. Eventually, anyway. Also, a new podcast is up at Meet Cleaver Theatre, featuring a trailer, information, and some banter, co-hosted by Butch and a groundhog. If you've ever wondered what I sound like as a groundhog, well, now your curiosity can be satisfied.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Today ended up as a sort of tribute to synaesthesia. What does the Mona Lisa sound like? Would an old classic with a new "lurid" cover seem like the same book? (And who designs these covers, anyway?) Do photos taken with a lens made of ice seem colder than others? And would your memory of a concert change if you didn't have the tickets as souvenirs?

(Apologies for the brevity today; Blogger's been up and down.)

Friday, June 02, 2006

Today: links from others! Thanks, everyone.

From Zazoo: "Ohio is tied for last place in states that provide gay rights and reproductive rights. Not a big surprise, but it's sad that places like West Virginia and Alabama are more accepting than we are."

Also from Zazoo: "Forget about the lukewarm economy, gas prices and even the ongoing war in Iraq. President Bush is focusing on the real threat to America - he's relaunching his crusade to ban gay marriage."

(I feel like I'm living in the last days of the Weimar Republic lately...)

From Danny: "Domino Day for Librarian types. I wonder who get to put them all back on the shelves though..."

From a library list: a Nashville paper defines the sexy librarian look. (I call shenanigans. Stilettos? You can't shelve books in stilettos!)

From several websites: the amazing photographer squirrels! This is awesome!

And lastly, here's a visual representation of Folderol. You can make your own for your own website, too.



Have a spiffy weekend, everyone. See you Monday.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

New stuff up at Meet Cleaver Theatre! Podcasts! New weblog updates! New contests! Go check it out! Now!

Okay. On to the library links...

Libraries and the Patriot Act, Part 6: we're not being melodramatic, as librarians really are being asked about patron records.

The World eBook Fair is coming on July 4th! Get your jump drives ready!

For the tech types: PC World counts down the top 25 worst ideas in recent technology. On a more positive tech note, Apple has instituted a recycling program for old computers.

ISHUSH takes on the issue of having an MLS degree vs. working at a library for several years (and being called a "paraprofessional"). I've always thought that library positions should be angled so that 3-4 years experience counts as much as an MLS. Library school can be a great way to learn procedures and management, but it's the job itself that teaches you everything.

And finally, some fun stuff: what does your birthday say about you? I never knew I was born under a new moon. Also, you can input your name and get more interesting facts. Apparently I'm an idealistic perfectionist, perpetually irked that the world isn't all it could be. Heh.

Tomorrow: links from others!