Today is National Nude Day (I know someone who celebrated a little early).
The origins of this holiday have yet to be uncovered.
However if you want to have a little skin in the game, forget the laundry, but not your sunscreen. Bottoms up!
Posts Tagged ‘whimsey’
Whose culture am I appropriating?
July 8, 2017All of them, truly. I found this article at The Mad Genius Club, via The Bayou Renaissance Man (with thanks). Not my words, but I thought it clicked things back into perspective.
“We’ve all seen the amusing Facebook meme: There are two kinds of countries in the world — those which use the metric system, and those which have landed on the Moon.
You could also easily say: there are two kinds of civilization in the world — the ones which culturally appropriate, and the ones which get left behind. Maybe even die?
It’s 2017, yo. Get your woke-ass panties out of your crack. Nothing you eat, read, listen to, drive, wear, or do for a living, was created in a vacuum. Each and every bit of your modern existence, is the result of people borrowing and stealing good ideas from somebody else. Doesn’t matter if it’s Hong Kong, or Paris, or San Francisco — every modern city is a gleaming, rich example of what happens when cultural appropriation is carried out with gusto.
Consider the nearest Chinese food establishment, employing Mexicans in the grill, a Filipino girl at the register, and serving food which bears little resemblance to anything anyone in China was eating a century ago. Because once people figured out how to jazz things up for an American palate, there was no stopping the culinary freight train. It was Mongolian Beef and General Tso’s from coast to coast. Ka-ching, ka-ching.
Did anyone ever ask the general if his recipe could be used for this purpose?
Hell no!
And it doesn’t matter anyway. The general’s descendants are over at KFC, eating the colonel’s chicken. While listening to South Korean hip-hop. Wearing synthetic clothing made from artificial fabrics invented by a company founded by a Frenchman. That same company also supplied almost half of the Union Army’s gunpowder, during the American Civil War. Gunpowder: another Chinese invention, imported to the West via Mongolian and Arabic means, and originally used for fireworks, as well as rockets. Rockets, which entered liquid-fueled prominence thanks to a New Englander named Goddard, as well as a German named Werner von Braun, who competed with a Russian named Sergei Korolev — to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying hydrogen bombs to the other side of the world, but which put human beings onto the lunar surface instead.
So, there you have it. From Americanized Chinese food to Armstrong’s, “One small step for man.” A cavalcade of glorious cultural appropriation, end to end.”
What am I eating?
June 7, 2017
I used to read and enjoy a blog that reviewed service station food offerings. There have been no postings there for a while, but on our recent road trip, I found some interesting snacks such as the Oreo candy bar above (what else would you do with broken Oreos?) and these:
And to wash it all down:
Nope, we did not try any of them, but if you have seen any interesting nibbles like these, I would be interesting in hearing about them.
Why do I have wings on my feet?
June 5, 2017
Japanese artist, Keiko Otsuhata, designed these high heels to look like pigeons. She then wore them to the park to see if she could attract the genuine article with her artifice. I don’t think she was particularly successful, but I give her credit for an amusing and original idea.
What am I looking at?
May 25, 2017
We recently traveled west and on the way home we visited Mt. Rushmore.
I had no idea you could also see it from the Canadian side.
What am I eating?
April 3, 2017
BOOKS! The 14th Edible Books Festival was held at Loganberry Books this weekend. People came and carefully set up their entries. Viewers paid their fee and carefully considered their favorites. After the judging was complete and the winners announced – the entries were demolished in less time than you can imagine. Here are some of the entrants this year.
The Monster Book of Monsters
Click Clack Moo
Pigs in Heaven
Not a Box
The Paper Dolls
And, in the adult category, Tequilla Mockingbird
What am I posting on Smoke and Mirrors Day?
March 30, 2017The answer is nothing – because Smoke and Mirrors Day was yesterday. However, I hope you enjoy this Penn and Teller bit of misdirection as much as I do.
Where am I working?
March 20, 2017
DoggyMan Kansai Logistics Center
A dachshund-shaped building was designed by Nikken and completed in 2011. It functions as DoggyMan’s warehouse and distribution center and is located in Osaka. It can be seen if you’re driving along the Hanshin Expressway No. 4. An outline along the roof lights up at night, allowing drivers to see the adorable shape even when its dark.
Kirin Beer Factory (Nagoya)
Located along the Tokaido Shinkansen Line (and viewable as you’re pulling out of Nagoya Station) is the Kirin Beer Factory. The tanks are immediately recognizable because they’re painted to look just like a tall glass of beer: golden brown on the bottom with white foam at the top. If you’re actually in Nagoya you can also schedule a free tour and tasting! (They even have a hip-looking restaurant)
Meiji Chocolate Factory (Osaka)
In 2011 Meiji, known for their chocolate candy, decided to refurbish their first factory that was originally built in 1955. Since then it’s been a magical place for kids and the company wanted to instill that same magical spirit into their new factory. Given that the JR Kyoto train line runs directly south, Taisei Design proposed an idea that to make the entire façade look like a gigantic bar of chocolate that can be seen from the train. It’s 28 m high and 166 m long, which is equivalent to 38,000 bars of chocolate. If you want to visit, they offer free tours as well.
(This one is my favorite.)
Taru Tonneau in Okinawa
In Okinawa there’s a bar and eatery known as the Barrel Restaurant. The real name is Taru Tonneau (taru means barrel in Japanese) and the shop is shaped like a gigantic whiskey barrel. It’s been around since at least 2012 but its website looks like it’s from the 90s. It’s one of the more wild novelty architecture designs we’ve come across but it certainly does the trick in announcing its business.
What am I measuring?
March 14, 2017
What do you call a snake that’s exactly 3.14 meters long?
A πthon
Happy Pi Day
Gunsmoke and Knitting 