A fool and his money

Find out why Mike Meyers became Disfarmer

Heber Springs Arkansas photographer:
The eccentric photographer known as Disfarmer (1884-1959) seemed to be a man determined to shroud himself in mystery. Born Mike Meyers, the sixth of seven children in a German immigrant family, Disfarmer rejected the Arkansas farming world and the family in which he was raised. He even claimed at one point in his life that a tornado had lifted him up from places unknown and deposited him into the Meyers family.

In time Mike expressed his discontent with his family and farming by changing his name to Disfarmer. In modern German 'meier' means dairy farmer, and since he thought of himself as neither a 'Meyer' nor a 'farmer,' Mike Meyer became 'dis'- farmer. "

Bcc, AOL and Privacy

When you send an email to a list of people, you probably don't want everyone on the list to see all the email addresses. Some people value privacy. Sending mail as a Blind Carbon Copy (BCC:) solves the problem by hiding the list from recipients. Instead of using To: or CC: field with numerous addresses, just put the list in the BCC: slot. You can put your own secondary email address in the To: slot.

For some reason AOL makes this hard, but....

Add Bcc Recipients in AOL - About Email:
To add a Bcc recipient in AOL:

* Start with a new message (click on the Write icon in the AOL toolbar).
* Enter Bcc recipients' email addresses in the Copy To: box.
Separate multiple recipients by commas.
* Make sure you put the Bcc recipients in parentheses.
For example: '(ladeduaolmember, ladedu@ladedu.com)'
* Write and deliver your email as usual.

Heinlein Quotes

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.

A motion to adjourn is always in order.

I never learned from a man who agreed with me.

When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere.

I sometimes wonder whether I ever did have a childhood or was it just something I dreamed last night?

Never try to outstubborn a cat.

Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.

I don't like to be called 'Doctor'... When they began handing out doctorates for comparative folk-dancing and advanced fly fishing, I became too stinkin' proud to use the title.

Blog Poll ------- Gone Fishing

I may not be posting regularly for a while. In the meantime, please take the reader poll in the left column of the blog. I'm interested in finding out what you're interested in. If your idea doesn't fit into the poll categories, please send me an email with your suggestion at: hskolnic@gmail.com

You can send me a comment by clicking the link in the left hand column.
I'm open to guest essays, juried art shows, and of course, everyone's favorite, interactive nonsense.

Thinking of learning Mandarin Chinese this weekend?

Comparative table of languages


Mandarin Chinese is a very difficult language to read and write, but it is not as hard to speak as you might think. With the humongus Chinese economy behind it, it definitely is a language of the future. Even if you do not work with China, you can get plenty of opportunities to practice it at home with the many Chinese travelers and the wealth of Chinese cinema.

How do I know thee? Let me count the ways.

Interview

The questionnaire was invented by the noted French author Marcel Proust. These questions can be used by authors to interview the "characters" in their stories.

Partial list

• What is your idea of perfect happiness?

• What or who is the greatest love of your life?

• When and where were you the happiest?

• What is your greatest fear?

• What is your greatest extravagance?

• Which living person do you most despise?

• What is your greatest regret?

• Which talent would you most like to have?

• What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

• What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

• What is the trait you most deplore in others?

• What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

• On what occasions do you lie?

• Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

• What are your favorite names?

• How would you like to die?

Full questionnaire at Gotham website

'Intelligent Falling' Theory

Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

Link to Issue 41•33

As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools
continues, a new controversy arose.Scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning are now asserting that the long-held "theory of gravity" is flawed, and they have responded to it with a new theory of Intelligent Falling.

Rev. Gabriel Burdett explains Intelligent Falling.

Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but
because a higher intelligence, 'God' if you will, is pushing them
down," said Gabriel Burdett, who holds degrees in education, applied
Scripture, and physics from Oral Roberts University.

New Bubblespeak

The Housing Bubble Blog: "Realtor Magazine has some tips, titled ‘Cooler Market Ushers in Its Own Lexicon.’ “It helps to have a decoder ring when you read today’s real estate ads, newly spruced up to wow buyers in a tightening market. Here are some definitions:”

Old World Elegance: The word luxury is so 2005.

New Price: The seller dropped the asking price, but doesn’t want to put it bluntly.

Price Reduced to Sell: Sometimes the direct approach works.

Intimate: The new euphemism for small.

Grand: It suggests glamorous things like sweeping staircases in duplexes — and sweeping prices to match."

Ruth Orkin - Photographer - New York City

Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin was the only child of Mary Ruby, a silent movie actress, and Samuel Orkin, a mechanical wizard, and grew up in Hollywood during the heyday of the 1920's and 1930's. In the mid-1940's she became a photojournalist for Life, Look, Horizon, and Ladies Home Journal.

Later in her life, Orkin watched the seasons change outside her window from her Central Park West apartment. She documented what she saw. These photographs became the subject for two books 'A World Through My Window' (1978) and 'More Pictures From My Window' (1983).

Photo from a recent auction at Swann Auction Galleries-

http://www.swanngalleries.com/

William Somerset Maugham - Quotes

"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."

"I've always been interested in people, but I've never liked them."

"Marriage is a very good thing,
but I think it's a mistake to make a habit out of it."

"It wasn't until late in life that
I discovered how easy it is to say 'I don't know.' "

"Death is a very dull, dreary affair,
and my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it."

"There are three rules for writing the novel.
Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."

William Somerset Maugham

Mark Twain - Quotes

"What ought to be done to the man who invented the celebrating of anniversaries? Mere killing would be too light."

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself."

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."

"When in doubt tell the truth."

"Last week I stated that this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister and now wish to withdraw that statement."

"Familiarity breeds contempt—and babies."

Nascar Origins - Thunder Road

Asheville Log Cabins:
America was introduced to fast paced, skilled stock car driving through the 1958 black and white classic movie Thunder Road, the best of the moonshine-running films. The star, Robert Mitchum, wrote the original story and the theme song 'Whippoorwill.' Several scenes from this movie were filmed at the still operating Log Cabin Motor Court near Asheville, North Carolina.

Irving Penn still life

I mentioned Irving Penn's book of studio flower photographs to an artist. I looked on the web for an example to send her and found this inventive still life of frozen food by Penn instead.

Run Away from Home - Buenos Aires on 20 Dollars a Day

link to Expatriate Games
Travelers Are Heading to Buenos Aires for the Culture -- and Staying for the $250 Rent

By Allen Salkin
Sunday, April 23, 2006

Meghan Curry starts her day with a walk to the river. The former real estate agent from Denver, who is 26, holds hands with her fiance, Patricio de Vasconcellos, 31, a wavy-haired Argentine with dark eyes, as they gaze over the coffee-colored waters of the Rio de la Plata. Around midday, when de Vasconcellos heads to work at the wine shop where the two met a year ago, Curry settles into her two-bedroom apartment to work on her travel memoir and a collection of poetry. Then she might nap or head downtown for café con leche with friends at one of the city's thousands of outdoor cafes. Later, much later, it's time for a slow dinner on Buenos Aires time, where many restaurants don't open until 10 p.m.

'This,' said Curry, 'I could never do if I had to earn more than $6,000 a year.'

visualcomplexity.com | maps diagrams networks

The Web Stalker is a speculative software application for reading and manipulating information on the most popular portion of the Internet - the World Wide Web. As Web Browsers become increasingly more bloated and pointless, I/O/D 4: The Web Stalker gives users fast access to this media.


They Rule aims to provide a glimpse of some of the relationships of the US ruling class. They Rule aims to provide a glimpse of some of the relationships of the US ruling class. It takes as its focus the boards of some of the most powerful U.S. companies, which share many of the same directors. Some individuals sit on 5, 6 or 7 of the top 500 companies.



The Moscow Metro in Moscow, Russia, is the world's most heavily used metro system, with 3.2 billion passenger rides a year. It is well known for the ornate design of many of the stations, containing stunningly beautiful examples of socialist realist art.

link to more maps and diagrams

What is this?

Hint: Chick's Gadget.


Give up?
click Outblush


Now there's an easier way to apply our false eyelashes. Using the Sephora Lash Placement Kit ($10) you are able to use only one hand. Best of all, the antibacterial storage stand helps your lashes keep their curve. A great way to reduce the mess of applying your lashes, and also extend their life.

Energy Crisis Solution

Uncrate | Guys love Gadgets

Uncrate | The Online Buyer's Guide For Men:

Bike Chain Bottle Opener


Sometimes simple ideas are the best ideas, and we're starting to get that feeling about the Bike Chain Bottle Opener ($12). Made with flexible, recycled bike chain as a handle and an anodized aluminum opener head, the idea is simple, but the execution and final product is simply genius — at least, that is, after six or seven Coronas.

"The market can’t go straight up forever."

A Buyers Market For Years To Come:

The St. Augustine Record has this report from Florida. (Realtor) Arnold DeLorenzo, a respected voice in the local real estate market for 40 years, said houses for sale here may stay on the market longer than the sellers intend. ‘We’re saturated,’ he said. ‘The (housing) market is definitely weakened.’

DeLorenzo said even mid-priced homes aren’t selling well now because there are just too many listed. ‘Our inventory is up five-fold over last year,’ he said. ‘We just don’t have the buyers. There’s no demand.’

Leonardo da Vinci machines

LEONARDO3 | L3STUDIES: "Behind the inventions described in these pages you will find all the hidden excitement of Leonardo's projects; by studying the smallest details you will discover what is most important. In fact, it is often the detail hidden in even the most sketchy outlines drawn by this genius that discloses the true purpose of a machine or how it actually works. It is the minute particulars of Leonardo's drawings that conceal the secrets of his thoughts and designs."

Patent: Simulated Wedding Cake

Patent#: US 7021465

"How does one 'invent' a simulation? Isn't a simulation, by definition, a copy?
.....................................
In case you didn't know what was wrong with the traditional, multilayered, flour-based extravaganza, take a big slice of time-saving knowledge:

'wedding cakes commonly served at wedding parties need to be properly portioned, cut and placed on plates requiring the effort of someone skilled with the hands, a facility which all the attendees do not usually possess. The cake itself can be difficult or time consuming to make, and the whole event might require considerable clean up when completed.'

I mean, how long do you think this marriage is going to last?"

Free Cool 3D Software from Google

SketchUp software works With Google Earth: "Having recently bought the company and 3d design product SketchUp, Google has now taken the next step of releasing a free personal version of the SketchUp software. Currently available for Windows XP, with a Mac version 'coming soon', the program allows for simple drag and drop design of 3d models - which amongst other uses can then be displayed in Google Earth. The pro version remains available for commercial use, with lots more features. "

Download Google SketchUp

The Reefer Madness

Medical marijuana / Economist.com



"If CANNABIS were unknown, and bioprospectors were suddenly to find it in some remote mountain crevice, its discovery would no doubt be hailed as a medical breakthrough. Scientists would praise its potential for treating everything from pain to cancer, and marvel at its rich pharmacopoeia—many of whose chemicals mimic vital molecules in the human body. In reality, cannabis has been with humanity for thousands of years and is considered by many governments (notably America's) to be a dangerous drug without utility. Any suggestion that the plant might be medically useful is politically controversial, whatever the science says. It is in this context that, on April 20th, America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement saying that smoked marijuana has no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States."