Wanna see a baby with two heads?

Click here.

If that doesn’t freak you out, here’s a slideshow of some really weird shit.

From the ashes, a phoenix rises

I felt bad for not having posted today, but as I sat down to write, I realized that I had nothing to say.

Like actually nothing.*

So I scanned my favorite blogs and online publications for inspiration.

Nothing.

I looked over my Google News page.

Nothing.

I resorted to my classic, signature, fool-proof, fail-proof fallback move– and went on a little Wikipedia Adventure.

Nothing.

No dice.

Zip. Nada. Zilch.**

Anyway, all this to say that my posting prospects were bleak. Very, very bleak. Bleak to the extent that I stooped so low as to Google “interesting facts”. That’s low. Looooow.

As it transpired though, the search was justified because lo and behold, what did I find? InterestingFacts.org.

According to the editors, the website was created to provide a more discerning and short-winded version of Wikipedia. I don’t know if I buy that because its bastardization of English grammar and usage is beyond horrific, however, if you can get past this, the site features a small but respectable assortment of– you guessed it– interesting facts. Go figure.

I’ll leave you with a few that peaked my interest:

• Someone had to invent the number zero***
• The Volkswagen Beetle owes its existence to Hitler
• The Great Wall of China isn’t actually visible from space
• The world’s largest feline is what? The Liger.

* Don’t judge me. I had a stressful day involving humidity, anxiety, excessive perspiration and a job interview. I don’t want to talk about it.

**Let it be known that before this day, the 28th of July, 2009, I’d never, ever, not even once, had an unsuccessful Wikipedia Adventure. To be honest, I wasn’t aware that Wikipedia Adventures even had the potential to be unsuccessful. Even after having experienced it, I’m still pretty sure that Adventure failure is impossible just by virtue of Wikipedia’s awesomeness. Nevertheless, I suppose it did happen. I guess it doesn’t really matter that it was a freak occurrence in history. A fluke. An aberration. A travesty….. I can keep going….

***As of today I’m making it my life’s ambition to invent a number. [If anyone has any insight as to how I go about this, please let me know]

In case you were wondering…

Did you know that Meat Loaf’s birth name is Marvin Lee Aday? Because I didn’t. Did you know that there is an official Meat Loaf fan club? Me neither. Finally, (and I’ve saved the best for last, here) did you know that you can follow Meat Loaf on Twitter? Because you can. Oh yes, yes you can.

I think I’ll conclude with this video, in which Meat Loaf tells us, oddly enough, not to eat meat. Weird, right?

(P.S. I do apologize for the 80s kick on which I’ve been lately. Hopefully this decade will work itself out of my system soon)

In case you were wondering…

This is a photograph of the Fairy Cottage in North Berkeley, CA , home to the Belladonna Fairy Camp— for girls aged 6-10. Yes, you read correctly. No, I am not kidding. Honest to god fairy camp. 

What does fairy camp entail? When interviewed by USA Today, camp director Jodi MacMillan says:

“Belladonna girls learn to perceive auras with clairvoyant counselors… and explore their individual spirituality and the entire rainbow of expressions and ideas.”

Course offerings at the “magical eco-arts day camp” include but are not limited to the following: 

• Fairy fashion
• Fairy house design
• Potions
• Divination
• Fluttering 101
• Animal telepathy

Also of note is the portfolio of camp employees. Counsellors possess such qualifications as  “certified flower essence practitioner”, “Priestess of Song”, and “reality shifter”. Additionally on staff is Rex the Golden Retriever, “a powerful telepathic communicator… available for the girls to practice interspecies [sic] dialogue”. 

Now, if this seems like your cup of tea, too bad. The Belladonna Fairy Camp is fully enrolled for 2009. You can, however, register to be on the wait list. 

***

If you’re like me, you are positively astounded by this unbelievable nugget of information. Imagine my surprise, then, upon Googling “fairy camp” and receiving over 8,000 hits. I guess that it’s fair enough, though– all in all, it beats the living hell out of Jesus Camp. 

James Dean on Warner Brother Presents

So I was scanning AdFreak, when I came across a list of ironic ads in history. Turns out that after the release of Rebel Without a Cause, Warner Brothers became concerned that James Dean’s character glorified reckless driving and that the movie’s popularity might result in the subsequent deaths of teenagers emulating him. The studio prophylactically filmed an episode of Warner Brother’s presents that features Dean dreamily asking the kids to stay safe on the road. The clip was never released as shortly thereafter, Dean died in a car accident.

50th birthdays

Today is my father’s 50th birthday, and though I try my best to keep the spectacularly dull details of my personal life out of this blog, I thought that this particular event was an appropriate exception. So, even though I don’t think he reads this, I thought I’d do a post on things that, like him, turn(ed) 50 years old in 2009.

Ben-Hur

Despite my objections to its overtly religious undertones (Its unofficial title is Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ), I can’t deny that this film is a Hollywood institution. It was released in 1959 and won 11 Academy Awards in 1960–a feat to this day equaled only by two other movies, 1997’sTitanic, and  2003’s Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. If you haven’t seen the flick, it’s worth it if only for the chariot race scene which I argue to be one of the sweetest chase scenes in cinema. Learn more here.

LEGO

Until I went to do the research for this post, I had no idea that LEGO was so old. But it is, and believe it or not, the toy has a really rich history. I won’t go into too much detail here but suffice it to say that I learned that there is an annual conference tailored to adult LEGO hobbyists. Furthermore, there is an official list of LEGO ambassadors, and a select few LEGO certified professionals. Yeah. So. I guess that’s…cool…

Alaska

I mean, its worth mentioning.  In 1867, America purchased it from the Russians for two cents an acre. In 1959, after numerous administrative changes (from land to organized territory), it finally became the largest state in the union (by area). It’s the least densely populated state (averaging 1 person per square mile), as well as the state with the highest male:female ratio (1.7:1). In areas outside the cities, this ratio can get as high as 5:1. It’s also about 7o% caucasian.  So basically, because of Alaska, Sarah Palin and a bunch of white dudes living in isolation are proud to call themselves Americans.

In all seriousness though, Alaska’s dramatic landscape and biodiversity is without comparison. If you’re interested in going, there are opportunities for all kinds of travelers, from crunchy backpackers to resort-types. If you guys like to ski, you should make it a life-goal to go to Alyeska. It’s sweet.

Mini

From its iconic British roots to BMW’s classy modern reinterpretation of the 1959 original, this is one of the most adorable cars ever put on the market. Interestingly, it’s the first car to be developed primarily as a fuel saver– it was originally launched in response to the fuel shortage caused by the 1954  Suez Crisis. What is the 1954 Suez Crisis? Uh, beats me. 

Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue

If you want to lead a happy and fulfilled life, you will go listen to this album, immediately. I’m not joking. Really, I’m not.

The St. Lawrence Seaway

The Seaway is is system of canals and locks that follows the St. Lawrence River between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The stretch of river has long been used for shipping, but legal, political, and logistical issues between the United States and Canada, building wasn’t approved until 1954. The seaway opened in 1959, having racked up a total cost of $470 million. 75% was payed for by the Canadian government, and 25% by the Americans. The two countries collaborated in the seaway’s formal opening, for which Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower took a short cruise aboard Royal Yacht Britannia after having delivered a joint address in St. Lambert, Quebec.

I’ll end by saying that it’s difficult to convey the connection that the Québecois feel with the St. Lawrence. Understand, though, that there is a deep and almost intrinsic cultural reverence for it. My father, born and raised in Montreal, is no exception– he loves the St. Lawrence so much that he often refers to it as “mon fleuve”, or my river. Seeing as it’s his birthday and all, I thought it fitting to finish with that.

Gechyoself some digital skeeillllz, son

My favorite digital guru– one Ms. Christen Mitchell– has posted the following video in her blog:

It’s a poignant and relevant overview of technology’s evolution and makes an excellent argument as to why we should embrace digital connectivity. Read more of what Christen has to say here. 

In the spirit of staying connected, I thought I’d remind you that you can follow me on Facebook or on Twitter. And keep coming back here, of course.

dmd.

In case you were wondering…

At $23 billion, the personal wealth of the Walton family is larger than that of the bottom third of the American population combined. That’s 100,000,000 U.S. Citizens.

Holler at a Walton. 

In case you were wondering…

Pre-Saved by the Bell Mario Lopez was on the Golden Girls in 1987 in the episode “Dorothy’s Favorite Pupil”. He plays a 12 year old kid named, funnily enough, Mario Sanchez, who gets deported to Mexico.

Pre-ER George Clooney is featured two episodes later, in “To Catch a Neighbor”. He plays a cop and has 7 lines. He has since undergone extensive orthodontia. He was still a dreamboat.

In case you were wondering…

how to euthanize fish.