- This Christmas display is clearly the work of a dedicated nerd. With money to burn.
- And speaking of nerds (and homeschoolers and the merely educated and curious): Free ebooks! No, not the usual free-for-the-day Kindle special. But astronomy books, math books, physics books, and general science books for many levels of expertise. (H/T H.)
- Were Tolkein’s hobbits inspired by Kentucky hillbillies? Hm. Not persuaded (particularly since all those hobbity surnames came originally from Tolkein’s own country), but it’s a charming story nevertheless. (Tip o’ hat to A, who probably won’t mind in this case.)
- The freedomista hydra. Damn, I love Paul Rosenberg’s work.
- “Snowden and Snooping.” And courage and principles.
- Dog dying in a trashheap is saved and in turn helps another rescue dog. Awww, thank you, Shel, for this one. (I once rescued a dog in that condition; what the video can’t convey is the incredible stench from the combo of mange and all those opportunistic infections. My Suki stayed with me for five years and got the best vet care possible, but she never grew all her fur back and when she was stressed, that odor would come wafting out, very faintly, right to the end)
- And not to leave out you cat people. Jed dropped this link in comments the other day to prove that the LOLcat meme didn’t just begin with the Intertubz.
The NSA is coming to town. (H/T DR in comments)
I first heard the bit about Hobbits being based on people from Kentucky when I was in high school-I have my doubts-I’ve lived here most of my life, and never heard any Hobbit names ( though now I gotta check the phone book).Both sides of my family come from from Eastern Kentucky, and I don’t recall a Hobbit-y sounding name from that area. With all that said, I do have some relatives that look like Hobbits…and is is sort of a neat idea that I could be living in-or at least near-the Shire.
Possible that Tolkien had many sources for his world? I wouldn’t be surprised if a man like Tolkien was interested in Kentucky and many other places. Anyone who’s spent time in coal mining areas world wide will also tell you that there’s a lot of amazing similarities in these areas, from China to Eastern Kentucky. They tend to be rural, hard drinking, live in wood framed homes and it tends to be a family profession from the earliest ages. I’d also have to say that Dwarves were closer in connection than hobbits. At the end of the day he made this world up from the psychological experiences of his WW I service, living in trenches, the terror of the cold rainy night. But I’m sure he drew from far and wide.
I’ve gotta guess that Christmas Light Guy’s neighbors hate him year-round.
Amen, Joel. I don’t think this woman is his neighbor, but it would be poetic justice if she were:
http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/12/12/Woman-Gives-Neighbor-the-Middle-Finger-in-Xmas-Lights
I have to admit that, despite being mostly a holiday curmudgeon, there’s geek appeal for me in the idea of setting up one of those type of displays. There’s bound to be some suitably obscure and obnoxius ancient festival deserving of recognition.
Used to date somebody from Hazard, in Eastern Kentucky. Got stories. Name fits perfectly.
On a more somber viewpoint, Patty Loveless sings about the stark realities of the area: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n57WBtvtC4
Shel, that’s one of the first things I thought of when reading that bit. Hardly happy little Hobbits living in cozy Hobit holes.
Funny, I always thought he based the hobbits on us Welsh. One Saturday night in the pub and you’d know why!
And, here are some modern dogs.
http://distractify.com/fun/fails/dogs-who-are-shamelessly-proud-of-what-they-just-did/