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LET'S GET WEIRD!
It's Wednesday! It's also July 29th! If that means it's also your birthday, congrats — you made it another revolution around the G-type main-sequence star we colloquially (and collectively) refer to as the Sun! Unless, of course, this is a disappointment to you, in which case I offer my condolences.
Speaking of birthdays...
• Happy birthday to cartoonist Hank Ketcham, born this day in 1920! Unfamiliar? Well, he's only responsible for THE original menace to society — a little slingshot-wielding blond nightmare named Dennis.
• Also due for a sepia-toned slice of cake? Documentarian Ken Burns, who was born this day in 1953! Whether you favor Baseball, The Civil War, Jazz, Country Music, or none of his epic PBS series, you have to admit that no one has done more with slow motion zoom-ins and cross-pans of vintage photography than the diminutive Brooklyn-born Red Sox fan.
*****
OK, enough of this cake talk — on to the links!
Is this the most original creative pursuit? No, but it's done well, and outside of the cave paintings at Chauvet and Lascaux in France what artist can truly say they're mining wholly original territory?
Sure, he's an adorable doggo with a sensitive streak, but the more urgent question (for me, anyway) is "WTF is duck tolling?"
*looks up duck tolling, finds answer, is still very confused from an etymological standpoint*
I know that still sounds like a bummer, but this is actually very cool and well worth the read!
4. Ever wondered what outer space and/or the Moon smell like? Back this Kickstarter and find out!
Unless I know the people behind the project personally I don't usually back Kickstarter/GoFundMe stuff, but this is still pretty interesting. If only I wore a fragrance! Alas, fabric soaks up scents, and I'm pretty sure none of our more sensitive-snooted customers want to receive shirts that smell like the Sea of Tranquility.
5. Penguins chasing bubbles is the best thing I've seen all week!
Don't get me wrong — with the exception of the human zoo Bon Scott sang about in AC/DC's 'If You Want Blood (You've Got It)', I'm no fan of zoos* in the abstract or concrete — but they are a thing that exists, so I at least want the critters therein to be entertained and/or enriched.
*If you or a loved one work at a zoo, please don't take umbrage. This sentiment is more about the exploitative for-profit ventures that aren't about conservation.
Boredwalk Community: "Crazy" Ideas Change the World
1. What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?
I am currently a part-time instructor at a local university here teaching people all about the brain and its wonders and mysteries. In addition to that, in pre-pandemic times, I also worked as an actor in bit parts in TV & film, wrote scripts, and also helped solve small business' tech and software problems as a side hustle.
My dream day job is to make a living as an actor and neuroscientist who studies creativity in the brain. I know, they seem like opposites, but in my fully left brain/right brain integrated mind, they seem like completely complementary career choices. :D However, there were definitely moments where my dream job was to be a hot air balloonist and travel the world that way. Certainly seems the safer way to travel in these times!
2. What's your biggest pet peeve?
When people honk at you loudly from behind to drive faster or change a lane when all you are trying to do is be a safe driver! Come on, people, don't be rude. And also, people who misuse "you're" vs. "your." Argh, that annoys me. :D (Ed. note: I'm feeling all of these peeves.)
3. What's a book you think the Boredwalk community should read?
Ooh, this is a tough one because I want to recommend SO many books! I felt very inspired reading Michelle Obama's Becoming. It was wonderful to read and experience what grace and dignity look like through her words. I would
also like to recommend Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.
4. What's the most useful piece of advice you've ever received?
If someone tells you your ideas are crazy, thank them. Because it's "crazy" ideas that change the world. :D
5. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
If someone wasn't feeling good about themselves, I wish I could just point at them and go "zap" and give them a huge boost of confidence. (Do you make house calls?)
6. You can curse your nemesis with a minor annoyance for eternity; what do you choose?
Life is hard enough, so I wouldn't curse them with anything. (That's awfully forgiving of you, Maria. I aspire to that level of magnanimity!)
7. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?
People can find me on Instagram @thespi_brain and also my personal website: www.thetravelingguitar.net
LET'S GET WEIRD!
It's Wednesday! I don't know why, but I've always liked Wednesdays. Maybe it's how they bisect the work week. Maybe it's the absurd spelling, full of silent and superfluous letters. All I know is that it's here for us, and I am here for it!
We also have a few birthdays to acknowledge, so let's stuff ourselves with some cake!
• Happy birthday to Gregor Johann Mendel, born this day in 1822! For students of a certain age, the Austrian botanist's name is synonymous with stamens & pistils.
• Next up, cut a slice for Margery Williams Bianco, born this day in 1881! Ms. Bianco gifted us with the children's literary classic The Velveteen Rabbit, which is pretty much THE definitive work about a kid navigating a challenging — even deadly — contagious illness (scarlet fever). And if you've never read it AND are a fan of Disney/Pixar's Toy Story franchise, you might notice some...similarities...between the respective plots.
• Hot on her heels is painter Edward Hopper, born this day in 1882! While Mr. Hopper is most famous for his stunning Nighthawks piece, he has many other impressive works in a variety of mediums. One of the interesting things about Hopper is that he didn't really achieve his artistic "breakthrough" until his 40s, and he didn't complete Nighthawks until he was 60! It's never too late...but you've gotta put in the work.
Alright, enough of my nonsense — on to the links!
Not really my cup of poutine (Quebecois puns FTW!), but I will gladly spin Songs of Love and Hate till the Expos come home.
2. The cat trees are really bearing some luscious fruit this season!
You know they're ripe when the tongues are hanging out.
3. Coffin-shaped floats? This is very on-brand for the summer of Covid.
I know, I know — I decreed back in April that the Wednesday emails would be a Covid-free zone, but I couldn't resist. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...
4. Speaking of cakes, check these spectacular sponges out!
I don't know how appetizing biting into a sugary slice of a Croc sandal is, but that aloe plant cake is rad!
I don't know about you, but I'm already at capacity in terms of all the various streaming content channels I can keep track of, but if anything is going to get me to sign up for a free trial of Quibi, it'd be this weird not-really-punk-rock-but-also-kinda-punk-rock art project.