How do you build a tram system up a steep slope before we invented anti-gravity boots and rock-climbing robots? Helicopters! These “mechanical dragonflies” hauled stuff up the hill to build towers and string cables so that a bunch of guys in the 1960s didn’t have to. This video is 25 minutes of your life that you may, as I do, find fascinating.
Also, the opening set-up shots are worth the time just to see the hotels and businesses that no longer exist—like Bob Hope.
I was challenged at a meeting a couple weeks ago by the idea that I didn’t have a lot of experience with the media. Still don’t, but I took on the spokesman duties for a little event put on by the Far Eastern outpost of San Diego’s Omnipresent Charitable Organization. Didn’t get a mention in the lower third in the video package above, but neither did the county supervisor who wrote a big check, so I’m not too disturbed by the snub.
With this appearance, I’ve been in a few minutes of teevee interviews and seven seconds or so of airtime. Total. Ever. Okay, there was that time sitting in the audience at Bozo’s Circus in the old KMIR studios…
My neighbors invited some nice people to entertain their guests this evening. It’s a pleasant summer evening, so they decided to move their very raucous party out to the deck and I couldn’t be happier.
The first snowfall of the season here in America’s Cleanest and Bestest Forest started yesterday and here I am stuck without a Jeep. Okay, to be fair, the Mighty Jeepster is up and running, but not the best mode of safe transportation with its sternum-stabbing steering column, metal dashboard and crusty lap belts. It’s great for around town chores, but I rely on the Grand Livingroom to get to and from work when the weather trends towards ice and slush. Call me old fashioned.
Because I live in a town that runs at a slower pace (which is, incidentally, why we have Daylight Saving Time—so that we can finally catch up) and I need a special tool to fix my all-wheel drive Barcalounger that will surely maybe arrive Monday or thereabouts, I have had the opportunity to look at some internets.
So let’s see what’s on Metafilter. A link to Craig Ferguson’s Halloween show? With Neil Gaiman? I’m in. Particularly since their interview touches on the Doctor’s Wife episode of Doctor Who. He was even in a musical number at the end of the show.
But who is Amanda Palmer? Well, she’s a singer, used to be is currently in the Dresden Dolls, married to Neil Gaiman (interesting couple), and is also a noted pescatarian.
Which reminds me, I should go to the market and get something for dinner.
