Off the Grid

The Edge will be off the grid for the next 11 days.

UPDATE - Ai Weiwei finally released from secret jail

Internationally famous Ai Weiwei [designed the Bird Nest Stadium for the 2008 Olympics] was arrested over two months ago in China as part of a country-wide crackdown on political dissidents.  Ai was released today on bond after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion.  After his arrest, Ai Weiwei was detained in an undisclosed facility and prevented from contacting his attorney.
Ai Weiwei is also famous for giving the "bird" to various political monumentts.

Martin Museum "Selections from the Permanent Collection"

Painting by Walter McCown at the Martin Museum

The Martin Museum of Art, at Baylor University, is currently showing selections from its permanent collection.  Included in the show is a painting by Walter McCown, a local artist who was very talented and prolific during his life.  For those enthusiastic about mid-century art, abstracts and landscapes, it is not unusual to find his paintings at antique shops from Corpus Christi to Dallas.  McCown also painted under the pseudonyms "Josh Bass" and "Talman."  Walter McCown was born in Whitney, Texas in 1932 and died in Waco, Texas (while teaching painting classes) in 1994.  He showed paintings at exhibitions and galleries across the country.

Painting by Walter McCown in the
law offices of Tekell & Atkins, LLP.

Lady Blunt Increases 100 fold

A fifteen million dollar violin.

The original Lady Blunt.

As discussed before on the Edge, the famous Lady Blunt Stradivarius violin was donated by the Nippon Music Foundation in order to raise money to fund relief efforts in Northern Japan.  The auction house Tarisio conducted the acution today.  The Lady Blunt was the last item on the list at No. 126: "A FINE AND IMPORTANT ITALIAN VIOLIN BY ANTONIO STRADIVARI, CREMONA, 1721."  The violin sold for $15,894,000 (£8,750,000).  By way of comparison, the next highest priced item was a  French violin by Nicolas Lupot, 1799, which sold for £150,000.

The last time the Blunt went to auction, in 1971, she sold for a mere £84,000.

Marion to Bermuda Race Update

Lilla at the Start.

As of this morning, five boats have completed the race. The Lilla set a new time record for the race, completing the journey from Buzzard Bay to Bermuda in 69 hours.  The Oronoco, Adrian Ravenscroft's boat, is 117 miles from Bermuda and the next in line to cross the finish line... assuming Running Tide, Lynley III, and the Kyrie cannot overcome the 15 mile lead.

Lilla at the Finish.

Partial Nudity More Powerful

Many have said that being partially clothed is sexier than the full monty.  Now, it is true to say that partial nudity is more powerful.  When you are hot, you might as well take advantage of it... with the iKini, you can use the suns rays to charge your ipod or mobile phone.  Andrew Schneider has invented a solar panel bikini, with usb ports, that can harness your beauty and the sun all at once.

Marion to Bermuda Yacht Race

The first boats should arrive today in the Marion to Bermuda race.  The fleet left out of Buzzard Bay on Friday in less than pleasant conditions.  Lilla, a 76 Briand, is less than 20 nautical miles from St. David's Head, Bermuda.  The bulk of the fleet has 300 miles to go.  Waco, Texas is represented by Adrian Ravenscroft sailing the Oronoco, a Sabre 42.6.  The Oronoco 230 miles from the finish.

Zombies chew the brains of Leicester City Council

BBC

Despite fair warning [see this Edge entry], the town of Leicester was not perpared for a zombie attack today.  City officials and journalists mocked a letter from a concerned citizen asking about whether the city had in place an emgergency plan for zombie attacks.  "No," was the answer.  After much moaning and shuffling, the 150 zombies dispersed to quinch their thirst with a pint and to update their facebook and twitter feeds.

Great News for Attorneys and Politicians

Scientists are developing a procedure to implant a brain into a brain. "I am two minds about that," will no longer be cop-out phrase but an accurate description of inter-brain discord.  The possibilities are endless. The current technology only points at the ability of translating thoughts into movements, but one day the empathy-challenged may be able to implant a second brain that translates thoughts into emotions and feelings... perhaps even love.  "The ultimate goal is to be able to reactivate paralyzed limbs," said Euisik Yoon, a professor in the U-M College of Engineering.  But, Dr. Yoon, why not use the BioBolt to "reactivate paralyzed emotions?"

"These handcuffs look better on you than me..."

... a beleaguered Strauss-Kahn silently said to himself.  Despite an enthusiasm for domination, the former IMF chief shies away from the passive role:

Detective: "Please have a seat."
S-K: "Is that [handcuffing] necessary?"
Detective: "Yes, it is."
S-K: "I have diplomatic immunity."
Detective: "Where is you passport?"
S-K: "I need to make a call and let them know I won't be at my meeting tomorrow. These handcuffs are tight."

Or, he could just be "playing the role."

Ready To Be An Environmentalist? It is all about the marketing.

**** for Forests, or FFF, was founded in Norway to protest the destruction of rainforests worldwide.  The group's first appearance on the world's stage was at the Quartz Festival in 2004 when two members "shared their love" on stage.  More recently, FFF staged a two person protest in front of the alter at Oslo Cathedral, during service.  Some have suggested that the FFF website is merely a porn site; others have suggested that FFFers are actually Swedes and not Norwegians.

Rowdy Waco Boys Disrupt Church (in 1874)

Continuing with a review of 19th century life in Waco, Texas, the Waco Daily Examiner, on this day in 1874, reported that a group of boys gathered beneath the Baptist church windows on Sunday and conversed at such a volume that it disrupted the service.  The article admonished the boys, saying, "This sort of thing is very reprehensible, and the boys should go inside next time.  We are sorry to have to make this complaint."

Texas Cities are No Sancutary Says Senate

The New "Combover Colossus" silently says [with finger pointed to the sky], "Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free [except for persons of brown skin]... I lift my lamp beside your green card before I let you enter Texas's doors."

This morning the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 9, the Sanctuary Bill, which would cut off state funding to cities which prohibit local police from inquiring about a person's immigration status.

Vintage Clean - Sex (ism) in Advertising Continued

1893 advertisement in the Waco Evening News

Perhaps it is modern filth that adds humor to this print ad for Clairette Soap, but it was the Naughty Nineties. In this ad, the happy robber baron returns home with his pockets and bags full of Clairette Soap. The copy reads, "MY WIFE SAYS SHE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ...  that Clairette Soap.  YOUR WIFE WANTS IT TOO."

That is a lot of soap he is carrying.

Sex (ism) in Advertising - Part 2

1893 Ad in the Waco Evening News for Sexual Pills

Since we are on the topic of life in Waco, Texas in 1893, a review of the local evening paper reveals that the mantra "sex sells" is not new.  Energy drinks and herbal Asian stimulants, found on the counter of every corner store, were prevalent products in the Gay Nineties (known in the UK as the Naughty Nineties).  Take for instance Ozmanlis Oriental Sexual Pills, sold at the Risher drug store in East Waco.  [For those familiar with the Waco's directional dyslexia, East Waco is North Waco.] In case you have no need to remedy a "Loss of Manhood," Ozmanlis will also cure "Loss of Memory" and "Self Distrust." It is interesting to note that James F. Ballard, founder of Ballard Snow Liniment Co. (maker of Ozmanlis), is remembered not for sex aids, but for his art collections.

McLennan County Court News - 6/13/1893

Quiet day at the Courthouse (the current building was built in 1901).  The Waco Evening News reported on this day in 1893 that: "A number of cases were called and dismissed or continued in the county court this morning."

LeBron - Feathered and Tarred

Michael Rosenberg, over at Sports Illustrated, asked the question of whether LeBron James should the "tarred then feathered, or feathered then tarred."  Tar and feathering is an old and odd form of mob justice.  Like the Scarlet "A," a good feathering makes a public spectacle of the offender.  The punishment of humiliation begins with striping the person naked (with kicking and punching in the process) and proceeds to the tedious task of tarring.  After being doused in feathers, the person was often paraded through town.  The Fredericksburg, VA Daily Star reported on January 17, 1920 (the date Prohibition went into effect) the follow:   
There was excitement at Opal Thursday night when a few citizens took Loyal S. Johnson out of a woman's bedroom, gave him a good whipping with a hickory switch, and then applied a coat or tar and feathers.  He has left the county.
By July 18, 1921, officials in Texas acknowledged that the tarring and feathering was out-of-hand.  "Secret organizations" [similar to the KKK "of the reconstruction days"] were widely using the punishment for "moral reasons."

More Druids, Fewer Auto Accidents

Despite success in lowering the number of fatalities along Austria's motorways, the once secret Druid Blackspot Eradication Project has been cancelled. A number of years ago, ASFINAG (Austria's highway department) hired a full-time team of druids to remove the negative energy along the most treacherous highways. Fearing ridicule, the highway department kept the Druid Project secret until they could show success in the numbers. After Druids installed quartz monoliths and prayed with divining rods, the highway fatality rates dropped dramatically. Along one stretch, the average fatality rate dropped from 6 to 0. Arch Druid Wolfgang Hanisch is disheartened by the termination of the Druid Project... innocent lives are at stake. You cannot put the stones just anywhere along the side of the road. To effectively dispel the negative radiation, you need special divining rods and competent Druids who can properly use them.

Zombie Attacks, Palin, & City Planning

What can we expect from our city council and national government concerning preparations for zombie attacks?  Serious defense strategies or shy resignation?

A concerned in citizen of Leicester, England has turned the media spotlight on this glaring omission from the Leicester City Council's emergency management plan.  Sadly, even the most paranoid can over look equally pressing issues concerning emergency preparation for vampires, aliens, mutant aliens, dinosaurs, mutant dinosaur aliens, Sarah Palin, and Mutant Sarah Palin.  "Forewarned is forearmed."