are you tired of having your hands cut off by snowblowers and the inevitable heart-attacks that come with shovelling snow (12. 017)

As our faithful chronicler informs, this day in 1992 saw the original airing of Mr Plow (S04:E09), in which Homer purchases a snowplow and his success clearing driveways inspires a rivalry with his friend Barney, who quickly corners the market. Dan Castellaneta, voicing both Simpson and Gumble, garnered his second Emmy for the episode (after “A Streetcar Named Marge”), considered one of the best in the show’s long history. As a late night spot on public access television originally attracted customers, Barney commissions Linda Ronstadt to perform the jingle for his competitor, Plow King—and escalating the advertising campaign, Mr Plow secures the services of an agency to create an avant garde and perplexing commercial that fails to land with the public. Batman’s Adam West makes a cameo too, and there are as well dozens of obscure cultural references. Call Klondike 5-3-2-2-6 right now.

𝚒𝚖𝚐_𝟶𝟶𝟶𝟷 (12. 016)

Via Waxy, we are directed towards this fascinating clip-culling project from Riley Walz, which scoured the video-hosting service for the default naming convention that the iPhone camera app employed for their feature “Send to YouTube,” circa 2009 until 2012. The service saw a whopping seventeen hundred percent increase in uploads but Apple eventually parted ways after sharing became less technically encumbered and bandwidth was less of an issue. Randomised they make interesting for snapshot of moments from the lives of strangers, unrehearsed and unedited. There’s a lot of baby and pet antics, trips to amusement parks, concerts, talent shows and even forgotten trends, like the Ice Bucket Challenge—anonymous scrapbooks. Although there are a few actual accidents, natural disasters and surprise proposals, most of these short videos are wholesome and wholly unspectacular although one feels a bit of tension building for the unexpected that fails to materialise but are nonetheless fascinating to watch, as a time-capsule barely seen and hardly searchable—see previously.

day 1000 (12. 015)

Addressing a special session of the EU parliament to mark a thousand days since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Europe to “push harder” against Putin’s aggression, adding that Russian resources, will and patience was not inexhaustible and there comes a breaking point and have to pursue a “just peace.” The speech and grim milestone come a day after Joe Biden lifted sanctions on the use of US-supplied long-range missile systems outside of Ukraine’s own borders, the approval following incursions into the Kursk region and the expected response by Russian and North Korean troops.

the seal of solomon (12. 014)

Regarded as a patron of the army and surely with significance to the Roman calvary garrisoned, an amulet bearing the figure of the prophetic king Solomon horseback and spearing a demon has been uncovered by an archaeological team excavating the site of Hadrianopolis (Edirne) on the Black Sea. The fifth century pendant bears the inscription “Our Lord has overcome evil,” with the obverse listing the archangels Azrael, Michael, Gabriel and Israfil. Though no artefact of this type has been previously discovered in Anatolia, the motiff was a popular one, eventually replaced by St George and the dragon in the Middle Ages, where as the former eventually meets his down fall by the devils he enslaved.

summerisle (12. 013)

Having previously looked into the movie, The Wicker Man, inspired by true events, we enjoyed this interview with the documentary filmmaker Rupert Russell’s latest project in The Last Sacrifice investigating this unsolved murder from 1945 and the repressed mindset of inherently destructive natures, thrown into sharp contrast through the genre of British folk horror that the killing and subsequent reportage established and informed. Much more from Dangerous Minds at the link above.

synchronoptica

one year ago: German mite cheese (with synchronoptica) plus the first laser show

seven years ago: dragnet surveillance unsecured on the cloud plus heritage per photograph

eight years ago: a hangover recovery bar, a referendum on public education plus how the parties got their colours

nine years ago: assorted links worth revisiting, the OED selects an emoji as Word of the Year plus Chinese hackers infiltrate the US Office of Personnel Management

ten years ago: legendary voyages plus a parting gift from Steve Jobs

8x8 (12. 012)

hundreds of beavers: an anarchic slapstick comedy about a drunken salesman lost in the wilderness who has to trap his way out  

this is for you, human: a student seeking homework help from a chatbot receives a chilling threat  

fold, spindle and mutilate: after five years in development, LG introduces a prototype stretchable digital screen  

i got the worms workin’ under my skirt: Nate and Hila the Earth compose raps about composing and ecology—via MetaFilter 

worry stone: pre-fab pet rocks with a name, backstory and MTBI personality type are the latest craze among China’s youth  

zoom room: in 1916, just a year after the first transcontinental telephone call, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (predecessor to the IEEE) held a teleconference with over five thousand attendees across the US—via tmn  

butlerian jihad: Dune-franchise television series finally portrays the rise and downfall of the Thinking Machines—see previously 

dr horrible’s sing-along blog: a fun, definitive listing of best movie musicals

die osingverlosung (12. 011)

Inscribed on the UNESCO register of intangible cultural heritage in 2016, we had never heard of this five hundred year old custom, that takes place every decade (in years ending with four) on the arable plateau called the Osing near Bad Windsheim in Middle Frankonia after the harvest when lots are drawn by farmers of the four villages that share the land to determine who will work which parcel for the next ten years, until the next lottery. This unique system dates back to the late Middle Ages and ensures that fertile and less desirable fields are distributed equitably, this tradition surviving no where else in Germany has been upheld as the community appreciates the element of fairness—one farmer consigned to a poor allotment will have an equal chance to work more high-yielding patch of land next time, instead of selling off the commons to the highest bidder. Even taking place in 1944 when other long-standing traditions were put on hiatus, the custom is said to date back to around the year 1020 when Kaiserin Kunigunde von Luxemburg went on a hunting expedition in the then densely forested area of the Osing. Her party got lost but thanks to the pealing of church bells of the four villages surrounding the woods at the cardinal points, Herbolzheim, Humprechtsau, Krautostheim and Rüdisbronn, they were able to find their way, and in gratitude, the empress deeded the land to the people to share in perpetuity.

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synchronoptica

one year ago: terraforming Mars (with synchronoptica)

seven years ago: bioluminescence

eight years ago: majestic sandcastles, a particular aesthetic, the uncanny mantis shrimp, digitising archival photos plus a collapsing bike helmet

nine years ago: saving the bees  

ten years ago: linguistic redundancy plus high-fructose foods

recess appointments (12. 010)

Although the Republican will have control of both houses of the legislature, there still may yet be resistance from within the party to some of Trump’s most potentially disruptive and controversial nominees, which with combined with procedural manoeuvres afforded to the Democrats in the framework of parliamentarian proceedings, could seriously frustrate forming a cabinet and designating agency heads. Constitutionally, and again dating back to eighteenth century logistics and the speed of travel, the president can make term-limited appointments to fill vacancies while chambers are adjourned and curtail the normal confirmation process, wherein picks are vetted by a committee related to their role, which last through the next session and subject to formal extension—possibly not a bad arrangement for positions expected to have high turnover rate, like last time—and has been occasionally used in modern times. The senate, however, must be out for ten consecutive days to be considered in recess, and pro forma meetings are conducted, with as few as one member present, to ensure that the body is kept in session. Republicans could still declare that the senate is out of session, by a bald majority, though having them all submit to an abrogation of their duties and influence seems like a reach. If the chamber cannot be vacated to allow the president to circumvent the nomination process, congress can suspend itself but only with the agreement of both chambers—or are otherwise deemed in a state of disagreement. Should this be the case, the president has the power to force adjournment, or prorogue the legislative branch, something unprecedented and what the American Revolution sought to avoid with royal prerogative and would be elevated to the Supreme Court for resolution. Buckle up, Buttercup!