Feral Gifter

Today in History

On May 31, 1889, more than 2,000 people perished when a dam break sent water rushing through Johnstown, Pa.

They are still waiting for their FEMA grants.

Unusual Flavors of Ice Cream in Japan

At my local ice creamery, I was somewhat shocked that they had avocado ice cream as a special flavor on the menu. (I was more shocked when my niece ordered a scoop and loved it!) That’s nothing compared to the flavors available in Japan. Today’s Mainichi Daily News features a delightful photo gallery called “The Wackiest World of Japanese Ice Cream.”

New Species of Cave Dwellers

If I wasn’t afraid of underground caverans, I might go looking for old species.

Boing Boing: new species found: cave dwellers isolated for millions of years

Scientists in Israel have discovered eight new species of sightless critters living in a cave that has been closed from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, they look more like scorpions than Sanrio characters. 
Link

posted by Mark Frauenfelder

Sometimes Good and Bad Go Hand and Foot

Sometimes good and bad go hand and foot.
Beautiful Picture.

Storm chaer Eric Nguyen took this amazing photo of a tornado descending from a dark storm cloud and a rainbow in Kansas (of all places - is that Dorothy’s house?).

Spiny Orb Weaver Spider

Most likely a friendly fellow

Richard Cotton took a photo of this very scary looking spiny orb weaver spider during his travels to Angkor Wat, Cambodia. He’s a brave man, because it that were me, I’d be running the other way! Link (Thanks Richard!)

If you like spiders, then you’ll like Richard Seaman’s website: Spiders of Vietnam

Bivouac of the Dead

The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat
The soldier’s last tattoo;
No more on life’s parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame’s eternal camping-ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.

No rumor of the foe’s advance
Now swells upon the wind;
Nor troubled thought at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the morrow’s strife
The warrior’s dream alarms;
No braying horn nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.

Their shriveled swords are red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed,
Their haughty banner, trailed in dust,
Is now their martial shroud.
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms, by battle gashed
Are free from anguish now.

The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle’s stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout, are past;
Nor war’s wild note nor glory’s peal
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that nevermore may feel
The rapture of the fight.

Like the fierce northern hurricane
That sweeps the great plateau,
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain,
Came down the serried foe,
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break o’er the field beneath,
Knew well the watchword of that day
Was "Victory or death!"

Long had the doubtful conflict raged
O’er all that stricken plain,
For never fiercer fight had waged
The vengeful blood of Spain;
And still the storm of battle blew,
Still swelled the gory tide;
Not long, our stout old chieftain knew,
Such odds his strength could bide.

Twas in that hour his stern command
Called to a martyr’s grave
The flower of his beloved land,
The nation’s flag to save.
By rivers of their father’s gore
His first-born laurels grew,
And well he deemed the sons would pour
Their lives for glory too.

For many a mother’s breath has swept
O’er Angostura’s plain —
And long the pitying sky has wept
Above its moldered slain.
The raven’s scream, or eagle’s flight,
Or shepherd’s pensive lay,
Alone awakes each sullen height
That frowned o’er that dread fray.

Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground
Ye must not slumber there,
Where stranger steps and tongues resound
Along the heedless air.
Your own proud land’s heroic soil
Shall be your fitter grave;
She claims from war his richest spoil —
The ashes of her brave.

Thus ‘neath their parent turf they rest,
Far from the gory field,
Borne to a Spartan mother’s breast
On many a bloody shield;
The sunshine of their native sky
Smiles sadly on them here,
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
The heroes sepulcher.

Rest on embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood ye gave;
No impious footstep shall here tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While fame her records keeps,
Or Honor points the hallowed spot
Where Valor proudly sleeps.

Yon marble minstrel’s voiceless stone
In deathless song shall tell,
When many a vanquished ago has flown,
The story how ye fell;
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter’s blight,
Nor Time’s remorseless doom,
Shall dim one ray of glory’s light
That gilds your deathless tomb.

–Theodore O’Hara

Theodore O’Hara’s elegiac poem, “Bivouac of the Dead”

Memorial Day at Davis Virtual Market

U.S. Memorial Day

VA’s Memorial Day

Memorial Day from Wikipedia

The Heart Cloud

Cherry + Almond Chocolate Muffins

Craving something sweet and summery? Follow this recipe for cherry and almond chocolate muffins that are so deliciously indulgent, everyone will fawn over you for making them.

RIP Nickster

R.I.P. Nickster

Goldeneye Source Forums -> Goodbye Nickster

“And finally there is a part of me that is really looking forward to finding out the answer to one of life’s great mysteries. Is there life after death? What is out there? So many people go about their daily lives unconcerned with the fact that they are nothing more than an ant upon a huge rock flying through a universe so large it can’t even be imagined. The universe is so vast, what is my part to play in this thing called life? Nobody knows for sure what happens to our souls when we depart this plain of existence. I am going to find out. I think it’s going to be something both unimaginable and great. I will see you on the other side.”
Love,Nick

Green Bay Press-Gazette - Bishop, Nicholas “Nick” L.

Posted May 26, 2006

Bishop, Nicholas “Nick” L.

Nicholas “Nick” L. Bishop, 27, Bellevue, passed away on May 24, 2006, at his home. Nick was born December 5, 1978, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Donald and Susan (Davids) Bishop. He was a graduate of Shawano High School. He was employed with ShopKo in Green Bay. Nick enjoyed working with computers. He was also a video-game enthusiast. He worked on a large team that developed the mod Goldeneye Source. He also enjoyed writing, both stories and screenplays.

Nick will be sadly missed by his parents, Don (Deborah) Bishop, Milwaukee; and Susan Davids, Green Bay; stepfather, Bob Price, Wausau; one brother, Danny Bishop, and one sister, Eve Bishop. He is further survived by many aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.

Friends may call at Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St., on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Funeral 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to Nick’s family at www.proko wall.com.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy a memorial fund is being established in Nick’s name.

Goldeneye Source Mod leader killed in fire - Neowin.net

So, apparently he commited suicide and died in the fire he set. The forum thread where it’s being discussed is 7 pages long now so I haven’t read through everything, and the site is extremely slow for me now. So if you are a Goldeneye Source fan, a HL2 mod fan, or just want to pay your respects, please do so.

Hand Shadow Fun

Seems like a flying bird was all I could make as a kid.  Time to try again.  At least it is better content than what’s on TV.

Here’s a fun ebook from project Gutenberg - Hand Shadows To Be Thrown Upon The Wall by Henry Bursill - Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone