… and casts a β-fireball.
That game is older than we thought.
Egyptian 20-sided die, with greek letters on the faces. 2nd century BC to 4th century AD. At any rate, very, very old.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Author Archives: The Old Wolf
The Coolest Ride in Disneyland – 1961
I remember this ride well. Functioning much like the air-hockey games you see in movie theatres and arcades, the blue plastic floor would release air as the little saucers glided over it – they were steered by shifting your weight. Unfortunately this ride only lasted about 5 years, probably due to the risk of injury or litigation. [Even in 1961, California had 29 attorneys per capita.]
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Hoot Hoot I Scream
Source: Unknown. Date: 1935
The Hoot Hoot Cafe was built in the shape of an owl. The head rotated; the eyes, made from Buick headlamps, blinked; the sign: Hoot hoot, I scream, used elements of a theater marquee. For over 50 years, Tillie Hattrup ran this L.A.-area refreshment spot designed and built by her husband, Roy in 1926-27. It was demolished in 1979.
According to information found at Southgate High 56:
The cafe was built at 1201 Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, CA and stayed there from around 1926-1928. The land was sold to a new owner, and the building relocated to 8404 Long Beach Boulevard, three blocks away. Information from the South Gate Directory, dated July 1st, 1945, shows the building at this address from 1928 – 1949. It relocated again in 1949 to 8711 Long Beach Boulevard, and remained there until its demolition in 1979.[1]
For what it’s worth, I loved this unusual aspect of America – many things of this nature still existed when I was a kid in the 50’s, and they were always great entertainment for motoring families. Another example is the Wigwam Motel in Arizona:
Dated and now somewhat politically incorrect, old motels like this were eye-catching and amusing.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
[1] Information regarding the two South Gate addresses was supplied courtesy of the South Gate Historical Museum.
BPMCM (Bad Puns Mean Clever Marketing)
A man opened his refrigerator to find a small rabbit on the shelf. “What are you doing in here?” asked the man. “Well,” replied the rabbit, “this is a Westinghouse, isn’t it? I’m westing…”
The Old Wolf ducks and runs.
Roller skates, 1910
For some reason, this image strikes me as being all full of 1910 win.
A Young man on roller skates that are pedaled, 1910 – Found at Wikimedia Commons
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Facebook Scams
The newspaper gets the meme right, and makes a valid point. I’m constantly busting people on Facebook who post scams, patently false urban legends, and links to malware or like-farming.
Be careful out there.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
It’s big.
Four of my favorite images. They require little commentary.
So much truth here. None of this detracts in any way from my spiritual walk… somehow everything seems to fit together well for me, despite obvious and irreconcilable gaps in my understanding.
But it’s nice to know we’re all part of a much bigger scheme.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
The Old Wolf’s Banquet from Hell
I thought it was time to make another shameless plug for my Banquet from Hell, a collection of foods from around the world that people consider delicacies, but which many people would rather die than eat. A sample below – click through for the entire list.
Haggis
“Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftan o’ the pudding-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o’a grace
As lang’s ma airm.”
(Robert Burns)
Haggis
Haggis is the undisputed king of the Banquet from Hell. The fact that it’s composed of things that most people throw away, and cooked inside another thing that everyone throws away, tends to be off-putting. But if you get to know this beautiful gift from heaven, you’ll thank fortune for the opportunity.Haggis is a blend of oats and sheep’s pluck – liver, heart, and – if you live in the UK – lungs, which are not legal to be used in the USA. Plus onion, fat, spices, and salt. While reminiscent of liverwurst in flavor (תודה רבה, Sol Bock!), it has a unique quality that grows on you. In America it can be purchased in cans, in vegetarian versions (blasphemy!) or frozen, usually packed in a commercial sausage casing rather than the sheep’s stomach. I understand in the UK it’s a simple matter to get the real thing. Sigh.Wikipedia article on haggis
Take note that there are far more unspeakable things on people’s menus out there – things like Casu Marzu or Chinese Virgin Eggs – those are better left for other blogs. The line between unspeakable and delicious is a very hazy one, but this is my blog, so I get to make the distinction.
Gëzuar!
The Old Wolf has spoken.
DaVinci Sugery Robot gets Heightened Scrutiny
This thing looks like a cross between “2001” and “The Pit and the Pendulum.” I’m not sure I’d let it anywhere near me.
According to today’s news:
“(NEWSER) – You may not have heard of the da Vinci surgical robot, but your local hospital surely has. The $1.5 million robot is a hot item in the medical world, having been used in 367,000 US surgeries last year. Now, however, the FDA is talking a closer look after an increase in reported problems linked to the device, including five deaths, reports AP. In one case, a woman died after the robot nicked a blood vessel. The device is operated by surgeons, and the story takes pains to note that the robot itself may not be at fault.
The multi-armed robot has also made some bizarre moves during surgeries, including refusing to release tissue it was holding and hitting a patient on the face. These days, da Vinci is being used three times as often as it was four years ago; it’s in one of four US hospitals. Some experts say that’s partially thanks to extensive marketing. “The rapid adoption of robotic surgery … has been done by and large without the proper evaluation,” says one. But the robot’s maker, Intuitive Surgical, says “adverse event rates” are “in line with historical trends” after 1.5 million surgeries.”
You can read the AP release here.
Of course, the only thing that ran through my deranged mind was this:
One has to admit the drawing was unsettlingly prescient in terms of what the modern DaVinci looks like.
Let’s just hope it’s not powered by Windows/Intel, but rather something more reliable.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
-Robert Frost
In about 12 billion years, our earth will have indeed perished twice, passed through both fire and ice, and will have been reduced to a burned-out cinder, whether we extend our violence or not[1]. Click through for an intriguing description of what will happen to both earth and sun over time, and how our planet will most likely fare. Hopefully by then humanity will have evolved and migrated elsewhere.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
[1] Klaatu’s speech from “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951)
I am leaving soon and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. (he pauses, studying the faces) The Universe grows smaller every day — and the threat of aggression by any group — anywhere — can no longer be tolerated.
There must be security for all — or no one is secure… This does not mean giving up any freedom except the freedom to act irresponsibly.
Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves — and hired policemen to enforce them.
We of the other planets have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets — and for the complete elimination of aggression. A sort of United Nations on the Planetary level… The test of any such higher authority, of course, is the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots– (indicating Gort) Their function is to patrol the planets — in space ships like this one — and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression we have given them absolute power over us.
At the first sign of violence they act automatically against the aggressor. And the penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk.
The result is that we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war — free to pursue more profitable enterprises. (after a pause) We do not pretend to have achieved perfection — but we do have a system — and it works.
I came here to give you the facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet — but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned- out cinder.
Your choice is simple. Join us and live in peace. Or pursue your present course — and face obliteration. We will be waiting for your answer. decision rests with you.
Playing in the World Game 
