Archive for April, 2011

April 30, 2011

Pleas For Tornado-Stricken South

We got this FaceBook message two hours ago:

Uncle John and fellow Uncle John lovers – I live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We desperately need bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, tents, batteries, diapers, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, hand sanitizer and sunscreen. The Red Cross will send them here!! Thank you!!!

The death toll from the recent tornadoes is now over 350. No state got it worse than Alabama. It’s the most deaths from natural disasters since Katrina, and is on pace to become the second worst year for twister deaths in the U.S. in history.

Whatever you can do, please do.

RED CROSS. This site has a link for how to find a local Red Cross, how to make donations, where you can give blood, and a “How to Get Help” help link if you’re a victim. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS; or text “REDCROSS” to the number “90999″, which causes a $10 donation charged to your cell phone bill. They also have a “Safe and Well” feature where you can look for family members, or register yourself to let others know you’re okay.

The leader of Disaster Service for the Red Cross:

Let ‘em know you’re out there, BRI fans.

Posted by Thom

Tags: Disasters

April 29, 2011

The Led Zeppelin Fish

This is not meant to be scintillating video—Larry Page will not be the next Justin Bieber—but it is fascinating in its own way. It’s from Mr. Page, ichthyologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, taking us behind the scenes at the museum.

And we learn this:

Auburn University graduate student Justin Havird named one of the new species, Lepidocephalichthys zeppelini, because the fish’s pectoral fin reminded him of the double-neck guitar used by Led Zeppelin band member Jimmy Page.

“I’m a big Led Zeppelin fan, and I was listening to them while I was working on the fish,” Havird said. “The structure that makes this species unique just reminded me of the guitar that Jimmy Page played.”

Posted by Thom

Tags: Animals, Pop culture

April 26, 2011

Google: 39% Read Smartphones in Bathroom

Well DUH:

The study confirms what most of us already know. The report finds that in terms of general usage, 93% of smartphone users use their phones at home; 81% browse the Internet and 77% search on their phones, 72% of smartphone users use their phones while consuming other media. One-third of smartphone owners use their phones while watching TV. And 45% of smartphone consumers use their phones to help them to manage and plan activities, such as for dinner plans, travel arrangements and finances. Google says that 39% admit to having used their smarpthone while going to the bathroom and one in five users would give up their Cable TV in order to keep using their smartphones.

First person who makes a “FartPhone joke gets a…” Oh. Wait. Too late.

[Ancient Japanese smartphone image via here.]

Posted by Thom

Tags: Bathroom News, News

April 25, 2011

Poo-Pourri

Well, I guess somebody had to do it.

Surprised it wasn’t a lot sooner, actually.

And what’s next: Peerier mineral water?

Posted by Thom

Tags: Bathroom News

April 24, 2011

RIP: Hazel Dickens

We just heard today that the great bluegrass singer and true American treasure Hazel Dickens passed away on Friday.

“Hazel Dickens, a West Virginia-born bluegrass singer who was an authentic voice of America’s working class, has died in Washington at 75.

Ms. Dickens grew up in dire poverty in West Virginia’s coal country and developed a raw, keening style of singing that was filled with the pain of her hardscrabble youth. She supported herself in day jobs for many years before she was heard on the soundtrack of the 1976 Oscar-winning documentary about coal mining, ‘Harlan County, U.S.A.’

Her uncompromising songs about coal mining, such as ‘Black Lung’ and ‘They Can’t Keep Us Down,’ became anthems, and she was among the first to sing of the plight of women trying to get by in the working-class world.”

Get your chills ready, and listen to this:

And Part II:

RIP, Hazel Dickens

Posted by Thom

Tags: Americana, History, Music

April 23, 2011

It’s a Soft, Corinthian Leather Kind of Saturday

So we do for you…what we Khan do:

And everybody knows that the great Mr. Montalban played Khan Noonien Singh in 1982′s Star Trek: Wrath of Khan—and in “Space Seed,” a first season (1967) episode of the original Star Trek, too, right?

Posted by Thom

Tags: Pop culture, TV

April 22, 2011

1974 Super Bowl Ad: The Master Lock Classic

Howdy gang, we’re all working doubly hard on numerous projects—including the history of the lock and key—and we thought we’d give you a blast from the past. Who remembers this beauty:

And yes: The MythBusters did cover this one…and gave it a “Confirmed.”

Posted by Thom

Tags: History, Pop culture

April 21, 2011

New York, here we come! Giveaway! Winner Announced

UPDATED 4/28:

Thanks everyone for taking us on a very special tour of your favorite places in New York State. The random winner of the contest is

Gardner Graham.

He has been contact. Congrats!!!!

___________________________________________

Look what I got!

Calling all New Yorkers, New York lovers, and Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader fans! We are giving away an advance copy of Uncle John’s Plunges into New York. Simply comment below/on Facebook/on Twitter the name of your favorite New York State attraction or landmark and be entered in the random drawing. You must post your answer by Sunday midnight PST.

Posted by BRI

Tags: BRI News, Contest

April 17, 2011

Last Shot of the Civil War: Fired in Alaska

Crazy story for you history nuts out there:

The 150th anniversary of the first shot of America’s deadliest conflict has been widely noted this month. Few people are aware, however, that the last shot was fired off Alaska’s shores.

It was fired by the Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah, at the end of its mission to disrupt Yankee maritime business all over the world. And where did they get the ship?

In October 1864, it [the ship] was secretly transferred to the Confederate Navy in a black-ops rendezvous off the coast of Africa. A skeleton crew rigged the ship for battle and renamed it Shenandoah.

I can see the movie now! Mel Gibson as the skipper! (Is that wrong?)

Was the ship successful?

It burned American-flagged ships in the South Atlantic and Indian oceans.

And then it turned its attention to the Bering Sea:

The Shenandoah had speed, power and guns that could fire a half-mile with some accuracy. The whalers gave little or no resistance. In 12 months, the raider captured or sank 38 American ships and took 1,000 prisoners — without a single battle casualty on either side.

You can read the rest of the story at adn..com. The Confederate ship even stopped in Australia! Crazy!

• Photo from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Historical Center.

Posted by Thom

Tags: History

April 14, 2011

History’s List on Sale

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, we are giving you an extra 20% off the BRI price of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader History’s List. Use coupon code HIST11 at checkout and pay only $12.13. Don’t wait! This deal is only good till April 20.