October 8, 2016
“Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.”
The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries. Thailand’s celebration is called the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, and is notable for devotees called Ma Song—“entranced horses”—whom the gods enter during the festival. [more inside]
Empire de la Mort: honoring the dead around the world
"Do you ever marvel at how there is not a single part of the planet that has not been died upon?" Dr. Paul Koudounaris probably has, given his interest in regional traditions regarding death and ways of honoring (and living with) the dead, with a focus on charnel houses and ossuaries. He has a website titled Empire de la Mort, "being an online resource for charnel houses and burial catacombs," and includes a section on skeletal reliquaries and individual mummies and other miscellaneous sites. His website is a bit dated in design, if not content, and he also posts on Facebook as Empire of Death and on Instagram as hexenkult. (Paul Koudounaris, previously)
Return of an Edomae Sushi Legend
Shiro Across the Sea The owners of Maneki agree to build Shiro a proper sushi bar—no more preparing omakase hidden in a kitchen. Seattle in 1969 is swarming with Japanese businessmen here to do deals—shipping, lumber, imports, Boeing. And they want to seal those deals the best way they know how: at a sushi bar. But first, the liquor board needs convincing that a sushi bar is merely a counter where the chef stands, making food and presenting it directly to diners.
Here’s how to tell the new Underworld and Resident Evil trailers apart
Dark, confusing times have come to America. Times of turmoil. Times when difficult choices must be made. Times when the latest entries in two surprisingly long-lived actress-centered undead-fighting action series—both due in theaters next January from the same fucking studio—can release new trailers on the same day, both featuring their respective heroines on motorcycles.
The Amen Break
The most sampled song of all time. "..what is it about a 47-year-old, six-second drum solo from a relatively unknown soul band that’s given it musical immortality? The answer involves the invention of two new musical genres, a new piece of technology and a power blackout."
H₂0™
Liquid Assets: How the Business of Bottled Water Went Mad by Sophie Elmhirst [The Guardian] “Water is no longer simply water – it has become a commercial blank slate, a word on to which any possible ingredient or fantastical, life-enhancing promise can be attached. And it’s working. Over the past two decades, bottled water has become the fastest-growing drinks market in the world. The global market was valued at $157bn in 2013, and is expected to reach $280bn by 2020. Last year, in the UK alone, consumption of water drinks grew by 8.2%, equating to a retail value of more than £2.5bn. Sales of water are 100 times higher than in 1980. Of water: a substance that, in developed countries, can be drunk for free from a tap without fear of contracting cholera. What is going on?”
An Investigation of Blood
Jenny Hval's new album "Blood Bitch" was released on 30 September. You can listen to it on Bandcamp. The official videos for "Conceptual Romance" and "Female Vampire" are up on Youtube. Hval discusses her new music: "I’m a vampire already… in that sense the vampire is always the human. When I write about it, the vampire is always me; and the vampire when you listen to a song is always you. We carry something dead with us." [more inside]
Summer is coming
No country on Earth is taking the 2 degree climate target seriously. "The actions necessary to hold to 2 degrees, much less 1.5 degrees, are simply outside the bounds of conventional politics in most countries. Anyone who proposed them would sound crazy, like they were proposing, I don’t know, a war or something. So we say 2 degrees is unacceptable. But we don’t act like it is." [more inside]
Chuck Norris, anyone?
Hey, youse, it's the weekend. And after the events large and small of this week, what with Hurricane Matthew and the disintegration of Donald's Trump's campaign, something seemed to be missing. That something is Walker.
Late NIght 'Texas Ranger Lever! (Ooh Walker!) 5/28/04
Chuck Norris - Walker Texas Ranger - Broken Nose scene
Walker Texas Ranger Fight Scene - Season One(Two)
Representation, today.
Today, I bring you a small handful of stories about representation mattering to people. Previously, a story about #toylikeme mattering to those with disabilities. About a black man cosplaying Batman mattering to a fellow-cosplaying child. About finally seeing yourself mattering to inventors of worlds. And a short note about a common experience of mattering in airports to young girls.
Portable Living Room
Open register at the store
This self service store in Jersey really trusts you.
Git the Princess!
[ELECTION 2016] ♪♫ He’s never gon' be President now... ♪♫
One month before Election Day, with the Trump campaign reeling from enough October Surprises to fill an advent calendar, the Washington Post's intrepid David Fahrenthold has landed what may be the mortal blow: vulgar 2005 footage of the Republican nominee bragging about his sexual abuse of married women, just months after marrying his third wife, Melania.
"When you’re a star, they let you do it," the future presidential candidate declares. "Grab 'em by the p***y. You can do anything."
The bombshell has forced GOP leaders to recoil from Trump and issue a parade of rebukes, with Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz revoking support, House Speaker Paul Ryan cancelling a joint rally, and top donors pulling funds and demanding a new candidate. Hours after a terse press release from the then-59-year-old calling it "locker room banter," Trump released a rare apology in a midnight video maligning the Clintons while vowing to attend the presidential town hall debate Sunday. Betting markets aren't so sure. Unfortunately for the GOP, there’s no longer any way to boot Donald Trump from the ballot. [more inside]
Prince who became a pauper in Delhi
Tales from India's First War of Independence Eyewitness accounts of survivors of the Mughal family who fled from Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) after the Revolt of 1857.
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