January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956

Looks pretty cool. Have not tried it…yet. If you do and set yourself on fire do not blame me.  Consider that a warning…

“And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord”MLK

I think he would be pissed off. Do what you can to make your world a better place. Love someone.

Richard Knerr, co-founder of the toy company that popularized the Hula Hoop, Frisbee and other fads that became classics, has died. He was 82.

Knerr, who started Wham-O in 1948 with his childhood friend Arthur “Spud” Melin, died Monday at Methodist Hospital after suffering a stroke earlier in the day at his Arcadia home, his wife Dorothy told the Los Angeles Times.

Knerr and Melin got their start in business peddling slingshots. They named their enterprise Wham-O after the sound a slingshot made when it hit its target.

They branched into other sporting goods, including boomerangs and crossbows, then added toys that often bore such playful names as the Superball, Slip ‘N Slide and Silly String.

When a friend told them in 1958 about a large ring used for exercise in Australia, they devised their own version and called it the Hula Hoop.

Around the same time, they bought the rights to a plastic flying disc invented by Walter “Fred” Morrison, who called it the Pluto Platter. Wham-O bought the rights and renamed it the Frisbee.
The rest is amusement history.

“If Spud and I had to say what we contributed, it was fun,” Knerr told the Times in 1994. “But I think this country gave us more than we gave it. It gave us the opportunity to do it.”

Those that know me well also know I like to play some chess.

This man was a genius. “They [media] constantly use the words eccentric, eccentric, eccentric, weird. I am boring. I am boring!” Things did get a little strange…no alot strange towards the end. A very interesting man none the less

yup, another freakinCam thang

They opened up the Rocket Club last night and Helen and i and the neighbors had a great time (no music yet). For a few more grainy shots like this one, go to my flickr account here.  It’s right across the street from the new beer/eatery, The Admiral on Haywood Road, East WestAsheville, the new hoppin’ place!

“I met him once. I shook his hand. He signed a $5 NZ note that I have framed.

Sir Edmund Hillary died today. He was 88. He lived a full and meaningful life. Climbing Everest with Tingzing Norgay was only part of it.

He was a bee keeper. He was a good man.

He will be missed.” quoting bmwloco

Mmmmmm sandwiches…

Elvis Presley’s Grilled Peanut Butter
and Banana Sandwich

• 2 slices of white bread
• 2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter
• 1 small ripe banana mashed
• 2 tablespoons butter

Spread the peanut butter on one slice of bread and the mashed banana on the other. Press the slices gently together. Melt the butter (or to be truly Elvis-like, melt bacon fat!), over low heat in a small frying pan. Place the sandwich in the pan and fry until golden brown on both sides. Eat it with a glass of buttermilk.   (recipe from  The Splendid Table)

 On a personal Kat-note, when I was in college, best-college-boyfriend-ever Danny used to make these for me.  Oh my gawwwwwwwd, they are good.  The word is that Elvis ate up to 15 of these at a time!

You don’t have nearly the same amount of time to kill as I do, 420…

“But one thing about fame is the bigger the people are, the simpler they are, the more they are not awed by you! They don’t feel they have to be offensive, they don’t feel they have to insult you. You can meet Carl Sandburg and he is so pleased to meet you. He wants to know about you, and you want to know about him. Not in any way has he ever let me down. ” Marilyn Monroe’s last interview for Life Magazine 1965…….Carl Sandburg (born Jan 6th 1878)

   8:30 am, not going anywhere, for a couple days, ahhh.