Castillo de Teayo (Mesoamerican site)

Castillo de Teayo (Mesoamerican site) is an archaeological site and pyramid in northern Mexico. It was built in pre-Columbian times, an amazing human achievement of strength, perseverance, and ingenuity. It was named after a tortoise.

I climbed a pyramid in Mexico once. It was tiring. Aztecs must have had strong calves.


Another Mexican pyramid has been unearthed in Orlando.
Photo: JohnBurke via Flickr (CC)

Manganese(II) sulfate

Manganese(II) sulfate is an inorganic compound.

I don't know much about this sort of thing, but it reminds me of my high school chemistry class. For that single 10-month period of my life I knew things about compounds and chemicals and molecules. Today the only thing I remember from chemistry class is my teacher's yellowed fingernails.

Sadly, I think that teacher died a few years ago. One thing I've come to realize is that the older you get, the more your high school teachers die.


Recipe for disaster.
Photo: thomwatson via Flickr (CC)

Pop Carn (2003 film)

Pop Carn (2003 film) was an Indian Tamil movie from 2003. It starred a Malayalam actor named Mohania. This is the first time I've ever heard of Malayalam. I like it. I like saying it. It rolls off the tongue so nicely. I can't stop saying it. Malayalam.

Malayalam describes a certain group of people who speak the Malayalam language and originate from the Indian state of Kerala.

Pop Carn was a giant flop at the box office. I can't find a website to translate "giant flop" into Malayalam.


Extra Extra. Pop Carn is a bad movie.
Photo: abhi_flick via Flickr (CC)

William Crowhurst

William Crowhurst was an English cricket player at the turn of the 20th century. William played in just one match, in 1877. This makes him the second Wikibloogia subject to remind me of Moonlight Graham.

I've never really played cricket. Maybe once or twice. I can't remember. I like crickets though. I like the sound of crickets on a summer's night. I also like fictional crickets, including Jiminy Cricket and Chester Cricket from The Cricket in Times Square. That book was the bomb.


Sometimes cricket players turn into cows.
Photo: Ragesh Vasudevan via Flickr (CC)

Svensky Monastery

Svensky Monastery is a Russian Orthodox monastery. It's in Russia, near the city of Bryansk. When I was little, I was scared that Russia was going to hit me with a nuclear bomb. My dad suggested I write a letter to Ronald Reagan about my fears. I never got around to it.

Russia is where my grandfather was born. His name was Grandpa Eddie. But they didn't call him that in Russia, because he was not yet a grandpa. Grandpa Eddie came to the United States with his family when he was 8 years old. They came on a boat. I'm glad they did. Otherwise I wouldn't exist or have anything to bloog about. Thanks, Grandpa Eddie.


The birth of Grandpa Eddie.
Photo: backpackphotography via Flickr (CC)

List of non-extant papal tombs

List of non-extant papal tombs is a list of popes whose burial sites are not extant. This means their locations have been destroyed or are unknown.

The best part of the list is that one of the popes on the list is Pope Hilarius. This made me laugh. I had no idea there was a Pope Hilarius. He was Pope in the fifth century. Those must have been side-splitting times for the Catholic Church.

I found Hilarius's tomb.
Photo: Spamily via Flickr (CC)

John James McCook (professor)

John James McCook (professor) was a member of the Fighting McCook family in the 1800s. They were called the Fighting McCooks because they sent 15 family members to the Union Army. During the Civil War, John James McCook (professor) was an Army chaplain. At that time they called him John James McCook (chaplain).

According to Wikipedia, John James McCook (professor) had a brother John James McCook (lawyer). This reminds me of the song "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt," which is an awesome song.


Tommy McCook (Jamaican saxaphone player).
Photo: milesgehm via Flickr (CC)

Brum (TV series)

Brum (TV series) was a children's TV program in England in the early 1990s. It was about a car. The car was named Brum. Brum didn't talk, because he was a car. Instead, Brum would get his point across by opening his doors and swiveling his headlights among other things.

I just watched an episode of Brum on YouTube.

I declare Brum awesome.


Brum is wasted.
Photo: Steve9091 via Flickr (CC)

720s

720s was a decade in the 8th century A.D. According to Wikipedia, absolutely nothing happened in the 720s. I checked the 710s and the 730s, and each of those decades had one thing happen during them. But not the 720s.

The 720s were lame.


Commemorative 720 metal post.
Photo: Eva the Weaver via Flickr (CC)

Ronald Naldi

Ronald Naldi is an American lyric tenor who can sing over 100 operatic roles in 6 languages.

Ronald is apparently famous. He has sung alongside Pavarotti and has performed at important places all over the world. He is also the only American lyric tenor whose last four letters of his first name are the first four letters of his last name.


Phantom of the lego opera.
Photo: plums_deify via Flickr (CC)

Indian Blood (play)

Indian Blood (play) is a play that premiered in 2006. But what's crazy is that Wikipedia says it starred Charles Socarides as Eddie. When I was a youth I went to summer camp with a Charles Socarides (then known as Chuck Socarides) who is currently an actor in New York. "It must be him," I thought.

But when I clicked on his name in the Wikipedia article, it took me to a different Charles Socarides. I was disappointed. But I quickly realized that sometimes Wikipedia is dumb. This Charles Socarides died before the play premiered, so it's highly unlikely that he starred in it. Plus, this Charles Socarides wasn't an actor, but was actually a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, physician, educator and author who believed that homosexuality could be altered. I don't like this Charles Socarides. I prefer my summer camp Charles Socaridies.

In conclusion, it's funny that I clicked to an article about a play starring someone I went to summer camp with as a child.

It's a small Wikipedia.


Indian Schedule.
Photo: Eddie~S via Flickr (CC)

Helianthus giganteus

Helianthus giganteus is also known as Giant Sunflower or Tall Sunflower. It can grow up to 13 feet tall. If there were a clone of me, and I stood on my clone's head, the Helianthus giganteus would still be taller.

The flower is native to the eastern United States. Just like me. The flower is most commonly found in valleys with wet meadows or swamps. Not like me.


These sunflowers are no longer speaking to each other.
Photo: milesizz via Flickr (CC)

Trumpeter (company)

Trumpeter (company) is a Chinese company that makes little plastic model military equipment—ships, planes and ground vehicles.

I've never played the trumpet, but when I was in elementary school I played the saxophone for one year. There were a few other people who played the saxophone too that year. In one concert, we played the song "Wipeout." At one break in the song, we all did a spin onstage. It was pretty cool. At least I think that happened. Or actually, maybe that was someone else who did that. I can't remember elementary school anymore.


This trumpeter glued his face to a microphone.
Photo: Glamhag via Flickr (CC)

De Kroonduif

De Kroonduif was an airline, a subsidiary of the Dutch airline KLM. Between 1955 and 1963 it was the national airline of Netherlands New Guinea and served such destinations as Biak, Steenkool and Fak Fak.

In Dutch, kroonduif means 'crowned pigeon'. I once lived in the roof apartment of a building in Prague. Dozens of pigeons lived in my walls and ceiling. We became friends.


Contemplative pigeon.
Photo: Swami Stream via Flickr (CC)

Bhuteshwar Temple

Bhuteshwar Temple is a temple in India dedicated to the god Shiva. It is surrounded by water.

Water's great. I drink as much of it as I can. If I built a temple, I'd surround it with water too.


Shiva looks tired.
Photo: estudiogokaburi via Flickr (CC)

World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship is a rally car series.

The best WRC driver is Sébastien Loeb. He's from France and has won the last five Championships. It is unclear if Sébastien Loeb is related to Lisa Loeb, whose 1994 hit "Stay (I missed you)" went platinum and was nominated for a Grammy. Lisa is also famous for wearing glasses. I wear glasses too sometimes, but I'm not famous for it.


The man behind Lisa Loeb just broke up with his girlfriend.
Photo: RahulG. via Flickr (CC)

Alexandra Bastedo

Alexandra Bastedo is a British actress best-known for her role as a super-powered secret agent in a TV series called The Champions. According to Wikipedia, "Bastedo was regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses of the 1960s."

Alexandra loves animals. She even went so far as to write a book called Beware Dobermanns, Donkeys and Ducks. She cares for many, many animals in her home.

In my life I have cared for four animals: one beta fish, two goldfish, and a Siberian dwarf hamster named Mario. I named him Mario because I'd recently gotten Nintendo. At night, Mario would spend hours banging at the metal cover of the little sanctuary at the top of his cage. I loved Mario, but I could never shake the feeling that he was miserable.


She's still pretty hot.
Photo: JohnBurke via Flickr (CC)

Sun Industry Standards Source License

Sun Industry Standards Source License was a free and open source license. I don't really know what that means.

A lot of people called it SISSL. SISSL was authored by Sun Microsystems and was retired in 2005. Both Sun Microsystems and SISSL itself were named after the Sun, our nearest star and source of life. When you say SISSL out loud, it sounds like sizzle, which makes me hungry. I'm gonna go make some bacon.


The sun will retire in five billion years.
Photo: blueforce4116 via Flickr (CC)

Silas Robbins

Silas Robbins was the first African-American admitted to practice law in the state of Nebraska and the second African-American to run for the Nebraska state legislature. Wikipedia doesn't say if he was the third African-American to do something.

Not only did Silas practice law, he also invented a game called Politics, and got a U.S. patent for it in 1893.

I played the piano for many years when I was little, and my piano teacher was named Sheila Robbins. No relation, but same initials.


Also no relation.
Photo: Majiscup - Drink for Design via Flickr (CC)

Bird in Flight / Tribal Look

Bird in Flight / Tribal Look was a song from 1980 by Toyah. It was released as a single, published by Sweet 'n Sour Songs Ltd.

I like sweet 'n sour chicken, as Chinese food. However, it's not my favorite dish. I prefer chicken with vegetables, beef and broccoli, and pan-fried noodles (with assorted meats). To start I'll have pan-fried dumplings and a bowl of wonton soup.


Inspired Toyah in 1980.
Photo: Queen Roly via Flickr (CC)

Jennie Bomb

Jennie Bomb is the second album from the Swedish all-girl rock band called Sahara Hotnights.

I like Sweden. I've never been there, but I have worked several years for a Swedish educational travel company and have bought a lot of affordable furniture from a Swedish homegoods company.


Down in front.
Photo: Majsan of Sweden via Flickr (CC)

Folarin Campbell

Folarin Campbell played basketball at George Mason University. Now he plays basketball in Italy.

I've never played basketball in either of those places. I once played basketball in France.


George Mason had to go pee.
Photo: inge87 via Flickr (CC)

Esquisse d'un Programme

Esquisse d'un Programme was some mathematical proposal written by Alexander Grothendieck. According to Wikipedia, Alexander Grothendieck was one of the most famous mathematicians of the 20th century. I have never heard of him.

Famous 20th-century mathematicians aren't as famous as other famous 20th-century people, like movie stars and basketball players. Note that this reverses as you travel backward through time: I can name more 20th-century basketball players than 20th-century mathematicians, but I can't name a single Ancient Greek basketball player.


My favorite 20th-century mathematician.
Photo: tifotter via Flickr (CC)

Ceferino Namuncurá

Ceferino Namuncurá was a saintly religious student born in Argentina, who eventually became the object of a Roman Catholic cultus of veneration. Sometimes I wish I were the object of a cultus of veneration.

Not only was Ceferino by all accounts a very kind boy, he also miraculously survived a fall into a river as a young child. Even more amazing, his life was eventually turned into a small musical called Zephyrin: The Musicale.

Sadly, Ceferino died in 1905 at the age of 18. He had pulmonary tuberculosis. In life and in death, Ceferino inspired millions of people throughout Argentina. Ceferino proves that if you inspire enough people, there will be a small musical written about you.


He's the one on the right.
Photo: professorjoaocesar via Flickr (CC)