Weekend Open Thread

KoB in Da House!

I was sitting here at 2 o’clock thinking the weekend open thread will be here in an hour and then I started working travel and some other crap and completely forgot till about 10 minutes ago and now I’m an hour after oh well.
I’m here all you shit britches.

I doff my chapeau to KOB.

Lord honorably and gently.

Now we return to your regularly scheduled program 🖕🖕🖕

… a classic performance in an iconic film actually had a very brief on-screen time? In 1939, MGM released The Wizard of Oz, based on the 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919). Of all the wonderful performances in the film, none is more remembered than that of the Wicked Witch of the West, played to sinister perfection by Margaret Hamilton (1902-1985). Hamilton’s portrayal of the Witch is so iconic, in fact, that when people think of witches today, one of the first images that comes to mind is hers. But in all of the two hour and 20 minute running time of the movie, Hamilton’s Wicked Witch character is on screen exactly twelve minutes. There were more scenes with the Witch filmed, but the producers thought them too “terrifying” and cut them out of the final print. Additional trivia note: The original notes for the Wicked Witch called for her to be a strikingly beautiful woman. However, that created a large plot hole in the script, because it played against the idea that bad witches were ugly. The actress who was first cast in the role, Gale Sondergaard (1899-1985), saw the makeup sketches and declined the part, opening the way for Hamilton’s portrayal. (“… and your little dog, too!”)

… some companies in Japan will go to extraordinary lengths to not fire an employee? These firms have what are called “banishment rooms,” places where surplus employees are transferred. There, they are given menial or useless tasks to perform, or even nothing at all to do, until the employees become depressed or disheartened enough to quit. (I hesitated to put this one in the column, since I don’t want to give my boss any ideas.)

… the first true soda pop was created in 1807? In that year, Dr. Philip Syng Physick (1768-1837) of Philadelphia combined fruit syrup with carbonated water, resulting in the first flavored soda pop. Dr. Physick called it “Nephite Julep.” The doctor had introduced carbonated water as a treatment for gastric disorders, and a pharmacist working for him provided patients with a glass of soda each day for $1.50 a month. (A good burp does wonders, I suppose.)

… a song exists that is so relaxing, authorities don’t want you to listen to it while driving? The song is “Weightless” by Marconi Union. Studies show that people listening to it have lower blood pressure, slower heart rates and lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. The song can even make you drowsy, which is why it is suggested that you don’t listen to it while driving. (Do me a favor and don’t listen to it while you’re reading this column, either. Thanks.)

… animals will not eat other animals that were killed by lightning? (How do they know?)

… when you see a glass of iced tea in a television commercial, you’re not seeing true iced tea? Sure, the tea may be real, but the ice isn’t. Ice cubes used in beverage advertisements are actually clear acrylic cubes, as real ice would melt quickly under the studio lights. (Ah, the fantasy of Hollywood!)

… the U.S. military air-dropped 2.4 million Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts™ over Afghanistan in 2001? The breakfast pastries were part of humanitarian aid packages sent to the people of the war-torn nation. (Pop-Tarts? No wonder they don’t like us.)

Now … you know!

Best thing about summer? All them Sweet Georgia Peaches you see! I like the fruit, too.

So, I got a 33% chance of scoring the affections of OAM? I’ll take them odds. They may even get better ’cause Chimpy’s chances are in the toilet and you’ll give up.

European Deer knew where the land mines on the border were. We used to watch ’em thru the spotter scopes and they’d graze right up to the warning signs.

I had the hots for the Junction Girls, Lisa Douglas and Elly May Clampett. Frank Cady was in a buncha stuff, including stage, film, radio, and TV. He was also a WWII Vet serving in the (GO) Army Air Corps (ETO). Do you a deep dive on the Cannon Ball Locomotive one day. That Train was in an ass load of pictures too.

Don’t believe in ghosts? visiting any Battlefield will change your mind. A number of them reside in the Village that FOB Hawkins Hill is located in. Several that I’ve seen personally.

Print obits have just about priced themselves out of the market lately, haven’t they. What is it, nearly $1.00 per word after the basic 50 words? That price is really grim.

I’d like to drop the house that my personal Wicked Witch stole from me on her evil ass. Or douse her with a bucket of…something.

Surplus employees or ones that they don’t want to FUBAR things? Guess if they make ’em quit, no unemployment bennies.

A True Southerner calls all “soft drinks” a “CoColer”.

Rock on as you roll on. “Turn it up!”

Do you prefer your meat microwaved (lightning) or slow roasted (forest fire)?

Everything in Hollywierd is fake and ghey. The tea is prolly either colored water or *shudder* (the HORROR!) unsweetened.

Damn a Pop Tart. Drop them some grits, red eye gravy, country ham, and a cathead. The breakfast of Champions!

Another fine job, CW! We Thank You, Good Sir.