The history they don't teach you at Marshall Simonds (Or, "Failures in the Public Education System")

I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to diss Burlington ever again. I have just found out two AMAZING facts about the only town I can really call home.

I already knew that Amy Poehler (SNL) and Jay Pandolfo (NHL) both hailed from my old stomping grounds. But I did NOT know that Steven Wright (the comedian) also grew up there. Not a bad alumni list for a smallish suburb...

However, thanks to the joys of Wikipedia, I have found out what might be the greatest useless fact I have ever heard: Burlington may have been ... the birthplace... of the high five. I kid you not. Check it out here.

The high five has been used as a celebratory gesture in sports as far back as 1974. Jack McCullough of Burlington, Massachusetts claims to have been an original inventor of the high-five during CYO basketball competition. Home movies do prove the use of the high five on his basketball team. The gesture caught on very quickly throughout the league, so much so that some consider Burlington to be an unofficial birth place of the high five (though strictly speaking this is probably not true and the town has never publicly made this claim).

Hearsay? An urban legend? The work of some BHS pranksters? Probably, but I'm pretty sure I don't care. If you think I'm not spreading this myth despite its dubious nature, you don't know me at all. How is this not in our town motto?? "The Home of the High Five" should be on every Welcome to Burlington sign and official town document. The Red Devils mascot -- OUT! A giant jumping hand (nicknamed "Fivey"?) -- IN! I may have to run for the Board of Selectmen on this platform alone.


Some other High Five resources...

April 19th, not just another day

A conflicting tale of the origin of the High Five (Lies!! All LIES!!)

US Patent 5,356,330 (Albert Cohen is a hero...)

A smattering of High Five examples, trivia, and the science behind the art

The High Five goodwill ambassador



I've never felt such a sense of hometown pride as I do right now...

Simpsonize Me

In honor of the Simpsons movie, they (whoever "they" are) started a website where you can "Simpsonize" yourself [http://www.simpsonizeme.com/index.php]. You upload a photo, customize a few things, and whammo, they give you the Simpsons-animated version of you. It's nearly the speed of molasses and sometimes doesn't like the picture you upload, but to me it was worth the hassle and pain. This is what I came up with:

I think the 5 O'Clock shadow doesn't really suit me, but I didn't know how to capture my normal scruff. The ears are giant enough, and the eyes and glasses are about as expected, but the hairline may be a bit generous. I nailed the T-shirt though. Go Grey!

UPDATE: I gave it another crack when it wasn't acting up so much, and came up with this:

That's pretty darn me.

Joey Chestnut wins, every one else loses

Happy Independence Day! Boom! Pow! Oooooh! Aaaaaaah!

Joey Chestnut brings back the title of Most Gluttonous back to the US. I really wish I could find some way to be impressed, but I can't get past visualizing how 66 hotdogs would feel in my stomach. Ugh.

No birds, just bees

Poll: Bees are disappearing around the world due to

A: the proliferation of cell phones

Or

B: a terrorist plot by Osama Bin Laden

Those appear to be the only options. Either way, it's a metaphor for the collapse of the federal government. This is what I learned yesterday from the Washington Post.

Things That Are Awesome

Social Experiments

Joshua Bell

Strads

The Washington Post


The Washington Post Magazine asked Joshua Bell, pretty much the best violinist in the world, to perform at L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station (dressed down and with an open violin case) during rush hour, just to see what would happen. Joshua Bell says, "sounds like fun." Check it out here, and some Q&A here.

The article has some video links, and the audio of his full performance is here. There's what sounds like a kid singing along at about the 29 minute mark. Priceless

I'm not quite sure how to react. I think it's an awesome social experiment, as a "what would happen if..." scenario, as long as you're not trying to "prove" anything going in. I think concluding that "people move too fast to notice the beauty in the world" is too easy. I might have missed the Grammy-winning violinist because I was too busy noticing all the bricks in the floor line up perfectly, which is one of "life's everyday beauties" that puts an extra hop in my step. I don't think it says at all that "people don't appreciate the finer things like classical music," or, conversely, that the author was elitist in trying to impose the musical style as something for everyone. What it might say is that excellence is hard to notice if you aren't looking for it. It's a pretty good reminder that we should seek excellence for excellence's sake alone, because in the rare case that we actually attain it, it doesn't mean that anyone else will know or care.

For what it's worth, I'm nearly positive I would have at least noticed that there was Classical Radio-worthy music being played by someone on the street, and maybe would have paused to take a peek. If nothing else, I'd take the time to figure out why a lone violinist sounds like a trio (looking for the hidden speaker, etc). The skill is pretty hard to miss though, even if you are just listening in the background. I've seen Bell live, but I doubt I would have recognized him unless he started in the same dramatic fashion as he did on stage; bent down, arm cocked, bow pointed straight up. He is amazing.

Sticking it to a much meaner Man

Last spring I posted this about a guy in DC who refused to sell his house to make way for a condo complex. But this, from today's NYT, is even crazier, especially since it's in China. The article keeps talking about the force of personality of the owner but never really goes into the specifics of her successful tactics. Mostly, I'm surprised the developer doesn't just go in and knock it down and sort out the details later. Keep it up Ms. Wu. Cause a stir. Progress without accountability to those you are displacing is just plain wrong. We have trouble with that even here in the US (see the ridiculous ruling in Kelo v. City of New London {and wimpy version}).

That time of year...

The perfect way to kick off baseball season:

The Wabash Mashers of 1864

This is some of the worst apple hurling and stick mashing I've seen!

HAAHAAHAAAA, He's dead! HAAAHAAAHAAA

"The Unnatural"

This is so cool. And yes, I still have secret dreams about such things. The being invited to spring training part, not the sausage part.

Remus Stefan: Subtle yet endearing

Little-know fact: I LOVE names. I just really enjoy cool sounding, unique, and weird names. A few months ago, I started what has become a half-hearted effort to "collect" names I like. I made a spreadsheet and everything, and I have no shame about it. So when I came across this, I was elated. Make sure to check the subtitle. Stellar effort by this group of visionaries. Who says there are no heroes anymore...


And don't worry; I have no plans to cease my own collection effort. You just can't call it a definitive list if it doesn't include Kiko Calero or Odd-Even Bustnes...