This is a little less cohesive than usual . . . but so am I.
That counts as a theme, right?
_________________________
Diagram Your Title
Those of you who hail from the UK probably know about the Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year, but I didn’t until my friend Cha Cha sent me a link.
This year’s winner is above—the competition was fierce:
Was Hitler Ill?
Lofts of North America: Pigeon Lofts
How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, Anglesmiths, & Civil Servants*
God’s Doodle: The Life and Times of the Penis
How Tea Cosies Changed the World
A gallery of former winners is here—I’m particularly tickled by The Anger of Aubergines and Tattooed Mountain Women and Spoon Boxes of Daghestan, but Rats: for those who care is tough to resist.
And after agonizing over my own titles, I find the weirdness oddly comforting.
Anyone else have a contender for next year’s prize?
ooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooo
Paper—2, Digital—0
My husband sent me this in response to the video I posted last Thursday.
Sure, it works, but you can’t void the warranty on a rolled up copy of the New York Times.
Right, Emma?
ooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooo
A Concise Explanation and Some Sound Advice
John Cleese explains the brain.
Or points to one while talking.
The auto-caption feature was completely befuddled by this—it offered different interpretations each time I played it, and didn’t match what I think he’s actually saying.
But befuddlement is John Cleese’s superpower, so it’s all good.
ooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooo
A Papery Aftertaste . . .
I honestly thought this was a Photoshop joke, but when I tried to link back, I found an actual promotion for a beer created for Powell’s Books anniversary—brewed with actual pages from Moby Dick.
Then, I thought it was an April Fool’s joke, but the announcement was posted in November.
I’m not a beer drinker, so if it is true, I think I’ll pass.
But I’m looking forward to trying the Crime and Punishment Russian Standard.
Or a Chekhov cherry liqueur.
ooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooo
Sheer Starship Awesome
Watson hates the song, but I love everything about this fanvid, from the beat to the clips to the way it’s all put together.
Because that’s how I geek.
How many of the clips do you recognize?
(Psst: I’m putting a parental warning on this for language—it’s barely radio-safe,** so listen first, please)
__________________________________
*The celebrity quotes on this book are hilarious. There’s a sample of them on Amazon.
**I was going to make a “pun intended” joke, but realized being bare is generally safe for radio, Howard Stern notwithstanding, so never mind.
Earful of Cider 
I am ashamed to know of the pencil sharpening book. I haven’t read it, but I knew of it.
I don’t think I can even imagine how tea cosies could possibly change the world. Sounds exciting! To the bookstore!
Don’t be ashamed, Mike! Embrace your, um . . . you-ness!
I figure the tea cozies have something to do with the East India Company. Or knitting. Or both. Let me know!
Aw. I was hoping the cosies were used as some sort of weapon.
It was just a guess—I haven’t read the book, yet..
I’m imagining a David and Goliath-type slingshot. Perhaps the British used them to fling heavy teapots at Napoleon?
Filled with hot water? That would work.
I keep thinking about armed robbers with tea cozies pulled over their heads instead of ski masks . . . Much easier to find in the summer, I’d imagine.
We should’ve written this book.
We still can—Earl Grey and the Great Crumpet War.. With flying galleons and cannon packed with currant-shot.
But I’m also picturing some poor kid wanting to be a big-time criminal, and all he can find to hide his face (because he’s NOT going to pull his Auntie’s nylons over his head, eeww) is the tea cozy on the front of that book, with its weird bobbles.
Perhaps the tea cozy mask is for a heist. Maybe this poor kid is our protagonist, and has been sent into enemy territory to steal French battle plans.
Or like a Green Beret thing—the Cozy Cadre?
And he’s embarrassed, but the French love hats and copy his ‘style,’ so it turn out to be easy for him to infiltrate the Palace . . . wearing this:
That John Cleese bit is golden! What a talent he is.
I have been in love with that man more than half my life. He’s marvelous.
I was going to do a post on the weird titles thing (being in the jurisdiction and all…) but I’m too busy with “my” science project. Thanks for having my back.
LOVE the ipad joke.
I will always have your back when it comes to odd Anglophilisms—I was going to add my new Venn diagram of the British Isles, but I’m saving it for another occasion!
The iPad joke also works as a dictionary joke, in case someone says hard copy books are useless. 🙂
Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop…how I need to read that book. Love it!
It’s apparently a tongue-in-cheek hoot. I’ve already ordered my copy! 🙂
Awesome! We’ll tell the President he can call off the new brain-mapping study.
It’s clearly unnecessary, Averil, as long as we remember not to eat them.
(Psst: Did you see Wednesday’s first poem? I thought of you)
Another uncombed Portlander. (And I say this with love.) Such a beautiful, languid poem—I especially liked the part about the brothers dancing.
I am entirely ashamed to admit I only recognized a few of the clips in the ‘Starship’ video (they went by entirely too quickly).
I do, however have something to add to the pencil sharpening discussion:
http://twistedsifter.com/2010/08/dalton-ghetti-miniature-pencil-art/
http://laughingsquid.com/intricately-carved-pencil-lead-sculptures/
Wow! How much talent (and patience) does it take to make these?
Thanks, Dee!
My favorite it’s the God’s doodle one. Pure gold. (Or doodle.)
I think The Golden Doodle is an excellent title.
Unfortunately, there has to be a book behind it. So to speak.
Curse the lack of an edit button.