I watched The Truman Show recently for the first time in 7+ years, and had forgotten how good it is!

victorian taxidermy of a raven portrayed as a priest

(via crappytaxidermy & vandm)

Re: this post, JWang just sent me a link to an Appalachian old-timey music collection.  You guys are awesome!  Sometimes I get more responses/answers by email when I don’t even turn on the “answer this” feature.

Anyway, the collection is still downloading so I haven’t given it a listen yet,  but I thought I’d share.  Here’s what Jessica says:

Hi Glynnis,
I hope this email isn’t creepy, but I stumbled across your tumblr. More particularly, I saw your request for a whole mix CD of Appalachian music. I actually have this compilation called The Art of Old-Time Mountain Music. It’s a beautiful mix, so I thought maybe you’d like it too.

Here is the description:

According to the booklet notes, Kerry Blech, a musician and writer, was asked by Rounder Records to select a CD’s worth of material from their back-catalog as part of Rounder’s celebration of thirty years in the music business. His selection comprises 23 songs and tunes that appeared on previous Rounder LP’s, together with a further 5 tracks that are issued here for the first time. And, it really is a stunning selection with extremely good notes. There is some marvelous music here and I can think of no better introduction to the world of old-timey music. Eighteen tracks come from white Appalachian singers and musicians, three from black Appalachian musicians and a single track from Tennessee’s Uncle Dave Macon, whose repertoire included material from both the black and white traditions. There are a couple of Ozark tracks, a couple of revival duets, a single bluegrass track (and pretty old-timey bluegrass at that), plus a single song from cowboy singer Glen Ohrlin, which, to my ears, sounds rather out-of-place in this collection.

Any bluegrassers or mountain music aficionados out there should send info my way!  Or if you want to make a trade of mix CDs or a CD for art, or something of that nature, I’d be delighted.

TED talk by VS Ramachandran about neurological disabilities and misfires, including phantom limbs (and the pain associated with them) and synaesthesia.

Yang Maoyuan (via crappytaxidermy)

(via glamourai)

(via sweatonthelawn & putthison, video is from The Scout)

Yes, please.  I wonder how old-fashioned I will look in five years, given my complete obsession these days.  I hope the answer is “very”.

P.S.: Logan, your new assignment for a mix CD is to find me Appalachian music like the song at the end of the video.  A whole CD full.

(via sweatonthelawn)

Chicken ‘n’ dumplin’s.  It’s what’s for dinner.

Includes plum jam, red pepper, and kiwi for garnish.  Sounds pretty unusual.