Display:
"WHAT IS IT?"

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 02:53:06 AM EST
An easy one to start you off!





Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 02:55:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Mmmmhhhh! reminds me of someone! :-)
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 02:59:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
You got in there quick, Fran!

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:03:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Looks like someone's hair.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:18:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
That'll teach me to keep hitting the Refresh button on Recent Comments ... :-)

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:21:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's my HAIR! It's MY hair!!
by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:27:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It is! I cropped it. Mwah ha hahaaaa.

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:28:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Not what, but where??
by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:24:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Can I? Can I?

Where: Amsterdam (you can tell from the sky we're in the Netherlands)

I thought that used to be part of the Salvation's Army... but could be wrong.

by Nomad on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 04:58:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Indeed! You are correct.
by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:03:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Given the big slogans GOD ROEPT U - JESUS LOVES YOU, you're no doubt right about the Salvation Army!

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:05:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Building is to the left when you exit Central Station towards the Damrak.
by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Tue Oct 9th, 2007 at 08:13:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]
From estHer.



I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:43:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
How did she do that? Shining light through a shape?
Hmmmm.

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:21:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't really know. When she comes home tonight I'll ask her to post the recipe.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:44:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's a starfish made of plaster, no?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:56:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
EstHer is too busy talking to her friends on MSN so I'll post her explanation. She had this keychain holder made of metal with a hole in it shaped like a star in the photo above. She then photographed the keychain holder, in front of a white wall, several centimeters from the camera. The result, the white star you see is the white wall in the shape of the hole and the dark part is the solid keychain holder.
It took my two kids  20 minutes to explain this to me. They said I was slow; I said they were not skillful communicators and that they had to work harder in school.

s

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:12:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Ingenious!
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 01:43:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Ah haaaa, smart work indeed.  So she focused on the wall through the hole in the keychain?  Who won the argument of slow vs poor communicator?

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:06:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Who do you think? They do not take me very seriously.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:13:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I blame schools!

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:23:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:48:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Ooops!!



by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:49:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Is no.1 skiing instructions?  How to prevent injury when skiing or something...

No. 2, power cables?

No.3 Is it part of some technogadetry physics accelerator thing?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:16:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Almost...
  1. Exercise instructions, some kind of stretches I think
  2. Yes
  3. A gas pipeline, coming over a bridge, and going into the ground

Now for some π porn:
by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:34:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't know why but I'm feeling excited.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:47:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Whenever I get that way I first run in a circle then divide that distance by the lenth it takes to cross straight across the circle, then I pull it out of the oven cause I'm done...  ;>)
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:29:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Oops, I mean "length"...

I got excited too...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:30:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Gracie Allen's Classic Recipe for Roast Beef

1 large Roast of beef

1 small Roast of beef

Take the two roasts and put them in the oven.

When the little one burns, the big one is done.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:35:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]



I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:59:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird ( US spyplane)

The struggle of man against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting.(Kundera)
by Elco B (elcob at scarlet dot be) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 04:14:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I was going to say in the title: "this one's for Elco B>"

Elco B, have you been to the Dulles Air and Space Museum? If not, I took a lot of photos there a year ago with my old Kodak, and I can put them in a folder at Picassa for you to look at.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 04:25:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I never was in the USA. I know they have huge aviation museums, so yes, I'm very curious to see your pictures.
That first picture is very impressive(original angle).Thanks!

The struggle of man against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting.(Kundera)
by Elco B (elcob at scarlet dot be) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:48:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It will take me some time to get them up on Picassa. I'll let you know on the open thread when they're up.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:53:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]
OK...thanks very much.

The struggle of man against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting.(Kundera)
by Elco B (elcob at scarlet dot be) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:55:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
When I was in the U S(ure) A(re) F(ucked) the SR-71 flew out of our base.  Very impressive machine-at the time no one was allowed to get close.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson
by NearlyNormal on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:20:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Sorry, it's a little blurred.



I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:37:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Some end of line sale in an old theatre?  Is the theatre still used as a theatre?

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:55:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's a very strange place. This is in the Goutte d'Or section of the 18th of Paris which is primarily arab and black, but which is quickly being gentrified or yuppyfied. It's an elegant old theatre, probably cinema, which now houses a Kata shoe store with most of its shoes in the 7 to 10 euro range; really cheap stuff. So it's kind of surreal, this garbage shoe store in a very elegant atmosphere.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:04:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
<<it's blurred...>>
an Odeon during an earth tremor?

:)

N

f8; and be there...

by Nigel CheffersHeard (nigelch(at)cheffers(dot)co(dot)uk) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 03:14:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Very good!

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 03:21:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What it is...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:08:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
well looking at the pattern I'd say Celtic Knot maze, but the characters at the top make me think more Sumerian than Celtic.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:24:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]
First guess incorrect, second guess is right on...

But what is it?

Hint: It's anatomical...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:39:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
intestines or Womb

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:49:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Okay, close enough, it's a sheep's colon.

At least thats what the caption at the Pergamon Museum said.

I think they must have used it as a tool for fortune telling. Maybe they recorded it because it was a particularly good or bad one...

6 out of 10 points...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:01:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmmm...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:21:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Rocks!

Looks like slate to me. (The English definition for slate.) Slate tiles... on a roof?

by Nomad on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:59:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's a crop from a slate roof. The corner by a window dormer where the work got tricky. I love the craftsmanship.
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:16:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

?????...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:29:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
An arrow slit in a castle wall?

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:54:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
We have a winner, go to Window #3 to pick up your prize!
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:55:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
What castle is it? it's fairly early, because later ones are cross shaped so that the defenders can use crossbows

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:00:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't recall the name but it's on the outskirts of Baden-Baden in Baden-Württemberg, DE.

It was pretty much a small tower and and a few ancillary buildings...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:09:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

#1...???...

#2...???...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:54:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
First is a dam water output?

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:13:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yep, and according to the blurb on the signage it's a hydro-electric dam...
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 01:45:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
the second is a variant of the BMW GG quad with the optional side paniers.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:21:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sweet, I didn't know exactly what it was but it's very slick...

Thanks for solving the mystery!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 01:47:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
search engines were my helpers. The engine is obviously a BMW bike engine from the bits you can see, so I just went hunting for a BMW quad bike.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 06:01:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]


Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:54:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Ancient parking lot?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:23:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
it's more for movement than being stationary.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:26:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Aqueduct?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:54:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Mayan football court?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:10:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]
that's closer,

Hint If I told you the name of the place where it is it would be obvious what it was.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:15:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It looks like a giant Bocci ball field.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:21:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
OK last clue, if you look backat my earlier photos, you'll find something taken at the same place.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:28:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's all Greek to me... ; )
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:43:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
yes, but what is it? ;-)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:07:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The ruins of a stable?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:09:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The square hole in the foreground looks to have held a timber framing member... and I can see others along the "wall" periodically.

Is this the fabled stable that Hercules had to clean as one of his labors?

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:15:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Nope

but it is linked to Hercules (or in other versions Pelops)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:31:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Is it the Olympic stadium or the Tomb of Pelops?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:41:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
WE HAVE A WINNER.

it is the running track at Olympus.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:45:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

???...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 08:59:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Stumped. Have been staring at this for the fifth time now.
by Nomad on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:43:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It's some compound bend conduit work that I did on this solar installation in Napa, CA

Conduits feeding solar string disconnects

Another view...

An overview with valley backround...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:20:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
That's impressive.

What's the total power output of an installation like that?

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Oct 7th, 2007 at 10:54:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]
This install was 125 kW, if my memory serves me correctly.

The modules are 220w, manufactured by SunPower Corporation.

PDF spec sheet

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sun Oct 7th, 2007 at 02:05:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Maybe part of an irrigator or the distributor of a crop duster?

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 10:14:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
See above...
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:20:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Know what it is and you will know where it is...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:11:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]
More rocks.

This one I don't know, but it reminds me of the pictures I've seen about Yosemite.

Wants to be there, sun on face, smell cliff of rock face.

Rocks smell nice, you know. Earthy. Whole. Full. Like a good merlot.

by Nomad on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:04:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yessss, it's a zoomed in picture of El Capitan and Halfdome from about 15 kilometers or so out, looking up the valley...
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:42:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
half dome?

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson
by NearlyNormal on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:21:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yep and El Capitan from way outside the valley...
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:22:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Okay, here's the last until I make a beer run...

It's not a simple as you think, or is it?

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:20:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sauna interior?
by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 09:27:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Nope, good guess though...

It has to do with the thing I just made a run for, but before that it was used for something involving spherical objects being hurled...

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:45:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]
bowling ground, so.

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:14:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The Answer is:

It's actually the bar top at a pub that I used to frequent and the wood was taken from an old bowling alley... The name of the place is "Lane Splitter".

Five points!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:40:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]


I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:07:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Looks like a drugstore in the one if the following areas:
Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, Georgia or Delaware

And yes I did use Google (don't touch it, it's evil) but CVS didn't tell me where they are...

Ten bonus points for anyone who can tell me where the evil quote is from!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:52:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It is a CVS drugstore in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. But, what's important is not what it is now but what it was before it became a drugstore. Hint: I spent almost 30 years in that building. My office was in the windowed part upper left.
Let's see if anyone can guess what it was. Another hint: It was quite well known throughout the U.S. to people who were familiar with its specialty.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:10:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Post Office, specializing in collector stamps?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:03:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Nope! Someone who lived in the D.C. area between 1967 and 1996 might recognize it.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:12:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Hey, isn't this supposed to be the European Tribune? ; )
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:18:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I am a European now. That has to do with my American past.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:26:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I know, I'm a USie too, transplanted to D, but I am stymied so I'm changing the subject...

No fair, that's too hard! Waaahh!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:36:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
If you didn't live in the D.C. area it's very  hard.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:43:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
OMG, is that the Biograph?
by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:13:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
WE HAVE A WINNER! How do you know the Biograph?

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:15:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
What IS the Biograph?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:17:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It was a movie theater, like THE place for art and indie movies in DC for something like 30 years.

It's very sorely missed, by me and many others I know.

Biograph, RIP.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:21:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The Biograph was an old fashioned single screen art film house that opened in 1967. I was one of the founders and worked in it almost all my working life. It's safe to say that it became an institution in Washington and it is still written about in the Washington Post 11 years after its closing. It became very well known nationally in its niche industry because of its unique programming. My partner was the programmer and I was the business manager- we had other theatres also but the Biograph was the famous one and our love. The others were just for making money.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:26:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Very cool, thank you for your service to the community!
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:31:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
You just went all the way to 11 on my cool-o-meter.

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."
by poemless on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:46:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I used to go see movies there when I was in high school.  I have some very fond memories of that place.

What did you do there?

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:19:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Whoa!  LEP, I just figured out that you OWNED IT!  I feel like I've just found out that I've been blogging with, I dunno, some kind of celebrity all this time.

The Biograph.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:28:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I was one of the founders and owner-managers. See previous post.
You must have gone to the midnight shows. Where did you live? It sure is a small world.
And I've always wanted to ask you, how did you wind up in Egypt?

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:30:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I lived waaaaay out in the sticks in NoVa, way outside the Beltway.  The Biograph (and Georgetown in general) was kind of a refuge from the suburban hell where I spent my teenage years.  It's kind of sad to go back there now and look at what's happened to the place.  It's like a giant shopping mall now.

I ended up in Egypt because I got a job here, that's all. The company I work for transferred me here a few years ago.  I really dunno how long I'll stay, or where I'll go next....

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:37:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
This feels like "old home" week.
My son, who still live in the D.C. area sent me an article last week about the closing of the Dupont Theatres which mentions th Biograph. He sent me the whole article but I'll see if I can dig up the link.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:42:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I was actually thinking about the Biograph recently because I saw that same article in the Post.  There are no more art theaters in DC, it seems.

Were you involved with the Biograph in Richmond, too?

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:55:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The Biograph in Richmond was ours too. It was always a money loser; Richmond was just too small a town to support an art house. Eventually we gave it to our manager who lasted a few years and then went out of business.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:41:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I still have one business interest left in D.C. and in my office there is this water color of The Biograph.



I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 03:50:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
There are a couple of large multiplex theatres, run by Landmark, one downtown and one uptown, near Bethesda, that specialize in art films. I haven't seen them but they're big and modern. The Biograph had character, the seat were uncomfortable, your feet stuck to the floor because of all the spilt cokes but everyone loved it; it was like a reliable old shoe where you'd always get your money's worth. I'll have to stop now before I tear up.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 04:56:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I'll have to stop now before I tear up.

Yeah, me too, actually.

I've been thinking all night about the diary I have to write expressing my gratitude to you for that theater.  Maybe you've heard this a thousand times before, but it was really important to me.  Really.

So if I ever meet you in person, LEP, dinner's on me.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:10:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, I hope you can make it to the next meet up in Paris. I would be most honored to meet you; I admire your sensitive writings. And it's not necessary to express any gratitude. Your contributions here, along with everyone else's have helped me to keep hope and to keep my brain young.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 05:26:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Here's something that might interest you that was sent to me recently from Counterpunch.org.

When Good Drugs Happen to Bad People
Karl Rove, Pothead

By FRED GARDNER
Among the 78,000 pages of Nixon Administration documents recently released by the National Archives was a memo from young Karl Rove to Anne Armstrong, counselor to the President. Rove aspired to head the College Republicans. His memo proposes, among other things, that college Republican clubs show "nonpolitical films for fundraising (e.g. John Wayne flicks, 'Reefer Madness')..." The New York Times asked Rove for a comment and then reported: "The 56-year-old Mr. Rove pleaded forgetfulness. 'God, this is 1973,' he said. 'You work the math. I don't remember it all.'"

What math? The heavy subtraction? 1973 was 34 years ago. Who but potheads thought Reefer Madness was worth watching, let alone showing? Instead of pleading memory loss Rove could have denied to the Times that he, personally, had been into pot. His response reveals an awareness of the essential lightness of the subject. He probably remembers quite well sitting in the old Biograph Theater on M Street in Georgetown, laughing superciliously with the other pot-smoking young Republicans, feeling insightful, maybe not so unattractive, getting the munchies, infatuated with the crowd in power, wondering if he could get close to George Bush's inadequate son and somehow become his advisor...

I think the writer was confusing us with the Key Theatre. We didn't let Republicans in the Biograph.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:25:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Do you think that at some point you actually had the pleasure of ejecting a young Carl Rove?

(Perhaps he decided to get even and the last few years have been his revenge on evil lefty cinema managers) ;-)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:40:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I feel guilty now.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:45:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Well it could have been worse, you could have let him in and spoiled a good seat by contact.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 08:55:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Here's the link to the Post Article. The Biograph is mentioned 5 paragraphs from the bottom. I have to pick up my kid now so I'll see you later.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002633.html

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:49:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
rg's diary?

"These days, there's nothing more ridiculous than the truth." Leonard Pitts Jr
by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 07:21:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
OK, I've got beer now, back to the fun...

Sure is pretty isn't it?

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 11:06:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Looks like Venus flytrap

won't wonders never cease? _ Snuffy Smith
by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 10:10:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thai purple basil flowers, so tasty and, in my opinion, beatiful...
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 02:25:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmmm???

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:01:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
More specifically, what could have caused this?
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:13:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Some extremely determined but short-sighted pigeons ? :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience
by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:13:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:16:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I take it that this is in Berlin?

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 5th, 2007 at 01:38:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, that's correct...
by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Sat Oct 6th, 2007 at 07:05:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
so it's gunfire