Ghost of a flea

Trojan War

Manfred Korfmann, director of the excavations at Troy, comments on whether or not the Trojan War depicted in Homer's Iliad, like, happened.

Ok, I teach this stuff and that is a pretty boring question. How about, shouldn't Helen be prettier than Achilles? And how many millihelens can Brad Pitt register anyway? I mean, wouldn't that need another unit of measurement seeing as he is a guy?

Beetle

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Umbrella Project

This is the sort of inventiveness that could rescue Flea Towers (via Attu).

Oil Emperor of Dune

So... George-Muad'ib riding a worm of Irraqis is supposed to be a bad thing, right?

London

Fifty reasons why I am in the wrong city (though Toronto does share some features in common with the real Big Smoke).

The color of money

And at long last for all those cracks about Canadian Monopoly money we can now examine in detail the new US $50 bill. In colour. Or rather, color.

MapMachine

National Geographic offers revamped on-line maps.

Picard Song

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Nicosphere3000

Are you sick of being told where you can smoke?

Slavery

UNICEF releases a report on slavery in Africa and between Africa and the Middle East and Europe.

And this is interesting... UNICEF has positive things to say about its relationship with "faith based organizations."

Invisible Adjunct

For people outside the academic job market, an adjunct lecturer teaches on a course by course basis typically with limited benefits. Pay is also limited so there is a tendency to overload on courses thereby keeping tenured faculty from straining themselves and limiting an adjunct lecturer's time to finish the PhD or write the publications that lead to a full-time job. Disappointing to see one of my favourite blogs come to end and a peculiar echo of my own work circumstances just now.

The Chronicle of Higher Education notes the passing of a great blog (hat tip to Mondo Sismondo).

Tiffany Case

Ok, so Solitaire is the ideal Bond girl. Tiffany Case is my favourite. When did TBS start using the expression "Bond Women"? Much less chic.

I dare anyone to watch Diamonds Are Forever and tell me Ewan McGregor should not be the next Bond!

And now I have everyone's attention... Heroes of the Blogosphere has more than a day to go! Watch this space for updates as I move to a real computer! The best place to start is at Da Goddess who offers thoughts from bloggers who explain why they are taking time to support Spirit of America. Then report for duty at Castle Argghhh!!! where Fusileer 6 offers the latest SITREP.

Big Pants

I have almost certainly linked to this before. Possibly not work safe depending on how attentive your co-workers are to detail.

Dynamic duo

Batman and Robin are fighting crime in Reading.

German public television

This bile is what passes for humour on NDR, a regional German public TV channel (via Frozen in Montreal).

Remember 11

This is difficult to read (via Chaos Central).

Hanukah or Chanukah

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Bonfire 43

The finest in toasted cheese is now available at On the Fritz.

Prequel

Star Trek producer Rick Berman is dropping hints about the next film in the Trek franchise.

Trireme

Marine archaeologists are after the remains of as many as a thousand Greek and Persian wrecks from the Persian Wars. Their aim is to discover just how a trireme worked.

And then... Here are some photos of a contemporary - arguably not working quite right - version of the ancient real deal, the Hellenic Navy's Olympias. Something right up my street: a paper on how trireme construction was financed. Neat!

Black Widow

I would have said I was Clea, Princess of the Dark Dimension so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this test. Which Marvel superheroine are you?

Sk8er Boi

I don't know why I am running this. Consider it CanCon. Harry Windsor is to have a "date" with Avril Lavigne, someone who accomplished something as a result of personal talent and hard work rather than by accident of birth.

No doubt! And who cares?

Hairspray

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Dutch Idol

These Dutch idol entrants makes the Canadian pickings look good. Someone. Anyone. Please tell me this is a joke. And what is with the yellow Che shirt?

Unfinished Chamber

We travel beneath the Pyramid of Khufu thanks to the wonder that is "the internet".

Self-propelling cart

Designs from Leonardo's Atlanticus Codex have been transformed into a working model now the steering mechanism is no longer confused for the propulsion system.

Van Helsing

This one says "Flea." Kate Beckinsale discusses her latest goth vixen role.

I find myself thinking much the same thing. Preview pics can be found here.

Flea Market

When Rev. Donald Sensing's "One Hand Clapping" first featured BlogAds the Reverend kindly offered a week of free ad-space to the first blogger who asked.

The Flea now follows his excellent example. There is a week of free adspace on the sidebar to the first blogger who writes!

And then... We have a winner! Now let's see if we can get this BlogAds interface to work...

Boss-inator 3000

Be the Donald!

Gunther

Il est mou ton tra la la... (probably not work safe).

Banana Guard

The last time your squashy banana need be stored in the freezer of hypothetical banana-bread fixings. "Protect your banana!"

And then... Deb beats me to the banana!

Cards

Just my luck as the Flea is accepting over-the-top gifts at the moment (though I expect I could make a set of these myself).

Canabian

My name is none of your business because... I. Am. Canabian!

Bogus refugee claims

I posted the following comment to a post at the Shotgun. I think it is worth repeating here (as is a link to the original Globe and Mail article that started the discussion). Each concerns the possibility of people claiming refugee status in Canada claming to risk persecution for their sexual orienation.

I notice the Globe and Mail article gives two grounds for the "bogus" quality of some claims. First, the claimant may not actually be gay. Second, the claimant may come from a country where gay people are not persecuted. I hope we could agree these cases coult accurately be described as bogus.

I would further hope we could agree there are many countries - the article cites countries where homosexuality is outlawed - from which a legitimate refugee claim could be made.

Devotion

Being American in T.O. on the last full measure of devotion.

Pat Tillman

A hero has died.

And then... nikita demosthenes comments with multiple links.

GAU-8 Avenger cannon

Ever wanted a practice round for the cannon sported by the A-10? Your wish can come true at Castle Argghhh!!! and it is all for the Fighting Fusileers' Spirit of America charity drive! "You know you want it! You know you need it!"

Jim Morrison Simulatron

Jim Morrison is with us once again thanks to the wonders of "the internet".

Ant Run and Brain Strain

Just the metaphors for your Friday morning blahs.

6th place

Fun with motorcycles. Probably best not to try this at home (or your sun-roof).

Pilot's seat

I love this panoramic view of a Concorde cockpit in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum. But wait, there's more!

Whaling

Rock art discovered in what is now South Korea dating back as much as six thousand years depicts early whaling practices. Flea-readers interested in trying out this whale steak with herbs recipe or another for whale steak and green peas should invite me over for bbq.

The Tao of Kylie

This latest contribution to Kylie-media is an interview ranging from the question of whether we have souls (yes) to whether we will all end up with chips in our heads (maybe). Also, women's undergarments.

(With a hat tip to the much missed Sketches of Strain.)

Facehugger

Now Flea-readers can have a stuffed facehugger for their very own.

Pink

This may put a kink in my plan to buy a pink shirt. It does not require much confidence to wear the same thing everybody else is wearing.

So You Want to Write a Star Trek Novel

I have the best idea for a Star Trek novel ever and now I know what to do about it.

Cornucopia

The shape of the universe?

IAEA

If someone at the IAEA knows why referrals from their server are now sitting at the top of my stats for this month (and that includes an Instalanche) I would be delighted if they let me in on it. Shouldn't you guys be, like, looking for nuclear weapons or something? Here's a hint: it has four letters, starts with an "I" and this year ends with the letter "N" instead of the letter "Q".

Captain Mbaye Diagne

I am republishing this post from the lost Mk. 1 version of the Shotgun. This is for everyone at the IAEA and other international organizations nominally dedicated to helping people out. Keep your eye on the ball people.

***

"Ghosts of Rwanda" represents the best of PBS' Frontline series. Anyone who thinks the barbarism in Fallujah could be assuaged by withdrawal of Coalition forces should watch this show. Anyone who thinks the word "barbarism" is more offensive than the murder and desecration of free people should be ashamed. Anyone who cannot find the word "evil" in their vocabulary may not be capable of that emotion. But that shame is nothing next to what we should all feel for standing by as genocide was perpetrated in Rwanda. Canadian General Romeo Dallaire sums it up with brutal clarity.

"I'm sure there would have been more reaction if someone had tried to exterminate Rwanda's 300 mountain gorillas," he said.

So much for the United Nations. So much for international law. So much for the international community. 800,000 people were murdered. And still the only thing that matters to so many people is marching in the streets against... against what exactly? Against civilization. Too many of those outraged by the toppling of dictators could not find Rwanda on the map.

One story stands out. A Senegalese peacekeeper saved a hundred, as many as a thousand, lives by escorting some of the few Tutsis left in Kigali away from one of many Hutu Einsatzgruppen. Captain Diagne saved these lives against the express orders of the United Nations. Remember that the next time someone suggests that parliament of dictators has the moral authority to point fingers as as it chokes back the lobster and champagne.

When plans were first discussed for evacuating U.N. personnel, the rule was that no Rwandans, staff or not, could be taken along. Colonel Balis stated that he questioned Dallaire twice about the directive and was told, “Orders from New York: No Locals.” The rules were not always followed, even by the authorities in New York or by some U.N. agencies. ... On April 7, the Senegalese Captain Mbaye Diagne and a U.N. employee named Le Moal rescued the five children of Prime Minister Uwilingiyimana, who then left the country through the efforts of a French professor, André Guichaoua, who was in Kigali at the time. Throughout the next weeks, Captain Mbaye became virtually a legend among Rwandans for his bravery and inventiveness in saving people and in deterring soldiers who sought to enter the Hotel Mille Collines at night to kill those whom he had saved during the day.

Captain Diagne was killed by shrapnel at a checkpoint and the UN could not offer him the dignity of a body bag. He deserved better.

Portrait

Analogia compares the Flea to Tim Robbins, Clint Eastwood and Scott Baio. The software took a bit longer coming up with female comparisons but eventually settled on Patricia Arquette, Andie MacDowell and Maria Callas. Ahh, la Divina! I think this software is designed to blow smoke somewhere or other (via Cup of Chicha).

Creatures

"Making the Creatures", a featurette from the forthcoming Aliens Vs. Predator film is now available. I love the mechanical mandibles!

Sexiest Vegetarians Alive

Vegans taste better, look better and feel better. Or so claim two veggie models whose names escaped me on a first (or possibly second) viewing. I assumed this piece was meant to be satirical but as it wore on the grinding realization of the utter humourlessness of these people sunk in. Nice lettuce though.

MTV

This is going to hurt you more than it is going to hurt me (probably not work safe).

Unreal

I wonder if this is a Shopped image. Great idea either way.

Torc

So as I was saying, you wouldn't happen to have the other half of this amulet...

Marshill

A stone coffin containing the body of an iron age warrior, found close to a bronze age burial, may point to a Druid holy site.

Your Disco Needs You!

The Blog-Bash to raise money for Spirit of America kicks off at noon (EST). Please come back to the Flea later today for a link to the donation site.

The latest broadside for the Fighting Fusileers is available at the Castle (along with some remarks about the arsenal of blogocracy: "Shoot girl, I'm bettin' I've got more machineguns than you have guns.")

And then... Actually, it is the donation buttons that are to arrive noonish. Donations are to be accepted starting just after midnight tonight. I will let you know in which time zone as soon as the information arrives. The Canadian Pesh Murga stand ready!

Ab urbe condita

The Flea wishes a happy birthday to Rome, founded April 21 2,757 years ago.

Distraction

Just the thing to lower the productivity of your office-mates.

Red Bull

***Dave links to an astute observation about the blogosphere (including the Flea-ish part).

Hand of God

Diego Maradona has been hospitalized with heart problems said to be related to years of drug and alcohol abuse. Sad.

Football

Two nuclear submarines have surfaced at the north pole with a game of footie in mind.

Gas tax

James Lileks responds to Andrew Sullivan on gas taxes (via She who will be obeyed!).

Blogosphere

I had an interesting conversation with an editor at a major national Canadian daily newspaper that is attempting to "ingratiate itself with the blogosphere." The idea is to run occasional posts from Canadian bloggers as a comments feature in the print edition. Sounds fine. Here is the catch: the paper does not intend to pay to publish that work. Why would it, the argument goes, when the blogger had already written the post for free? Hey, I have got an idea... I will reprint entire articles from the paper, put them up behind a paid subscription wall and sell ads along the way. I mean, I found a copy of the paper on the subway and was reading it for free anyway. So why should the owners of the paper care what I do with their work?

I happen to know what the per word rate used to be for this particular major national Canadian daily newspaper so no blogger should expect to get rich even if the paper does an about face. I have two observations to make. First, writers should be paid for their work. Second, it may be I was the first of twenty-five bloggers to ask for money from a business attempting to sell papers with my writing. But I still think this is no way to ingratiate the paper with the blogosphere.

And then... If you were one of those twenty-five you should send me an email. The traffic generated by twenty-five bloggers ads up to a newspaper. We should be selling our own ads not giving away our work to the dead tree media.

And then... Think of the following before giving away your work in exchange for a reprinted URL in the print edition of anything.

I remember the business head of MSNBC.com telling me sometime ago that Glenn Reynolds' column there gets more traffic from external blogs than from the internal promotional power of the meganewssite.

Remember, paper does not support hyperlinks.

Hammy Hamster

This weekend I was reminded of Hammy Hamster... and a surreal moment living in England when a Brummie colleague broke into a rendition of the title theme for The Littlest Hobo. Now I wonder how far afield Hammy Hamster lore has travelled.

And then... Ok, that's enough with the hamster lore. You can let it out. Sing along now. You know you want to!

There's a voice that keeps on calling me.
Down the road. That's where I'll always be.
Oh, every stop I make, I make a new friend.
Can't stay for long. Just turn around, and I'm gone again.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down.
Until tomorrow, I'll just keep movin' on.
So, if you want to join me for awhile,
just grab your hat, and we'll travel light. That's hobo style.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down.
Until tomorrow, I'll just keep movin' on.
Until tomorrow, the whole world is my home.

Necronomicontest

Now is the time for all good Flea-readers to come to the aid of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society (with a hat tip to the Flea's whisky expert).

Panoramas

Panoramas for every occasion. I like this view from the Monument.

Communicator

Vocera makes a Next Generation-style lapel communicator (via Venomous Kate).

Geiger

b3ta points out having your own Geiger counter "would be fantastic device for making yourself utterly paranoid." Great idea!

Capitalism in Amsterdam

It is possible the liberal terms offered to Parma to induce the surrender of towns in the southern provinces may have enabled citizens of those towns who were resolved not to return to their Spanish and Catholic allegiance to send or take with them other countries capital assets of substantial value.

So claims Violet Barbour in Capitalism in Amsterdam in the 17th Century (University of Michigan Press, 1966). This fifth sentence on the twenty-third page of the nearest book to hand comes to you courtesy of Blog Treatment and in the tradition of surrealist party games (via Argghhh!!!).

Reporting

Sadly, this is how most media works (via the Melbourne Truth of blogs).

Pentagon

Democracy, minority rights, an independent judiciary and (above all?) the rights of women, these are the foundations of Paul Wolfowitz' vision of an alternative to despotism in the Middle East. My favourite part of this Australian article is an architectural metaphor (via A&L Daily).

1990s

The accuracy of my result matches those of She Who Will Be Obeyed!

Blogger section

The Campblog proposes the next stage in the Bloggish Enlightenment, a blog section at the magazine rack (and that thing about the InstaCar is true).

Clueless

So. Ok. Here is some more, like, oratory.

Dance Co.

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Beatallica

As the name suggests.

Origins

This database of band name origins is a great idea. ZZ Top's choice follows a parallel logic to "A" blogs wanting to sit at the top of all those blogrolls.

Necklace

A truly ancient necklace may "present absolute evidence for perhaps the earliest storage of information outside the human brain." Adorning ourselves is a symbolic act and this necklace pushes back estimated dates for the appearance of modern human behaviours.

Kensington Runestone

The "smoking gun" proving the Kensington Runestone to be a hoax may lie in the particular runes in which it is written. It seems Olof Ohman's find uses a rune system rather more recent than the supposed Norse expedition of the year 1362.

Sith Lord

:: how jedi are you? ::

Hmm, looks like I've got some 'splaining to do (thanks to the philosopher of Classical Values).

Nehemiah and the Mausoleum

Which Old Testament Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

This Biblical insight arrives courtesy of the philosopher of Classical Values. And, no big shock here, it turns out I am the Mausoleum.

You are the Tomb of King Maussollos!

Private and reclusive, you just want to be left
alone. Although you do enjoy good
conversation, you tend to avoid confrontations
and keep an emotional distance. As the Tomb of
Maussollos, you are very precise in your work
and daily living and strive to keep out of
other peoples business. Youre a good listener,
and you strive to find logical solutions to
your own and other persons problems. Very
indecisive, you tend to analyze yourself into
inactivity.


What Wonder of the Ancient World are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Maximus Decimus Meridius

Today's lesson in rhetoric and oratory is dedicated to a hero, Fabrizio Quattrocchi. Fratres!

InstaPundit

And don't forget Ghost of a Flea!

The BlogFather offers a kind word. Thanks! InstaPundit readers curious about Canadian life and politics should check out my fellow Shotgunners at the Western Standard...

Block clock

Another intriguing on-line time-keeping device.

Iso-phone

A heightend telephonic experience.

Mountain Dew

Steven Segal can't believe it's him either.

Aruba

Ghostly chains are rattling in welcome to a Flea-visitor from Aruba. The CIA world fact website points out the island is "slightly larger than Washington, DC." The Flea would have said, small but perfectly formed.

Minuteman III

Test launch.

Impacts

Calculate your next local asteroid impact effects thanks to the miracle of "the internet."

War movies

James Lileks asks why there have been no war movies about the current war (via InstaPundit, but I like the following quote better than the one he chose).

Expecto patronum!

The Sister of a Flea points to a new, longer trailer now available at the Harry Potter website. Kudos to Hermione for clocking that guy and the Dementors are suitably creepy. One thought: this is supposed to be the third year of our heroes' progress through Hogwarts... It might be an idea to speed up film production because at this rate Harry and friends are going to be a bit long in the tooth by the time school finishes. Sort of a reverse effect to the one experienced by the children of Genoa City sent off to boarding school in Switzerland.

Eggs

My favourite part of this egg toss game is the bunny with the bicycle helmet. Good idea!

Star Wars

Anthony, rib master and Meatriarchy author, editor and publisher has never seen Star Wars.

Esther

Esther, the artist formerly known as Madonna, has decided to observe Shabbat and avoid Friday concert gigs on her forthcoming tour.

Perception

Serenity's Journal posts on the undue privilege accorded to matters of perception in contrast with matters of fact (via Argghhh!!!).

Preconceptions

The people of Belgium, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden and Romania ask what the world thinks of them.

Weazell

The remains of a merchant schooner turned up in 2001 may be the oldest such wreck to be found in the Great Lakes.

Two halves

Say, do you have the other half of this amulet I have carried with me since I was a child? No? Ok, how about this lion's head?

Begin

The Flea School for Wayard Expats presents a continuing series in rhetoric and oratory. Today we are addressed by Canadian alumnus, Neo.

RGB

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (and swallow our tongues).

Test and Commandments

My only objection to this 100% accurate Gay Test is that it is perfectly possible for gay people to be familiar with the lyrical oeuvre of AC/DC.

Straight Flea-readers wondering why they are getting misleading test results should refer to the Men Commandments for pointers.

Millenium Falcon

INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT -- DOCKING BAY 94

LUKE: What a piece of junk.

Internet Traffic Report

Another source of data courtesy of "the internet."

U.S. Air Force Academy

A 3D panorama of the Academy including the attractive Cadet Chapel.

Roy Batty

The Flea School for Wayward Expats continues its series in rhetoric and oratory. Today's speaker is Nexus 6 Replicant, Roy Batty.

Taters

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (warning: this one is catchy).

Vodka Cranberry Magnum

I would have thought vodka was relatively flavourless. Must be an Australian thing.

Tetra Vaal

This one takes a while to download but is visually stunning. Also, I think this is the direction technology is headed. I have this image in my head of a skeletal metal leg stomping on a human skull.

Hunley

Archaeological investigation of Civil War submarine, H.L. Hunley reveals details about her crew days before their remains are to be laid to rest.

Tyler Durden

The Flea School for Wayward Expats present the third in a continuing series on rhetoric and oratory. So 9/10.

Spiderman 2

The second trailer. Some shaky cgi but you have to love the Carl Orff soundtrack (via ***Dave).

Shake Your Blood

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (Probably not work safe for most. Lemmy rules!).

Omarosa Manigault Stallworth

It turns out Omarosa has had some experience being fired. She is reported to have been fired four times in two years in her much vaunted work experience with President Clinton's administration.

Saint-Exupéry

The wreckage of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's plane has been found (via Merde in France).

Renton's Choice

The Flea School for Wayward Expats presents the second in a continuing series in rhetoric and oratory. Choose life.

Rev. Billy Bob's Rodent Revival

I saw the light!

Tron

The Flea's latest foray into gentlemen's haberdashery features a great outfit for cycling at night.

Crazy Train

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (but wait, there's more!).

Soken DVD

A dvd player that avoids those annoying skips.

Illuminati

First we get the news that cats and humans may have been living together for considerably longer than has been thought. Then the secret of the true world conspiracy is revealed at Castle Argghhh!!!

And then... Other details of the impending revolution have been leaked at Baltic Blog.

And then... And now our overlords show their power at the very heart of the blogosphere!

Modern Ruins

Intriguing photo essays speak for themselves. Rather a lot of commentary by the photographer as well.

Dancing chicken

Take the quiz: "What kind of chicken are you???"

You are the dancing chicken.
You just wanna shake your tail feathers. You tend to dance around questions and not answer them directly, but you're oh so damn fun!

This chicken-lore arrives courtesy of the philosopher of Classical Values, a Golded Mis-Proportionate chicken. For the record, I was also a Grammar God but gave up trying to post it because the graphic failed to load!

And then... And here is my American city. I would have said Manhattan (and I am also partial to Atlanta).

Take the quiz: "Which American City Are You?"

San Francisco
Liberal and proud, you'll live your lifestyle however you choose in the face of all that would supress you.

Henry V

The Flea School for Wayward Expats presents the first in a continuing series in rhetoric and oratory. To begin: the St. Crispin's Day speech.

Band of bloggers

We few. We happy few! And Jay Currie heralds the formation of the Kylie Party.

Battle Pong

Just the thing for a Friday afternoon (if you are better at Pong than I am, that is).

Biohazard

More zombie goodness is on the way in Biohazard 4.

Feed the Models

A small donation will make a world of difference.

Throbbing Gristle 2004

A celebration of Industrial music in the 21st Century from May 14-16 suggests that once again I am in the wrong country.

Macallan Scotch

It could be the single malts I have had have been unrepresentative. Is this stuff supposed to taste like it was strained through socks? Give me an Irish blend anyday. Then again, this Macallan deal would tempt me in the $50 range.

Corporate ethnography

Life beyond teaching beckons for the enterprising anthropologist.

Condi

National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice is testifying before Congress as I type these words. Let's have a look at that bio, shall we. And here is something to look forward to.

And then... Once again The Meatriarchy and the Flea are reading off the same page.

And then... Man, that guy is totally cruising for links. But it is all in a good cause. Here is a possible Demi Moore look for Dr. Rice. And here is a Matrix outfit to consider.

Age of Horus

One hundred years ago today, British occult philosopher Aleister Crowley began the first of three days through which he received "The Book of the Law" at Cairo, Egypt. Crowley believed his revelation ushered in a new Age of Horus and signalled the end of the last two-thousand years or so of the Age of Osiris. This is the "new age" referred to by subsequent exponents of the Age of Aquarius and all its attendent book and incense sales.

93 93/93

Hittites

Rollerskates only increase the mystery of the ancient Hittites.

Perperikon

"...When Octavian, father of Augustus, at the head of his army, came upon the Holy Mount of Dionysus, he consulted the oracle about his son, and the prophets said to him that his son was to rule the world, for as the wine was spilt onto the altar, the smoke rose up above the top of the shrine and even unto heavens, as had happened when Alexander the Great himself had sacrificed upon that same altar".

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

A place for rituals of wine and fire written of by Dion Cassius and Suetonius may have been found.

Odd Objects Gallery

Biggles has made some odd objects. My wardrobe could certainly use a pair of Brogued Wellingtons.

007 Kylie

Evil Bond girl, please! But let's face facts... Kylie is bound to be a good Bond girl.

And then... Though news via Anthony suggests Kylie might have other matters to attend to first.

Scooby Doo Cthulhu

The Mythos origins of Scooby Doo are discussed. At length.

St. Peter's

This is a new Flea-favourite. I particularly like the bottle.

Sign language

Another alternative internet clock.

McGurk

The McGurk effect demonstrated thanks to the wonders of "the internet."

Vegetarian gladiators

The protein deficiency could explain the aggressive temperament. That and the smart remarks about form-fitting armour.

Legend of Zelda

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (quite work safe, actually, unless your work has something against Japanese elves).

A girl's best friend

Margot Knight has a peculiar pet.

Farscape

A four-hour miniseries, Farscape: Peacekeeper War is to pick up where the series ended.

Armor of the Witchking

The Flea reported on an impressive pair of Witchking gauntlets in January. I am pleased to provide an update courtesy of Mr. Jeffrey Stelter, creator of an off-the-rack Witchking of Angmar costume.

Clueless

Remember: these people can vote (courtesy of Fred Kiesche).

Blacklist

It takes a village to raise a blog!

The Flea is now MT-Blacklist protected thanks to the patient advice of blogospheric savants ***Dave and Eric Scheie and the skills of Dean Esmay, a blogger and a gentleman. Thanks guys!

Akira

Akira, contender for most over-rated film of all time (up there with Blue Velvet), neverthess featured a kick ass motocycle. One for me, please.

Zombies: friend or foe?

Some say people are worse than zombies. Perhaps. I still say we must organize before they rise!

Holy ---, Batman!

A compendium of phrases from the camp version of the story of the Batman.

Meantime, someone has noticed Superman in all those Seinfeld episodes...

Hovercraft with Motorycle

Yes, I love the U.S. of A. The spirit of invention lives on!

Maize

Duke University plant geneticist, Mary Eubanks argues DNA evidence demonstrates corn is the result of a serendipitous cross between teosinte and gamagrass rather than a simple evolution from, and selective breeding of, teosinte.

Say Mail

Read my lips... no more boring emails.

Skull and bones

Start your own collection of fossil hominids. I like the idea of a Piltdown Man skull sitting on my desk. What an ice-breaker!

Transylvania

Yet another unilateral action by Western imperialists as a ruse to gain access to Transylvanian oil reserves (via Merde in France).

Schwinn Sting-Ray

Add this to the shopping list.

Astute Design and Build

I am sorry to learn the next-generation UK hunter-killer submarine program is having problems. I am almost embarrassed to learn it is £1 billion over budget (and counting). I am surprised to learn BAE Systems has brought in management from Electric Boat to help sort out the problem. Finally, I am a bit alarmed to learn how detailed is the information made public on engineering processes that are both sensitive from commercial and security perspectives. It is not the release of specifications that concerns me but publishing the names of senior members of the design and build team.

Leather boots

Leather Boots- sleek, trendy, and popular, you are
always dressed right. You sometimes seem fake
to people that don't know you. You enjoy
shopping and hanging out with your many
friends. [please vote! thank you! :)]


What Kind of Shoe Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

This obviously correct answer comes via the barefoot Classical Values and Sketches of Strain who has a big stompy pair of boots really.

Two