Odds and ends

Dawn Eden has photos of a Forgotten NY tour of the remnants of New York's World's Fairs. (Some thoughts from me, inspired by the 1964 World's Fair, later, maybe.)

Urban history lovers could get seriously lost in the Forgotten NY website -- I have. Map lovers should clear their schedules for a browse through the National Atlas, which includes current congressional district maps and Electoral College maps. (Hat tip to Andrew Roth of the Club for Growth, and thanks for the warning.)

Scott Ott, of the parody news site ScrappleFace, "reports" that President Bush is seeking "federal funding for research aimed at 'stiffening the spines of elected officials.'"

"Scientists tell me there may be a genetic defect which allows members of my party to campaign against government waste but then, once they're elected, to refuse to reduce spending or eliminate useless programs," said Mr. Bush. "The condition makes them look like they have no spine."

If they ever have a telethon for the affliction, we've got the poster child right here in Tulsa.

Scott Ott also has the scoop on new Democrat chairman Howard Dean's attempts to cozy up to Red State voters in Kansas:

He told a baptist church group that his favorite character in the Bible is "Bob the Tomato," but later revised his remarks to acknowledge that the Veggie Tales video series is "not usually included in the canon of Scripture."

The tour was delayed for about an hour in Topeka, KS, as Mr. Dean stood at a Wal-Mart "concierge desk" waiting for the arrival of his "personal shopper."

(Before you go forwarding that to your entire e-mail list, remember, it's satire.)

Fear and Loathing in the Mystery Machine: Iowahawk publishes excerpts from a never-aired Scooby Doo episode guest-starring Hunter S. Thompson. (Note: It's a parody of Thompson's writing, so be prepared for profanities, vulgarities, and lots and lots of drug references.) (Note: It's a parody of Scooby Doo, so be prepared for "Ruh roh," "YOINKS," and the Harlem Globetrotters playing basketball against ghosts at an Aztec pyramid.) (Note: There is a passing reference to "Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp", one of my favorite Saturday morning TV shows. The show's creators wrote for "Get Smart" -- no wonder I liked it.) (Note: That's enough notes.)

...suddenly the gullet of the garish chartreuse steel beast began to spasm, as if a digestive track readying itself to vomit. I began clawing at my hamstrings and when I turned my head I was looking into the irridescent eyes of a grotesque animal screeching "Ruh Roh! Ruh Roh!" in a hoarse irritating dog-accented gibberish. That's when things began to turn weird. ...

I should have known. In fact, I knew. I had always known. Those weren't ghosts. They were monsters, the flesh eating monsters of a country half-decayed by greed, stupidity and rot. The Aztec starting five: Nixon, Agnew, Mitchell, Haldeman and Erlichmann.

"We would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling dope fiends...."

Phoebe Gleeson links to collection of retitled romance novel covers at the Wonderful World of Longmire. A sample:

Mr. Longmire is also accepting reader submissions.