It’s Friday at lunchtime, and you know what that means — time to clear out the bookmarked links…
- Entertainment News. I have a number of music, entertainment, and such items that I couldn’t really tie together in a theme. First, if you have ever driven the Harbor Freeway (Route 110) through downtown LA, you see a mural of a number of musicians. Curbed LA has a nice story on that mural, including where those musicians are now. Second, for those into Psych, one of the stars, James Roday, has just bought the historic El Centro Theatre in Hollywood, with plans to turn it into a legit stage venue. Thirdly, one of the things that fascinated me growing up were TV stations that “shared” networks; you often saw these on TV station listing on 1960s era maps. One has gone away, as ABC finally has a permanent home on a digital subchannel in Hattiesburg MS. Lastly, in the false good news department, the Car Talk duo of Tom and Ray Magliozzi will stop recording new shows in September, as they announce on their website. Alas, the airwaves won’t be completely safe, as they will continue to broadcast a “best of” show drawn from 25 years of recordings.
- History Resurfacing and Disappearing. This first item could have been with the entertainment news, and is sad indeed. Bob Baker is putting his Marionette Theatre up for sale. The income just isn’t there to keep up the theatre; he still plans to keep the puppets and do travelling shows. Most people that grew up in LA have been to one of Mr. Baker’s Marionette shows sometime in their life. Second, a renovation in downtown LA uncovered a hidden 1914 hot chocolate shop; more details are here. It is unclear the next use of the refurbished space. Lastly, tombstones are being exposed on San Francisco Beaches — these are remants of the cemetaries that used to be in the city but were moved to Colima. Here’s the neat part: bodies were moved for free, but you had to pay to move markers and such… so most were abandoned.
- Miscellaneous Other Stuff. Three miscellaneous items. First, the NRO is offering two unfinished satellites to NASA to be repurposed for astronomical purposes — they have mirrors as good as the Hubble. NASA still needs to finish, launch, and support them. Second, the Umami Burger in Thousand Oaks has opened; we’ll have to try it when we go to Cabrillo’s “Meet Me In St. Louis” in July. Lastly, have you ever wondered how long a razor cartridge lasts. In these value-focused times, Gillette has decided that people should know.
P.S.: Two good net comics today. College-bound and college-attending folks (such as my daughter) should appreciate today’s XKCD on college laundry (I remember those days). Secondly, those into art and art history would appreciate today’s Dork Tower.
Music: Nunsensations (Off-Broadway Cast): Sin City Sue