happy happy happy
Month: May 2011
Letter Writing
Discreet
The Great Molasses Flood of Boston
Since I talk about this disaster rather a lot, I suppose I ought to just record a few basic details so I can refer to them without exaggerating:
On January 15, 1919, a tank of molasses exploded in Boston’s North End. The explosion caused a huge shockwave that was sufficient to knock houses off their foundations. Shards of metal from the tank were found up to 200 ft. away. Right after the explosion this accident took a very strange turn.
The tank was filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses. When the tank exploded, the molasses formed a 25-30 ft. wave, that went through the streets of Boston at speeds of around 35 mph. People caught in the wave were either smashed against large objects, or they drowned in the molasses. This strange accident caused 21 deaths and 150 injuries. Rumor has it that, on a hot day in the North End, the air still smells sweet.
[Via Pavan Mickey. More info here or here.]
In the Paleolithic days before widespread internet use, this was just a crazy story we once heard about when I lived in Boston, but no one could say for sure if it was an urban legend or not. I’m pretty sure it was Dave who finally cracked the case, coming across a news story about it while gathering clippings at his awful PR job. I love the internet for making it easy to find things like this now.
Grooming
Pink Mince in Manchester
Come get your Mince at the Victoria Baths Fanzine Convention in Manchester this Saturday. And say hello!
Leftover Beefcake
Check it out — a new Pink Mini! “Leftover Beefcake” is a bonus pack of vintage gentlemen.
Under a dollar
Covers of Indian 45s
These few samples are just a small portion of a gorgeous stack of covers for old 45s (well, some are 33rpm records of the same size) that my pal Erin (the amazing Hindi Rinny) was given while we were travelling in India last March. Hopefully she’ll get around to scanning or photographing the rest of this collection to document the incredible, exuberant fun of the photography and lettering on these.
Most of the singles are songs from Bollywood (and Kollywood) films. I haven’t had much luck tracking down dates, so any hints would be appreciated.
Apropos of nothing
Sigh. Yes.
dyfl:
You know the scene in all the children’s movies when the lonely little wolf cub watches all the other wolf cubs playing down in the valley and doesn’t understand why he doesn’t have a pack of his own?
My relationship with other gay guys.