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CHAD
A recent travel-op led to some discussion about the origins of the famous Chad and the results are interesting. Turns out that there are several intertwining stories going into the mix.
Chad
The 'Wot no...' tag line originates from the shortages experienced by rationed Britishers during World War II. Where 'Wot no eggs?' or 'Wot no tea bags' were literal complaints. Not too much detail on the nose-over-the-wall cartoon though.
Kilroy
The viral message of the Chad was most likely popularised by the American usage of cartoon alongside 'the Kilroy'. The tagline 'Kilroy was here' written in further and further flung fields, allegedly even written on the dust on the moon. The Kilroy plausibly originates back to World War II warship inspector James J. Kilroy, who would write 'Kilroy was here' once he had finished his inspection.
Speculation even takes the story even further, to the point where the omni-presence of the slogan - which appeared wherever US servicemen had been - led Hitler to believe Kilroy to be a super-spy.
Lose The Game
An interesting modern spin on the phenomenon comes in the form of Lose The Game. A game supposedly devised by a couple of chaps stranded at a train station over night. The aim of the game is simple - don't think about the game. By the way, you lose.
18th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
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Google Maps v Northern Line
someone's cut-and-pasted the entire Northern Line above ground from Google Street Maps
7th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
D.I.Y. Air Traffic Contol
Ever wanted to push tin from the comfort of your own home? Flygradar.nu might be the answer, cleverly using flight info and Google maps to simulate real scheduled flights.
24th Apr 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Faster Than A Speeding Bullet
If you thought Japan's current fleet of Bullet Trains were fast, check out their latest development. The latest Shinkansen innovation will use magnetic levitation to travel at around 310 kmph - which would get you from LA to San Francisco in 60 minutes.
22nd Apr 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Snow Centre
There's a new indoor snow slope opening in May - based at the much more chimp accessible Hemel Hempstead.
Ten snow cannons have already churned out 80 tonnes of snow, ready for the opening day on May 6th.
20th Apr 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Chimp GPS
Like we needed a New Scientist article to confirm that chimps have built-in GPS.
26th Mar 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
42 Million 'Mishandled' Bags
Apparently, airlines 'mishandled' 42 million bags last year - resulting in more than a million never returning. Easy to get annoyed perhaps, but perhaps easy to be impressed that they get your bags anywhere at all.
20th Mar 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Truth Is Out There... In Homey Airport?!
Area 51's had a makeover - it's now called "Homey Airport" you'd never think aliens would land anywhere that sounded that friendly, would you?
24th Feb 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Fly By Night
Outstanding video up from Flickr user Ettubrute (AKA James Leng), documenting a flight across the continental US. The clip was constructed using a stills camera set to take a frame approximately every 45 seconds, as the glow of towns and cities slowly pass under the plane.
Check out his Flickr page for more time-lapse and some great photos.
10th Feb 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
It's in custard Richard, custard.
Some times you have to go with the flow and run a piece on a viral email joke.
30th Jan 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Notes from the Big Banana
Back from a successful mission in New York and Brooklyn, taking in New York's best steak (24 years running!), a great William Eggleston exhibition at the Whitney and a trip to Coney Island ...all topped off with an unscheduled sighting of Bret from Flight of the Conchords at Union Pool in Williamsburg. Boom!
More snaps in surveillance and on Flickr.
10th Dec 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
New York I Love You
Marmot and I will be leaving in a jet plane by the time you read this - off to the Big Banana for some R&R with English Steve. Tour reports will undoubtedly flow, but for now I leave you with a message from everybody's favourite frog.
Via David Emery.
4th Dec 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Home of the Hamburger
What's a trip to the US without an extensive testing of the beloved Hamburger? Long derided in the UK, there's much more to it than a limp Big Mac or a soggy Whopper.
Fatburger
Part-owned by Magic Johnson, the Las Vegas branch was seemingly staffed by middle-aged ex-cons trying to make a clean start. Cooked to order makes all the difference with fast food, and that was the USP here.
Verdict: Fresh and juicy, plus good chili. 8/10
Johhny Rockets
Only founded in 1986, this retro styled chain is perhaps a little more about style that food, but still serves a good, fresh burger. I went for the double-decker Rocket Double, with Chili Fries. We passed up the original Melrose location, but managed a lunch in the branch down at The Grove.
Verdict: Pretty good.... 7/10
In-n-out Burger
A firm favourite in California, this chain now includes over 150 branches. We made the effort track down the North Hollywood branch, near that little shit Larry's house - and the crowd was extensive. The plain and simple menu stands on it's own, but for those in the know there are double the options thanks, to the no-so-secret menu (1,2). I went Animal style.
Verdict: Far and away the best, and ridiculously cheap ($1.65 for a Whopper sized burger!). Throw in the secret menu and it's an unbeatable 10/10
P.S. LA is also the home of Hugh Hefner. We bumped into him too.
Other recommendations? Drop a line in the comments. Islands was on my hit list, but I ran out of time.
17th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
New Hitchcock in 2009
Chimp hero Robyn Hitchcock is touring the UK next year, with songs from his forthcoming album Goodnight Oslo, out on Valentine's day. Recorded with The Venus Three – Peter Buck (guitar) and R.E.M. mainstays Scott McCaughey (bass, vocals) and Bill Rieflin (drums) – and all-round legend Ryuichi Sakamoto.
February
Sat 7th GLASGOW, ABC2 £13.50
Sun 8th NEWCASTLE, Academy 2 £12.50
Tue 10th LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club £12
Wed 11th BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club £12.50
Thu 12th LONDON, Union Chapel £15
Fri 13th BURY, The Met £13.50
Sat 14th BRACKNELL, South Hill Park Arts Centre £15
Mon 16th BRIGHTON, Komedia £12.50
Tue 17th CAMBRIDGE, Junction 2 £16.50
Wed 18th BRISTOL, The Fleece £12.50
Thu 19th CARDIFF, The Globe £9
Robyn recently headed to the Arctic with the Cape Farewell project and Martha Wainwright, KT Tunstall, Jarvis Cocker, Feist and Sakamoto - must have been some jam.
12th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Chimpomatic World tour of CA, AZ & NV
On tour out in the South Western states of the US this month, taking in the Griswold-approved sites of Joshua Tree, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Route 66 and Las Vegas - before heading back to LA.
Having fun so far, and surprisingly spotted a potential snow-spot in the Old West town of Flagstaff, which it turns out has an altitude of 7000 feet.
'Living the dream' seems to be the order of the day, with an uncountable amount of middle-class, silver-haired Americans touring the country in Ford Mustangs or on Harley Davidsons. If everybody's living the dream, you have to wonder who's running the emerald city?
A quick head count in Vegas matched the 80/20 rule, with 80 fatsos for every 20 barely acceptably-weighted Americans. One exception was muscle bound ginger-nut Carrot Top, who provided some laughs at a Vegas show.
Have notched up a good 1000 miles so far, but the trip highlight has to be BW facing her worst fear: a 4 foot Arizona rattlesnake, 6 feet in front of us.
More snaps and video in surveillance.
18th Oct 2008 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Wi-Fly
Another barrier smashed! You can now check your email every two minutes when you are flying, thanks to onboard WIFI installation on 15 transcontinental American Airlines routes. AirCell is providing the tech for AA, beaming up signals from the ground which can apparently lead to a sometimes slow connection. The alternative system uses satellite transmission and an onboard dish for a more weather-independent system.
I'm flying AA pretty soon, I'll drop you a line mid-air and let you know that it's working.
12th Sep 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Great Gig In The Sea
Still not booked your holidays for 2009? Why not take a cruise with Think Floyd - The Great Gig In The Sea - it's "the first Pink Floyd themed concert cruise to the Bahamas."
Friday 4:00PM - Depart from Port of Miami
Saturday 8:00AM - Arrive at Nassau, Bahamas
Sunday 5:30AM - Depart from Nassau, Bahamas
Sunday “Fun Day” at Sea
Monday 8:00 AM - Arrive at Port of Miami
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25th Aug 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Brett's Guide To LA
The title says it all.
And check out Illustrator Tyler Stout's website while you are at it. He designed the posters and cover for the Conchords album.
4th Jul 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
No More Shoes
CSF is broadcasting live from gay Paris this week, where aptly named chimpomatic buddy Simeon Farrar is displaying his goods at Paris Fashion Week. Nothing much to report so far. More to follow.
7th Oct 2004 - Add Comment - Tweet
**UPDATED**
The Prawn's back-dated S.A.R.S. report is now online....
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9th Aug 2004 - Add Comment - Tweet
chimp71 hong kong world tour report#1.1
Stocked up on dvds, all legit so far, and all at about 10% of the uk extorto price. don't think i'm going to get so suckered in by a virgin oxford st sale for a while. a few kurosawa, some johnny to, who's supposed to be the heir to the ringo lam/john woo school, audition, volcano high (korean film about an school full of superhero pupils), the kid stays in the picture etc...
caught the korean cannes winner oldboy tonight, which is a stunning piece of cinema. been hearing good things about sympathy for mr vengeance from the same director for ages without getting round to it - if it's anything like as good as old boy i can see what the fuss is about.
stayed up for the roonaldo spectacular too, nothing like seeing england win at 4.30am. (sucks if they lose at that time though. no. don't...even. think. it....)
surveillance update coming soon once the new chimpocam is installed.
Links
Oh boy, it's Old Boy
Booze tunes microclubbing macrofun
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23rd Jun 2004 - Add Comment - Tweet