Not my practice blog, by Scott Knaster

Hail to the Chief

When a military band salutes the President of the United States, it plays this music. You might think this tune is "Hail to the Chief", but you would only be partially right. The little fanfare at the beginning is called Ruffles and Flourishes. The drum bits are the Ruffles and the brass parts are the Flourishes. Strict military etiquette dictates how many Ruffles and Flourishes are played, and what march is played after. The President gets four Ruffles and Flourishes, plus Hail to the Chief. The Vice President gets four and Hail Columbia. Generals and Admirals get one Ruffle and Flourish for each star of rank. This is all specified in great detail in Army Regulations AR 600–25: Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy, Table 2-1, which also tells how many guns of salute are required on arrival and departure:

Popping bubbles

Do you love that great American pastime, popping bubble wrap? Now you no longer need bother doing it in the physical world. Just use this great virtual version, and pop to your heart's content.

Saturn Cafe

Saturn Cafe is my favorite authentic non-touristy Santa Cruz restaurant. The atmosphere is fun, the food is great, the staff is funkily weird and helpful, and the place is family friendly. If you live in the SF Bay Area, check out the Saturn Cafe some time.

Matrix ping pong live

I came across this old favorite over the weekend. Check it out. It's brilliant.

Oh what a circus

Oh what a circus, oh what a show!
Argentina has gone to town,
over the death of an actress called Eva Peron.
We've all gone crazy,
mourning all day and mourning all night
falling over ourselves to get all
of the misery right.

Oh what an exit, that's how to go!
When they're ringing your curtain down
demand to be buried like Eva Peron!
Its quite a sunset,
and good for the country in a roundabout way.
We've made the front page of all
the world's papers today.

-- Tim Rice

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

This site documents the classic cover to The Beatles' incredible Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Read about the cover from concept to execution, and check out a list and short biography of everyone on the cover. You can find out about particular people by clicking on them in the cover image. Neato!

Found poem

I was sitting at the table eating breakfast yesterday when I started noticing sentences and phrases on objects on the table. It sounded like poetry to me, so I wrote it down. Comments and interpretations are welcome. Or, write your own and I'll link to it.

THIS HALF IS VOID
a found poem by Scott Knaster

THIS HALF IS VOID
THIS HALF IS VOID
Made in Brazil
SAVE $1
A note from...

THIS HALF IS VOID
THIS HALF IS VOID
$2 REBATE WHEN YOU BUY THIS SPECIAL PACK
Please call today for your appointment
REMITTANCE COPY

THIS HALF IS VOID
THIS HALF IS VOID
isit Maggie Brown's
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
FAST PASS TO REFRESHMENT

THIS HALF IS VOID
DIRECT SALES
USA 37
DON'T FORGET
THIS HALF IS VOID

THIS HALF IS VOID
THIS HALF IS VOID
Please help us keep this neighborhood litter-free
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
Recycled-content paper

THIS HALF IS VOID
THIS HALF IS VOID
Refrigerate after opening
NOT VALID FOR ADMISSION

WE THANK YOU

iPod soap

(I got the link from Boing Boing)

Sonic Drive-In

Last Monday we were driving home from a weekend in the mountains when we chanced upon a Sonic Drive-In in Ripon, California (near Modesto). Sonic is a chain with locations in most states, especially in Texas and Oklahoma. Their specialties are hot dogs, tater tots, and fruity drinks like limeade and a bunch of add-ins like cherry, grape, blue coconut, and watermelon. But the real fun is the carhop service, often provided on roller skates. I'm a sucker for a semi-cultish experience, and since there are no Sonics within an hour of where I live, this qualified. The hot dog I had was disappointing, but the tater tots were reasonable, and the limeade was great.

Clear it up

From Engrish.com and the productive team at Sloo Industries.