Happy Christmas

Keys to a new car. 1955 Cadillac advertisement via Plan 59.

How Interesting People Organize Their Days

Daily Routines is a blog about how notable writers and artists fill their days (past and present). Here is Charles Darwin's routine:

7 a.m. Rose and took a short walk.
7:45 a.m. Breakfast alone
8–9:30 a.m. Worked in his study; he considered this his best working time.
9:30–10:30 a.m. Went to drawing-room and read his letters, followed by reading aloud of family letters.
10:30 a.m.– 12 or 12:15 p.m. Returned to study, which period he considered the end of his working day.
12 noon Walk, starting with visit to greenhouse, then round the sandwalk, the number of times depending on his health, usually alone or with a dog.
12:45 p.m. Lunch with whole family, which was his main meal of the day. After lunch read The Times and answered his letters.
3 p.m. Rested in his bedroom on the sofa and smoked a cigarette, listened to a novel or other light literature read by ED [Emma Darwin, his wife].
4 p.m. Walked, usually round sandwalk, sometimes farther afield and sometimes in company.
4:30–5:30 p.m. Worked in study, clearing up matters of the day.
6 p.m. Rested again in bedroom with ED reading aloud.
7.30 p.m. Light high tea while the family dined. In late years never stayed in the dining room with the men, but retired to the drawing-room with the ladies. If no guests were present, he played two games of backgammon with ED, usually followed by reading to himself, then ED played the piano, followed by reading aloud.
10 p.m. Left the drawing-room and usually in bed by 10:30, but slept badly.

Twin Towers

Still in the planning stage in 1964. Courtesy Modern Mechanix.

Abandoned Places Antarctica

Dark Roasted Blend has a good post of abandoned Antarctica . More photos here.

Graphic. 1957 Schwinn Tornado

Via Plan 59.

Avett Brothers

"For Today", a sad, sweet song by The Avett Brothers from North Carolina. First line: I was walking with your left hand in my back pocket...

Christmas Cheer

Via Square America

Palin. The Movie

Quote

"I don't spend a lot of time really worrying about short-term history. I guess I don't worry about long-term history, either, since I'm not going to be around to read it -- (laughter) -- but, look, in this job you just do what you can." - George W. Bush

Immersion

A great series of still photos of children playing video games appeared recently in The New York Times magazine section. It was created by photographer Robbie Cooper. I've just learned that the stills were taken from video footage that is just as fascinating to watch.
Here it is:

Perspective

The kind of money the U.S. government has been throwing around lately.

360 Cities

Discovered this great link to controllable high quality panoramic views from all over the world.
Here's 360 degrees of Barack Obama's speech in Berlin.

Early U.S. Air Force Film

Clip from the 1963 film "Space and National Security"

Space and National Security
by paleofuture

Contraption

Here's a handy invention from 1932. Via Modern Mechanix.

Sumo Kids

More Running From Camera

One of my favorite links.

TV Guide Covers

Kill some time here with every TV Guide cover.

Spa Francorchamps In Winter

Belgium's historic race circuit is located in the forest east of Brussels. This shot is taken from the top of the famous Eau Rouge curve, one of racing's most dynamic turns.
And in summer:


And on board video:

World Toilet Day

It's today!

Apollo 11 Liftoff

Jan Armstrong, wife of Apollo 11 astronaut, Neil Armstrong, gazes upon white trail in sky of Apollo 11 blastoff, from boat, with son.
Taken July 1969 for Life Magazine.