The Curse of Lono, Leonardo da Vinci, Tax Day
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I’m currently reading Hunter S. Thompson’s illustrated hardback The Curse of Lono; somehow I missed this one before now. It’s Fear and Loathing for Hawai’i, which is appropriate because I’ll be vacationing in Hawai’i (O’ahu and the Big Island) in late summer. The book itself is enormous (15″ x 11.4″) and full of Ralph Steadman’s illustrations. Great stuff.
On this day in history, the first McDonald’s was opened in Des Plaines, Illinois (1955); the Titanic sunk after striking an iceberg (1912); and Leonardo da Vinci was born (1452). And, of course, it’s Tax Day.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of Lincoln’s abolishment of slavery in D.C. (1862) and it’s National Eggs Benedict Day. Whatever. Check out this Long List of April Holidays and Special Days. Also, see This Day in History: April 15.
Here are a few things to help take the edge off sending the government big fat checks:
- Drunken Orsen Welles trying to get through his lines for a commercial
- Pitchfork’s video of Radiohead performing “Bangers & Mash” with Thom Yorke playing drums
- The NBA Playoffs start this weekend; it will be very interesting to see who emerges from the historic Western Conference pileup in which all eight teams were separated by seven games or less in the regular season standings
I suppose since I mentioned Leonardo da Vinci‘s birthday, I might as well echo my post from last week to say that the ninth annual da Vinci Film Festival is this weekend in Corvallis, April 18-20, 2008. That is all.