Categories
Brotherhood/Sisterhood History

Strong Women and Strongwomen

At WLBOTT we love those that follow their passion – a passion that explores creativity, protects the vulnerable, inspires the marginalized; passions that challenge the artificial and demeaning chains of hierarchical society. Often a passion that leads to loneliness and isolation in pursuit of an inner belief. Today we’re going to look at strongwomen. Our […]

Categories
Agriculture Fashion History

Fulk Forth

We offer yet another reason why you shouldn’t let idiots govern you. Shoe related…. Fulk IV (1043 – 14 April 1109), better known as Fulk le Réchin, was the count of Anjou from around 1068 until his death. He was noted to be “a man with many reprehensible, even scandalous, habits” by Orderic Vitalis, who […]

Categories
History Lasting Love

Random Acts: “Stop telling God what to do!” (part 2)

Double Pendulum A double pendulum is a pendulum attached to a pendulum. Here’s a very creative video that maps double pendulums to graphs, sounds, and spirograph curves. The double pendulum lends itself to some beautiful time lapse photos. The Make Magazine web site shows you how to build a double pendulum at home or office […]

Categories
Book Club Gods, Goddesses, and Mythical Heros History

Fairy Tale of the Smith and the Devil

Most of the WLBOTT Elders’ CPU cycles are spent on upcoming naps, donuts, background defragmentation and existential dread. But lately we’ve been thinking about fairy tales. We’re attracted to their dream-like structure, the odd rewards and punishments, and the departure from the modern 3-act narrative. Also, they give an insight into what people valued. What […]

Categories
Gods, Goddesses, and Mythical Heros History

The Grave Mound and the ATU

Fairy tales and folk tales are fascinating. They remind me more of dreams than what we considered a traditional three act narrative. Improbable things happen, which lead to more improbable things, and sometimes there is a resolution (happily ever after) and sometimes there is no resolution, and often no happy ending. Last night I was […]

Categories
Adventures of the Elders Greece History

Dreamtime / Heraklion

Circumnavigation series                            Next in the series Friedrichshafen → Heraklion (HER): ~1,020 milesCumulative Miles/Kilometers: 5,500 / 8,851 Elder G and I headed down to our next refueling stop – Heraklion, on the Greek island of Crete. Travel Notes: Maintaining our Rituals As you may be aware, many WLBOTT locations like to begin the day […]

Categories
Fred: the Penitent Intern History Oh, Grow Up!

The Whoopee Cushion Incident

As you recall, Fred, the Intern Penitent, is currently charged to WLBOTT, as penance for an incident at his Catholic Middle School. (https://www.wlbott.com/?p=62483) In order to understand Fred’s plight, we must understand his educational environment. Fred attends St. Gangulf Middle School. The “Whoopee Cushion Riots”, and Fred’s youthful rebellion has come to be known, occurred […]

Categories
Food Fun and Games History Netherlands

3 Oktoberfeest / Leidens Ontzet

A herring and a round loaf of bread walk into a bar in Leiden.The bartender says, ‘Sorry, we can’t serve you.’The herrings reply, ‘That’s okay — we’ll serve you’ll serve you – every October 3rd!’- This knee-slapper was brought to you by Elder G. There’s a dark history behind the festival, because the Spanish were […]

Categories
History

Stone Age Tools

I vaguely recall, as a kid, being taken to museums where there would be rooms with tray after tray of arrowheads, and praying, “Dear God, I don’t want to ever be in a state where I find these things interesting.” Man prays and God laughs. Ducks often brightened the museum experience. While doing what passes […]

Categories
Gods, Goddesses, and Mythical Heros History Ireland

Ancient Irish Burial Mounds

Elder JimZim et. al. recently returned from a site inspection of WLBOTT-Ireland. Following his inspection, he and his corporate entourage had time to visit the Irish countryside, and the highlight of the trip was a visit to the ancient 4th millennium BC passage tombs at Loughcrew. Elder G:Fascinating! Those ancient burial mounds in Ireland are […]