Edgar Allen Poe's Birthday Bash

Dwight Allen Poe

Jan 19, 2009 marks Edgar Allen Poe's 200th birthday and the city of Baltimore is kicking off a year of festivities to celebrate the dark bard. Go to the Nevermore 2009 website for a list of events which include a tribute by actor John Astin, a five course Poe-themed dinner, a movie showing of The Pit and the Pendulum and a reenactment of a scientific experiment gone awry, (complete with mummy).

Because of a long-standing personal issue with his publicist, Paisley is unable to offer a free ipod wallpaper download of Edgar. However, he is able to offer this painting of his brother Dwight. Little is known about about the younger Poe, except that he died in a freak accident in a lady's hosiery mill and was much more fun at parties. (click on the image above and drag it to your desktop to use as an ipod wallpaper)

Ask the Googly

The Googly knows all

Dear The Googly,
On January 19th, the National Day of Service, I am doing my part to stop Global Warming. After reading your post of Jan 2, I am quitting my day job to become a pirate. I am finding it difficult however to find the appropriate supplies needed for my new endeavor. Suggestions?
~Mimpi Manis



Dear Mimpi,
One of my favorite Buccaneer Boutiques is the Pirate Supply Store at 826 Valencia in San Francisco. They also have an online store and stock such swarthy staples as designer glass eyes, Scurvy Begone, educational / inspirational posters, and the proverbial bestseller: Mermaid Bait or Repellent.

Established in 2002 by Dave Egger of McSweeney's fame, 826 Valencia is actually a non-profit, that tutors children and teaches them to write. Sales from the store benefit the center which now has many outposts, hopefully coming to a city near you soon. (Be sure to check out the very funny FAQs page)
Yours truly, The Googly
Send your burning questions to The Googly, click the contact button

Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival

An artist at work


Michelle Manx performs a Pin-up belly dance


The old fashioned way, without a machine


Fresh ink



Paisley and Salomé hurried home to Austin just in time to catch the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival. The three day event was a surface designer's candy store. Amazing artists from all over the US displayed their talents by displaying photos of past work, selling paintings and other objet d'art, selling and trading flash, and by performing live on humans kind enough to provide dermis tabla rasa.

Here Salomé scores a handpainted vintage purse from Joy of New York Hardcore Tattoos.

Inauguration Nation part 3, Cocktail of Solace

Click on the image to download and print this label

For those readers who have friends still wallowing in post-election depression, Paisley encourages you to reach out this coming January 20th. Dropping by with a homemade bottle of White Russian Comfort on your way to your inauguration party would be a kind way to mend their poor, misguided, broken hearts.

Here's the recipe: Mix 1 part vodka, 1 part Kahlua and 1 part cream. Follow the directions in the January 5, 2009 post to create your customized bottle. Use a fine Sharpie pen to write a comment of your own in the white balloon.

Inauguration Nation part 2, The Recipe

Recent scientific studies reveal 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from a severe lack of Vitamin O. Doctor Paisley prescribes the following remedy...

The Ingredients:
1/2 c. fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 medium limes)
4 tsp. grated lime zest
1/2 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
4 tsp. grated lemon zest
1/4 c. superfine sugar (because he's superfine)
1 pinch salt
Combine all of the above, cover, refrigerate and let steep for 4 - 24 hours, (the longer the better)

The Instructions: Strain the mixture, then add...
1 cup agave tequila
1 cup Triple Sec
Bottle it, and chill it again

The Delivery System:
1. Slice a lime and coat the rim of a lean tall glass
2. Dip the glass into a dish of course salt to coat the rim
3. Fill the glass 1/3 to 1/2 full of crushed or cubed ice
4. Add the Obamarita mix, stir, shake, rattle and roll.

Still moping over the McCain - Palin loss? See the next post.

Inauguration Nation part 1

Download and print this label

Now that your New Year hangover has finally subsided, its time to start thinking about what to bring to your upcoming neighborhood inauguration festivities. Paisley assumes all of his readers have graduated from the traditional hostess gift of a bag of Tostitos and a jar of leftover salsa, and have now moved on to more thoughtful offerings.

Salomé suggests mixing up a tasty fresh batch of Obamaritas and personalizing it for the occasion. First, wash out one of those glass bottles sitting in the recycle bin, remove the label (a good soaking and a copper scrubby will do the trick nicely), and print out and affix the label above with a glue stick or Xyron sticker machine. (Fill the bottle after the label goes on, or the condensation will prevent it from sticking)

Click on the image above then download the 300ppi image for a nice crisp print. For the recipe, see tomorrow's post.


Proper party etiquette dictates NOT drinking half the bottle before you arrive

Ask The Googly

The Googly knows all

Dear The Googly,
The issue of Global warming is of great concern to me. As my outdoor tropical plantscape withers of frostbite, the heating bills for my palatial mansion escalate, and my recently acquired collection of hand-embroidered Nepalese hot-pants remains unworn, who (or what), may I blame this on?
~SemiPrecious Jones

Dear Semi,
You are not alone, this winter many of us have suffered the sub-zero horrors of Global Warming. The cause of this inconvenience is not (as some believe) caused by human industrial off-gassing, but is (as evidenced in the chart below) the result of a precipitous drop in the population of pirates. (For more timely research on this and other vital topics, pasta philosophy and numerous objets d'art, visit the Venganza site and its noodly appendage.



Armed with this new knowledge, The Googly hopes you will stop writing your congress people; return to buying large recreational vehicles; and search out any and all available pirates in your neighborhood and procreate with them.
Yours truly, The Googly
Send your burning questions to The Googly, click the contact button

Insect Entrepreneurs

Shop in Gianyar, Bali

This shop must be owned by a friend of Roberto the Insect Architect, (one of Paisley's favorite books).

Salon Nasty

Soap packaging at the Bintang supermarket


Scooter is Never Die at the 2008 Dewata Scooter Rally



Although Salomé takes great delight in the accidental muddling of the English language in Balinese signage, she is sure it pales next to her own butchery of Bahasa Indonesia. For more happy accidents, check out this post by Paisley's friend Richard Hancock.

Extreme Fruit

Durian fruit: both worshiped and reviled

Resembling a Medieval weapon, the durian fruit is renowned in South East Asia. The odor is formidable, "No Durian" signs are often found in public transport stations and hotels. Paisley has found there are two camps, those who love its pungent custard-y taste and those who despise it. (Paisley's in the "love" camp) The fruit can grow up to 12 inches long and can weigh up to 7 pounds, which makes being a durian picker one of the most dangerous jobs Paisley can think of.


A roadside fruit stand on the way back from Bedugul, which is at a higher altitude than Ubud, therefore different fruits are available


Opening a Mangosteen (The Balinese call it "Mangis")

In Paisley's opinion, the Mangosteen is the "Buah Raja", or king of fruit; so delicious its rumored Queen Victoria offered knighthood to anyone who brought her a fresh one. Break one open yourself and inside you'll find a fleshy white cluster of fragrant, sweet, citrus-y fruit.

Until 2007, the fruit was banned from the US because of the Asian Fruit Fly that sometimes lives within its thick skin. Now that irradiation techniques have been approved by the USDA, the fruit is available in the US, but can often fetch prices of up to $45 a pound. (Just one more reason to come to Bali)

"A Celebration of Indonesia Vespa Culture"

One of the few female Scooterists with her trophy

More fun was had at the Dewata Scooter Club Rally this weekend. Live music, contests, parades, and even the planting of 500 trees took place amidst the usually more reserved town of Ubud. Salomé commented on how pleasant, friendly and respectful all the "Scooterists" were. "They may look edgy, but they're sweet as pie".


Bob Marley Scooter


Good headlight placement


Yes the eyes do blink


The Yellow Submarine scooter


A new friend with Hermelijn and Sharon, newly converted Sek-oo-tair-eests

A little night music

Last night Paisley and Salomé took in a show, and saw the greatest living delta blues guitarist in Jakarta, (he says there's one other guy but he's not as good). Check out Adrian Adioetomo's MySpace page for a flavor.


Adrian Adioetomo at Warung Opera