Open the Door for Your Mystery Date

Keep Was Here

Journey to the Middle of the World

U.S. Route 66 has some stiff competition in Ecuador when it comes to roadside attractions. Ranging from cheesy to educational, you will find everything from helado shops with clown face trash cans, fresh fruit stands, grazing llamas and vicuñas and an occasional educational exhibit.

Think you know the highest point on earth? Don't dare to utter "Mount Everest" to an Ecuadorean, since they will likely contend it's Mount Chimborazo. I've seen both mountains but have climbed neither. I won't try weighing in on the issue but will share this explanation from the Physics Factbook:

Though most people have recognized the highest point as Mount Everest, Mount Chimborazo located near the city of Riobamba, Ecuador may also be considered as the highest point on earth. Although it is not as well known as Mount Everest, standing at 6310 meters it is also quite remarkable. Mount Chimborazo can be regarded as the highest point on earth because the planet is widest at the equator. The summit of Mount Chimborazo is then 3219 m further from the center of the earth than Mount Everest, making it what some consider the highest point. On the summit of Mount Chimborazo people will weigh less than any other location on earth.

I didn't really feel any magnetic energy when standing on the hemispheric dividing line, but there was something drawing me to that hombre in the orange hat who offered a nifty explanation of Mount Chimborazo's claim to being the king of all mountains. He had a voice that could melt snow on either of my poles.

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Stolen Secrets and Other Misdemeanors

I think I've found a kindred Junk Thief named Square America that I appreciate being introduced to by Gavin Elster, a bit of a Junk Thief himself in his ability to cull the most bizarre and obscure postings on YouTube and other cultural artifacts on the web.

Square America features several themes of amateur photography, generally "candid" snapshots dating back to the late 19th century. Any fiction writer looking for inspiration should take a glance at them, such as the party photos which hint at mysterious, potentially dangerous behaviors without giving away too many secrets. Some are disturbing, some are just plain weird, and many more are outrageously funny.

Most of them feel like stolen secrets, mysterious portals into lives we have not experienced and asking us to provide our own context.

Your assignment, class, is to share your description in 500 words or less of what you think is happening in and around these two samples.

Love Child of the Week - Episode 2

Since there seemed to be such a positive reaction (especially from Tugboat Dave) I thought I'd have another installment of Love Child of the Week. This image is part of a little slide show of sights up and down Valencia and 24th Street to give you a feel of the neighborhood JunkThief inhabits. Those who know JunkThief well can confirm that he is a chronic street walker, forever snapping odd sights up and down the streets of the Mission. The photo above is from the always intriguing display window at Artists Television Access (ATA). What beast has mankind bred!

Love Child of the Week

Is it a hebra, zorse or zebrula? Scientists are saying that their biggest concern about the accidental offspring of a zebra and horse is that it will have trouble making friends and finding a mate. I am thinking about naming it as my source animal.

Music up, Cher lets loose with "Half Breed." Ohm. Ohm. Ohm.