Jonathan Coulton helped me with one question:

"In 1812 James Madison kicked the British in the pants."

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/songdetails/The%20Presidents

Hey! My dad is the photographer of the ruby-throated beauty third from the top. Awesome!

I've read the whole thing, too. Took some time but I kept going back until I hit the beginning. I kind of regret it because now I have to wait for you to update to get anything new. And a lot of times your stuff is cross-posted at boingboing which I also read.

But no matter. I refresh each morning and read what you give us. It's always fun. :)

I'm in Texas. It's been raining all day but it's apparently the kind of rain that doesn't get you wet because it says I don't need an umbrella today.

Hamel's was originally a petting zoo. I spent many fun summer weekends at Hamel's Park. My mom's family is native to Shreveport, LA and we went to Hamel's almost every time we visited my grandparents.

It was so sad when it closed. So many people lobbied hard for it to stay open but with Six Flags just two hours away in Dallas, it was a hopeless quest.