GRAB BAG EDITION

My father used to belong to the Knights Of Pythias. I never really understood what they did or why he belonged but a lot of Jewish men were a part of the local order. I guess this was pretty common in New York.

The one thing I do remember is the awesome holiday parties they held every year. This probably sounds strange today, but growing up in the 70s and 80s there were very few social functions where children were welcome. Kids were mostly viewed as an inconvenient and annoying responsibility. Not all the time, mind you. Just in most social settings. Most 'family' events were really parties for the adults. They'd feed us chicken fingers or spaghetti then hand us a few cookies and lock us in a room with a ping-pong table, a bowl of pretzels and a pitcher of red punch. While the parents smoked and drank cheap wine, we youngsters engaged in the suburban version of Lord Of The Flies. Typically, I'd sit in the corner and read a book. If we had been left on an island I probably would have gotten squished on a rock.

The Knights were different. Their party was truly a family affair with carnival-like games and fun crafts and an awesome grab bag of gifts. Now, most grab bags end up as pretty lame affairs. The Knights, however, gathered together some primo shwag: GI Joe figures, Tonka trucks, Barbies and games like Sole Survivor, Dungeon and Othello.

All this is to say that though today's links have no thematic link --a grab bag, if you will-- they are inspired by those fine Pythian memories. Quality goods. Everyone of them. Enjoy!

1. Get the New Year off on the right foot. Create your own motivational poster! Send me the results and I'll post 'em here.
2. If ever there were a video clip that demonstrated the tragic and comic faces of theater this would be it. It's from a Dutch talk show where the topic was medical care and mistreated patients. The interviewer's first question is: "So, after the accident, you come out of unconsciousness to find that suddenly, your life has been unexpectedly changed forever. How do you react to that?" The guest's answer is: "Well, my first reaction was disbelief..." It goes tragically and hilariously downhill from there.
3. Future Darwin Award winner.
4. Body Jacks. Cool things you can do to activate or thwart autonomic responses.
5. Got an old Masterlock you've lost the combination to? Here's how you can figure it out in less than 10 minutes.