June 04, 2003
Infernal Combustion
Frank J. of IMAO has the skinny on how internal combustion engines work:
Well, if you check around the engine (do this when it is off and on a non-haunted car), you'll see a magic rune imprinted on it. This spell keeps the fire inside the engine. Were it ever scratched off, the next time you start your car, KA-BOOM!What Frank doesn't explain, though, is that the rune is there to keep the elves in. The elves actually do the work of moving the pistons, y'see. They're kind of like the magic smoke that is used in so-called "electronic" equipment; you'll have noticed that if the smoke ever gets out, the thing stops working. When you send it in for repairs, all they really do is put new smoke in.Every 100,000 miles, you really should have the rune re-enchanted by a sorcerer. Check you car's owner manual for more information.
Finding Captain Nemo
James Lileks has found a movie he actually likes:
I also watched “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” New restored widescreen Technicolor Cinemescope etc. version. Having only seen a scratchy pan-and-scan on TV as a kid, I was curious what the movie really looked like. Oy. It’s just sublime.I also want to know the story behind the Kirk Douglas interview he mentions.