Kong!

It's Not What You Think
Or at least not yet.  There I was, pondering the mysteries of the Orient, after wondering what a Bromeliad was - a variety of flower, in case you needed to know - because Conrad is nothing if not inquisitive*.
     'Why is it called "Hong Kong"?' I pondered.

The perfumed port itself

     Apparently this is the Chinese for 'Fragrant harbour', so I anticipate that the city has a superior sewage management system, or sweet-smelling seaweed.
     This also leads into the next post, which is actually exactly what you were thinking of, that enjoyable romp "Kong Skull Island".  Conrad, as ever inquisitive and - oh, alright, a hair-splitting pedant of the worst kind - has a few questions ... **

'Kong Skull Island'
There's no doubt that this is a bit of a thrill ride, buuuuut -
     We see 6 helicopters on the deck of the <whatever the ship is called>, 4 Hueys, a Chinook and a CH35.  However, when the helicopters fly into the storm there appear to be at least a dozen.  Where did these mysterious extras come from?

There's 8 of them here alone

     Then we have Kong himself.  I hope I'm not spoiling things here - after all, the posters give it away - but he's a species of megafauna, specifically a gorilla.  Right?
     Okay, question the first, how did a gorilla, a native of Africa, manage to pop up in the Pacific?  That's a bit of a commute, you have to admit.
     Secondly - no, no, I don't mind Kong being so frickin' HUGE as he was obviously brought up on a high-protein diet as a lad - secondly, he sits down to dine on octopus, although the gorilla isn't a carnivore.

Al fresco dining

     Then we have the Skullcrawlers - or it may be Skull Crawlers, they weren't too explicit about punctuation - that happen to be creatures with only two limbs.  Not two legs, as every one of you Hom. Sap. have these as a design default, but only two limbs.  How many species of animal can you name that have only 2 legs?  If you have an answer, please stick it in a Comment.

There is the Wyvern, but it's not real

And Now Back To Business As Usual
Thanks to being gainfully unemployed, and a bit of a bootlicker to boot, plus since we have had reasonable weather in the Allotment of Eden for a couple of days now, Conrad nobly volunteered to take Edna Wunderhund for a walk.  

Edna out of shot

     It was such a lovely colourful Spring vista that even a flinty-hearted grinch like Conrad felt inspired to take a photograph, so here it is.  Rather difficult to get unfuzzed, too, as Edna is on the other end of that lead, tugging for all she was worth.  Places to go, you see.

More Music Courtesy Of The Flop House
I have been checking out a few acts on Youtube, courtesy of the long list that folks over at TFH posted of their favourite albums.
     "And this is important how?" I hear you quibble.
     Because with Ian no longer working at my Enormous Yet Still Coyly Un-named Employer, and Sophie selfishly choosing to scoot off to Germany, and with the subscription to 'Q' long expired, I need another way to stay Hipster Dad and in-tune with the music scene.
     So, Conrad Stands In Judgement, Part Two.
     Stone Temple Pilots (specifically "Purple"); metally thrash, but with enough variation and differentiation to be worth pursuing.

You'd be hard pressed to find any purple here.  Or are they being ironic?

     Weezer ("The Blue Album"): a harder sound than I'd given them credit for, as all I knew of them was that track.  You know, that one.  No, no, the other.

How to look glum

     Caravan Palace ("Panic"): Hmmm, will not be pursuing further.  Faux-Thirties electropop only lasts for so long before it annoys.  In fact, Faux-Thirties anything palls with enormous speed for your humble scribe, which is why he hated "Chanson d'Amour" when it came out and still detests it to this day.

Finally -
Still sticking to music, and referring back to 'Kong' and explosions, I bet you've never heard of the "Pyrophone" before.  Admit it, eh?
     This is a musical instrument that creates music via EXPLOSIONS!!! which is all kinds of awesome.  Just to prove it - 

Prepping some banging dance tunes ...

     Seriously, how have I never heard of this instrument until today?  I know you might not believe me, so here's a Youtube link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOGixtqiJn4

     <Goes away to think of bad musical puns>


*  Maybe a bit odd as well.
**  I realise this violates the usual rule of not having anything to do with anything subsequent, but I do like to mix it up a bit now and then.  A modicum of anarchy.