EDITORIAL NOTE: It has been a busy past week with Elder Music contributor Peter Tibbles and the assistant musicologist visiting here (more about that on Monday). As a result, I haven't paid much attention to news, blogs, books, magainzes, the internet, etc. so today's Interesting Stuff is necessarily shorter than usual.

NEW NYC PHOTO ARCHIVE NEARLY A MILLION IMAGES
Reader Nancy Howart alerted me to the recently opened photo archive from the Department of Records of New York City. It is fabulous – 870,000 photos going back to the mid-1880s. Just three examples.

Delancy Street, Lower East Side, on 29 July 1908:

Painters hanging from suspended wires on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1914:

The street corner of 40th and Sixth Avenue on 18 May 1940. The newspaper headline in the man's hands reads, “Nazi Army Now 75 Miles from Paris.”

None of the nearly one million images has been seen before. When the archive opened online two or three weeks ago, traffic was so high it was nearly impossible to get into. That has slacked off a bit now and you can try it here.

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL HAS ARRIVED
Some of us have been looking forward to this movie at least since it was first mentioned in Interesting Stuff last November and what a wonderful cast of elders: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Patrick Pearson and Hugh Dickson.

The film opened throughout the U.S. this weekend. Here is one review. Check your local movie listings.

TAMPA BANS SQUIRT GUNS BUT NOT REAL ONES FROM REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
A week ago, the Tampa City Council pleaded with Governor Rick Scott to ban concealed handguns from the area outside what will be the Republican Party convention headquarters. Now, the governor has officially refused:

"'It is unclear how disarming law-abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law,' Scott said in a letter to [Tampa Mayor Bob] Buckhorn Tuesday, emphasizing the words 'law-abiding.'

“'It is at just such times that the constitutional right of self defense is most precious and must be protected from government overreach.'"

However, the City Council did not need Governor Scott's approval to ban from the convention area sling shots, switchblades, containers of bodily fluids, pieces of string longer than six inches and the ever-dangerous squirt guns.

PLAYING SPOONS
I didn't at first realize that Jenny Perry who emailed this video item is probably related to the performer, Deb Perry. What Deb does is play the tune, Lonely Boy - by Australian rock group, The Black Keys – on spoons out in a vast, rural field.

Beyond that, I have no idea how to characterize the video but you can't say it is not interesting. See what you think and there is more about Deb Perry here.

SENILE CASHIER
TGB Reader Tissi Smith who sent this video is offended. So am I. Before we go any further, take a look:

As you can see, it turns out this is a prank and like the old Alan Funt TV show, Candid Camera, it is supposed to be funny. There are dozens of these “pranks” with the same actor at a website called Epic Old Man.

That's it. Beyond what I have written, I am speechless.

BRITISH TELECOM SELLING OFF ICONIC PHONE BOXES
A couple of weeks ago, a friend had a hard time finding a public telephone when he needed one. It has gotten so that we are all expected to own mobile phones and have them with us at all times.

Now, BT – British Telecom – is ridding itself of some of its iconic red phone booths.

“The company is selling 60 traditional 'K6' boxes, which have been fully refurbished and resprayed in the original red and black livery, for £1,950 plus VAT and delivery.”

That's $3,148.12 U.S. dollars. You can read more here.

SPERM WHALE ENCOUNTER
Personally, I think these divers are nuts. Even two of them would barely be an appetizer for a sperm whale. Even so, it's amazing and beautiful.

Interesting Stuff is a weekly listing of short takes and links to web items that have caught my attention; some related to aging and some not, some useful and others just for fun.

You are all encouraged to submit items for inclusion. Just click “Contact” in the upper left corner of any Time Goes By page to send them. I'm sorry that I probably won't have time to acknowledge receipt and there is no guarantee of publication. But when I do include them, you will be credited and I will link to your blog if you have one.