McSweeneys Take on Popular Urban Legend

Have you ever wondered about the logistics behind some popular urban legends. Jim Stallard over at McSweeneys Internet Tendency presents a humourous take on one that we've all heard before.

Man Marries Goat

There must be an Aarne-Thompson type number for this story.

Krewe du Vieux 2006 Flickr Slideshow

Krewe du Vieux is the parade in New Orleans that kicks off the mardi gras season. This year, as can be expected, saw many Katrina themes making its way into the usual folk raunch. Folk expression meets diaster meets politics.

My favorite signs and floats from this Flickr Slideshow include: "Michael Brown Grand Marshall: Out to Lunch," "Comatose Corps of Engineers," "Take Us Back Chirac," "C'est Levee" and (just because it's dirty) "Pizza Slut."

Also, it appears that the creator of Mister Bill was the real grand marshall, hence all of the Mister Bill photos.

This reminds me that a few years back the JAF ran a whole issue devoted to Mardi Gras, which I think would prove a fruitful re-evaluation post-Katrina.

Antler Lawn Art

You can probably file this under folk expression through lawn decoration or the sort.

Modern-Day John Henry

From The Onion, America's finest newsweekly, comes the story of a 21st Century "steel-driving man."