© 2009 All Rights Reserved. Do not distribute or repurpose this work without written permission from the copyright holder(s).
Printed from https://www.damninteresting.com/somethings-afoot-at-damn-interesting/
We at Damn Interesting are happy to announce that we have officially returned from our spontaneous hiatus. One might describe the sensation as “delighted” if one were prone to fits of gleeful hyperbole. We also bring news:
The Damn Interesting book Alien Hand Syndrome is now available at fine bookstores everywhere. Discerning readers may procure copies at any bookseller worth its salt. If we owe you a free copy based on your donations during our fund raising effort, you may expect to find it occupying your mail receptacle very soon. As you thumb through the wood-pulp, be sure to pay extra attention to the dedication page; its sentiment is quite heart-felt.
In other news, we’ve implemented a more streamlined layout for Damn Interesting in an effort to comfort our colicy webserver. The new design is twice as shiny, and thrice as efficient. While we were at it, we upgraded our antiquated blog software, and we now enjoy the features, efficiency, and security of the new WordPress. The upgrade process was perilous, and the transition is not yet complete, but over the next few days we’ll be tightening the bolts and shimming the short-legs. In the meantime, feel free to drop us a line if this new design prompts any odd behaviors, strong feelings, or indigestion. Development is still underway on DamnSite—the multi-purpose platform that will add message boards and other nifty features to Damn Interesting—but in the short term we’ve decided that out time is best spent writing.
Thanks much for your support and patience during our hiatus.
We have no shortage of good article topics in the queue, and the first of many is forthcoming imminently.
© 2009 All Rights Reserved. Do not distribute or repurpose this work without written permission from the copyright holder(s).
Printed from https://www.damninteresting.com/somethings-afoot-at-damn-interesting/
Since you enjoyed our work enough to print it out, and read it clear to the end, would you consider donating a few dollars at https://www.damninteresting.com/donate ?
First????
Mr. Bellows:
To say that it’s good to see your words and honor is to damn with faint praise. Welcome back!
Now, a quick word to all those like this site: If you haven’t bought the book yet, please do so. The cost is only a few dollars, and you will help keep Damn Interesting damn interesting and alive.
I don’t want this site to go the way of many newspapers and other Web sites.
My God I’m second!
Welcome back. It’s like bumping in to an old school teacher who is fondly remembered for his intellectual might and gently amusing anecdotes.
It really is great that you are back.
Now get on and right something DI!
Wow, an official update^^
The new design is nice, but there seems to be a small glitch with the reflections on the white background. (I’m using IE6.0 right now)
Still no forums, though… :-(
OK, third or fourth ish… … and I should have said ‘Now get on and write something DI! I’m sure you get the sentiment. Anyways welcome back.
Nice new design. Still some glitches, though: My first two posts (made with IE 6.0) failed to appear. Now trying with Firefox…
I have been poking around on the new site. It is generally pretty nice. I do not see a “Most Recent Comments” option, which is one that I used often. The books under “Recommended Books” are excellent, I have quite a few of these already. I believe DI would pick up a few pennies if you use the DI links to purchase these from Amazon.
As far as being first, I just got lucky. I do computer support and one of our systems went down tonight, so I brought up DI during idle time, hit refresh a few times, and, suddenly, something new popped up. Woot!
Oh DI, how i’ve missed you
hey, welcome back. the older design seemed better.
Ya Hey!
Welcome back Alan! (and Jason and others…). Spacious in here, isn’t it?
(Wanders off for a look around)
Glad you’re back! The new design is ok and it’s easy to read articles. Though I think dark gray (#222) background would look better.
I’d say the site update in itself is pretty damn interesting now isn’t it? Nice to see the place is alive again from the looks of things and at a good time with the book fresh on the shelves. I’ve been slowly picking away at it savoring every juicy morsel of articly goodness and I’m into starting on the C’s now. It has a nice format, good imagery, and some nice side facts too. I did notice some of the humor sadly has been toned down, but while that is a nice touch it’s the quality damn good damn interesting info that counts most. Perhaps now we can find the killdozer article Jason spoke of rise from the ashes. :D
Hooray! I love it! Also you’re back!
11th! (I’ve never been so close)
AWSOME! DI is back in action! I have to say, ive never been so happy to go to a website and see a notice saying its being revamped. :) So the site didnt die after all. It was just in a coma. As for the first DI book, i was kinda expecting the cover to be the simple with nothing but the ” ! DAMN INTERESTING ” logo on a pearl white background. Nevertheless, I cant wait to get my hands on it.
I’m so happy about this it’s ridiculous. I’ve kept DI on my RSS list for months waiting for something new to happen. Today was like Christmas.
Yes, I’ve been checking every day, getting more and more… discouraged. I came to be amused at my persistence in what was clearly a lost cause.
Welcome back.
I’ve been a long time reader, but I never bothered to create an account. However, this momentous occasion has prompted me to do so just so I can say, “Welcome Back!”
Awesome awesome awesome!
Damn It’s good to have you back
Huzzah. About time too!
Thank goodness for RSS feeds, or I might have missed this!
I think I know what I’ll be giving my father at Christmas now anyway!
At last!
The Internet hasn’t been the same without you! I don’t know if you noticed, but the place simply became a wreck after you left.
Also, thumbs up on the new design. The shinier the better, I say!
Man… this site sure is popular for being dead.
Great! Allan, Congrats. You have done a great job.
I never gave up hope you’d be back!
Aah yes, my patience and faith in this site has paid off :) I knew if only I checked every few weeks it would be back. That message yesterday had me running around the house like a little kid all over again :)
Test?
Ah, it works. had a few problems getting my post accepted earlier – both with IE and Firefox.
Seems to work fine now. Might be a problem with the firewall at work…
Anyway, nice new design, though I agree a dark grey would probably look better.
Waiting patiently for the ret of the content to be added. Still hoping for a forum ;-)
It’s about time! I have sorely missed your damn interesting stuff.
I am looking forward to picking up the book on my way home from work today- can’t wait to poke around here later and scope out all the revamped goodness! Welcome back DI, you have been most sincerely missed!
hot toddies, ive been checking every few days/weeks & hoping this place would come back to life, & here it is! looking forward to new content, as i finished devouring all the old stuff several months ago XD
Great to see you back up and look forward to the new stories
Glad to see you guys are back, not so happy about the javascript though.
Welcome back from the oblivion… I probably owe you a cup of coffee or something.
Glad to see DI return! This is even better than a new article and I plan on buying a copy of the book very shortly. The only small disappointment is that the title is not “Damn Interesting: Dead Tree Edition.” Ah well, I suppose one must have one’s priorities, no?
FINALLY! Thank you for continuing your charitable works of dispensing brain food to the masses.
My mother is going to be pumped that her Mothers Day gift from 2 years ago is finally coming in the mail!
Welcome back. Checking the site every few days, always hopeful but always disappointed, was starting to wear on the nerves. Waking up to this was like………um…..like……..well, it was bloody good! Happy now.
A LONG time lurker would like to mark this momentous occasion by finally registering.
Now I’m looking forward to engaging in spirited, yet ultimately pointless debates with the regulars -jarvisloop, Mirage, Silverhill and the rest- you know who you are!
I like it. But really, I would have liked anything even remotely functional as long as it meant you guys were back. THANK YOU. Had me worried I might have to find something else to do with my time.
Thanks for getting the site back up! I let out a woo hooo and my wife said what is up. I said DI, She said Woo Hoo!!!
Welcome back. Some of us kept it a little interesting until now. My RSS is twitching for the next offering.
Sweet! I’m looking forward to all things new!
Awesome. Can’t wait to read the book that should be coming through the mail very soon! I’m surprised I’m still at the same address…
WOW ! I really thought that DI was finished…. Welcome back.
What great news !
What would be damn interesting is the story of the hiatus…. a kind of meta damn (or a damn meta?)
I hadn’t even been a registered member, but when I tried, yet again, to see if DI was back yet, and the new format let me know instantly, I was both shocked and thrilled to see the new DI. Needless to say, I am now registered. Thanks, DI. I’ll buy the book, you do the rest. Wooooooo-hooooooooo!
Hoorah!! returneth the lunch time read!
Slate Grey:
I no longer engage much in debate. I have found that I have as little desire to change my opinions as anyone else. Thanks for the tip of the hat, though, and the same to you.
As you can tell, I actually read the posts that others leave.
And, now, one more time, my admonishment: If you want to post here, buy the darn book! Don’t be a freeloader!
Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Yeah baby, thats the way to do it. Alan, (and Jason) you rock! Glad to see old friends popping back into the site. Missed yall!
A toast to all! POP, pop, fizz, fizz . Oh what a relief it is!
Been waiting, never lost the faith! Glad to see you back :D
*breathes sigh of relief* Having turned to less-than-credible Cracked.com during DI’s hiatus it shall be nice to return to credible and fact-checked articles that are DAMN INTERESTING! =) I am quite happy! And I bought the book yesterday, it’s rather spiffy. Well done guys!
Welcome back to world of the living! I’m looking forward to the new content.
Alan, you were missed!
WELCOME BACK DAMN INTERESTING! Man, I’ve missed you guys…
Hurrah!!! What luck! I forgot about you for 2years and just when I found you again, the Universe and you responded! Thank you! Thank you! Just being here brings me back to better days! Keep the flame alive, guys, keep the flame alive!
I knew this day would come! Procrastinating at work just wasn’t the same without you guys!
WB Boys! Haven’t finished reading all the archives, but some new spatterings would be welcomed.
I am eagerly anticipating my new, DI throne-time reading.
I can hardly contain my glee.
…but that your new design looks a copy of mine, and you beat me to launching it despite 6 months of rest, helps.
I shall eagerly wait by my post box.
I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY! The new look is SLICK, too!
A BIG WELCOME BACK from the western part of the north Atalantic (Norway). We give Bellows and his staff a big hand, and hope Amazon ships the damn book without further ado. Eagerly awaiting new damn interesting stories…
I had to register just to say welcome back. I will be ckecking for ne
w articles to come.
Yay! Welcome back!
wow. I keep coming back every few hours just to be sure that DI really is back, I wasn’t dreaming. YAY!
Ask, and ye shall receive! I did not give up and neither did ya’ll!
Enter your comment here.
I registered just to say I LOVE YOU DAMN INTERESTING!! THANK U FOR NOT LEAVING ME!!
Oh DI – how I’ve missed you.
I was reduced to trying to find things that were merely I, and in some cases stuff that wasn’t even I.
Welcome back. I must sadly confess I got so desperate I started looking at the draft unpublished articles – I know but I’m not hooked, I can quit anytime, really I can. I don’t do it because I have to, I just want to…
;-)
Oh, BTW, that’s a pretty wierd looking foot – Alien Foot Syndrome perhaps?
Thankyou for returning! I have to say that I did a double take when my RSS feed popped up an update for DI… Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou!
Yes, the new site moves slicker in my browser too. Congratulations, it’s everyone’s funday
Thanks for the pleasant sentiments, all. It’s good to be back online. The book is not really to blame for our away time, but I won’t get into all of that… I am certain that the tale of our pedestrian vexations would be nearly as dull to read as it would be to describe.
I needed a couple more hours to complete that feature, but it’s back now. Just take a look under “Explore.” I also needed some time to add the “reply” feature to the comments, and it’s now in place. Someday soon we’ll also have the old “Greatest Hits” feature back.
I’m still prodding and polishing the details of the design…. I’ll take a look at it with some dark shades of gray, and see if it’s an improvement.
Yes, the book editors were unwilling to keep some humor that they considered “edgy,” but fortunately that was a small subset…most made it through intact. There was actually one pun/joke that I managed to slip through that they would certainly have removed if they’d noticed it, but it’s pretty subtle. First one to find it is the winner.
That was actually one of the designs we very seriously considered, but the publisher wasn’t fond of that design. So it goes.
Someday…
That foot happens to be the iconic Monty Python Flying Circus foot, which was taken from the painting An Allegory of Venus and Cupid (not entirely safe for work) by Angelo Bronzino (1503-1572).
Incidentally, if any book-buyers have the inclination to leave a review/rating on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. it would be shockingly decent of you to do so.
Thanks everybody! Exclamation point!
ahhhhhh. I was starting to worry that you wouldn’t re-appear before I finished reading the archives, phew!
(made it from 0 – 479, gonna be trickier now that you’ve made the links text instead of numeric!)
wicked cool design by the way!
Did u guys ship any books out to South East Asia? Cause I cant seem to find a copy!! Noooo!!!
Welcome Back from Australia (incase it hasn’t already been said) and I have to agree
“Procrastinating at work just wasn’t the same without you guys!”
and Allan I will leave a comment about the book just as soon as it arrives (Late Next Month!!)
I am appalled the postage cost more than the book … the book should cost more because even before reading it I know it is going to be one of my favorite books and will be nestled in between Asimov, Ludlum and Others.
Again Welcome Back from the Wonderful Land of Oz.
Wow, I’m already counted among the regulars ;-)
I’ve found that while debates rarely change the opinion of the participants, they do serve to educate the bystanders and onlookers. For example, I very much enjoy Hi-Ev’s debates with all kinds of religious fanatics, because I learn something new in most of them.
Slate Grey: In a perfect world: Only those who have bought the book would post here.
jarvisloop, why is it that only those who have bought the book would post here? Is this not a website for everyone?
Yay! Glad to see you’re coming back! :-)
I must apologise for ever thinking DI was dead, it’s great to have it back and I’m looking forward to more of the fantastic quality articles.
While debates are indeed unlikely to change the opinon of one of the debaters, they do serve to educate the onlookers. For example I do enjoy even the tedious debates with creationists, for I learn something new in most of them.
I see that HiEv is still among us, so I’m looking forward to my next bit of education ;-)
Still can’t post from work… bummer.
Thank’s for the personal response there Alan, so few who are tied up into something so large do that anymore these days. Either way, you’ve set up a challenge for sure. I’ll have to peek at the book some as I have an idea what it may have been but I’m slowly biding my time chewing it up as I’m a bit beyond the Crockett nuke in the D section which in its sad self is kind of reassuring some things never went as far as intended.
So if we find the ‘edgey’ joke and become the winner, is it just for self satisfaction knowing you stuck it to a censorship weenie? :)
In a word: “Yay”
Glad to see you back!
/me is dancing a jig, I’ve genuinely missed DI.
I’ve rebuilt my computer several times since the last new DI content, but there has always been room on my bookmark menu for this great site. Glad to have a reason to press that button again!
Good point Mirage.
Although from your comment one might be led to infer that HiEv is a creationist. I’m pretty sure we’d see some digestive pyrotechnics from him if someone painted him with that brush.
I knew Alan & Co. wouldn’t let us down, even if that vexatious Real Life interfered for a while.
WELCOME BACK, DI!! <3
About “damn” time! Welcome back to the land of the living. I knew this versatile volcano of random knowledge couldn’t stay dormant for too much longer.
Oh, yes, indeedy – thank goodness for RSS feeds or I wouldn’t have known you were back for lot longer. So glad to have you back.
Wonderful to have you back DI!
SO HAPPY!!
That’s a strange title for a book. It looks like any other trivia book. I would have given it a blank blue cover with yellow text that says “The Damn Interesting book” or This book is Really Damn Interesting” or something like that. I would read it on the subway and people would come up to me and ask about it and start a good conversation about cold war inventions or Mike the headless chicken . Or people will walk by the book and pick it up and be all “hey, this really is interesting”!
cinndave:
Here’s an idea: Buy the book, read it on the subway, and find out what people say.
Please: Help support this site.
Yes, but only as long as The Brothers Bellows can afford to keep it that way.
As Robert Heinlein said in “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, “TANSTAAFL!”
Therefore, if we want to keep this Web site for everyone, everyone should pitch in a little bit. In my opinion, the idea that everything on the Internet should be free must die. OpenOffice – ok. Firefox – ok. Music – no. Newspapers – no. Comics – no. Damn Interesting – no.
People have a right to make a living and be able to eat and pay the rent.
The Dogs Bollocks of welcome back. Glad you all got your heads out of the sand.
Moonbeamsan
The Nomadic Romantic English Gentleman
I doubt anyone who ever read one of his posts would make that mistake ;-)
Umm… to “be back” you have to actually post a new article. ?
Great to discover that the articles will continue. Now I can get back to fooling friends that I know things.
jarvisloop said: …if we want to keep this Web site for everyone, everyone should pitch in a little bit….
yea i agree with that. as for the book, all the stores in my area either dont have it or its sold out. dang. cant wait to get my hands on it.
Alan Bellows said: … There was actually one pun/joke that I managed to slip through that they would certainly have removed if they’d noticed it, but it’s pretty subtle. First one to find it is the winner.
does the winner get anything? :)
Enter your comment here.
Oops… for above empty comment.
Book cover image is brilliant!
No credit card..
I’d almost given up hope. Great to have you back. Can’t wait to have a real new article to read!
Oh, and I love the foot – very Monty Python!
I’m so glad I keep checking back here from time to time- with the hopes that site would come back to life! And it has :) Yay!!
Although, the off-centered-ness of the page is throwing me off.. it’s quite odd.
“Although, the off-centered-ness of the page is throwing me off.. it’s quite odd.”
Pages are often off centred. It’s just that they are usually off centred toward the left rather than the right.
I would but i dont have a credit card..
Lol sulkykid, your weren’t last.
Welcome back, I too would not succumb to the idea that DI was gone forever. Looks like you’ll sell at least 104 books…
“Pages are often off centred. It’s just that they are usually off centred toward the left rather than the right.”
True, but I meant it comparison to the previous site layout. But who am I to complain- at least DI’s back.
105 :) Long time lurker and crazy glad DI is back! I took to reading the comments just to make sure I wasn’t the only one left!
Anyway! Welcome back DI!
I have been experiencing DI withdrawal and am pleased you are back for my frequent “fix.” YES!!!!
Any word on when the next new article comes out? :)
I am sure that your book store will be more than glad to place a special order for the book. I have bought many books that way.
Huzzah! May your book sales go great! That’s the thing about hard work… it tends to pay off. I tip pie in your various general directions.
Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about
Well the names have all changed since you hung around
But those dreams have remained and they’ve turned around
Who’d have thought they’d lead ya
(who’d have thought they’d lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(back here where we need ya) ….
Damn nice to see your return.
just u wait jarvis. ill get it by the end of this week!
So very glad to see you back. Love the articles.
AWESOME. Been waiting so long!!
Great to have you guys back!
That’s great to hear! Please let us know what you think of it. I am greatly enjoying it, myself.
Hurray! I checked every day, rain or shine, for new feeds. Thanks for coming back.
Welcome back DI. I’ve missed you.
Say, would it be possible to include the information which article a comment was posted in in the most recent comments section again. With traffic increasing again it would be invaluable to stay on top of recent posts.
Also, but not as important, it would be nice to have the next/last article buttons directly in the article aain without having to go via the explore menu.
Thanks.
Thank you thank you thank you, I missed you people :)
Does this mean the comments on the Total Perspective Vortex re-run won’t get long enough to function as a space elvator now? =(
Great Article Alan, new here, but great site.
I found this website shortly before the hiatus and loved it. I read all the articles in a matter of a few nights, spending hours reading and so fascinated that I stayed up way past my normal bedtime to do it. I was sorry to see the site not updated for so long. Yesterday I checked back, “just in case”, but I really didn’t expect it to be updated. I am SO EXCITED to see you guys back! So excited that I registered so I could leave this comment. Not sure I’ll comment much in the future, but I’ll most definitely be reading. Congrats on the book and also on such a cool website. Great to see you back!
thing1:
Welcome to the DI community. As I urge everyone to do, please buy the DI book. By doing so, you will help to keep this site on the Web.
Thanks for the welcome, Jarvis. I really will try to. My situation is a little odd. I found this website while surfing. Surfing is something I never used to do until I moved outside the US. The Internet is my connection to home. I don’t have any credit cards so it’s hard to order online. I don’t have Pay Pal either. And to top it off, my job is voluntary and my husband is an artist. What I do have are 3 brothers living in the US who I have already told about the book and I’m very sure they’ll buy it. I have plenty of friends too, but I’m not sure how many of them will open their wallet, but I know some will. I can honestly say this, if the book goes on sale in Germany written in English, I will buy it. This website has given me a lot of hours of enjoyment. … I personally appreciate the fact that there are no advertisements on this site (slows things down and mucks it up). And I’m sure they could get many. So I totally understand your opinion on buying the book or donating to the site. Come to think of it, I can probably get one of my brothers to buy it for me. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before!!!! Now I’m off to ask for my Xmas present. :) (I’d probably erase this whole comment and just tell my brother to do it, but maybe it will give someone else in my position an idea).
… Congrats again to the DI people on a great website and I’m sure a great book.
Whooooohooooo welcome back, Damn Interesting, it was well worth the wait.
thing1:
I can’t speak for the Brothers Bellows, but I can definitely say that you just made my day. Thanks for not deleting your post and for thinking of a way to support our DI addiction.
Jarvis Loop
PS: My screen name comes from a trilogy of modern novels by Chuck Rosenthal (it’s my way of paying homage to the author, in addition to the fact that I have bought all of his novels, not just the Jarvis Loop series). Each novel is a true joy to read.
Yeay! Damn Interesting is back! Made my day.
Long time reader- first time responder….I must say that I am sooo glad you are back. My lunchtime at work was so uninteresting for the last 6 months. The excitement of your return has prompted me to finally make an account and contribute my thoughts to this wonderful website.
Welcome to the DI community. As I have said to everyone else, please help keep it alive by buying the book.
Welcome Back.
Welcome back, you have surely been missed
I am sooooooo glad you’re back. I missed you damn interesting stories. Welcome back!
Great book, even my 11 year old loves it. One pet peeve of mine though is randomly placing a quote in large print out of the story somewhere on the page. Why print something that I’ll read again anyway? What’s this practice called and why is it done?
I would like to say that I heartily approve of the foot used in this article.
Welcome back! I haven’t been able to so much as check my email for god knows how long, and coming back to see you guys active again makes me squee with delight. The only thing I need now is pie.
It’s been a while since the last time I visited your wonderful site. Today I stumbled with this beauty again while searching for “Fordlandia”, and I am just hooked back! Let me congratulate you for such a laudable effort. Cheers from Ecuador, South America.
I hadn’t even been a registered member, but when I tried, yet again, to see if DI was back yet, and the new format let me know instantly, I was both shocked and thrilled to see the new DI. Needless to say, I am now registered. Thanks, DI. I’ll buy the book, you do the rest.