DerekZarban
@derekzarban.bsky.social
Early retired Hoosier nerd. Small town historian, small-time radio announcer. Ally to all oppressed people. TTRPG and movie nerdery at zarban.com.
Pinned
TIL "Elvis", as in Elvis Presley, is a variant of "Elwes", as in Cary Elwes, which is the English version of French "Elois/Heloise", as in Hints from Heloise, which is a version of German "Alois", as in Alois Hitler, which in Latin is "Aloysius", as in Aloysius Snuffleupagus.
I gotta hurry up & watch Marty Supreme, bc I just got tapped to write Marty Meatlovers.
February 12, 2026 at 12:09 AM
I gotta hurry up & watch Marty Supreme, bc I just got tapped to write Marty Meatlovers.
Okay, but I wouldn't rest easy knowing that it's partly true....
February 10, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Okay, but I wouldn't rest easy knowing that it's partly true....
Writing sketches again....
February 10, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Writing sketches again....
Celebrity boxing just got even weirder: Mel Brooks is set to fight Dick Van Dyke on May 23 at the Bellagio.
February 9, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Celebrity boxing just got even weirder: Mel Brooks is set to fight Dick Van Dyke on May 23 at the Bellagio.
It's hilarious that they made a hundred "dancing robot" videos & everyone always went "That thing is for killling", & now they're finally admitting "Yeah, these are for killing. That's what we were going for the whole time. LOL."
Can you imagine this thing stomping around somewhere near Kupyansk?
Ukrainian drone operator: “Is that… a Roomba with legs and a gun on its back?”
This military multipurpose robot dog was unveiled by the Chinese company Norinco at the World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian drone operator: “Is that… a Roomba with legs and a gun on its back?”
This military multipurpose robot dog was unveiled by the Chinese company Norinco at the World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia.
February 9, 2026 at 1:50 AM
It's hilarious that they made a hundred "dancing robot" videos & everyone always went "That thing is for killling", & now they're finally admitting "Yeah, these are for killing. That's what we were going for the whole time. LOL."
The state of Super Bowl commercials is GRIM.
February 9, 2026 at 1:46 AM
The state of Super Bowl commercials is GRIM.
I never like re-watching TV or movies. Never understood it. DVD commentary tracks were a revelation: they gave me a reason to re-watch movies & TV I loved. I miss commentary tracks.
February 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM
I never like re-watching TV or movies. Never understood it. DVD commentary tracks were a revelation: they gave me a reason to re-watch movies & TV I loved. I miss commentary tracks.
"My son, when there was only one set of footprints in the sand, that was when you were being remotely teleoperated by a Filipino."
February 7, 2026 at 5:30 PM
"My son, when there was only one set of footprints in the sand, that was when you were being remotely teleoperated by a Filipino."
If, in 1975, you had blasted "Feel Like Makin' Love" out the window of your downtown apartment, you would have been threatened with arrest within minutes.
In 2026, the town blasts 1970s music all day, every day from speakers mounted all over the downtown area.
In 2026, the town blasts 1970s music all day, every day from speakers mounted all over the downtown area.
February 7, 2026 at 4:23 PM
If, in 1975, you had blasted "Feel Like Makin' Love" out the window of your downtown apartment, you would have been threatened with arrest within minutes.
In 2026, the town blasts 1970s music all day, every day from speakers mounted all over the downtown area.
In 2026, the town blasts 1970s music all day, every day from speakers mounted all over the downtown area.
20 years ago, I wrote a joke blog post about this idea.
February 6, 2026 at 8:42 PM
20 years ago, I wrote a joke blog post about this idea.
The biggest lie in archaeology is "perfectly preserved". "Perfectly preserved" means "we can tell what it is."
February 6, 2026 at 2:50 AM
The biggest lie in archaeology is "perfectly preserved". "Perfectly preserved" means "we can tell what it is."
Gerty was 80. Jagger & Richards are 82. McCartney is 83. Dylan is 84.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSi...
Dave's Favorite Show Moment: A Walk On Ze Wild Side | Letterman
YouTube video by Letterman
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Gerty was 80. Jagger & Richards are 82. McCartney is 83. Dylan is 84.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSi...
The passing of Demond Wilson is a great opportunity to reflect on the history of minorities in American television & also to groove to Quincy Jones' "The Streetbeater".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wZ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wZ...
Quincy Jones -- Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater)
YouTube video by WBZO_RJsRadio
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The passing of Demond Wilson is a great opportunity to reflect on the history of minorities in American television & also to groove to Quincy Jones' "The Streetbeater".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wZ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wZ...
So "paramilitary" means "faulty, irregular, or disordered version of the military"? Checks out.
February 3, 2026 at 7:57 PM
So "paramilitary" means "faulty, irregular, or disordered version of the military"? Checks out.
Reposted by DerekZarban
There are so many terrible things happening but we should take a moment to appreciate this:
There is a serious debate going on as to whether or not the President literally shit himself during a press conference.
There is a serious debate going on as to whether or not the President literally shit himself during a press conference.
February 1, 2026 at 11:12 PM
There are so many terrible things happening but we should take a moment to appreciate this:
There is a serious debate going on as to whether or not the President literally shit himself during a press conference.
There is a serious debate going on as to whether or not the President literally shit himself during a press conference.
Local sports bar is showing AI sports to save money. I’ve seen Marilyn Monroe playing in the US Open, extreme ballroom dancing, & dogs fishing.
February 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Local sports bar is showing AI sports to save money. I’ve seen Marilyn Monroe playing in the US Open, extreme ballroom dancing, & dogs fishing.
Still watching a ton of Letterman clips. It's interesting how easily Dave could be thrown. If a guest was a little drunk or prickly, Dave had no idea what to do. On separate appearances, he said Pee-Wee should be on Darvon, he'd strangle him during a commercial, & he was a "peculiar son of a bitch".
February 1, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Still watching a ton of Letterman clips. It's interesting how easily Dave could be thrown. If a guest was a little drunk or prickly, Dave had no idea what to do. On separate appearances, he said Pee-Wee should be on Darvon, he'd strangle him during a commercial, & he was a "peculiar son of a bitch".
New EDC kit. It's a passport wallet. Fits fully in my back pocket.
February 1, 2026 at 1:24 AM
New EDC kit. It's a passport wallet. Fits fully in my back pocket.
TIL Paul Thomas Anderson's father was King of Voiceover Ernie Anderson.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjz3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjz3...
WJZ-TV Baltimore | Ernie Anderson - The Voice of ABC | 6-7-85 | WJZ 13
YouTube video by Only1JZ
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:31 AM
TIL Paul Thomas Anderson's father was King of Voiceover Ernie Anderson.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjz3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjz3...
My greatest ambition is to meet Paul McCartney & ask him if he's managed to finish the lyrics to this song yet.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4E6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4E6...
Why Don't We Do It In The Road? (Remastered 2009)
YouTube video by The Beatles - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:46 PM
My greatest ambition is to meet Paul McCartney & ask him if he's managed to finish the lyrics to this song yet.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4E6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4E6...
Our hours are 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 2 PM to 5 PM. DO NOT BOTHER US on our lunch period from 11:30 to 2. We LIKE A LONG LUNCH at the town dump (near the old tile mill).
January 26, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Our hours are 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 2 PM to 5 PM. DO NOT BOTHER US on our lunch period from 11:30 to 2. We LIKE A LONG LUNCH at the town dump (near the old tile mill).
TIL "Elvis", as in Elvis Presley, is a variant of "Elwes", as in Cary Elwes, which is the English version of French "Elois/Heloise", as in Hints from Heloise, which is a version of German "Alois", as in Alois Hitler, which in Latin is "Aloysius", as in Aloysius Snuffleupagus.
January 26, 2026 at 4:59 AM
TIL "Elvis", as in Elvis Presley, is a variant of "Elwes", as in Cary Elwes, which is the English version of French "Elois/Heloise", as in Hints from Heloise, which is a version of German "Alois", as in Alois Hitler, which in Latin is "Aloysius", as in Aloysius Snuffleupagus.
It occurs to me that I've never had a wart. Maybe I'm immune.
January 25, 2026 at 2:32 AM
It occurs to me that I've never had a wart. Maybe I'm immune.
Every US state should enter the Olympics separately.
January 24, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Every US state should enter the Olympics separately.