Funkalicious

I simply want to remind you, my Faithful Reader, that I am truly one of a kind, unlike this sudden influx of steampunk inspired dolls such as the upcoming Steam Funk Cami Tonner Doll.

Young, hip and ultra urban, the Cami & Jon™ Collection optimizes what it is to be young in New York. Cami, a NYC caterer, and her pal Jon, a florist, traipse across the fast-paced streets of New York together, looking fabulous in an effortless sort of way. Oh, to be young!

Perfectly suited for a themed party or night out on the town, the Steam Funk Cami Tonner Doll is dressed from head to toe in true steampunk style! Not only does she come with a faux leather dress with faux gold stud details, a faux leather belt, faux leather gauntlets, dark brown faux suede black zip boots, and pantyhose with attached panties, but she also comes with, fittingly enough, a cute eye patch to match the steampunk theme.

Made from fine quality vinyl and hard plastic, she features the kind of attention to detail you've come to expect from Tonner, whether it's her medium brown center part removable saran wig with bangs or hand-painted inset green eyes. A limited edition of 300 pieces, the Steam Funk Cami Tonner Doll features a Cami head sculpt, an Antoinette body, and a lily skin tone.

This Week in The Civil War: April 29, 1862

Union march toward Corinth, Virginia skirmish

In late April of 1862, more than 100,000 Union soldiers under the command of Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck march out from Tennessee for Corinth, Miss., intent on wresting away from Confederate forces that key railroad junction for the South. The journey into northern Mississippi means crossing thick forests and rugged country as many of Halleck's men come down with dysentery and typhoid — common diseases of that era in the South. The 22-mile route took Halleck's forces weeks to cover as they endured bad weather and as illnesses felled many. By early May of 1862, the Union army would be within 10 miles of Corinth but then Confederate rivals began unleashing sporadic, small-scale attacks. Union forces would repeatedly dig and settle into trenches as they advanced mile by mile — expecting to eventually approach Corinth. The Confederates, whose soldiers also were falling ill in large numbers, would hang on until late May before stealthily withdrawing and leaving Corinth to Union forces to occupy. Until then, more than 40 miles of earthen trenches and breastworks would be built in the area during the weeks of confrontation. Elsewhere, The Associated Press reported on May 4, 1862, that skirmishing had erupted near Williamsburg, Va. Union Gen. George B. McClellan now has a formidable fighting force arrayed in coastal Virginia and the skirmishing signals big battles soon to come. AP reports that Union forces probing the Confederate fortifications at Williamsburg fire upon approaching rebel cavalry. It adds Union troops were suddenly "opened upon by a deadly fire from the artillery posted behind the (Confederate) works." When the Confederate cavalry charged, Union forces counterattacked and "in more instances than one it was a hand to hand encounter with the enemy's cavalry."

The Royal Society for Creative Anachronism

Aardman Features

Ahh, those pirates have it all.

(Including Me.)

Not only do they have their magnificent sailing vessel, they also use a hot air balloon and board an impressive steam ship, The Queen Victoria I.

And one or two "anachronisms" such as Post-it Notes and dental floss.

(And people say time travel is not possible.)

If you doubt Me, go see The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

You may want to take up piracy yourself.