Ectrodactyly, you say? Or did I say Ectrodactyly? I am not sure. Though I’ve certainly spelled these exact letters in this precise sequence: E-C-T-R-O-D-A-C-T-Y-L-Y over three hundred and thirty three thousand times on stages across the United States of America though not once ever on foreign soil in these modern times.

What is this Ectrodactyly you ask? Or did I ask you to ask what is Ectrodactyly? Well as long as we’re learning how to spell E-C-T-R-O-D-A-C-T-Y-L-Y and what Ectrodactyly is then perhaps we shall gain new information inside these skulls we possess. Knowledge is what it is called.

Back to the dact. ECTRODACTYLY is also know as LOBSTER CLAW SYNDROME.

As I began my official research into the Ectrodactyly I learned in an official administrative interview with a governmental employee for the Social Security Administration named Gerald that the secondary name Lobster Claw Syndrome sounded too negative. Gerald wondered if Ectrodactyly was too scientific a term for understanding upon initial hearing and thoroughly confusing as if a foreign language suddenly spoken through a whistling lisp he laughed loudly. Gerald’s final analysis was that Ectrodactyly and Lobster Claw Syndrome were both terrible brand names to push on a buyers market.

In literal terms from the wine filled bellies of ancient Greek philosophers Ectrodactyly means “Aborted Fingers.”

Science truth burns.

Seems Gerald’s gut was onto something with his instinctively negative reaction upon his ears hearing Ectrodactyly/Lobster Claw Syndrome.

In folk terms the miracle of Ectrodactyly doesn’t find digits on studied subjects hands and/or feet. Ectrodactyly can be labeled Split or Cleft Hands/Feet. Split/Cleft is educational language appropriate. According to genetic scientist the same twist of the DNA which causes Ectrodactyly also creates Split/Cleft Pallet Mutation. Some affected by this distortion of DNA may receive both Ectrodactyly and Cleft Pallet rolled into one.

Congenital Anomaly is another term thrown about by clean starched white lab coats walking academia polished floors of high scaled lecturer halls with socked feet planted inside shiny brown penny loafers. From words read congenital anomaly is simply that of structural deformities from gestation to birth.

Digressing we could continue down our medicinal rabbit hole into the Queen of Hearts palace of nocturnal Wonderland, wait am I mixing up Carroll’s Wonderland and Looking Glass? Drifting farther still or further in our google searches we could find labels of malformation, deformation, disturbed, diseased…

How could we turn, as Gerald lead me to believe, such preconceived negatives into beautiful heart warming and if possible smile inducing positives of a rainbow type caliber? How could anyone with Ectrodactyly be able to even keep their heads up with such gloomy tags clouding over our existence with what science would tag disfigured bodies?

Well first and foremost through family. With a strong family base and helpful surrounding community every human soul can benefit and hopeful grow into positive adult beings. It takes a village says an old African proverb.

But also through education of others who have lived positively with Ectrodactyly and/or its many forms.

Does the name Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ring any digital or mental bells? If so, wonderful. If not just click/copy/google Paintings of the 1490s. Piero will blow your eye boogers sideways onto your cheekbones like a bold Chicago wind robbing you of breath.


Leonardo da Vinci was a human being who thought up imaginative ideas beyond the technology of his time. This being way before the refined alien devices we possess here in the yonder of our today. He painted. Kept a diary with his words written in reverse to preserve himself from those in power that would think otherwise of his creative conceptions. He studied cadavers circulatory systems. Observed the forms of animals. Designed flying machines.  da Vinci researchers believe this genius artist had a form of Ectrodactyly upon his drawing hand. Syndactyly, which on the streets and in the sheets means “merged together.”


Leonardo gets commissioned to create and execute one brilliantly important painting for a Milan Duke. It was ordered to be of the Bible Jesus eating a farewell meal with suspect friends. A crew known as the Dozen Disciples. This being before folks thought to remember facts (maybe times don’t change) it is not know how exactly how long Leonardo da Vinci worked on this masterpiece he grafted from mind to monk wall lunchroom.

Bygone word is this master Italian artist painted homage to the suffering that shot excruciating electric shocks through his creative left hand into the holy body of his work. To be clear: Leonardo da Vinci painted syndactyly onto the outreached left middle two fingers of Jesus Christ’s hand in the Last Supper of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

Historical speculators follow that da Vinci’s contemporaries led him on the secret with hints and whispers that it was a no go to feature such imperfection of the “God’s” only sacrificed son. Surely the born different artist would not live to extrapolate the wonders that wormed within his gray matter for it would be seeing the light of day before anything imagined would. Hip to what was being dropped the academic legend flows that Leo the Creative with a swish of his art brush disguised his “flaw” into literary lore.


There are many ways to interrupt what da Vinci did or did not do rendering Christ hands back to what of da Vinci’s time and even ours of today considered “normal”. But he lived another day and many more to continue breathing and creating.

I was blessed with Ectrodactyly. I prefer to think of myself as not deformed but a fully formed  “Child of da Vinci”. If when using stereotypes we could sway from negatives and swing towards positive outlooks I request you think of us born with E-C-T-R-O-D-A-C-T-Y-L-Y as highly creative and imaginative souls. Truly one has to be to make it in a world where doors aren’t made to open for hands in variations such as these.


Time Travelling Can Be Confusing?

Who is the Black Scorpion?


The Black Scorpion (born August 26, 3033, Austin, TX) is a writer, director, performer known mostly for his contribution to the revival of modern freak show and sideshow arts. Known for his bizarre and surreal stage performances, multi-colored self-designed bandit mask and shoes, as well as his “trademark” claws, also called Ectrodactyly[1] by some and lobster claw syndrome by others. His feet are like his hands, three toes to a foot.

The Black Scorpion performs as a freak working to change the word from a negative to a positive through educational humor. He has also worked for over fifteen years at the Austin, Texas television news station KEYE-TV. In 2006, after being discovered by Mr. Lifto, the Black Scorpion burst onto the sideshow scene with one of the last traveling authentic vaudevillian Freak Show the 999 Eyes.[2] He appeared for the first time onstage as National Geographic filmed the troupe for their show Taboo.[3]


Black Scorpion invented Bill Murray-esque puppet as a beheaded P.T. Barnum.

In 2008 the Black Scorpion joined the cast of Coney Island USA‘s[4] world famous Sideshows by the Seashore.

On November 30, 2009 Black Scorpion and the Lil Black Scorpion puppet appeared with the cast of Sideshows by the Seashore on the TLC show the Cake Boss titled “Freaks, Fast Food & Frightened Frankie!”[5]


Black Scorpion at Coney Island USA.

The Black Scorpion is the inventor of the Hammer Hands illusion and also a co-founder of the Austin, Texas band Built by Snow.

On June 9, 2012, the Black Scorpion was shown on the show Oddities.[6] in their episode “Keeping Austin Odd”. The Black Scorpion illustrated his Hammer Hand illusion.

In 2013 the Black Scorpion introduced the world to his newest surreal creation, a Bill Murray-esque puppet as a beheaded P.T. Barnum.

Black Scorpion also plays musical instruments. Some of his original sounds can be heard at his Surreal Sideshow Music page. He is also a director. His work can be seen on his BSTV page.


In 2014 Black Scorpion became the consultant for Evan Peterscharacter Jimmy Darling for the fourth season of American Horror Story: Freak Show.







Check out my Tumblr page for updated artwork.

BSTV Presents: Eric Odditorium








BSTV Presents: Eric Odditorium





Paint Nothing Wrong











Constructing Computer BS





















Some of the pieces and doodles I have been fooling with as of late. All of these images are a part of a story I am toying with.





Larry Explains LOST


Larry "the Talking Rabbit" Podcast on B-93 FM.

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