Anything & Everything: November 2008

Seems like there is really no limits to what lego can do. We had recently featured the Beijing Olympics buildings made in lego. Now, we have all the different movie monsters and aliens made from lego. See if you can recognize all of them. LINK

For some people when they go, they just got to go in style and that’s what these strange coffins are meant for. LINK

Underground lakes or caverns are basically large pools of water that gather or accumulate underneath the earth’s surface. So how does the water get into these inaccessible spaces underground? The answer lies in the movement of the earth through the centuries due to plate tectonics and earthquakes.

As the earth surface moves, empty spaces and caverns are sometimes formed below the surface. And water found on the top of affected areas seep into these spaces through the cracks and fissures created by the movement. Over time, the water accumulates in these underground caverns to form what we now call underground lakes. Thus, it usually takes many many many years for such underground lakes to form, which is why they are so amazing.

The photo above is Reed Flute Cave, China. LINKpho

Some of these products look so real, but they are actually made of wood. Very skillful work by the artist. LINK

He, who laughs last, thinks slowest.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don’t have film.

A day without sunshine is like, well, night.

On the other hand, you have different fingers.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

Seen it all, done it all, can’t remember most of it.

Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don’t.

I feel like I’m diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

He’s not dead, he’s electroencephalographically challenged.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.

I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.

Honk if you love peace and quiet.

Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.

It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.

You can’t have everything, where would you put it?

Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world’s population.

The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.

Everybody lies, but it doesn’t matter since nobody listens.

I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Some of these Quotes are from Steven Wright. LINK

Check out this cool body art that makes these girls blend quite well into the surroundings. LINK

It looks like Dubai is set to take the title of World’s largest bridge with this latest concept bridge. This bridge will be a mile long and 670-feet high at its highest point. It will have a whooping 12 lanes of traffic with a metro line running down the center. It is expected to be able to carry over 4000 hours vehicles per hour and will cost a measely 817 million dollars. LINK

The Piano House (China):
This unique piano house was built recently in An Hui Province, China. Inside of the violin is the escalator to the building. The building displays various city plans and development prospects in an effort to draw interest into the recently developed area. LINK

Or some might call it body painting, but whatever it is called, it is still really really sexy and amazing to look at! No need for swimsuits or lingerie anymore! LINK

Think we can never get enough of these sexy nude girls that don’t look so nude with the help of some amazing artwork and paint. Wonder what happens when it rains? LINK

This is Hollywood fashion at it’s best (at least for me)!. Don’t really care what they are trying to sell (body paint maybe?), but I’m just happy being able to feast my eyes on these sexy models with… nothing on. LINK

A sand castle is a type of sand sculpture resembling a miniature building, often a castle. The two basic building ingredients, sand and water, available in abundance on a sandy beach, so most sand play takes place there, or in a sandpit. Tidal beaches generally have sand that limits height and structure because of the shape of the sand grains. Good sand sculpture sand is somewhat dirty, having silt and clay that helps lock the irregular shaped sand grains together.

A variant on the sandcastle is the drip castle, made by mixing the sand with water and dripping it from a fist held above. Some refer to the technique as “dribbling.” When the slurry of sand and water lands on existing sand structures. LINK

You thought gardening is boring? You guessed wrong! Here are some of the most beautiful forms you can make. In these pics you will see that even some characters from ancient Indian stories can be shaped. LINK

Napoleon on Potatoes by Ju Duoqi.

Chinese artist Ju Duoqi, 35, specializes in a unique art medium: vegetables! (well, technically digital veggies - but who cares?). Behold her masterpiece above, the veggie Mona Lisa ("Mona Tofu") made out of rice, sea kelp, and tofu.

In The Vegetable Museum series, she revisits in a stunning way some masterpieces of the western painting. Making use of vegetables and food of China’s everyday life – tofu, cabbage, ginger, lotus roots, coriander, sweet potato… – and through digital manipulation, she presents a puzzling series of vegetable compositions representing world famous paintings like Mona Lisa, The Cene by Leonard Da Vinci, The Dream by Pablo Picasso or Marilyn Monroe by Warhol.

See many more at Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery: Link, Via: Neatorama

After having a near death experience with a guide vehicle, this rock python thought he better exude some excitement and put on a dance for the camera. LINK

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. LINK: Youtube

Charles Schultz creator of "The Peanuts" cartoons is from Saint Paul, Minnesota. My home State.

Like many communities around the United States are doing, St. Paul, Minnesota is working with local businesses and artists to create special sculptures to celebrate their city’s heritage. From Potato Heads in Idaho to Pegasus in Dallas, and Cows on Parade in Chicago to Peanuts characters in St. Paul, artists are using Aves Apoxie® Sculpt to achieve the best artistic details with the longest lasting results. LINK

Adam Sandler

"They wanna hear the thanksgiving song! All right.."
"This is uhh, This is the Thanksgiving Song"
"I hope you enjoy it." LINK: Youtube

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Here is a link if you want to send friends and loved one an Ecard for Thanksgiving. LINK

(Edgar Albert Guest, 1881-1959)

It may be I am getting old and like too much to dwell
Upon the days of bygone years, the days I loved so well;
But thinking of them now I wish somehow that I could know
A simple old Thanksgiving Day, like those of long ago,
When all the family gathered round a table richly spread,
With little Jamie at the foot and grandpa at the head,
The youngest of us all to greet the oldest with a smile,
With mother running in and out and laughing all the while.

It may be I'm old-fashioned, but it seems to me to-day
We're too much bent on having fun to take the time to pray;
Each little family grows up with fashions of its own;
It lives within a world itself and wants to be alone.
It has its special pleasures, its circle, too, of friends;
There are no get-together days; each one his journey wends,
Pursuing what he likes the best in his particular way,
Letting the others do the same upon Thanksgiving Day.

I like the olden way the best, when relatives were glad
To meet the way they used to do when I was but a lad;
The old home was a rendezvous for all our kith and kin,
And whether living far or near they all came trooping in
With shouts of "Hello, daddy!" as they fairly stormed the place
And made a rush for mother, who would stop to wipe her face
Upon her gingham apron before she kissed them all,
Hugging them proudly to her breast, the grownups and the small.

Then laughter rang throughout the home, and, Oh, the jokes they told;
From Boston, Frank brought new ones, but father sprang the old;
All afternoon we chatted, telling what we hoped to do,
The struggles we were making and the hardships we'd gone through;
We gathered round the fireside. How fast the hours would fly--
It seemed before we'd settled down 'twas time to say good-bye.
Those were the glad Thanksgivings, the old-time families knew
When relatives could still be friends and every heart was true.

LINK

WLWT-TV5 report on the dangers of deep-frying a turkey that has not been properly thawed. Greenhills Volunteer Fire Dept. assisted in this demonstration. LINK: Youtube

A first attempt at deep frying turkey was successful. It was good! LINK

Cooking a twenty-five pound turkey in under thirty seconds with ten pounds of thermite. LINK

First Thanksgiving 1621 by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, Via: Library of Congress

It's one of American history's most familiar scenes: A small group of Pilgrims prepare a huge November feast to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and show their appreciation to the Indians who helped them survive their first winter. Together, the Pilgrims and the Indians solemnly sit down to a meal of turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberries.

Just how accurate is this image of America's first Thanksgiving? Not very, it turns out. Here are some common misconceptions about the origin of one of our favorite holidays.

Go to link to read the Myths, LINK: Neatorama

Rahzel talks in an exclusive interview for Beatbox Battle TV about his Beatbox Life and how he get started making music with his mouth. BeFilm & TommyGun recorded this rare video footage after his showcase on stage with DJ JS-1 in Cologne, Germany at the Hip Hop Elements Tour / Team Rhytmus-Gymnastik night.

The Godfather of Noise gave an unik speech to all the international new school artists who are inspired all the years by his great style of human beatboxing. Bee Low asked Rahzel about the history of the Beatbox himself and how his carrier startet back in the days in New York, City. Rahzel is a real pioneer in our global artform. Maximum Respect !! LINK: Youtube

Perugia (Italy) summer 1993. Wynton Marsalis was there for Umbria Jazz, with his septet. In this video clip he and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon duel from the windows of their hotel rooms. LINK: Youtube

So says CBS Sports Dan Dierdorf about one-legged wonder Carl Joseph. Now Carl's unprecedented exploits have been memorialized in this video, using old game footage that had been lost to Carl for the last 29 years. The video shows why Carl Joseph was a legend in his own time. From sacking quarterbacks to dunking basketballs, he didnt let the mere absence of a leg stop him from competing as an equal and even excelling in high school
sports. His story of faith, courage and heart inspired millions on TV in the early 1980s. LINK: Youtube
For more information:
http://www.greatsportstory.com

Skateboarding in slow motion with crazy explosions and stunts. LINK: Youtube

I Posted before about zodiac sign body art. These are different, hope you enjoy. LINK

They must have did some of the KAMA SUTRA positions before they past on, lol. LINK

Some cool pictures. LINK

click image to enlarge

ICYMI - 7 Year Old Break Dancer On Ellen. LINK: Youtube

You might think that a Lego safe would be easy to open. Maybe just remove a few bricks and you’re in. But that’s not the case with this thing, the cutting edge of Lego safe technology. The safe weighs 14 pounds and has a motion detecting alarm so it can’t be moved without creating a huge ruckus.

The lock takes five double digit codes to open it. That translates into over 305 billion different combinations. It even boasts an electronic status display showing the numbers as you turn the combination dials. When you enter the combination, the door electronically opens itself. It’s a great place to store all of your valuable geek stuff. Check out a video below. LINK

LINK: Youtube

Owner of a Lonely Heart and Smooth Criminal, violin style. Classic music just got more classical. LINK: Youtube

Waves in a Large Free Sphere of Water - An experiment at the International Space Station. LINK: Youtube

Film and Animation. LINK: Youtube

Love Eschers Art.

The information is written in another language so I am unable to tell you very much about the video. LINK: Youtube

The twisting staircases from the climax of Labyrinth. LINK: Youtube

A drunk man stuck on MC Escher stairs. Quite comical and artsy. LINK: Youtube

Amazing art, well worth a look see. LINK

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS! LINK: Youtube

The boys have decided to begin working on new stunts and videos. Weather is kind of cold now so we may have to wait to hot weather rolls around again. We put this video up 2yrs ago to show friends and family members. We will be responding to comments and feedback as regularly as we can. Thank you very much for your support!

Sincerely,
Mindy (Mother)
William (Father)
Devante (Stunter)
Elijah (Stunter)
Rafaella (Sister)
Taviah (Little Brother)

Equine entrepreneurs and brothers Robert and Herbert Thompson are just a couple of good ole boys and their pony, doing what comes natural.

One of the world’s zaniest horses does everything but talk — but that doesn’t stop him from trying. Patches is one pampered male — a human trapped inside a horse’s body. He rides in a coordinating convertible Cadillac, eats cheeseburgers, drinks apple juice, and sleeps in a queen-sized bed. LINK

This animal sure is pretty. LINK

Just another portion of funny photos to improve your mood. Take a look. LINKpho

Truly one of the american's most widely collected painters of wildlife and Americana. From 1991 to 1998, Redlin has been named America's Most Popular Artist in annual gallery surveys conducted by U.S.ART magazine. LINK

[QUOTE] Don’t even TRY to tell me that this is digitally manipulated or somehow fake. I don’t want to live in a world where bears don’t play hockey. LINK

Tree houses are the only solution for building of eco-friendly facilities in some remote forest-areas. The wildlife, climate and illumination on ground-level in areas of dense close-canopy forest is not suitable for human habitation.

There are over 20 architectural businesses in Europe and North America that specialize in building treehouses of various degrees of permanence and sophistication, from children's play structures to fully-functioning homes. LINK

Howth is a small peninsula about 12 km north-east of Dublin. You can visit the Howth Castle Gardens, which cover 12 hectares of magnificent flora. The small port village is also very nice. You can make a wonderful trip by boat around the peninsula.

Howth is a small paradise near the sea!

A small village 20 minutes by train from downtown. Howth is located at the north Dublin on a small peninsula, it is busy every Sunday with a small market on the port. A real pleasure to go through this walk which mixes scents and colors.

You can have lunch near the water while watching the seals which float around the harbour. Far from everything, it feels like you are on holiday!

At Howth Harbour, a large dam with a lighthouse has been erected at the east. Walking on the long dam is highly recommended. Feel the ocean wind blowing on your face and let your hair rocked.

The sight is simply exceptional at Howth, green hills ending with a cliff, the beach at the other side and opposite an island. Far from all worries and preoccupations, a corner of paradise..

Go to LINK to see Gallery.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand was born on March 13, 1946 in Paris and is a photographer, journalist, reporter, businessman and environmentalist.

In 1994, under the sponsorship of UNESCO, Yann Arthus Bertrand undertook a substantive work on the state of the planet by offering to take photos of the most beautiful landscapes in the world seen from an helicopter. The project, called "Earth from heaven", with the credo: "Witnessing the beauty of the world and try to protect the Earth" this will give birth to the book Terre vue du Ciel which sold more than 3 million in 24 languages.

On 1 July 2005, Yann Arthus Bertrand founded the International Association of ecologist, "GoodPlanet" and implements "Action Carbone", a program to reduce the greenhouse gases generated by its own aerial photographs. This action supports projects on renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation.

Go to LINK to see Gallery.

LINK

LINK

Phoenix Park is a large park located in Dublin 3 km north-west of downtown. The park covers an area of 712 ha and a circumference of 11 km and is the second largest urban park in Europe after Sutton Park in Birmingham, Britain. Phoenix Park is made up of large lawns, tree-lined avenues and wooded areas, there are also sports fields for polo and cricket. Phoenix Park is also home to a herd of wild deer.

The main entrance to Phoenix Park is located in Parkgate Street in Dublin 7, near Castleknock.

The name Phoenix Park comes from its pronunciation in Gaelic "fionn uisce" which means clear water.

Regularly in the summer, Phoenix Park allows many bands to perform outdoors (U2 in 1983 at a festival, The Cranberries in 2001 ...).

Bruges Belgium City Center

Bruges is a Dutch speaking city of Belgium located in the Flemish Region and largest city in the province of West Flanders.

Bruges is a member of the World Heritage Cities Organization since 2000. Bruges was also the European Capital of Culture in 2002.

Bruges is called the "Venice of the North" because it has many channels that surround or cross the city. There are still remnants of the fortress and mills, alongside the canals surrounding the city center. Bruges has an important port and hosts the College of Europe.

Bruges Sights :

* La Grand-Place (Grote Markt) with the Belfry
* The Burg (the Place du Bourg) with the City Hall, buildings of Francs Bruges and the Church of the Holy Blood
* The beguinage
* The Church Notre-Dame
* Cathedrale Saint-Sauveur
* The Old St. John Hospital
* The Church of St. Walburge
* The Church of Jerusalem
* The old city gates: Boeveriepoort, Smedenpoort, Ezelpoort, Dampoort, Kruispoort, Gentpoort and Katelijnepoort.
* The Procession of the Holy Blood.
LINK

All the components of glass can be found in two places: the beach and the laundry room. It’s possible to melt pure white-silica beach sand into glass, but only at temperatures of 3,000 to 3,500°F. Washing soda, lime or borax (a traditional laundry aid) added to the sand disrupts the quartz-crystal structure of silica and reduces the required temperature to a more practical, though still dangerous, 2,000°F, which I achieved with a backyard grill and a vacuum cleaner. Glass is thought to have been discovered around 7,000 years ago by Phoenician merchants when cooking fires were built over sand that, by chance, had some of these substances mixed in.

Go to LINK to see slideshow and to see the video.

Are you plagued by Stuck Tune Syndrome? Do you have a song stuck in your head you just can't get out? Take heart friend, for your suffering is over.

The Maimograph Machine, through complex analysis and calculation, will find an even catchier tune to counter-act the one you already have.

To use the machine, hit the power button (and stand back). LINK

View more photos
VIENNA: A large skull-shaped structure housing a sauna is turning heads in the Austrian capital.

The white walk-in structure - situated near a busy Vienna intersection - is known as the 'Wellness Skull' and also boasts a bathtub and shower. On either side of the neck, that is.

The eye-catching installation, about 4.5m tall and made of wood and synthetic material, is the brainchild of Dutch artist Joep van Lieshout.

Mr Van Lieshout said his 2007 creation is part of a series of pieces that he has built based on body parts.

'It's really a piece that has many different interpretations,' he said when asked about the skull's deeper meaning.

'Like a painter uses paint, I use design.'

Tourists and local residents alike appeared astounded by the skull on Monday.

It officially goes on display today as part of an effort by Public Art Vienna to revitalise and enhance urban space around the Austrian capital.

'It's the most random thing I've seen in Vienna,' said 27-year-old Nick Abrahams from London as he walked through the structure on Monday afternoon.

'It's really strange,' echoed Mr Nick Trute, 29, from Sydney, Australia.

Although the skull-shaped sauna was built to be fully functional, visitors would not be able to try it out or witness steam emanating from its eye sockets - something that happens only when the sauna, which can accommodate eight people, is in use.

Visitors will be able to go inside the sauna every first Saturday of the month or by appointment till March 15. LINK

A world of lp portraits. Inspired by the flickr group LP Portraits:
http://www.flickr.com/group... LINK: Youtube

Joanne visists mechanical sculptor Steve Gerberich. LINK

It doesn't make sweet music, but it might just break a world record - a giant bike in the shape of a guitar has been out and about in Germany. LINK

Joey Zuber World Champion Cliff Diver. A compilation of his best high dives. LINK: Youtube

Ukulele Orchestra of GB - Shaft

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's rendition of that classic Isaac Hayes movie theme from 'Shaft' that they played live at Cambridge Folk Festival. LINK

Senior Adult Choir Hip Hop (Short Version)

This was the opening video for our Student Fall Retreat called "You've Got Talent." Everyone is asking what inspired this. Here is goes... 1) We needed a great opening video that caught everyone off guard, and set the the tone for the weekend. 2) With this idea in mind, we thought we could use this video as a great object lesson about media choices (kinda creepy hearing your grandparents sing some of this), and 3) this has been a GREAT transgenerational culture experiment. It has totally bridged a gap with our Senior adults and our students. Hope you enjoy! LINK

Peter Frampton wasn't the first guitar player to put a plastic tube in his mouth to make his instrument talk. Pete Drake, a phenomenal steel guitar player, shows his stuff in the delightful video with an unusually moribund group of backup singers, musicians, and people who are sitting around in what appears to be a drug- or witchcraft-induced trance. LINK, VIA: Youtube

click image to enlarge

Created for the Nine Inch Nails Ghosts Film Festival. LINK

I have the feeling this is the future of our school music programs. Surely they can’t say they don’t have the money to fund arts and music when it’s all being made from veggies. The best part is, when you’re done you still have a healthy, yummy snack. That can also help the school lunch program as well, just mix the budget for both and everyone wins. Especially this guy, the ultimate veggie band teacher. LINK, Via: Youtube

That’s one lucky penguin! LINK

IN THIS SCENE: Fire is the instigator in this section of their chain reaction.

ABOUT THIS FILM: In 1987 Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss built a enormous, precarious structure 100 feet long out of common items. Using fire, water, gravity, and chemistry they create a mind-blowing chain reaction of physical and chemical interactions and precisely crafted chaos. LINK: Youtube

This eight-plate set displays most of Europe with a set of interlocking ceramic dinner plates. A Russia plate is, unfortunately, not yet available, as it keeps on breaking up while still in the factory.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Pedestrian crosswalks should be well marked, but they don’t have to be boring! See what artists in different cities have done to bring a smile to those who walk the streets. Or drive them. The example shown is from Canadian street artist Peter Gibson. Link, Via:Neatorama

The Grim Reaper as a cross-dresser? In South America Mexico, Saint Death (Santa Muerte) will visit you one day - or so it is believed - and it will come in female form dressed up to the nines.

Take a look at the strange tradition of Saint Death. A pagan mix of the supernatural and black magic or a Catholic saint worthy of veneration? LINK

What type of writer are you? Typealizer finds features that distinguishes one type from another. When all features, words, and sentences are combined, Typealyzer is able to guess which type of writer you are.

The analysis indicate that the author of The Presurfer is of the type: ISTP - The Mechanic. The independent and problem-solving type. He is especially attuned to the demands of the moment and is a master in responding to challenges that arise spontaneously.

The Mechanic enjoys working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often likes to seek fun and action both in his work and personal life. He enjoys adventure and risk such as in driving racecars or working as policeman and firefighter.
LINK: Presurfer

An oldie but a goldie. Create your own fireworks. LINK: Presurfer

A trumpet-playing robot has been developed by Japanese car maker Toyota.
It showed off its musical creation at a Tokyo hotel, where the robot played When You Wish Upon a Star on a trumpet.

The machine is the latest in a series of robots developed by Japanese companies to showcase their prowess in humanoid robotics.

He probably doesn't take requests yet. LINK

Our pal Dark Roasted Blend dug up these photos of a hydraulic excavator climbing a tower. Supposedly, it’s a publicity stunt by Lebherr hydraulics, to show off the strength of their machines. LINK

Previously on Neatorama: How To Unload an Excavator

Walter Robot, aka Bill Barminski and Christopher Louie, produced this video for Gnarls Barkley's new track "Mystery Man." LINK: Youtube

BBtv online: http://tv.boingboing.net

Inspired by these old school Kodak infrared flashbulb illuminated snaps of Japanese sexhibitionists and their peeping toms in parks that were shot by Kohei Yoshiyuki in the early '70s, fashion photographer Steven Meisel has created his own version in a layout that was (supposedly) too hot to run in Vogue Italy, so we get to look at them on the internets. NSFW, unless you work in an orgy pit. LINK

Related:
# "War-on-Terror-themed photo spread in Vogue Italia."
# "Vogue's "camwhore" photo spread mimics web video tarts."
# "Daphne Guinness Sets Supermodels Ablaze."

Here is an incredible time-lapse video of Robert Burden painting Voltron. LINK

Sometimes the banalities of life just don't make for solid Twitter or Facebook status updates.
Add a little mystery and confusion with the Twitter Status Generator. LINK

OmniMedicalSearch is a medical search engine. You can find authoritative, consumer-oriented health and medical information. There are nearly one million medical terms and synonyms that translates everyday language and precisely matches it to complex medical information.

You can also use Medical Image Search. LINK

Drag Energuy by the hand and click on stuff that will help him save energy. But watch the clock! LINK

Are you in need of a little cheering up, or do you just want to have a little internet style distraction? To use an old cliche, laughter is the best medicine!

Take a look at these ten laugh out loud online animations and see if they don't put a huge smile on your face - a few of them at least. A warning though - these toons are very, very silly! LINK

The purpose of this list of Bird Families of the World is as an aid to world birders who desire to maximize their study of avian diversity by observing examples of as many bird families as reasonable within the time and money available for travel, and as a study tool for all interested readers.

It is exhilarating to see or learn about unique birds, and bird families structure the avian world into the most discrete and unique groups. LINK

Molecular Expressions has the web's largest collection of color photographs taken through an optical microscope.

They cover just about everything from beer and ice cream to integrated circuits and ceramic superconductors. LINK

There have been volcanic eruptions thousands of times more powerful than Mt. St. Helens. Recent storms have redefined the ranking systems for wind speeds. The hottest place on Earth has hit temperatures 288 degrees hotter than the coldest place on earth.

Here is a compilation of the most extreme conditions that add a little spice (and devastation) to the planet Earth and its inhabitants. LINK

Remember our post about the newspaper front pages about the Obama victory? Well, here’s a collage of over 600 headlines made into a poster: Link (with a zoomable version, too!) Via: Neatorama

Dutch artist Job Koelewijn sure knows how to make an awesome bookcase. Behold his lemniscate (look it up) bookshelf that represents the infinite power of books and learnin’. LINK

Haruo Suekichi is a Japanese artist who specializes in making wonderful steampunk watches. In the past 12 years, Haruo has made some 7,000 watches - he started out selling them in the flea market, but now his watches are very collectible.

Chief Mag has an interview with the master watchmaker, who recounted an interesting tale of how he got the whole idea because he wanted to design a watch for a one-armed man:

at the flea market, a one-armed man came up to me. And he said to me, well, with only my left arm, I can’t put on a watch. Wow, I thought, he’s right…I wonder if I could make a watch like that? So I made - and you can see one upstairs in the showcase - I made a watch that you put your wrist in it and it shuts around your wrist.

Link | Gallery of Haruo’s watches [in Japanese], Via: Neatorama

RagaZZ - Dueling Guitars:-
Indian Classical and Funky improvisation on Guitar by RagaZZ Lead Guitarist Sumesh Parameswar with World Record Fastest PERCUSSIVE Bassist, Jayen Varma. Their UK based Band RagacatZZ is to tour UK, USA and India in 2008-09. LINK, Via: Youtube

This is fantastic: a series of vintage "brain maps" as created by one Dr. Alesha Sivartha in the late 1800s (published in his metaphysical book The Book of Life: The Spiritual and Physical Constitution of Man).

You don’t have to believe or understand all the New Age-y stuff to appreciate the weirdness of the lithographs: Link. Via: Quiddity, Via: Neatorama

Spotted at Brass Goggles, the blog of everything steampunk, is this fantastic (and wearable) Steampunk Space Helmet by Herr Döktor: Link | Build progress (long forum thread!) LINK

If you didn’t know, yesterday was Domino Day 2008 ("Celebrating 10 Years of Domino Day"). The goal of Domino Day is simple: to set a new world record of highest number of falling dominoes.

Robin Paul Weijers (AKA Mr. Domino) and his team set up 4.5 million dominoes in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, and ended up setting a new world record by toppling more than 4.3 million dominoes. From Wikipedia:

… the record was broken with 4,345,027 dominoes toppled. Also, 9 additional world record were attempted and successfully broken. These additional world records were:

1. Longest domino spiral (200 m)
2. Highest domino climb (12 m)
3. Smallest domino stone (7 mm)
4. Largest domino stone (4.8 m)
5. Longest domino wall (16 m)
6. Largest domino structure (25,000 stone)
7. Fastest topple of 30 metres of domino stone (4.21 sec, time by Churandy Martina: 3.81 sec)
8. Largest number of domino stone resting on a single domino (727 stones)
9. Largest rectangular level domino field (1 million stones)
LINK, Via: Youtube

Darwin and the missing link. Some good ones at this "LINK"

There are many women and men whom have experienced this. Just hopefully they grow from there experience and not become like the person that done them wrong. LINK

Check out the rest of the photos by going to this "LINK".

Some good animation with these paper cut outs. LINK

Amazing Celebrities Tattoos. Another Salvador Dali find and a must to post. It would be cool to get this Tattoo. LINK

I found these and with Salvador Dali as one of them I found this a must to post. LINK

Restored and remodeled by the Spanish modernist architect in the years 1905–1907, Casa Batllo is now one the most overlooked buildings by the tourists who visit Barcelona. Although Casa Batllo is a museum now, Gaudi designed it for for a wealthy Barcelona Aristocrat.

The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), and indeed it does have a visceral, skeletal organic quality.

Be sure to go to the "LINK" and view the rest of the photos, they are amazing.

Paraiba Tourmaline

I can picture myself floating adrift on a raft in the center of this stone, just off shore a deserted island. Relaxing with this crystal clear blue ocean beneath me. Paraiba is one of the most magnificent natural gemstones in the world. First found in Paraiba, Brazil, it’s color varies from intense blue to green. It gets this beautiful color from copper being added to its composition. As the rarest and most expensive of all Tourmalines, this bad boy can easily reach tens of thousands per carat. LINK

People who want to see ghosts usually seek out spooky cemeteries or creepy houses. But what if you aren’t lucky (or unlucky) enough to live next to a dark old mansion or a deserted insane asylum? A good place to start is the top five haunted places in America, where people have reported (and in some cases created) ghostly encounters.

In 1881, Sarah Winchester, the widow of famous gun maker Oliver Winchester, became convinced that she needed protection from the evil spirits of all the people killed by Winchester rifles. A psychic advised her to continually add rooms to her San Jose, California, mansion to confuse any ghosts that may try to find her. (It’s not clear why ghosts, which can supposedly move through walls, would be confused by the rooms, but it apparently made sense to Winchester.) She did so for nearly forty years, adding more than 100 rooms and staircases, until her death in 1922. After Sarah’s death, her own ghost was said to haunt the halls of her mazelike mansion. Today the building remains a popular tourist attraction, a bizarre monument to superstition and paranoia. LINK

Down in Antarctica, November marks the end of spring, the beginning of austral summer, and the beginning of Antarctica's cruise season. The Sun just rose for the first time in 6 months on September 22nd, and is now visible in the sky all the time. LINK

Tetsuya Ishida was a talented Japanese painter whose paintings were known for their dark portrayal of Japanese life. The characters in his paintings appear unhappy and often their bodies are in pieces or part of some machine or other object.

Tetsuya Ishida died in 2005 after being hit by a train leaving behind around 180 works created during his 10 year art career. LINK

Generatus is a social networking status generator. How many hours have you wasted trying to think of something suitably witty, funny and original for your status on Facebook or Twitter? Let's face it, a status like 'Dave is mowing the lawn' or 'Kate is asleep' is not going to impress that huge entourage of friends you've amassed.
Never fear! With Generatus your days of boring status updates are over! Simply type your name, indicate whether you are a boy or a girl, then hit Generate. You will be served up a brand new, sparkly status all ready to be copied and pasted into Facebook, Twitter or whichever social networking site you like best. LINK

Ever wanted to know the latitude and longitude of a certain place without having to go through crazy location-based services?

Try Tiny Geo Coder. Just enter a location like San Francisco or Spain and you'll get a latitude and longitude pair which is good to use in Google Maps applications. LINK

Whether polished obsidian, bronze or metal-backed-glass, we have been gazing at our reflection for thousands of years. Still, mirrors are somewhat behind the times when it comes to creative and off-the-wall modern furniture designs.

Here are 16 unique examples of new mirror designs that one would expect to find lurking with Alice in Through the Looking Glass. LINK

James Bond has returned to our screens in Quantum of Solace, but without such classic lines as 'Martini; shaken, not stirred,' and 'The name's Bond. James Bond.'

Daniel Craig means it's out with the one liners and in with the serious plot. For great puns you now have to delve deep into Bond's prestigious/cheesy history. So let us cast our minds back to some of the most memorable quotes.
Here are the top ten best James Bond one liners. LINK

click image to enlarge

Belgian photographer Filip Dujardin makes images of unexpected buildings – that is, he 'combines photographs of parts of buildings into new, fictional, architectonic structures.'

The resulting projects look like old factory sites in the American rust belt – Mark describes them as 'informal and often dilapidated structures with unspecified functions.' LINK

Without the cage you wouldn't stand a chance swimming with a massive saltwater crocodile. But for brave punters who still want to get cosy with a feisty croc, a new Australian tourist attraction is offering the chance for a close encounter in the safety of a clear acrylic box dubbed the 'cage of death.'

The attraction at Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory has been given high marks by adrenaline-junkies. LINK

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Can't Stop
Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Directed by Mark Romanek. LINK: Youtube

Dj Tiesto vs Andain - Beautiful things
www.bare.lt , LINK: Youtube

Time lapse speed painting in Photoshop. 3 hours of work, 5 minutes to watch it.
Music from The Island LOST by Steve Jablonsky. LINK: Youtube

The new short film by Blu: an ambiguous animation painted on public walls.
Made in Buenos Aires and in Baden (fantoche).
Music by Andrea Martignoni
produced by Mercurio Film
assistant: Sibe. LINK: Youtube

Photo: Paul Mortfield, Stefano Cancelli

Is that a ghostly specter in the night sky? Actually that’s part of The Veil Nebula, recorded through filters that show emissions from hydrogen atoms in red and oxygen atoms in greenish hues.

APOD has more details (and of course, larger photos): Link, Via: Neatorama

Traditional Japanese garments (kimono and kosode robes) had no pockets, so personal belongings were kept in a small container called an inro. This was suspended from the obi (the sash worn around the waist) and kept fastened to it by a miniature sculpture called a netsuke. Most often carved from ivory or wood, netsuke came into use in the early 17th century, and later on were made for ornamental purposes.

See a Flickr set of elaborate and sometimes symbolic netsuke from the Victoria & Albert Museum. Link, Via: Neatorama

Check out this large collection of interesting bus stops all over the world, Some have whimsical touches, some are covered with art, some are designed to surprise you, and some are interesting in their decline. The bus stop shown is in Curitiba, Brazil. Passengers pay when entering the bus stop, then go directly from the tube into the bus! Link, Via: Neatorama

Dead Memories from the album All Hope Is Gone. LINK: Youtube

This song goes out to those that hang on to the past, or assume an entity can make you happy. You miss out on so much that is right in front of you, and sometimes push people away without realizing it cause you get consumed.

Roxorloops the Vize Beatboxing Worldchampion from Belgium live on stage at the 1st International Beatbox Battle Convention Days in Berlin, Germany. He is one of the best vocal drummer from Europe and has an own Beat Box Style. The whole vocal percussion music festival was produced and organised by Bee Low for Beatbox Battle Networks. LINK: Youtube

click image to enlarge

A lego animation with Blue Man Group legos set to Blue Man Group music. LINK: Youtube

The alien-looking Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), aka Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution. The number of axolotls has dropped from roughly 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year.

One problem is with non-native fish species like the Asian Carp and the African tilapia that eat young Axolotls. They haven't evolved in the same environment, so they don't have good defense mechanisms against them. The other big issue is habitat destruction. Lakes have been drained, and wastewater from Mexico City pollute waterways. LINK

I thought this was great. I used to have a pet squirrel when I was growing up. LINK, Via: Youtube

Steampunk and retro futurist fabricator Datamancer has come up with yet another impressive creation. This time it’s a keyboard based on the ergonomic IBM Model M-15.

This keyboard was commissioned by a female client and has some elegant, feminine design features such as violet LEDs, an acanthus-leaf pattern etched into the brass, and a soft burgundy wrist pad that is removable for cleaning.

It also has a built-in “buttonless” touchpad mouse in the center (tap anywhere to left-click and drag, tap in the top-right corner to right-click).

This keyboard is interesting because the typing plane is actuallytipped forward rather than back. It looks odd at first, but actually makes for a very comfortable typing position.

Head over to Datamancer.net for more photos of the Ergonomic Steampunk Keyboard.Via: Boing Boing Gadgets

Monifa is the new baby pygmy hippopotamus at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. The endangered species arrived three weeks ago in a difficult breech birth. Monifa was unable to stand or feed herself, and has been nursed around the clock by zookeepers.

Keepers Renae Zammit and Tracy Roberts spent a fortnight sleeping with and hand-feeding Monifa from a teated syringe until she was nursed to full health.

The infant has now moved into her own pen and is ready to follow the footsteps of her father Timmy, the last pygmy hippo born at Taronga Zoo 23 years ago.

Monifa has now doubled in weight and is drinking from a bowl, content to suckle the thumb of her keepers. A delighted Misss Zammit said Monifa was already showing signs of playfulness.

“She’s such an inquisitive little thing and loves bath time, she even turns somersaults in the water,” she said.

Link to story (with video). Link to photo gallery. Via: Neatorama

Enimem mashup mix exclusive from lab rat productions. LINK: Youtube

Maybe it's not really new to you, but still it's worth checking these out. For further pictures, like the ones with glasses at the bottom, check out Recycle Bean's photostream at Flickr. LINK

A film about a girl revisiting her memories of her childhood spent with her mother. Hand drawn animation set to piano music by Chopin. A film by Hyun-min Lee.

After you watch this, you might want to call your mom. LINK, Via: Youtube

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