Snow Present in 49 of the 50 U.S. States

After big snow and ice events in the Southeast, Plains, and Midwest last week, 49 out of the 50 states currently have snow on the ground – yes, even Hawaii, where snow falls in Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea all winter.

Thanks a lot, Florida. We almost had a perfect record. But you just had to go and be different, didn’t ya?

Link | Photo courtesy of Google Maps, Via: Neatorama

F-14 breaking the sound barrier

it's real qucik. Listen to the people react on the other side of the ship who can see it coming. Priceless. LINK: Youtube

Ray Stevens: The Streak Original 45 RPM Record

"QUOTE From edisonphono1" This is a video of a 45 I have of Ray Stevens' The Streak. I think this is the original publication, but I'm not sure. Either way, it was made by Barnaby Records and distributed by Janus Records. This record is from '74. The B-Side does not match what Wikipedia says it should be--It's You've Got the Music Inside and Wikipedia says it should be Smith and Jones--but I think it still could be an original since it's from '74. It is played on my Zenith Console (model # unknown) with a replacement (but still BSR) changer. Please enjoy the video! LINK: Youtube

Wikileaks releases nearly 400,000 new secret Iraq docs, with help from news orgs

IMAGE: Each death noted in the Iraq war logs released today by Wikileaks is mapped with Google Maps, by the Guardian.


Wikileaks has just published The Iraq War Logs, described as "the largest classified military leak in history."

The 391,832 reports document the war and occupation in Iraq, from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2009 (except for the months of May 2004 and March 2009) as told by soldiers in the United States Army. Each is a 'SIGACT' or Significant Action in the war. They detail events as seen and heard by the US military troops on the ground in Iraq and are the first real glimpse into the secret history of the war that the United States government has been privy to throughout. The reports detail 109,032 deaths in Iraq, comprised of 66,081 'civilians'; 23,984 'enemy' (those labeled as insurgents); 15,196 'host nation' (Iraqi government forces) and 3,771 'friendly' (coalition forces). The majority of the deaths (66,000, over 60%) of these are civilian deaths.That is 31 civilians dying every day during the six year period.

The Guardian is among the first news orgs to publish analysis, and leads with the statement that the files show how the US turned a blind eye to torture in Iraq, and "expose serial abuse of detainees, 15,000 previously unknown deaths, and a full toll of Iraq's five years of carnage." LINK: Boingboing

Also more on this at the link above.

Spin Time Instead of Records On This Old Turntable

Etsy seller Pixelthis is doing a mean trade in clocks, some of which are the usual hard-drives you've seen before, but there are a few nice turntables too, like this subtle Sanyo and an ultra-retro 1960s one. [Etsy, Via: BB-Blog], Via: Gizmodo

A Little Drum

A Little Drum...and some things it does.

Johannes Welsch demonstrates a Darbuka

Videography by Lester Alfonso

Final groove adapted from "Fruits of Labor" by Glen Velez on "Rhythms Of The Chakras" Filmed and Recorded at the Alien Lab in Ontario, Canada on June 30, 2007. LINK: Youtube

CD on one side, vinyl record on the other

Techno artist Jeff Mills produced this CD/5" vinyl single for "The Occurrence." One side of the disc is a normal CD, the other side plays on a normal analogue turntable.

The Vinyl And CD Release On One Disc From Jeff Mills

Axis Records (unlinkable Flash-blobs ahoy!) (Via: Make), Via: Boingboing

Rockabilly mandala record bowl in Boing Boing Bazaar

"QUOTE"
"Rockabilly" is an original mandala painting in sharp white, bright red, and glossy black on a recycled 12" vinyl record.

My record bowls are hand painted in original psychedelic patterns, heated, and lovingly sculpted into uniquely organic, flower-like forms. I seal up the spindle holes so the bowls are water tight and functional.

I use a semi-gloss polyurethane finish to protect the paint and make the bowls food safe. I leave the original record labels intact (and also sealed with polyurethane) on the bottom of each bowl - which record will YOU get?

Eye Pop Art bowls are fantastic for holding fruit, candy, candles, trinkets, or anything your heart desires. They are bright, colorful art objects to set on your coffee table. They are eco-friendly and make a great conversation piece! Surprise your guests when you tell them to flip the bowl over and see the very interesting recycled material that it was made from!

This handpainted "Rockabilly mandala record bowl" is $62 the Makers Market / Boing Boing Bazaar. Via: Boingbnoing

A Record Player Made from a Cardboard Box and a Pencil

The Vancouver-based sound studio Griffiths, Gibson and Ramsay Productions is using a clever advertising gimmick. The company’s ad firm, Grey Canada, is mailing out cardboard boxes that can be used as record players. Just place the record on the peg, lower the needle, and spin the record with a pencil. The gadget then plays a recording of the children’s story “A Town That Found Its Sound.”

Via: Fast Company | Company Website | Photo: Ads of the World | Via: Neatorama

Kenny Rogers - You Were A Good Friend (1980)

Composed by Kim Carnes, it was released by Kenny Rogers in 1980, and got to hit the #20 in Billboard Country when issued as a single record back in 1983. LINK: Youtube

MORCHEEBA WORLD LOOKING IN

Year: 2000.
Album: Fragments Of Freedom
By: China Records
Distributed: Warner Music Canada Ltd. LINK: Youtube

Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say - Official Video

"Whatcha Say" is an infectious smash single that samples Imogen Heap has sold 2 million and counting and is officially a #1 record on the billboard charts hot 100!!! LINK: Youtube

Antique Phonographs

Before the MP3, before the CD, before the cassette tape and before the 8-track, there was the almighty vinyl record. Thomas Edison essentially invented the phonograph, paving the way for music to be heard by Americans and people worldwide. Vinyl still stands as the most durable way to keep music around. While some of the phonographs and gramophones would eventually burn out trying to play a massive record collection, the vintage sound they give off brings back memories of times that were simple and fun. LINK

Man in the Sand: Gordon Gano & The Ryans

Boing Boing Video presents "Man in the Sand," from Gordon Gano and the Ryans' new record "Under the Sun." Video dorected by Matt Mahurin. LINK: Youtube

Caribbean Finger Drums

Bring a little of the islands to your desk with Caribbean Finger Drums. These miniature electronic steel drums feature eight touch-sensitive pads that make up one octave of a complete major scale. So, you'll be jamming your favorite songs in no time.

Includes a recording feature so you can play back your latest reggae riff. Requires 3 AAA batteries which are included. LINK: Youtube

Female athlete sets new shot put record at age 100

The oldest female athlete at the World Masters Games in Sydney has broken a world record in the shot put -- at the age of 100.

All eyes were on Ruth Frith, from Brisbane, as she arrived for day two of the World Masters Games, hoping to win gold in the shot put and feeling pretty confident as she was the only competitor in the over-100s category.

But her 4.07 metre (13 ft 4.2 in) throw on Sunday didn't just win her gold, but also broke a world record.

"As long as I didn't foul I was going to win it," Frith told Reuters Television.

The great-grandmother is also a keen hammer and javelin thrower and believes other pensioners should follow her example.

Frith trains five days a week, regularly lifting 35 kg (77 lb) weights. She doesn't drink or smoke and she doesn't eat vegetables either, claiming she hasn't liked them since she was young. LINK

Coachella Time-Lapse: Everything Happening at the Same Time

Ever wondered what a giant, sprawling, three-day music festival in the desert would look like if it were nano-crammed into five minutes? Boing Boing presents a cool timelapse of the 2009 Coachella Music and Arts Festival (www.coachella.com) directed by filmmaker Ray Klein (www.rayklein.com).

The music you hear is "Everything is Happening At The Same Time," by Hawke, courtesy of Eighth Dimension Records. LINK: Youtube

Unbreakable Baseball Records

Rickey Henderson's career stolen base mark, for example? OK, so maybe he was selfish, and full of himself, and not the greatest team player. But once that guy was on the base paths, he could disrupt a game like no one since Jackie Robinson. His record is probably safe. LINK, Via: Life

Mr. Ratatatat

Video from Enon's latest record, "Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds." LINK, Via: Youtube

Jon Hopkins - Light Through The Veins

Insides is Hopkins first album in four years and debut for Double Six. Released on May 4th, the album is about strange contexts: natural, arcane textures welded to uneasy rhythms. Beautiful acoustic melodies set against jarring bass. Its an audacious record with a modernist lustre and magical aura all of its own.

Jon Hopkins has co-written and co-produced the soundtrack for the forthcoming Peter Jackson film, The Lovely Bones, an adaptation of the book written by Alice Sebold, alongside Brian Eno. LINK: Youtube