Archive for October, 2008


The Pedestrian Project by Yvette Helin

Posted by Alex in Art, Fashion, Pictures on October 30, 2008 at 1:38 pm

For her art project "The Pedestrian Project," costume designer Yvette Helin decided that she’s going to bring to life the "lady" from the ubiquitous street sign.

She’s done this since 1989, but stopped after 9/11 – now, she’s restarting the project for Art in Odd Places in Manhattan: Link

 
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Eunoia, a Novel by Christian Bok Uses Only One Vowel a Chapter

Posted by Alex in Book & Literature on October 30, 2008 at 1:32 pm

It took Christian Bok 7 years to write Eunoia – the word is the shortest word in the English language containing all five vowels.

Eunoia means "beautiful thinking" and it’s a very fitting title to Christian’s book, in which each chapter uses only one vowel!

From CHAPTER A – FOR HANS ARP:

Hassan Abd al-Hassad, an Agha Khan, basks at an ashram – a Taj Mahal that has grand parks and grass lawns, all as vast as parklands at Alhambra and Valhalla. Hassan can, at a handclap, call a vassal at hand and ask that all staff plan a bacchanal – a gala ball that has what pagan charm small galas lack. Hassan claps, and (tah-dah) an Arab lass at a swank spa can draw a man’s bath and wash a man’s back, as Arab lads fawn and hang, athwart an altar, amaranth garlands as fragrant as attar – a balm that calms all angst. A dwarf can flap a palm branch that fans a fat maharajah. A naphtha lamp can cast a calm warmth.

LinkThanks Ali S.!

 
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The Moustache is Tiny Squid Roasts

Posted by Alex in Food & Drink, Pictures on October 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm

Psst! The Moustache is Tiny Squid Roasts. And whatever you do, DO NOT get the Demon Moustache – found at Ectomoplasmosis

 
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Disaster Girl

Posted by Alex in Blogs & Internet, Pictures on October 30, 2008 at 12:48 pm


Photo: Firestarter by Dave Roth

In a long list of photos that went viral on the Net, here is: Disaster Girl. In a mere few weeks, the photo has been endlessly photoshopped into the newest Internet meme (why, there’s even a YouTube video clip). Link

 
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Moe the Robotic Mowing Sheep

Posted by Alex in Gadgets, Hacks & Mods, Science & Tech on October 30, 2008 at 12:47 pm

This is what every lawn needs: Moe the robotic lawn mowing sheep, made by Osman Khan at the Carnegie Mellon University.

Geeks are Sexy blog has the video clip:

The sheep, named Mower, has been designed by Osman Khan, a visiting assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon’s, with Philip K. Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” in mind.

The robot features GPS navigation, obstacle avoidance sensors and lawn mowing teeth. It will move around your backyard on 6 little articulated legs, cutting grass wherever it steps.

Link

 
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Ferrari Formula One Race Car in LEGO

Posted by Alex in Art, Auto & Transportation, Pictures on October 30, 2008 at 12:46 pm

This slow economy has everyone cutting back … even Ferrari is making their new Formula One race car out of cheaper materials like … LEGOs! Actually, it’s just a driveable 1:1 scale model for the annual LEGO World convention: Link

 
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5 Things About Halloween You Didn’t Know

Posted by Alex in Everything Else on October 30, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Halloween is just a day away, and AskMen has a really neat article about the 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Halloween. For example:

2- Halloween trick-or-treating originated from begging
The only real difference between begging and trick-or-treating is in perspective: The former is lowly, the latter is sanctioned. In fact, some U.S. states don’t hide it, calling Halloween “Beggars’ Night,” while some groups have campaigned against the practice, labeling it extortion.

Although no documentary evidence exists, trick-or-treating resembles a practice known as "souling," once performed in the British Isles by poor people around November 1. They would go door to door begging for food; in exchange, they would offer to pray for the souls of the dead.

Link

 
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Melting Economy Ice Sculpture

Posted by Alex in Art, Money & Finance on October 30, 2008 at 12:45 pm

Artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese made an ice sculpture of the word "ECONOMY" and set set it outside in downtown Manhattan. The duo said that the melting 1,500 lb ice symbolize today’s economic meltdown.

Link

Previously on Neatorama: Ice Sculptures of Melting Men by Nele Azevedo | 10 American Financial Meltdowns in the Past Century | T-Shirts About the Economy

 
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Things You Probably Don’t Need, #2

Posted by Stacy in Neatorama Exclusives on October 30, 2008 at 10:28 am

I mean, maybe you need a replica of King Tut’s throne to mark your alpha-dog spot at the dining room table. It’s only $895. And if you order two (the holiday season is just around the corner, people!), they are only $875 each.

Brittany, the Neatorama reader who suggested Design Toscano for our new Things You Probably Don’t Need feature, was dead on: you probably don’t need anything from Design Toscano. But it’s definitely entertaining!

 
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What is It? Game 79

Posted by Alex in What Is It on October 30, 2008 at 7:37 am

Today’s collaboration with What is it? blog brings us this object. Can you guess what it is? (No, it’s not an axe!)

Place your guess in the comment section. No prize this week, so you’re playing for bragging rights only.

For more clues, including larger pics, check out the What is it? blog. Good luck!

Update 10/31/08 – the answer is:

A George Washington Door Stop, by Newton Mfg Co., Newton, Iowa, in use it was stood on its head with the wedge going under the door.

Congratulations to ALC who go it right!

 
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A Circular Table Saw That Won’t Cut Off Your Fingers

Posted by John Farrier in Gadgets, Hacks & Mods on October 30, 2008 at 5:45 am


(Video Link)

Pretty clever:

The blade carries a small electrical charge. This charge is continuously monitored by a digital signal processor. When contact is made, the human body absorbs some of the charge, causing the voltage to drop. The drop in voltage triggers a quick release aluminum brake. A heavy duty spring forces the brake into the teeth of the spinning blade. The teeth dig into the aluminum, stopping the blade cold. The blade’s momentum forces it to retract below the table, and the motor is automatically shut off.

Via Geekologie

 
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Computability: Your 1984 Guide to Computing

Posted by Alex in Science & Tech on October 30, 2008 at 1:38 am

Can’t tell the difference between DOS and BIOS? Think that RAM is just a male sheep? Then you need to take a look at this excellent 1984 guide to computers:

In Computability, an instructional VHS tape from 1984, comedian Steve Allen and actress Jayne Meadows "take us on a light-hearted but detailed tour of the ways a home computer can change your life by simply using the correct software packages to suit your needs." [...]

With an Apple II, a Kaypro 2, cheeseball computer animation and a grab-bag of corny jokes, this is classic computing from the VHS era. Keep an eye out for references to Wargames, hackers, Boy George, Ronald Reagan, and more.

From the always excellent Waxy blog by Andy Baio: Link

 
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Corrugated Cardboard Art by Mark Langan

Posted by Alex in Art, Pictures on October 30, 2008 at 12:33 am

Mark Langan created wonderful artwork using one of the most mundane of materials: corrugated cardboards!

Years ago, while tearing apart some old corrugated boxes, Langan noticed the wavy, fluted layer of paper (called medium) sandwiched between the smooth sheets of linerboard. “It got me to thinking that, if I were to slice, stack, and glue pieces to each other, some very interesting effects could be created,” he recalls.

Last July, Langan began turning that thought into reality, creating artworks by layering sheets of corrugated into aesthetically pleasing patterns. “The corrugated lends itself well to patterns,” he explains. “When viewed from different angles and lighting, the piece changes.”

Check out Mark’s Artwork: Article at Inhabitat | Mark’s Website

 
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How Much Halloween Candy can You Get in a Pillowcase?

Posted by Miss Cellania in Food & Drink on October 29, 2008 at 11:16 pm


How much candy can you get in a pillowcase? The short answer is: almost 48 pounds. This post also explains the measurement, and lays out a strategy for actually getting that much candy during trick-or-treat. According to the conclusions, everyone who reads this article will be showing up at my house Friday evening. Link -Thanks, ebez!

 
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Paris for President

Posted by Miss Cellania in Video Clips on October 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm


(YouTube link)

Pat Paulson ran a spoof campaign every presidential election year for decades. Dave Barry also threw his hit into the ring a few times. The new celebrity taking up the spoof campaign mantle is Paris Hilton. That’s hot! -Thanks, CheeseDuck!

 
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A Jack-O-Lantern Proposal

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on October 29, 2008 at 11:11 pm


This Old House is having a Jack-o-Lantern contest, and you can vote for your favorite of the submitted entries until noon Thursday. I was quite impressed by this multi-pumpkin display. I’m sentimental like that. Link -Thanks, Betsy Andrews!

 
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In Game Political Ads

Posted by Miss Cellania in Advertising, Politics on October 29, 2008 at 8:00 pm


Companies have integrated ads into video games for quite some time now, but this is the first time election campaign ads have been used in virtual reality games. Is this a good idea? Will it be effective? The ABC World News Webcast takes a look. Link to segment. Link to entire webcast.

 
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Gas Price in Des Moines

Posted by Stacy in Everything Else on October 29, 2008 at 7:18 pm

The last time gas was this low in Des Moines was January 2007 – I know, because I took a picture then as well. I keep thinking that this time is going to be the last time gas will ever be under $2.00 and I will want to show my kids how “cheap” it was at one time. Although they probably won’t care because by then we will have figured out how to make cars run on air or something (hopefully).

What is it where you live?

 
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How Globes Are Made

Posted by Ali S. in Art, Science & Tech, Video Clips on October 29, 2008 at 6:59 pm


[YouTube - Link]

Here is a fascinating video that explains in detail how the Globes we found in our classrooms and in old lecture halls were made. And I do believe that this clip is from an episode of a show on Discovery Channel called “How It’s Made“.

via – Gizmodo

 
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Happy Anniversary, Black Tuesday!

Posted by Alex in Money & Finance on October 29, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Today’s the 79th anniversary of the infamous Black Tuesday, one of three days in which Wall Street crashed. Many people mark the Crash of 1929 as the official beginning of the Great Depression.

It’s interesting to note that on Black Tuesday, the market lost about $14 billion in value (a chump change when compared to the $700 billion bailout package of 2008) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost only 30.57 points (a bit percentage though: about 12%).

People who thought that this drop in price was a buying opportunity would be in for a rude surprise: stock values bounced back a little but then continued its slide for several years. The bottom was reached about two and a half years later; by then the Dow had lost almost 90% of its value from before the crash.

Obviously the stock market recovered from the Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression – but it took almost 25 years for it to do so.

Read more about it on Neatorama’s 10 American Financial Meltdowns in the Past Century

 
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Cool Cop Car

Posted by Alex in Auto & Transportation, Crime & Law, Pictures on October 29, 2008 at 1:45 pm



Photo: Delta Niner [Flickr]

Now that’s a cool cop car (though I’m not sure how much respect he’ll get driving that thing around!)

 
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Crocheted Knitted Sandwich

Posted by Alex in Art, Pictures on October 29, 2008 at 1:45 pm


Photo: Candypop Creations [Flickr]

From Etsy seller Candypop Creations, here is the yummiest knitted crocheted footlong sandwich you’ll ever see! Why it even comes complete with a slice of picke!

 
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Purr-Muda: The Bermuda Triangle for Cats

Posted by Alex in Animals & Pets, Paranormal on October 29, 2008 at 1:44 pm

In the sleepy suburb of Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England, there is a mystery brewing: 50 cats have been missing from the area dubbed "Purr-Muda," the Bermuda Triangle for cats!

First to go was Tabatha, then Blackie, Lucky and Norman. Felix vanished, Star never came home and YumYum was never seen again.

In all, at least 45 cats have gone missing in eight years from the quiet, tree-lined Meriden Avenue and its surrounding streets.

Nobody knows what is behind the disappearances, and the only clues have been a few discarded collars – no bodies have ever been found.

Link

Photo: CATERS

 
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Cat Steals Peanuts

Posted by Miss Cellania in Animals & Pets, Video Clips on October 29, 2008 at 11:56 am


(YouTube link)

I hope my cats never see this video. If they learn how to open bottles, I’ll be in a world of hurt. -via Arbroath

 
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Caves: The World Beneath the World

Posted by Miss Cellania in Pictures, Travel on October 29, 2008 at 11:48 am


Dark Roasted Blend has beautiful pictures of caves around the world. See caves made of limestone, ice, and crystals, plus caves used for living and working. Pictured is an underground pool in a Brazilian cave. Link

 
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Harry Potter License Plates

Posted by Miss Cellania in Auto & Transportation, Book & Literature on October 29, 2008 at 11:47 am


What’s neat about these vanity license plates inspired by the Harry Potter books is not their cleverness, because you would expect that, but the sheer number of them! Link -via Geek Like Me

 
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Friday the 13th Quiz

Posted by Miss Cellania in Everything Else on October 29, 2008 at 11:45 am


When I saw today’s Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss, I had to check the calendar to see if today was Friday the 13th! No, this quiz is about the series of horror movies that might be on your playlist for Halloween. I scored 38%, which is pretty good considering I haven’t seen any of the movies. Link

 
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Pantone Rubik’s Cube

Posted by Miss Cellania in Gadgets, Hacks & Mods on October 29, 2008 at 1:56 am


The Rubitone is a concept Rubik’s cube where the object is not to solve the puzzle, but to select colors that might look good together. That couldn’t be any easier than the classic puzzle. Link -Thanks, kid_1carus!

 
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Beer-Pouring Robot

Posted by Miss Cellania in Food & Drink, Video Clips on October 29, 2008 at 1:54 am


(Vimeo link)

TMCO manufactures metal products in Lincoln, Nebraska. At a recent open house, they used one of their factory robots to pour beer for visitors. A you can see, the robot encourages tipping! -Thanks, beerorkid (steve Ramos)!

 
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Human-Faced Pumpkin

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on October 29, 2008 at 1:52 am


This is no Jack-O-Lantern, it’s a pumpkin grown in a mold shaped like a human face! Creepy, huh? The clipping is from 1938. Link -Thanks, Dana!

I experimented with growing molded pumpkins myself this year.

 
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