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Apparently nothing is sacred when it comes to Furry culture, because now they’ve set their sights on Star Wars with this creepy Tauntaun costume.
In other circumstances, this would be a cute mascot costume, but the thought of Furrys getting busy in this bad boy makes me want to ditch my lightsaber for good!
What could possibly make such a cool looking Bowser figure, complete with movable arms, wrists and head and hammer, even cooler? Make him out of leather. This rugged little version of the big bad boss carries a price tag worthy of his royal stature-$300, over at the artist Megan’s custom toy site. This may be one expensive hunk of leather, but at least you’ll have something to brag about.
Link -via Destructoid
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Private First Class Rupert Valero took his toy-making hobby with him -all the way to Afghanistan! Valero is near the end of his year-long deployment, and took time for an interview with blogger Newton Gimmick, in which he talked about making toys out of recycled materials for the local kids, among other things.
I love to create and inspire. Plus, I love kids. So the hobbyist in me started making highly durable and colorful toys for local kids whenever we roll out the FOB. Toys are universal. They bring out happiness and joy on so many levels. Kids here have nothing but rocks and bad habits. I paint on hearts the toys I make for them to associate that with the heart patches sewn on 101st airborne units’ helmets. So when kids who get these toys see the same hearts on US Soldiers, it will click in him ‘these are friends.’
Read the rest at Infinite Hollywood. Link -via Metafilter
See more of Valero’s works in his Flickr stream. Link
Of course you know about the big ball of crystal in New York City that drops in Times Square to ring in the New Year, but there are plenty of other cities and towns that took that tradition and made it their own. You’ll find peaches, ‘possums, and Peeps dropping as well. A Peep? Yes, in Pennsylvania.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s New Year’s Eve tradition is fairly young, just like the 25 lb. illuminated Fiberglas baby Peep they’ve been lowering from a crane since 2005. If a Peep seems more in keeping with Easter, keep in mind that Just Born Inc., the company that makes the confection, is headquartered in Bethlehem and is one of the city’s major employers outside of the health care industry. A freshly-emerged baby chick is certainly a happier and more optimistic symbol of all things new than, say, a papier-mâché aspirin.
Read about a half dozen non-Times Square New Year drops at mental_floss. Link
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In the Catalan region of Spain, it is customary to include a “caganer”, or defecating figure somewhere in your Christmas nativity scene -far away from the manger. Caganers come in all styles, including pop culture figures like super heroes and movie characters, as you’ll see in this gallery from a Spanish blog. Link -Thanks, Dani!
Link to English translation by Google.
Traditional folklore says that when a beekeeper dies, the bees must be told of the death promptly, or else they will either weaken and quit working, or they will flee the hive. This custom is found in far-flung locations around the world.
In China, Beehives are turned a different direction after the death of their keeper, hinting at a superstition that harkens back to a more ancient custom. Details vary, but the essence remains the same – tell the Bees, and quickly. In England circa 1840, a woman inquired if the Bees had been informed of the death of their keeper and upon learning they had not, proceeded to prepare a dish of spice cake and sugar and presented it to the hive while jingling her keys and reciting the following rhyme;
“Honey bees, Honey bees, hear what I say!
Your Master J.A. has passed away.
But his wife now begs you will freely stay,
And still gather honey for many a day.
Bonny bees, Bonny bees, hear what I say.”
The story is but a small part of Andrew Gough’s fascinating three-part post on the history of bees and beekeeping. Link -via TYWKIWDBI
Now That’s Nifty compiled 41 pictures of custom scooters trying to shake the nerd label. As you might have guessed from their cool and quirky style, many of these custom jobs are Japanese. You’ll definitely notice some Akira inspired scooters in the mix, though most are just trying to look like motorcycles. Link
(Image source: AutoBlog Green)
File under feel-good law enforcement post of the day- these fantastic high heeled shoes. Design by Tim Cooper, also available in Lamborghini for fun chase scenes.
Nowadays you can customize your debit or credit card with a (non copyright-violatin’ or pornish) photo you send to the card makers at your bank. When Flickr user Tony Webster saw that, he naturally chose an LOL Cat. Find out more about “badging” your debit or credit card to make it more personal at creditcards.com
via CatLadyDiary Photo: Tony Webster
It may be surprising, but that is a modified iPod, with a working dock and speaker. ”Dr. Grymm” designed the steampunk modification, and has more photos on his Flickr set.
Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, he has used a motley mix of materials (old typewriters, formed brass and steel, leather and quartz crystals) to put together a contraption that you wouldn’t have envisaged even in your wildest dreams – a gigantic eye popping out from the iPod controller section, and a crystal ball (?) replacing the comparably delectable screen; all resting on a steampunk victrola base with a blaring horn (we certainly hope there are no eerie tunes played for the additional effect). Good news, though. It plays like your regular iPod so you can handpick your own tunes.
Think of Krampus as the “anti-Santa”, the demon who comes to punish children who misbehave during the year. Krampus Night is celebrated on the eve of St. Nicholas Day in Europe, particularly in Austria.
The Krampus tradition, whilst once done with a modicum of sobriety is now used as an enormously great excuse to get completely inebriated. Think of it as an old Europe version of Spring Break but, alcohol aside, with slightly different preoccupations and – of course – at a different time of year. Very well, just think of it as an excuse for young people to behave badly.
Read about the origins of Krampus and see more depictions from history at Socyberty. Link -Thanks, RJ!
(image credit: riptheskull)
