For more of Olaf Breuning's artwork, see: Link

Mitch Hiveley build these awesome James Bond vignettes out of lego. Check out the rest of the collections: Link

The Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic, is a small Christian chapel decorated with the human bones. Frisco Ramirez has a cool collection of photos about it: Link

Dan Heller took neat photographs of star trails. This one above is from Yosemite. Link

Since tattoo is non-conformist in a mainstream kind of ways, rebels everywhere are turning into other forms of body mods. Here's one: non-medical silicone implant.

"Silicone as a “3d art” implant material was first introduced by Jesse Jarrell working in partnership with Steve Haworth around the year 2000. Since then a number of other implant artists have begun using it as well."

Link

What? No one names their babies Buford anymore? Check your baby's name popularity using The Baby Name Wizard's NameVoyager.

Update Jan 30, 2006:

Tens of thousands of people have visited the site, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Nepalese Buddha Boy - and a cottage industry selling pictures, CDs, etc. of Ram Bamjan has sprung up around this phenomenon (with proceeds going to rebel Maoist, said gov't officials).

The screen that was erected to shield him from view has been taken down, but there is still no resolution to the claim that Ram has not eaten or drunk anything since he began his meditation 8 months ago.

(Does this matter? The 16-year old has been meditating for 8 months! I couldn't sit still for 5 minutes when I was that age)

Nepalese eKantipur website's got the latest news:

'The biting cold has had no effect whatsoever on him so far," says priest Prem Lama...

...claims that the news of Bomjon's "godly power" began to spread after two dumb people started speaking after visiting the meditation site.

Link

Previously: Ram Bahadur Bamjan's friends said that he has been meditating without drinking water for 6 months, and will carry on for another 6 years until he attains enlightments.

"Bamjan has spoken only a few times since he began the meditation, according to Prem Lama.

He said the first time Bamjan spoke was when a snake bit him around a month ago.

Bamjan took the incident as his second test, which he must overcome, Prem Lama said."

This has people calling him Buddha-reincarnate. Now, scientists are gathering to see whether he indeed can meditate for so long without drinking any water.

Link (via Boing Boing)

Using a remote control submarine, Brad Seibel and colleagues captured the first ever image of a squid carrying its eggs in a sac almost the same size as its body. Link

For more of Travis Louie's art (don't miss his Heartbroken Fish!), see: http://www.travislouie.artroof.com/

Penguins at the Asahiyama Zoo, Hokkaido, Japan are getting pudgy, so their zookeepers are instituting a winter exercise program:

"The penguins have tender webbed feet and can walk significant distances only on snow, so the program can take place only during the colder months."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/15/plump.penguins.ap/index.html

Tired of boring Christmas miniatures? Checkout Wargames Supply Dump's version. http://www.wargamessupplydump.co.uk/w_s_d_gallery.htm

Until today, I didn't realize there is such a sport/festival called tar-barrelling, where people run around carrying a *burning* barrel of tar.

From the website:

"In the weeks prior to the day of the event, November 5th, the barrels are soaked with tar. The barrels are lit outside each of the pubs in turn and once the flames begin to pour out, they are hoisted up onto local people's backs and shoulders."

Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrels (via Helfire's Blogging and Stuff)