Freeze frame from Soetkin Verstegen on Vimeo.
Thursday, December 31, 2020
114 Year Old Fragment Of Forgotten Film
This remastered and colourized film from 1906 shows us that cats have always had lousy table manners.
Cat Forts
As we approach the fresh year quarantine is beginning to feel old and boring. Why not build a cardboard fort for your cat? Your feline friend will love you.
Via FB pal Hal.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Chips make it fun for teenagers!
Let's make a sandwich! This looks like something we used to make in Home Ec class.
New Year's Eve Fun And Games
What are you doing New Year's Eve? Thanks to Covid we won't be doing any of these fun activities this year. Did we ever? It's all a blur to me now.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Another Tweet Of The Day
In 1746 in West Africa, a child is playing on the banks of a stream. He's trying to catch a moorhen. It sounds picturesque, but within seconds this little boy will be abducted. He will be shipped across the globe to North Wales. This is the story of John Ystumllyn.#thread pic.twitter.com/D2CW7kERwf
— Friendless Churches (@friendschurches) December 29, 2020
Pic Of The Day
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| Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A view of the full moon behind The Edge skydeck. |
Tweet Of The Day
On I-495 near Macon, Georgia we reached Peak 2020 today... pic.twitter.com/5pAvKr2Jcg
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) December 28, 2020
Music From The Ether (1934)
Allow me to present Professor Maurice Martenot and his remarkable new electrical creation.
Via Memo Of The Air
Monday, December 28, 2020
Short Film About Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club bassist, Tina Weymouth
When thinking about the Talking Heads, lead singer David Byrne is the band member who usually comes to mind. It's good to see Tina Weymouth getting a shoutout from the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.
Via Boing Boing
Labourers in Victorian England, 1901 Colourized
Historians frown on these videos but I like them, although the computer generated speech at the beginning of this one is a bit off putting, Upscaled by Denis Shiryaev with neural networks using footage from the dawn of film taken by Mitchell and Kenyon in North England, 1901. Ambient sound was added by sound engineer Guy Jones.
Via TwistedSifter
Tesla Car Horns Can Now Emit Sounds Like Fart or Goat
The “Boombox” mode changes the sound of their horns to sounds like fart, posh, applause, tada, goat, or “La Cucaracha,” among others.
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Ice Huts
I am captivated by Toronto artist Richard Johnson's large format digital photographs of Canadian ice huts. In precolonial times, ice fishing was practiced for survival over the harsh winter months. Today, people enjoy a bit of camaraderie while hooking a few trout, yellow perch, or walleye. Some huts are pretty basic while others are brightly decorated. When I was a child they dotted the winter landscape in Quebec. They likely still do.
You can purchase his work here.
Sunday Links
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| Elinor Carucci for TIME |
Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Favourite Collars And The Stories Behind Them (above)
The King William’s College quiz 2020 - I don't know why I even attempt this year after year.
When a shopping mall closes, where does its stuff go?
Known as "the place where San Francisco begins" the iconic Cliff House is closing December 31. Read about its history.
Bruce, a frequent contributor to this blog, sent me this article about a Cutlass for life.
Sometimes only an interrobang will do. Thanks Bruce!
An Ode to the Before Times Or are we losing our minds?
Strange Company's annual look at the worst and weirdest vintage Christmas newspaper clippings.
The 28 Cultural Objects That Helped Us Survive 2020 This GQ list has a couple of items that interested me. I've ordered a copy of Twenty Days With Julian & Little Bunny by Papa, by Nathaniel Hawthorne for Harold and am looking forward to watching Toast of London because I am a sucker for British sitcoms about repulsive characters.
'Humans need the ritual of saying goodbye': the Covid life of a small-town funeral director.
Make your meetings zoom-worthy with these Ikea catalogue video backgrounds
Without Magic, Santa Would Need 12 Million Employees Thanks Bruce!
When a shopping mall closes, where does its stuff go?
Wright Virtual Visits are a way for everyone, everywhere to safely explore and learn about the remarkable architectural legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright. Via Things Magazine
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Animals on Planes
My pets get squirrely enough when I take them on the 20 minute car ride to the vet so I would never take them on a plane. However when I see pets in crates at airports I'm curious about how they travel. Now I know (and so do you).
It's St. Stephen's Day.
The Feast of Saint Stephen is a Christian saint's day to commemorate Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This song,written by Elvis Costello and recorded with the Chieftains, is a favourite of mine.
Friday, December 25, 2020
La Lectora
There is a long-standing tradition of having a reader in cigar factories in Cuba. Gricel Valdés-Lombillo Pérez is one of the last remaining lectoras.
La Lectora from Yulia Piskuliyska on Vimeo.
Via Aeon
Thursday, December 24, 2020
The Most Stolen Art Work
The Ghent Altarpiece, or Adoration of the Lamb, is the most stolen work of art in history, the victim of 13 different crimes over the past 600 years.
Via OpenCulture
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
The Lotus Effect
The Lotus Effect is a “participatory installation for times of transformation” by the Rubin Museum that invites audiences to fold their own origami lotuses at home by following the helpful prompting of Brooklyn-based origami artist Uttam Grandhi
Participants are encouraged to share their responses on social media by using the #TheLotusEffect and tagging @RubinMuseum. Paper blooms may also be mailed to the museum to be included in the lobby installation.
Tweet Of The Day
Other than destroying home, this is what #husky is also capable of: Home camera caught Husky dogs turned off TV and pretended nothing happened right before hearing sound of their owner. pic.twitter.com/18PA7U3zKO
— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) December 22, 2020
Il viaggio di Babbo Natale (Santa's trip)
A sweet video made in 2006 by Italian animator Raffaella Traniello and 7 year old students.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Fireworks
Via Things Magazine
Christmas Pudding Hedge
Roger and Valerie Holley have an annual holiday tradition that delights the locals in Yeovil, Somerset.
Anarchy In The UK With A Festive Twist
Some Tuesday morning Sex Pistols with Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox.
Soviet Soldiers Dancing to Womanizer
womanizer - britney spears pic.twitter.com/Lxb41Jk3sz
— soviet soldiers dancing (@communistbops) December 21, 2020
Via Digg
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Tweet Of The Day
Viathis is the best action film of the year pic.twitter.com/ucUKrl0s4A
— #1 Rachel (@rachel) December 14, 2020
Sunday Links
ZAV Architects creates colourful domed cultural retreat for tourists that overlooks the Persian Gulf (above)
Photographs Showcase 19th Century China This archive from the 1860s and 1870s gives us a rare glimpse of Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing in the early days of photography.
This week's house envy is the Taproom, a large apartment in the former Woodhams Brewery, Rochester, Kent.
“Doomscrolling,” “unprecedented,” “pod”: Here are 20 phrases that defined 2020.
How do you make Chartreuse? Only two people know the full recipe for the French liquor — and they’re not talking.
Sweet! Oklahoma City Zoo Red Panda Cam Best viewed between 10am-2pm
“Doomscrolling,” “unprecedented,” “pod”: Here are 20 phrases that defined 2020.
Clothes for Snowmen: Madame de la Bresse left her fortune to provide clothing for the snowmen of Paris.
The easiest Gingerbread House recipe ever!
17 things you've already forgotten happened in 2020 This year wasn't entirely about the pandemic, although it did take up a lot of space.
Explore the art at Sweden's Icehotel including photos and audioguide.
Notable Literary Deaths in 2020 An incomplete list of the great literary minds we lost this year.
The ugliest orchid in the world
It's not easy to get to but the Siwa Oasis of Egypt has an otherworldly beauty.
Life In a Trombone Case : Motor City velour. Thanks Bruce!
The Cassini Globe Ornament is a blending of NASA Visible Earth imagery and Esri/USGS Ecological Land Units. Here are instructions for printing and assembling one for your tree.
Double whammy: Kent, the asbestos-filtered cigarette
I'm not kidding: A virtual museum dedicated to diagonal lines
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Tweet Of The Day
If a little Hillbilly singer like my big sister Dolly can invest in the vaccine then why the hell can’t some of you old moldy politicians pitch in a few million yourselves? I noticed you started getting vaccinated right away while people are starving and dying you Aholes.
— Stella Parton (@StellaParton) December 19, 2020
Winter Wonderland - Janet Brooke
Friday, December 18, 2020
Tweet Of The Day
Humpback whale in New York Harbor ready for closeup at Statue of Liberty https://t.co/wm99J2brZM pic.twitter.com/mFfBqwJh7u
— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) December 9, 2020
Huge Headless Buddha Statue Discovered
A 9-meter-high Buddha statue without a head was recently discovered in a residential complex in Chongqing of southwest China. An entire residential apartment block had been built on top of it. The statue was revealed when the trees surrounding it were removed during a reconstruction of the building’s external wall. There are still some people in the neighbourhood who remember the statue when it still had its head
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Martha Stewart's Festive Marijuana Leaves
"It looks like Santa's little elves have been everywhere in my kitchen"
In 2020 the world searched “why” more than ever
This film features the questions we asked this year, with words and narration by Kofi Lost.
Via: Doobybrain.com
Salvador Dalí's Christmas Cards
For Christmas 1960, surrealist artist Salvador Dalí designed greeting cards for Hallmark. The company had been reproducing the paintings and designs of contemporary artists on its Christmas cards in the late 1940s. But Dalí's designs proved to be too avant-garde for the company. A headless angel playing a lute and the three wise men atop some insane-looking camels were rejected.
Hallmark ended up producing only two of the Dalí Christmas cards, a depiction of the Madonna and Child and a nativity scene. Even these were considered too radical by Hallmark's traditional clientele.
More: Flashbak
Borealis
Director Kevin McMahon travels deep into the heart of the boreal forest to explore the chorus of life in Canada’s iconic wilderness.
Mid-Century Modern Gingerbread House Pandemic Christmas Project
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Kim
"The front of the house gets your attention, but the back view (shown here) is meant to evoke the feeling of a true home. Pavers weave through the yard toward a stack of firewood, convenient for keeping a fire going in the stone fireplace. Every room has enormous windows—especially the vaulted great room—showing off a Christmas tree and other details inside."
A Mad Men-inspired drinks bar in Guangzhou
I recently watched all 92 episodes of Mad Men for the third time (!) so you know that Out Of Office is right up my mid-century alley. I can picture Don Draper knocking back an Old Fashioned or two in this place.
More: Dezeen
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Better Days
Joaquin Baldwin shot a timelapse animation music video that shows his beard growing through Covid lockdown.
When Sun Ra Went to Egypt in 1971
Sun Ra was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music. Here he is with his Arkestra filmed by Thomas Hunter at the Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, 12th December, 1971:
Via: Open Culture
The Great Conjunction
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| Illustration Credit & Copyright: Sebastian Voltmer |
On the night of the December solstice the Great Conjunction will occur. Saturn and Jupiter will be right next to each other - as they are every 20 years. This year it will be the closest since 1623. The illustration above shows the approach of Saturn and Jupiter during November and December over the French Alps.
IKEA Gingerbread Höme furniture kit
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
What Not To Name Your Dog
This TikToker thinks dog owners who give their dogs unimaginative names should just stay home. Guess which name she chose for her own dog (it's a goodie)
@gaborszabo1969 dog name hot takes ##dog ##dogs ##dogmom ##dogmomlife ##puppy ##dogsoftiktok ##tiktok ##foryou ##foryoupage ##fyp ##TheWildsChallenge ##Catchphrases ##OOTD
♬ Elevator Music - Bohoman
Zoox
Zoox, backed by Amazon, is a 12-foot-long robotaxi that one day might be hailed with an app. It seats up to four and can drive in multiple directions - it won't have to reverse, since it can simply change its direction without going backwards. Its 133 kilowatt-hour battery pack is good for 16 hours of driving.
Santa Is a Psychedelic Mushroom
It’s time to embrace the shamanistic side of Christmas.
Santa Is a Psychedelic Mushroom from The New York Times on Vimeo.
Thanks Bruce!
Monday, December 14, 2020
Barn-Find Car Collection Fetches $2.5 million
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| Bob Regehr collection. VanDerBrink Auctions |
Read more: Business Insider
Japanese Synchronized Walking Competition
If Americans tried to do this it would erupt into that showdown fight scene from Anchorman. https://t.co/SgU04TVFQj
— Eric Monacelli (@ermonacelli) December 13, 2020
Grow Your Own Opals
You can grow opals? Really? Apparently if you can find some tetraethyl orthosilicate you can make your own opals. But don't set up an Etsy shop yet; it's not all that easy to do.
Via Boing Boing
The Cat Flat
Gun Killers (2019, Jason Young)
This little gem shows ordinary Canadians doing their part to curb gun violence in the country.
See more hidden gems at NFB Blog
It's Wrapping Season!
Make your own bags, boxes and envelopes in a large variety of shapes.
Via Things Magazine
Sunday, December 13, 2020
Dr. Wise on Influenza
As Britain fell under the grip of the Great Influenza of 1918-19, the Local Government Board commissioned this public information film to convince people to take preventative measures.
Tweet Of The Day
Thinkin’ about this pony working up the courage to jump over a tiny step pic.twitter.com/CwtSzc46XT
— Nerd Girl Says (@Rachael_Conrad) December 8, 2020
Sunday Links
Chalets A photographic discovery of forgotten Swiss architecture by Patrick Lambertz (image above) Via
DIY Die Hard tree ornament "If this is their idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Year's." Put John McClane on your Christmas tree. Via
Haagen Dazs designer Christmas cakes over the years. Impressive.
Embroidered Wrestlers of the North: David Ellison’s photographic series features portraits of the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers and their delicate yet flamboyant hand-stitched costumes.
I think this 18th century Spanish Castle would be an ideal place to hide out until the world regains its equilibrium. Via Things Magazine
Nice car 1961 VW Beetle Deluxe Transformed Into A Black Matte Roadster Via Memo of the Air
From my "Activities for the Pandemic" file: Teach your dog to talk
How the FBI Destroyed the Careers of 41 Women in TV and Radio At the dawn of the Cold War era, dozens of progressive women working in radio and television were placed on a media blacklist and forced from their industry.
Ex-soldier climbs 14 highest mountains in six months - beating an earlier record of almost eight years! Thanks Bruce!
Film Crew in Quarantine Via Memo of the Air
The deadly truth behind Pieter Bruegel the Elder's Idyllic Winter Landscapes
I love these Woodnest treehouse rentals in Norway. They are shaped like pinecones and have spectacular views.
Dezeen's top 10 museums and galleries of 2020
Canada's little-known Emerald Isle I love Newfoundland and Fogo Island is a destination goal.
The Journey of Electronic Bottles and the Ocean Plastic Crisis Thanks Bruce!
I'd like this personal concrete fireplace for summer evenings in the garden.
From Closets to Subway Tile: How previous epidemics shaped design.
Down in the dumps? This YouTube channel will make you feel better.
I love a club sandwich and I adore these slippers. Someone please buy them for me. (size 6.5)
Repetition
This collaboration between electronic musician Max Cooper and visual artist Kevin McGloughlin is totally entrancing.
Via Aeon Videos
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