Monday, February 28, 2022
The monumental solitude of the desert
Baking Dogs
In 1924 dogs were placed in veterinary gas ovens. The heat was thought to provide animals with the same benefits a steam bath has on the human body.
The Carnival Masks of Jacmel
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| "Carnaval 86" "Djab" Mask, unknown artist, 1986. ANTHONY H. FISHER/INDIGO ARTS GALLERY |
Soothe Your Soul With Twelve Hours Of Corals and Anemones
Every time I see a video from the Monterey Bay Aquarium I share it because they are all so beautiful.
Via Memo Of The Air
Summer Of Soul
As Black History Month 2022 draws to a close I'll leave you this little bit of soul:
Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now.
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Carmen Herrera Life and Work
Carmen Herrera (1915-2022) was a Cuban-born American abstract, minimalist visual artist and painter. Here she discusses her work.
Via 3 Quarks Daily
Sunday Links
These Boxing Glove Armchairs pack a punch at CA$26,518 per set.(above)
When Sir Billy Connolly was knighted he wrote this letter to his friend Eric Idle.
During Covid I have been trying to get my travel fix through virtual walks. I've been wanting to go to Japan for a very long time but the Tokyo Explorer channel will have to suffice for the time being. (via everlasting blort)
The NYA Times-Contrarian is a small-printed section on Neil Young’s official website designed to look like a weathered newspaper (“NYA” stands for “Neil Young Archives”). It’s updated regularly by Young and a few other writers. (via Perfect for Roquefort Cheese)
Patented by an insane person
To be placed in my 'Dumb As A Bag of Hammers' file: "As late as the 1950s, an association for the blind in a southern city used to post sighted monitors at the entrance for its Christmas party, so that the blind guests who could not see each other’s color would be able to segregate racially." Via Futility Closet
It’s rare to become addicted to esoteric hallucinogens. But it’s not impossible. The Curious Life and Mind-Altering Death of Justin Clark
Mustachioed fox has a bossy interspecies girlfriend: Tundra and Cleo
Is it OK to use Romano cheese instead of Parmesan? And if I don’t have spaghetti on hand, can I just use fish? Reader Comments for TheNYT Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
This week's house envy is Hop House, a former brewery which dates back to circa 1830; Scott of the Antarctic's parents lived in and ran the brewery, and there is a family grave in beautiful Holcombe Old Church.
On March 28, 1912, bacteriologist Almroth Wright wrote a letter to the London Times arguing that women should be denied the vote and in fact kept away from politics altogether in light of their psychological shortcomings. Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston, wrote this reply
Cover Lay Down was started in 2007 to celebrate folk artists and songwriters through coversongs, and explore the margins and meanings of folk music in a 21st century world. (Because in the folk tradition music belongs to the community.)
A supercut of stairs in the films of Alfred Hitchcock
When one of the eucalyptus trees on the Eames property became a threat to the iconic house it was removed and the wood from the tree was repurposed as 100 special collectible Eames Eucalyptus Skate Decks.
A tiny cabin in Tasmania with breathtaking views. (Thanks Bruce)
Global Street Art is the largest online street art archive.
The Italian Town where residents dine like 16th-century dukes.
This Modern Cat Tree is a damn sight better than the cardboard box tenement I've cobbled together for Carmen. (CA $12,677 - yikes)
From campground to crab shack to suburban backyard, the picnic table is so ubiquitous that it is nearly invisible as a designed object. An Illustrated History of the Picnic Table (via Things Magazine)
Singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan died this week. Here he is singing Flatlands with Chelsea Wolfe.
London Almost a Century Ago
Via BlortLondon on a clean day, 98 years ago. Less traffic. More pedestrians. Dirtier buildings (all that coal soot). pic.twitter.com/mXnHuHMGO1
— createstreets (@createstreets) February 10, 2022
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Sting - Russians
Sting wrote "Russians" during the Cold War when Russia and the United States had nuclear missiles pointed at each other.
Crush
On the verge of crushing two old cable cars, a nostalgic scrap dealer delves into his memories and imagines the life they once shared.
Brief Encounters Official Trailer
"Everything comes together and for that instant my life makes sense."
Gregory Crewdson is an American photographer. He photographs tableaux of American homes and neighborhoods. I love his work and would like to see this film.
Friday, February 25, 2022
Intricate Roman Mosaic Found Under London Street
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| Image: MOLA / Andy Chopping |
Archaeologists in London have announced the discovery of the largest Roman mosaic found in the British capital in half a century. The decorative dining room floor was unearthed on the building site of a new development in Southwark.
What Happened To Jables?
Jack Black was the very last guest on Conan O'Brien's final show.
via Miss Cellania
Hydrophytes
"These computer generated objects can create compelling visuals on-screen and interactive experiences in real life."
They are part of a master's research project focussed on designing and choreographing movement through 4D printing. No effects were created in post-production.
(Thanks Bruce)
Playing For Change: When the Levee Breaks
Legendary multi-instrumentalist, John Paul Jones, is accompanied by Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and over 20 musicians and dancers from seven different countries, in this Song Around The World version featured in Peace Through Music: A Global Event for the Environment.
Human Towers Build on Catalan Tradition
By climbing up backs and balancing on shoulders, Catalonians of all ages stack their bodies on-top each other to build castells, or human towers.
Captives on the Front Lines
This is the story of two Yezidi former child soldiers who survived ISIS. It is difficult to watch.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Stone Sushi
This 'sushi' by Japanese artist ha_ma_73 is actually made of carved and polished stones.
Brasilia Seen From Above
This bird's-eye view of Brasilia provides the architect's perspective and the project's very essence.
My Dinner With Werner
This film was inspired by the real-life "complicated friendship" between filmmaker Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski. It is a story about a 1987 dinner date with a murder plot as the main dish.
50 Rare Photographs
Frequent contributor Bruce sent me a wonderful collection of Rare Historical Photos. These are a few of my favourites:
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Souvenir Souvenir
Souvenir Souvenir, a short film by French director Bastien Dubois, is about Bastien’s attempts to initiate a dialogue with his grandfather about his time as a French soldier in the Algerian War of Independence (1954-62). This film was awarded Best Animated Short Film at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021.
Bertrand's Paradox
Jonathan Weisberg (University of Toronto) explains Bertrand's Paradox, a famous paradox in probability theory.
Rafael Araujo - Golden Ratio
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Ivan Reitman's little-known first film.
Canadian film and television director, producer and screenwriter, Ivan Reitman died last week. While he was at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario he “produced and directed Orientation [in 1968], the most successful student film ever made in Canada.”
Electric scooter/portable office
This folding electric motorcycle by Japanese manufacturer ICOMA can be stored under a desk. Or can actually be the desktop.
The Incredible Sonovox
Some weirdness from Kay Kyser. The performer whispers the words while the speakers stand in for the voice box.
Monday, February 21, 2022
Pass The Ball
Idea:
3 second animation of a ball.
Pass it to someone in another country
They pick up where you left off.
40 animators
40 months in the making...
The Bombay Highway Code - A poem, a postcard and a love letter
"But every mode of transport has its place upon the roadso you must become acquainted with the Bombay highway code …"
Atomic Tests Viewed From Los Angeles
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| An atomic bomb lights up the night sky over Los Angeles City, on March 7, 1955. The glow lasted 20 seconds beginning at 5:20. |
Between 1951 and 1992, the United States conducted 928 atomic tests at the Nevada Test Site about 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the city of Las Vegas. These blasts illuminated the night sky as far away as Los Angeles, located some 240 miles (386 km) away. Detonation times were advertised beforehand and so were the best spots for watching. Amusing Planet has posted some of the photographs that were taken of these events.
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| Los Angeles Civic Center buildings by Nevada A Bomb blast, 1955. Photo credit: Wesselmann/USC Digital Library |
via Memo Of The Air
A 'corner store' for Hollywood props
A behind-the-scenes look at a corner store where Hollywood prop masters buy the food and drinks appearing in movies and TV.
@issprops Check Out Hollywood’s go-to Corner Store here at ISS! #prophouse #fyp ♬ Oblivion - Grimes
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Crybaby Caravan
A song about the the crybabies who held my nation's capital hostage for three weeks because they didn't want to wear masks.
Sorry, I wanted that stirred, not shaken …
"The Making of the Perfect Martini" by Guy Buffet, 2000 pic.twitter.com/3wWic7bBcc
— Scott Kerr (@scott_kerr) January 16, 2022
Squirrel Funeral
Check out TYWKIWDBI for an added treat.
Sunday Links
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Scenes from the Passion: Valentine's Day George Shaw (b.1966) Government Art Collection |
Some good news: After various international rescue efforts over six years, a large Indonesian crocodile with a motorcycle tire stuck around its neck in Indonesia has finally been freed. Read more: Smithsonian Magazine
How Far Can I Walk in 10 Minutes? If you enter a location into the Walking Distance Map you can view a map showing how far you can travel within a set number of minutes.
It's not you, it's me: How to break up in the age of online dating (Thanks Bruce)
'Discover the beauty & value of the everyday, the ordinary & the overlooked; industrial landscapes, whippets & wastelands, red bricks & rust.' Not fond of paintings of rainbows and unicorns? Perhaps you'll like @GrimArtGroup.
The secret of the slide: How in the World Did Luge Happen?
A charming collection of illustrations of animals around the world
“Consider a fork in your pie or a bite of your burger to be their tongue in your mouth. If you’re unwilling to accept their saliva, everybody’s mouths and hands need to stay on their own side of the table.” Pressing questions for the return of real life
Are you looking to get away from it all? The Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage in Tobermory, Scotland is only accessible via a 25 min walk along a coastal footpath and there is NO vehicle access. (via)
Haruki Murakami's five favorite books.
This week's house envy is a compact mid-century residence in Pasadena, CA.
You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s: Tracking down the model in a 1961 bread ad. It's a good story.
Does anyone else remember The Blown Away Guy?
Almost all the buyers at the Paul Manafort Foreclosure Sale wore wraparound sunglasses and were uninterested in, as one put it, “being in the news.”
If I had to name one food I couldn't live without, I would choose pasta. This roundup of the best pastas in the US had me craving carbs a for breakfast this morning. (I resisted the temptation).
The Weirdest Objects Found Inside Books : "I started noticing treasures within the treasures -- little bits of random ephemera left inside books, often untouched for decades. I found family photos, old advertisements, letters and postcards, even some crumbs of food." (Thanks Bruce!)
After discovering six adopted brothers and sisters, these siblings believe their story is more than a sprawling family secret. (via Miss Cellania's Links)
The Gentle Author, one of my absolute favourite bloggers and publishers, is launching a better alternative to 'the serial killer tours of Spitalfields that monetise misogyny'. See the crowdfunder. (I once met him at a talk he was giving about his book East End Vernacular)
No-knead Gatorade bread Just replace the water with a classic electrolyte-replenishing, thirst-quenching beverage.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Magnificent Papercraft
Japan-based artist Ayumi Shibata designs intricate landscapes using layers upon layers of white paper.
Welcome To The Neighborhood!
The first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood debuted on this day in 1968. I miss his calm and gentle presence.
I'll Have The Karl Marx Sandwich to Go
La conquête du pain is a communist- anarchist boulangerie in Montreuil, France. The name is taken from the book by Peter Kropotkin, a 19th century anti-capitalist. Pierre Pawin, one of the founders says "“we are not an alternative to capitalism, we are in capitalism. But we handle it differently because we make different political choices concerning prices and salaries.”
I found this in my Facebook Memories today. I posted it 5 years ago but it appears that the bakery is still going strong.
Storm Eunice Roars Through The UK
Millions in the UK experienced severe disruption this week as record-breaking winds from Storm Eunice caused death and injury, huge structural damage, transport chaos and widespread power cuts.
The oldest known map of the cosmos
A bronze ‘sky disc’, thought to be the world’s oldest map of the cosmos, is the star attraction of the British Museum's 'The World of Stonehenge' exhibition. It was unearthed by metal detectorists operating illegally who damaged it with their spade and sold the entire find for £13,300… It’s since been valued at £8.3 million
Happy Caturday!
There’s a Japanese legend that the purr of cats is the sound of the machinery that keeps our world rotating in the heavens. If cats cease purring, the world will stand still, and time--not to mention all life on Earth--will end.
— Undine (@HorribleSanity) February 17, 2022
So make a cat happy today. #FolkloreThursday pic.twitter.com/0v4okRaJr3
Friday, February 18, 2022
Jane Austen Used Pins to Edit Her Manuscripts
In announcing the acquisition of Jane Austen's novel, the Bodleian Library wrote:
The Watsons is Austen’s first extant draft of a novel in process of development and one of the earliest examples of an English novel to survive in its formative state.
The full pages suggest that Jane Austen did not anticipate a protracted process of redrafting. With no calculated blank spaces and no obvious way of incorporating large revision or expansion she had to find other strategies – the three patches, small pieces of paper, each of which was filled closely and neatly with the new material, attached with straight pins to the precise spot where erased material was to be covered or where an insertion was required to expand the text.
Bowl'd Banana by Mary Pratt
Canadian painter Mary Pratt is one of my favourite artists. Her hyper-realistic paintings of domestic subjects are very evocative.
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| Bowl'd Banana Mary Pratt 1981 |
A Truly Twisted Bike Safety Film (1963)
What kind of mind thought this one up? A group of children, all wearing ape masks, rides their bicycles to the park for a picnic. Along the way, all but one are eliminated for violating basic bike safety rules.
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Cold War Spy Kitties
In the 1960s the CIA had a program to create cyborg cats that could act as Cold War spies. Does this sound like a good idea to you?
Via Boing Boing
You cycle with the bull, you get the horns…
Cyclists participating in a Central California bike ride got more than they bargained for when they came upon a territorial bull. Some racers tried to go around the bull and got through. Others were not so lucky. The bull charged and struck three riders total. But all's well that ends well and everyone was able to go for a couple of beers after the incident.
Mama Mia! I am ready to dance for joy.
In this 1964 episode of the ABC’s classic science program, Why Is It So?, Professor Julius Sumner Miller re-attempts a favourite experiment but things don’t quite go to plan.
Via Massimo
The Nebra Sky Disc
The Nebra Sky Disc: the oldest known representation of cosmic features. Just sublime to think that over three and a half thousand years ago someone looked up and mapped out the sun, moon, and stars as seen over the crescent land horizons. #WorldOfStonehenge @britishmuseum pic.twitter.com/8daq5iptZY
— Dr Sophie Hay (@pompei79) February 16, 2022
Paper Pop-Up Meme Compilation
I was hoping to buy the cat card above that looks exactly like my cat Carmen but unfortunately the cards are not for sale.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Kunstbar
This clever noirish animation by The Petrie Lounge (2002) features Edvard Munch, Henri Matisse, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, Jackson Pollock, Vincent Van Gogh, Norval Morriseau, Pablo Picasso, Hieronymus Bosch and George Grosz.
Walk-Through Kaleidoscope
The Stufish design is the biggest kaleidoscope ever built for people to actually walk through.
via Memo Of The Air
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
La Forma Urbis Romae
Download this Archaeological Map of Ancient Rome created by Rodolfo Lanciani from 1893 to 1901. Archaeologist, professor of topography, and secretary of the Archaeological Commission, Lanciani was a pioneer in the systematic, modern study of the city of Rome. The map depicts the groundplan of every architectural feature in the ancient city, from large public monuments to small shops, rooms, and even staircases.The original document is almost as tall as a two-storey building. About one-quarter of the collection was digitized and made available to the public in 2017.
Nice Set Of Wheels
Apocalypse Pooh
I previously posted this video twelve years ago and when it came up in my Facebook memories I thought it was worth another look. This combination of Winnie The Pooh and Apocalypse Now (1987) by Todd Graham was one of the first widely distributed mash-ups in history.
Underwater Photographers Of The Year 2002
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| 'All You Need Is Love' Pekka Tuuri (Finland) |
The 2022 winners capture amazing ocean spectacles and species.
(Thanks Bruce!)
Circus
Circus is a poetic short story written by Tom Waits, narrated by Ken Nordine, and illustrated by Joe Coleman.
via Boing Boing
Candy Cane Snail
Like painted porcelain under the Caribbean sun,
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) February 13, 2022
these tree dwelling snails are called Liguus virgineus,
known also as the candy cane snail.
The colours are produced by pigment glands in the mantle called chromophores, as the shell grows it spirals
📸José M Pantaleón pic.twitter.com/lapyJhBaXt
Monday, February 14, 2022
Sheep
1400 sheep 5 dogs and one horse taking a stroll down the main drag of bealiba pic.twitter.com/Z7QJzT98SG
— Ben Weir (@Weir13Ben) February 13, 2022
via FB pal Hal
Creatures of the Deep
This fabulous video features deep-sea animals filmed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's remotely operated vehicles in the depths of Monterey Bay and beyond. Make sure you watch it in full screen mode.
Via TYWKIWDBI
Sunday, February 13, 2022
Sunday Links
The Amazing Music Scores of George Crumb The avant garde composer used highly unconventional, and graphically gorgeous, techniques (photo above) to represent his music on the page. (via FB pal Hal)
The Walk Of Life Project Hypothesis: Walk Of Life by Dire Straits is the perfect song to end any movie (an oldie via MeFi)
They do what they want A staggering 83 active-duty soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg died in the 18 months ending June 2021. They did not die in combat.
Profanity in Oscar Winning Movies (1927 - 2021)
London Explored by Peter Dazely Uncovers Secret and Unusual Places in the Capital Nice photographs. Now I'm planning a trip to London.
So many of the words we use today have been attributed to Shakespeare. Click the word to see the passage (Thanks Bruce)
The epitome of greed and excess? This 105,000 sq.ft. home has 21 bedrooms, 49 bathrooms, a spa and salon, a nightclub, bowling alley, movie theater, and 360º ocean views. It is on the market for $295m.
Feeling anxious or lonely? Watch Squirrel Dialogues (Via Rusty's Electric Dreams)
"My wife’s idea of a hot date is a trip to the dump." I always get a laugh out of Tim Dowling's column in the Guardian
Where is Smithy's Kaff? A mystery from 1981
'Turn on your mobile phone, set the system language to “Chinese,” and watch as the interface instantly converts to Chinese text. Now, look closely at the characters.'
Dazzling Hoards (thanks Bruce)
How did I ever miss this series? IKEA Heights, a soap opera secretly filmed in IKEA
The Science of Measuring Snowfall It’s a little more complicated than you might think.
Population Density Around the World: a new interactive map allows you to explore how many people are living within a set distance from any point on Earth.
Craziest Breakup Text in the History of Texting? "You are rude to my cat and that makes me feel uncomfortable." Nothing crazy about that. (thanks Bruce)
The hottest commodity of the Lake Hazel branch of the Ada Community Library in Boise, Idaho is a book by an 8-year-old self-published author who snuck his book into the library
I was disappointed to see Angela Liddon of the Oh She Glows brand supporting the so-called Freedom Convoy. The link between the wellness movement and white supremacist groups
Braun Collector celebrates the beauty of vintage Braun design. I was almost brought to tears when I saw my old Multipractic Plus 1983. It served me well for 35 years until finally the plastic bowl cracked and I couldn't get a replacement. (via things magazine)
QAnon nearly took over this small town but concerned citizens weren't about to let that happen.
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