Monday, September 22, 2008

Comparisons of Heavenly Bodies


This video demonstrates the relative sizes of the planets in our solar system with each other and with our sun. Then goes on to compare the size of our sun with other known stars. Prepare to feel small.

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Corpus Clock

Designer John Taylor has created what has been dubbed "The Strangest Clock in the World". The clock, just unveiled at Corpus Christi College, features a time-devouring grasshopper intended to depict the "terrifying" nature of time passing. It's really strange, but interesting.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Whole Earth Effect

Plenty Magazine has a wonderful oral history of the Whole Earth Catalog, a publication that lasted only four years, but inspired the people that have changed our world. As a kid, I loved this catalog, though I never started something like Google, Craigslist,  or environmental movements as others have.

The Amazing Mirrors of Daniel Rozin

Daniel Rozin is an artist and educator who creates wonderful "mirrors" that are mechanical or technological in nature, such as his "Wood Mirror" shown above.  I'm sure his work would be mesmerizing to see in person.

Art Made From Coins


Artist Stacey Lee Webber is an incredible metalworker. Much of her work involves the manipulation of money, sometimes by cleverly dissecting coinage, other times by assembling coins into other everyday objects, such as hand tools. Overall, tremendous craftsmanship, and a unique expression.

Morisawa Fontpark 2.0

Fontpark 2.0 is a web toy from the Morisawa Font company. One uses the elements of font characters to create images, which are posted for people to rate. What's really interesting, is that each move you make is recorded, so people can see the process of your created image. Really beautiful.

Artificial Enlightenment

Artist Eric Joyner paints wonderful scenes blending illustrations of the 1900's and vintage science fiction toys. His show at the Corey Helford Gallery, titled "Artificial Enlightenment" is a wonderful collection of these quirky but charming paintings.

Living Things Removed From Famous Paintings

Fogonazos has the recent work of Spanish artist Jose Manuel Ballester, who has repainted several famous paintings from The Prado, only with the people and creatures absent. They are well painted and the effect is curious.

Introducing Fortune Cookies to the Chinese

This is a nice little video of people in China getting their first fortune cookie, an American invention. I love the flabbergasted looks when they discover a piece of paper inside.

Box of LEGO Transvestites?

The Bloggess, a writer named Jenny, received a promotional box from LEGO, only to discover too many pink dresses and too many mustachioed faces. LEGO, of course, apologized for the error, though I know many people who would love to have this very set.

San Francisco in Jell-O

Artist Liz Hickok works with Jell-O, among other things. Her San Francisco in Jell-O series is interesting. I especially like the pieces where she's added detail, such as the Alamo Square houses shown above.

Veuve Clicquot Bentley

Not Cot has several postings from someone's visit to Riems France, and their incredible adventures with the Veuve Clicquot family. This Bentley is quite nice. Also check out the links to the VC yacht and helicopter rides.

Swedish Whisky Ad


This is a commercial for an "extra smoky" Swedish whisky. The ad is made with a phantom high speed camera, and is really nice, though I can't understand a word they're saying. 

Stabilization of Famous Bigfoot Film

Bigfoot Encounters (can you believe there's such a site?) has a nifty image manipulation that stabilizes the shaky (I mean that both ways) 1967 "Patterson-Gimlin" film of Bigfoot. What I really like, is the technique and the presentation format.

Ecopod

Green Upgrader has a small feature on the Ecopod by ARKA, a fully biodegradable coffin made from 100% recycled paper. If not embalmed, you'd be fully biodegradable too. Being "green" after death. They should make tombstones that biodegrade at the same rate as the coffins and their contents, so you'll know when your loved ones are fully absorbed.

Burning Man Art Installations

Matador Nights has listed their 13 coolest art installations at Burning Man. The annual event has provided the space and experimental format to inspire some really mind blowing artistic investigations, such as Splatworld's "Uchronia", seen above, and David Best's "Temple of Stars".