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.

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.

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".

Zoom Into Steel

One of a series, this video zooms into a piece of steel to the atomic level, narrating what we are seeing along the way. When it's finished, you can select others in the Zoom series. Really fascinating.

Ronald Theodore Reuther

Who is Ronald Reuther? I didn't know either, until I wanted to visit the Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi. Turns out this guy was there at the beginning, then went on to live a very interesting and inspiring life. I wrote a Wikipedia article about him.

The 5 Most Badass Presidents of All Time

Cracked.com has a wonderful spread that's perfect for this election season. Andrew Jackson, John F. Kennedy, John Quincy Adams, George Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt are named the "5 Most Badass Presidents of All Time." Get ready to learn some history.

Rare Klaus Nomi Appearance

Klaus Nomi was a German pastry maker living in New York in the late 70s and early 80s. He was also an opera singer and a trailblazer in the post-modernist new wave genre. Sadly, he was also one of the first victims of the AIDS epidemic, even before AIDS was fully understood. Here's a trailer for a documentary called The Nomi Song.

Scoot!

The Design Blog features a conceptual design for an electric scooter called Scoot. Non polluting and noiseless, Scoot would be classified as a motorized bicycle thereby requiring no helmets or license plate registrations. I hope it gets made 'cause I want I want I want!

World's Tallest Building Almost Complete

Gizmodo has a set of jaw-dropping photos of the nearly completed Burj Dubai. Photographer David Hobcote's hi-resolution pictures from the air covey the massive scale of this building.

Extreme Ironing

Boing Boing once again gets the scoop on the newest sporting craze; Extreme Ironing. Creator Phil Shaw says it's "the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt."

Wallace and Gromit Model for Harvey Nics

Creative Review has some images of the poster campaign to announce that Harvey Nichols is opening in Bristol. Wallace and Gromit, being from Bristol themselves, have been chosen to model some of the fall fashions for this grand opening.

Amazing Bridges

Deputy Dog has a collection of unique bridges from around the world. Shown is Henderson Waves which is Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge. It's been a while since I've liked a bridge that wasn't designed by Calatrava or Foster.