Illusion

Abstruse Goose

HunterGatherer

HunterGatherer is a design, illustration, animation and production studio founded by Todd St. John. It has earned international recognition for its spare, but inventive projects; often combining experimental and hand-built techniques with more complex methods. Since 2000, HunterGatherer has stayed decidely small, focusing on a limited number of assignments across a wide range of mediums.



HunterGatherer’s work has been widely published and exhibited. The studio has won awards from almost every major design organization, and St. John was selected along with frequent collaborator Gary Benzel for the 2003 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Triennial. In 2008, HunterGatherer won a Webby and was nominated for an Emmy for the animated short “Circle Squared”.

Website: HunterGatherer

Via: Beautiful|Decay

Bacterial Alphabet

Dutch designer Jelte van Abbema is this year's proud recipient of the Rado Young Designer Award ... Van Abbema made his own ink out of E coli bacteria ... Printed onto a paper of agar and cellulose, the ink revealed the letters as it grew. The posters were placed into advertising boards with temperature and humidity control to ensure growth. "It was like a huge Petri dish," says van Abbema. "In the evening I had no image and in the morning I had my presentation." Van Abbema's process leaves some of the designing to the bacteria, submitting his letters to the randomness of nature ...

Jelte van Abbema has exhibited worldwide, notably at Design & the Elastic Mind at the MOMA, New York, Over Design Over in Italy, The Family of Form and Artificial Green in The Netherlands and this month at Dutch Design Double.

Website: Dutch Design Awards

Via: Dezeen

Separated At Birth | Mel Gibson And The Burger King

Source: Supertremendous

Evolution Of Birth Control

Newsweek looks back at preventive birth control throughout history.

War Of The Worlds Broadcast Tonight

Martians will land again Friday night. Seventy-one years ago Orson Welles pulled a fast one on his radio audience. It was his idea of a pre-Halloween joke. He and his Mercury Theater on the Air altered H.G. Wells' classic The War of the Worlds to make it sound like an urgent news broadcast, reporting that Martians were landing on Earth.

Now, to mark the anniversary, a recording of the broadcast will be streamed Friday night on the Internet at waroftheworldstribute.com. It starts at the same moment across the country: 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain and 5 p.m. Pacific.

Source: Kentucky Post

Do A Good Deed

The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at the Fund for Animals' renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation , North Shore Animal League , and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation.

100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to our charitable partners.

Animal Rescue Site

Amazon Oddities And Weirdness

Michael Duvernois is a former professor who actively reviews and rates products on Amazon. The following items are from a list compiled by Dr. Duvernois of unusual items offered by the online retailer.

Product Description: Uranium Ore

Radioactive sample of uranium ore. Useful for testing Geiger Counters. License exempt. Uranium ore sample sizes vary. Shipped in labeled metal container as shown. Shipping Information: We are always in compliance with Section 13 from part 40 of the NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules and regulations and Postal Service regulations specified in 49 CFR 173.421 for activity limits of low level radioactive materials. Item will be shipped in accordance with Postal Service activity limits specified in Publication 52. Radioactive minerals are for educational and scientific use only.

Product Description: Pork Chocs Sugar-Free Milk Chocolate Dipped Pork Rinds

Here's another unique and original creation from your favorite chocolatiers here at A Bountiful Harvest Designs. We've experienced such a huge amount of success throughout the summer months while testing the market in our retail store with this product we just had to add it to our online mall! They're sweet with a hint of saltiness and crunchy all wrapped up in one! Available in your choice of milk, dark or white sugar free Belgian chocolate they're a low carb dieters dream come true, high in protein and low in carbs! Heat-sealed for freshness in a clear cello bag. Net Wt 4 oz.

Product Description: UFO Detector

Over the years many UFO sightings have reported magnetic and electromagnetic disturbances. The UFO Detector is designed to sense these disturbances and will signal their presence by flashing an LED and beeping. The elegantly designed transparent acrylic case is a handsome sculptured conversation piece that's suitable for display on a desk, shelf or bedroom dresser. Size is approximately 3" dia. by 2.75" length. Uses 9V lithium battery (not included)

Product Description: Poop Freeze

Poop Freeze Aerosol Freeze Spray POOP FREEZE is the first freeze-spray aerosol made for animal waste pick-up. Poop happens- just freeze it! Just frost and toss! Completely non-flammable. Cools surfaces down to 62° F. No CFCs to destroy the ozone . Does not harm vegetation and can be used indoors or outdoors.Totally environmentally friendly! Spray and then wait 10 seconds and a white crusty film solidifies the waste. Clean ... easy ... quick ... affordable solution to nasty waste clean-up problems

Amazon Oddities and Weirdness: The Inexpensive Strange Stuff

Michael Duvernois

Neural Decoding = Mind Reading

MRI Scans

What are you thinking about? Which memory are you reliving right now? You may think that only you can answer, but by combining brain scans with pattern-detection software, neuroscientists are prying open a window into the human mind.

In the last few years, patterns in brain activity have been used to successfully predict what pictures people are looking at, their location in a virtual environment or a decision they are poised to make. The most recent results show that researchers can now recreate moving images that volunteers are viewing - and even make educated guesses at which event they are remembering.

Last week at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago, Jack Gallant, a leading "neural decoder" at the University of California, Berkeley, presented one of the field's most impressive results yet. He and colleague Shinji Nishimoto showed that they could create a crude reproduction of a movie clip that someone was watching just by viewing their brain activity. Others at the same meeting claimed that such neural decoding could be used to read memories and future plans - and even to diagnose eating disorders.

Understandably, such developments are raising concerns about "mind reading" technologies, which might be exploited by advertisers or oppressive governments (see "The risks of open-mindedness"). Yet despite - or perhaps because of - the recent progress in the field, most researchers are wary of calling their work mind-reading. Emphasising its limitations, they call it neural decoding.

For more information, read the rest of the article at The New Scientist or visit the Society for Neuroscience or Jack Gallant's Web site.

Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken

Cool sophistication in breezy Palm Beach! Sporting a dashing jacquard-patterned jacket with a light pink polo shirt and crisp white pants, Ken doll is ready for Palm Beach social season, sunning by the pool and a stroll with his little companion. Fashion designed exclusively for the Silkstone Barbie doll body. Includes Ken doll, jacket, pink polo shirt, white shoes, dog with leash, swim trunks and accessories, doll stand and certificate of authenticity. For the adult collector. Order yours today!

Source: Entertainment Earth

Via: Topless Robot

Terry Border: Bent Objects

From artist Terry Border's book Bent Objects - The Secret Life of Everyday Things.

Zombies Are Nuts About Brains

Fruit With Life Experience

Paper Training Our Little Dog, Frank

Source: Terry Border

Via: My Modern Met

Bisou And Edgar: Tug Of War

Our Bichon has a name: Bisou. It means "kiss" in French. She's a kisser and is also a very busy girl, so the name Bisou/Bizzy seems to fit. Here she is playing with her little brother, Edgar. On 8 October, they were ten weeks old.

Awkward Family Photos

More at Awkward Family Photos

Database of Periodic Tables

For the past month I've been doing the Sporcle quiz, Can You Name the Elements of the Periodic Table? The most I've gotten right is 117 out of 118 elements -- there's always at least one I can't remember, although it's not always the same one. This effort made me curious about how the elements of the table are organized and how the data is presented visually to show relationshjps and led me to the Internet Database of Periodic Tables.

AtomFlowers by Boy Boer (2005)

The Mayan Periodic Table (2001)

Second Life Periodic Table (2007)

Source: Meta-Synthesis | Chemogenesis

Tilt-Shift At The Magic Kingdom

YouTube

Via: The Presurfer

Hand From Above

Chris O'Shea is an artist and designer, creating interactive work for both public institutions and private companies. He creates experiences that playfully challenge our perception of spaces and objects.

Hand From Above encourages us to question our normal routine when we often find ourselves rushing from one destination to another. Inspired by Land of the Giants and Goliath, we are reminded of mythical stories by mischievously unleashing a giant hand from the BBC Big Screen. Passers by will be playfully transformed. What if humans weren’t on top of the food chain? Unsuspecting pedestrians will be tickled, stretched, flicked or removed entirely in real-time by a giant deity.

Does this remind anyone else of The Kids in the Hall?

Source: Vimeo

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced ... Bread?

According to Inventor's Spot, Japan's largest online retailer, Rakuten, has sold out of Bread Chairs. In the background are the Hamburger Chair and the Zaisu Melon Bread Chair.

PostSecret: Excuse | Tattoo | Race

The "Best" Of Craigslist

condoms and door knobs.

I have 750 kiss of mint condoms that expired in 3/2004. I have 750 lubricated colored condoms that expired in 9/2006. They are no longer safe for pregnancy prevention but do have several other uses. They make great water balloons, safe sex educational tools, balloon animals etc... What you do with them is your business but I strongly advise that you do not use them for pregnancy prevention. They have been properly maintained in air conditioned and lighting controlled conditions. They should be ok for use but to be on the safe side I would not use them for sexual purposes. That being said if you want them let me know and we can arrange a pick up.

I also have 11 door knobs. I recently replaced them and have no use for them now. If anyone has any use for either the condoms or the door knobs let me know.

Astronaut Needed

Astronaut needed for experimental flight to Titan. I have been working on this project now for near 40 years and am afraid I'm no longer fit enough to go. My secret space craft is the result of my professional experience and imagination while serving the U.S. military in advanced aeronautics as a scientist. The craft harnesses a revolutionary propulsion system and its fuselage is fabricated with the most advanced material. While considerably safe, I am certain you will make it safely to Titan but there will not be enough fuel to get home. This is for someone unique that has always wanted to see the universe first-hand and has perhaps a terminal view on life here at home. Here's your shot at romantic history.

Must be:
-physically fit.
-mentally sound.
-over the age of 18.
-a dreamer.
-a believer.
-not afraid of heights.
-not afraid of extreme conditions such as speed, pressure, heat, etc.
-brave.
-no taller than 5'10 and relatively slim.
-good eye-sight & hearing.
-manual dexterity (although the craft is largely cpu controlled).
-OK in cramped conditions for long periods of time.

• Location: Northern Alberta
• Compensation: $25,000 CASH.
• This is a contract job.
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!

License Plate BJN7523

Dear Sir or Madam:

Ha ha! You are clever! You regifted your unwanted parking ticket to a neighboring vehicle! Unfortunately, you disregarded two important points. First, I do not drive a silver Buick; second, I do not plan to pay the city $30 on your behalf. I understand fines double after 10 days and triple after 90 days. Good luck with that.

Cordial Disregards,
the Neighboring Vehicle's Driver

The Best of Craigslist

Why Dogs Hate Halloween, Pt.1

More pics at Urlesque

Horses Inside Out

Gillian Higgins is an equine therapist who paints accurate anatomical representations directly on horses and ponies to illustrate equine physiology and biomechanics to professional riders, trainers, veterinary students. Watch the trailer for the Horses Inside Out DVD:



Horses Inside Out

Steampunk Flash Drives

See more at Listicles.

Watermelon Pants And A Grapefruit Toupee

And people think it's weird to put a sweater on a dog.

Source

Via: The Daily What

Doin' The Deep-Fried Butter Dance

Deep-fried butter is a big hit at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

Source: MSNBC

Undulatus Asperatus

Photo: Danielle Maxwell

In hill country from Iowa to the Scottish Highlands, sky-gazers have reported some strange, ominous-looking clouds of late. Dubbed undulatus asperatus (turbulent undulation), the atmospheric anomaly could be headed where only 80-odd clouds have gone before: into the International Cloud Atlas. If it makes the cut, asperatus will be the first new addition in more than 50 years.

Source: Wired

Invisible Man

Liu Bolin, a 35-year-old Chinese artist, has created a series of un-retouched photographs called "Camouflage." Go to Fubiz to see the others.

Via: Listicles

Roomba Art

Source: Flickr | digitalosh

Source: Flickr | reconscious

The Flickr Roomba Art Group showcases long-exposure photographs of irobot's Roomba doing its thing.

Via: Signal Theorist and Urlesque

Banned Books | 2008

Of the 513 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom in 2008, the top ten most challenged books were:

1. And Tango Makes Three (Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell)
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group

2. His Dark Materials (Trilogy by Philip Pullman)
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence

3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (Series by Lauren Myracle)
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

4. Scary Stories (Series by Alvin Schwartz)
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence

5. Bless Me, Ultima (Rudolfo Anaya)
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence

6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group

7. Gossip Girl (Series by Cecily von Ziegesar)
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

8. Uncle Bobby's Wedding (Sarah S. Brannen)
Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group

9. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

10. Flashcards of My Life (Charise Mericle Harper)
Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

Source: American Library Association