* THE SUPER SECRET CLUBHOUSE

MAKING A TINY ROBOT BEE

2012-02-20T10:50:00.001-08:00

How the Harvard Microrobotics Lab makes tiny robotic bees:

(via Notcot)

MINIMALIST GRAMOPHONE

2012-02-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

(via DesignMadeinGermany, via Notcot)

MOONRISE KINGDOM

2012-02-07T10:26:00.000-08:00

Coming May 2012, a film by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola:

TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS

2011-12-11T18:25:00.001-08:00

This fine piece of work was released in 1983, in hopes to resurrect interest in 3D films. Written by and starring Tony Anthony, it could easily be seen as a "lost" Indiana Jones film . . . except for the lack of Harrison Ford, realistic props, character depth, a budget, acting . . .

Because it was in 3D, everything in this film IS SHOVED IN YOUR FACE.

A fine piece of action cinema.
Enjoy.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4 (Final)

COFFEE, TEA, OR BLOOD

2011-11-23T14:22:00.000-08:00

W00T!
It arrived in the mail a few days ago - my limited-edition (only 250) Frank Kozik Evil Tea Time tea cup: Satanic pentagram on the saucer, magic pentagram inside the cup, skulls and "13" and "69" in the pattern on the outside, and around the rim the phrase "every night in my dreams I burn your cities to the ground."
So. Awesomely. Evil.

MERINGUE MUSHROOM

2011-11-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

Stopped by the Moonside Bakery in Half Moon Bay, California yesterday - had to buy this huge meringue mushroom just because it looks so much like the real thing. The top is dusted with powdered chocolate and powdered sugar to give it that tan and dirty look. Awesome.

ALPINE COASTER

2011-11-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

In Mieders, Austria - this may be the single greatest thing that human beings have ever invented:

CHEWED: A GALLERY OF DESTROYED DOG TOYS

2011-11-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Chewed - by Arne Svenson and Ron Warren - a fine gallery/book of 140 dog toys that "have seen better days."
(via FeatureShoot)

LINK

THE ART OF SYD MEAD

2011-11-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

Prof. Michael Stoll has an epic image gallery of vehicle concept art for a U.S. Steel International promotional portfolio, done sometime in the 1980's by the renowned futurist and concept artist Syd Mead - you probably know his work from Blade Runner, Tron, and Alien.

INVISIBLE INK

2011-11-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

I bought a bottle of this high-quality (cobalt chloride) invisible ink from J. Herbin, a "maker of fine specialty inks." For the maiden voyage, I tried my best at Edgar Allen Poe's "Gold Bug" - in the story, an illustration of a species of scarab has an invisible ink skull drawn beneath it, the ink activated by heat.

THE KING OF LEGOLAND

2011-10-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

A beautiful video by Micaël Raynaud showing the toys of his childhood, set to the song "King of Legoland" by Hunting Charlie's Band & Samuel Vielliard.

(via Notcot)

PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY OF NO-HANDED BIKE MOVES

2011-09-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

"Golden Tree" by Martin Brooks

(via Notcot)

REEBOK ALIEN STOMPERS

2011-09-04T13:44:00.001-07:00

In the epic 1986 science fiction film "Aliens," Sigourney Weaver can be seen wearing futuristic-looking red, grey, and white Reeboks; as a product tie-in following the film, Reebok sold "Alien Stompers" for a brief time. And now, every few years, a new line of Alien Stompers will come out on the market - they often sell out through online pre-orders, and you will likely never, ever see these on the shelves of shopping mall sneaker stores. Although they have serious fanboy geek appeal, they have an even greater selling point: they are some of the most comfortable sneakers you will ever wear.

And earlier this year, two cool new styles have hit the (online) market:

INDIANA JONES ALIEN STOMPERS
As of the date of this post, a small number of online stores still have "Indiana Jones Alien Stompers" in stock - dark denim and dark polished leather, with Pre-Columbian gods on the tongues.

BLADE RUNNER ALIEN STOMPERS
You can still find the awesome "Blade Runner Alien Stompers" in several online stores (here, here, and here) - futuristic metal-grey color, Japanese on the back, and the nice origami unicorn detail on the side.

DON'T PLAY NO GAME THAT I CAN'T WIN

2011-07-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

The full-length version of "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" from the new Beastie Boys album, "Hot Sauce Committee, part II."

And for a mere $750.00, you can actually BUY the set of Beastie Boys action figures (proceeds go to charity).

FAKE CRITERIONS: ENCINO MAN

2011-07-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

So in love with Fake Criterions, I've been inspired and started making some. I hope they show up on their site.
First installment: Encino Man.

FOOD AND AUTOMATION

2011-06-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Takoyaki are fried balls of batter with octopus meat, onions, ginger, and crunchy tempura scraps inside. Watching them cook in an automated fryer is something between hypnotic and meditative.

Watch robotic arms pick up and stack pancakes on the assembly line at Honeytop Foods:

(via Tasteologie/Notcot)

ROBOT JOX

2011-06-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

The 1990 film "Robot Jox" is the perfect paradox - incredibly lame and incredibly awesome at the same time. It cost around $10 million to make, and earned only $1.2 million gross. It is totally the epitome of late 80's/early 90's science fiction B-movies, and truly the opus magnus of actor Gary Graham.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8
LINK

MOVIE ART UPGRADE

2011-06-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

The perfect upgrade to movie art for iTunes, iPods, and AppleTVs - replacing the stock film "cover art" with awesome artistic remakes.

• (Often comical) "Fake Criterion" versions of film posters (including movies that would never, ever be in the Criterion Collection).
• A number of movie posters remade by poster artist Olly Moss.
• Star Wars episodes 4-6 beautifully revisioned by Olly Moss.
• Remakes of the posters for Star Wars episodes 1-3 by Zenithuk, inspired by the Olly Moss series.

XENOPHOBE

2011-06-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

It was such a totally epic arcade game in the late 80's, Bally Midway's "Xenophobe." On a big nostalgia trip, I've been playing the arcade version of Xenophobe on a free MAME emulator on my laptop (and here's the game ROM you will need). The gameplay is something of a comical version of the film "Aliens" - your mission is to clear Moon bases and starships of aliens, before the self-destruct time ends.

And how much do I love this game?
Click on the epic Xenophobe wallpaper I made [above] to download the full size. And click on the image [below] to get the full sized map of the first 5 levels of the game.
You're welcome!

GREEN LANTERN RING

2011-06-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

As another Summer superhero dorkfest is about to begin with the release of "Green Lantern" in almost a week, the question arises:
"What's the coolest product tie-in for this movie?"
As for me, I'm totally getting this sweet Neca Green Lantern light-up ring - it will be perfectly irritating to fire this beauty up during the movie premiere. And here's the epic part: it's only $4.99 at ToughNerdToys.

UPDATE: It arrived in the mail a few days ago (shipping cost almost as much as the ring itself), and it is pretty cool - lights up for a matter of seconds after pushing the button. Though it didn't give me any awesome alien powers, it does help me see when going to the bathroom late at night.

MEN'S GROOMING - PORTLAND GENERAL STORE

2011-06-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Portland General Store carries a nice line of toiletries for men, including a selection of their own fragrances: Tobacco no.001, Professor no.009, Whiskey no.006, and Moss no.017. I got their eau de toilette sampler set - the fragrances are totally my style, but several are a bit heavy on the cedar oil. They also offer a cool Cigar Box Sampler Set [only $40.00], and this epic men's limited-edition Shaving Kit.

(via Notcot)

THE GREATEST KUNG FU FILM COLLECTION EVER

2011-06-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

Behold! After several months of hunting, the collection is complete: the collection of the greatest Kung Fu films. The perfect housing for such a collection: a custom-made Buddha USB drive. Although there are scads of new Kung Fu films being made each year, this collection sums-up the greatest of the original "Old School" Kung Fu films, with only a few recent films that are truly worthy.
• "The 5 Deadly Venoms" ("The Five Venoms") [1978].
• "Clan of the White Lotus" ("Fists of the White Lotus") [1980].
• "Drunken Master" ("Drunken Monkey in the Tiger's Eye") [1978].
• "Encounters of the Spooky Kind" ("Spooky Encounters") [1980].
• "Five Fingers of Death" ("King Boxer") [1972].
• "Game of Death" [1978/2000].
• "Kung Fu Hustle" [2004].
• "Legendary Weapons of China" ("Legendary Weapons of Kung Fu") [1982].
• "Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky ("Story of Ricky") [1991].
• "Shaolin Soccer" ("Kung Fu Soccer") [2001].
• "Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter" ("Invincible Pole Fighter") [1983].
• "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" ("Shaolin Master Killer") [1978].
• "The Crippled Masters" [1979].
• "The Flying Guillotine" [1978].

CONVERSE x ACE HOTEL = CHUCK TAYLOR BOSEY

2011-03-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

Converse and Ace Hotel have joined forces to create an epic limited-edition sneaker: The Chuck Taylor Bosey. Inspired by wading boots and 1940's military boots.
(via The Awesomer)

NINJA TANTO BATTLE PACKAGE

2011-03-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

You couldn't name something with 4 cooler words: the Ninja Tanto Battle Package. For only $19.99, it comes with a hidden dagger, throwing spikes, and caltrops. A must-have for any stealthy assassin.

CHAP-HOP

2011-03-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Professor Elemental - "Fighting Trousers"

Mr. B: the Gentleman Rhymer - "Chap-Hop History"

AmberGambler - a beautiful Mr. B + Professor Elemental Megamix.

LEVITATION

2011-03-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

The beautiful Natsumi Hayashi takes daily photographs of herself levitating around Tokyo - YowaYowaCamera.

(via DudeCraft)

THINGS ORGANIZED NEATLY

2011-03-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Things Organized Neatly - a blog about . . . things organized neatly.
(via Notcot)

SKATEBOARD RIDE AROUND NYC

2011-03-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

Skateboard + DSLR camera + over-the-shoulder camera rig + New York City + Zack McTee =

(via Notcot, via Misagarcia)

A TOWN CALLED PANIC

2011-03-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

I've been secretly obsessed with the Belgian stop-animation TV show "A Town Called Panic" (Panique au Village) and bought the series on iTunes a year ago. It is a hypnotic and simple show: three plastic figures - Cowboy, Indian, and Horse - live together and get themselves into idiotic situations.

In 2009, the 75 minute "A Town Called Panic" movie came out, and now it is available to buy or rent on iTunes (and also on DVD). This movie is awesome - I've watched it about a dozen times now!

DelFly MICRO AIR VEHICLE

2011-03-09T10:35:00.000-08:00

The DelFly Micro Air Vehicle - weighing 3.07 grams, onboard camera, fully remote-controllable. An awesome micro-ornithopter.

(via BotJunkie)

(DE)MERIT BADGES

2011-03-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

DemeritWear Merit Badges - merit badges to honor what most of us are like in the great outdoors: getting poison oak, burning a marshmallow, not knowing how to tie knots; and everyday life things: breaking an arm, cleaning up dog poop, following assembly instructions, or flashing breasts at passers-by.

SECRET HOBO SIGNS

2011-02-25T21:04:00.001-08:00

The Internet has needed a good directory of old railyard hobo signs - the signs that hoboes used to chalk onto walls and trains to communicate with each other. Behold the Super Secret Clubhouse index of "Secret Hobo Signs". . .
[click to enlarge]

ROBOT HUMMINGBIRD

2011-02-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

AeroVironment, Inc. has created the "Hummingbird" Nano Air Vehicle - it can fly indoors and outdoors, it has a built-in video camera, and it looks like a hummingbird. A loud hummingbird.
Epic surveillance action.

(via Notcot)

HOBO/RAILROAD TATTOOS

2011-02-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

The Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture has an epic gallery of hobo and railroad tattoos.

BAY RUM - MAKE YOUR OWN

2011-02-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Bay Rum has been a standard at barber shops since the 1800's. Scented primarily of West Indian Bay (not the same as Bay Laurel used in cooking), it likely originated in the Caribbean Island of St. Thomas. Below is a recipe for making your own Bay Rum with ingredients available online (it is hard to get your hands on West Indian Bay leaves outside of tropical latitudes).

BAY RUM AFTERSHAVE/COLOGNE
• 7oz Dark Rum
• 7oz Rubbing Alcohol
• 2.5tsp West Indian Bay Oil (Pimenta racemosa)
• 1/2tsp Grapefruit Oil
• 1/4tsp Sandalwood Oil
• 1/4tsp Atlas Cedar Oil
• 1/8tsp Clove Oil
• 10 Allspice Berries
• 1 Stick Cinnamon

- Combine all ingredients, allow ingredients to set for 20-30 days in a capped bottle, in a cool, dark place.
- Strain out the allspice berries and cinnamon.
- Bottle in small minibar-sized liquor bottles.
- Make epic label. Give Bay Rum to everyone you know.
* NOTE: the name may be deceptive - Bay Rum is not drinkable. West Indian Bay is reportedly toxic when ingested.

LEFTOVERS!

2011-02-20T10:51:00.001-08:00

[click to embiggen]

TOASTER SETTINGS

2011-02-20T10:45:00.000-08:00

Customized the settings on my toaster . . .

MERIT BADGES - FOR EXCELLENCE IN LIFE

2011-02-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Disorderly Goods has a line of merit badges for all of us - honoring such accomplishments as: using our powers for good, being an optimist, and giving a shit.
$10.00 each or $112.00 for all 12 of them.

They also have free sweet wallpapers of their merit badges.

HOBO ART: WHO IS BOZO TEXINO?

2011-02-08T13:06:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Bill Daniel set out to ride the rails and live the way of the hobo to answer the profound question "Who is Bozo Texino?" Who is the person, for almost 80 years, who has scrawled this cryptic portrait onto countless railcars across the United States. Daniel's film can be purchased on Amazon.com and on his website.

(via Cool Hunting)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON

2011-02-08T12:46:00.000-08:00

Girl Scout Cookie Season is upon us once again as thousands of beret-clad girls take to the streets pimping chocolate-coconut-caramel awesomeness at $4.00 a box. The Girl Scouts website has a nice directory to let you know when cookie-pimping girls will be showing up at a street corner near you.

Personal Goal: If I successfully eat one box of each kind of Girl Scout cookie, I should be allowed to buy and wear this kick-ass merit badge.

RARE "LOST" CHOCOLATE

2011-01-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

A rare variety of cacao (the tree which chocolate is made from) called "Puro Nacional" was recently rediscovered in Peru; this variety was thought to have gone extinct in the early 20th century, due to disease. Marañón Chocolate is now resurrecting this variety, known for its purple beans and once prized for its floral and fruit notes - keep your eyes and noses peeled in select stores.

(via World Famous Design Junkies)

NO COUNTRY FOR SMALL MEN

2011-01-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

f/28 makes miniature models of the seedy American underbelly, in remarkable detail. Tiny, yet epic.

(via Gizmodo)

ROLAND ITEN - MECHANICAL LUXURY

2011-01-09T18:43:00.001-08:00

Roland Iten makes mechanically complex yet elegant luxury accessories for men: belt buckles, card wallets, cuff links.

LEGO BRICK THIEF

2011-01-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

The music is catchy and the animation is awesome, but I'm a little creeped-out by the mustachioed man who looks like my 9th grade German teacher using inter-dimensional portals to steal LEGOs from children.

(aus der Laughing Squid)

BENEATH NEW YORK

2011-01-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

Steve Duncan, urban historian, travels through the treacherous abandoned subway tunnels beneath New York City - through sewer waterfalls, across live tracks, and making contact with "the Mole People":

(via The Coolist)

CONEY ISLAND 1905

2011-01-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

A look at the spectacular rides of Coney Island in 1905, as the young ladies of Miss Knapp's Select School pay a visit:

WHAT'S FOR SCHOOL LUNCH?

2011-01-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

What's for School Lunch - a gallery of school lunches around the world.

3DD

2011-01-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

The best use of 3D technology to date: 3DD - a 3D celebration of breasts. NSFW.

(via Cool Hunting)

MAKING HARD CANDY

2011-01-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

"Bonbons Macherei" - making hard candies in Berlin:

(via Notcot)

SECRET SOCIETY RINGS

2011-01-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

Poland-based jewelry manufacturer AJS has an awesome selection of secret society rings for sale: the Knights Templar, the Masons, the Illuminati, the Knights of Columbus, etc. It appears that they are no longer selling from their website, but are selling their rings directly on eBay (LINK and LINK).
.

DINOSAUR ART

2011-01-05T18:29:00.001-08:00

Copyright Expired has this great collection of early illustrations and paintings of dinosaurs and ancient mammals. They make great wallpapers.

A TINY GERMAN CITY

2011-01-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

Detailed miniature scenes of Hamburg, Germany at Miniatur Wunderland.

SPACE SUITS

2011-01-05T18:01:00.000-08:00

The New York Times article/gallery: Space Suits.

(via Notcot)

LUNAR ECLIPSE: TIME LAPSE

2011-01-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

Time lapse video of the recent lunar eclipse (December 21, 2010):

SOLAR FLARE

2010-12-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

(via Notcot, via Popular Science)

SHORT AND NICE

2010-12-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

Kurz und Schön ("Short and Nice"):

(via Notcot, via Das Muse)

LINK

RAILGUNS AND LASERS

2010-12-15T12:25:00.001-08:00

The U.S. Navy has developed a 33 megajoule railgun, which can launch a 23 pound projectile at Mach 7 [LINK].

Shooting down a missile with an airplane-mounted laser:

COWBOYS AND ALIENS

2010-12-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD - Two of my favorite things together in the same movie (like snakes and planes):

SALT FLAVORED

2010-12-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

In a Japanese grocery store,
I spy these Boul'mich Macarons [sic].
Average looking macaroons.
No big deal.
Then I notice the bluish ones are labeled "SALT."

Yes.
They are salt flavored.
Had to get one.
Tragically it didn't taste salty.
But I like the idea of salt as a legitimate dessert flavor.
Working on designs: salt sponge cake, salt sorbet, salt crepes.
It can happen.
I believe.

PROSTHETIC TENTACLE

2010-12-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

Designer Kaylene Kau has developed a new kind of multifunctional prosthetic arm which is: a tentacle. A bit super villian-y, which is AWESOME!

(via Notcot)

EXPLOSION ART

2010-12-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

Bill Burke's "Destrukto" photo series - high-speed photos of things exploding from gunshots.
Michael Marcovici's "Big Bang" series - painting with explosive charges and ink.
"Throw Ups" by Niels "Shoe" Meulman:

URBAN SUNDIAL

2010-12-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

This was a fun experiment: to turn any sunlit stopsign into a sundial. With a properly designed dial stencil (custom made for this latitude), and correctly aligned, the Urban Sundial can tell the time with the stopsign's shadow.

MEXICAN JUMPING BEANS

2010-12-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Something you don't hear much about anymore: Mexican Jumping Beans. They aren't actually beans, but seeds from the Northern Mexican shrub Sebastiania palmeri that are infested with the tiny larva of the Jumping Bean Moth (Cydia deshaisiana) - when the larva get too hot, they "jump" inside the seed to move to a cooler location.

You can buy bulk sets of Jumping Beans from Jumping Beans-R-Us for as low as $15.00+S&H.

PALLET PATIO

2010-12-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

An awesome outdoor patio made entirely from wooden pallets and zip-ties, by Mister Jalopy at Dinosaurs and Robots.

LUCKY TOKEN: SILVER EDITION

2010-12-07T12:04:00.001-08:00

Remember those oldschool arcade token machines, where with the pull of the slot-machine lever you could stamp anything into a souvenir token? At Common Object Jewelry, you can get a custom-made one of sterling silver - bringing this childhood artifact to a new level of sophistication.

AURORA BOREALIS

2010-12-06T22:15:00.000-08:00

Time lapse video of the aurora borealis over Tromsø, Norway:

(via Notcot, via Fubiz)

Round 2: The sound of the radio waves given-off by the aurora borealis.

POMPLAMOOSE X-MAS

2010-12-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

The epic duo of Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn, known as Pomplamoose, have done the best job to date of getting me into the Christmas spirit:

You may recognize them in these recent holiday Hyundai ads:

HILLER GOODSPEED

2010-12-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

I totally dig Hiller Goodspeed's new poster series - advertisements for everyday activities.

THE SYMPHONY OF SCIENCE

2010-12-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

John D. Boswell, the artist behind the music of Colorpulse, has begun a new project called "The Symphony of Science" - creating music from the scientific monologues of such greats as Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking; including FREE mp3 downloads.

MIXTAPE GENERATOR

2010-12-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

The Mixtape Generator - a warm reminder of the lost art of the cassette mixtape.

iPOD NANO + LUNATIK = EPIC VIDEO WRISTWATCH

2010-11-29T12:53:00.001-08:00

~~Designer Scott Wilson (through KickStarter) is helping me fulfill the childhood dream of having a video wristwatch (that I can watch Kung Fu movies on while sitting in long meetings)~~[Just learned the sad news - iPod Nanos don't have video capability. Sigh.] Scott Wilson is creating kits that allow you to turn your iPod Nano into a wristwatch, available Jan 2011, at a price of $69.95 at KickStarter

(via Notcot)

PAGANI vs. LAMBORGHINI - HOT PURSUIT

2010-11-29T11:43:00.000-08:00

(via Notcot)

STRANGE CUSTOMS OF THE WORLD

2010-11-23T23:52:00.000-08:00

I recently bought this set of cigarette cards: "Strange Customs of the World." It's a sensationalist anthropological series on the interesting customs around the world, though some of these (like a bar mitzvah) would seem strange only if you lived in a cave. [click to biggify]

SOPHISTICO!

2010-11-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

The sounds of Henry Mancini, the smell of tropical flowers, and the Sopistico! mug from MunkTiki - the perfect touch to any tropical lounge party.

STENCIL CLOCK

2010-11-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

Last Summer, I painted this on the wall of a friend's warehouse studio. The clock face (and the fake shadow) are spraypainted onto the wall, and the inexpensive clock element and hands came from a local craft store for $7.99.

AUTUMN LEAVES WALLPAPERS

2010-11-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

Gizmodo's "Fall Leaves" photo challenge - capturing the essence of Autumn. They make great seasonal wallpapers. Here's the Flickr photo set.

ANGUS McKIE: GIANT EXPLODING ROBOT ARTIST

2010-11-17T20:58:00.000-08:00

Nobody paints exploding spaceships and giant gladiatorial robots better than Angus McKie - he shaped the science fiction of my youth (I'd love to have one of his robot battle scenes painted on my bedroom wall, even if my girlfriend thinks it's weird).

A nice gallery of his earlier work at World Famous Design Junkies and some more recent works at Angus's current website.

WORKING TO CODE - 10 BULLETS

2010-11-14T17:47:00.000-08:00

An awesome film by Tom Sachs and Van Neistat about the safety policies in Tom Sachs' studio.

BIKE ON FIRE

2010-11-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

(via Notcot)

OLDEST MONOPOLY SET

2010-11-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

On sale at Sotheby's: Lot no 232 - from the Malcolm Forbes Toy Collection - a 1933 handmade Monopoly game set.

It is the oldest of its kind in existence, hand penned and painted by Charles B. Darrow (the guy who developed the Atlantic City version of the game).
The gameboard is circular.
Expected to fetch US$60,000-$80,000.

(via Dinosaurs and Robots)

TOOL LOCK-PICK CARD

2010-11-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

The newest addition to the "Emergency Kit" in the trunk of my car: the Tool Lock-Pick Card.
Only $29.99 at the Maker Shed.

How to Pick a Lock

St. FRANCIS of the LASER BURNS

2010-11-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

At a local art museum, there is a painted triptych attributed to Italian Renaissance painter Bonifacio Bembo (ca. 1460). It is a portrayal of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata wounds from a red-winged angel. . . WITH AWESOME FRICKIN LASERS!!!

You can almost hear the "zzzssht!" sound!

GOLD SHARK'S TEETH NECKLACES

2010-11-06T17:05:00.001-07:00

Q: What jewelry goes best with the smell of Mandom?

A: An epic Gold Shark's Tooth Necklace - let the world know that you made Mother Nature your b*tch!

SKATE AND DESTROY fall a lot

2010-11-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

This kid is awesome:

HELLUVA PARADE!

2010-10-29T21:29:00.001-07:00

One thing we can say about North Korea, they can throw a hell of a parade!

Filmed by Dan Chung and Tania Branigan (for Guardian UK), on a Canon 6D.

(via Kuriositas)

ORIGAMI HANG-GLIDERS

2010-10-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

How to make a paper hang-glider and get it to fly continuously, at Science Toy Maker.

PENCIL FIGHTING - THE MOVIE

2010-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

CALLIGRAFFITI

2010-10-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

Calligraphy + Graffiti = Calligraffiti, by Dutch artist Niels "Shoe" Meulman.

"This Is Not Awesome"
"The Little Bang Theory"

SECRET SOCIETY RING

2010-10-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

A). I dig the work of H.R. Giger.
B). I've always wanted to be in a secret society.
C). I totally want this H.R. Giger "Emblem for a Secret Society Ring."
D). I hate meetings, so it don't actually want to be in a secret society - I just want the ring and the mysterious prestige.

THINGS I LIKE, THINGS I DISLIKE

2010-10-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

"Foutaises" ("Things I Like, Things I Dislike") - a short 1989 film by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (that guy who did "Amélie" and "Delicatessen").

There is something admirable about knowing yourself this well:

HOBO SIGNS

2010-10-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

World Famous Design Junkies has a nice collection of "Hobo Signs" excerpted from the 1969 book "Signs, Symbols, and Signets" by Ernst Lehner.

ERIC OCTOBER, TIKI ARTIST

2010-10-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

The awesome Tiki art of Eric October:

A TRIP TO THE MOON

2010-10-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Georges and Gaston Méliès' 1902 film "Le Voyage Dans la Lune" ("A Trip to the Moon") is the first science fiction movie, ever. This version has narration with a charming French accent:

CHECHEN DIY GUNS

2010-10-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

A gallery of homemade guns and weapons seized by the Russian army and police in Chechnya, at EnglishRussia.

ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS

2010-10-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from Dick Proenneke's 1968 experience of living alone in the Alaskan wilderness. He documented his life there with a movie camera; he hand-made everything he needed: his cabin, his food, and many of his tools. It's fun watching him make stuff:

BROCK DAVIS

2010-10-19T14:38:00.001-07:00

The always awesome daily art of Brock Davis:

STAR WARS GRAFFITI

2010-10-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

(from the Flickr album of Adacito)

(via Kuriositas, del Adacito)

LANDSCAPE WITH MARTIAN WAR MACHINES

2010-10-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

I just finished my first piggyback painting (painting on top of someone else's painting). I added Martian war machines to this $10.00 garage sale painting of a California landscape.
[click to enlarge]
"California Landscape (with Martian War Machines)"
Acrylic (on acrylic) on canvas
20.5" x 32.5" in frame
[click to enlarge]
This painting is for sale for only $200.00 (+S&H).
Any interested parties, please inquire in the comment section below.

SHRUNKEN HEADS

2010-10-16T13:03:00.001-07:00

Salangome Imports is one of the few places you can buy a decent reproduction of an Amazonian shrunken head (known as a tsantsa). Perfect for any rear-view mirror. Bonus Round: How shrunken heads are made by the Jivaro (the Shuar) of Ecuador.

MUSHROOM LAMPS

2010-10-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

Great Mushrooming makes these awesome LED mushroom lamps, utilizing reclaimed wood.

(via Inhabitat, via Notcot)