Monday, September 28, 2009
The Solar Mount.
The Samrat Yantra in Jaipur, India is the largest sundial ever built. Its gnomon is 73 ft. The sundial is part of the Jantar Mantar complex in Jaipur, India, one of five large astronomical observatories constructed out of stone by Jai Sing II between 1727 and 1734.
Via: Moon River
Burning the media-Ant Farm.
Ant Farm was a group of architects who produced experimental works on the "fringe of architecture" during the period 1968-1978. They documented their work with video, and were influential early video and performance artists. The most well known work to come from the group was the famed Caddilac Ranch, but his remains our favorite.
Ant Farm's "Phantom dream car" in its brief glory, but at the end of the day what did it all mean?...
Ant Farm's "Phantom dream car" in its brief glory, but at the end of the day what did it all mean?...Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
V is for...
Vampyroteuthis infernalis (Vampire squid). The squid has large fins at the to of its body that resemble large ears. It is very gelatinous in form, resembling a jellyfish more than the common squid. The vampire squid has the largest eyes of any animal. It is a small animal, growing to a length of about six inches, bit it has globular eyeballs as large as the eyes of a large dog. The vampire squid's body is covered with light-producing organs called photophores. This gives the squid the unique ability to "turn itself on or off" at will. When the photophores are off, the squid is completely invisible in the dark waters where it lives. These squid live as deep as 3000 feet. Unlike other squid and octopi, the vampire squid has no ink sack. The vampire squid's arms are covered with sharp tooth-like spikes. This gives the animal its name. One pair of arms has been modified into retractile filaments that can extend to twice the body length of the animal. The squid may use these arms to capture its prey. When threatened, the squid can draw its arms up over itself and form a defensive web that covers its body. The vampire squid can swim extremely fast for a gelatinous animal. It can reach a speed of 2 body lengths per second and can accelerate to this speed in only 5 seconds. If danger is present, it can make several quick turns in an attempt to escape its enemies. The vampire squid is found throughout the world in most tropical and temperate regions.
Via: oddee
Dancers from Berlin's Sasha Waltz And Guests performed Purcell's Dido And Aeneas in a water tank filled with 7,500 gallons of chlorinated warm water. Via: spluch
Friday, September 25, 2009
どうもありがとうミスターロボット
Mr. Roboto was a fictional character created by Dennis DeYoung in 1983's classic Styx concept album Kilroy Was Here and the 1984 mini-movie in Caught In The Act Live. Mr. Roboto, the first single from that album, was a #3 Billboard hit for Styx, and the Roboto character remains an enduring symbol for the band.
Via: The Center For Roboto Research And Preservation
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Fragile Machine.
The art of Arthur Ganson. "As long as the idea is nonphysical, it is permanent; it becomes temporary as a physical device; and then it becomes permanent again in the mind of the viewer."
Via: We Make Money Not Art
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Toy Society spreads love through the streets by leaving homemade toys that need homes. When you find a toy, send a note to the society so they know where the toys end up.
Via: Craftzine
"Often using little more than a pen-knife, many of these drifters pain-stakingly altered the extremely hard copper-nickel alloy, transforming the Indian's head into profile portraits of friends and loved ones (both male and female), of other hobos, or of themselves. Rare examples also feature alterations of the "buffalo," typically into donkeys or elephants. These "Hobo Nickels" were a way for the vagabonds to increase the value of the coin so that it brought a more advantageous exchange when used to barter for food and drink, or for lodging or transportation." Via: Lord-whimsy
"We are tired of this flower-life. We wish for permission to assume the human form, and to judge, for ourselves, whether that which they say above, of our character, is agreeable to truth." Via: bibliodyssey
"After all, it is over 40 years old by now, how many toys of that age share the same degree of likeness to the real world?" Via: Avanaut's photostream
Monday, September 7, 2009
Edmond Charles Genet’s “Aeronaut” - a “Fish-shaped, horse-powered, paddle-wheel dirigible”. This is believed to be the first U.S. patent issued for an aeronautical invention, though it appears the documentation has been lost in time
It appeared in his book of 1825 titled “Memorial on the upward forces of fluids, and their applicability to several arts, sciences, and public improvements”
“From a scientific viewpoint this is the most important American publication in the field of aviation, for it is the first printed suggestion of the correct theory of the heavier than air machine..”
Via: Xplanes
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Do not adjust your televison set-The Twonky.
The Twonky is a 1953 comedy-science fiction film, written and directed by Arch Oboler and starring Hans Conried. The script was based on the short story "The Twonky", written by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore (writing as Lewis Padgett).
Thursday, September 3, 2009
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