Thumbs and Ammo posits the idea: would it be funny to replace guns with thumbs up in stills from movies?
YES!
SmartInversion: helium-filled flying object that moves through the air by turning inside-out
From the Festo web site:
SmartInversion is a helium-filled flying object that moves through the air by turning inside-out. This constant, rhythmically pulsating movement is known as inversion and gives the flight model its name. With the intelligent combination of extreme lightweight construction, electric drive units and control and regulation technology, inversion kinematics can be indefinitely maintained to produce motion through the air.
Draw Homer - Artists from Around the World
From the project page:
The Mission
“Draw Homer” is an art project of world domination.
We want the very best artists from all over the globe to draw Homer. Our ultimate goal is to have Matt Groening himself drawing one.
When we achieved our goal, we will make an art exhibition with the best Homers. And the best of the very best will get a really nice prize we cannot talk about yet.
APP of the Day - Google Now
While Apple has been betting on the power of SIRI, Google has been rolling out a feature called Google Now, which essentially uses all the information about you and your situation that you share with Google to power a focused set of information offerings at any specific moment.
Now its on the iPhone and the iPad. I've been waiting for it.
Book Collages that Tell the Story
Oklahoma-based artist Kelly Campbell Berry layers illustrations with snippets of text from the story to create a visual representation of the book.
Berry:
"I am truly amazed at the ability some people have to arrange words in such a way that we, the readers, can actually ‘see’ into the imagined world of the writer. We relate, feel, and become invested in the characters so deeply that we are pulled into their world for a brief moment of escape. My book sculptures are my way of showing what the words on the pages create in the imagination of the readers."
Song of the Day - Keep Together by Hunter Hunted
From the band's Facebook Page:
Hunter Hunted is Dan Chang and Michael Garner. The Los Angeles duo weave intricate vocal harmonies and heart beat rhythms into voluminous, soaring songs that toe the line between California indie and folk rock.
To say that they've accomplished a lot in a short amount of time would be an understatement. Since the bands inception in January of 2013, they've been included in Nylon Magazine's "Bands to look out for", Teen Vogue's "Jam's of the year", Billboard Magazines "Scouting Report", and KCRW's "Bands we Love". With standout track "Keep Together" making the rounds on TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and The Real World, the band has performed everywhere from The Conan O'Brien show to SXSW. Four weeks since their Billboard charting debut, the band is keeping busy, doing a US tour with Fitz and the Tantrums followed by a West coast tour with The Mowgli's.
Giant Robot That Kids Control
At about $20,000, this 6ft tall giant robot is more than just a toy. It's an actual kid-controlled robot, from Japanese company Sakakibara Kikai.
With hand controls, kids can have it do simple movements with its arms. The robot can walk forwards, backwards and can even turn a full circle.
Neil Gaiman came to see Neverwhere at Sacred Fools in Los Angeles
Our own Devereau Chumrau has been killing it as Hunter in the West Coast premiere of the stage version of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Not only have the dedicated Gaiman and Neverwhere fans been sounding their support and love (here and here), but the LA Times chimed in with its own review. And then, Gaiman himself made it to the show last night, staying to hang out for a couple hours afterwards with the cast and crew.
@devereauchumrau loved spending time talking to you!
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) April 29, 2013
With such a great collection of talent, it isn't surprising that the show has had an extra performance night (Thursdays) add and that the run has been extended 2 weeks until May 25.
If you want to go, just get your tickets online ahead of time as it is very often sold out.
The White House on Tumblr
The White House is on tumblr, BOOM.
Timelapse of the Karoo Region of South Africa
South African fine-art landscape photographer Joe Louw and his wife Jonelle took a trip into the Karoo region of South Africa.
Rocky Mountain Night Skies Lit by the Northern Lights
Photographer Richard Gottardo on his months in the Rockies hoping to capture the Northern Lights:
"Time after time they prove to be incredibly difficult to forecast."
April 13th and 14th, an enormous solar wind (i.e. a coronal mass ejection or CME) streamed over the Rockies in British Columbia.
Just astoundingly beautiful!
Florida Theme Parks Seen From Above
Aerial photographer Jason Hawke has a really stunning portfolio, but these of the Orlando parks from overhead match the beauty with the disorienting surrealism of Disney.
Finland Winter Photos
In the thick of spring, these photos by Joni Niemela of the Finnish winter seem more beautiful to me than they might have a few months ago.
The Vatican Explained
Seems a much more logical explanation than James Tate's How the Pope is Chosen and fun like this video series' other The Secret City of London.
Fragments of Time - A Very Personal Portrait of Hong Kong
Daniele Manoli describes his short video:
A very personal portrait of Hong Kong shot between 2011 - 2013 featuring the words of my father.
Online Miniseries: ‘The New African Photography’ on Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera English just premiered the first episode of their new show, “The New African Photography.” Aiming to replace the images of famine and war with images that show an emerging 21st Century Africa, the show is told through the eyes of photographers.
TOKYO CITY SYMPHONY: 3D Map Imaging
For the 10th anniversary of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, we are presented this absolutely stunning digital projection mapping project in conjunction with the Tokyo City Symphony.
14ft StoopidTallBike from CicLAvia
Last weekend's CicLAvia 2013 in Los Angeles, CA saw this enormous bike, called StoopidTallBike. Indeed.
Richie Trimble explains his work:
14.5ft at the Seat
Built in 12 work hours
One Huffy beach cruiser, 2" square tubing, 3/4" round tubing, and 1" round tubing
26" single speed coaster brake wheelset
6 1/2 single speed bicycle chains (32.5ft of chain)
Music is "Contact High" by Architecture in Helsinki
Carefully Composed Long Exposure Shots of Gleaming Landscapes
Sydney-based Samuel Burns uses a large format camera set at extremely long exposures (up to eight hours) to create these gleaming landscapes.
He explains:
I hide away behind the camera under a dark cloth to compose each image on a ground glass, seeing the image up-side-down and using old fashioned dials to adjust and refine the composure. It is not unusual for me to spend half an hour setting up a composition, employing large format camera movements such as rise, shift and tilt and then hiding back away under the dark cloth to make sure everything is perfect. It needs to be to make sure the wait is worth it!
Melbourne in Tilt-shift Miniaturism
"A short tilt-shift time-lapse film featuring the city of Melbourne, Australia. This piece is 10 months in the making and features a range of different events and festivals held in the city throughout the year."
