@random

Paper planes.

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:32:23 -0500

No not another MIA cover actual paper airplanes. My son has been into them lately so I did some Googling and came up with a couple tidbits o’ fun:

10PaperAirplanes.com provides animated gif tutorials of how to fold 10 planes. The Kite is the first on my list to make.
Exploratorium provides a step by step diagram for making the Nakamura lock, but the best part is this body contorting airplane throwing technique.
The New Millennium Paper Airplane Book is “… a collection of some of the artist’s favorite paper airplanes and stories by their creators” by way of Bobulate.

Time to fold some paper.

Six months in a fishbowl.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:53:29 -0500

So this is what it’s like to go to jail:

We are housed in cells that resemble fish bowls, [with] large plexiglass windows, so that the guards are able to look in at any time; no privacy whatsoever. I also expected boredom to be exactly how it is: mind-numbingly unproductive. You can only work out, read, attempt to educate a cellmate on metaphysics, masturbate, and draw so much y’know?

From this interview with the “hipster grifter.”

The birds.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:49:22 -0500

Andrew Zuckerman’s Bird book is fantastic. Complete with sounds and stats for each subject. The California Condor looks like right proper villain. Oh, and I checked there truly is a Jackass Penguin. [Via Chris Glass]

The squirrel assassin.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:40:30 -0500

I’m glad I have no artistic ability becuase if I did I would spend my days drawing tiny weapons on photos of little fury animals.

secret spot I found by quigley_brown

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:07:25 -0500

secret spot I found by quigley_brown

Engine Engine Number Nine On the New York transit line If my...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:52:00 -0500

Engine Engine Number Nine
On the New York transit line
If my train jumps off the track
Pick it up pick it up pick it up

Still a most excellent song to make one’s peers jump. [via]

The Writer & the Witch

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:46:39 -0500

The Writer & the Witch:

A wonderful short story. Great fodder for your Instapaper queue.

A bird bath.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:42:48 -0500

A bird bath.

The Bone Church

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:38:00 -0500

The Bone Church:

Stephen King does a poem for Playboy. Don’t let the word poem throw you off though it’s classic King …

All I know is that goddam Javier’s eyes wouldn’t stay shut but went on bulging in and out even after he was an hour cold. Something in there, all right, arr, yes there was!

By way of Rex Sorgatz.

A frosty morning.

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:23:43 -0500

A frosty morning.

Birdhouse for your soul

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:18:56 -0500

Birdhouse for your soul:

An excellent story about Canada, a vat of murky BBQ sauce, a birdhouse, and the Internet.

For my moms.

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:49:17 -0500

I will be doing the DC Heart Walk next week. I’m walking in honor of my Mom, a heart attack survivor, and all around awesome lady. My goal is to raise 200 smackers.

The money raised goes to support the American Heart Association who funds research, public health education, community service, and professional training and education all related to cardiovascular health.

All donations are tax deductible, none are too small, can be made online, and will be much appreciated.

This is Chuck BB’s illustration of Robert Neville, the...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:10:34 -0500

This is Chuck BB’s illustration of Robert Neville, the main character from Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel, I Am Legend. It comes by way of an awesome site called Hey Oscar Wilde! It’s Clobberin’ Time, which is a “collection of various artists interpreting their favorite literary figure/author/character.”

I finally read I Am Legend not long ago after watching the Vincent Price film version a couple times. I like post-apocalyptic tales and Legend delivers on that aspect with a plague of roving vampires that trap Neville in his fortified house night after night.

When Neville isn’t boozing, he forages during the day, fixes up his house, makes stakes for vampire killin, and grows garlic for vampire repellin. All good stuff. But to me the best part of the story was how he tries to solve the mystery of the plague and find a cure. Imagine if you had nothing but time on your hands, could you solve a medical mystery with no formal training? With only a library full of books? Me, I’d probably stick to boozin.

Anywhoo, that’s a very long winded way of saying great blog, illustration, and choice of character. [via]

"I don’t care if you turn your nose up at me because I’m not reading whatever sneering..."

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:42:00 -0500

“I don’t care if you turn your nose up at me because I’m not reading whatever sneering deconstructionist tome you’re slogging through—dripping with semiotic snobbery and hoary lit crit nonsense—and pretending you’re enjoying it. Basically I want to read a fucking story.”

- from On reading for pleasure. Amen. Although I did have to look up semiotic. Maybe I should read more “smart” books.

8 days, 3,700 miles

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:35:39 -0500

8 days, 3,700 miles:

Matt Sundstrom traveled along the Oregon Trail when moving from New Hampshire to Oregon. He made drawings of the whole trip.

by IbaiAcevedo.com

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:59:26 -0500

by IbaiAcevedo.com

Humungastache

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:39:24 -0500

Humungastache:

“A ball and mustache all in one.” Looks like I found my dog’s Christmas present.

I’ve Got More Rhymes Than I’ve Got Grey Hairs And...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:59:28 -0500

I’ve Got More Rhymes Than I’ve Got Grey Hairs
And That’s Alot Because I’ve Got My Share

[via]

The Measure of Old Bay

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:53:24 -0500

The Measure of Old Bay:

As the spice celebrates its 70th anniversary, the retro-, primary-colored can is a visual icon as familiar to many as Campbell Soup. The seasoning, once used for crabs and shrimp in the Chesapeake Bay, is now available in all 50 states and used on french fries, pizza and popcorn and more.

Old Bay on french fried pertators. Mmmhmm.

A robot I built for my boy. The arms move and the tummy lights...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:48:19 -0500

A robot I built for my boy. The arms move and the tummy lights up. Legos over breakfast is always a good thing.