Thinking about growing your own donuts? Then you’ll need a few of these “Donut Seeds” by Jason Fulford.

via Chris Glass

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The latest Techno Tuesday comic explores the world Fine Art Photography.

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In honor of Veterans Day, mental_floss has a heartwarming round-up of super excited dogs greeting soldiers returning home.

via Boing Boing

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While avoiding working on something really important right now you should watch this clever animated short about “Procrastination” by John Kelly.

via Ze Frank

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• Tweetie Reloaded: An Interview with Loren Brichter (unraveled)
• Apple Releases Safari 4.0.4 (Mac Rumors)
• Autonomous Roombas do Pac-Man Right
• Apple Emerges as Nintendo's Game Rival (Wall Street Journal)
• HP to Acquire 3Com for $2.7 Billion
• Some Thoughts on Twitters New ReTweet Feature (Sean Bonner)
• Why Retweet Works The Way It Does (Evan Williams)

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Last month I traveled to Texas to visit Rackspace Hosting the company we lease our web hosting servers from, along with The Rackspace Cloud which provides the cloud infrastructure for our new Cloud Hosting service.

I started off in downtown San Antonio at Weston Centre where The Rackspace Cloud is located and general manager Emil Sayegh gave me a full tour of their operations.

Next I met up with our account manager Sergio Manzo who took me over to visit Rackspace Datapoint. I made a trip there back in 2005 as well.

After that we went over to “The Castle”, the new Rackspace headquarters located inside of an old shopping mall. Last year Robert Scoble did a video tour of The Castle. While there Robert James Taylor took me on a tour of impressive new offices.

In the middle of The Castle office they have restored the original escalators from the department store, adding new translucent panels to the sides to show that Rackspace believes in “transparency” when it comes to their business.

Next to the escalators is “The World’s Largest Word Search” featuring 3000+ hidden words.

Finally I made my way up to Austin where I visited the new Rackspace office there.

Photo Gallery: Rackspace

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Newsweek has produced a video that recaps the last decade in seven minutes. It’s part of their series 20/10: The Decade In Rewind which takes a look at the biggest moments in the first ten years of the 21st Century.

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photos by Scott Beale

I recently had a chance to check out Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper, a beautiful beekeeping supply store and honey shop run by Cameo Wood, located in The Mission District of San Francisco next door to Mission: Comics and Art.

While there are a few photos I shot of HMS Beekeeper.

See Previously: Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper, A Beekeeping Supply & Honey Shop in San Francisco

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photo by Jason DeFillippo

Supernova 2009, a conference on change in the Network Age organized by Kevin Werbach, takes place in San Francisco on December 1st at the Mission Bay Conference Center and December 2nd & 3rd at Wharton West.

The Supernova conference explores the transformation of computing, communications, business, and society in the Network Age. Now in its eighth year, Supernova brings together approximately 500 leading executives, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, government officials, and business practitioners to make connections, discuss emerging trends, and discover innovative new ideas and companies.

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“Pigeon: Impossible”, a marvelous CG animated short by Lucas Martell. This was Lucas’ first attempt at animation, taking him 5 years to create the film.

A rookie secret agent is faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase.

via Boing Boing

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• Twitter Account "Shit My Dad Says" Gets TV Show
• LinkedIn Works With Twitter, and Vice Versa
• Kevin Smith Hosting Q&A Presentation at Macworld 2010
• Typekit, The Easiest Way to Use Real Fonts on the Web
• Twitter To Rollout A New API For Location-Based Trends (TechCrunch)

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guest post by Aaron Muszalski

photo by Audrey Penven

Talk about subcultural mashups!

Newly-opened SOMA coffeeshop Wicked Grounds has created a unique space for itself at the intersection of two highly-fetishized San Francisco lifestyles, coffee drinking and BDSM. Calling itself a “Kinky Café and Boutique” Wicked Grounds offers gourmet food and drinks – including coffee from the acclaimed Ritual Roasters – alongside a selection of fetish toys and accessories. The café also serves as a gallery space, displaying fine erotic photography and painting, and hosts a diverse variety of special events. They even hosted a live Kink.com porn shoot. Keeping the café open the whole time, of course.

Located at the corner of 8th and Folsom (home to the infamous Folsom Street Fair, in the heart of SF’s leather and fetish scene) and open until 2am on Friday and Saturday, Wicked Grounds has quickly become a favored haunt for kinky and kink-curious coffee lovers alike. With a clientele that runs the gamut from Daddies and Dommes to bloggers and Web entrepreneurs, Wicked Grounds is a uniquely San Franciscan third place; sort of a Perpignan Railway Station for the black leather and laptop set.

photo by Audrey Penven

Despite their growing popularity, Wicked Grounds is currently in need of community support to offset unexpected expenses that they incurred trying to open, San Francisco being an often ridiculously bureaucratic city when it comes to permitting and licensing. You can help by making a donation, dropping in for a latte or spreading the word on twitter, Google or Yelp. All donors will receive a gift package, including a limited edition coloring book signed by noted fetish artist Suzanne Rachel Forbes.

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Pink Tentacle has a great round-up of sci-fi art by Japanese illustrator Shusei Nagaoka, who created several classic album covers including the 1977 album “Out of the Blue” by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).

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guest post by mikl-em

Above Mark Growden performs “I’m Your Man” (a Leonard Cohen cover) from his new, as-yet-to-be-released album Saint Judas. This just released video playing live with his quartet was recorded in July at The Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco.

Mark has appeared numerous times on this blog. He is a long-time friend of the mirthful cephalopod, who has performed at Squid-related parties, benefits and even in Scott Beale’s kitchen.

He’s been a fixture in the San Francisco music scene for more than a decade, who has shown his musical versatility as a singer/composer who plays banjo, guitar, accordion, sax, and just about anything else he decides to pick up.

With his upcoming album, assisted by his long time band and a top notch producer, plus a renewed focus on touring, Mark looks set to increase his national reputation in the very near future.

I talked to Mark recently about his new CD, the show he’s playing this Friday to celebrate its release, his influences, his instruments, and how & when he writes songs.

A lot of great stuff, click the link below for the whole interview.

photo by Helena Price

Q: For those who aren’t familiar with your work, maybe you can give some reference points: who are some of your musical heroes? Who inspires you to do what you do?

At the core I’d say my 3 biggest influences are Igor Stravinsky (especially his 3 great pieces commissioned by the Ballet Russe), John Coltrane, and prison work songs from the American South.

But who or what inspires me to do what I do? Really, I do it because it’s what I do. I feel called to do it. It’s a service thing. It’s my duty. I tried stopping for a few years, but it became absolutely clear that I needed to use my gifts in music to serve the bigger picture.

photo by William N.

Q: Your music is dramatic, pulling in a wide range of musical styles from song to song, but not limited by any of those influences. Is there a shorthand description when you are describing your music to others?

You know, I’ve had a really difficult time with this over the years but I’ve been working on it recently. It’s difficult to fit into the traditional “iTunes” genres. The best I can do there is something like “Americana Cabaret.” But recently I’ve called it “Soulful, nuanced, and deep americana noir.” A fan recently called it “Bar stool spirituals and carnal hymns.” I like that.

Q: Your new album is called Saint Judas. It seems like a major breakthrough for you. First of all, are you pleased with how the album came out?

Yes. Very much so. I think it’s my best work to date by a long shot.

Q: Do you feel like you are reaching some new levels as an artist?

Definitely. I feel like I’ve come into my own. I’m comfortable in my skin now. I wasn’t before. There was a period where I think my relationship to my work was clouded by lots of outside factors and influences. Now I’m more clear about why I do it and how I like to do it. I play music because I’m called to play music rather than out of ambition.

Q: Many of the shows I’ve seen you perform were in small theaters or in warehouse art spaces. I know you’ve also played the likes of The Fillmore in the past, but for many fans it may be the first time they’ve seen you in a well-appointed theater like The Cowell.

This concert is going to be really special. There is a set designer, a lighting designer, and it’s a gorgeous theater. And hopefully we’re going to sell out.
[fyi: buy tickets here]

Q: In contrast to the small venue solo shows, you’ll have a full band. It’s the same band as on the record?

Yes, exactly the same band. The lineup is: Chris Grady on trumpet, Alex Kelly on cello, Myles Boisen on Guitar, Seth Ford-Young on upright bass, and Jenya Chernoff on percussion.

Also the co-producer and engineer is Oz Fritz. He’s well known for his work with Tom Waits, Henry Threadgill and Bill Laswell. It is an honor to work with him. Actually, he’ll be doing the sound for the CD release concert as well.

Q: You are a true multi-instrumentalist; I’ve seen you make music on a guitar, banjo, accordion, baritone sax, even the handlebars of a bicycle. What was your first instrument?

According to my parents, my first instrument was percussion. They said that they kept a cupboard full of pots, pans and tupperware that I would play with wooden spoons. Apparently it was a favorite pastime of mine. But my first “real” instruments were lap dulcimer and recorder as a small child. I’ve always been a multi-instrumentalist.

photo by Steve Rhodes

Q: And then you had classical training, right?

Yes, I was trained classically on saxophone, flute, clarinet and percussion (especially timpani). I also started playing bass guitar in punk bands in the 80’s when I was in my teens. After that, I studied jazz improvisation and composing in college. After college, I went on to study Irish music (tin whistle and flute), Northern Indian classical music (bansuri), and Ghanaian drumming. Then when I was 24, all my wind instruments got stolen so I started singing. Soon after that I picked up accordion and banjo and began writing songs. If you had told me then that I’d have a number of albums out and be touring nationally as a singer/accordionist/banjo picker, I’d think you were crazy.

Q: How many instruments do you play?

Honestly… I don’t know.

Q: What is the most recent new instrument that you’ve added to your repetoire?

Piano. I’ve toyed around with piano since I was a child. But I’ve dedicated 2009 to studying classical piano. I love it.

Q: And does what instrument you write a song on influence its arrangement?

Absolutely. When people ask who my biggest influences are I generally tell them, “My instruments and the moment.” Each instrument brings out different qualities.

photo by durasoul

Q: Do you go through phases where you are intensely focused on writing new songs?

I do. But recently my priority is getting “Saint Judas” out. So I haven’t been writing much. Actually, let me clarify, I have gone through the inspiration/creative phase of writing on numerous new songs, but I haven’t sat down to craft and edit them. It’s just not a priority right now. Plus, beyond this album, I have enough material for another 2 albums already written.

But believe me, I’m looking forward to my next writing phase.

Q: Tell us a little about your approach to songwriting. Are your song ideas driven by musical ideas or by lyric or thematic ideas?

All of the above. Sometimes it’s words first, sometimes music. No set system. But I will say this, I try to keep the creative/inspiration phase separate from the crafting/editing phase. I treat a song like a brainstorm for a while, trying lots of ideas. Then I begin the editing and crafting. I enjoy both processes very much.

Q: I know that you’ve been on the road recently. How have the shows been?

The work has been received well. I’m returning to touring after a four year break and I was concerned that I maybe I had lost my fan base and would need to start over. But these last tours have been great for reconnecting with venues, fans, friends, radio stations, and musicians in cities I used to play on a regular basis. I’m happy to say that the fan base is still there.

Q: Where are you going in the near future?

A Northwest tour in mid/late November then down to L.A. for three months. And from L.A. I’ll tour the Southwest a couple of times. After that, I plan on doing residencies in various cities throughout the next year. People can always find out where I’m playing via the In Concert page on my website.

photo by Judith

Q: What are some things that will be different at the Fort Mason show, especially for folks who have seen you mostly solo and in small venues?

This show will feature my work in its full expression in an environment where it can really shine. The body of work on this album was written for a theater setting. And this is the most important show of my career to date. The SF arts community that Laughing Squid and I are part of knows this and has shown up in an incredible way. Lots of people are pitching in. Also, I’ll be joined on stage by my children Bela and Blue who will be singing backup on a couple of songs. Come on, that’s super special for me.

Q: And the CD is on sale at the show? But I understand that it won’t yet be available nationally, right? Can you give us those details?

Yes. The CD will be for sale at the show. This is what the label is calling a “narrow release”. It’s mainly to share my album with my local fans. “Saint Judas” will come out nationally in March (on Porto Franco Records). That’s when we’ll do our big national media push and when it will be available in stores and on iTunes and other digital outlets.

I hope to see both old and new faces at the show this Friday. I can’t wait for the San Francisco community to participate in what is such a special night for me.

photo by Eli Crews John

For more on Mark Growden, check out his blog, his Facebook page, and @markgrowden on Twitter.

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Jamie Tanner created a wonderful comic “The Squid” specifically for the funding platform Kickstarter to help promote his new graphic novel project.

via Drawn!

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photo by Daniel Evanson

Daniel Evanson shot this photo of a cute school project that attempted to determine what type of music cats like, fast or slow. Unfortunately their hypothesis was proven incorrect by the uninterested cats.

via Neatorama

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photo by Scott Beale

Google is offering free Wi-Fi service to air travelers at 47 airports across the United States this holiday season, starting today through January 15th.

Google Inc. today announced that it is working with airports across the country as well as Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and others to provide free Wi-Fi as a holiday gift now through January 15, 2010. The gift currently includes 47 airports, including Las Vegas, San Jose, Boston, Baltimore, Burbank, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte. Additionally, as a result of this project, Burbank and Seattle airports will begin offering airport-wide free Wi-Fi indefinitely.

Google is also paying for free Wi-Fi on all Virgin American flights through January 15th.

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• Mat Honan on Living in San Francisco (I Live Here: SF)
• A History of Role-Playing Games (Places to Go, People to Be)
• New microsyntax for Twitter: three pointers and the slasher (Chris Messina)

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I Heart Guts has created a wonderful illustrated guide to The Good Ol’ Menstrual Cycle.

via WeLoveDatavis & The Daily What

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“Speechless” is a new site specific public art installation by Brian Goggin located in the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center in Lafayette, CA. Brian will be unveiling of the installation this Saturday, November 14th as part of the grand opening of the library.

Festivities begin at 9:30 am – all ages are encouraged to attend. The grand unveiling commences at 10 am after a short parade from the old library to the new, whereupon a show of fantastic wonder will awe the community at large.

More on Brian Goggin’s “Speechless” installation:

Set against the new Lafayette Library a giant wavering bronze stack of paper rises. Had one taken a page from every book in the library collection – stacking one on top of the other – a stack of paper equivalent in height to this sculpture would result. The towering sculpture winds and teeters reaching absurd, precarious proportions. Wind has caught the top pages blowing them across the outdoor plaza, up and through the stairway corridor. Some pages furl in mid air, flying above the walkways while others wrap around trellis posts, past the library walls. Each fluttering page is precisely etched with “drawings” created with layers of text and graphics from the library’s books. The pages glide through the walkways creating a visual flow inspired by the natural air currents streaming through architectural gullies and star and planet constellations.

The bronze pages allude to all pages ever printed. The etched pages use as their pallet imagery scanned directly from books drawing from all sections of the library’s book collection such as philosophy, literature, math, poetry, history, biography, science, and of course art. The dispersing pages fluttering out from the toppling stack is inspired by the library collection’s grand expansion in size and new knowledge platforms beyond books. The expansion is visually alluded to in this site-specific installation – the concurrent transformation of how we learn is captured by the dynamic, dreamlike flight of the bronze pages wafting gracefully through the air.

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