The Latest from Boing Boing

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• Banksy does Detroit
• Radiohead hits covered on ukelele: Amanda Palmer
• Last chance to RSVP for London event tonight with China Mieville, me and Rob Sharp of English PEN
• Ancient Hindu Wunderkammers: The Art of the Composite Beast
• Top Secret America: 2-year investigation by Washington Post into huge, post-9/11 security buildup
• Chasing the unicorn
• SPIDERBOAT: Ship denied docking in Guam after thousands of spiders stream forth from cargo
• Wagon ruts from Oregon Trail still visible today
• Glowing algae turn Australian lakes electric blue
• Raw food raids are on the rise
• Amazon: We sell more books in Kindle format than hardcover.
• Web infomercial for Hedonism 2: Party on the beach will make you reach for eye-bleach
• Neil Gaiman's Cthulkhelele
• Parkour video from the 1930s
• Jim Woodring vs. José González vs. Andreas Nilsson
• Tiny paper aviary kit in the Boing Boing Bazaar
• Are ugly people more likely to become criminals?
• Pyramids placed at intersections in India to prevent accidents
• Stylish car charging stations by Yves Behar and GE
• Antenn-aid, a bandaid for your iPhone4 antenna
• Gallery of plane crash photos on Wired.com
• Giant salamander sex leads to best press release ever
• Animals at war
• Joules the Robot: An electric tandem bicycle partner
• Secret society of urban explorers in Paris
• A job only a troll could love
• Gathering of the Juggalos is less than one month away!
• Real-world ad blocker
• Dissecting a photocopier
• Taiwanese TV explains Antennagate

Banksy does Detroit Posted: 20 Jul 2010 01:10 AM PDT The recently-applied work of street artist Banksy at an abandoned Packard auto plant in Detroit, Michigan. A local gallery promptly dug up and relocated the wall to their space, sparking controversy. (via Oxblood Ruffin).

Radiohead hits covered on ukelele: Amanda Palmer Posted: 20 Jul 2010 12:54 AM PDT Punk cabaret diva Amanda Palmer today released a 7-track digital album of Radiohead ukelele covers. Choose from 320k mp3, FLAC, and other formats, download for all of a whopping 84 cents. Includes many of my own favorite Radiohead tracks: Fake Plastic Trees, High And Dry, No Surprises, Idioteque, Creep, and Exit Music (For A Film). Amanda Palmer Performs The Popular Hits Of Radiohead On Her Magical Ukulele (amandapalmer.net via Kristie Lu Stout)

Last chance to RSVP for London event tonight with China Mieville, me and Rob Sharp of English PEN Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:43 PM PDT Reminder for Londoners! I'm doing a live event tonight at 7PM with China Mieville in Exmouth Market (EC1R 4QE), through the excellent Clerkenwell Tales bookstore. We've outgrown the store, so Pete, our host, has booked the Church of the Redeemer next door; but we're nearly full there, too! If you'd like to come, RSVP (quickly!) to info@clerkenwell-tales.co.uk or tweet @booksellerpete. We'll be emceed by the wonderful Rob Sharp of English PEN.

Ancient Hindu Wunderkammers: The Art of the Composite Beast Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:45 PM PDT "The Mughal miniature paintings of fantastic animals... are mosaics of intertwined animal and human forms. In the Hindu tradition such paintings possibly represent the belief in the internal unity of all beings and illustrate the doctrine of the transmigration of souls through successive reincarnations. It is possible, though precise documentation does not exist, that Arcimboldo was stimulated to experiment with composite figures after seeing Indian miniature paintings on ivories or in books that belonged to the imperial collection of curiosities. In Arcimboldo's works also, and in the calligraphic Indian portraits of animals, as well as in the interesting and provocative displays of the Wunderkammer, an effort was obviously made to stress the mystical and ambiguous relationship of man to the natural world. It is even possible that Arcimboldo, like the Indian painters, was trying to express a belief in metempsychosis, a popular doctrine of his day and one that almost certainly had appeal for his enigmatic imperial master." Arcimboldo Riding a Composite Camel (A JOURNEY ROUND MY SKULL, via Bibliodyssey)

Top Secret America: 2-year investigation by Washington Post into huge, post-9/11 security buildup Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:29 PM PDT The Washington Post today unveiled a two-year investigative journalism project, "Top Secret America." To ensure that the country's most sensitive duties are carried out only by people loyal above all to the nation's interest, federal rules say contractors may not perform what are called "inherently government functions." But they do, all the time and in every intelligence and counterterrorism agency, according to a two-year investigation by The Washington Post. What started as a temporary fix in response to the terrorist attacks has turned into a dependency that calls into question whether the federal workforce includes too many people obligated to shareholders rather than the public interest -- and whether the government is still in control of its most sensitive activities. In interviews last week, both Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and CIA Director Leon Panetta said they agreed with such concerns. The Post investigation uncovered what amounts to an alternative geography of the United States, a Top Secret America created since 9/11 that is hidden from public view, lacking in thorough oversight and so unwieldy that its effectiveness is impossible to determine. Top Secret America project home. Story archive here, and interactive map here. More about the project here.

Chasing the unicorn Posted: 19 Jul 2010 10:43 PM PDT A different kind of aspirational unicorn chaser, from Threadless's Allan Faustino! Runnin' Rhino by Allan Faustino

SPIDERBOAT: Ship denied docking in Guam after thousands of spiders stream forth from cargo Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:15 PM PDT A ship from Korea carrying supplies to build housing for military buildup workers in the American territory of Guam was denied permission to dock when inspectors discovered thousands of spiders in its cargo: The Port's Marketing Administrator Bernadette Meno said customs officers along with the vessel's agent boarded the ship and gave clearance to the stevedores to go on board and unlock the cargo for offloading. It was then that thousands of the critters were found. "When our port stevedores began offloading the insulation and beams for the housing units on the docks they discovered that hundreds of large spiders and thousands of small ones were on the cargo and on the ship," Meno said. I like this article for two reasons: the use of the word "stevedores," and the use of the word "critters." I do not, however, like spiders. Nor, I imagine, do the poor ship's crew members who just spent months trapped on a boat with thousands of frickin' spiders. After the sneaky arachnids made their presence known, the housing materials in which they'd been chilling were then re-loaded back on the ship. The ship was then sent back to anchorage, further out from land. Incidentally: all of this stuff, other than the spiders, was part of a $200 million contract with Korean construction firms to build housing for temporary workers laboring on American military buildup projects. Photo courtesy guampdn.com. Anyone know the species? According to the report, all of this went down on July 16th, and officials planned to do analysis to determine the spider species. Thousands of spiders found aboard cargo vessel (guampdn.com via AP) Here's a related article in the military paper Stars and Stripes that helps put the story in context (both military, and arachnological): "It was because of the quantity,' [the Guamanian Agricultural Department director] said of the spiders, the largest of which had bodies as big as quarters. 'It behooved us to take the most extreme measure."

Wagon ruts from Oregon Trail still visible today Posted: 19 Jul 2010 09:01 PM PDT More than 400,000 people traveled the Oregon Trail during the 19th century—so many that there are spots where wagon ruts are still visible. This photo was taken at Three Island Crossing, better known to children of the 1980s as the Snake River Crossing. (Don't ford it! Never ford it!) When I first saw this photo, taken by Flickr user gharness, I thought, "No freakin' way." But, I've been assured by both the Associated Press and Idaho State University that this is for real. Wagons really did wear down certain patches of ground so much that nothing grows there to this day. The National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management and other groups have marked many of these spots (you can see a marker in the above photo on the right) and have taken steps to preserve them. Mind-blowing history. (Via Johanna Harness) Image used via CC

Glowing algae turn Australian lakes electric blue Posted: 19 Jul 2010 07:08 PM PDT This time-lapse photo was taken in eastern Victoria, Australia, and features Noctiluca Scintillans, a type of algae that naturally produces a light-emitting chemical reaction. You can't see it during the day, but, at night, the algae glow electric blue, illuminating portions of the shoreline where wind pushed the blooms during the day. Call it Mother Nature's little light-switch rave. The backstory of this algae outbreak is every bit as interesting as the photos themselves. As told by photographer Phil Hart, this infestation of shiny is the direct result of (in this exact order) raging forest fires, massive floods and a potentially deadly outbreak of Cyanobacteria. Epic! Check out Phil Hart's full gallery of Noctiluca Scintillans photos.

Raw food raids are on the rise Posted: 19 Jul 2010 03:49 PM PDT "If you take my computer again, I can't do my homework."—Words spoken to agents raiding a small California dairy farm by the owner's 12-year-old daughter. The farm is known for producing raw goats' milk cheese that is sold by members-only raw food markets. Grist reports that local, state, and federal raids on alternative "raw foodie" membership marketplaces are on the rise. (via Good)

Amazon: We sell more books in Kindle format than hardcover. Posted: 19 Jul 2010 03:35 PM PDT Amazon today released an announcement boasting that sales of the Kindle device have tripled since the unit price dropped from $259 to $189. And with that, a related piece of news. Founder Jeff Bezos: "While our hardcover sales continue to grow, the Kindle format has now overtaken the hardcover format. Amazon.com customers now purchase more Kindle books than hardcover books--astonishing when you consider that we've been selling hardcover books for 15 years, and Kindle books for 33 months."

Web infomercial for Hedonism 2: Party on the beach will make you reach for eye-bleach Posted: 20 Jul 2010 01:16 AM PDT Why has this middle-aged gentleman ventured to Hedonism 2 in Negril, Jamaica more than 40 times, and what could possibly explain the fervent, amorous grind of his pastywhite sexytime speedo dancypantsing? "The wild women, the wild women, the rippin' and the tearin', the rippin' and the tearin." Update: Commenters say the fellow's name is "Hedo Rick," and he is a well-known fixture at the resort (which is said to cater to swingers and part-time nudists, as the name suggests). (thanks, Richard Metzger)

Neil Gaiman's Cthulkhelele Posted: 19 Jul 2010 01:34 PM PDT David sez, "Neil Gaiman posted this beautiful Lovecraft-inspired ukelele on Twitter." Cthulkhelele

Parkour video from the 1930s Posted: 19 Jul 2010 12:56 PM PDT In this video from the 1930s, a man hops away from the dinner table and goes on an amazing adventure up building walls, out of windows, and inside a car tire. The part where he's clambering up the wall with a kid on his back made me a bit nervous! I know there's some debate as to what should be called parkour v. freerunning — I'm not exactly sure which this qualifies as, but nonetheless it's totally cool and enjoyable to watch.

Jim Woodring vs. José González vs. Andreas Nilsson Posted: 19 Jul 2010 12:51 PM PDT I've been digging José González's fantastic album In Our Nature for several years now, but I only recently thought to look for a video of my favorite González song, "Down The Line." Not only is there an incredibly intense live version here, but the official music video for the song is based on the deeply surreal comic "Manhog Beyond The Face" by none other than Jim Woodring! It's one of two videos directed by Andreas Nilsson based on the Woodring strip, the other being "Killing For Love."

Tiny paper aviary kit in the Boing Boing Bazaar Posted: 19 Jul 2010 12:22 PM PDT Everything Tiny, makers of amazing miniature wood dinosaur models, are now offering this lovely Tiny Paper Aviary Kit in the Boing Boing Bazaar. Each kit is just $16 From the product page: This kit includes everything you need to make your own tiny paper crane habitat. You'll get one glass dome, wood base, origami paper, steel posts, and instructions. The completed aviary measures an inch and a half across and roughly an inch and a half tall. The glass domes are hand blown specifically for my shop, and are available separately if you want one for another project. Tiny Paper Aviary Kit

Are ugly people more likely to become criminals? Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:24 PM PDT Anthropometric device invented in 1914 (Wikimedia Commons) In 2003, a man in Miami, Florida was asked why he committed robberies. "I am too ugly to get a job," he said. That's the opening to a 2005 scientific paper in the Review of Economics and Statistics. In the paper, the researchers look at the statistics of appearance and crime. "We find that unattractive individuals commit more crime in comparison to average-looking ones, and beautiful individuals commit less crime in comparison to those who are average-looking," write the authors who are both associated with the National Bureau of Economic Research. Are "ugly" people really more likely to become criminals? Well, it's much more subtle than that. Fortean Times puts the study in context: It is intuitively obvious - though not necessarily true - that personality is reflected in someone's face. The ancient Greeks formalised their beliefs, such as close-set eyes indicating that someone is untrustworthy, into the 'science' of physiognomy. Predictably, this was abused; in Socrates's trial, his facial features were cited as evidence of his brutal nature. Physiognomy remained on a par with palmistry and the like until the 17th century, when learned men including Sir Thomas Browne attempted a more rigorous approach by completely cataloguing all possible facial conformations. Physiognomy classifies each facial element and links it to a personality trait. Curved eyebrows mean someone is friendly by nature; angled eyebrows signify someone who is always seeking to control. Everything means something. By the 19th century, this technique was being used to fight crime. An Italian professor, Cesare Lombroso, wrote his definitive book L'Uomo Delinquente or "Criminal Man" in 1876. This was supposedly based on a statistical study of the features of convicts compared to those of (presumably honest) soldiers. Lombroso claimed that certain features indicated particular types of criminal. Murderers have prominent jaws, and pickpockets have scanty beards (unless they shave?). A one-sided grin marks brutality, whereas poisoners have "a fawning smile". Lombroso's technique was widely used in Europe until the 1930s. Prosecuting lawyers could claim that a flattened nose was a scientific­ally proven sign of a thief, thus strengthening their case. "The Mark of Cain"

Pyramids placed at intersections in India to prevent accidents Posted: 19 Jul 2010 12:08 PM PDT In the city of Nagpur in central India, traffic officers are strategically placing small pyramids at accident-prone intersections for good luck. A vatsu expert has promised to transfer his positive thoughts into the pyramids that will reverse the negative energies at key sites that may be causing accidents.

Stylish car charging stations by Yves Behar and GE Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:53 AM PDT SF designer Yves Béhar has teamed up with General Electric to come up with a cool new concept for car charging stations. The WattStation comes imbedded with GE's Smart Grid technology which enables the station to charge a vehicle in 4-8 hours compared to the typical 12-18. By communicating wirelessly with digital platforms and mobile devices, users will be able to remotely locate, operate and monitor the unit. The WattStation is also the very first charging station with a self-retractable charging cable, keeping streets tidy while protecting the cable from weather elements. All of these innovations are jammed tight into a compact metal shell, which is solidly constructed to withstand any harsh weather and usage conditions. It even has a built-in heater to defrost the snow! fuseproject [via Dezeen]

Antenn-aid, a bandaid for your iPhone4 antenna Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:26 AM PDT Antenn-aid main page

Gallery of plane crash photos on Wired.com Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:18 AM PDT Wired.com has a gallery up today of plane crash photos plus tips on how to survive a plane crash. (i.e. "Don't cross your legs or your ankles at takeoff or on landing. If you have a rough landing and you've got one broken ankle, you can limp off the plane. If you have two broken ankles, you'll have to crawl off.") Gallery: People survived these dire plane crashes [Wired's Autopia]

Giant salamander sex leads to best press release ever Posted: 19 Jul 2010 11:03 AM PDT Smithsonian National Zoo Opens Giant Salamander Breeding Center That's right. Five-foot long Japanese salamanders, getting it on outside of Japan for the first time in 100 years. AND, they're seemingly immune to a fungus that's killing off lesser amphibian species, and thus could hold a key to the survival of animals around the globe. Times like this, I don't regret being on press release lists. Also, in poking around Wikipedia a bit, I stumbled on this great story about the discovery of a fossil giant salamander: In 1726, the Swiss physician Johann Jakob Scheuchzer described a fossil as Homo diluvii testis (Latin "man witness of Deluge"), believing it to be the remains of a human being that drowned in the biblical Deluge. The Teylers Museum in Haarlem, Netherlands bought the fossil in 1802, where it still is being exhibited. In 1812, the fossil was examined by Georges Cuvier, who recognized it as not being human.[Emphasis mine.] After being recognized as a salamander, it was renamed Salamandra scheuchzeri by Holl in 1831. Image actually depicts a Chinese Giant Salamander, rather than the Japanese variety, simply because I liked its face. Image via Cryptomundo blog.

Animals at war Posted: 19 Jul 2010 10:55 AM PDT Last week, a report ran in the Chinese People's Daily about how the Afghan Taliban are supposedly recruiting monkeys to fire machine guns. Of course, animal warriors aren't a new thing. I've posted here about a World War II plan to outfit bats with bombs and have them attack Japanese cities. (For more on that batty operation, see the book Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon.) And there are many other examples of animals cajoled into military service, from horses to pigeons. (The Department of Defense photo above depicts US special forces in Afghanistan.) From Time: One notable pigeon named Cher Ami ("Dear Friend" in French) flew for the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during WW I. He flew 12 important messages before being struck by enemy fire. Despite being shot in the breast and leg, he managed to deliver the message, which was found dangling from his shattered leg. His brave dedication to the mission led to the rescue of 194 soldiers in Major Charles Whittlesey's "Lost Battalion." Cher Ami, who died in 1919, likely as a result of his battle wounds, was awarded the French Croix de Guerre award for his heroic service and was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931. His one-legged body is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's "Price of Freedom: Americans at War" exhibit in Washington, D.C. "Top 10 Militant Animals" (Time) And if you still can't get enough, check out Jilly Cooper's book "Animals In War: Valiant Horses, Courageous Dogs, and Other Unsung Animal Heroes"

Joules the Robot: An electric tandem bicycle partner Posted: 19 Jul 2010 10:30 AM PDT Joules exists because designing and making things is fun. Joules came from a challenge to build an electric tandem bicycle powered by actually pushing the pedals like a person. Fun kinetic design was part of the intent, practicality was not. Riding with Joules is a reminder that engineering and craftsmanship can be joyful pursuits. Engineering and art need not be separate. I hope that Joules can remind kids that creating real things is great way to spend time, and perhaps a career. Joules the Robot (thanks, Byron!).

Secret society of urban explorers in Paris Posted: 19 Jul 2010 10:23 AM PDT Back in 2004, an art collective called La Mexicaine de la Perforation (LMDP) was in the news for creating a true "underground" cinema 60 feet beneath the streets of Paris. The spokesperson for La Mexicaine de la Perforation was Lazar Kunstmann, who has since revealed that LMDP is just one part of a large urban exploration group called UX. Kunstmann recently documented the secret society's efforts in a book titled La culture en clandestins: L'UX. The literary journal brick profiles Kunstmann and his co-conspirators' clandestine adventures, including their efforts to repair The Paris Panthéon's 19th century clock, broken since the 1960s. From Brick (photo from National Geographic): Although the catacombs are covered in graffiti tags, there are also sudden instances of art—amateur gargoyles, carved castles, life-sized sculptures of cataphiles. Crato brings me to La Plage, "the beach," a large gallery with a sand-packed floor. Our flashlights sweep across wide murals: Hokusai waves and Max Ernst-like portraits. In the Hall of Anubis we sit at a table chiselled out of stone. We light candles, drink beer, share cookies and chocolate. I am absolutely enchanted. I have no idea of the time. For the most part, cataphiles don't dispute Kunstmann's characterization of them. BVH says his friends enjoy "taking photos, exploring a particular area, repairing things, going to spots where no one has visited for a long time." The community's holy grail, he suggests, is to clandestinely enter the Catacombs Museum. I balk at this—the same place you can visit for just eight euro, six days a week? "Yes," he agrees, "but that's the goal of tons of cataphiles. And they succeed almost every year—every year there's a hole that's drilled." When cataphiles do stage large events, they tend to be one-off parties—not permanent "transformational" cinema installations. Crato remembers someone bringing down oysters—stupid, silly, "just as heavy on the way back as on the way down." BVH has organized two Breton-themed shindigs, where more than three hundred people joined dancers, musicians, and amateur chefs cooking subterranean crêpes. Among the largest celebrations was a farewell to Commandant Jean-Claude Saratte in 2000. Head of the catacomb police for twenty-one years, Saratte was respected for his knowledge, instincts, and moderation—pursuing the drug user, vandal, or "tibia collector" instead of the gentle catacomb geek. "The Lizard, the Catacombs, and the Clock: The Story of Paris's Most Secret Underground Society" (Thanks, Vann Hall!) Paris underground cinema, part 2 Guerrilla clockmakers fix famous Paris clock

A job only a troll could love Posted: 19 Jul 2010 10:19 AM PDT Forget postal workers. In the coming decades, I predict that Internet Content Reviewer will become the job synonymous with massive, homicidal mental breakdowns. For $8-to-$12 an hour, these workers review images and videos flagged for questionable content on social media sites. Kids sign on thinking they'll get paid to look at porn all day, and quickly find themselves in way, way over their heads. Counseling is part of the standard benefits package.

Gathering of the Juggalos is less than one month away! Posted: 19 Jul 2010 09:47 AM PDT August 12-15, 2010. And here is the informercial. 2009 Gathering Of The Juggalos Infomercial Dark Carnival of the Soul: Gathering of the Juggalos 2009 Juggalo News, from the Insane Clown Posse dimension The / Insane Clown Posse / Juggalo Singularity - Boing ... Actually, know what? Insane Clown Posse "Miracles" video is pure ... Where do they come from? (ICP hits /b/ )

Real-world ad blocker Posted: 19 Jul 2010 09:24 AM PDT Real-world ad blocking in San Francisco. And yes, I realize the irony of posting this. As Rob said to me, "By being such an interesting adblocker, it ultimately only further exposes the brand it seeks to block." (Thanks, Jason Tester!) Geek graffiti in bathroom Graffiti: "Talk nerdy." C graffiti

Dissecting a photocopier Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:46 AM PDT Bill Hammack, The Engineer Guy, takes apart a copy machine for great justice—and to better explain how it works. The way to this girl's heart is through the guts of major appliances and the clever use of James Thurber jokes. Cheers, Dr. Hammack!

Taiwanese TV explains Antennagate Posted: 19 Jul 2010 09:41 AM PDT NMA News, the Taiwan TV station that recreates news events as 'fly on the wall' 3D animations, has applied its gift to Antennagate. It starts slow, but really gets going when the lightsabers come out. Bonus: Gizmodo is mistakenly referred to as "Gizmondo." Hat Tip: Thanks, Michael Logan! Update: Now with English subtitles. [via Cult of Mac]

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