The Latest from Boing Boing

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• Philosophy of Thomas Ligotti, a horror writer who can't feel happiness
• Tiny footprint staircase
• Sailor Moon bento box
• Haunted Mansion t-shirt with Ghost Host's spiel
• Comic explains the fight over music copyrights
• Zucchini-wielding woman thwarts marauding bear
• Report: Nokia 'stifled' development of iPhone-like gadgets
• Escher-esque watch-dials
• Did SNL swipe tiny hats from Tim and Eric?

Philosophy of Thomas Ligotti, a horror writer who can't feel happiness Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:31 PM PDT In his nonfiction book, The Conspiracy Against the Human Race, horror writer Thomas Ligotti discusses the relationship between his grim, supernatural fiction and his anhedonia -- a mental condition that makes it impossible to enjoy anything. I couldn't possibly write something that would reflect the true depths of my aversion to everything that exists. As far as putting words into other people's mouths, as if what seems true to me is what is really true, this is just a commonly used device in writing personal essays. Everyone preaches to the converted. If I didn't believe my thoughts were superior to and truer than the thoughts of people who disagree with me, then I would think something else. And I would think that was superior and truer. Even some scientists who can be almost conclusively demonstrated to be wrong still cling to their erroneous views. This is one of the running themes of The Conspiracy against the Human Race. Truth works within a very tiny, often self-reflexive framework. Three of a kind always beats two pair. Someone believes God exists because a book tells them he does; they believe the book is true because lots of people have told them that it's the word of God. Plus they like what the book says--that's the most important thing. If they didn't like it, they wouldn't believe it. I think that's the problem I'm encountering in responses to TCATHR. Its readers not only haven't liked what it says, they also don't like that someone they know and to whom they feel otherwise well-disposed could write such a book. It's disturbing, as if you found out your best friend was a serial killer who liked to eat the brains of toddlers. The essay is essentially about how humans can't handle unpleasant realities and what those realities are. But we're predisposed not to think about those things in a way that will affect how we live, or to think about them at all in most cases. "It's all a matter of personal pathology": An Interview with Thomas Ligotti (Thanks, Tavie, via Submitterator!) Feeling "grumpy" makes you think more clearly, study says - Boing ...

Tiny footprint staircase Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:25 PM PDT We've been thinking about adding another floor to our tiny flat in London, but I've worried that the stairs up to the next floor would eat up most of the space-gains. But it looks like we could try one of these Eestairs spiral staircases and limit the footprint to 1m2. Space saving stairs (via Crib Candy) Library built into a staircase Angular attic staircase -- cheap, steep, and does the trick ... Floating staircase Musical Stairs Inside-out staircase

Sailor Moon bento box Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:20 PM PDT This elaborate, kick-ass Sailor Moon bento box was created as an entry in a bento competition (<-- many other wonderful entries to be seen!). The Most Amazing Sailor Moon Bento Box You'll Ever See (via Neatorama) Bento Boxes That Will Starve You Crazy bento box gallery Tetris bento Review: Laptop Lunch, a bento box for geeks

Haunted Mansion t-shirt with Ghost Host's spiel Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:16 PM PDT This unauthorized Haunted Mansion t-shirt subjects the Ghost Host's spiel to a lovely typographic treatment. I am your host, your Ghost Host... (Thanks, Actualchad, via Submitterator!) Haunted Mansion 40th birthday video Haunted Mansion costume for sale Irreverant Disneyland insider tees Cremation ashes at Disneyland -- a dusty epidemic

Comic explains the fight over music copyrights Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:11 PM PDT The San Francisco Chronicle's weekend package on copyright included a feature on law profs James Boyle and Jennifer Jenkins' forthcoming music copyright comic, Theft: A History of Music (a followup to their magnificent comic on copyright and documentary films, Bound By Law). It includes a centrefold with one of Theft's best two-page spreads -- I was lucky enough to read an early rough this summer and boyoboy are you in for a treat when they ship! Also in the package is Copyright law needs a digital-age upgrade, by Pamela Samuelson, one of America's greatest copyright scholars, and as you'd expect, it's a must-read: Modernize copyright office: Instead of one registry for all copyrighted works, certify registries run by third parties for photos, films, computer programs and more. The model is akin to the domain name registration system. Refine scope of exclusive rights: Weigh commercial value when determining whether someone's exclusive right has been infringed. This shields non-harmful activity from the threat of highly punitive copyright claims and commercial harm. Limit damage awards: Guidelines for awarding statutory damages need to be consistent and reasonable. Reform judicial infringement tests: Courts apply different tests to assess copyright violations, leading to mixed interpretations of complex copyright law. Develop consistent tests to ensure greater coherence in rulings. Limit orphan works liability: Enable libraries and others to preserve a part of our cultural heritage by allowing greater use of orphan works - copyrighted materials whose owners can't be found. Create "safe harbors": Protect online service providers from excessive damage claims if they undertake reasonable, voluntary, measures to discourage peer-to-peer file-sharing. Providers that comply would be shielded from liability for user infringements. (Thanks, Jamie!) Bound By Law: the "Understanding Comics" of copyright, in a new ... Copyright comic is now on sale - "Understanding ... Jammie Thomas fined $1920000 for sharing 24 songs Google Book Search settlement gives Google a virtual monopoly over ... James Boyle's "The Public Domain" -- a brilliant copyfighter's ... James Boyle's "Public Domain" lecture podcast Synthetic biotech: a monopolist's playground? Public Domain Manifesto

Zucchini-wielding woman thwarts marauding bear Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:05 PM PDT A Montana woman defended herself against a charging bear with a 12-inch zucchini from her garden. "The woman flung the vegetable at the bear, striking it on top of the head and causing it to flee," according to police reports. The woman did not require medical attention. No word yet on the black bear. [via Submitterator, thanks soongtype]

Report: Nokia 'stifled' development of iPhone-like gadgets Posted: 26 Sep 2010 04:05 PM PDT The New York Times reports that Nokia was working on iPhone-like touchscreen phones as long ago as 2004, projects that were killed to avoid putting money into risky innovations. Talk about cars and horses, eh?

Escher-esque watch-dials Posted: 26 Sep 2010 10:53 AM PDT David Pearson, a plastic surgeon, has a fun hobby: photoshopping Escher/Droste-style remixes of watch-faces, combination-lock dials, and other round readouts and twiddles. Droste/Escher (Thanks, Teresa!) (Image: Antique Time Spiral, used by permission) MC Escher panorama HOWTO make Escher-like Droste photos Escher lizard paving-stones M.C. Escher meets Lance Armstrong for the Bio-Cycle ... Hong Kong camera phones have Escher-esque zoom out ... MC Escher remix contest MC Escher remix contest "MC Mechanic" by Shane Willis Gadgets

Did SNL swipe tiny hats from Tim and Eric? Posted: 26 Sep 2010 08:44 AM PDT An SNL skit about tiny hats from night's show is awfully reminiscent of a much earlier Tim and Eric bit. The war of the petite chapeaus is on.

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