Hi-Fructose Vol. 3 pop surrealism art book box set Gravity powered lights, cheaper than solar Rumor: Paul McCartney might be performing with Nirvana tonight A Totally Expected Journey to the 7:45 Showing of The Hobbit San Francisco: Bazaar Bizarre Nightlife 12/13, 6-10PM Darwin Christmas cards from the British Humanist Association Vigilante Wars "CORRERCTION" among newspaper corrections of the year LA Makerspace featured on White House website We almost got cold cocked by an asteroid, yo Eulogy for #Occupy: beautiful, brutal postmortem Nick Hook ft. El-P and Rood: "Sirens" (music video) Never mind: Ian McKellen does not have prostate cancer Rave review for Homeland, the sequel to Little Brother Ravi Shankar, RIP: A performance on the Dick Cavett Show, and a reporter's recollections of a visit with Raviji Dark Lord: deadpan and deadly funny YA book about an evil overlord trapped in a kid's body Pope tweets Legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, 1920-2012 2012's overrated games Hand-drawn maps of New York Monkey Ikea Beast Jesus Make: Talk 019 - Matt Richardson, Raspberry Pi, and BeagleBone Kinky gifts from science surplus Portlandia holiday preview video: "Vagina Pillows" John McAfee dumps VICE after photo metadata reveal; "Obviously, legal proceedings are under way." 76 things banned in the Bible, most of which are punishable by death John McAfee sells TV and movie rights to his life story while detained; graphic novel also under way New York in the dark: photos Visions of the future (2030, to be precise), courtesy of U.S. spies Is the new Osama bin Laden snuff flick "Zero Dark Thirty" pro-torture? Hi-Fructose Vol. 3 pop surrealism art book box set
By Mark Frauenfelder on Dec 12, 2012 12:58 pm My favorite art magazine, Hi-Fructose, has just published its 3rd volume box set. In addition to a 300+ page hardcover book that features selections from issues 9-12 of the magazine, the box set includes a number of goodies, including a die-cut mask by Mark Ryden, a fold-out poster by McBess, a sticker book, and a ...
Read in browser Gravity powered lights, cheaper than solar
By Jason Weisberger on Dec 12, 2012 12:56 pm Simple things that we take for granted, like flipping a switch and having light suddenly appear, aren't so simple in developing countries. This fantastic
gravity powered light may change that, if their
Indiegogo project is successful.
Read in browser Rumor: Paul McCartney might be performing with Nirvana tonight
By Jamie Frevele on Dec 12, 2012 12:44 pm Best rumor ever: Is the former Beatle going to stand in for Kurt Cobain at tonight's Sandy benefit?
Read in browser A Totally Expected Journey to the 7:45 Showing of The Hobbit
By Ruben Bolling on Dec 12, 2012 12:33 pm Tom the Dancing Bug, IN WHICH Louis makes a totally expected journey to see the 7:45 showing of "The Hobbit"
Read in browser San Francisco: Bazaar Bizarre Nightlife 12/13, 6-10PM
By Jason Weisberger on Dec 12, 2012 11:57 am This Thursday night, at 6pm, Bazaar Bizarre will be hosting Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences. Over 40 handmade and indie designers will be showcasing their work while local DJs play and folks share cocktails or hang out at the DIY craft table.
Read in browser Darwin Christmas cards from the British Humanist Association
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 12, 2012 11:52 am Sara sez, "The British Humanist Association is stocking Christmas cards featuring naturalist Charles Darwin getting into the festive spirit." I'm a lifetime member of the BHA -- they do good work (and make nice Christmas cards). Christmas Cards (Thanks, Sara!)
Read in browser Vigilante Wars
By Jason Weisberger on Dec 12, 2012 11:43 am San Francisco is certainly a quirky place and Cecila Holland's Vigilante Wars sheds a lot of light on how we got there! The inner-workings and many of the social mores that today are common-place were founded in some crazy times. Holland recounts the lawlessness, mob rule and colorful characters that the 1849 Gold Rush brought ...
Read in browser "CORRERCTION" among newspaper corrections of the year
By Rob Beschizza on Dec 12, 2012 11:23 am And this gem is way down the list. Poynter has quite a selection for you.
Read in browser LA Makerspace featured on White House website
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 12, 2012 11:17 am A child learns to make ice cream at LA Makerspace. Hooray for our LA-based friend Tara Brown, co-founder of Los Angeles Makerspace, who is interviewed today on the White House Office of Science and Technology website! She shares about her experience with bringing kids and families into the growing community of American makers. LA Makerspace ...
Read in browser We almost got cold cocked by an asteroid, yo
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 12, 2012 11:08 am Two days ago, astronomers spotted a new asteroid. Early this morning, the sonofabitch nearly hit our planet.
Read in browser Eulogy for #Occupy: beautiful, brutal postmortem
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 12, 2012 11:06 am Quinn Norton's Eulogy for #Occupy is a wrenching, beautiful, long postmortem on the Occupy movement, including an eyes-open (and scathing) critique of what went wrong inside Occupy: But living in parks, having to rub elbows with the people society was set up to shield from each other, began to stress people and make them twitchy ...
Read in browser Nick Hook ft. El-P and Rood: "Sirens" (music video)
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 12, 2012 11:04 am Nick Hook ft. El-P and Rood: "Sirens," directed by Ryan Staake.
Read in browser Never mind: Ian McKellen does not have prostate cancer
By Jamie Frevele on Dec 12, 2012 10:54 am Apparently, the interview in which Sir Ian McKellen stated he has had prostate cancer for several years is outdated. The actor's rep clarified, saying he does not have cancer. You now have permission to feel less bad about not liking The Hobbit. (via Vulture)
Read in browser Rave review for Homeland, the sequel to Little Brother
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 12, 2012 10:08 am Color me deee-lighted: the notoriously hard-to-please Kirkus Reviews just published a review of Homeland, the sequel to my novel Little Brother (it'll be out next Feb, here's the tour schedule), and they loved it. After a glowing recap of the plot, they said, Such nerd-favorite icons as 3-D printers, Wil Wheaton and /My Little Pony: ...
Read in browser Ravi Shankar, RIP: A performance on the Dick Cavett Show, and a reporter's recollections of a visit with Raviji
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 12, 2012 09:26 am In
the clip above, the late classical Indian musician
Ravi Shankar performs on the Dick Cavett show, with his friend George Harrison of the Beatles.
Read in browser Dark Lord: deadpan and deadly funny YA book about an evil overlord trapped in a kid's body
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 12, 2012 08:44 am Jamie Thomson's Dark Lord: The Early Years gets right down to business: an unnamed narrator suffers a million agonies, while calling out for his hellion lieutenants to aid him, and we quickly learn that this is the Dark Lord, feared and tyrannical ruler of a distant kingdom, and that he has been transported to a ...
Read in browser Pope tweets
By Rob Beschizza on Dec 12, 2012 07:35 am He's storming right along now, already on his third one.
Read in browser Legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, 1920-2012
By Rob Beschizza on Dec 12, 2012 07:11 am Susan Stamberg writes: Sitar master and composer Ravi Shankar died Tuesday at a hospital near his home in the San Diego area. Shankar's foundation released a statement that says the musician had suffered from upper-respiratory and heart issues over the past year and underwent heart-valve replacement surgery last week. He was 92. UPDATE from Xeni: ...
Read in browser 2012's overrated games
By Rob Beschizza on Dec 12, 2012 06:53 am Tom Chick posted his annual Most Overrated Games list. He's wrong about Journey. But he's right about Diablo 3.
Read in browser Hand-drawn maps of New York
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 11, 2012 11:00 pm Illustrator Jenni Sparks has released a very beautiful hand-drawn map of NYC: Hi everyone, so here is the Hand Drawn Map of New York that I've been working on for what seems like FOREVER! It was once again commissioned by the lovely Evermade.com and was just as hard as the Map of London, if not ...
Read in browser Monkey Ikea Beast Jesus
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 11, 2012 09:11 pm Naturally, once a monkey in coat visited an Ikea in suburban Toronto, it was only a matter of time until the image was combined (to excellent effect) with Monkey Jesus by @Justin_Ling. New image of #ikeamonkey. I knew I recognized him from somewhere. http://twitpic.com/bkls2s (Thanks, Christian!)
Read in browser Make: Talk 019 - Matt Richardson, Raspberry Pi, and BeagleBone
By Mark Frauenfelder on Dec 11, 2012 08:04 pm Our maker this week is Matt Richardson. Matt's a video producer, a writer, a maker of things, a technology consultant, and a student at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program. Matt wrote two articles for MAKE volume 32. One of them is a BeagleBone tutorial and the other one shows how to make his awesome ...
Read in browser Kinky gifts from science surplus
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 11, 2012 07:00 pm A reader writes, "Some BDSM enthusiasts have apparently taken over a science surplus website's tagging system to list popularly repurposed science/lab items. I suspect the website's creators did not have that in mind when they 'went social'." Well yes, but it's also a timely reminder that American Science and Surplus is a trove of pure, ...
Read in browser Portlandia holiday preview video: "Vagina Pillows"
By Jamie Frevele on Dec 11, 2012 06:28 pm Portlandia sneak peek: guest star Bobby Moynihan needs someone to watch his genderless child while he does his Christmas shopping.
Read in browser John McAfee dumps VICE after photo metadata reveal; "Obviously, legal proceedings are under way."
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 11, 2012 05:15 pm A strange statement published on the vanity site whoismcafee.com: Based on new information. Mr. McAfee is terminating his relationship with Vice Magazine. Due to information just received, It is no longer clear to Mr. McAfee that the "accidental" release of his co-ordinates due to Vice Magazine's editorial department's failure to remove location data from their ...
Read in browser 76 things banned in the Bible, most of which are punishable by death
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 11, 2012 05:13 pm Milan - detail from facade of Duomo - Expulsion from Paradise. Image: Shutterstock. An oldie but goodie single-purpose Tumblr listing things banned in Leviticus, the banny-est of all scriptures. The sex stuff you can imagine (no bonking animals, dudes if you are a dude, divorcées, your grandmother, or your own children), but here are some ...
Read in browser John McAfee sells TV and movie rights to his life story while detained; graphic novel also under way
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 11, 2012 05:04 pm Impact Future Media of Montreal claims to have secured "the exclusive IP rights" to the story of anti-virus pioneer and noted crazy person John McAfee, who was arrested in Guatemala and is wanted in Belize over the apparent murder of his neighbor. The Hollywood Reporter has more: Honolulu-based Brian Fitzgerald, who co-founded the TV production ...
Read in browser New York in the dark: photos
By Cory Doctorow on Dec 11, 2012 04:54 pm Dan Nguyen sez, "During the Hurricane Sandy aftermath, I was luckily spared any real hardship except for the power and heat being out. Everyday I walked to work and back in pitch darkness and I brought my camera to document what the city looks like when the only illumination is headlights and emergency lights. All ...
Read in browser Visions of the future (2030, to be precise), courtesy of U.S. spies
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 11, 2012 04:48 pm "3-D printed organs. Brain chips providing superhuman abilities. Megacities, built from scratch. The U.S. intelligence community is taking a look at the world of 2030. And it is very, very sci-fi." Noah Shachtman at Danger Room, on a future-brainstorming thinktank for spies.
Read in browser Is the new Osama bin Laden snuff flick "Zero Dark Thirty" pro-torture?
By Xeni Jardin on Dec 11, 2012 04:26 pm Jessica Chastain as CIA agent "Maya" in Zero Dark Thirty. Photo: Sony/Columbia Pictures • Glenn Greenwald at the Guardian on the new Kathryn Bigelow film about the capture and assassination of Osama Bin Laden: "With its release imminent, [Zero Dark Thirty] is now garnering a pile of top awards and virtually uniform rave reviews. What ...
Read in browser Meet SparkTruck, an “educational build-mobile” for the twenty-first century.
Dreamed up by a group of Stanford d.school students and funded through Kickstarter, SparkTruck is a mobile maker space currently traveling across the United States. At schools and summer camps and libraries around the country, the SparkTruck team offers workshops to help kids “find their inner maker” as they design and build projects like stamps, stop-motion animation clips, and “vibrobots.”
[video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmRKXqDwieY&feature=plcp]
This might seem all shiny and new. And it is—but only in part. What’s so striking (and exciting) about SparkTruck is the way it combines old and new. It does so in the tools it gets kids using, which range from pipe cleaners to laser cutters. It does so in its educational approach, which combines cutting-edge (get it?) STEM and design pedagogy with the fundamentals of an old-school shop class. And it does so in its method, which combines the iconic, century-old technology of the bookmobile with the hot new form of the maker space.
In doing so, SparkTruck joins a growing number of libraries which are combining time-tested principles (like equal access to information) with new technologies (like 3-D printers), putting in maker spaces and media production labs alongside bookshelves and meeting rooms. As I’ve argued over on bookmobility.org, these combinations make sense because reading and making actually have a lot in common. They’re both creative processes that take existing materials and combine them in new ways. Getting people engaged in those kinds of processes—through imaginative thinking, contemplation, hands-on problem-solving, and collaborative learning—is what both maker spaces and libraries are all about.
Taking that commitment on the road with scissors and hammers and 3-D printers and a great big bookmobile-like truck, SparkTruck serves as a laboratory for new approaches, as well as a reminder that trying new things doesn’t have to (and probably shouldn’t!) necessarily mean tossing old ones out.
After all, what would those vibrobots be without classically crafty pipe cleaners and tongue depressors? And what would a library be without the creative, participatory, straight-up awesome experience of reading?
SparkTruck schedule [sparktruck.org]
How to arrange a visit from SparkTruck [sparktruck.org]
SparkTruck YouTube channel [youtube.com]
Signature: --Derek Attig, bookmobility.org
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