Peeing Calvin meme is similar to peeing imp on 1870 map FDA approves 3D-printed replacement skulls Cheat sheet for patient with temporary short-term memory loss Postal Service band auditions from 2002 Official rules for Yeti seekers in Nepal (1959) Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling The Vulcan Salute and other Jewish-themed paper cut art Pastor Davis uses grocer's apostrophe in booklet title Closer look at the scammy, awful contracts from Random House's new ebook imprints CIA Canoe Tours & Strip-chess in Karachi: JOHN WILCOCK's Life-changing 1959 World Trip Science and gun violence: why is the research so weak? [Part 2] Review: SimCity The right to "unlock" your cellphone is just the start Cyriak's Cobweb welcomes you to the land of Nope Sugru hits B&Q Dove sneaks revert-to-original Photoshop plugin into art directors' toolkits Politely refusing to talk to DHS checkpoints Vortex smoke rings created with 3D printed wings Richard Sherman and lucky disnephile sing "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" Unicorn wigs Houses carved out of blocks of books Petition demands an end to drone surveillance Machine of Death: the game -- blazing Kickstarter success looking working toward awesome stretch goals Gweek 084: Carrie Brownstein Patter for magicians: 1945 Rapefruit: it's "good for every meal" A boast Holder: US may use drones to kill US citizens on US soil but only bad people so don't worry Readings from Mauna Loa show increased greenhouse gas emissions Paleobiologists unearth camel remains in Canadian Arctic Peeing Calvin meme is similar to peeing imp on 1870 map
By Mark Frauenfelder on Mar 07, 2013 12:43 pm Can the origin of the "Peeing Calvin" be traced to this gorgeous 1870 French propaganda map? Joshua Glenn thinks it's possible! What is spiky-haired Sardinia/Corsica doing, with that evil grimace on his face? He’s dropped his pants! He’s peeing! Mystery solved. The “Calvin Peeing” meme was inspired not by Calvin, but by a 19th century ...
Read in browser FDA approves 3D-printed replacement skulls
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 07, 2013 12:40 pm The FDA has approved OsteoFab, "a cranial maxillo-facial (CMF) plate for skull reconstruction which can be used to replace up to 75% of the skull."
Read in browser Cheat sheet for patient with temporary short-term memory loss
By Mark Frauenfelder on Mar 07, 2013 12:32 pm This reminds me of one of my favorite movies, Memento. A couple years ago, Redditor JoDiegoJo was hospitalized for a variety of unexplained symptoms — headaches, fever, vomiting, dehydration, and difficulty waking up. And then, to top it all off, when she came to in the hospital, she had lost her short-term memory. After having ...
Read in browser Postal Service band auditions from 2002
By David Pescovitz on Mar 07, 2013 12:32 pm With all the hubbub around the reuniting of The Postal Service, Sub Pop has released this delightful footage of the band auditions from March 2002. Weird Al! Duff McKagan! Moby! (Yes, I know it's a joke.) Postal Service to reunite - Boing Boing
Read in browser Official rules for Yeti seekers in Nepal (1959)
By Mark Frauenfelder on Mar 07, 2013 12:17 pm According to this 1959 US Embassy document, it costs Rs.500 for a Yeti search expedition permit. You are allowed to photograph or capture a Yeti, but you are not allowed to kill one or shoot it "except in an emergency arising out of self-defense." (Via Anorak)
Read in browser Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling
By Mark Frauenfelder on Mar 07, 2013 12:10 pm From Aerogramme Writers’ Studio, via Adafruit. My favorite is #13: "Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself." These rules were originally tweeted by Emma Coates, Pixar’s Story Artist. Number 9 on the list - When you’re stuck, make ...
Read in browser The Vulcan Salute and other Jewish-themed paper cut art
By David Pescovitz on Mar 07, 2013 12:03 pm Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik creates exquisite paper cuts from recycled comic books. Much of his work incorporates Jewish mystical and cultural themes. Above, "Live Long and Prosper" (20" x 16", mixed media). Of course, Leonard Nimoy based the iconic "Vulcan Salute" on an ancient blessing gesture performed by Jewish high priests. If I had known Brynjegard-Bialik's work ...
Read in browser Pastor Davis uses grocer's apostrophe in booklet title
By Mark Frauenfelder on Mar 07, 2013 11:58 am Pastor Davis may know a lot about perverted, distorted sex, but he doesn't know that "it's" is a contraction for "it is" (or "it has"). (Via this isn't happiness)
Read in browser Closer look at the scammy, awful contracts from Random House's new ebook imprints
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 07, 2013 11:43 am Yesterday, I blogged about the awful contracts on offer from Random House's new Hydra imprint, which runs like a scam vanity-press, paying no advances, seizing all rights and charging normal publisher's operating costs to the author. John Scalzi's gotten ahold of the (presumably identical) contract for Alibi, the mystery/crime-book version of Hydra, and it really ...
Read in browser CIA Canoe Tours & Strip-chess in Karachi: JOHN WILCOCK's Life-changing 1959 World Trip
By Ethan Persoff and Scott Marshall on Mar 07, 2013 11:03 am An early opportunity in the 1950's to visit the New York Times' press bureau in Hong Kong sends John Wilcock on his first trip around the world.
Read in browser Science and gun violence: why is the research so weak? [Part 2]
By Maggie Koerth-Baker on Mar 07, 2013 09:00 am Part 2 of Science and gun violence: why is the research so weak? The town of Macapá is in the north of Brazil, on the coast, where the Amazon River flows into the Atlantic. On December 5th, 2001, Sir Peter Blake and his crew decided to spend the night there. They were on their way ...
Read in browser Review: SimCity
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 07, 2013 08:38 am Gregory sez, "Jonathan Cresswell delivers a perfect, succinct review of the new DRM crippled Sim City that will make you feel like you played the game." SimCity, of course, requires an always-on network connection -- to a server that wasn't working. Review: SimCity
Read in browser The right to "unlock" your cellphone is just the start
By Rob Beschizza on Mar 07, 2013 08:22 am Derek Khanna writes that a more permanent solution is needed to the underlying legal mess, "ensuring consumer rights, protecting small businesses, and fostering innovation." [The Atlantic]
Read in browser Cyriak's Cobweb welcomes you to the land of Nope
By Rob Beschizza on Mar 07, 2013 07:56 am "The endless universe of spiders"
Read in browser Sugru hits B&Q
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 07, 2013 02:04 am Congrats to Sugru, the wonderful, maker-ish polymer fix-it clay, on the news that it's been picked up for distribution at 300 B&Q stores across the UK!
Read in browser Dove sneaks revert-to-original Photoshop plugin into art directors' toolkits
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 07, 2013 01:05 am The makers of Dove have taken their 'Real Beauty' campaign against P-shopped models into the realm of hacktivism.
Read in browser Politely refusing to talk to DHS checkpoints
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 07, 2013 12:16 am Apparently DHS checkpoints nowhere near the border are a new thing. This guy has been videotaping his encounters and his polite refusal to answer questions.
Read in browser Vortex smoke rings created with 3D printed wings
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 11:14 pm Scientists tie vortex rings (smoke rings, basically) into knots using 3D printed wings. Includes high speed video, also in 3D.
Read in browser Richard Sherman and lucky disnephile sing "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 10:11 pm Last month I had the great pleasure of singing "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" with Richard Sherman at his home.
Read in browser Unicorn wigs
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 09:27 pm Etsy seller GimmCat makes multihued wigs with integrated unicorn horns (tails and assorted ponyana as well): "This sale is for the mischievous Snips style My Little Pony costume wig for cosplay, fantasy costumes, conventions, raves, Renaissance festivals, Brony costume or just because! This wig is especially suited for males wishing to take part in the ...
Read in browser Houses carved out of blocks of books
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 08:02 pm "Built of Books" is a series of sculptures from Dutch artist Frank Halmans -- houses carved out of blocks of stuck-together books. dutch artist frank halmans explores themes of domesticity and memory through his sculptural installations. his series 'built of books' employs vintage publications - the selected titles have no particular meaning and are not ...
Read in browser Petition demands an end to drone surveillance
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 06:57 pm Marc from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) sez, "The Electronic Privacy Information Center has published a petition to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, demanding the suspension of the drone program pending the development of privacy regulations for the use of drones in US airspace. Documents recently obtained by EPIC under the Freedom ...
Read in browser Machine of Death: the game -- blazing Kickstarter success looking working toward awesome stretch goals
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 06:30 pm http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1234131468/machine-of-death-the-game-of-creative-assassinatio David Wondermark" Malki ! sez, "We've taken the Machine of Death concept [ed: a wildly successful independent anthology of stories about a world where a machine can accurately forecast your date of death] and adapted it into a pretty wacky party game. You play assassins who know their target's death prediction in advance, and ...
Read in browser Gweek 084: Carrie Brownstein
By Mark Frauenfelder on Mar 06, 2013 05:34 pm This morning David and I spoke with with Carrie Brownstein: musician, writer, actor. She's a founding member of the bands Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag, and the co-creator, co-writer, and co-star of Portlandia, the hit sketch comedy series on IFC, currently in its 3rd season. Previously: Portlandia: A Guide for Visitors Portlandia: Artisanal popcorn Portlandia just ...
Read in browser Patter for magicians: 1945
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 05:15 pm A few excerpts from Harry Stanley's 1945 book The Gag Bag, which features suggested patter for would-be magicians: Of course, I never dare let my people know I was a magician. It would shock them. They think I'm still in prison. I used to be a wallflower, until I took up magic. Now everybody asks ...
Read in browser Rapefruit: it's "good for every meal"
By Xeni Jardin on Mar 06, 2013 05:13 pm From the Mankato Free Press, of Minnesota. Oops. [Romenesko]
Read in browser A boast
By Cory Doctorow on Mar 06, 2013 05:07 pm My latest novel Homeland just hit the New York Times bestseller list for the fourth week running. That is all.
Read in browser Holder: US may use drones to kill US citizens on US soil but only bad people so don't worry
By Xeni Jardin on Mar 06, 2013 05:04 pm Attorney General Eric Holder won't rule out a scenario in which a drone strike could be ordered against American citizens on domestic soil, but says it has never been done previously and he could only see it being considered in an extraordinary circumstance, reports CNN, so guys, don't worry about it, everything's gonna be fine. ...
Read in browser Readings from Mauna Loa show increased greenhouse gas emissions
By Xeni Jardin on Mar 06, 2013 05:01 pm Bad news for all inhabitants of the planet from which you're reading this blog post: data gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, show that the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air spiked in 2012, "making it very unlikely that global warming can be limited to another 2 ...
Read in browser Paleobiologists unearth camel remains in Canadian Arctic
By Xeni Jardin on Mar 06, 2013 04:53 pm When Canadian Museum of Nature paleobiologist Natalia Rybczynski dug up what turned out to be camel bones in a High Arctic ridge in Canada, she recalls thinking: "This is something kind of off the charts." She was right. Those bones belonged to the first camel ever found in the High Arctic. "The humped creatures once ...
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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