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November 30, 2007
Simian Caged, Atrocity
National Geographic just announced the winners to its International Photography Contest and one of the images truly disturbs. A large group of caged monkeys in China, ready for medical testing shot by Li Feng.
Caged monkeys await their fate at a medical laboratory in Hubei Province, China. The judges liked that this image subverts the usual romanticized approach to wildlife photography and more accurately reflects the fate of many of the world's animals. The sneaker at the top provides scale and injects a human being into the scene; the anonymity of the wearer suggests concealment and complicity. The structure of the cages, the horror of the captivity, the crowded composition, and the claustrophobic tension all add up to a sad and compelling photo.
via the incredible Neatorama
Posted by tranism at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 28, 2007
Already Have A Dog, Must Buy Laser
Posted by tranism at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 27, 2007
Smoke This!
Ooo, you so bad. Despite what it looks like, you don't smoke it. It's actually a Tea Stick. A stainless steel perforated stick that holds just enough tea leaves for a single steeping. Great way to infuse flavor into plain water and keep those pesky leaves out. Only $20.
Posted by tranism at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 26, 2007
Are Elephants Really Afraid Of Mice?
I'm not sure if it's an age old question but the idea of a big ole' elephant running at the sight of a tiny innocent mouse has been ingrained in me since I was a child, thanks Dumbo. But is it true? Results are fascinating.
via Neatorama
Posted by tranism at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 20, 2007
Interactive Forest
I'm enthralled with this installation. Funky Forest is an interactive ecosystem where children create trees with their body and then divert the water flowing from the waterfall to the trees to keep them alive. The health of the trees contributes to the overall health of the forest and the types of creatures that inhabit it.
Posted by tranism at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 19, 2007
Mario And Nintendo Land On The Moon
Oh snap! They did it! With all those billions, Nintendo managed to put Mario on the moon. No I kid I kid. It's actually a photochop I did of the Super Mario Galaxy launch event in Amsterdam.
via The Tanooki
Posted by tranism at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
See My Bear Feet?
Now that the bear feet have your attention. I want to tell you about a new documentary made by the BBC called Earth.
Filmed over a period of 5 years, it follows the lives of polar bears in the Arctic, elephants in the Kalahari, and a humpback whale in the deep blue oceans. The film takes you thru every trial and tribulation from finding food, raising babies, and the changing environment because of humans. Narrated by Captain Picard Patrick Stewart, Earth is sure to open eyes and rip off blindfolds to those oblivious to what's happening.
It's playing now in the U.K. so if you have a few quids and hours, give it a watch. I hope the film comes to the U.S.
via Treehugger
Posted by tranism at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
November 15, 2007
Lancer Supershort Series, Smarter
It's another entry in the Mitsubishi Lancer Supershort series. Amateur filmmakers are battling it out and voters like you and I can win the Lancer if we vote for the winning entry. I originally blogged about another entry called "Safer", but this entry titled "Smarter" definitely is my runner up. Here's the recap.
"Two schoolboys, Von and Zeke, compare toy cars in a game of one-upmanship. Von produces the new Mitsu Lancer and demonstrates its "magical" features to a bunch of stunned kids in the playground."
Voting begins November 19th so mark your calendars.
Posted by tranism at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 14, 2007
Time Travel Not Possible
Not my opinion, in fact I don't have one because time travel is so far beyond what my poor brain can handle but some scientists are now saying time travel is not possible. Hit the jump to find out why.
Most of us are familiar with the concept of light speed which is how fast light can travel. According to Einstein that's as fast as anything can go. Somehow break that speed and you're moving thru time but there's a fatal flaw to this theory.
Time is a human invention. It is our way of measuring what time really is - the state of all particles in the universe at any given moment. It really doesn't have anything to do with moving faster than the speed of light. No, all that does is alter our perception of time when in reality the particles in the universe are still changing.
This would suggest that in order to time travel, a machine would have to record the state of every particle in the universe. Then you have to figure out how to change every single particle back to the state of your intended "time". This also suggests our trips are limited to when the machine first started recording. On top of that, it wouldn't be possible to travel into the future since there's no data recorded yet. The future is where all particles have infinite possibilities of change.
It's an interesting theory except I think I read somewhere how our perception of time is incorrect, that in fact time is not linear. That's hard to imagine since we are corporeal beings and everything we do is at least based on a past and present.
I must go now. My head hurts.
Posted by tranism at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
November 13, 2007
You Chew Like An Animal
I'm not sure what these ads for Eclipse Gum have to do with animal mouths but I guess they're trying to say you chew like an animal.
More after the jump.
via IBIA
Posted by tranism at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 12, 2007
Scott Musgrove
I've been enthralled with Scott Musgrove's art lately. He loves drawing fantastical animals he calls "accidentals" of all species but gives them human facial characteristics. His work can be purchased and they're always mounted in these very ornate frames. My favorite is this basket horse. WTF is a basket horse? I don't know but I totally want one!
Posted by tranism at 12:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 9, 2007
Facebook Social Ads Are Illegal
If you haven't heard by now and you're a Facebook member then READ THIS. Facebook recently announced their advertising engine to leverage its tens of millions of users. One of their plans calls for social ad networking. For example let's say Pepsi buys tons of ad space from Facebook. Facebook knows you like Pepsi. Facebook nabs your image, slaps on Pepsi's ad and sends it to all your friends. Does that sound okay to you?
via Web Guild
In most states people have given Facebook the right to do whatever when they accepted Facebook's user agreement, because nobody ever really reads that. Problem is it's illegal in New York since there's a 100 year old law in place that prohibits the use of anyone's name, portrait, picture, or voice used within the state for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade without the written consent first obtained" can sue for damages, and doing so is a criminal misdemeanor.
This is similar to what Virgin Mobile did when they took the image of a 16 y.o. girl from flickr and created an ad for bus shelters. They were promptly hit with a law suit so I can't imagine the same not happening to Facebook, especially in law suit happy America.
Posted by tranism at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Every Super Soaker Ever
And man that's a lot of them. I wonder why I never got into water guns.
Posted by tranism at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
November 7, 2007
World's Tallest Meets World's Smallest
Gibson the Great Dane and Boo Boo the toy Chihuahua met to celebrate Guinness World Records Day which the two currently hold titles for. Gibson is 107cm tall while Boo Boo is barely 10cm. Despite their sizes, Gibson is the gentler, quieter one meanwhile Boo Boo thinks she's top dog and diva.
Posted by tranism at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Frank Gehry Building Falling Apart
M.I.T. is suing Frank Gehry, his architectural firm, and his construction firm for massive damages to the $300 million Stata Center opened in 2004. In just that short time, the building is suffering from massive cracks, pervasive leaks, and visible structural damage already costing the school $1.7 million to repair.
The design sports the classic Gehry touches, post-modern sweeps and lines, with each section looking as if it's collapsing into the other. Funny since that's exactly what's happening. Frank Gehry has spoken out saying designs like this are unpredictable.
"These things are complicated and they involved a lot of people, and you never quite know where they went wrong. A building goes together with seven billion pieces of connective tissue. The chances of it getting done ever without something colliding or some misstep are small."
This isn't the first time a Gehry building has experienced problems. In 2004, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles had to be sand blasted because the metal skin reflected so much light and amplified heat in the area.
It reminds me of what a friend told me when he first saw a Frank Gehry building. "Nature didn't mean for this design."
via NY Times
Posted by tranism at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 6, 2007
Altair is David Fumero
Did you know Altair from Assassin's Creed is modeled after a real person, who hit it big when he became the face of Jean-Paul Gaultier's 'Le Male' ad, who is non other than soap hunk, model, actor David Fumero!
I knew I loved Assassin's Creed for other reasons beyond gaming. :)
Posted by tranism at 5:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Vote In Apple's '07 Insomnia Film Festival Contest
There's barely 4 days left to vote for your favorite video in Apple's 2007 Insomnia Film Festival Contest. The premise is each entrant has exactly 24 hours to create the best 3 minute video utilizing 3 out of 10 predetermined elements. Which 3 elements an entrant uses is entirely up to them.
This year I'm rooting for one called 'The Delivery', whom a friend and coworker is a part of. The entire 3 minute short was shot in L.A. using a Sony PD170 cam and edited in Final Cut Pro. Winners will receive MacBook Pros loaded with software so hurry and vote! It only takes seconds to register and it's free.
Vote!
Posted by tranism at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Expand Your Vocabulary To End Hunger
Please go there now. It doesn't cost you a thing. All you do is answer multiple choice questions to define words like, "what does overstate mean?" Each correct answer sends 10 grains of rice to the United Nations to help end world hunger. Play for as long as you like and please pass site URL on.
Thanks Jeff!
Posted by tranism at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 5, 2007
Tesla Coils Mario Style
When mad scientists get bored, they choreograph tesla coils to the Super Mario theme.
Posted by tranism at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 2, 2007
Korean Girl Straight Up Takes It To Church
Just a happy video to wish ya'll a happy Friday. I especially love the audience reaction and the spontaneous hug by the two guys at the end. Like the audience says, "whoooooaaaaaa!"
Thanks Richie!
Posted by tranism at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
November 1, 2007
Best Halloween Costume of 2007
I'm easily impressed when it comes to home made costumes because even with my fashion background, I suck at theatrics. This daddy and son pair portraying Maurice Sendak's classic 'Where the Wild Things Are' is the best costume I've seen this Halloween.
The costume is for sale for $2,100. There's only one so if you really love it and have the cash to burn, SPEND SPEND SPEND!
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Higher Ground Shuttle Review
Many months ago, a soft goods company called Higher Ground sent me their Shuttle Bag to review. At the time I was using a Booq Folee XS for my 13" Macbook. I saw no reason to switch plus the Booq bag was aesthetically more pleasing to me. Unfortunately one of the zippers broke so I switched to the Shuttle Bag. Here's my review.
I received the green colored Shuttle bag and when I say green, I mean it. It's almost a highlighter green with a hint of pine. You can also get it in pink, blue, and black. The bag is nicely padded and wrapped in what looks to be rip-stop nylon tho I'm not going to test if it is. Overall it feels solid light.
There's a rubberized hand strap on the left side of the bag which is what I use most. It also has a shoulder strap attachment that I found just as comfortable but I'm not a shoulder bag type of guy unless it's from Bottega Veneta. The velcro-fastened front flap is big enough to shove magazines and paper work in but it's not as nicely constructed as my Booq bag. Tho adequate I never used it.
The real advantage the Shuttle had over my Booq Folee was the ability to use my laptop in the bag open. Made specifically for this purpose, four rubber mats elevate my laptop just enough for heat to dissipate and there's a myriad of slots and compartments to store memory cards and discs. The interior is also heavily padded so any bumps and even drops should leave your laptop unscathed.
I found only two faults with the bag. There are no compartments to hold my a/c adapter. Using the front flap is sorta cheating since that's the only unpadded area plus it makes the bag uncomfortably bulge. My other complaint is the backpack strap attachment. Thru a series of snaps and loops you can transform the Shuttle into a backpack. I don't know who's back they measured as a template but it doesn't fit me and I'm only 5'9", 170 lbs. Fortunately the backpack strap is sold separately and definitely something you can do without.
The best part about the Shuttle is the price. $40 gets you a bag perfect for a Macbook or any other 13 incher. You can also get the bag in 15 and 17 inch varieties for slightly more. I can't say that I prefer the Shuttle over my Booq Folee but in the 4 months of using it, not once has anything popped off or ripped and in reality that's the most important thing when shopping for a laptop bag. It needs to be durable so your very expensive investment inside is well protected.
Posted by tranism at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)