A. Kachmar
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Happy 20th birthday, Windows 95!
tentxcity: Me and my dog Pandora, adopted from the street ©...
Me and my dog Pandora, adopted from the street
© Sergei Sarakhanov
This has got to be one of the best photos I’ve seen in a while.
chrisisoninfiniteearths: buzzfeed: 17 Illustrations That Are...
17 Illustrations That Are Incredibly Real For Anyone With ADD
ADD really is one of the worst-named conditions. It should be called Attention Surplus Disorder because when it’s really bad, it’s because we try to pay attention to everything around us at once. When I was younger, crowds and parties could be a nightmare because my brain would try to listen to 10 conversations at the same time.
I always wonder. I was one of the ritalin kids, diagnosed at about age 8 or 9, medicated until my tweens. Ritalin kept me focused and I felt brilliant (math was a breeze, I’d get weeks ahead in class) but couldn’t write a story or draw a picture to save my life. I could either be smart and uncreative or distracted and artistic and I ended up choosing the latter. Since they stopped diagnosing it with the overwhelming frequence of the 90s, do we still have it?
I’m still happy with the choice I made, even if I can’t do algebra in my head anymore and feel dizzy when presented with too many options.
NASA Releases Adorable 'Little Planet' Selfie of Mars Rover
In the three years since Curiosity landed on Mars, NASA has released a lot of excellent selfies of the rover—but this one might be the best of all.
On day 1065 of its mission, Curiosity used its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to snap a panorama from Mount Sharp. Photographer Andrew Bodrov digitally stitched 92 images together to create this adorable “little planet” selfie. (The arm used to snap the photo isn’t in the image, but you can see its shadow.)
Curiosity is positioned over a target known as Buckskin in an area on Mount Sharp called Marias Pass, where, according to NASA, the rover “detected unusually high levels of silica and hydrogen.” The rover had bored into the rock with its sample-collecting drill just days before its three-year landing anniversary, and the powder sample was taken into the rover’s on-board laboratory for analysis.
Fresh Faces: Clever Artist Gives Russian Buildings a New Look
Artist Nikita Nomerz is giving abandoned buildings and structures in Russian cities a new look… and the eerily expressive edifices are looking back!
Hailing from the northwestern Russian city of Nizhniy Novgorod, Nikita Nomerz cut his artistic teeth in the field of hip-hop graffiti. For the past few years, however, his focus has been on street art of a different sort. Nomerz gets his inspiration from the buildings and structures he paints, seeing the inner “soul” of the edifice much as a sculptor imagines the finished statue before the first chip of the chisel. “The Big Brother”, above, is one of Nomerz’ earliest such works dating from 2010. The lowest of the three images was taken in April of 2015 – darned graffiti artists!
“When you are doing street art, you create a dialogue with passersby, architecture, nature and with other artists,” explains Nomerz. “Maybe on streets, art is not so durable, but it’s for real alive. Works which has been done on the streets are living their own life.” Since not everyone can see the life still couched within these derelict structures, Nomerz employs his own talent and creativity to bring it to the forefront.
Since 2010, Nomerz has been engaged in a wide-ranging project he calls The Living Wall. From St. Petersburg eastward to the Chinese border city of Mudanjiang, Nomerz has left his mark – often quite a large mark – upon cities and towns in need of a little extra character. The bizarrely disturbing piece above is titled The Glutton; the striking installation below, The Chinese Residents. The latter stands out for NOT being created on an abandoned structure.
Nomerz’ main medium is spray paint but in some of his works, a little added plaster and some shifting of stone and/or brickwork is performed to enhance the composition. It’s startling how a row of decaying bricks can approximate a grinning mouth, as seen on The Toothy Man above – no doubt the building’s original constructors would be shocked at the transformation!
If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then the windows of abandoned buildings must be… OK, let’s not go there. Nomerz has no qualms about bringing out the inherent “personalities” of his inanimate subjects, mind you.
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Artist Nikita Nomerz Gives Russian Buildings A New Look
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Stairs Revisited: Another 12 Modern Staircases
Since it’s obvious we all have a thing for well-designed, really cool, jaw-dropping staircases (remember the first batch?!), we decided to revisit the idea and scope out some new designs. Take a look at these 12 we found and wished we lived with.
Architect Ammar Eloueini worked with architect Marc Fornes of THEVERYMANY™ to complete this Corian screen/handrial that spans the side of this wooden block staircase in Paris. The computer generated pattern is fairly open at the bottom and gradually becomes more opaque towards to the top, while the wooden treads become thicker.
Paratelier designed this linear staircase with vertical wooden boards that connect the treads to the ceiling above and the floor below. Even though they’re made from simple, natural wood panels, the way they aligned the vertical panels makes for a striking design.
Remember that remarkable metal staircase designed by Francesco Librizzi Studio? Well check out this mind-blowing one the studio designed in Casa G. It’s made from a geometric metal structure that supports various wooden components that become stairs you can climb.
Metalsmith artist Antonino Sciortino decorated his home in Milan, which beautifully shows off his own skills, including the metal framed, floating staircase. The stairs make several turns to face in four directions helping to save on space.
Photo by Hanne Fuglbjerg
From Danish agency Citrus Press, this sunny yellow staircase continues its bright color up the wall to the next floor. Simple metal rods help support the floating stairs providing minimal interruption.
Photo by Christian Beirle González
While it leads nowhere, Olafur Eliasson’s permanently installed, double helix staircase sits in the atrium of an office building in Munich. Despite only being attached at one point at the base, visitors can walk up and down the stairs and it remains intact.
From the House in Madalena, this set of wooden stairs was designed by Castanheira & Bastai Arquitectos Associados with alternating treads that resemble an expanding scissor gate.
This fun design, by Atelier 37.2, is like a modern, indoor treehouse for kids. The red stairs, which lead to a loft bed, are decorated with angular branches that continue to the ceiling.
Photo by Alexandre Delmar
Tight space? No Problem! Architect César Machado Moreira, of EZZO, utilized a tiny space to design a wooden staircase that winds around several times before reaching the top.
Photo by Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma
Designed by Pezo von Ellrichshausen, this spiral staircase is located in the center of the Gago House where it connects four separate quadrants that function in varying degrees of privacy.
Located in Mumbai in an apartment designed by Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop, this staircase does away with all ideas of a traditional design and instead becomes a sculptural piece that allows light and air to pass freely.
Jun Yashiki & Associates designed the Detached Floor House with a set of stairs that eliminates the typical tread. Instead of flat wooden treads, they used small strips of wood and arranged them side by side, alternating the next strip with the riser.
This Rotary Dial Smartphone Hack Fills Me With Glee
Rotary dials are one of my favorite UI devices. I like the force feedback they provide as you spin a number in, and the sound they make as the dial zips back into position. At last, I can have that feeling every time I make a call, using Polish engineer Paweł Zadrożniak’s crazy DiY rotary dial smartphone.
Hardcore Pirates Are Reportedly Banning Windows 10
bisexualpiratequeen: I’m trying hard to live by Cat Principles. 1- I am glorious above all things...
I’m trying hard to live by Cat Principles.
1- I am glorious above all things
2- Eat when hungry, sleep when sleepy, play when bored
3- Affection is given and received on my terms and only mine
4- Show displeasure clearly.
5- NO
6- Demand the things you want. If they aren’t given, demand them again, but louder this time.
7- If you are touched when you don’t want to be, say so. If they continue to touch you, make them bleed.
awesome-picz: Eyes As A Canvas Casual daytime looks
You Don't Have To Take This Backpack Off to Get at Your Stuff
The one thing that makes backpacks great (they’re always out of the way) is also the one thing that makes them annoying when you need something. Paul Vierthaler agrees, and has come up with a rather clever solution called the Paxis that makes it easy to access some of your stuff.
1981 BMW M1 Coupe
Visit Uncrate for the full post.
A Peek Inside the Galleries and a Playlist of Short Films Showing at Banksy’s Dismaland
Dietrich Wegner / Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
The fun thing about Dismaland is that in addition to pieces by Banksy, you get to immerse yourself in the works of 58 additional artists, and films by 22 directors and animators. It’s impossible to grasp the scope of every last sculpture, painting, and installation, but included here is a small selection of pieces the crowds are buzzing about inside the three large indoor gallery spaces at Dismaland. You can see our additional coverage of the event here, and Evan over at Juxtapoz managed to get an exclusive interview with Banksy before the event.
Lastly, here are links to the 24 short films included in the hour-long Cinema program I helped with.
F*ck That: A Guided Meditation by Jason Headley; Bottle by Kristen Lepore; New York Park by Black Sheep Films; Symmetry by the Mercadantes; Magic Hats by Jake Sumner; Golden Age of Insect Aviation: The Great Grasshoppers by Wayne Unten; Walking on By by Mr. Freeman; Merry-go-round by Vladimír Turner; The Gap by Daniel Sax; 5 mètres 80 by Nicolas Deveaux; I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up! by Dave Fothergill [with audio added]; Danielle by Anthony Cerniello; Anamorphose Temporelle by Adrien M. & Claire B.; Stainless / Shinjuku (excerpt) by Adam Magyar; Collapsing Cooling Towers by Ecotricity; Liberty by Vincent Ullmann [edited with audio added]; The Employment by opusBou; Yawns by the Mercadantes; Rush Hour by Black Sheep Films; Pug Particles by Ramil Valiev; Shell’s priceless Grand Prix moment by Greenpeace Living With Jigsaw by Chris Capell; Teddy Has An Operation by Ze Frank; and Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared #1 by Becky and Joe.
Janus, 2015 (Courtesy of Maskull Lasserre)
Damien Hirst
Jimmy Cauty’s ADP installation / Photograph by Christopher Jobson for Colossal / Click for detail
Embroidered cars by Severija Inčirauskaite-Kriaunevičiene / Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Anatomical ceramics by Ronit Baranga
Tattooed Porcelain Figures by Jessica Harrison / Top photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Paco Pomet / Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Dump truck smashes into highway sign in Saudi Arabia
A dump truck, travelling down a highway in Saudi Arabia with its container up, has been captured on a dashcam crashing into a highway sign.
Before the truck gets to the sign, a pickup truck is seen speeding up behind it probably to warn the truck driver, but it fails to make it before the truck takes down the highway sign.
The footage was posted on Sunday to YouTube and its uploader states that it was filmed in Saudi Arabia.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Loki, A Sweet Cat Whose Oversized Canines and Protruding Tongue Make Her Look Like a Vampire
Loki is a sweet but wary kitty whose oversized canines, crossed eyes and protruding tongue make her look like an adorably evil vampire. Loki’s human Kaet said that she adopted Loki from a shelter without being aware of her unusual looks.
..when I adopted her from the shelter they didn’t give me many details about her looks…her fangs and general displeased look are often misleading, but sometimes do fit her disposition.
images via Loki
via Bored Panda
Watch the Mesmerizing Process of Automated Cake Decoration
If you've ever noticed that the cakes at the grocery store or chain bakery seem a little too perfect, that's because they were probably cranked out by a machine made by Unifiller. The food service company is the leading supplier of portioning depositors (a.k.a. really cool cake decorating machines).
[h/t: The Kid Should See This]
One Last Look at Dione
A. KachmarIt is interesting that the majority of the craters look like faceted polygons and hexagons rather than circular.
This week, the Cassini spacecraft made its fifth and final flyby of Dione , Saturn’s fourth-largest moon. This image, in which Saturn and its rings can be seen looming behind the moon, was captured in the leadup to the mission’s last close approach, on August 17, 2015.
Canadian Photographer Captures Polar Bears Playing In Flower...
Canadian Photographer Captures Polar Bears Playing In Flower Fields
Sleep Drug Modafinil Affirmed by Scientists as a Safe and Effective Brain Booster
Off-license users of modafinil—a drug developed to treat various sleep disorders—have known for some time that it doubles as a surprisingly effective cognitive enhancer, and with very few side effects. A new systematic review shows it’s true, raising some important ethical questions about the use of smart drugs.
Welcome to Dismaland: A First Look at Banksy’s New Art Exhibition Housed Inside a Dystopian Theme Park [Updated 8/22]
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
WESTON-SUPER-MARE — Inside the walls of a derelict seaside swimming resort in Weston-super-Mare, UK, mysterious construction over the last month—including a dingy looking Disney-like castle and a gargantuan rainbow-colored pinwheel tangled in plastic—suggested something big was afoot. Suspicion and anticipation surrounding the unusual activity attributed to fabled artist and provocateur Banksy has reached a Willy Wonka-esque fervor. Well, if Banksy’s your bag, continue fervoring. If not, there’s more than a few reasons to continue reading.
The spectacle has since been revealed to be a pop-up art exhibition in the form of an apocalyptic theme park titled Dismaland (“The UK’s most disappointing new visitor attraction”) that will be open to the public for five weeks.
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal / CLICK FOR DETAIL
Dismaland legend
Dismaland brochure / Park aerial view courtesy Upfest / Photo of construction
The event has all the hallmark details of a traditional Banksy event from its initial shroud of secrecy to artistic themes of apocalypse, anti-consumerism, and pointed social critiques on celebrity culture, immigration, and law enforcement. However, there’s one major deviation: the bulk of the artwork packed into three main interior galleries was created by dozens of other artists.
So just what’s hidden inside the walls of this derelict seaside resort? A demented assortment of bizarre and beautiful artworks from no less than 58 global artists including Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer, Jimmy Cauty, Bill Barminski, Caitlin Cherry, Polly Morgan, Josh Keyes, Mike Ross, David Shrigley, Bäst, and Espo. Banksy is also showing 10 artworks of his own.
Dismaland features a cavalcade of artists featured here on Colossal over the last few years including pieces by Escif, Maskull Lasserre, Kate McDowell, Paco Pomet, Dietrich Wegner, Michael Beitz, Brock Davis, Ronit Baranga, and others.
Here’s some text from the event’s official brochure:
Are you looking for an alternative to the soulless sugar-coated banality of the average family day out? Or just somewhere cheaper. Then this is the place for you—a chaotic new world where you can escape from mindless escapism. Instead of a burger stall, we have a museum. In place of a gift shop we have a library, well, we have a gift shop as well.
Bring the whole family to come and enjoy the latest addition to our chronic leisure surplus—a bemusement park. A theme park who’s big theme is: theme parks should have bigger themes…
This event contains adult themes, distressing imagery, extended use of strobe lighting, smoke effects and swearing. The following items are strictly prohibited: knives, spraycans, illegal drugs, and lawyers from the Walt Disney corporation.
In addition to art you’ll also find functional a terrifying carousel, a mini golf park, a ferris wheel, and some ludicrously impossible fair games (like ‘topple the anvil with a ping pong ball’ by David Shrigley), roving occupy protests, and a Star Wars stormtrooper who sulks around the exhibition in a state of complete misery. The park is staffed by morose Dismaland employees who are uninterested in being helpful or remotely informative. Entrance to the event requires an uncomfortably awkward NSA-esque security screening, and of course you get to exit through the gift shop.
Just a quick fun note, I had the honor of helping curate a small part of Dismaland: a program of 24 short films shown on a massive outdoor cinema that will play on a loop day and night. Films include shorts by Santiago Grasso & Patricio Plaza, Kirsten Lepore, The Mercadantes, Ze Frank, Adrien M. & Claire B., Black Sheep Films, and Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared.
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Photo by Christopher Jobson for Colossal
Dismaland is open to the public from August 22 through September 27th, 2015 and information about pre-booked and at-the-gate tickets is available here. There’s also a series of events including a show by Pussy Riot and Massive Attack on September 25th.
I think it goes without saying, but if you have the means, get to the UK.
Update: This post has been updated to include additional imagery, clarification, and other small corrections.
Update 2: We understand that there is difficulty with ticketing at the moment, but unfortunately this publication is not associated with the event directly. Please keep an eye on the official Dismaland website for updates.
Update 3: Added a video by Alex Jefferis.