Reno 911 creators and other goodies
Recently, I’ve started listening to a particular podcast while strolling the streets of NY. When listening to music, I normally walk along with what I call my “blank face”. It’s an empty expression with room-for-rent eyes. I look at the ground a lot. Now a new face has arrived and I’m not sure what to call it.
See, I was walking along listening to an interview with the Reno 911 creators and found myself LaughingOutLoud(cat) in the middle of the street. I was – get this – smiling to myself! I felt like such a tool. Tool face? I actually had to strangle a laugh in the middle of Lafayette street so as to not draw attention to myself. Um, where am I going with this…?
Oh, yeah.
This has been a rather long-winded way of saying that The Sound of Young America is an EXCELLENT podcast. I’ve listened to a bunch of archived stuff and have found some really great talks with writers, comedians, musicians and thinkers, who are more than happy to talk about the creative process or what they do for a crust. I’ve thrown the Reno 911 interview here as a taste, but it’s worth trolling through the archives on iTunes. You’re sure to find something of interest.
The Sound of Young America: Reno 911!
A sample of what I’ve been (or will soon be) listening to:
Bonus round!
* Header image found on wackocatho’s photostream
Messages from Mars
I don’t know why I find this exciting, but the Phoenix lander is twittering! It’s totally on Mars!
Read all about it at the NYT
(Do you think there’s a sexy scientist behind the black twitter curtain?)
via the Twitter blog
Oh, what a feeling. Time on the ceiling.
via notcot.org
Flashers on the Brooklyn Bridge
Now that I have your attention, sorry. Not rude bits. It’s actually just the latest Improv Everywhere “scene”. All I can say is man, what crappy weather. That takes dedication. Big writeup here, including a ton of photos like the wideangle shot above.
via NotCot
Houston, we have a hotdog
Status update: Powerbook HD overdosed on hot talent of owner.
Attempted repair: Repair failed, new HD needed.
Consequences: Blogging from iPhone considered too ‘fiddly’. Blogging suspended until someone loans owner a laptop while theirs is being fixed.
What to do?: Play x-box and rejoice in the slew of subtle touches thrown into The Simpsons Game.
Dirty car art (nothing lasts forever)
Having grown up living at the end of a dirt road, our family car was often the victim of finger bombings. The “wash me” plea, the craftily drawn plant growing on the back window. But not once did we ever come back to the car and find anything resembling art etched into that fine Australian drought dirt. Where was this guy back then?*
Scott Wade breaks away from the dirt writing herd by using the dust on car back windows to create pieces of art. Here he is at work on the Early Show.
From the site:
Dogs playing poker
Cactus scene
There’s, like, totally a car commercial in here somewhere. Oh, wait. There it is.
Plenty more to explore in gallery 1 and gallery 2
via doobybrain
*in America, you douchebag.
Photo credits: Scott Wade, Robin Wood, Jules Alexander
Another balloon bites the dust
This is actually more fun to watch if you don’t know what he’s making with them thar balloons.
via Neatorama
I would love to be bathed in oil
Again, not me. (Or would I?*) This TED talk by Arthur Ganson really made my day. He makes kinetic art – a mix of machine and quiet motion, balance and thought. It exists just to be, to revel in the “joy of its own triviality”. At first, the Wishbone walker was my fav, but the machine bathing itself in oil might have knocked that off its bony throne. Also enjoyed the idea of the World Sculpture Racing Society. Worth a watch to see the beautiful machines shake their artistic arses. [15:44 mins]
*I suspect it would depend on the oil.
Say “Oh, hai!” to a brit via The Telectroscope
I went for a wander today after my writing session and tripped over “The Telectroscope” art installation at the Fulton Ferry Landing, just under the Brooklyn Bridge. It connects us Noo Yawkers with our English contemporaries across the pond. Basically a live feed. (Their matching ’scope is near Tower Bridge, though it says here that they have to pay to see who’s at this end. Anyone want to confirm?)
This contraption drilled through the planks last week (as reported in the NYT), and now links us 24/7. Check it out from now until June 15th. Read more about the history of Telectroscopes on the always accurate Wikipedia
You can make out the peeps in London on the other side thar. Oh hai!
I throw myself at men
Well, not me. Y’all know I’m a wallflower. Look at me over there looking shyly into the frothy depths of my beer.
But Lilly McElroy is no wallflower. And this project is simple: go to a bar, throw self at a man, get a picture of the act. Simple. She leads with her chest – a nice ploy. I might try that…
Plenty more images at her site (plus some other projects)
via shape+color
You’re gonna make some crap
I’m a big fan of This American Life, and found this via an Ira tweet. (At least I hope it really is his twitter. He might be just another fake Stephen Colbert.) It’s about storytelling. There are four parts to it, but this morning I found myself drawn to part III. Been suffering a bit lately with the “Staring at the Page and Seeing Crap Looking Back at Me Blues.” Got a bit of a lift from Ira’s words.
The others parts also have some nice, soothing pick-me-ups in ‘em. Although he’s talking about broadcasting, there’s something in here for everyone.
Storytelling #1
The building blocks
Storytelling #2
What happens when you realize things aren’t working.
“It’s time kill. And it’s time to enjoy the killing. [snip] Not enough gets said about the abandoning of crap.”
Storytelling #4
Talk like a human being. Don’t inject too much of yourself into the story.
Biggest Drawing in the World
“With the help of a GPS device and DHL, I have drawn a self portrait on our planet. My pen was a briefcase containing the GPS device, being sent around the world. The paths the briefcase took around the globe became the strokes of the drawing.”
via zefrank.com
My flickr
