Secret Still

For the most part I really hate the folk art revival thing going on right now. I think that if you’re painting things that look like a five year-old made them when you are professionally trained then you are a) a total asshole and b) you shouldn’t be able to sell your work. There are a few exceptions that I make, because I feel like the artists work has more voice because of the style rather than in spite of it. I like Mel Kadel, and sometimes her stuff even sits on the other side of the blurry line that defines folk art in my mind. There are a few others that I won’t bother to tell you about. The newest exception to the rule, however, is Drew Beckmeyer. I can’t tell you why I like it, because I really don’t know. But I do like it so I’m sharing it. Because sharing is caring.

Drew Beckmeyer

Roger Arquer, the Philippe Starck of simple glass design, has just tipped his latest project: Non-lethal Mousetraps. You might have seen some of his previous project where he redesigned the traditional fish bowl. All of those designs were remarkable and now he’s done it again with very well thought out mousetraps. The great part is that you can make these yourself for about $1. Well, except for the lightbulb one. Unless you’ve done a lot of freebasing you probably don’t know where to find giant lightbulbs or how to cut the bottoms off of them. I knew that my sordid past would come in handy someday. In your fucking smug face, MCGruff.

Roger Arquer

link via dezeen

I’ve updated the sidebar with a few new sites that I’ve decided are noteworthy. My morning ritual involves checking each and every one of them. I’m the worst employee ever.

Lifelounge
I Love New Work
Boing Boing
Meathaus
ArtSkills
It’s Nice That
NotCot
ffffound
Thrasher Magazine
Mice To Meet You
Kitsune Noir

I’m not a huge fan of the school of illustration that follows in the footsteps of H.R. Puffnstuff. It’s just a weird sort of spin-off of the nu-rave thing going on right now, and I want to punch those neon wearing mofos right in their $300 giant sunglasses. That shit was played out in the 80’s when it was new. Why dredge up the stupidest decade in American history and give it a shitty house beat? However, I do think that this poster by Andy Rementer is pretty sick. I wouldn’t put it in my house, but you can. Shit would clash majorly with my couch. And, thoroughly emasculated, I leave you. At this point I think my street cred is in way in the red.

andyrementer.com

Ladies! Has your daughter succumbed to societal brainwashing? Does she refuse toy soldiers for Barbie and pass up BB guns for My Little Pony or Hello Kitty items? Have you despaired of interesting her in the practical aspects of life, such as weaponry and self-defense?

If so, this site is for YOU!

That’s taken straight off the front page of GlamGuns, a site that makes specially customized weapons for girls. Because guns are just as much for women as they are for men. Fuck me this is sweet.

Pictured is the limited edition Hello Kitty AK-47. This doll will set you back almost $1100. I have to say, I think it’s worth it.

The big question: Why don’t you already have one, Bunny? Now you know what to ask Lt. Delicious for come Crimmas-time.

www.glamguns.com

Ok, so it’s kind of gimmicky to make a CD that’s also playable on a turntable. Most people like to keep the two separate because each elicits a different feeling. CD’s are for loud, quality audio, and vinyl is for listening and nostalgia. I love a different one on different days. But still, a CD/LP hybrid is pretty fucking sweet. What I want to know is who will step forward and bridge the gap between CDJ and DJ. Will QBert be the first to scratch one of these tiny dynamos? It won’t be me, because I don’t have an album to put out. I’ll just dream for now.

The link to the site is translated from German. Optimal Media Production (translated)

link via Boing Boing

I can still remember standing in the arcade for hours playing Tekken. Most of the time it was me versus the computer but sometimes a chump would come in off the street play against me. I think I lost once or twice, but I always won the re-match. It was a small town and what the hell else was I going to do during the day? Street Fighter was never my game. As far as I know Jeremiah is the undisputed champ of Capcom’s original gem. I’ve never beaten him. Or maybe once with E. Honda or something. Jeremiah and the rest of you out there who lived and loved that game are in for a real treat today. It seems that Capcom have released the teaser for the upcoming release of Street Fighter IV, and I almost cried it looks so badass. I’ll say no more. The video can speak for itself.

video found via Kitsune Noir

Micrsoft, in their usual Johnny-come-lately fashion, have slowly jumped into the world of image data. Their new programs, Photosynth and Seadragon, are supposed to revolutionize the way we use our photos and files. The revolution has already been televised, dudes. Nice try though. Anyone with enough time and Photoshop can piece togethera 3-D image from their digital photos. Which is not to say that the software doesn’t make great use of newer technologies, and the way that Seadragon looks at GUI space is pretty impressive. But fuck all that nerd talk and go watch a demo.

Microsoft Live Labs on PBS

Ahhhhhhh. It’s nice to slip my shoes off and kick up in the old homestead. Most days (meaning months) I don’t have the energy left to try and piece things together for myself after writing for Juxtapoz. Today I’m trying to start doing more things that I think I should, even if I don’t want to. Like a New Year’s resolution only I’m not drunk in a bathroom vowing that this year such and such is gonna be different while crying into a toilet. Toilet tears are no longer the lubrication for the cogs of my life. Always nice to have that kind of breakthrough. So, let’s ease back into this slowly. I don’t want to go too fast for you, make you do anything you’re not ready for. I’ll just link you up to some interesting shit in a single post rather than just jump into the multi-post format of yore. Oh, that’s right…yore. I am a gentleman and a scholar.

I couldn’t find the original video to embed so instead I’ll link you to where I saw it. John Stewart on the nature of our Meta-President.

Boing Boing drops the future shit on us. Wait till they find a porn application for this then the funding will pour in.

Inhabitat talks about SpudWare. If you eat potatoes with cutlery made from potatoes will your mind be utterly blown? My answer: yes.

Get this book.

I’m not making any promises but if I get enough free time this weekend I might try and implement some new features. Of course, it may be just like last Christmas when you really wanted that new bike and I gave you a nice book of carpet samples instead. Your mother and I never wanted you.