Monday, August 31, 2020

 Good morning and happy Monday. It’s been difficult to wake up and get going today, so here’s something for the eyes and something for the ears. 

Eyes: Travel may be constrained these days, but you can still take sightseeing flights over Antarctica!This looks amazing. 

Ears: The remake of “Tower of Strength” is out, featuring artists like Gary Numan, Martin Gore, Gene Loves Jezebel and more. Have a listen!


Friday, August 28, 2020

 Happy Friday! 

Google is honoring Alexandre Dumas today, and focusing on one of my favorite books, The Count of Monte Cristo. 

Satori sent a followup on yesterday’s post about the new statute in Central Park. Let’s get some more women in there, please. 

Also from Satori: Lewis Miller Design is freshening up NYC streets with huge flower installations. 

And finally, the long read for the weekend: How do you gaze into the abyss during dark times such as these? 

Have a safe and spiffy weekend, everyone. See you next week.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

 It’s Thursday! And that means I’m busy. But here are two fun links. 

The most popular baby names in England and Wales for 2019 have been released. Kylo Ren is still inspiring names, regardless of your feelings toward the latest Star Wars movies!

 A new statue in Central Park honors Sojourner Truth, Susan B.Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. I hope to see it sooner rather than later.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

 I just found out that most of the goth/alternative artists of my youth have united to remake "Tower of Strength" for COVID-related charity reasons. As "Tower of Strength" is one of my favorite songs, I am absolutely giddy.

Via Propnomicon: Zachary Zeydh has created the amazing Journal de Z, a journal of a Lovecraftian exploration that has to be one of the most detailed projects of this kind that I've seen.

Tarot decks are so numerous these days that you could probably find one with any theme you imagine. However, let's take a look at the Egyptian Tarot Deck(s), which began as far back as the 1780s.


Tuesday, August 25, 2020

 Have you seen the Melbourne Monolith? Microsoft Flight Simulator has a few bugs, but some of them are pretty great. Janelle Shane shows you some examples!

The Library Time Machine observed the surreality of a deserted London amidst the lockdown. Now, with things opening up somewhat, there are other issues...like this ban on restaurant background music in Scotland. (Who would have foreseen that?!?)

Leonardo Ulian creates art using circuitry and other electronic materials, and it's absolutely gorgeous. 

Monday, August 24, 2020

 Happy Monday. In these times of ever-increasing doomscrolling, you may be pleased to know that Miskatonic University is working to provide a safe campus for its faculty and students. Sort of.

The amazing John Coulthart has revamped his website. Take a look, it's incredible.

Brutalism is enjoying a comeback of sorts (probably because life right now is rather brutal). 

And lastly, here's another story of antique book theft...from the inside.

Friday, August 21, 2020

 Happy Friday!

 Have you heard of the Simulmatics Corporation? They basically created the future in 1960. It’s a little eerie.

 Indoor activities may be limited for the near (and far?) future, but there are still farms, and Food and Wine lists their best in each state. (For Ohioans, good news – Young’s Dairy Farm made the cut!) 

Kevyn Aucoin was a brilliant makeup artist. Now, the Makeup Museum is digitizing his equally brilliant journals. 

Have a safe and spiffy weekend, everyone. See you next week.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

 Whether or not you (or someone you know) is going back to school physically or virtually, there’s probably something in this mega-list of research resources for you. There’s an unbelievable amount of information here! 

For those of you interested in following the money: The COVID Money Tracker. 

For those of you interested in search engines, there are some very specific alternatives to Google. (I’m delighted to see engines like Command-E!) 

And finally, as if the pandemic wasn’t enough, the people of Iowa are in a really bad way after the derecho last week. Many still don’t have power. Donate if you’re able, won’t you?

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

 Hello! It’s a busy week here, but let’s think back to a time when we could go to concerts like Lollapalooza and Coachella and Glastonbury. This ‘90s festival generator comes up with lineups; then you click on each band and you’re taken to a live performance! Good times. I just watched World Party and Saint Etienne.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

 

Have you heard of the American Society for the Protection of Magical Creatures? No? Well, you should take a look. There’s a plethora of material to investigate, and even the “NonMagical About” page has dozens of links to explore! 

On this date one hundred years ago, Tennessee ratified the 19th amendment, giving American women the right to vote. It was not an easy battle! To commemorate the day, here’s a Schoolhouse Rock song I used to know by heart. 

 

Monday, August 17, 2020

 Hello and happy Monday! 

I believe I may have linked to Tatsuya Tanaka’s miniature calendar before, but the calendar is still going, with something new every single day! It should be a regular stop on everyone’s daily web browsing schedule. 

Vladimir McCrary has had a career as wide-ranging as his name. Basketball player, model, poet…he’s a fount of energy. 

From Zazoo: "Enough is Enough" by Babs and Donna Summer is the theme song for a new LGBTQ+ campaign in the Trump era.”

Friday, August 14, 2020

 Hello and happy Friday! No links today, except this reminder that the Perseids meteor shower is still going on up in the sky (provided there are no clouds in the way). Have a safe and spiffy weekend, everyone. See you next week.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

 It’s Thursday, and you know what that means – not much time to post links! But here are a few. 

The COVID-19 Law Lab is an effort to gather all the legal documentation worldwide on the pandemic. North America isn’t represented very well (yet?), but other parts of the world have a lot there.

 IFAR is the International Foundation for Art Research, and their website has all sorts of neat information. There’s even a page for stolen art.

 Tedium has a great, detailed post about the history of online news. It was a different world back then, you young’uns!

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

 Happy Wednesday. Here are some random bits and pieces to enjoy! 

We are big fans of Meow Wolf, and are delighted to find out that they’re opening an “immersive supermarket” in Las Vegas next year. Many thanks to Satori for sending this. (Satori also said, “I bet they didn’t plan how important grocery stores would be when they were in concept phase.” Ha.) 

The Mysterious Package Company has also added to their repertoire, with the spinoff Curious Correspondence. If you sign up, you get a mystery package/puzzle each month. 

From Cassandra:  A recent Netflix horror movie was filmed in an abandoned (and haunted, of course!) Kentucky mansion. Lots of secrets there, I bet. 

And finally, just for fun: Due to all the recent baseball shenanigans, New York governor Andrew Cuomo suggested that the MLB play in a New York “bubble.” Someone on Reddit took the idea and renamed all the teams tomake them more NY-friendly. My personal favorite is the Brooklyn Bagels, but I also like the Greenwich Stonewallers.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

 Hello. Remember when we used to travel about and look at things? Those were good times. 

Anyway! Here’s a look at modern Singapore, and how it’s become a futurist dystopia of sorts. (Thanks to Cassandra for sending this!) 

The motorcycle gets a fabulous-looking reinvention here. I miss Art Deco. Maybe we can have a 21st-century revival.

After World War II, French fashion came back to life with the help of the tiny mannequins of the Théâtre de la Mode!

Culturespaces creates a different kind of immersive exhibit, where you’re surrounded by the art in a space. It looks incredible. They have a page of their venues, and each one is worth seeing – here’s just one example.

Monday, August 10, 2020

 We’re back! Well, sort of. While we get caught up on everything, here are two links from others! 

From Bill Lucey: Irregardless is now a perfectly cromulent word, even if my spellcheck doesn’t think so. (It does think cromulent is a valid word, though. Hm.)

 From Nicole: Behold, the Women of Science Tarot Deck!