"When you run molten lead through a sieve and let it fall into a water tank far below, surface tension forms the lead drops into almost perfect spheres." The first purpose-built shot tower was built by William Watts of Bristol, UK, in 1782. America built its first shot tower in Philadelphia in 1808. The tallest shot tower ever built (but not the first in Australia) still stands in the center of Melbourne though now underneath a glass roof. As less costly methods of making shot were discovered these towers closed up shop, some not until the late sixties. Many of these towers have found new purposes as historical sites, art galleries or simply mysterious links to the past. [more inside]
posted by jessamyn on Jan 23, 2013 - 42 comments

Photographer Senen Llanos likes profiles and costumes, so why not combine them both with The Faces Of New York Comic Con 2012 Part 2. (via)
posted by The Whelk on Oct 16, 2012 - 16 comments

A chance of a lifetime for aspiring filmmakers: Kevin Spacey stars in three scripts from the Jameson-sponsored First Shot contest. In the phenomenal The Ventriloquist a ventriloquist and his dummy are having a hard time relating to each other and humanity; in The Envelope, a Russian man's hobby fulfills his purpose; and in Spirit of a Denture a mild-mannered dentist faces off with a difficult patient.
posted by jocelmeow on Jun 8, 2012 - 18 comments

Jose Guerena, 26, was a Marine veteran and father of two. He served two tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2005. On May 5th, he was killed in his home by a SWAT team looking for narcotics [more inside]
posted by dubold on May 26, 2011 - 465 comments

Courtesy of the folks over at It's Only Rock'n Roll - The Rolling Stones Fan Club Since 1980 is a convenient list of pro-shot live performances by Mick and the boys. [more inside]
posted by punkfloyd on Jul 18, 2009 - 15 comments

Get your swine flu shot! (Circa 1976)
posted by miss lynnster on Apr 27, 2009 - 40 comments

Yasujiro Ozu on trains & automobiles
posted by hama7 on Aug 31, 2007 - 7 comments

Riots in Cincinnati. Cincinnati city police have this odd habit of killing unarmed young black males. In November, two men were killed. One was shot, another was crushed or suffocated while already in police custody and, according to witnesses, not resisting. Several weeks later a policeman shot and killed a twelve year old out joy-riding. Saturday night an officer chased down and shot a nineteen year old he 'thought he recognized' as someone with outstanding traffic warrants. Every time someone is killed Cincinnati city council promises to look into the matter but does nothing. Today someone decided to take action, even if it was in a destructive and politically impotent form of action.
posted by krakedhalo on Apr 10, 2001 - 21 comments