February 8, 2014

mega-culture

A huge "yet mysterious" chimpanzee 'mega-culture' discovered in remote Congo - a community of perhaps tens of thousands of individuals with its own unique customs and behaviors, the Guardian reports. Observed unique behaviors include feasting on leopards and using tools to harvest giant African snails. See earlier report "The giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest" and new camera trap videos and survey results. [more inside]
posted by stbalbach at 11:48 PM PST - 29 comments

Because tits are scary just like spiders

Everyone knows new mothers are ex-hib-ition-ists
Taking every chance they get to ruin your day with tits...

Possibly NSFW. No real nudity but two women and a chorus sing the word 'tits'.
posted by Kerasia at 11:45 PM PST - 12 comments

"I Could Easily Become Too Tasteful In My Old Age"

"Neil Finn’s one of the great underappreciated treasures — a songwriter with a four-decade catalog so deep and evocative it stands up against most anyone in the rock era."

On the eve of the release of his latest solo album, Dizzy Heights, Salon talks with Neil Finn about Crowded House, Split Enz, and growing up in a musical family.

Bonus: Checkout Neil's Twitter feed - if you add him, he'll add you back.
posted by dotgirl at 11:20 PM PST - 32 comments

“Car for criminals!” said Vlad

Two guys try to drive from Moscow to Sochi in a Lada Niva, the "automotive version of the Russian soul". Hilarity ensues. [SLNYT]
posted by Itaxpica at 10:10 PM PST - 15 comments

Sexual harassment, conferences, and you

How well do you know (American) sexual harassment law as it relates to conferences? Attorney and Popehat blogger Ken White has created a short quiz to find out. [more inside]
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:12 PM PST - 32 comments

Clap!

Horses with hand ears.
posted by griphus at 7:00 PM PST - 18 comments

Fairy coffins, or murder victims remembered?

The mystery of the tiny coffins of Edinburgh, Scotland, found in 1836. Still of unknown origins, the meaning behind these tiny coffins could have various answers. Were they to honor the victims of Burke and Hare? Perhaps instead, some answer to a sailors superstition? Maybe they had an obscure meaning regarding the superstitions of 19th century Scotland. Whatever the case, it's open to speculation.
posted by annieb at 6:21 PM PST - 36 comments

Plain But Sturdy Frontier Cake

Celebrate author Laura Ingalls Wilder's 147th birthday with a recipe for Laura's Wedding Cake, taken from Little House Cookbook, Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Classic Stories. (The Hairpin)
posted by The Whelk at 5:47 PM PST - 30 comments

In every courthouse....

Attorney General Eric Holder will announce tonight at the annual HRC gala that the United States federal government will treat lawful same-sex marriages sweeping equal protection under the law in every program it administers, from courthouse proceedings to prison visits to the compensation of surviving spouses of public safety officers. [more inside]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:04 PM PST - 76 comments

Oh no! The Produce Manager!

Around 2009, the Idaho Potato Commission created a series of 8 comic book ads where a dastardly fellow tried to outwit your friendly neighborhood produce manager. Those eight ads were expertly narrated with voices and sound effects and put on YouTube: ADVENTURES OF THE IDAHO POTATO RETAILER!! Episode 1: Disaster Strikes [more inside]
posted by cashman at 3:21 PM PST - 10 comments

We stood in line for 120 minutes to receive thrilling punishment?

[Two Guys] decided that they have spent too much time in paradise and decide to take a vacation to Japan. Through the entirety of the film, there is no major conflict, there is no primary antagonist, there is no massive plot that involves saving the world or some other thing like it. It is a simple, but comic, slice of life story, their small daily adventures while exploring a modern Japanese culture, such as shopping, going to amusement parks, saunas, and pools, with it all ultimately culminating in a celebration of the Christmas holiday and a ushering in of the new year. Saint Young Men, a buddy/room-mate comedy anime about Buddha and Jesus that is perfect for the online GIF culture. [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:34 PM PST - 11 comments

They say you just have to find a direction and walk

"Last week I saw two visions for the future. The first is Her...and the other was this Infinity Augmented Reality concept video which had me in fits of laughter because it was so… well, just watch it for yourself. I liked seeing both. However accurate or ridiculous (and how can we truly know until the future is here?), the act of inventing is what sparks the realities of tomorrow." - Julie Zhuo imagines The Future.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:07 PM PST - 79 comments

Man As "Meaty Robot," A Capitalist Fairy Tale

As an antidote to the "economic calculator" view of behavior, OWS's Graeber offers a counter principle: "The free exercise of an entity’s most complex powers or capacities tends to become an end in itself."
posted by blankdawn at 12:04 PM PST - 18 comments

Death of a Playmate

Here is a 1981 Pulitzer Prize winning article about the death of Playboy Playmate and rising star Dorothy Stratten.
posted by reenum at 11:51 AM PST - 22 comments

Rarely can you say "Worse than Comc Sans" with sincerity.

The design studio Kerozen has melded body horror with font design and produced a human flesh font. Not safe for anyone, really.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:32 AM PST - 57 comments

Paper Haiku

How to make handmade Japanese scroll paper.
(Many other traditional artisans at Gucci Japan)
posted by growabrain at 10:48 AM PST - 19 comments

What happened to the people who walked

Photographer Shannon Jensen's series “The Long Walk” documents the shoes belonging to some of the 30,000 refugees who traveled by foot across the border from Sudan’s Blue Nile state over to neighboring South Sudan. Additional background on the Amnesty award-winning project. [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 10:37 AM PST - 2 comments

A place to hang your cape and anti-telepathy helment

Supervillian House For Sale.
posted by bswinburn at 9:01 AM PST - 68 comments

The economy of movement

Databall. With an ocean of new statistical information available, the NBA could be on the verge of understanding the value of every single movement on the court.
posted by antonymous at 8:11 AM PST - 45 comments

Cube

Cube: A Video About Video Game Graphics
posted by flatluigi at 4:55 AM PST - 19 comments

Oppressed Majority

On what seems to be just another ordinary day, a man is exposed to sexism and sexual violence in a society ruled by women. [SLYT; NSFW; Nudity; Sexual violence]
posted by gucci mane at 4:21 AM PST - 156 comments

"Hollywood Hotel Good Morning"

Benny Goodman Sing Sing Sing. [more inside]
posted by vapidave at 1:51 AM PST - 31 comments

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