Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things

Friday, April 28, 2000

LAST POST UNTIL JUNE --

LAST POST UNTIL JUNE -- I'm going to be taking an analog vacation in Europe for the entire month of May. No posts till I get back. I recommend visit my favorite blogs (listed in the column on the right.) Bye! -- Mark

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 02:07:11 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Spanish farmers are growing

Spanish farmers are growing three-meter high artichokes for burning in special power stations to produce electricity, the Independent newspaper reported on Thursday."

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 02:05:04 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

From my pal, Jim Leftwich:

From my pal, Jim Leftwich: "The Russians were planning a lunar lander that looked like it was made from a beer keg. It's oddly sporty looking I think, compared to the American lander. More stylish!" Jim has a new blog, Jimwich.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 09:20:50 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

This ribofunk Bambi art site

This ribofunk Bambi art site is gorgeous!

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 09:14:46 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Thursday, April 27, 2000

Here are some UFO-themed oil

Here are some UFO-themed oil paintings by one of my favorite authors, Rudy Rucker. The same page has a link to two essays about writing.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 09:39:13 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

The Sims' designer Will Wright

The Sims' designer Will Wright gives diseased virtual guinea pigs to unwitting players.

"Like almost everything in the game, the guinea pig's function as a disease vector was carefully simulated, Mr. Wright said. For example, the guinea pig only spreads the disease if a Sims player neglects to clean its cage, and only if a player reaches into the cage to pet the software animal and is bitten will he get sick. Someone who has gotten sick sneezes and coughs and will infect other human characters in the game who come within several 'tiles' distance."

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 08:50:56 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Wednesday, April 26, 2000

I'm probably the last one

I'm probably the last one to know about this Elian-Wassup! parody.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 12:17:33 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

The visual clich� du jour:

The visual clich� du jour: The Millennium Orbital Crescent Swish

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 11:42:33 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Monday, April 24, 2000

Prison jargon. Samples: Let Me

Prison jargon. Samples:

Let Me Bounce Your Car - Can I borrow your radio?
Blanket party - Throwing a blanket over a despised prisoner, so he or she can't identify an attacker.
Monster - HIV. "He has the Monster."

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 03:15:53 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Domino Pizza jargon. Samples: Alpo

Domino Pizza jargon. Samples:

Alpo - Taken from the dog-food brand and used to describe sausage topping. Other words for sausage include Kibbles n' Bits, Puppy Chow, dog food and Snausages.
Blood pie - A pizza with extra sauce. Also called a hemorrhage.
Carp - Term for anchovies. Also called guppies, chovies, flippers, penguin food, smellies.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 02:57:38 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

The New York Times got

The New York Times got their hands on a still-classified CIA-written report (presented here in Adobe Acrobat format) on how the agency overthrew the Government of Iran in the 1950s. (Acess requires free registration with nytimes.com.)

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 02:45:42 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Friday, April 21, 2000

I was surprised to learn

I was surprised to learn that Thomas Hart Benton was Jackson Pollack's art teacher. From this to this? Ugh.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 04:49:57 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Wednesday, April 19, 2000

Hooray! Blogger works for me

Hooray! Blogger works for me again.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 01:10:37 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Wednesday, April 5, 2000

From Barracuda magazine: Inside Von

From Barracuda magazine: Inside Von Dutch's Truck (with pictures)

"In the early 1950s, pinstriping on cars was all but non-existent. Pinstripes hadn't appeared on an American production car in about 20 years. And the last time they were seen, they were usually slavishly following the contours of the car's body.
And then along came Von Dutch. Working from a shop in Southern California, Von Dutch almost single-handedly revived the art. His freestyle pinstriping method had lines shooting out in all directions, with sharp angles, evoking a feeling of frenzy and speed. His smooth lines could suddenly erupt into a sharp point, making intricate 'spider web' designs and images like faces and animals. By 1958, pinstriping had become a bona fide craze. Von Dutch's designs were so popular, that people would bring their cars from all over the country just to be 'dutched.'"

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 10:15:58 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Slow Wave is a comic

Slow Wave is a comic strip based on dreams that people submitted. (Does anyone else remember the Jack Kirby comic book called The Strange World of Your Dreams?)

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 10:02:25 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Tuesday, April 4, 2000

A streaming audio interview with

A streaming audio interview with disinfo.com's Richard Metzger.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 05:33:33 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

A funny rant about air

A funny rant about air travel.

"I absolutely cannot abide that airplane smell - that fusty, funky, contagious stench, reminiscent of a couch that has gotten used as an ashtray for cheap cigars, thrown up on by the entire Limburger Cheese Appreciation Society, and left out in a driving rain composed of condensed bad breath - and it had permeated my clothing, so I stripped down and fumigated myself with a cloud of CK One."

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 04:15:53 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Monday, April 3, 2000

Confessions of a Penthouse proofreader

Confessions of a Penthouse proofreader

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 06:50:02 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Sad email: Terence McKenna relinquished

Sad email:

Terence McKenna relinquished his body at 2:15 a.m. Pacific time today, April 3, 2000. He died at peace and with people whom he loved and who loved him. There will be memorial events in a few cities over the coming months, and information about them will be available as plans are made.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 05:36:25 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

I just found out that

I just found out that you can read Eric Drexler's excellent book about nanotechnology, Engines of Creation, online.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 05:32:33 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments

Ask Abigail a question, and

Ask Abigail a question, and she'll pore through her collection of vintage advice and manners books to find an answer.

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 11:01:09 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments