A Belgian photographer was allowed to photograph the inner circle of Japan's yakuza

Mark Frauenfelder 10:17 am Tue Sep 29, 2015

In 2009, Belgian photographer Anton Kusters went to Japan and gained the trust of high-ranking members Japan's organized crime families, known as the yakuza. He was allowed to photograph them for two years, giving Westerners a revealing glimpse into the secretive underworld syndicate. He published a book in 2011, called Odo Yakuza Tokyo. Earlier this month The Economist produced a short film about Kusters' project, called Japan's Yakuza: Inside the syndicate.

Check out these stunningly surreal close-up photographs of slime molds

UK-based photographer Barry Webb recently published a collection of slime mold images that capture the strange organisms at various stages of their mindboggling lives — and wow, they're pretty incredible. As he explains in his artist statement: I discovered my first Slime Mould in October 2019. Neither fungi nor plant, it's a Myxomycetes. These organisms… READ THE REST
Dozens of vintage mugshots of gentlemen in dapper hats

Here is a 1920 rogue's gallery of mugshots taken in Calgary, Canada of gentlemen wearing dapper hats. From Vintage Everyday: After the defeat of the Paris Commune in 1871, the Prefecture of Police of Paris hired a photographer, Eugène Appert, to take portraits of convicted prisoners. In 1888, Alphonse Bertillon invented the modern mug shot… READ THE REST
Vintage photos of silly people sticking out their tongues

Esteemed vernacular photography collector Robert E. Jackson curated a delightful collection of silly people sticking out their tongues for the camera. See them all: "Stick Out Your Tongue! – 23 Vintage Snapshots of The Silly, The Vulgar And The Snoggers" (Flashbak) READ THE REST
Ditch the extra cup of coffee. This gadget can really boost your productivity

Whether gaming in your spare time or burying yourself in spreadsheets at your 9-to-5, efficiency matters. And while you may have the latest and greatest laptop or smartphone to work on, its small screen can totally kill your enjoyment, especially when you're hopping over to different apps or watching your favorite streaming content. If you're looking for a way… READ THE REST
Enjoy a pet without the mess with this robotic canine!

The world is full of reasons to love dogs. How could you not? They are cute, kind, thoughtful, and always trying to make friends. The world is also full of reasons to love technology. But is there a way to bring these two together? Is the world ready for robotic dogs? The answer is yes! Petoi just… READ THE REST
This Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle with Rosetta Stone is the perfect way to learn a new skill

If there was ever a time to refresh what's going on in that noggin, it's now that you're finally digging into new technology instead of the old hat ways you're used to. You've finally got a good hold on life, and now it's time to elevate your value. This Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle is perfect for… READ THE REST