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Six years ago, every bus stop in my neighbourhood had posters for an upcoming CBC series, Schitt’s Creek. “Hey, it’s Canadian treasures Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara,” I thought. “And what a clever name. I should check this show out.” However, even though CBC produces some wonderful content, and it’s available for free on their […]

In the world of quotes that inspire me, there is one in particular that I found comfort in recently. When bad news rolled onto my doorstep, I didn’t know what to do, and when I heard my brother talking about how he thought about bravery and courage in the world of his superheroes, I thought about Clara Oswald.

When Clara is confronted with, potentially, her own death, she stares it down and simply utters, “Let me be brave.” It’s a quote that has lived on a sticker on my computer for the last few years, and it is something I thought about in the midst of confronting something completely out of my control.

Clara Oswald isn’t everyone’s favorite. A lot of people didn’t particularly like her as a character. I hate to be that person, but that just made me love her more. The fact that she upset people because she actually stood up to the Doctor and called him out made me fascinated by her. For so long, the companions would look to the Doctor in awe and never really fight back if he was doing something wrong. Sure, they’d yell and have disagreements, but more often than not, the Doctor was always right.

But not with Clara. She was compassionate towards him but also wouldn’t let him get away with everything, and in the end, she knew what she had to do to save not only the Doctor but herself when it came time to face the raven. So often, bravery is connected to someone who will step up and do the right thing, but that’s not necessarily bravery. Sometimes, that’s connected to a hero complex or just recklessness, rather than overcoming fear.

Bravery is knowing you have to do something that frightens you but doing it anyway. Bravery is standing up against people you love or things you fear and doing what you know is right. I guess a lot of my bravery comes whenever I have to be vulnerable, and I don’t like doing that. I’m a Scorpio; I never want to tell people what’s going on in my head.

But, my point is that sometimes, there are just quotes that stick to us in certain moments, and they hit us like a ton of bricks. And that’s me with “Let me be brave.” I was listening to my brother talk, listening to him go on about bravery as we face a tough personal situation together right now, and thought Clara’s words to myself because they are important to me. And, sadly, my brother was very right: Bravery isn’t about being fearless. It’s about doing what you need to despite being afraid.

So, thank you to Clara. Thank you for reminding me that I have to be brave; I have to push my fears aside to do what is needed of me.

(image: BBC)

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The fifth wall's color makes a big difference! READ MORE...

I am new to the world of Animal Crossing. Let’s just say that I got bullied into it by … myself, because I was having so much FOMO watching all my friends running around their islands, so I got it just to feel included. As I found out, in this version of the game, you go to this island, and apparently you have an entire family you just left behind, but whatever, and while you’re there, you have to serve a raccoon named Tom Nook, who seems nice (he’s not) but charges you for basically everything.

While you’re walking around the island, there are people to help and houses to build, and you’re also trying to build a cultural center with a museum that an owl runs. The museum has the ability to grow with fossils, bugs, fish, and now, art.

Anyway, now I’m thrown right in it, mad that I’m constantly working for this raccoon, and yet he has the audacity of asking me to pay for my house and the bridges on the island as if I’m the only one there. But now, it seems, we have a new villain among us: Jolly Redd. Rolling up on a boat, Redd is an art salesman. The problem is that he’s not honest and will sell you fake versions of real art so you waste your bells (island money) if you don’t know your art history—and maybe even if you do.

Spending money on things to benefit the island is part of the game. Why we want to just keep giving our fake money to an island that just takes and takes from us is beyond me, and yet here I am, trying to pay off my third room. With Jolly, though, we’re playing a game of real or fake and struggling to figure out if we’re wasting money in our attempts to help the museum or not.

To be fair to me and my tactics, I refuse to give to the museum until I sell things and get my debt down. I’m taking care of me; island culture can wait. Jolly Redd comes to MY land and tries to trick me with his fake art because he thinks I’m cultured? Hilarious, I am the furthest thing from an art buff. I shall prevail!

But some are not as lucky as I am, because they want their museum and their island to be beautiful. FOOLS! I care about my home and my home alone! I’m being greedy because if I’m the only one working on this island, I’m having the best first.

Those who played Jolly Redd’s game and were tricked, though, are not exactly happy about the situation.

Gave Redd his own wanted poster at my secret beach #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #ACNHDesigns pic.twitter.com/KZHLau0yKf

— (@scalesofgrey) April 23, 2020

Gonna go fight Redd #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/oEI6lyNslr

— mike hawk weiner-sandwich (@vigilist) April 23, 2020

Oops! You’d think that someone who studied art history would be able to spot a fake but I thought it was just the game graphics.

Face lift Mona Lisa will hang in my living room to haunt me about the terrible choice I made #AnimalCrossing #AnimalCrossingNewHorizons#acnh pic.twitter.com/4Z0BN04QQr

— Melissa (@IslandofPalma) April 23, 2020

im a fucking fool who never even knew that the fake art in animal crossing games actually had differences u can see and pick out. i never looked that closely….. i always assumed u wouldnt kno it was fake til blathers checked it out…… i wasted so many bells over the years

— queen of the rodeo (@muckkles) April 23, 2020

redd sold me a fake #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/Be6bgRzZ54

— R △⃒⃘ (@WickedSIytherin) April 23, 2020

Redd is here. #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/1d0yAQ3kOU

— AccfSally ️ (@Accfsally) April 23, 2020

Will I continue to worry about my house and letting my friends come to my island and not buy any art at all? Who knows? All this game has given me is trust issues and a sense of duty to my island, since I’m, apparently, the only one who works there.

(image: Nintendo)

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Have you found yourself with more time on your hands lately, but have realized you’re not exactly sure how to spend that time? 

Do you feel like you’ve finally got the opportunity to pursue a hobby, but have realized you don’t have any hobbies to speak of, and aren’t sure where to begin in exploring one?

Are you desirous to keep up your physical activity even with gyms closed, but find it’s hard to stay motivated to work out at home?

In a time of uncertainty and anxiety, would you like to engage in activities that will help you become more mentally resilient?

In an age of isolation, do you want to be part of a community of men who will encourage you to stay strong in body, mind, and spirit?

Then consider joining The Strenuous Life.

TSL is both an online and offline program, and all of the requirements of the 12-week Challenge, as well as the great majority of the badges that are available to earn, remain achievable during the pandemic, even for those under stay-at-home orders. Will it take extra creativity and dedication to complete The Strenuous Life Challenge during this time? It will. But the effort expended may give more back in return than at any other time. (At the very least, you’ll earn a special patch; see below!)

If you’re struggling to take care of basic needs right now, and need to concentrate on other priorities, then this isn’t the enrollment for you. That’s okay. Hopefully you can join us down the road.

But if you’re in a place where you think The Strenuous Life can actually help you take care of your other priorities, if you need an extra push and some structure to keep yourself from devolving into malaise and inertia, then this may be the perfect time to sign up. 

What Members Are Saying About The Strenuous Life

The Strenuous Life is an online/offline program designed to help men turn their intentions into actions, do hard things, and become stronger in body, mind, and spirit. We’ve had over 6,600 people of all ages and from all walks of life sign up and the feedback has been incredible. 

Here are just a few testimonials from members of the latest cohort of TSL Classes; you can read 300+ more testimonials here.  

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“The Strenuous Life has been the best decision I have ever made. I used to arrive at the end of every year realizing that I wasted all of the 12 months before. Now I look back on the weeks and months I’ve spent in The Strenuous Life and I realize that I haven’t wasted a single one. I am more physically, spiritually, and emotionally strong. My wife, my daughter, and my son have taken every opportunity to join me in The Strenuous Life, practically earning the badges and completing most of the Agons right along with me.

I couldn’t have asked for a better return on investment for the money I put towards the enrollment fee.”

–William A., Class 044

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“My class has the distinction of working through the home stretch of the 12-week boot camp during the coronavirus outbreak. Having already spent 8 weeks living The Strenuous Life and expanding our endurance, we truly helped each other by sharing details of coping and managing the situation. Really wonderful stuff. Very life-affirming. And personally, I’m thrilled with my increases in physical strength, creativity, and sense of purpose. 

Highly recommended.”

–Robert M., Class 045

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“I was hopeful but a bit skeptical of what real effect TSL would have on me and my family. Wow. I could not have predicted how transformative this was going to be. The added boost of action and intentionality has tipped the scales in my life. My marriage and family have taken off in ways that I could not have foreseen. There are other pieces to the puzzle that have come together at the same time, but TSL has been a significant piece. I am deeply thankful for this group of men and the motivation this program has brought me. Unprompted, my wife said to me one night, ‘You know, I am really loving this Strenuous Life thing.’ So good. Thanks brothers.

–Craig H., Class 046

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“I started The Strenuous Life at the beginning of the year and I have found the weekly Agons, badges, challenge to do physical activity, and a good deed to be rewarding and motivating. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of the Agons during the boot camp and found that I looked forward to each Saturday morning when the next one would be posted. I have 3 sons and we would often discuss strategies for accomplishing the Agon for that week and my oldest son who is 11 years old would usually help me accomplish them. It is extremely rewarding when I accomplish one of them and he says, ‘Dad, I’m proud of you.’ As the 3rd month ends I find that I am more resilient and comfortable with discomfort and this is both rewarding and valuable to me. I look forward to continuing with living The Strenuous Life.”

–Keith J., Class 046

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“Self-improvement is a tough thing when you go it alone. I have been an avid reader of the Art of Manliness for like, ever, and when I saw the first chance for The Strenuous Life (TSL), I sat on my laurels and missed out.

I’ve struggled with whether or not I was worth the effort for quite some time, and when this year’s opportunity for TSL arrived, I jumped on it. Not only was I warmly welcomed with a great introductory kit, and encouragement from not only Brett, but my class guides. Simply put, to me, TSL is essentially the Man Scouts, complete with challenges to push my body and mind to the limits, and a badge system to encourage the learning of new skills.

During my initial 12-week bootcamp, I was thankful to complete all of my challenges, earn two badges, and feel much, much better about myself in general. My newfound self-esteem was bolstered by a class of other great men who encouraged and inspired me to keep moving. I’ll never be the same, and I am looking forward to a lifetime of conquering challenges! Thank you so much!”

–Marcos R., Class 045

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“I am thankful for the opportunity to endorse TSL!

At 61 years of age I was looking for something to break the monotony of my work-oriented life. Then I read about . . . The Strenuous Life, a 12-week challenge of manly activities. Confronting my listlessness, I decided to take the challenge. Now, 12 weeks later, I can say TSL has been instrumental in changing my outlook on my life. Yes, the program involved physical strenuosity, but not more than I could do if I put some effort in. Additionally, mental, spiritual, and social challenges got me thinking, learning, growing, and interacting with other guys who were doing the same. Through TSL I have become eager to embrace hard things. If you are looking for a manly kickstart I highly recommend The Strenuous Life. Go ahead . . . do something hard!”

–John B., Class 045

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“I was introduced to The Strenuous Life two years ago, but like many other things, I put it into the ‘I’ll get to that later’ category. Then towards the end of last year I was going through some personal hardships and saw the reminder for the next Strenuous Life class. I somehow knew that this was the time, and didn’t realize how impactful this decision would become. I have never pushed myself harder or further than I have through Strenuous Life. Experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during the Strenuous Life boot camp has provided a unique opportunity to step up as a leader. I believe that the tenets of The Strenuous Life can prepare the men of the world to be the leaders of their households and communities that are so desperately needed right now.”

–Neal T., Class 046

Take the Strenuous Life Challenge

New members of TSL are enrolled into the 12-week Strenuous Life Challenge, which is designed to induct initiates into a life of strenuosity and help them form new, health-boosting, mindset-enhancing, life-improving habits. You’ll be asked to hit certain benchmarks in terms of daily physical activity and good deeds, earn at least one badge, and complete a diverse range of weekly “Agons” or challenges.

The Strenuous Life Challenge is designed to push you outside your comfort zone, get you having new experiences, and help you become more than you are now in body, mind, and spirit. Those who complete the Challenge earn an exclusive TSL challenge coin, as well as a new outlook on life.

Finally Put Your Long-Standing Intentions Into Action

The Strenuous Life is like a scouting program for grown men, and its structure — which offers a set of 50+ badges and clear requirements to earn them — facilitates learning new skills, having new experiences, and forming new habits. It’s designed to help you put your long-standing intentions — all those times you’ve said, “I’d really like to start doing _____” — into action.

TSL can be just the kick in the pants you need to finally make good on your goals. Here’s a small sample of some of the stuff members have done as part of The Strenuous Life in just the last few months:
If you’re finally ready to move from point A to point B with your goals, TSL will provide the map and guide you on your journey. 

Meet-Like Minded Individuals (In-Person!)

Are you looking for a way to meet up with like-minded men and form more real-world friendships? The Strenuous Life can help you make those connections.

One of the features of TSL are local chapters that members can use to organize real world, in-person meet-ups. The third Saturday of every month is designated as “Strenuous Saturday” and members get together to work on badges, ruck, or do community service. Members can meet up to work on the weekly challenges as well. 

While in-person meet-ups are largely on hold these days during the pandemic, remember that when you join TSL you receive LIFETIME membership. One day meet-ups will resume and you’ll be able to fully take part in them; ’til then, some local chapters have begun to meet for video conference calls to catch up and even teach/learn skills together. 

Earn the Exclusive Pandemic Patch

As mentioned above, while The Strenuous Life is still entirely achievable even if you’re under a stay-at-home order, it will be a little more challenging to complete its requirements. The undaunted who join up during this enrollment anyway, and complete the 12-week Challenge, will receive a free, exclusive pandemic patch.

Enrollment Is Open Until Thursday, April 2, or Until We Register 3 New Classes

If you’re not willing to mothball your entire life during quarantine, and want to stay engaged in body, mind, and spirit, then join us in The Strenuous Life.

Enrollment will only be open until Thursday, April 2, 2020 or until we register 450 new members. Whichever comes first. 

For those enrolled, the 12-week Challenge officially begins on April 4. 

Classes fill fast — don’t delay in signing up! The next enrollment of TSL will not occur until the summer.

I hope to see you on The Strenuous Life.

The post The Cure for Quarantine-Induced Malaise: Enrollment for The Strenuous Life Is Open! appeared first on The Art of Manliness.

Thank god for FaceTime and video calling. READ MORE...

We're craving spicy tuna right about now. READ MORE...

At Apartment Therapy, our mission has always been to help people create safe, comfortable, and supportive homes. But that message has felt especially relevant in the past week, as the COVID-19 outbreaks have upended our habits and rhythms. There are so many uncertainties right now, but there’s one thing we know for sure: home is more important than ever. READ MORE...

[ By WebUrbanist in Gaming & Computing & Technology. ]

For those who enjoy fixing and flipping homes, this video game could be a dream come true, virtually speaking, letting you purchase rundown shacks and turn them into market-ready models.

Players in House Flipper can buy dwellings that look ready for the scrap heap, then “hammer, drill, nail down, screw, and do what needs to be done to mount, fix or clean up stuff,” all without lifting more than a few fingers.

Those interested in working out some frustration will be happy to know that demolishing walls and fixtures is part of the gameplay, too.

It hews close to reality in that the game goal is the same as real life: profit. Instead of a final boss, there is the final sale, though that’s optional for people who want more flexibility and less economics. And, of course, the fun doesn’t stop there: flip one house and you can start on the next.

If this seems like a strange game concept, consider how popular shows like Behind the Design, Flip or Flop, First Time Flippers, Rehab Addict and the like already are — sure, some watch them for tips, but others for entertainment. And if farm simulators can be a hit, why not House Flipper?

At the same time, it’s a bit dystopian, arguably, targeting a younger generation without the same financial resources as the last one to buy (let alone sell) their own homes. For $20 on Steam, it sure is a cheaper hobby either way, and a bit less risky, too.

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[ By WebUrbanist in Gaming & Computing & Technology. ]

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Zach Collins “46zc13” (2013) collage on playing card

London-based Savoir Beds are known for their finely crafted mattresses and bespoke headboards born through collaborations with hand selected designers. Their latest two designs are by Arik Levy and Teo Yang, who both take a fresh, artistic approach to the headboard.

SHIFT 01 is from artist and designer Arik Levy who created an upholstered bed with a stacked headboard that is completely customizable. Each user can move the horizontal panels back and forth to get the look they desire, much like his public sculptures that can also be adapted. The adjustable panels extend out creating handy shelving or side tables.

Designed by Korean lifestyle designer Teo Yang, MOON 01 brings a slice of the moon into your room at bedtime. Given that the moon is a symbol of luck and wealth in East Asian folklore, the tailored design aims to bring users a good, peaceful night’s sleep. The bed is upholstered by hand with the full moon at the center and two smaller ones on the side, all showing the moon’s movement. The reason for three moons is because the number three represents joy, inspiration, and creativity.

Page 53. Malicious.

Hope my American readers had a happy Thanksgiving! I’m running a sale through the rest of November at my three primary storefronts to give you a discount on OHS items through midnight of November 30th. Use the code SMALLBIZOHS to get 20% off the following items:

– Paperback OHS books, magnets, and postcard packs at Bigcartel.

– PDFs of OHS books at Gumroad.

– PDFs of miscellaneous (ages 18+) comics at itch.io.

I’m also running a livestream tonight (Monday 11/27) at 8 pm CST! Join me, won’t you?

Thanks for your support as we enter the holiday season!

[ By SA Rogers in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

Concrete might typically be cold, hard, impersonal and impermeable, but treat it right and it’ll soften right up into surprisingly comfortable, accessible and usable everyday items, from pens and iPhone skins to rocking chairs and squishy-looking seating. Cast it from pillowy molds, 3D-print it in squiggles, brush it onto highly detailed objects, impregnate it into textiles or imprint it with delicate textures and you’ll have objects full of intriguing contradictions.

Concrete 3D Printer Enables Innovation

This 3D printer by Dutch company ROHACO spits out concrete in all manner of shapes, even squiggly lines, through a swivel head attached to a hose from a concrete mixer. Not only does this enable concrete to take unprecedented forms, it makes it possible to 3D print entire homes unsupervised, with the kinds of curves and details that would normally take an extraordinary amount of work.

3D-Printed Concrete Canoe

3D printing with concrete makes it possible to produce things like the skelETHon 3D printed concrete canoe, which won first place at the 16th Concrete Canoe Regatta competition in Germany. That’s right, it’s not even the first canoe to be made from concrete! The inner frame of this one is made of concrete reinforced with stiff steel fibers, while the shell is a two- to three-millimeter-thick waterproof concrete skin.

Concrete & Canvas Seating

These objects are a bit of a contradiction: simultaneously appearing soft and hard. That’s because they’re both, technically. ‘Fabric’ is an outdoor seating collection by Miriam Estévez, wherein soft fabric poufs are soaked in a liquid concrete and allowed to dry in order to create a surprisingly strong, durable, waterproof result.

Traditional Chair Covered in Concrete

You might imagine that someone took a mold of a traditional chair and then cast it with solid concrete, producing the detailed form you see before you. The truth is actually much simpler. Bentu Design teamed up with Guangzhou fine arts students to carefully cover an existing chair with concrete mixture, making sure to preserve every detail, from the scallops along the wooden frame at the top to each individual upholstery nail.

Delicate Persian & Islamic Patterned Tables

Concrete doesn’t take on the adjective ‘delicate’ easily, but every now and then, something qualifies. This disc-shaped tabletop, just a few millimeters thick, balances on the neck of a water-filled jug to form a beautiful recycled coffee table. Milan-based design studio Daevas printed the top with a traditional Persian pattern.

Next Page - Click Below to Read More:
Concrete Like Youve Never Seen It 15 Unexpected Furniture Object Designs

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[ By SA Rogers in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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Salman Toor’s insular scenes of life in Pakistan have vanished. Instead ghosts, hobos, poets, exiles, counts, ascetics, rabble-rousers, vagrants, and partygoers inhabit a no-man’s-land where time stands still. In Toor’s second solo exhibition at New York’s Aicon Gallery, Resident Alien, an artist possessed by a spirit to experiment and plunge into a new world has emerged.

Painting the Imagined Space Where East and West Harmonize

How My “Process” Works

“I was always sweet, at first. Oh, it’s so easy to be sweet to people before you love them.”

- Dorothy Parker, “Collected Stories”

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

The world’s tallest prefab building has just been constructed at a rate of 3 stories per day, showcasing the power of modular design and industrial prefabrication operating at scale. Located in Changsha, China, the record-breaking building is designed to be connected by sky bridges to a larger Sky City complex yet to be completed.

This first step in the grand scheme is this mixed-use structure featuring 800 apartments and office space for 4,000 workers with a total of over 2,000,000 square feet as well as 19 giant atrium spaces.

Producing many of the component parts in advance in factories, including entire truss systems, saves time and energy on site and also reduces pollution associated with busy construction sites and cast-on-site concrete. Its builders at BSB estimate a reduction in output of carbon dioxide by 12,000 tons thanks to these techniques as well as other environmental benefits, including a decrease in dust and particulates in the air around the building site.

Mini Sky City, as the tower is titled, is to be part of a larger Sky City series of interconnected skyscrapers that will include vertical farming spaces. One of the less-obvious byproducts of building at such speeds: China is able to effectively rapid-prototype urban design experiments at scale, testing novel strategies for vertical interaction and horizontal integration across structures.

The country recently saw the successful completion of the world’s first 3D-printed apartment complex as well as the rapid creation of 10 houses 3D-printed from scrap materials put together in just one day.

If you have ever driven past a skyscraper in progress day after day, you will know from experience just how fast this assembly really is compared to industry standards around the world – the precision of parts and management of contractors involved would be staggering in a situation with less-tight coordination as well.

Whether this will all become part of China’s ultimate bust in real estate, the technologies, techniques and principles on display here can and should be studied by architects from around the world.

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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

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tastefullyoffensive:

Spotted outside a local restaurant. [x]

The following post is brought to you by A’ Design Award and Competition. Our partners are hand-picked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design.

A’ Design Award & Competition is a well-respected annual design competition honoring the best in design, with winners chosen by a distinct jury of academics, professionals, and enterprise and focus group members. Besides having an enviable prize package, the competition aims at helping young designers and startups gain some much deserved recognition for their designs by helping them launch their product into production and make connections with the right business people in order to aid them with their ideas. The winner also gets this super awesome trophy!

Besides the brag-worthy trophy, they also provide a platform to help you sell your designs, limited edition prints of your designs to use in your print portfolios, as well as an invitation to their formal Gala Night. That’s not all – they’ll also help you put together a press kit and marketing tools which are incredibly important when you’re beginning a career in design.

Want to enter? Hurry – because you only have a few more weeks! The entry period ends on February 28th. Enter here.

Like Design Milk, A’ Design Award and Competition supports designers who make good design. Check out some of our favorite recent winning designs:

Ali Di Luna (Moon’s Wings) Rocking Chair by Stefania Vola

Kagome Stool by Shinn Asano

Commodia Chest of Drawers by Eckhard Beger

The Origami Rose Multifunctional Table by Joyce Chan

Restpoint Airport Seating by Hakan Gürsu

Tako Lamp by Maurizio Capannesi

Harbour Green Residential by Michael Liu

Stone & More Decorative Natural Wall Lining by Sule Koc

Think one of your designs has what it takes to be a winner? Submit them here. The deadline is February 28th, 2014.

“Everybody is identical in their secret unspoken belief that way deep down they are different from everyone else.”

- David Foster Wallace

A major problem I find with seasonal decorations is that… well… they’re seasonal. I’d rather keep things looking festive year-round, with some neutral options that I can switch up for mood rather than for an upcoming holiday. A fireplace mantle is one of those locations that, for whatever reason, lends itself to holiday-specific decoration—so of course that’s where I decided to start.

When I began to consider materials, my mind immediately went to concrete. You want neutral? There it is. And because I like a challenge, I decided I was going to figure out how to make a simple garland out of concrete shapes that was lightweight enough to hang across a fireplace, railing, or doorway. The answer was much more obvious than I’d anticipated, and the materials were all super inexpensive and easily sourced.

You’ll need:

Supplies:

- Fast-Setting Quikrete (I used chicken wire as a sieve to remove the extra gravel)
- 2″ diameter styrofoam balls
- 5/32″ braided poly rope
- cardstock and printer
- craft glue
- packing tape
- craft knife
- several 3″ lengths of 1/4″ diameter poly tubing
- drop cloth (or any basic cover for workspace)
- mixing bin and plastic spoon
- hanging hardware (depends on your wall material)
- glue gun and hot glue (optional)

I also highly recommend safety glasses, rubber gloves, and a dust mask while working with the Quikrete, since the dust can get everywhere and is kinda gross.

Step 1:

+ Download Bauble Template, Shape A (large) +
+ Download Bauble Template, Shape B (small) +

Print out the above templates at 100% and assemble according to instruction. One of the sides will be left open, so you have a place to fill the mold. For this garland, I made 3 of Shape A, and 4 of Shape B.

Once assembled, seal the templates with packing tape for some added structure and to prevent any leaking. Take extra care to reinforce the edges and corners, and tape over the two cut-out holes.

Carefully cut a small X through the holes, and insert the tube into one and out the other. It should be tight enough to stay in place, but use packing tape to hold if need be.

Step 2:
Get ready to mix up the concrete. Cover your workspace and put on the dust mask, gloves, and goggles. In your mixing container, slowly mix in the water until you reach a workable consistency.

You want the concrete to look like thick oatmeal, and to hold its shape when squeezed. Less water is better since it means stronger shapes, but you want it to be just smooth enough that you can shake it down into the corners without a problem.

Step 3:
Spoon the concrete into the the bottom part of your mold and tap against your work surface to release any bubbles. Then, for Shape A, place a full styrofoam ball in the mold, and fill the rest of the way with concrete. For Shape B, use a halved styrofoam ball.

Very delicately tap out any further air bubbles, and make sure your sides aren’t bulging and your edges are defined. Let rest for about 40 minutes.

Step 4:
Once the concrete has set, delicately cut off the packing tape and peel away the paper. Trim away any excess with a craft knife.

At this point, it’s best to let the concrete sit for a few more hours to cure, but after another hour or so, you can move on to the next step.

Step 5:
Cut down the length of the tubing, and carve out so that the tubing is flush with the side of the shape.

Determine the length of cord you’d like for your garland, and string the baubles onto the cord, with the rough side to the back. If you’re having trouble getting the cord through, you can use a short length of floral wire as a needle.

I knotted my concrete baubles into position, but if you’d like a more streamlined look, a little hot glue will hold them in place.

Step 6:

Hang the garland across the mantle, around a doorway, or up the stairs, and leave it there guilt-free, year-round.

The shapes could also be hung individually around the house – in a window or above a doorway. OR! maybe you could make a pile of them and hang them at different heights with a few light bulbs in the center as a chandelier. If you’d like something with a little more form, you can use stiff wire or tubing instead of rope. Painting the baubles with metallic paint would make a glamourous, contemporary touch, too.

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Looking to class up your method of blocking the light of the daystar from searing your tender flesh? Craftermath has a solution for the Doctor Who fan that looks great day or night. Check out some pictures of the process here, but visit the site for all the instructions.

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Only a thespian of Sir Patrick Stewart‘s calibre would even attempt such a difficult maneuver and of course he sticks the landing, garnering an 8.93 from the judges. Lots of folks on the internet are implying that Stewart appears, as my mother would say, “a bit blotto,” to which I say shame on you for implying such things about a Starfleet captain and his fiancée Sunny Ozell. I only have one more thing to add:

(via Vulture.)

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Between the new 3D printed shoes by Janne Kyttanen and the new Zaha Hadid x United Nude collaborations, we’ve got innovative footwear on the brain. This collaboration might have happened back in 2008 but we still think the design is really cool and futuristic. Brazilian footwear company Melissa partnered with Zaha Hadid which allowed the visionary architect to explore her designs in a whole new medium. The organic design gives you a sense that it’s emerging from the ground and slowly climbing up the foot and ankle in an asymmetrical, fluid fashion. Resting against the foot like a second skin, the shoes aim to blur the boundary between body and object.

The ergonomic shoes were made using advanced digital modeling techniques, allowing the company to achieve the look they were going for. They took a bit of refining with the help of rapid prototyping and because of the fluidity of the design, Melissa’s plastic injection mold technology worked well.

Photos by David Grandorge.

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Artist Mike Wrobel is back with even more Game of Thrones characters interpreted through the phat lens of the 1990s. ‘Sup, Khal Drogo? Schwing! And Theon, that’s an awesome vest… sike!

Didn’t see the previous batch? Treat your eyeballs to Seinfeld-era Arya, Jaime, Daenerys, Brienne, and more.

(via: Laughing Squid, Kotaku)

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ubermichael:

At just under nine feet long, the Vessel is actually considerably longer than your standard tub, making it particularly ideal for taller bathers. And the layers of carbon fiber that make up its curvy form are filled with foam core so it’s better insulated than a regular tub too, keeping your water warmer for longer. (via This Insane Carbon Fiber Hammock Bathtub Is the Epitome Of Relaxation)

And people say I’m difficult to shop for.

ORIGINAL ART DOES NOT BELONG WHERE THERE IS STEAM WHY IS THERE IS A POLLOCK IN THIS BATHROOM.

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My knowledge of subatomic particles is… let’s just say “lacking.” So I’ll let creator Virtox explain the science behind their magnificent line of 3D printed jewelry:

Ever since I first learned about subatomic particles and their spiral movements in magnetic fields, I could not help but be inspired. The different charges, masses and speeds determine the trajectories and create these astounding images in bubble chambers. With the arrival of accessible 3d printing, I got to work to capture this beauty in jewelry. I wrote a piece of software that would trace possible (and impossible) orbits and trajectories in 3 dimensions.

After partnering with MixeeLabs, Quark Jewelry was born. You can check out more of the (gorgeous) pieces behind the cut.

Science, man. Science.

(via: Fashionably Geek)

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Whip up some fish fingers and custard with souffle for desert in this Eleventh Doctor apron from Forbidden Planet, or check out the Tenth Doctor version via That’s Nerdalicious.

• Sahily of Pretty in Pigment boldly goes where no blogger has gone before with her amazingly detailed Star Trek Into Darkness eye makeup. (via The Frisky)
• Tina Amini of Kotaku talks about the harassment of women at the recent E3 Convention in her simply titled article, “The Creepy Side of E3,” and how identifying the problem can help fix it. (via Kotaku)
• “Silicon Valley’s Awful Race and Gender Problem in 3 Mind-Blowing Charts.” (via Mother Jones)

If you’ve always dreamed of using beakers as drink containers, what with the measuring abilities and heat resistance, but haven’t felt completely confident in using the container that you just placed hydrochloric acid in as a drinking glass, the Periodic Tableware kickstarter is here to help.  Molecular gastronomy just got easier! (via That’s Nerdalicious)

• Seymour the dog is making his return to Futurama, and he’s getting a speaking line, voiced by none other than Seth MacFarlane.  Soon he will do all the voices for every television show, not just his own. (via Pajiba)
• Man of Steel writer David S. Goyer talked to Empire about the writing process and why certain characters he pushed for didn’t make it into the movie, and Indie Wire has the highlights for you.  Somehow I don’t think Jack Ryder’s The Creeper reads superhero given the modern meaning of the word anyway.
• John Hurt has signed on to be part of Guillermo del Toro‘s The Strain television drama, and he’s going to continue showing up in everything you watch until you realize he secretly rules all nerdy television. (via Deadline)

MY CABBAGES! Victor Sgroi‘s cosplay is more perfect than any moment in the hapless Cabbage Merchant’s travels through the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender ever was.(via That’s Nerdalicious)

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