Shared posts

07 Oct 20:08

The 17 Stages Of Rainbow Loom Obsession

Nylonthread

Yeah, Rosie's been obsessed with making these. I keep having to take her loom out of her backpack and feel like an a$$hat telling her "no crafting at school!!" Sigh.

Those colorful little rubber bands will steal your heart. AND YOUR LIFE.

At first, you're skeptical of the hype.

At first, you're skeptical of the hype.

Remember Jelly Bracelets? Or Silly Bandz? Where are they now, even?

mallofstyle.blogspot.com

But like...EVERYONE is doing it.

But like...EVERYONE is doing it.

You were never one to stand up to peer pressure.

gifsdancingtomusic.tumblr.com

So you cave and order your own Rainbow Loom.

So you cave and order your own Rainbow Loom.

It's just a mere $17, after all.

It arrives. And it looks complicated.

It arrives. And it looks complicated.

WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT.

toysandco.com


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07 Oct 18:04

‪This Work-At-Home Mom's Parody Of The "I Quit" Viral Video Is The Best One Yet‬

Nylonthread

We all wish, some days...amirite?

“More years, less moves, same message.”

Inspired by Marina Shifrin, the girl who quit her job producing viral videos via a spectacular viral video, Brenna Jennings busted out the Kayne West and announced to the world that she's done... sort of.

youtube.com / Via viralviralvideos.com

In case you missed the original, here it is in all its glory.

youtube.com / Via buzzfeed.com

07 Oct 17:22

Polar bear in zoo demonstrates impressive basketball skills (video)

by Xeni Jardin
[Video Link] I think it's cruel to keep animals like this in captivity, but man, what an amazing video this is. "Found this guy demonstrating impressive dribbling form before switching to working on his shooting technique mid way through," says the uploader, who says the footage was shot at San Diego Zoo, Summer 2013. (via Andy Orin)
    
05 Oct 13:32

10 Homemade Liqueurs to Bottle Now for Tasty Holiday Gifts

by Marla Walters
Nylonthread

Made me think of Kelly!

couple toasting

Last Christmas, my dear friend "MZ" mailed me a present that included a bottle of her homemade Amaretto liqueur. I have been enjoying it as a dessert or nightcap throughout the year. As I sipped some recently, I started thinking about my own Christmas gift list and thought liqueurs would be a fun project, too. So, many thanks to my friend for her delicious Amaretto — and her inspiring idea. (See also: 25 Gifts You Can Make Today)

Some of the recipes below need a few months to sit — so for instance, don't start Cherry Liqueur on Black Friday.

In order to give out your liqueur(s) as gifts, you will also need to gather up some nice bottles or jars, washed and sterilized, and some labels and ribbon. Specialty Bottle has a nice selection. You will also need some cheesecloth, usually found in grocery stores or canning sections of hardware stores. This will be for straining the fruits or nuts out of the liqueurs. Most need a cool, dark place for storage and aging, so you'll need to find a good/safe place in your kitchen or pantry.

To keep the price of making these liqueurs down, watch for sales on vodka and brandy, both of which are used prominently. (See also: 17 Uses for Vodka)

1. Amaretto

Let's start with Amaretto. If you like almond flavor, you probably would like this Amaretto recipe. I like the fact that it isn't over-the-top sweet. It can be served as dessert, along with a cup of coffee. It's also good over ice cream. I begged my friend for her recipe, and she shared her source. The photo below shows how nicely she bottled and labeled it. It was such a fun gift!

2. Kahlua

My Uncle Bill made wonderful Kahlua, and he gave me his recipe, which I treasure. It is great on its own, or in coffee, or with a little added cream. Vanilla beans are pricey, but well worth the expense.

  • 3 ¼ cups sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, diced
  • 2 oz. instant coffee
  • 1 Fifth of Brandy
  • 3 cups boiling water

Put vanilla bean in sterile bottle. Boil water, stir in coffee and sugar. Let cool and add brandy. Pour into bottle and cap tightly. Let set for thirty days. Strain and re-bottle in sterile bottle.

3. Cherry Liqueur

If you like cherry-flavored things, this Cherry Liqueur recipe will not disappoint. I could hardly wait for cherries to go on sale so that I could start this recipe. A little goes a long way! I think in my mother's day she'd have made a cocktail with this liqueur and either Coke or 7-Up and ice.

4. Peach Liqueur

Peaches are on sale now, and this recipe needs to age, so it's a great time to try this Peach Liqueur. My dad will love this, and remind of him of a time when he picked peaches as a teen outside Sacramento. The aroma is wonderful.

5. Nocino

This one's for Wise Bread's own Meg Favreau, who actually told me she has the makings for this already. If you can get some green walnuts, try Nocino — a spicy, sweet walnut liqueur. I also think this would make a wonderful Thanksgiving hostess gift.

6. Limoncello

My pal Anne went to Italy and brought back a bottle of Limoncello for us. It's so refreshing, especially after a heavy meal. I don't believe I'll be traveling to Italy anytime soon, but that doesn't mean I'm deprived. Giada de Laurentis of the Food Network has a great Limoncello recipe. To keep your cost down, look for lemons at a farmer's market.

7. Apple Liqueur

My husband spent some time in Germany and suggested we try to make Apfelkorn, which he loved while he was there. Apfelkorn is technically a schnapps but he said this Apple Liqueur was a great substitute.

We tried two different ways of making this liqueur — one with sugar (two teaspoons) and one without. Both are good but we prefer the version with the sugar, as the apple flavor seems more pronounced. I plan to try a little bit of this in some very dry champagne, which I think would be a great cocktail. (See also: 20 Two-Ingredient Cocktails)

8. Anisette

I love the flavor of licorice so had to try this Anisette recipe. Star anise stars as the licorice flavor, ably supported by vodka and simple syrup.

9. Chocolate Liqueur

If you have ever tried Godiva's Chocolate Liqueur, you will be happy about this copycat recipe. You can use it in dessert recipes or just sip on its own, which is exactly what I like to do. It needs a month to age, and the straining process takes a while. It's worth the wait, though, and if you have friends who are chocolate lovers, they will be thrilled. (See also: Delicious Drinks You Can Make at Home)

10. Irish Cream

If you procrastinated about making one of these liqueurs ahead of the holidays, don’t despair! You can still whip something up. What I love about this copycat recipe for "Bailey's" Irish Cream is that it doesn't need to be aged! It does need to be refrigerated, so be mindful of that. My first test batch was a major hit with the neighbors, who happily agreed to taste-test.

There you have it — 10 ideas for gift giving, so you will be ahead of the Christmas Rush!

What's your favorite homemade infused liqueur?

ShareThis
Written by Marla Walters and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.
04 Oct 14:21

"Breaking Bad" Characters Drawn As "The Simpsons"

Blue meth is given a hint of yellow thanks to Belgian artist Adrien Noterdaem . Via drawthesimpsons.tumblr.com .

drawthesimpsons.tumblr.com

Walter White.

Walter White.

drawthesimpsons.tumblr.com

Skyler White.

Skyler White.

drawthesimpsons.tumblr.com

Walt Jr.

Walt Jr.

drawthesimpsons.tumblr.com


View Entire List ›

26 Sep 20:41

‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Sticks Close To Earth In The Pilot

by Dan Seitz
Nylonthread

Can't wait for the next show! It was fun to watch S.H.I.E.L.D. in a Google+ hangout at Kelly's for first run!

marvels-agents-of-shield-08

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is probably one of the most anticipated shows for the fall season, and an experiment that’s never really been tried before. The results are surprisingly a bit timid for a show practically guaranteed to be a hit.

The episode itself was fairly straightforward; we meet the team, although there’s really not much to them yet, and they go find Mike Peterson, a normal guy who threw out his back and in fairly short order lost his job, his wife, and is on the verge of losing his mind. That he’s being pumped full of Extremis, which you might remember from Iron Man 3, and various alien crap probably doesn’t help matters, and it makes him prone to mood swings, just what you want out of a super-strong desperate guy.

ABC did a good job of keeping the real thrust of the episode, namely that powers don’t make you a superhero, under wraps. And J. August Richards actually does quite a good job as an average joe desperate for something to go his way. But something about the pilot, although fun, didn’t quite click.

The main problem is really the characters. Melinda clearly has something in her past that didn’t go well, and the show drops anvils that Coulson doesn’t know exactly what happened to him while he was in “Tahiti.” But most of the rest of the cast are types; Skye’s the token conspiracy theorist/groupie, Fitz and Simmons are the allegedly adorable nerds, and Ward’s the handsome guy who punches stuff. Most of the episode is spent with the least interesting people in the cast, and that dragged, a little bit.

It’s funny, especially when Clark Gregg is on screen and mixing affability and command, or Ming-Na Wen is around to be annoyed at the rest of the cast. But there’s not really a lot to this show just yet. I’m willing to give it a few more episodes, but so far, this is more NCIS than, say, Firefly.

Some more thoughts:

  • I’m sure Tumblr is getting into a screaming match with itself over the “sweaty cosplay girls” line even as we speak.
  • Fitz and Simmons are really, really annoying. They either need better material, or they need to go.
  • The episode also had a weird problem in that the sound mix wasn’t that great. The dialogue was mixed very low, for some reason, and I found myself riding levels just to hear half the exposition.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

22 Sep 03:26

Evil clown stalks Northampton, England

by Rob Beschizza
Nylonthread

E, aren't you glad you don't live in Northampton, England? You'd have died of a heart attack by now.


Photo: Joe

Steve Scoles reports for Northampton Herald & Post:

The sinister clown that has been appearing on Northampton's streets made another visitation last night. He was pictured in his trademark white make-up and red wig on St Michael's Road waving forlornly with a clown teddy hanging from his other hand.The appearance came after a posting on the Facebook page Spot Northampton's Clown promised the clown would be in town.

He said: "To prove i'm real to all the lovers and doubters, i'll see you in town today. Keep those eyes peeled."

Is he local?

    






18 Sep 18:16

Typographic Celebrity Portraits Made From Their Famous Lines & Lyrics

by EDW Lynch
Nylonthread

Oh, I love this! Typographic awesomeness.

Typographic celebrity portraits by Sean Williams

Designer Sean Williams creates typographic celebrity portraits out of the famous lyrics and lines from his pop star and actor subjects.

Typographic celebrity portraits by Sean Williams

Typographic celebrity portraits by Sean Williams

via BuzzFeed

17 Sep 20:00

Spitbank Fort: mid-Victorian fortress island turned into a hotel

by Cory Doctorow
Nylonthread

I don't think I should tell Akio about this place...he'll want to go. ;-)


Spitbank Fort is an offshore island fortress built in the mid-Victorian to help protect Portsmouth. It's been renovated by some savvy hoteliers who've turned it into a luxury hotel and conference centre, and it's all rather gorgeous. You can book the whole thing for retreats, weddings, etc, or just book an individual room.

History of Spitbank Fort

(via Kadrey)




    






12 Sep 17:40

DIY Sumertime cherry necklace

by Heidi Kenney
Nylonthread

Sweet!

This necklace was inspired by one my friend Rebecca made. She’s a big bakelite fan and didn’t want to pay a bunch of a bakelite cherry necklace, so she took matters into her own hands and made her own version using red bakelite beads. So when I was at Michael’s craft store and noticed glass leaf beads, I thought I’d have to make my own version of a cherry necklace, and with Rebecca’s blessing I wanted to post this DIY in case you wanted to make your own.
What you’ll need:
-red beads for your cherries
-leaf beads
-some sort of beads for the stems (I really wanted green tube shaped beads but couldn’t find any) however these clear ones actually came with the glass leaves and I think still worked as well
-a necklace (you could make your own with findings and a chain, I just bought a pre-made one at Michael’s, and I find a shorter necklace works best for the cherries.
-head pins (I went with the longest size they had 3inches to make sure I had enough length. These look almost like a pin for sewing work with one flat end.
-jump rings (I already had some of these at home from other projects)
-some sort of jewelry tools for bending the ends of the head pins & opening closing jump rings. I had these on hand from previous crafternoons.
cherry3
1. First your going to assemble all your cherries as follows….Onto the head pin with the flat part at the bottom to keep your cherry on the pin. A Cherry bead, a stem bead, a leaf bead.
2. Use your jewelry tool to bend the top of the head pin downward like the photo above, and then just twist it around itself to form a little circle from the head pin, then cut off the extra metal as close to the twist as possible.
3. Once all your cherries are made you can add them individually to your necklace with jump rings, or add two together to each jump ring. You could even make a bunch of necklaces for gifts that each just have one set of cherries.
12 Sep 16:15

26 Reasons Saul Goodman Deserves His Own Spin-Off

Nylonthread

This sounds like a trainwreck, but I'm rooting for it. Saul is slimy, but what code he has, he sticks to.

A tribute to Breaking Bad ‘s fast-talking, crooked lawyer.

It looks like one of the best characters from one of the best TV shows has just been given his own spin-off. Here's why.

It looks like one of the best characters from one of the best TV shows has just been given his own spin-off . Here's why.

cdn.uproxx.com

Saul helps everyone.

Saul helps everyone.

files.redux.com

He doesn't discriminate. Thieves, murderers, drug dealers. He's there for them.

He doesn't discriminate. Thieves, murderers, drug dealers. He's there for them.

cdn.uproxx.com

He's always looking out for his clients.

He's always looking out for his clients.

img.pandawhale.com


View Entire List ›

29 Aug 17:44

Japanese Velociraptor Prank Is The King Of Pranks

Nylonthread

Oh bloody hell!! I would have had a heart attack.

Amusing, yes, but also terrifying.

So imagine you're this guy, just leaving the office at the end of the working day.

So imagine you're this guy, just leaving the office at the end of the working day.

Via youtube.com

When this happens.

When this happens.

And then this happens.

And then this happens.

Via youtube.com

You'd be overcome with panic and terror, right?

You'd be overcome with panic and terror, right?


View Entire List ›

28 Aug 13:10

Bryan Cranston Plays Lex Luthor And Ben Affleck Plays Batman In ‘Man of Steel 2′ Fan-Made Video

by RoboPanda

Bryan Cranston Plays Lex Luthor And Ben Affleck Plays Batman In 'Man of Steel 2' Fan-Made Video

When it was announced that Ben Affleck is our new Batman and Bryan Cranston may be Lex Luthor, we knew the fan mashups would roll in (Example: Southie Batman!). This one, however, threw the fulminated mercury against the wall and blew everyone else away.

SoylentBrak1 pieced together footage from twenty properties including Breaking Bad, Man Of Steel, The Dark Knight, Total Recall (2012), Daredevil, and more. It’s all set to “I Will Find Him” and “Arcade” from Han Zimmer’s excellent Man Of Steel score.

Let this video serve as a reminder why Warner seriously needs to cast Bryan Cranston as Lex Luthor. Everyone else auditioning best stay out of his territory.

 

Picture related:

bryan-cranston-lex-luthor-breaking-bad

FORESHADOWING.

Here’s the full list of footage used:

  • Man Of Steel Fan Opening
  • Breaking Bad
  • Trouble With The Curve
  • The Lincoln Lawyer
  • The Cold Light Of Day
  • Total Recall 2012
  • Man Of Steel
  • State Of Play
  • Hannibal TV Series
  • The Haunting
  • Night Train To Lisbon
  • Nikita TV Series
  • Daredevil
  • Batman Seeds Of Arkham
  • Elysium
  • The Prestige
  • The Prototype
  • Iron Man 2
  • The Dark Knight
  • Batman vs Deadpool Fan Film

(H/T: Movies.com and Pleated Jeans)

26 Aug 17:04

How To Make A Ramen Burger

Is the latest edible trend really worth waiting in line for? Good thing you’ll never have to find out.

Not so very long ago, at a food market in Brooklyn, a very special burger was born.

Not so very long ago, at a food market in Brooklyn, a very special burger was born.

Do you see those buns? Those buns made of RAMEN NOODLES?

japanculture-nyc.com

The ramen burger's only flaw is that you have to wait in an hours-long line to get one.

The ramen burger's only flaw is that you have to wait in an hours-long line to get one.

Ramen Burger / facebook.com

But, lucky for you, the guys over at Sorted will show you exactly how to make a ramen burger in the comfort of your home.

youtube.com

Basically, you cook a package of ramen noodles...

Basically, you cook a package of ramen noodles...

Save the seasoning packet for mixing into the burger meat.


View Entire List ›

12 Aug 17:40

Breaking Bad Theme Song Played With Actual Meth Lab Equipment

by Justin Page

Canadian musician Andrew Huang used items found in a meth lab (frying pans, coffee filters, a propane tank, a laboratory flask, and more) to create this wonderful cover of the theme music from Breaking Bad. Andrew’s song is available to download online from Pay with a Tweet. Previously, we wrote about Andrew and his rap song played with rock, paper and scissor sounds.

Other than the guitar, all of the sounds in this piece were produced using the items above, with minimal effects and some speed adjustments to change pitches.

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

31 Jul 02:46

It Finally Happened: Moreos Are The Delicious, Twisted Life Hack That Shouldn’t Exist

by Josh Kurp
Nylonthread

HA! "NO HUMAN SHOULD EVER HAVE THIS MUCH POWER."

moreos

What. No. It can’t be real. It…it just can’t be. YOU MANIACS. YOU BLEW IT UP. DAMN YOU. DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL. The Oreo was as perfect a creation as any, right up there with equally transcendent black and white cookie, especially Double-Stuffed Oreos, but no, you had to play God. As “shslvalkyrie” points out:

aRE YOU KIDDING ME? ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME. THIS IS SH*T. THIS IS A PIECE OF SH*T. NO HUMAN SHOULD EVER HAVE THIS MUCH POWER. THIS IS F*CKING BULLSH*T. THERE WAS A SET AMOUNT OF ICING ON EACH F*CKING OREO AND THATS HOW IT SHOULD BE, GIVE US THIS MUCH POWER THE ICING WILL BE SO UNEASILY SPLIT UP THAT WE WILL HAVE LIKE 20 COOKIES LEFT AND NO F*CKING ICING LEFT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS THE KIND OF SH*T THAT DESTROY SOCIETY AND TOPPLES THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS TRYING TO SPARK GREED AND LUST AND GLUTTONY INTO THE HEARTS OF EVERYONE, THIS IS F*CKING EVIL DONT BUY INTO THIS SHIT. F*CK THIS, AND F* CK YOU MOREOS (Via)

THANKS OBAMA.

moreos2

moreos3

moreos4

moreos5

moreos6

moreos7

White (and black-colored dessert) riot.

(Via) (H/T @Filmdrunk)

30 Jul 17:03

Game of Brands: What If The ‘Game of Thrones’ Houses Were Modern Companies?

by RoboPanda

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

If Game Of Thrones were set in the modern day, what would the Great (and not so great) Houses of Westeros do for their riches, besides murder and espionage? Every great fortune needs a legitimate veneer, after all. Shutterstock created Game Of Brands, a set of fake ad campaigns and brands for those power-hungry families participating in modern-day capitalism. Things haven’t changed much.

House Targaryen is still dominating the sky. The Lannisters continue to pay their debts while also proffering investment advice to help you manage the lion’s share. The Baratheons are your source for security guards, while The Arryns will get that message across Westeros with their many satellites and servers. The Greyjoys are now running maritime expeditions. (Will there be hot dogs served onboard?)

The Freys run Frey Celebrations, a division of The Lannister Investment Group. They’ll help you plan that wedding, and what ever could go wrong? And Stark Outfitters can provide the gear you need for any extreme weather conditions. Winter is coming, after all.

Some of our favorite examples are collected here (minor spoilers). You can check out the rest of the ad campaigns, and the rationalization behind each, over at Shutterstock. Thanks to The High Definite for the assist.

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

Game of Brands by Shutterstock re-imagines Game of Thrones Houses As Modern Companies

30 Jul 16:58

The Price of Being a Superhero in Real Life: Then & Now

by Justin Page

Batman Infographic

How Much Does It Cost to Be Batman in Real Life?

Brooklyn-based graphic designer Emil Lendof (layout) and New York City-based illustrator Bob Al-Greene (artwork) created a series of infographics for Mashable that show the price differences between being a superhero in the past and present. You can view all 5 superheroes at Mashable (Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Hulk and Wolverine).

Hulk Infographic

How Much Does It Cost to Be The Hulk in Real Life?

Superman Infographic

How Much Does It Cost to Be Superman in Real Life?

images via Mashable

via Highsnobiety

30 Jul 16:43

‘Breaking Bad’ Season 5 Starts Streaming On Netflix This Weekend, Apparently

by Maske
Nylonthread

For Breaking Bad and Netflix fans...

breakin-bad-season-4-netflix-top

Hey, so remember last week when I told you all the different ways you can watch the first half of Breaking Bad Season 5 before the final episodes begin in less than two weeks? Yeah, forget all that. Because one fan with acute attention to detail has noticed that it’s going to be streaming on Netflix in just a few short days. August 2, 2013 to be exact.

Netflix isn’t exactly advertising the news, but they did inform us if you were willing to pay close enough attention. Here’s a screengrab from the Breaking Bad-Netflix DVD page as evidence…

breakin-bad-season-4-netflix

Oh, Netflix. You sneaky devils. DVD sales appreciate your limited efforts. And the internet appreciates at least a sliver of a notice.

Via r/BreakingBad

29 Jul 17:14

A Live Action Movie Spoof of ‘Daria’ Featuring Aubrey Plaza From ‘Parks and Recreation’

by Justin Page

Aubrey Plaza, who plays April Ludgate on the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, stars as Daria Morgendorffer, in CollegeHumor’s live action spoof of the of MTV animated series Daria.

Daria Morgendorffer returns to Lawndale and discovers her shallow classmates have grown into shallow adults.

Daria

29 Jul 17:10

Tara Reid May Have Been Axed From The ‘Sharknado’ Sequel

by Danger Guerrero

tarasharknado

I hope all of you are sitting down or leaning on something really sturdy or have a tall, strapping southern gentleman standing nearby who has experience with catching people who faint suddenly when they get flustered, because I have some potentially distressing news: Tara Reid may be out of the Sharknado sequel.

Sources connected to the production tell TMZ … producers had a meeting this past week to discuss plans for the New York-based sequel — and the only actor they want back for round 2 is Ian Ziering. [TMZ]

Now, I say “may be out” because a rep for Syfy told HuffPo that no official casting decisions have been made, but more importantly, whatever. Tara Reid did jack squat in the first Sharknado besides give hilarious quotes during the publicity tour and complain that Ian Ziering’s character wanted to stop to save a schoolbus full of young children. The bigger story here is that, if they’re really cutting the entire non-Ziering cast for Sharknado II: The Secret of the Ooze (working title), then Cassie Scerbo won’t be around to shoot more flying sharks out of the sky with a shotgun. This simply will not do. I’ll draw up the petition this afternoon.

shark-hunt

Also, because I’ve had this GIF sitting on my desktop forever…

05-hater

Photo credit: Syfy

26 Jul 20:17

Gorgeous Vintage and Modern Illustrations from Aldous Huxley’s Only Children’s Book

by Maria Popova
Nylonthread

I love Sophie Blackall's illustration; the original Barbara Cooney drawings are delightful, but Ms. Blackall's just warm my heart.

A brave old world of beautiful art and subtle undertones of misogyny.

At Christmas time in 1944, more than a decade after the resounding success of Brave New World Aldous Huxley (July, 26 1894–November 22, 1963) penned his one and only children’s book, The Crows of Pearblossom (public library) — the story of Mr. and Mrs. Crow, whose eggs never hatch because the Rattlesnake living at the base of their tree keeps eating them. After the 297th eaten egg, the hopeful parents set out to kill the snake and enlist the help of their friend, Mr. Owl, who bakes mud into two stone eggs and paints them to resemble the Crows’ eggs. Upon eating them, the Rattlesnake is in so much pain that he beings to thrash about, tying himself in knots around the branches. Mrs. Crow goes merrily on to hatch “four families of 17 children each,” using the snake “as a clothesline on which to hang the little crows’ diapers.”

Like Gertrude Stein’s alphabet book To Do, Sylvia Plath’s children’s verses The Bed Book, and William Faulkner’s The Wishing Tree (also his only book for wee ones), it never saw light of day in Huxley’s lifetime but was published posthumously, in 1967, with stunning black-white-and-green illustrations by Barbara Cooney.

And just when you think it couldn’t get any more delightful, it did: In 2001, the inimitable Sophie Blackall — whose illustrated missed connections will melt even the stoniest of hearts — brought her soft, dimensional visual magic to a new edition of The Crows of Pearblossom (public library), which you might recall from this omnibus of little-known children’s books by famous “adult” authors and which outcharmed even Cooney’s hopelessly charming original artwork:

In this excerpt from Debbie Millman’s altogether fantastic interview with the artist, Blackall discusses the challenges of handling the misogynistic undertones of Huxley’s narrative, something particularly worrisome given its audience is children, and the very delightful visual “Easter egg” (pun possibly intended) she hid in the book:

Though the original edition is sadly out of print and only findable in the pre-loved books market, the Blackall edition is unspeakably wonderful and a sublime addition to other little-known children’s gems by literary icons like Mark Twain, James Joyce (twice), Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, John Updike, Anne Sexton, T. S. Eliot, James Thurber, Carl Sandburg, Salman Rushdie, Ian Fleming, and Langston Hughes.

Cooney images via My Vintage Book Collection

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12 Jul 16:12

For Sir Patrick Stewart’s Birthday, Let’s Enjoy His Delightful Twitter Photos

by RoboPanda

patrick stewart in a ball pit twitter picture

Tomorrow is Sir Patrick Stewart’s 73rd birthday. Let’s celebrate the birthday of someone we appreciate not only for his participation in franchises we like (Star Trek, X-Men), but also for being a solid dude.

To mark the occasion, we’ve picked out the most delightful pictures of Patrick Stewart that he has posted on his Twitter.

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-02

[via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-03

[via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-04

[via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-05

“Another gruelingly busy boxing day.” [via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-06

“Self portrait in candy floss” [via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-07

“Self portrait in candy floss” [via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-08

“‘It’s how we do it in Belgium…it’s called a Belgium Dip.’” [via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-09

(Belgium Dip aftermath) [via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-10

[via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-11

“Who doesn’t love winter citrus season?” [via]

patrick-stewart-twitter-pictures-12

“I should have never switched to Verizon. #NSA” [via]

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“Scotch/Soda. Sunset.” [via]

Salud and happy birthday, you magnificent bastard.

11 Jul 16:12

7-Year-Old Receives Reply From NASA After Writing About His Dreams to Be an Astronaut & Go to Mars

by Kimber Streams
Nylonthread

Aw, NASA, you're pretty awesome.

NASA Letter

Seven-year-old Dexter wrote to NASA about his desire to become an astronaut and go to Mars, and NASA responded with an encouraging letter with information about space camps and how to become an astronaut as well as photos of Mars and the Curiosity rover. According to his mom, who shared the story on reddit, her son hasn’t “been this excited since Christmas.”

NASA Letter

NASA Letter

NASA Letter

NASA Letter

NASA Letter

images via kattybopatty

via reddit

10 Jul 18:13

Fox Orders A ‘League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ TV Pilot Whether Alan Moore Likes It Or Not

by RoboPanda
Nylonthread

I've watched that train-wreck of a movie a handful of times. It's pretty kitchy, over-long, pretty violent, and had too many characters. Still, the kids ask for it all the time.

Fox order put pilot of Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

This guy seems legit.

Fox has made a “put pilot” commitment to a TV series based on Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Since it’s a put pilot, Fox would have to pay a substantial penalty if they don’t air it. Michael Green (Heroes, Smallville) will write and exec produce, and he’ll also be in place as showrunner if League of Extraordinary Gentlemen goes to series.

Alan Moore, on the other hand, is not involved. We’re sure you’re shocked to hear that, considering he’s such a fan of adaptions and loves getting involved in them and has nothing but kind words and ceaseless praise for those who adapt his works.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is based on Moore’s graphic novels in which public domain literary characters like Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, Mina Harker from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde join forces to fight crime. You may recall it was a terrible movie in 2003 which somehow grossed $179 million on a $78 million budget and made us wonder what Sean Connery was doing there. At least he wasn’t in a bear suit, which we will remind you is something that really exists.

10 Jul 18:09

Watch the patterns of Metro across a day

by David Alpert

Kenton Ngo made an animation showing how many people are entering or exiting Metro stations at each hour across the day.


Animation from Kenton Ngo reproduced with permission.

Green circles show where people enter, and red where they exit. As you'd expect, green circles swell and then shrink at end-of-line and other busy suburban stations in the morning, while even larger red circles appear at the stations at major job centers. In the evening, the pattern reverses.

This is another way of visualizing the Metro station data which WMATA released last year. Matt Johnson used it to compute the busiest stations and the balance between stations. In 2009, Matt diagrammed the flows in each direction.

13 comments

10 Jul 15:24

From 0 to 18: Frugal Tips for Every Year of Your Child’s Life

by Julie Rains
Nylonthread

Took a while to scroll down to Ages 8, 10 & beyond, but worth it!

mother and daughter

Children are blessings, but raising them from birth to young adulthood can be expensive. Not only do you have to feed and educate them, you also need to clothe and provide shelter for them.

Now that my kids are older teens, I can see that I made plenty of mistakes trying to figure out the best way to control family spending. I also made some smart decisions and observed the wise choices friends made in spending for their children. (See also: 7 Important Lessons Frugal Parents Teach Their Children)

Drawing on years of my experience and those of my parenting friends, here are tips on saving for each year of your child's life.

Age 0

  • Only get baby essentials and avoid buying (or requesting) items you may not need. Note, however, there are likely to be things you think are ridiculous while pregnant but find extremely useful after the baby is born.
     
  • Set up a 529 college savings plan for your child. Fund the plan with gifts from grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors, colleagues.
     
  • Find solid foods that are easy for babies to eat but don't involve purchasing baby food. For example, applesauce is great for kids and adults. Also, consider making your own baby food.

Age 1

  • Develop a babysitting co-op to save on childcare.
     
  • Buy clothing and toys at community consignment sales. You may be able to shop the preview sale (and snag the best buys) if you volunteer to assist with the event.
     
  • Follow frugal mom bloggers like Penny Pinchin' Mom, who can alert you to special deals and coach you on saving money at the grocery store and pharmacy.

Age 2

  • Learn to deal with chronic health conditions. Don't fret about every little thing but know that early and consistent intervention can save money and bring better outcomes.
     
  • Have frugal fun with basic toys and activities that are age-appropriate, such as sand buckets, big blocks, and trips to the playground.
     
  • Limit Christmas or holiday gifts to three gifts (or fewer if you are a minimalist).

Age 3

  • Let kids play with items that are available around the house or found inexpensively at garage sales, thrift shops, or consignment sales.
     
  • Access free services such as speech therapy, which may be available through your town's school system.
     
  • Save on preschool enrollment by talking to other parents about the best values in your area.

Age 4

  • Encourage your kids to engage in activities they truly enjoy, not the ones you enjoyed as a child or want them to like. They'll be more likely to succeed by pursuing interests they love. Plus, you won't waste money on gear, coaches, and lessons that cause family conflict and lead to nowhere.
     
  • Cut your child's hair at home using tips from this video or these step-by-step instructions.
     
  • Read to your kids. One of the easiest, cheapest, and best ways to help kids do well in school is to read to them when they are young.

Age 5

  • Find the best public school for your child to avoid private school tuition. This process may involve getting a system transfer, tracking down a great charter school, or moving. Look for engaged teachers, strong parent involvement, and happy children as well as signs of creativity and good test scores.
     
  • Take advantage of "kids eat free" nights at restaurants.
     
  • Buy school supplies when they are on sale. Having items on hand will keep you from paying full price and save time during the school year.

Age 6

  • Sign up for free swimming lessons at community pools.
     
  • Save on date night by staying home. Feed the kids early, and enjoy a romantic dinner for two afterward.
     
  • Take your kids out on the town in the evening for free concerts and entertainment.

Age 7

Age 8

  • Have a steady supply of reading material by going to the library and shopping at consignment sales as well as frequenting used book stores or a virtual equivalent, such as paperbackswap.com.
     
  • Visit museums, zoos, and gardens on free community days. Pack a lunch and snacks to avoid paying what are generally high cafeteria prices.
     
  • Learn what kid-oriented services are worth spending on. For example, insights from a couple of sessions with an educational psychologist (suggested by one of my son's teachers) helped me to coach him throughout his academic career.

Age 9

  • Support your children's interest in youth programs such as 4-H or scouting, which offer inexpensive ways to develop practical skills and have fun.
     
  • Sign your kids up for free summer programs sponsored by community groups, public schools, church groups, etc.
     
  • Make memorable and valued teacher gifts, not pricey ones they'll never use. Have your child write a thank-you note. Organize gift giving among parents, combining small donations ($1-$5) for a larger gift from the class.

Age 10

  • Get your kids to clean up after playing with small pieces of games, puzzles, and Lego sets. By keeping things together, you are more likely to be successful when reselling games and toys.
     
  • Teach your 'tweens to handle basic household tasks and take steps to conserve energy (and cash) through shorter showers, use of cold water to wash clothes, etc.
     
  • Encourage your children to think of creative ways to entertain themselves and their friends, such as staging a neighborhood parade or putting together a play for friends and family.

Age 11

  • Take the kids to offbeat yet fun vacation spots, which may be much less expensive than more popular places.
     
  • Carpool with other parents for trips to special activities, summer programs, and more.
     
  • Help your kids to enjoy natural surroundings for free by taking in an early morning or night outing at a state park or exploring your neighborhood. They may enjoy seeing a sunrise, learning about constellations, or catching a glimpse of wildlife.

Age 12

  • Save on summer camp by signing up early or bringing a friend.
     
  • Get dental cleanings, haircuts, and other services from students at your local university, community college, or trade school.
     
  • Work with your kids to establish a budget for discretionary spending on things like music, video games, and clothing.

Age 13

  • Find frugal ways for your teen to exercise, if she is not already active. Take a hike at a local park, discover programs that teach a new sport, try a free class at the gym, or check out other fun ways to get a workout sans spending.
     
  • Open a savings account or investment account for your teen so he or she can begin saving or investing.
     
  • Help them to learn a trade such as babysitting, mowing grass, or lifeguarding. Not only will they be able to earn money, they won't get (as) bored and on school breaks.

Age 14

  • Take your teens shopping for clothes at Goodwill or thrift shops. They may enjoy unearthing designer labels at steeply discounted prices.
     
  • Give your teens freedom with fashion within reason, especially if their choices are frugal ones. For example, let them to wear shorts year-round if it means not buying pants they'll quickly outgrow.
     
  • Encourage them to sell their stuff for spending money. Provide guidance on selling via yard sales or eBay.

Age 15

  • Encourage your teens to volunteer and get accustomed to interacting with people with limited resources. Help them to appreciate what they have and better understand the need to be good stewards of money and talents, both frugal life skills.
     
  • Teach them that it's okay to zig when everyone else is zagging. This lesson will help them to pursue their own dreams, rather than wasting time and money chasing things they think others expect them to do.
     
  • Keep open communications so they will tell you about their plans (good and not-so-good) and their friends' habits. Don't judge, but help steer them in the right direction, so they can avoid making stupid and costly mistakes.

Age 16

  • Take advantage of free tutoring or assistance available at the school before paying for outside help. Ask friends to help if teacher instruction is not available.
     
  • Don't rush your teens to get their driver's licenses; enjoy teen-free auto insurance rates as long as you can.
     
  • Encourage your teenagers to learn money management skills for free at places like the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Age 17

  • Use free college-planning resources available in your community.
     
  • Save money on college by taking AP classes in high school or attending early college to earn a combination Associate's degree and High School Diploma.
     
  • Increase the likelihood of getting a college scholarship by starting to apply before senior year in high school.

Age 18

  • Let your kids do research on colleges and universities so they can see firsthand how inexpensive in-state tuition is compared to private and out-of-state colleges and universities.
     
  • Get college application materials early to avoid paying late or rush fees for applications and related fees.
     
  • Find the best price for college textbooks using a pricing aggregator such as Bookfinder.com.

I've learned that we cannot (and should not) spend on everything that's marketed to parents and their children. Sorting through what's worthwhile and what's not is often easier understood in hindsight, because what's right varies among families. Spending strategically can save money, reduce stress, and encourage kids to consider priorities.

How have you saved money when raising your children? What has been your most meaningful purchase as a parent?

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10 Jul 15:15

German Models Wearing Nothing But Tires

Nylonthread

Weird and kind of lovely...

For you rubber fetishists.

Costume designer Carl Gerard Elkins and photographer Mierswa-Kluska were approached by Goodyear Dunlop to do an advertorial spread to "photographically realize key, underlying themes in the Goodyear product line, namely: strength, robustness and armor."

Pretty wild.

Ad agency: Anzinger Wüschner Rasp.

NOTE: Here's a fun Goodyear tagline story:
For years, Goodyear's smart slogan was:
"The Best Tires In The World Have Goodyear Written All Over Them"
But, back in the 1990s, a competitor took them to court over that claim, and won.
What did Goodyear do?
They added, in much smaller type, ahead of the tagline in their logo lock-up:
"We Say..."


View Entire List ›

Via: behance.net

10 Jul 14:50

I Can't Believe I Found You

by sophie blackall
Nylonthread

So crazy sweet!

 Since this blog began four years ago, I have sent prints of these Missed Connections drawings all over the world, to Brazil and Israel, Greece and Argentina, Zimbabwe, Australia, Iceland... but occasionally I receive something like this from a recipient: Jessica gave this print to her husband on their wedding day. I know, it's impossible not to go "Awww".
Congratulations to the happy couple... I'm so glad they found each other.

Photo courtesy Mary Costa

09 Jul 19:24

10 TV Shows That Are Much Better Than You Probably Think They Are

by Dustin Rowles

PILOT

There are a lot of shows on television. A lot. It’s hard to keep up with them, unless some pop culture website is banging a drum on a weekly basis about how you should be watching this show or that show. Chances are, there are many series that you’ve never even given a shot, that you’ve dismissed out of hand because of the network it’s on, the lame premise, a cast member that you don’t care for, or because you judge a television show based on bad promotional materials. Many of those shows are also not covered regularly on pop-culture blogs like this, so they fly under the radar within a particular demographic that might never have even considered checking out these shows.

Below, I’ve put together a list of 10 of those series, which are currently running (or recently ended their runs). They’re not necessarily the best shows on television (although, the third on the list is definitely one of the top five shows TV right now), but they’re good, solid shows that, for whatever reason, a lot of people dismissed out of hand.

06-longmire-vic-and-mathias-cool-off

Longmire — It’s on A&E, so it probably isn’t on the radar of many of our readers, and the fact that it’s a procedural is a strike against it for others. But as someone who typically loathes procedurals, I’m a big fan of Longmire, which I’d describe as a kind of heavier, Western version of a USA Network show. The reason it’s so good, however, is because of Robert Taylor, who manages to be a soft-spoken bad ass, a tough, old leathery Lee Majors for this generation. “Longmire” is basically the show I envision Timothy Olyphant taking when he’s in his 50s or 60s. Katee Sackhoff is pretty great, too, even if she is sorely underused.

CBS_ELEMENTARY_122_123_IMAGE_thumb_640x360

Elementary — Yes, in the previos entry, I mentioned that I typically loathe procedurals, and yet, here’s another one, a CBS rip-off of PBS’s Sherlock that so many of us dismissed out of the gate, including myself. But after a critical mass of viewers insisted that it was better than we were giving it credit for, I decided to catch up on the series over the summer (I’m currently in the midst of that). It is better than I thought it would be, and though there is a definite procedural component, it is steeped in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s deductions, Jonny Lee Miller is outstanding, Lucy Liu’s Joan Watson works better than it has right right to, and the cases are far more compelling than your typical network procedural. It’s good, and sure as hell more fresh and interesting than the stale show that Castle has become. It’s also worth nothing that the phenomenal Rhys Ifans has been added to season two as Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft.

Daniel_reading_in_prison_1000xvariable-710x400

Rectify — A Sundance channel drama about a death row killer being released from prison and reintegrating into his small town and his family after 20 years locked up doesn’t sound like the most exciting show on television. The fact that it’s slow-paced and thoughtful may not sell you, either. In fact, had the reviews for the pilot not been so outstanding, I probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought. I’m glad I did because the first season of the drama, which was only six episodes, was definitely the best freshman series of the year (and I’m including Orphan Black) and may be the best new show since Game of Thrones. The show comes from the producers of Breaking Bad and Ray McKinnon, who some of you may know as Lincoln Potter on Sons of Anarchy. It is a devastating drama, a show that will chew you up and leave you fetal. The season finale this year was the most soul-destroying episode of television I’ve seen this year, and that includes the penultimate episode of Game of Thrones. It is that good. I promise you.