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05 Sep 19:06

MSI buttons up, launches Summit business laptops with Tiger Lake

by Samuel Axon
  • One of the Summit series laptops. [credit: MSI ]

This week, PC-maker MSI held a "virtual summit" where it announced a plethora of new machines, largely driven by the launch of Intel's 11th-generation CPUs. Much of what was discussed amounts to the usual suspects—various forms and configurations of gaming laptops to compete with Razer and its ilk. But the Taiwanese tech company also introduce the Summit series: slim business laptops that are outside the recent norm for the company.

MSI's existing Prestige and Modern lines will also get a Tiger Lake refresh, with retail availability expected in October.

As a laptop vendor, MSI focuses on the higher end, both in gaming and productivity laptops. Until now, all MSI models we're aware of—including the general-purpose laptops not aimed at gamers—have featured Nvidia discrete GPUs. The Tiger Lake refresh of the productivity-oriented Modern line does away with the Nvidia GPU, relying entirely on Intel's integrated Xe graphics instead. Seeing an OEM who has been all-in on discrete GPUs suddenly drop them in existing product lines is another good indicator that Intel's Xe integrated graphics will likely live up to the hype.

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02 Jan 21:51

A Quirky Collection of Cat Whiskers Diligently Cataloged in a Handbound Book from the 1940s

by Grace Ebert

An inside spread of the handmade book created from 1940-1942 by Janet Gnosspelius. All images © Collingwood Archive, shared with permission

This recent discovery in the Collingwood Archive of the Cardiff University Special Collections purrfectly catalogs a young girl’s childhood quirks. A handmade book by Janet Gnosspelius contains every one of her cats’ whiskers found in her home from 1940 to 1942. Gnosspelius wove the whiskers into the pages, dated, and noted how each was discovered, whether “while playing darts,” “under edge of lino in pantry,” on the “dining room hearthrug,” or “under back door draught protector.”

Gnosspelius was the daughter of artist and sculptor Barbara Collingwood and the granddaughter of W.G. Collingwood, John Ruskin’s secretary, and was one of the first women to attend the Liverpool School of Architecture. Archivists say the meticulous nature Gnosspelius exhibited in creating her book remained throughout her life as she worked in “local history and building conservation, regularly posting samples of masonry to Liverpool City Planning Office, neatly labelled with their provenance and date, demanding their restoration.”

At age 40, Gnosspelius channeled her creative energy once again into creating a special diary documenting the lives of her feline friends. “The diary is no ordinary one,” a note to Colossal from archivists reads. “It is written from the perspective of her beloved ginger cat Butterball, recording the dates of his fights, illnesses, and stays with friends: ‘9 March 1965: wrapped my mouse in the mat outside kitchen door.'” More information about Gnosspelius’s family history is available in this online exhibition.

10 Oct 16:10

Germany’s Bundesrat votes to ban the internal combustion engine by 2030

by Jonathan M. Gitlin

(credit: Toni Almodóvar Escuder @ Flickr)

Is the tide turning for the internal combustion engine? In Germany, things are starting to look that way. This is the country that invented the technology, but late last week, the Bundesrat (the federal council of all 16 German states) voted to ban gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2030.

It's a strong statement in a nation where the auto industry is one of the largest sectors of the economy; Germany produces more automobiles than any other country in Europe and is the third largest in the world. The resolution passed by the Bundesrat calls on the European Commission (the executive arm of the European Union) to "evaluate the recent tax and contribution practices of Member States on their effectiveness in promoting zero-emission mobility," which many are taking to mean an end to the lower levels of tax currently levied on diesel fuel across Europe.

Europe bet big on diesel, something that now seems increasingly misguided with continuing revelations about companies cheating their emissions tests and the growing awareness of the health implications of diesel particulates.

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05 Feb 17:29

A history of Japan

by Jason Kottke

Bill Wurtz's History of Japan is the most entertaining history of anything I have ever seen.

Tags: Bill Wurtz   Japan   video
04 Feb 18:11

The Simpsons screencap search engine

by Jason Kottke

Frinkiac searches through the subtitles from every episode of The Simpsons (in the first 15 seasons) and returns screencaps of all the times when the search term was used. For example, inanimate:

In Rod We Trust

(via @emunn)

Tags: search   The Simpsons   TV
18 Dec 20:01

A 100-Year-Old Church in Spain Transformed into a Skate Park Covered in Murals by Okuda San Miguel

by Christopher Jobson

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Photo by Lucho Vidales

Originally designed by Asturian architect Manuel del Busto in 1912, the church of Santa Barbara in Llanera, Asturias, was abandoned for years and crumbling from neglect. Luckily, a group of enterprising individuals lead by a collective called the ‘Church Brigade,’ with help from online fundraising and Red Bull, the church was salvaged and turned into a public skate park dubbed Kaos Temple.

As if having a skate park inside a beautiful abandoned church wasn’t enough, artist Okuda San Miguel was comissioned to cover the walls and vaulted ceilings with his unique brand of colorful geometric figures. Nearly every flat interior surface is covered with a rainbow of color, illuminated from every side by tall windows, making this a truly special place to skate. Watch the video below to see an interview with Okuda where he talks about his inspiration both for Kaos temple and his other works around the world. (via designboom)

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Photo by Lucho Vidales

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Photo by Lucho Vidales

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Photo by Lucho Vidales

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16 Dec 19:58

Hilarious Winners of the First Annual ‘Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards’

by Christopher Jobson

WINNER---Julian-Rad
Winner, Julian Rad / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

There are quite a few annual wildlife and nature photography awards these days, and it’s nearly impossible to keep up with them all, but if there’s room for just one more distinction, I suppose it’s the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Founded this year by wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks, the competition is open to anyone with outrageous and weird photos animals doing, well, funny stuff. Collected here are some of the winners and highlights of the 2015 competition, you can see more here. (via Photojojo, My Modern Met)

SILVER-RUNNER-UP---William-Richardson
Silver Runner Up, William Richardson / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Alison-Buttigieg
Highly Commended, Alison Buttigieg / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Charlie-Davidson
Highly Commended, Charlie Davidson / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Graham-McGeorge
Highly Commended, Graham McGeorge / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Julie-Hunt
Highly Commended, Julie Hunt / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Marc-Mol
Highly Commended, Marc Mol / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Tony-Dilger
Tony Dilger / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Highly-Commended---Yuzuru-Masuda
Highly Commended, Yuzuru Masuda / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

13 Oct 20:36

A French Museum Dedicated to Over 100 Hyperrealistic Miniature Film Sets

by Kate Sierzputowski

Le collectionneur de Brooklyn_Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

Housed in a 16th century building in the historic center of Lyon, France is the Musée Miniature et Cinéma, a 5-story museum containing over 100 miniature film sets. The tiny scenes were produced by world-renowned miniaturists and contain the highest form of Hyperrealism in order to trick the audience’s eye into believing each set was indeed life-size.

The handcrafted models contain all the minuscule features that would be found in the film’s actual scene, from fake mold inhabiting peeling walls to scratches seen behind tiny bedposts. The props in the museum’s scenes are also placed with incredible accuracy, disheveled books in libraries propped against each other at just the right angle, and miniature Charles Eames chairs that would even fool the designer. Accurate within these scenes is also their relationship to outside light, windows accentuating or distilling the light to position the set in the right time of day, geographic location or season.

“The subtle lighting arrangement, the painstaking replication of old textures, the use of the same original materials, all contribute to the creation of a moving poetry that resonates with each new miniature panorama,” explains the museum’s website.

If you don’t happen to be traveling to France anytime soon you can see more images of the meticulously detailed scenes on the Musée Miniature et Cinéma’s gallery page here. (via Beautiful/Decay)

Paquebot Normandie - Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

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Le dortoir - Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

D.O. Temple Kurama

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Maxim's de Paris - Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

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Le théâtre de Cupidon - Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

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Archives_Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

Prison Saint Paul - Miniature de Dan Ohlmann

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29 Jun 18:17

The Wave Cabinet Opens Like a Paper Fan

by Christopher Jobson

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As part of a long series of functional sculptures by New York artist Sebastian ErraZuriz, the Wave Cabinet merges the form of a credenza with an elaborate system of 100 wooden slats that allows the piece to open in rolling, wave-like patterns. Like many of his other novel designs, ErraZuriz says his intention is to elicit curiosity and cause viewers to do a double-take when looking at a recognizable object that suddenly behaves in new ways. “I am inviting people to look at one of the simplest forms of furniture design and to forget that we’re talking about furniture, instead to see it as a way of breaking a box.” Watch the video below to see it in action, and also see his equally fun Explosion Cabinet. (via The Kid Should See This, Prosthetic Knowledge)

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11 Aug 19:31

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano

by Christopher Jobson

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Tiny Embroidered Animals by Chloe Giordano illustration embroidery animals

Based in Oxford, England, illustrator Chloe Giordano creates delicate depictions of miniature animals rendered with freehand embroidery. The final works of a sleeping fawn or mouse are scarcely larger than the size of a thimble, yet can take long periods of time to complete as she mixes myriad thread colors to achieve perfection for each piece. Giordano also creates various 3D sculptures which you can see more of over on her Tumblr, and says that she is currently available for projects and comissions.

14 Jul 17:15

Joss Whedon Makes More 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

by alliterator on alliterator85, shared by Robert T. Gonzalez to io9

On Twitter, someone summoned Joss and wished for more Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And lo, he did appear and grant their wish:

Read more...


14 Jul 16:46

Tumblr

by calpol
11 Jul 17:17

YIMMY'S YAYO™

by eiknarf
09 Jul 17:26

Stop everything and watch this trailer for a Froud/Henson short

by bluehinter on Observation Deck, shared by Robert T. Gonzalez to io9

Sweet muppet Jesus, how am I just finding out about this now?!? Toby Froud, better known as the stripey pajama-wearing baby abducted by David Bowie in Labyrinth, has followed in the footsteps of his father and conceptual artist for both The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, Brian Froud, by writing and directing his own short film in conjunction with Heather Henson's puppet company Ibex Puppetry, called Lessons Learned.

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09 Jul 17:20

Hand-Embroidered Calvin and Hobbes Scene Is Just Phenomenal

by Lauren Davis

Hand-Embroidered Calvin and Hobbes Scene Is Just Phenomenal

Stitcher Laura Hartrich captures the joy of Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes artwork not with pen and ink, but with needle and thread. She has rendered one of the pair's flights of prehistoric fancy entirely in embroidery.

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09 Jul 16:35

Jareth the Goblin King on the Iron Throne Is Everything We Ever Wanted

by Katharine Trendacosta

Jareth the Goblin King on the Iron Throne Is Everything We Ever Wanted

See, now whatever the real ending George R.R. Martin has in store is, we're going to be disappointed. Stupid perfect fan art.

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02 Jul 17:09

The Animated Centaurs That Predate Fantasia By Decades

by Katharine Trendacosta

The Animated Centaurs That Predate Fantasia By Decades

Below the jump is the only remaining fragment of Winsor McCay's 1921 animation The Centaurs. It was produced by Rialto Productions and there's a certain charm to it. Except for the centaur foal at the end, which is just creepy.

Read more...








23 Jun 17:41

From the pencil of Chuck Jones

by Jason Kottke

From the official Chuck Jones Tumblr, an early sketch of the Road Runner and Coyote by Jones.

Chuck Jones, Road Runner, Coyote

Also by Jones, how to draw Bugs Bunny:

(via @peeweeherman)

Tags: animation   art   Chuck Jones   video
13 Aug 17:13

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner

by Christopher Jobson

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

The Art of the Dollar: Meticulous Currency Collages by Mark Wagner paper currency collage

Brooklyn-based artist Mark Wagner (previously) has been referred to as “the greatest living collage artist” and even “the Michael Jordan of glue”. The artist has a wide variety of artistic pursuits from writing and artist bookmaking to drawing and assemblage, though he is probably best known for his intricately cut and assembled currency collages using the one dollar bill. From his artist statement:

The one dollar bill is the most ubiquitous piece of paper in America. Collage asks the question: what might be done to make it something else? It is a ripe material: intaglio printed on sturdy linen stock, covered in decorative filigree, and steeped in symbolism and concept. Blade and glue transform it-reproducing the effects of tapestries, paints, engravings, mosaics, and computers—striving for something bizarre, beautiful, or unbelievable… the foreign in the familiar.

Wagner had a solo show late last year at Western Exhibitions here in Chicago and is currently preparing for a large exhibition at Pavel Zoubok Gallery in NYC that opens September 6th. (via Faith is Torment)