Rebeccasaskia

Via [DeviantArt]

This week we’ve been hearing all sorts of rumblings about the BBC discovering a stash of their Classic Doctor Who catalogue, missing since the episodes originally aired almost fifty years ago. First there were rumors, then the discovery was confirmed, and now, nine episodes have been released, completely remastered, for purchase on iTunes.

The nine rediscovered episodes all come from the Second Doctor’s, Patrick Troughton, era and complete the two serials: The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear. Joining Troughton as his companions are Frazer Hines as Jaime and Deborah Watling as Victoria. If you’re familiar with the Second Doctor era these are the same companions traveling with him in the classic, Tomb of the Cybermen, another serial once thought lost yet rediscovered years ago.

If you’re wondering how so many Doctor Who episodes were ever lost – there’s still a total of 97 episodes missing, all from the first six years of the program – it’s because the tapes were often either erased or recorded over. This was long before VHS, Betamax, DVD, or Blu-ray, so no one ever considered the commercial value of a TV program after it aired. Those fools, I know. Over the years some of these lost episodes have been found in foreign BBC offices as it was common for the BBC to send copies of their programs abroad where, thankfully, someone never got the message to dispose of them once they were finished.

This most recent treasure trove was discovered in a television station in Jos, Nigeria by Phillip Morris of Television International Enterprises Archive. Finding lost television programs is kind of his thing, and this is one hell of a find. Whovians couldn’t ask for a better way to celebrate The Doctor’s 50th anniversary than with episodes that, for many, have never been seen before.

Check out these new, snazzy trailers the Beeb released today, but don’t forget to grab a copy of television history from iTunes today!

Der Vatikan hat auf der ersten Münze zu Papst Franziskus statt "Jesus" "Lesus" geprägt. Einmal mit Profis arbeiten!

Update: Hier gibt es ein Foto!

Described as inspired by Steampunk and Warhammer-like games, Diesel Tactics looks like an interesting project that’s still in development.

Hi! Jeff Green here! You might remember me from such jobs as Director of Social Media at PopCap Games! Actually, I still have that title. So nothing has changed, technically, at least in terms of what it says on my business card and paycheck. However, since my online activity has changed of late, and as my name keeps showing up in new places,  like right here, I do have a little 'splaining to do, just so we're all clear on stuff. Like, for the record.

So here's the deal:  I am currently "in transition," as it were, at PopCap, and am not their day-to-day social media guy anymore. And it's all good. Astute readers of this blog may recall a post I wrote in August in which I alluded to the fact that I was feeling restless and ready for more, bigger, better things, and that is happily now the position in which I find myself. PopCap and I are still pals, and they and EA are, as I said, still my employers. I am in what we call "a period of transition" and will be working in a more advisory behind-the-scenes role for a predetermined period of time. And again, it is all good. My time at PopCap has been an awesome one - the best job I've had since the CGW days. We will split - when I split - as friends.

But this post does serve as kind of an official announcement that I am now actively working on and looking for my next thing. What is that thing going to be? I have a few schemes in the works.  I don't know which one, if any currently being considered, is going to pan out. It may be with another company, it may be my own thing, it may be something in collaboration with one or more other folks, like the magazine kickstarter listed above. One thing is almost for sure, which is:  I'll be staying in the gaming industry or gaming media, yabbering about this stuff that I love, as I have for the past 17 years. Because it is what I love.

So there it is. You're gonna see more of me - and hopefully that's not entirely bad news - on this blog, in speaking engagements like this, on my brand new Twitch channel, as part of Kickstarter plans like the one linked to above, and other various forms of online activity, none of which, I solemnly promise, will involve nudity.

Where this is all going to lead me, I have no idea. But it is an exciting and liberating feeling. At least until the money runs out.

So, hey. I'm available.  Pass it around. I've got a good resume and I'm mostly housebroken.  Plus, I yodel on request. Who WOULDN'T hire me?

cheers,
Jeff

Hi. I'm Jen, and I'm addicted to cute.

What can I say? Sometime I just NEED to see a baby dragon holding a beach ball surrounded by pastel pennant bunting.

(By Choko Late)

Ahhhh. That's the stuff.

(Even the letters are adorable. How?!)

 

Needless to say, I heartily approve of cutesying up my favorite characters, like Bats and Wonder Woman here:

(By Little Pieces of Heaven, found here)

Cutest crime-stoppers evah! And how perfect are their colors together?

 

I know some folks find the button eyes on Lalaloopsy dolls a little too Coraline-esque, but I'm completely nuts for them:

(By Jussra Soares and found here - but no website is listed. Anyone have it?)

Squee! Srsly, it's all I can do not to start binge-buying these every time I'm near the toy aisle. And would you look how sweet that quilted pattern is? With the little tape measure and sewing basket and spools? And that fabric name plaque on the wall with the birthday girl's name is super fun.

 

I think these next two need no introduction:

(By The Cupcake Maker)

...but that's Despicable behavior.

If you're not smiling right now, you should get your emotion chip checked. And is anyone else expecting to see that goggle strap snap back at any second? I feel like I could reach out and twang it, it's so perfect!

 

So. Buzz Lightyear. Could he be any cuter?

Why yes, yes he could:

(By Don Buciak II)

I will never stop being amazed at what Don can do with just buttercream - NEVER. (Yes, that's all icing!) Think you can't have a show-stopping sculpted cake without fondant? Then hit that link up there and go see more of Don's work - but hang on to your socks.

 

I've determined there aren't nearly enough Rainbow Brite cakes in the world. Happily Amy here is working to fix that:

(Submitted by Kate F. and made by Amy A-S)

YES. I love her ponytail, and the rainbow stars. Of course, you do realize I'll be spending the next hour searching ebay for my old doll with the crinkly holographic skirt, right? And a Twink in every color, so I can make a Twink rainbow? They'll look perfect next to my Gremlin and Animaniac dolls.
Aw yeeeah.

 

And now, the cutest knight in all the land:

(By Tal Tsafrir's Cakes)

Accompanied by the cutest dragon, perched atop the cutest castle. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's the Kingdom of Cute, right there.

 

Sure, Hello Kitty is already pretty darn adorable - but EVERY girl looks better with nerdy glasses and a little plaid bow, amirite?

(Submitted by Kristen R. and made by Alena's Sweets)

 

Speaking of which, I've always thought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be more fun as girls - haven't you?

(By Little Cherry Cake Company)

And girls who like cupcakes just as much as they like their pizza, too - because those are the kind of teenage mutant ninja turtles *I* want to hang out with. Cowabunga, dudettes!

 

Er, you may want to cover your ears, 'cuz I'm about lose my adorbz-loving mind over this next one:

(By Chef Sam)

TIGGER!!! It's all. About. That. Tigger. And the balloons. Yes. I want that little Tigger, holding the balloons, on my desk, IMMEDIATELY.

Please? [Bambi eyes]

 

I'll admit that not all robots are cute, but for every murderous Dalek or Cylon there's a chipper little sweetie like this, just waiting to bloop at you cheerfully and offer to play a game of checkers:

(By Cheirinho De Coisa Boa)

That smile! And his eyes light up!

 

Well, my friends and fellow addicts, I hope you've gotten your fill of cute Sweets today - but if not, I think a happy little penguin wearing an aviator cap and balancing on a circus ball should do the trick:

(By Pauline Bakes The Cake)

[collapses from the cute]

Yep, we're done here.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

 

EXTRA BONUS SWEETNESS: Our friends Rick and Sasha over at cakelava - whose work we've featured a lot over the years here on Sweets - just wrote a fun book called Extreme Cakeovers:

And even better, they have three copies to give away to you guys! So just comment below to enter, and we'll announce the three lucky winners in tomorrow's post. Good luck!

 

P.S. - Curious to see which bakers in your area have been featured here on Sweets? Then go check out our Sunday Sweets Directory!

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Installation & Sound. ]

To commemorate those fallen on D-Day in France – civilians, Axis and Allies alike – a pair of sand artists used stencils and solicited volunteers to create a highly temporary art installation, destined and designed to be washed away by the incoming tide.

On September 21st, the pair and their helpers, given stencils and quick instructions, had to work quickly to make The Fallen a reality. At one point, it looked like they would not have even assistance to finish before the water came in to erase their creation.

Thankfully, hundreds of additional people turned out on top of the dozens who had agreed to help … together these, “people took stencils and rakes in hand and embarked on drawing the 9000.  The Peace Day project had finally begun in earnest represented by the people of the world.”

Jamie Wardley and Andy Moss (images by Sandinyoureye) developed the idea of The Fallen as a project for Peace Day well in advance. They created stencils in preparation, but were surprised by the people who turned up from around the world (drawn together, as it were) to commemorate those lost in World War II and otherwise.

Among those participants in attendance, “Monika Kershaw was there remembering her son and his colleagues that died in Afganastan and even wrote in their names beside them. George, a veteran who was on the D-Day beaches was also there and embraced the importance of the project as demonstrating the result of conflict. There were a group from Israel that drew together, people from Germany, Finland and as far as Chili.”

Next Page:
The Fallen 9000 Figures Hand Drawn In The Sand For D Day

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[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Installation & Sound. ]

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Latest from Ellison Lane

Hey friends! Have you enjoyed the Back-to-School Sewing Series?

I hope it’s given you great ideas of things to sew for the teacher or student in your life.

Today I’m sharing my tutorial for a double-sided lanyard.

As a former teacher myself, I would have loved having a pretty lanyard instead of the standard issue black nylon cord I had wore back in the day! Alas, I didn’t sew back then but if I had, I would surely have whipped up one of these for myself and all of my teacher friends.

Now, I’ve made more than my fare share of lanyards. I made 55 for Sew South last year (whew!) and I was commissioned to make lanyards for all the teachers at my son’s preschool this year. I’m all about spreading the lanyard love!

So grab some fabric (you don’t need much) and let’s get started. Whip one up today in 15 minutes for the special teacher, student or any other lanyard wearing person in your life.

Materials: 

(2) 1.5″ x 35″ strips of fabric in coordinating colors (to make a single fabric lanyard, use (1) 2.5″ strip)

1 Swivel Clasp (D ring 5/8″ wide (I get mine from TWPMango on Etsy)

rotary supplies

iron

 

1. Place the strips right sides together and sew along the long side with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

2. Press the seam open.

3. Fold the raw edges in to meet the center seam and press along each side.

4. Fold again length wise to hide raw edges and press.

5. Slip the lobster clasp on.

6. Place the short raw edges right sides together and sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Backstitch to lock your stitches. Press flat.

7. Clip the corners so they don’t poke out when folding the sides over.

8. Fold the fabric, wrong sides together once again and topstitch along all sides 1/8″ from the edge. Move the clasp out of the way as you sew. Backstitch at the beginning and end.

9. Repeat for the other side.

1o. Position the seam on the back strap just above the clasp, and sew both straps of  the lanyard together making an X.

That’s it! Now go make one for your child’s teacher or yourself! Be sure to check out all the other tutorials in this series.

xo,

Jennifer

The post Double Sided Lanyard Tutorial: Back to School at Ellison Lane appeared first on Ellison Lane.

Susan Beatrice, an artist and sculptor from Glassboro, New Jersey, USA, started her company, All Natural Arts, as a celebration of nature in the form of jewelry and similar artworks. In her latest series, she decided to turn old watches into awesome sculptures, like the fairy you see above. Continue reading for more.

I know you're here to see pretty cakes, but I think it's time to bring some fine art education all up in this joint. Plus pretty cakes.

So welcome to Art History, Sunday Sweets Style!

Jimmy, start the slide show!

(By H Cake Bake Shop)

Can anyone tell me what classic American painting this cake is paying homage to?

If you answered, "That creepy farmer couple," then you're basically correct. Technically, it is a father and his "spinster daughter" depicted in Grant Wood's "American Gothic." But hey, the more you know!

 

Next slide!

(By La Belle Aurore Sugar Art)
Ceci n'est pas un gâteau.

This delicious piece depicts multiple paintings by René Magritte. I see "Son of Man" and "Golconda" in there. We're off to a great start!

 

Onwards!

(By La Belle Aurora Sugar Art)

This marvelous cake is a Salvador Dalí mash-up of "The Mae West Room," "The Persistence of Memory," and that egg that he puts in everything. But not a llama in sight! Missed opportunity, that is. (It's Dalí, people. Just roll with it.)

 

Next!

(By Wendy Kromer Confections)

At first glance, this may look like just a painting of a cake, but it is, in fact, an actual cake. It's a lovely representation of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" series, and one of Amy Pond's favorites.

 

But, I digress.

(By Christine Santos)

I just LOVE the look of "ah ha!" on your darling faces, readers! Yes, everyone knows Pablo Picasso! Does anyone know which one of his paintings this cake refers to, though? Anyone? Drat. Neither do I. It sure is a fun cake, anyway!

 

(By For the Love of Cake)

This adorable cake is a miniature rendition of Georges-Pierre Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," which, in real life, is an astounding seven feet high and ten feet long. The only thing this cake is missing is the monkey on a leash. How can you NOT have the monkey on the leash?! Also, the girl fishing that may or may not refer to prostitution. Yay, art! Keeping it classy.

 

(By Debbie Does Cakes)

Is anyone here a fan of The Velvet Underground? (No, not the night club downtown.) It's a band from the 60s, and Andy Warhol created the art for their 1967 album cover. This cake is a darn near perfect replica of that piece. I wonder if the cake under the fondant is flesh colored like the original LP edition? (Thanks, Wikipedia!)

 

Let's completely switch it up now and go to back to the rococo era!

(By Flora Aghababyan)

This beautiful work of confectionery art is a three dimensional interpretation of Fragonard's "The Swing." At first sight, the original art may seem to be just another idealistic painting of country life in France. However, upon closer examination, the woman is being pushed by her husband, while letting her lover, who is hiding in the bushes, take a peek up her skirt. OH MY! Who knew sugar could be so spicy?

 

Let's move on before I get in trouble.

(By Cake Alchemy)

Now that everyone has gotten a nice neck stretch from turning your heads to the right, you can see this one is inspired by Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss." From Klimt's "Golden Phase," this one came after he threatened some dudes with a shotgun over his scandalous University of Vienna Ceiling commission. (Isn't art exciting?!)

 

Speaking of ceilings...

(By Neli)

I honestly had no idea what this one was inspired by, but leave it up to good ol' Google to help a lady out! It's based on the frescoes in Nymphenburg Palace by Johann Baptist Zimmerman. I don't have much else to add, except WOW.

 

Let's jump forward a few hundred years, shall we?

(By chickadodle2000)

More kissing! This one is a tribute to Roy Lichtenstein's work, most notably "Kiss II." Everyone should recognize this style, seeing as it's been copied and printed on cheap coffee cups, note pads, purses, etc. for years now...

 

Alright, last one, kiddos!

(By Sugar Flower Cake Shop)

Let's take a few minutes to just soak in the tranquil beauty of this cake. *wistful sigh* This one is based on Monet's "Water Lilies." Did you know he painted 250 different renditions of water lilies?! And he started painting that series after he had already been painting for 70 years. It's never too late to start being awesome! Not that he wasn't awesome before then... You get the point.

Well, that's it for our class, my little cupcakes! Hope you're having an awesome Sunday!

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

Rainbows on the horizon are impossible to approach, let alone pass through – they flicker and fade like phantoms, except in the case of this iconic space.

Your Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson is an enclosed circular walkway that sits atop the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum in Denmark. Its colored glass spans from floor to ceiling and rotates visitors through five hundred feet of color, looping them through a rainbow of panoramic city views.

The experience of walking along this 500-foot path is at once reductive and complex. At each step, the city outside becomes a monochromatic landscape, filtered through the lens of single slices of color that rotate as you move.

From outside, the raised structure forms a bright beacon within the city, a recognizable icon thanks to its combination of round shape and vibrant color. As this project illustrates, powerful architecture can be about more than structure, building and void – it is also about shaping experience through color and light.

According to its Danish-Icelandic designer, it is “a space which virtually erases the boundaries between inside and outside – where people become a little uncertain as to whether they have stepped into a work or into part of the museum. This uncertainty is important to me, as it encourages people to think and sense beyond the limits within which they are accustomed to moving.”  In the end, is it an gallery space, a viewing platform, a permanent art installation … or does it perhaps span a spectrum of spatial definitions as well as colors?

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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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For all the little girls who are in that 'princess stage,' and the big girls who never really grew out of it (I can't be the ONLY one who was positively destined to marry Prince William), and everyone else in between ...

(By Renato Ardovino)

We cordially invite you to a Princess Party!
So slip on your tiaras and glass slippers and and join in! We have cake!

 

Princess cakes are not a new trend, but they sure have come a long way from the days of jabbing a Barbie into an overly-iced Bundt cake and callin' 'er good:

(Sub'd by Eri R. and made by Bluebird Cakes)

Isn't this cake stunning? And maybe it's just the photo, but Tiana looks life-sized! Although, for my daughter to have any idea who I'm talking about, I'd have to call her by her full name: Princess And The Frog.

 

Do your kids do that with Disney movies too? Her name is not Rapunzel, it's Tangled, silly!

(Sub'd by Brien F. and made by Kiilani)

And her tower here is incredible. So much great detail. I bet the ivy alone took days.

 

Merida? Who's that? Her name is Brave!

(By Antonella Di Maria Torte and Design)

And her cake is amazing. I can bearly stand how sweet it is.

 

There is one exception to the rule: We don't watch Beauty and the Beast at our house, we watch Belle.

(Sub'd by Reagan H. and made by Key Art Studio Cakes)

I mean, how could you take your eyes off her? Although for a little girl with a name like Yasmine, you'd think this cake might look more like ... I don't know ...

(Baker unknown)

I mean, right? Great gold touches on her jewelry. Shining, shimmering, splendid, even.

 

And what's a princess party without a prince or two?

(Found here with lots more adorable party pics, but the baker isn't listed. Anyone know?)

My favorite detail on this cake: the little tuft of hair curling behind Jasmine's leg!

 

But you don't always need an actual princess on your cake to get the point across:

(By TuffCookie Cakes)

Snow what I mean?

 

We wouldn't want to upstage the birthday girl.

(By Peggy Does Cake)

Although this one is a showstopper all on its own. Who knew a swamp scene could be so gosh darn adorable?

 

But it's YOUR princess party! So make a splash if you want to!

(By Sugar Sweet Cakes & Treats)

OK, cutest Little Mermaid cake EVER. Look at the little ripples! Sacre bleu, even Sebastian's in a good mood!

 

Or, opt for simple simplicity if you like:

(By Peace Of Cake)

I want, nay, need that Snow White figurine in my life.

 

And speaking of figurines, I think Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip here are not of the edible variety,

(Made by the Disneyland Hotel (Found here on Pinterest))

... but what a gorgeous wedding cake! Who knew thorny briars could be so beautiful? (For Briar Rose, see?)

 

Well, it's about time to wrap this thing up. Please be responsible as you head home, whether you plan to travel by enchanted pumpkin, sail off on a magic carpet,

(By TatianaK)

... or canoodle in a canoe under a lantern-lit sky.

Thanks so much for coming, and may you live happily ever after til next time!

 

Psst. Hey. Curious which bakeries in your area have been featured here on Sweets? Then be sure to check our Sunday Sweets Directory!

[ By Steve in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

You’re gonna need a bigger scanner. These 10 larger than life Universal Product Barcode emblazoned buildings epitomize the digitization of modern society.

Middelburg, Netherlands, by Hercuton

(images via: Bouwgroep Peters BV)

The plainly-named Barcode Building is one of the newest (completed 2011) large structures in the very old city of Middelburg, the Netherlands. Architects of the Dutch design & build organization Hercuton were charged by their client with creating a building that not only looked modern, but both the layout and infrastructure had to reflect today’s environmentally-friendly aesthetic.

(image via: Henk Kosters)

The white walls of the Barcode Building are broken up by vertical strips of tinted window glass that extend from the top of the four-story structure down to the open parking garage beneath the building at street level. The use of random six-digit numbers beneath each stack of three windows reinforces the illusion of a giant barcode while adding visual interest to the structure as a whole.

Shtrikh Kod Building, St. Petersburg, Russia

(images via: Eikongraphia)

Shtrikh Kod means “Barcode Building” in Russian, which is appropriate since there’s really no other way to describe it. The edifice, located in historic St. Petersburg, was designed by Vitruvius & Sons Studio and it was completed in 2007.

(image via: Eikongraphia)

Kudos to photographer Alexey Naroditsky for capturing the stark yet striking exterior of the Barcode Building. It should be noted that one of the commenters at the Eikongraphia website where Naroditsky’s images are on display opined that “The facade’s hue is close to that of the red 633nm laser light commonly used in bar code scanners.” Coincidence?

Melbourne Theosophical Society, Melbourne, Australia

(images via: Jodi and Bo Virkelyst Jensen)

The Melbourne Theosophical Society Bookshop & Library at 126 Russell Street appears much like any other mid-century yellow brick building except for one thing… an odd inset space on the facade that holds a barcode! The roughly two-story tall barcode encompasses a pair of windows and would seem to be a later addition to the building. Why is it there and what does it mean? That’s a rather theosophical question best left for others to wrestle with.

Recall Information Centre, Greystanes, New South Wales, Australia

(images via: Lysaght, Blue Scope Steel and Specifier)

Staying in the antipodes for the moment, we present an uncharacteristically lively warehouse designed by Thierry Lacoste from Lacoste + Stevenson Architects. Built for the Recall company to store nearly four and a half million archive boxes of corporate records, the building’s exterior is made from 21,000 square meters od steel cladding sourced from BlueScope Lysaght.

(image via: Specifier)

“Barcodes are at the center of everything which Recall does,” explains Thierry Lacoste. “That was the first consideration, then there was the challenge of how to handle a very big wall area. We decided on the barcode theme to break up its visual impact then worked on a couple of ideas before we finally specified a pattern which is actually Recall’s Australian Business Number as a barcode.” Recall operates 250 state-of-the-art information centers around the world but only one sports the Greystanes center’s wild barcode exterior graphics.

Next Page:
Scanning The Skyline 10 Bizarre Barcode Buildings

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[ By Steve in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

Now that a majority of us (myself included) use our iPhone’s most of the time to take pictures, photo apps pop up on the regular trying to lure you in. None has taken off quite like Instagram (hey, do you follow Design Milk on Instagram? You should! We’re design_milk) and instead of having those Instagram photos sitting in outer space (or the interwebs) you can now view them on the tiniest projector I’ve ever seen, courtesy of Projecteo.

Projecteo lets you upload nine images from your Instagram account to make up a single wheel. They develop your nine photos onto a single frame of 35mm Kodak film which they then cut and assemble into a custom wheel. You can create as many wheels as you want.

You purchase the projector for $25.99 and can view your purchased wheels ($8.99 each) whenever you’re feeling nostalgic. Take your Projecteo into a dark space and project your images onto a light colored surface. You adjust the lens to sharpen the photo, just like a normal-sized projector.

I was skeptical at first. I mean, how great of an image can you get from a teeny tiny projector that fits into the palm of your hand? Well, I was happily blown away and can’t wait to create more wheels.

The projected images are much sharper than they appear in these photos, trust me.

Today I've got a super special Sweets for you guys, and I. Am. PUMPED. See, today is Tim Burton's birthday (woo woo!), and in his honor 100 of the best bakers from around the world decided to get together and knit miniature afghans.

Just kidding.

They made CAKES, of course! One hundred glorious, creepy, Tim-Burton-esque cakes and edible figures, all inspired by Burton's works, from Beetlejuice to Corpse Bride to FrankenWeenie.

The bakers are debuting all of their beauties today on the newly launched site CakenWeenie, but they let me have a peek ahead of time so I could pick a few of my favorites. It wasn't easy, believe me, but here are my personal top 13:

(By Natalie Sideserf of Sideserf Cake Studio)

Gotta start with Beetlejuice, am I right? If only so I can stop you from developing a big head by giving you the cold shoulder.

:D

(No, the whole post won't be bad puns. Promise.)

 

This Edward Scissorhands tableau is definitely a cut above the rest:

(By Cakes by Angela Morrison)

And those edible topiaries are shear genius!

(Ok, so I lied about the pun thing. WHAT.)

 

Oooh, What's This?

(By Marzipan moon & Sugar dust stars)

You could almost convince me this was a model actually used in The Nightmare Before Christmas - that detail is INSANE! (Kind of like Doctor Finkelstein's dental work. [shudder])

 

When it comes to creepy cute - with an emphasis on creepy - Quackers here really hits the mark:

(By Southin Style Cakes)

Look at the little paint buckets!
(And no, I don't think his name is officially Quackers. But it should be.)

 

 

(By Lily's Piece of Cake)

Am I featuring too many from Nightmare? Does anyone care?

 

Ok, ok, let's move on to Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

While Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter may have stolen the show, I've always been partial to the non-human characters, like the March Hare:

(By Richard's Cakes)

I'm also a sucker for tiny cakes on cakes. They're so magically meta. :)

 

Ooh! And how about the caterpillar?

(By Tea Party Cakes)

The cake itself may SEEM simple, but would you look at how perfect the leaves are?

 

And after your perfect pile of leaves, how about a slice of blueberry pie:

(By Andrea's SweetCakes)

Cake pie with a topper of inflated Violet Beauregarde - I LIKE IT.

 

And here's the little fella that inspired Cakenweenie's name: Frankenweenie himself!

(By Black Sheep Custom Cakes)

That dangly little nose gets me every time. I'm also in awe of that shading - he looks like he jumped right off the screen!

 

Would you believe I've never seen James and the Giant Peach? With characters like this, though, I'm thinking I should fix that:

(By Nikki's Cakes)

Now that is one stylish spider fashionista. The boots! The beret! Even her web glitters oh-so-tastefully.

 

Most of these are sculpted figures and characters, of course, but this next Sweet would be awesome for a Burton-inspired gothic wedding:

(By Antonio's Kitchen)

Now that's morbid elegance - no bones about it.

 

You might be tempted to think this Skeleton Boy is just a small figure, but he's actually a full-sized cake!

(By Little Cherry Cake Company)

Forget eating; I want to display him on my desk for ever and always.

 

And finally, let's end with the birthday boy himself. So, ladies and gentlemen, boys and ghouls, allow me to present... Mr. Tim Burton:

(By Karen Portaleo of Highland Bakery)

He always was a head of his time.

Normally I maintain that photorealistic heads and/or body parts are creepy, but for Mr. Burton, that's only appropriate. :) Besides, would you look at that sand worm tie? I totally want one! And his glasses - check out those tinted sugar glass lenses! Karen, you continue to knock my socks clean off.

Head on over to CakenWeenie to see the rest, because believe it or not, they're ALL amazing. I tried to feature mostly full cakes here, but the sculpted figures have to be seen to be believed.

A huge thanks to Tracey of Little Cherry Cake Company for letting me share today's goodies, and to all the bakers involved with CakenWeenie!

 

Curious which bakers in your area have been featured here on Sweets? Then check out our Sunday Sweets Directory!

Von Gergely Simon, Toxics Campaigner bei Greenpeace in Mittel- und Osteuropa

Am 6. Juli 2013 bekam Greenpeace Ungarn einen Anruf. Ein Imker berichtete von einem Massensterben seiner Bienen in einem Sonnenblumenfeld südlich des Balaton Sees. Obwohl er bereits in den vergangenen Jahren einige Verluste an Bienen beobachtet hatte, war es noch nie so schlimm gewesen. Als ich einen Tag später dort ankam, sah ich tausende toter oder sterbender Bienen auf dem Feld verteilt liegen. Viele der noch lebenden Bienen schienen ungewöhnlich aggressiv. Sowohl uns gegenüber als auch anderen Bienen gegenüber, die zum Stock zurückkehrten. Dem Imker nach wurden auf diesem Feld mehrere Wochen keine Pestizide gesprüht. Dennoch war die Situation hier weit schlechter als auf anderen Felder in der Gegend.
Ich sammelte sowohl Proben toter Bienen für die Analyse als auch einige Blüten der Sonnenblumen. Wir benachrichtigten die zuständigen Behörden über den Vorfall. In der Vergangenheit reagierten die Behörden langsam und zurückhaltend, aber diesmal reagierten sie heftig – drei Beamte waren am nächsten Morgen vor Ort bei den Bienenstöcken. Sie sammelten ihre eigenen Proben und deuteten an, dass der Vorfall auch aus ihrer Sicht wie eine Vergiftung aussähe, wenn auch die Quelle unbekannt sei.
Wir schickten unsere Proben an das amtlich anerkannte Labor der ungarischen Behörde National Food Chain Safety Office. Ungefähr eine Woche später hatten wir die Ergebnisse. Diese bestätigten, dass die Sonnenblumen nachweisbare Konzentrationen (durchschnittlich 0,0015 mg/kg) an Thiametoxam enthielten. Von diesem Pestizid der Firma Syngenta ist bekannt, dass es giftig für Bienen ist. Aus Saatgut, welches mit solchen Pestiziden gebeizt wurde, entstehen Pflanzen, die in allen Pflanzenteilen niedrige, aber wirksame Pestizidmengen enthalten. Selbst wenn Thiametoxam in so geringen Konzentrationen gefunden wird, die nicht direkt für die Bienen tödlich sind, können trotzdem nicht-tödliche Effekte auftreten.
Trotz dieses Fundes bleibt die genaue Ursache für das massenhafte Bienensterben in diesem Fall unbekannt. Es war uns nicht möglich, in den toten Bienen Rückstände von Thiametoxam oder anderen Pestiziden nachzuweisen. Das schließt aber nicht aus, dass Pestizide daran beteiligt waren, das Verhalten der Bienen zu verändern und ihre Gesundheit zu schädigen. Überdies erfordert eine unbekannte Ursache dringend weitere amtliche Untersuchungen. Wir müssen die Gründe für einen derartig katastrophalen Vorfall im Detail verstehen und Vorkehrungen treffen, um dem Rückgang der Bienen und anderen Insekten in ganz Europa entgegenzuwirken.
Der Vorfall in Ungarn mag ein Einzelfall sein, der sehr leicht hätte übersehen werden können. Aber er ist symptomatisch für ein um sich greifendes Problem, welchem die Landwirtschaft und unsere Ökosysteme begegnen. Wenn wir unsere Bienen verlieren, verlieren wir mehr als nur ein Glas Honig.

Das zeigen der Vergleich zweier Marktstände: Einmal in der heutigen Form und einmal, was passieren würde, wenn es keine Bienen mehr gäbe.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

Over six years, one dedicated man has constructed his dream house, complete with boulders, trees, gardens, pools and ponds. It is the kind of luxury home you might expect expect to set into the side of an actual mountain … rather than perched atop an urban apartment building.

The Daily Mail  reports that Chinese eccentric Zhang Lin slowly assembled this structure in Beijing despite disruptions and dangers caused to those residents below, apparently without planning permission and in defiance of zoning laws (not to mention common sense). The many tons of material required were hauled up the building, then transformed into a faux mountaintop. In turn, the industrious top-floor owner tucked his unique private penthouse retreat into the resulting rock face.

A number of residents have complained about the noise from construction, and one has experienced flooding, either from fake mountain pools and ponds above their place, broken drainage due to displaced infrastructure, or perhaps both.

Meanwhile, the penthouse – originally slated to be a small shack added to the top – has sprawled in all kinds of creative and (to those below, at least) unexpected ways. There are various outdoor decks, viewing platforms and winding paths that make their way through and around the stone mountaintop and its outgrowths of greenery.

And what comes next? Well, no one in the city has stopped the project so far, but as complaints mount from other residents, and as the weight loaded on the roof grows, one has to wonder what will happen first: government intervention or a tragic structural collapse.

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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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Berlin-Brandenburger Landesverband sponsort Kreisklassemanschaft des insolventen Fußballvereins

Well, it was only a matter of time before the leading super hero franchise ended up being turned into something dirty.  In truth, I expected this sort of thing much earlier, though perhaps I’m only just discovering it.  What the crap am I talking about, you ask?  Well, one fine fan of The Avengers decided to put together some themed sex toys.  In addition to the Captain America model pictured above, you can find the rest of the team’s contributions below:

 

And thanks to geekologie for helping to share the love.

Erst an diesem Wochenende starben wieder sechs Menschen bei der versuchten Mittelmeer-Überfahrt nach Italien. In Deutschland spielen derweil C-Promis in der ZDFneo Sendung “Auf der Flucht – Das Experiment” ebensolche Fluchterfahrungen nach – nur eben ohne Gefahren.

Aktuelle Diskussionen zu Flucht und Asyl

Im letzten Jahr jährte sich zum 20. Mal die rassistisch motivierte Gewalt gegen Asylsuchende in Lichtenhagen. Anlässlich dieses Jahrestages pflanzte Bundespräsident Joachim Gauck eine deutsche Eiche. Der verantwortliche Redakteur für Innenpolitik bei der FAZ, Jasper von Altenbockum, hielt es für einen angemessenen Anlass um einen Artikel mit dem Titel “Terror gegen Asylanten. Lichtenhagen: Ende der Sozialromantik” zu veröffentlichen. In diesem räumt der Autor Verständnis für die Gewalt ein, verharmlost Rassismus und schmeißt Asyl- und Migrationspolitik in einen Topf.

Und auch dieses Jahr, zwanzig Jahre nach der de facto Abschaffung des Rechts auf Asyl, sieht es nicht besser aus: In Berlin Reinickendorf wird ein Spielplatz eingezäunt und deutlich gemacht, dass geflüchtete Kinder bzw. Kinder von Geflüchteten auf diesem nicht willkommen sind. In Berlin Marzahn-Hellersdorf mobilisiert die NPD gegen eine neueinzurichtende Unterkunft für Asylsuchende. In Schwäbisch Gmünd war da noch diese Geschichte mit den Kofferträgern. Und in der Schweiz, um einmal einen Blick über die Grenzen zu werfen, wird Geflüchteten der Besuch im Freibad und der Kirche untersagt.

Es gibt also viel zu kritisieren und diskutieren: Fast nicht mehr vorhandenes Asylrecht, Behandlung von Asylsuchenden in Deutschland (und auch anderen europäischen Staaten), Grenzpolitiken, die Dritt-Staaten-Regelung, Rassismus in Deutschland. In den Mainstream-Medien kommt dies zu kurz und wird wenn häufig an Einzelfällen abgehandelt und nicht als systematisches Problem analysiert. Gegen dieses Schweigen und die Tatenlosigkeit der Regierung werden die Proteste von betroffenen Menschen lauter. Im letzten Jahr startete mit einem Hungerstreik in Würzburg eine bis heute andauernde Reihe von Protestaktionen Asylsuchender Menschen in Deutschland, die meistens unter dem Namen “Refugee Tent Action” firmieren. Aktionen, speziell von Frauen ausgeführt, finden sich auf der Seite des Refugee Strike Berlin. (Auch wenn Münchens Bürgermeister Ude sich kaum vorstellen kann, dass auch Frauen politisch aktiv sind.) Vom 13. bis 16. Juni fand in Berlin das “Refugee Tribunal Against Germany” statt.

Auf den Refugee Protestmarsch nach Berlin, das dort errichtete Camp und die Polizeiübergriffe im letzten Oktober angesprochen, antwortete ZDF-Redakteur Dominik Rzepka damit, dass das Thema nicht relevant genug sei.

“Auf der Flucht – Das Experiment”

Nun aber möchte sich das ZDF, zu mindestens in Gestalt von ZDFneo, doch mit dem Thema beschäftigen. Ein weiterer Fail in der Geschichte “diskriminierender Klogriffe des ZDF“. Moderator Daniel Gerlach sieht “die Chance mit der Sendung den Themen Flucht und Asyl ein Gesicht zu geben.”, wie die Sprecherin in einem der Video-Clips zu Protokoll gibt. Statt aber das Thema Flucht und Asyl zu kontextualisieren, auf die andauernden Proteste einzugehen und ausschließlich Betroffene zu Wort kommen zu lassen, wird Flucht als ein Abenteuerspiel für C-Promis inszeniert.

Das Erfahrungswissen von Geflüchteten reicht wieder einmal nicht, stattdessen soll das (Nach-)Erleben von priviligierten Personen die gelebten Erfahrungen vieler Menschen legitimieren. Die Mitmachenden lernen zu Beginn zwei geflüchtete Familien kennen und “flüchten” dann als “Team Irak” und “Team Afrika” (sic) in die jeweiligen Herkunftsländer der Familien (Irak/ Eritrea).  Für die sechs TeilnehmerInnen gibt es ein Vorbereitungscamp, in dem sie Kartenlesen lernen und durch das Gelände zu laufen. Dann sollen sie auch einmal am eigenen Leibe erfahren, wie es sich anfühlt, entführt zu werden. Und so laufen die TeilnehmerInnen mit Säcken über den Kopf durch die Landschaft, neben sich die ganze Fernseh-Crew. Mirja du Mont bringt in wenigen Worten die Unsinnigkeit auf den Punkt:

So ein Kinderspiel. Du weißt ja, du sitzt hier in Bayern. Da bin ich null gestresst.

Den TeilnehmerInnen wird viel Raum gegegeben. Diesen nutzen sie um allerlei rassistische Aussagen zu tätigen. Mirja du Mont könne schon die “Angst vor Überfremdung” schon verstehen, spricht über ihren Stolz aufs Deutschsein und unterstellt Deutschland ein fehlgeleitetes “Helfersyndrom”. Die Autorin Kathrin Weiland findet die Vermischung von Kulturen schwierig, meint, dass eine Gesellschaft sich schützen dürfe (schließlich nehme mensch ja auch einen Dorn aus dem Schuh) und gibt Folgendes von sich:

Deutschland schafft sich ab – ich glaub da ist schon was dran an der These. Ich glaube nicht, dass Leute nur wegen dem Wetter kommen. Ich stell mir das wie eine große Sahnetorte vor und jeder möchte mal ein bißchen mitnaschen.

Außerdem gecastet ein “rechter Aussteiger” (Kevin Müller) und das ehemalige Böhse Onkelz- Mitglied Stephan Weidner. Deren Einstellungen sind dramaturgisch durchaus genau so gewollt, denn es scheint, dass die Sendung darauf ausgelegt ist, dass diese Menschen im Kontakt mit Betroffenen ihre Vorurteile abbauen. Folge davon ist, dass Rassismus durchgehend re_produziert wird und Geflüchtete nur als Kulisse für die Erweckungserlebnisse priviligierter Pass-Deutscher herhalten müssen, was auch wiederum ein rassistisches Konzept ist.

Die TeilnehmerInnen können niemals auch nur ansatzweise nachempfinden, was tatsächlich flüchtende Menschen erleben. Sie haben jederzeit die Möglichkeit das Experiment abzubrechen und die Sicherheit, dass mit einem Kamerateam nebenbei wohl nichts wirklich Schlimmes passieren kann. Und Fernseh-Deutschland sitzt noch etwas bequemer auf der Couch und soll durch diesen Zugang plötzlich etwas über Flucht und Asyl erfahren.

Die erste Folge wurde am letzten Donnerstag ausgestrahlt. Die zweite Folge wird diesen Donnerstag erscheinen. Ausführlich habe ich das Konzept der Sendung auf meinem Blog Afrika Wissen Schaft kritisiert. Weitere Auseinandersetzungen finden sich auf Alis Afrikablog, bei daStandard und bei der Frankfurter Rundschau.

Protest gegen die Sendung

Das ZDF und ZDFneo haben bisher auf Twitter die Kritiker_innen abgebügelt: Zu erst vor allem mit dem Argument, dass die erste Folge gesehen werden müsste, um wirklich die Sendung kritisieren zu können, dann auch damit, dass die Macher_innen ja mit dem Flüchtlingshilfswerk der UN zusammengarbeitet hätten. Als wäre dies eine Absolution.

Nadia hat auf Shehadistan einen öffentlichen Beschwerdebrief an den ZDF-Fernsehrat veröffentlicht. In diesem schreibt sie:

Es ist nicht hinnehmbar, dass das ZDF die Lebenssituation von Asylsuchenden in Deutschland als Inspiration für eine fragwürdige und politisch zweifelhafte Sendung nutzt. Es ist nicht hinnehmbar, dass offen rassistische Aussagen von Berufsprominenten im deutschen Fernsehen ungefiltert und eingebettet in ein pseudo-subversives Format den Eingang in die Wohnzimmer von Millionen GEZ-Zahler_innen finden. Es ist nicht hinnehmbar, dass die strukturelle Gewalt und das Leid, das geflüchtete Menschen de fakto in Deutschland erleben, zur Schmiervorlage für Zerstreuungsunterhaltung im öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehen wird. Es ist nicht hinnehmbar, dass Praktiken die an eine Völkerschau erinnern, gebührenfinanziert von potentiellen Zuschauer_innen getragen werden.

Diesen oder andere Briefe könnt ihr natürlich auch selbst an den Fernsehrat/ das ZDF (zuschauerredaktion@zdf.de) schicken. Außerdem gibt es die Möglichkeit sich auf Twitter (ZDF/ ZDFneo) oder auf Facebook zu beschweren.

Und zu guter Letzt: Es gibt bereits zwei Petitionen, die die Absetzung der Sendung und eine Erklärung fordern. Diese können bei change.org hier und hier unterschrieben werden.

The LEGO geniuses continue to expand their LEGO Architecture series and this time instead of a particular landmark or building, they’ve created the LEGO Architecture Studio toolkit that lets you design your own. Embrace your inner architect and get to building with the help of over 1,200 monochromatic white and translucent pieces, base plates, and a 250+ page book filled with real architectural examples for inspiration.

Get your very own set here.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

Twin towers raising up the existing skyline and joined at the top – these were supposed to be a sign of recovery in a city and country ravaged by the global financial collapse. Instead, the Intempo building in Spain has become a stark standing symbol of incompetence. Consider, for instance, the following farcical architectural accident: it was not built to house an elevator actually able to climb the structure, which is already over 500 feet tall.

As Jamie Condliffe summarizes on Gizmodo (images via IntempoBenidorm), the rising scope of the building was in part “a function of the greed surrounding the project. Initially designed to be a mere 20 stories tall, the developers got over-excited and pushed the height way up: now it boasts 47 stories, and will include 269 homes. But … original design obviously included specifications for an elevator big enough for a 20-story building.”

As a result, the shaft space and room for lifts, motors, cable and other equipment was significantly under-designed, leaving nearly thirty stories (maybe more, depending on the final height) of condominiums that would be walking-access only if the structure were finished as currently planned.

Thanks to bad banks going under, corruption surrounding the construction itself and costs of materials, the entire process has been plagued with problems and setbacks almost since it began. At different points, the builder went without pay, workers walked off the job thanks to poor safety conditions and interruptions have delayed completion time and time again. On the financial side, from Economia: “The project is burdened by allegations of fraud, liens and claims from customers and suppliers.” The absence of spatial accommodation for a working elevator is in some ways simply the symbolic cherry on top – except to get to that cherry, you would need to walk up dozens of flights of stairs.

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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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Hey, you know what time it is?

(By Jocelyne at Over the Top Cakes)

ADVENTURE TIME!!

 

Yep, it's time to head into parts unknown, where we'll explore new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where our destinies and fortunes take us.

And by "fortunes" I mean, of course, giant treasure chests filled with ... um, fortune:

(By Truly Scrumptious Cakes)

(I'm especially loving the giant googly eye and heart eye patch on Miss Skull over there.)

 

First we have to get there, though, so be sure to choose the most fantastical mode of transportation possible:

(By Make Pretty Cakes)

(Also acceptable: Nautilus-style submarines, flying luck dragons, and ruby slippers.)

 

Although if we happen upon a blue police box, I'm warning you now:

(By Cakes by Jody)

DIBS.

 

Of course, every proper adventure needs a loyal, swashbuckling companion:

(By Sweet Ruby Cakes)

PERFECT.

PURRRFECT.

Oh, and at some point we'll be required to run screaming from a giant monster who later turns out to be friendly. Let's see, I'm thinking... dinosaur. Yes? YES.

(Submitted by Rebecca H. and made by Mea Sculpture Cake Design)

BIG HEAD LITTLE ARMS!! Woot!
This makes me ridiculously happy.

(Speaking of which: hey, Rex, if you're happy and you know it...! :D)

 

Ahem.

Of course we'll have to face some real villains at some point.

(By Tatiana Melfa of Dolce Tati)

Though hopefully not this many at once! Yikes!
(Also, WOW! So gorgeous!)

 

Once we're done with all the running and screaming and climactic showdowns, though, it'll be time to burst into song with a few adorable woodland creatures. Or maybe penguins:

(Searched for ages, but couldn't track this down! Anyone know who made it?)

 

And no matter how you arrived at your adventure, you always have to leave it with a dramatic take-off - maybe by umbrella like Mary Poppins up there.

Or, if you have a tendency to overpack:

(By Cake Central member PennieK)

(I've seen a lot of UP house cakes, and that is - hands down - the best edible balloon bunch I've seen.)

 

Then, once you're safely home and ready to tell your tale, you'll realize what the greatest adventure of all truly is:

(By Sihirli Spatula)

D'awww. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go bawl like a baby over a cartoon again. (Curse you, Pixar!)

 

Psst. Hey. Curious which bakeries in your area have been featured here on Sweets? Then be sure to check our Sunday Sweets Directory!

DC-based architecture firm Travis Price Architects created a home for a client that almost blends into its surroundings because of its colorful copper exterior. “The outer shell of copper is highly sustainable in that it is the lowest impact material for the longest life,” Travis Price explains.

It looks like two rising walls from the ground separated by glass bridges, which let the sunlight inside. Its design echoes the twin peaks across the valley.

Besides having a really cool-looking and efficient exterior, the home also has some other green design elements. It’s aligned for Passive Solar Heating with direct winter gain of sunlight, the glass is large and operable for passive cross ventilation for cooling, and high efficiency heat pumps provide nominal final power needs.

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Named for a modern art movement founded by Kazimir Malevich, characterized by the study of limited geometric shapes, these mitts feature a textured colorwork pattern set off nicely with the skewed join of these mitts. They are knit as a rectangle, but joined with an offset so there is one corner of fabric spread up the fingers and one down the arm. The bias of this offset rectangle makes for a comfortable fit through the wrist.

Yarn: Heavy Fingering weight yarn, 110[125, 145] yds of MC, 30[35, 40] yds of CC1, 20[25, 30] yards each of CC2 & CC3. Shown in Anzula Squishy (80% Superwash Merino Wool/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon; Approx. 385 yds/in 115gm) in Keola (MC), Seaside (CC1), Cayenne (CC2), Charcoal (CC3), Shitake (CC4)
Needles: 2.75mm (US 2) for flat knitting or size needed to obtain gauge; plus DPNs or circular needle for magic loop in the same size for the thumb; spare needle of the same or smaller circumference for three-needle bind-off.
Gauge: 28 sts & 38 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) square in colorwork pattern after blocking.
Finished Sizes: 6[7, 8] inch (15.25[17.75, 20.25]cm) hand circumference
Notions: crochet hook & waste yarn for provisional cast on, tapestry needle
Pattern Includes: colorwork chart, written instructions
Stitches Used: knit, purl, k2tog, stitches slipped stitches wyif, ssk.

This pattern is part of the Modern Colorwork Collection. The whole collection can be purchased for $18.

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