Just Some Links

From Planet X - Image on one of my favorite Tumblrs. I like how it looks barely sci-fi at all, almost like just an ordinary wildlife picture, until you really look. And even then it could just be prehistoric art.

Jennie Wilde - "Forgotten" artist.

"Ugly Boxes" - This is hilarious. I love when managers think they know more than everyone.

Weird Inventions - I have seen the solar t-shirt before and that's not so crazy. The rest though are like "Wut?"

19th Century Folding Bathtub - A fascinating piece of furniture.

Weird Retro Bathtubs - Possibly NSFW?

Edible Dresses - ...... Nope, I won't go there.

The Phrontistery - Yes! I'm going to be spending a lot of time on this site.

I Found These Interesting

American Woods - pictures of woodgrain identified by species

Food Art - I love this kind of art (not just food but other botanical art too) but I can never find any prints for sale that are as good as the stuff I find on websites like this.

Stories of Stupid - I'm fortunate that I have very rarely run into people like this. Frankly this level of stupid makes me angry and I know that's not fair. (I have only read up to #30)

National Geographic Photo Contest Winners

Science Fiction Concept Art

437 Complete Issues of Soviet Photo Magazine - I must browse this site sometime.

UFO Earrings - Impatiently waiting for someone to make knockoffs of these.

The Epergne - You say "kitsch," I say beautiful.

The World Wide Web is Grown Up Now? Maybe?

I see on Google that the World Wide Web is 30 years old today. When a person turns 30 that is the age at which they have to face the fact that they are actually grown up. So is the WWW grown up? I suppose it has and that's actually a little sad.

Who would have thought that one day we would be nostalgic for the way the Web used to be? Sure, it's a lot better now than it used to be and much of the cool stuff is still out there but these days most of us are like kids in the world's biggest library who just sit in the corner and gossip and taunt the kids at the next table and never even look at a single book. Oh well, you can improve the Web but there's not much you can do about people.

If I had to pick one thing I miss from the "good old days" of the Web - this might seem strange but the thing miss most is badly designed websites. Oh, they still exist but you never just accidentally stumble upon them like you used to. Fortunately, there are lists:

Web Pages That Suck
Top 50 Worst Website Designs
Top 10 Worst Websites

And a single website that proudly calls itself The World's Worst Website Ever

I feel better now. The World Wide Web that we have long known and loved is still alive. We just have to get away from Twitter and Facebook once in a while and look for it.

This 'n' That

Occasionally I come across a website with a name that I find ridiculously appealing. It's even better, of course, when it turns out to be an excellent website. That is the case with Awkward Botany. Someone on Twitter linked the Seed Oddities article, which was very interesting.

There are several interesting articles on Atlas Obscura. A 1930's House of Tomorrow is for lease, but the new tenant will have to restore it. I would like to see pictures when it's done. And The Exotic Pepper Project! I am low-level excited about this. I hope the Pumpkin Habanero makes its way to my neck o' the woods before too long.

The Public Domain Review is a great history/literary site that I really want to make more time for.

100,000 Stars looks like a fun, scientific thing to play with.

In praise of autochrome. These old color photos are lovely.

Random Linkage

Before Google - Questions people asked librarians at New York Public Library. Most are dated from the 1940s to the 1960s and there are some weird questions. People haven't changed all that much.

Tea Time - Early 20th century photos

Windmills in the Fog - beautiful photographs

Stunning Soundtracks for Trashy Movies - A long list. I didn't read the whole thing but as far as I scrolled there weren't any movies I've seen. I might follow some of the YouTube links later just for fun.

Jules Verne's "Lost" Novel - Written in 1863 but not published until 1994.

Everyday Refugees

Oldest Public Library in the English Speaking World

Random Linkage

The Sound of Imaginary Islands

World's Fastest Museum - a beautiful modern train

Discourse Markers - Like, you know, filler words in French and other languages.

Victory Display - Some gestures are hardwired into our brains, not learned.

The Great Wallpaper Rebellion - We're talking about the stuff you glue to your walls that everyone thinks is tacky. I like wallpaper but, sadly, I won't be putting any of this on my walls.

Overheard in Walmart - I must live in a really boring part of the country. Not only do I rarely see anything People of Walmart worthy, I don't even hear any interesting bits of conversation.

Secret Rooms

Mini-Truck Garden Contest - One more example of the Japanese being awesome

Kitschatron - A Tumblr that I must take time to explore soon.

Just Some Links Because My Brain's Too Lazy to Write Anything

Biggest Bird Eggs Ever, and where to find them

Curiosity Cabinets

Seafood and Cheese

3-D Murals

Foot fungus - actually, sneakers made out of mushrooms

This 'n' That

If you have ever read a listicle you must read this listicle: 10 Things You Should Know About Lists on the Internet. Yeah. Just... yeah.

This is rather neat: All 611 shots from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Most movies have more than twice that number of shots.

This is not an ad, honest; I simply must say that NewChic has some of the crazy coolest shoes. Some pretty ordinary looking ones too but I'm looking at the wild, multi-color, flower embellished ones. Lots of flats. I wonder if they are comfortable. It doesn't look like any of them have a decent arch support.

It's true! Washing machines really do eat socks.

Of all the things you can do with Legos this might be the coolest thing ever.

Just a Few Links

Subway Sketches - Detailed sketches of New York City subway stations. As always, it makes me a little sad that architects and builders don't bother to add decorative details to things - even the most utilitarian things - the way they used to.

Strange Company - a blog dedicated to weird history

Victorian Trade Cards - Interesting, odd, and in some cases offensive, Victorian advertising

Frank Kunert Art - Photos of surrealist miniatures

Sketchbooks - Wonderful.

Just a Few Links

Sony World Photography Awards

Strange and Amusing Instructions - Many of these are deliberate, such as, "These T-shirts were tested on animals. They didn't fit."

Literal translations of country names - Intersting.

Soviet Era Photography - Daughter of Russian photographer finds 30,000 hidden negatives.

Posteritati - Huge movie poster gallery

Kustomrama - Custom cars from the 50s

Random Linkage

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur - I haven't paid much attention to cartoons for a long time but something about this appeals to me.

Gray Squirrels Good at Problem Solving - And in other news water is wet. Anyone who has ever tried to keep the little buggers from stealing all the birdseed knows this already.

Happiest Facts Ever - These are delightful.

Donuts Are a Girl's Best Friend?

The Louvre's Secret Apartments - Gorgeous rooms!

Elizabeth Cotton - Interesting life story

Underwater Garden - strangely clear flood waters

Random Linkage

World Wide Weirdies - Sounds like a take-off on the World Wide Web but these are actually from the 1970s.

Wooden Money - but no wooden nickels

Embroidery Portraits - Wow!

Creative Hyphenation and places your mind goes

Colorful Houses of South India

Customer Stories - I never get tired of these. I just keep reading and going, "What the hell was wrong with that person?" My fantasy is that some of the bad customers will read these, recognize themselves and feel shamed. (More likely they would get angry but I did say it's my fantasy.)

Car in Space - No, not that car. This is another blast from the 70s.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages - Hmmmm... I must explore this sometime.

Just a Few Links

Long Reads - I discovered this excellent site via Twitter. It has longish articles on a variety of topics.

Henry Darger's 15,000 Page Novel - I have a strange thing for big books. I have actually read books because they are long. But a 15,000 page novel? Well, yes, I want to give it a try. I probably will never get the chance though. I have checked both Amazon and Project Gutenberg. [Sad, pouty face]

Snow Sculpture Battle in Tokyo - Nice, lots of Star Wars stuff.

Vintage Store Front Mosaics - I love these. It makes me sad that nobody does this anymore and few people are interested in saving the ones that still exist.

This 'n' That

A really unusual place to hang a chandelier

I need this today. But with a less thorny kind of plant.

Women on Bicycles - 19th century posters and interesting history

Okay, so apparently it is possible to anesthetize plants.

The coolest memo pad ever and I want one. Not much space to write notes though when you get past the first sheets.

New Google app is cool but needs a little more work.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about blood types

The Star Wars opening crawl? Flash Gordon did it first, in 1940.

In case you're not already creeped out enough about voice commands

You've probably already heard about the sandwich that was smuggled into space but it's so delightful I can't resist sharing. If you're like me you probably assumed that NASA security was so tight nobody could ever get away with anything.

Random Linkage

Library of Babel - Weird. I like the minimalist design of this website. If nothing else you could use it as a soothing escape from all flashy, noisy websites that are always trying to get our attention.

Stuff You Do While Sleeping - Nothing surprising; I already knew about all of these but there's a really cute kitten at the top of the page.

Top Films About Time Travel - I have seen several of these. I'm not really a fan of the concept of time travel but sometimes it makes a good story.

33+ Reasons You Should Be Following Nathan Fillion on Twitter and Instagram

Dr Alesha Sivartha’s Book of Life - Illustrations from the 1898 book The Book of Life: The Spiritual and Physical Constitution of Man

The Art and Science of Ernst Haeckel - WANT! But not at that price. (~sigh~ Sometimes being a cheapskate is hard.)

Miniatures - Everyone has been sharing this on Twitter and Facebook so you've probably seen it already but I just have to say, one more time, this is amazing!

This 'n' That

I got a new Samsung tablet. So far all I've done on it is Twitter. I'm feeling a little guilty about having it. I'm feeling like, it's a very expensive toy and I should not waste that much money on a toy for myself. Here's how this happened. I mentioned last week that I thought I might like to have a tablet, thinking that someone might remember and get it for me for Christmas but my other half wanted to get it for me right away. He did ask yesterday if I wanted to go ahead and get or if I wanted it for Christmas. That's not how Christmas gifts are supposed to work! You're not supposed to know what you're getting for Christmas! So I said let's get it.

It's great for Twitter, except that typing on it actually seems slower than on my phone. I'm going to make an effort to do something with it besides just Twitter. I have to justify owning it. And I'll still do Twitter on my phone sometimes because my phone is always with me.

* * * * *

I finally started quilting on a quilt that I had intended to have finished by now. The actual hand quilting is the part I really enjoy but to get to that part I have to do a lot of other work that I find less fun. But anyway, it's started and having started it I'm suddenly excited again about other quilts that I want to make.

* * * * *

And a few quick links...

Recreating 17th century sailors' food

Lucas the adorable spider

Fulton Street subway tiles - tile murals

Weird things that washed up on the beach

Random Linkage

Bartending in Antarctica

Mian Situ - Wonderful, interesting art. (Warning: the "Other" section contains NSFW images.)

Information is Beautiful - Great website. Informative charts.

Excellent Idea - Would probably never fly in the U.S.

Playlist of the Lambs - I always knew Hollywood had that one wrong. (and yet, they will keep doing it)

Japanese Illustrated World Map, 1930's

Simona Ceci - Beautiful fantasy art. I absolutely love these.

Random Linkage

The Miss American Vampire Contest - a weird beauty pageant from the 70s

Greg Van Dye - very colorful landscape paintings

Cultural Snow - an interesting looking culture blog that I must take time to explore sometime

Harrison Ford Halloween - a few of Harrison Ford's Halloween costumes from the past few years

Hedgehog Goes Camping - cute

Leila Jeffreys - lovely bird portraits

Gentleman's Surprise Chair - plus 12 more beautiful and interesting items. I have seen pictures of this chair before and I want it.

Karen Knorr Photography - Beautiful animal photos in ornate interior settings. I love these.

The Real Mata Hari - Another case of what "everyone knows" being not true.

Random Linkage

Books in Books - 12 novels that mention lots of other books. I think I want to read Among Others just based on its hidden reading list.

Subway to Nowhere - If this was in the U.S. within a couple of months there would be a 7-11 and half a dozen fast food places nearby. In America if you build it they will come.

Ingo and Friends - Gorgeous photos of a German shepherd and his owl friend. Seriously, I can't tell you how much I LOVE these.

Pizza Forward

Museum Twins

Love and Skeletons - Oh those prudish Victorians! NSFW

And finally, the solution to all problems:

Random Linkage

Precontinent - Jacques Cousteau's underwater habitat. I don't remember if I've ever heard of this before. I used to watch the Jacques Cousteau TV specials when I was a kid so I probably saw something about it once and just forgot.

NASA's Retro Space Travel Posters - I'm sure you've seen some of these before. They've been around for a little while and they seem to be popular but I wanted to put a link here mainly so I can find them again myself.

Retro sci-fi covers featuring impractical female attire

Hairy Selfie Nails - OMG! I can't even!

Yann Souetre - Science fiction art. Fascinating images.

Fungus Arrangements - Photography. Colorful arrangements of mushrooms.

Star Wars Galaxy Necklace - The planets and spaceships from Star Wars, including the Death Star, on a necklace

Quarter Trick - Useful tip

Pink Floyd Household Object Project - I haven't listened to these videos yet.

Woodland GIFs - These make me feel peaceful.