Link roundup

1. Beyonce dancing at a block party on her in-laws' street.

2. Jersey Shore is apparently called The New Jersey Life of Macaroni Rascals in Japan.

3. Michael Caine offers his interpretation of the end of Inception. Via.

4. Hide your delicious lunch from office thieves by placing it in Lean Cuisine frozen meal boxes. Via.

*Buy Inception spinning tops at eBay.

Link roundup

1. If Jack Bauer had replaced Jacob as the protector of the island on Lost.

2. Scans from a journal kept by a 6-year-old girl on a three-year-long whaling voyage beginning in 1868. (She didn't draw any pictures?) Via these sites.

3. David Fincher's The Social Network is about the "rise of the terror nerd."

*Buy scrimshaw collections at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. Yet another ad campaign ripping off an artist.

2. Chef Jamie Oliver's kids are named Buddy Bear Maurice Oliver, Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo, and Petal. Via.

3. An Egyptian newspaper was caught photoshopping a picture of Obama and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

*Buy legal guides for artists at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. I hate giving Palin any publicity, but the phrase "a cackle of rads" sounds pretty cool.

2. Here's part of what the Shake Weight inventor has to say about the ludicrous commercials for his product:

That's one way to put it. Sure, infomercials can be a bit steamy – think back to the Power Rider, and Suzanne Somers and the Thigh Master – but isn't this different?

I think there are sexy bodies selling lots of things—clothes, magazines, fitness equipment—all the time. There are a lot of 30-minute infomercials that use sex and good-looking bodies to get people's attention. We probably got more attention than most because our product was funny. And back when we were making the show, there were a couple of jokes going around the set about what it looks like if you do it a certain way. But that wasn't our master plan and we've had to spend a lot of money on PR so people knew it actually worked.

What about the Shake Weight for Men – was that a trickier video to make ready for marketing?

Well, in the men's there's no room for sexual innuendo there, because it's such an intense workout. We did it with Navy Seals and Army Rangers, and saw if they could do it for three minutes. They couldn't.

Via.

3. Well-edited video showing Chris Haley and Curt Franklin competing to purchase the best item for $10 at Comicon.

Clot x Stussy 30th Respect T-Shirt (link roundup)

Clot x Stussy 30th Respect T-Shirt.

And a few more links:

1. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's sons are named Ozney and Oney.

2. The today shows gets as close as possible to starting the morning with hardcore porn.

3. Cosplay based on Gary Baseman art (bottom of the post).

*Previously: Duck Hunt sweater by Clot.

*Buy Gary Basemen toys at eBay.

Movies as vintage video games (link roundup)

One of several movies as vintage video games by Robert Penney. Via these fine sites.

And a few more links:

1. Great article on Simon Cowell's tumultuous history at American Idol. Via.

2. Canada's second oldest magazine decided it simply had to change it's name. "Market research showed us that younger Canadians and women were very very unlikely to ever buy a magazine called The Beaver no matter what it's about." Via.

3. For all us KOTOR fans, it looks like there will son be a Bastila Shan action figure since she won a recent online poll. (Hopefully it'll come out better than the atrocious Darth Malak.)

*Previously: John Carter of Mars vintage video game.

*Buy KOTOR toys at eBay.

The Comedian Lego CubeDude (link roundup)

Watchmen's The Comedian as a Lego CubeDude by Larry Lars.

And a few more links:

1. A marine worm's secretions might be the key to creating a glue that will help bones knit back together.

2. Zeppy O’Geen and other names from the 2010 lacrosse all-name team.

3. A sad statement on the intelligence of Redskins fans: "The Washington Redskins make more money than any other professional sports franchise in the United States."

*Previously: The Washington Redskins are selling beer in the bathrooms now?

*Buy NFL bobbleheads at eBay.

Ancient Temples (link roundup)

Phrygian Tomb of Midas and rock tombs of Caria - - photographs of cliff-carved cave temples from ancient Greece and Turkey by Takeo Kamiya. Bldg Blog has context.

And a few more links:

1. A suggestion that the majority people who line up for Black Friday deals are simply planning on reselling the items.

2. Photos of a squirrel attacking a dog to protect its child.

3. Los Angeles police are looking for a serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper."

*Previously: Cliff House.

*Buy serial killer trading cards at Amazon.

Kill Zombie Teletubbies (link roundup)

Left 4 Teletubbies: Even the Teletubbies Have Been Infected.

And a few more links:

1. Haven't listened to it yet, but here's a new podcast interview of China Mieville.

2. Gratuitous Space Battles is possibly the best video game name ever.

3. Unicorn with a lightsaber horn.

*Previously: If the Teletubbies dressed like condoms, they'd look like this.

*Don't buy Teletubbies at eBay.

Steampowered Bicycle (link roundup)

Steampunk motorcycle by Richard Peter Han. See also Young Lady's Illustrated Primer fan art.

And a few more links:

1. Too graphic to post, Amnesty International ads featuring abused Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood (the ads are about domestic violence).

2. Dave Cousens now has a webstore.

3. Here's a name: SunShine MacWane (good artist, too).

*Previously: Twisted versions of Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland.

*Buy Snow White toys at eBay.

Mini Coupé Concept Car (link roundup)

Mini Coupé Concept Car. Lots more photos here. Via these sites.

And a few more links:

1. Poketo plus Nike Madsteez’s Stinkween shoes, with very limited edition metal monster figure.

2. Michael Jackson as snake-tongued monster.

3. I hope you weren't planning on visiting Scum Lake in Canada any time soon. Via.

*Previously: Concept art for a futuristic version of 20K Leagues Under the Sea.

*Buy toy concept cars at eBay.

Dark Knight Tumbler Go Kart (link roundup)

Dark Knight Tumbler Go Kart. Here's the official site. And you'll find plans to make your own on sale at eBay. Via.

And a few more links:

1. A stuntman broke his neck and died during a rehearsal of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's the third Walt Disney World employee death in the last seven weeks. Via.

2. Brainscans used as Rorschach tests.

3. Cool name: Magico Nakamura.

*Previously: Lego Tumbler.

*Buy Batmobiles at eBay.

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, interviewed in a bathtub (link roundup)

Neil Gaiman (fully dressed) and Amanda Palmer (less clothed), interviewed in a bathtub.

And a few more links:

1. That cold case that recently led to LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus being arrested for the murder of Sherri Rae Rasmussen she allegedly committed in 1986? Yeah, the victim's family begged the police to investigate Lazarus back when the crime was committed.

2. Strange Wizard of Oz concept art.

3. The Dog Whisperer's wife is named "Ilusion."

4. Cancer patient was held for several hours by United States immigration officials when they could not detect his fingerprints -- which had apparently disappeared because he was taking the drug, capecitabine, which is commonly used to treat cancer.

*Previously: Funny homemade optical illusion ad for Wonderbra.

*Buy Wizard of Oz toys at eBay.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon's motorcycle helmet (link roundup)

The Creature from the Black Lagoon's motorcycle helmet by Filippo Cazzaniga for Yamaha.

And a few more links:

1. How to make an Ewok sock puppet.

2. "Comming Soon."

3. Coca-Cola uses an artificial sweetener called "Trivia" and PepsiCo has on called "PureVia." Seriously?

UPDATE: It's "Truvia" and you can learn more about the sweetener in the comments.

4. Entertainment Earth has the Eric Tan Up posters on sale (expensive).

*Previously: Helmet Girls cosplay.

*Buy historical helmets at eBay.

Plush Jawas with light-up eyes (link roundup)

Plush Jawas with light-up eyes by Jayson Thiessen, who also created this cat paper toy:



Which you can download here.

And a few more links:

1. Jenny Davidson wrote a book called The Explosionist.

2. And speaking of names, here's a list of bad names for super heroes. My favorite is "The Merchant of Tennis." Via.

3. The latest blurring between advertising and editorial content as HBO misleadingly claims its new blog promoting vampire show True Blood is the newest Gawker media blog.

4. The company that won the Crispin Porter + Bogusky intern auction is Brammo, which makes electric motorcycles. Winning bid was $17,655.

*Previously: Lego Felix the Cat.

*Buy plush Jawas at eBay.

Lego Robot (link roundup)

Lego robot with jetpack and gun arm by Dan Rubin. Check out his Lego Alien Fleet Lictor's Ship. Via.

And a few more links:

1. Invasion of paper mache pandas. Via these sites.

2. Magnus Larsson wants to build a 6,000km-long wall of artificially solidified sandstone across the Sahara Desert. The wall would be created by injecting bacillus pasteurii, a "microorganism, readily available in marshes and wetlands, [that] solidifies loose sand into sandstone." Concept art here.

3. Barkevious Mingo beat out Iris Macadangdang in the name of the year contest.

4. Floating city sculpture.

*Previously: The Most Pretentious Baby Name Consultant Contest 2007.

*Buy Lego minifigs at eBay.

G-Force/G-Force mashup (link roundup)

Apparently the makers of Disney's upcoming G-Force are tired of people mistaking their movie for a Battle of the Planets remake.

And a few more links:

1. Video review of the Art of Monsters vs. Aliens book.

2. Things are so bad Blockbuster is only open for one hour a day now. Photo link.

3. Two different websites that will teach you how to pronounce names. Via.

4. Kris Alexander took a look at the barren hills of North Korea and concluded there was zero chance of war.

*Previously: G-Force Simpsonized.

*Buy Gatchaman toys at eBay.

Fishing lure looks just like Pac-Man (link roundup)

"The Stormy Petrel" fishing lure looks just like Pac-Man. Up for bid here. Via these sites.

And a few more links:

1. The Mycocepurus smithii species of ants reproduces by cloning and also maintains a garden of fungus. Via.

2. Driving instructor found guilty of DUI. Seems like it's a unique case - - he was not the driver. Via.

3. Apparently, Coca-Cola came up with the name "Tab" for its first diet drink by using a computer "programmed to disgorge every four-letter combination containing a vowel. Out came 250,000 combinations, and 600 names were examined as possibilities. But only 24, a mere four percent, had no conflict with existing trademarks. (One of them, Tabb, was shortened to Tab.)" Via.

4. There's now a Muji online store for the USA.

*Previously: Video of an anteater drinking wine.

*Buy vintage computers at eBay.

Fake names that made it on TV (link roundup)

A roundup of fake names that made it on TV. Via.

And a few more links:

1. Clever art tip - - the frame and mat can easily be the most expensive part of the project, so try to find a well-priced one before you start your project. For example, this frame screams Sith Lord sketch.

2. A vintage speech by Bill Gates as a commando in Doom - - it's promoting Windows 95 as a game platform. (I'm not clear on why he's wearing a trench coat.) By the way, the video is at Rene Walter's Nerdcore. I consider Rene to be my blogging doppelganger because most days I could happily repost everything he finds.

3. Supposedly, Joseph Biden's daughter was caught on film snorting cocaine and she was set up by a friend who is shopping the video. I've never done drugs and I hardly drink, but come on, it's time to legalize the stuff.

4. 1Up is hosting a Brutal Legend minisite.

*Previously: Bono's real name is...

*Buy the Doom board game at eBay.

Company/Website-name generating machine

Need a name for your company or website? Try Breadline Design's instant name-generating machine. Via.

*Previously: Swedish furniture name generator.

*Buy "Bertha Venation: And Hundreds of Other Funny Names of Real People" at Amazon.