Patapon Converse (link roundup)

Converse All-Stars customized with Patapon by Kyozo Kicks.

And a few more links:

1. New game at Deadspin - - women ask for help locating deadbeat athletes.

2. Cellular phones may outnumber lightbulbs in Uganda. Via these sites.

3. January 3 episode of Iron Chef will include Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, and White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford, with a special guest appearance by Michelle Obama. You can see a photo of the group here. Via.

*Previously: Patapon specimen.

*Buy Obama toys at eBay.

Trash can modified to seem like it's bottomless (link roundup)

Garbage can modified to emit a sound like an object dropping into a very deep hole. Somehow it's an ad for Volkswagen. Because what car maker doesn't want their product associated with garbage? Via these sites.

And a few more links:

1. Information about David Letterman's alleged extortionist, and the woman at the center of the blackmail scheme.

2. If you're reading this, then you probably hit the lottery at least a little in terms of where you were born. Life in Guinea:

Most shocking to the wearied citizens in this predominantly Muslim nation, Captain Camara’s men raped scores of women in broad daylight, sexually assaulting many with rifles. For five days this week Conakry has seethed in sullen, silent anger, as many people remained missing following Monday’s demonstration, heavily armed soldiers patrolled, rumors flew about secret midnight burials by government security forces, and text-message and much cellphone traffic was blocked. Shops have remained shuttered and streets that are normally clogged have been empty.

There's more. Via.

3. Gallery of book covers for books written by Ed Wood. (NSFW.) Via.

*Previously: Trash truck of the future.

*Buy Plan 9 From Outer Space posters at eBay.

The more you say the less you say (link roundup)

"The more you say the less you say" by Frank Chimero.

And a few more links:

1. The world's deepest pub was in an abandoned gold mine at Gold Reef City in South Africa.

2. Chibi mecha paper toy.

3. Jar-Jar Binks encased in carbonite.

*Previously: Jar-Jar in carbonite sketch card.

*Buy carbonite toys at eBay.

Medusa: The African Sculpture of Enchantment

The book Medusa: The African Sculpture of Enchantment sounds great:

Just as the mythological Greek figure Medusa possessed the extraordinary power of turning onlookers into stone, the stunning African artifacts, masks, and statues showcased in this fascinating book were all created to cast spells on people. The function of these objects was not merely to symbolize a person or thing, but to incarnate a magical power that could act on people and the world during religious and medicinal rituals.

Mysterious and exceptionally crafted, these masks and sculptures are deciphered by African art specialist Boris Wastiau, who examines their symbolism and ritual usage, and explores the connection between the material and spiritual. Against a backdrop of allegories are more than 100 beautifully photographed works from the Museum of Ethnography in Geneva; Medusa is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to African art.

Currently 27% off at Amazon.

There's currently an exhibit by the same name at Les Musées de Genève, so I assume it's related to the book. Here's a few masks from the exhibit:




You can see more here.

*Previously: Plush beheaded Medusa.

*Buy African masks at eBay.

Aretha Franklin's hat, immortalized (link roundup)

Go here for a roundup of photoshopped images featuring Aretha Franklin's inauguration day hat.

And a few more links:

1. Octo-mom costume.

2. I get a lot of my world news from Thomas Barnett. For example, strains in the relationship between Medvedev and Putin. And a place that desperately needs the help of a real life Magnificent Seven.

3. The name Boba Fett isn't mentioned in The Empire Strikes Back. Just another indication that he's one of the alltime best designed characters, ever. More surprising Star Wars trivia here.

4. Tenacious Toys now has an affiliate program and is giving away a Dunny with purchases over $50.

*Previously: Crocheted octopus hat.

*Buy Boba Fett toys at eBay.

Order a personalized Garbage Pail Kid card (link roundup)

Brent Engstrom is selling custom Garbage Pail Kid cards.

And a few more links:

1. Albinos that have the misfortune of being born in Tanzania are often slaughtered, hacked to pieces, and sold to witch doctors, who use the body parts to make potions. Read more at The Economist. Via Tucker Stone, whose weekly summary of The Economist is one of my favorite things on the web.

2. 30% of books sold for Amazon's Kindle now cost more than $10. Makes sense. If someone's dumb enough to buy one of those things...

3. There's a corruption investigation going on England, concerning the House of Lords. Specifically, someone actually named Lord Snape. Via.

4. 14-year-old boy was arrested for impersonating a police officer. After he managed to spend a day on patrol with another officer. Via.

*Previously: Sarah Palin as a Garbage Pail Kid.

*Buy "Wacky Packages" the book at Amazon.

Girl loses both legs, has them replaced with basketball, hopes to compete...

Qian Hongyan was in a car accident when she was three years old, lost both of her legs amputated, moves around on a basketball, and hopes to swim in the 2012 Paralympics in London. Via.

1. Death penalty conviction might be overturned because sequestered jurors and sheriff's deputies assigned to watch them were allegedly having sex. One juror said, "Acts of sex and insubordination were scandalous and unspeakable . . . " Via.


2. Washington Post comments on the havoc being caused by the new US rules about toy testing. Via.


3. Samaritan tries to hand out gift cards in front of Walmart, Walmart orders him to leave. Target invites him to visit their store. Via.


4. There was a coup attempt in Guinea (SW Africa). Via.


*Previously: Walmart hilariously misunderstands custom cake order.

*Buy "Cat Miracles: Inspirational True Stories of Remarkable Felines" at Amazon.