Where the Wild Things Are . . . made of fruit (link roundup)

Where the Wild Things Are made out of fruit by Vanessa Dualib. She has an art book on sale here, and don't miss her potato octopus. Via.

And a few more links:

1. The Okami sequel for the DS is called Okamiden and features a chibi wolf.

2. The major New York newspapers have a policy of not crediting blogs for stories. Via.

3. The latest issue of GQ has an article criticizing Vladimir Putin, but Condé Nast has done its best to prevent the story from being show in in Russia. Gawker has posted the entire article and is well on its way to posting a full Russian translation.

4. Here's Gawker's Nick Denton talking about the decision and whether he's worried GQ will sue him for copyright violation.

*Previously: Where the Wild Things Are paper toy.

*Buy Where the Wild Things Are toys at eBay.

Those poor, frightened journalists

It's a scary world we live in, as we watch the internet render one profession after another outdated. (I'm personally looking down the barrel of a 15% "temporary" pay cut.) And as professional journalists too late realize their jobs can be eliminated at any moment, they're all using their soapboxes, while they still have them, to desperately try to convince us that they're still valuable. (Apparently, complaining about blogs is easier work than investigating and reporting valuable news).

Today's loudest bleating came from Malcolm Gladwell, who decided to criticize Google's investment in Youtube and Chris Anderson's new book Free. Silly. Last time I checked, Google was raking it in. If they're willing to take a loss, for the time being on Youtube, then so be it. And Anderson's book simply states the obvious. We don't want to pay for things we can get for free, and thanks to the internet, we no longer have to pay for a bunch of the stuff we used to. So, if you want to make money selling something, whether it's information, music, or anything else, you're going to have to make sure it's valuable.

Professional reporters like Gladwell want to convince everyone that news gathering is somehow unique and should be protected. But there's nothing special about news gathering. There will be more news in the future. Not less. Every one of us will report on the news and share it with our smartphones and blogging platform of the day. The truly talented writers, or cleverest investigators, or most connected reporters will be able to support themselves as "professional" journalists, while the vast majority of English majors will find that their skill at rewriting canned stories from lobbyists is simply not very valuable.

Gladwell himself makes this point in his article, although he professes at least to not understand it. He writes:

And there’s plenty of other information out there that has chosen to run in the opposite direction from Free. Broadcast television—the original practitioner of Free—is struggling. But premium cable, with its stiff monthly charges for specialty content, is doing just fine.

Exactly. But HBO doesn't have subscribers because it charges. HBO has subscribers because it provides content that is so special people will pay for it.

People worried about protecting the "news" should focus their efforts on providing defamation protection for citizen journalists, whether through new laws or the creation of legal defense funds. After all, it's news reporting that needs protection, not newspapers.

Highly desirable cigarette packaging (link roundup)

DJ Stout designed some cigarette packaging that would theoretically comply with new government regulations. But wouldn't you be more likely to buy cigarettes if the packaging looked this good?

And a few more links:

1. Life for divorced X-Men.

2. Stilt walker in a Jack Skellington costume (I think).

3. 40 newspapers, "including, after a personal appeal, al-Jazeera," kept the kidnapping of reporter David Rhode a secret for months.

4. Kidrobot teases it's late July releases.

*Previously: It's illegal for this gay couple to get a divorce.

*Buy Nightmare Before Christmas toys at eBay.

Clever signs on tip jars (link roundup)

Go here for a gallery of clever signs on tip jars. Although I liked this one better when I thought it said, "Yer change, leave it with us."

And a few more links:

1. Read what happened when Israeli newspaper Haaretz "sent most of his staff reporters home and sent 31 of Israel’s finest authors and poets to cover the day’s news." Via these sites.

2. Lost's Hurley as a Klingon.

3. "A religious ruling permits ultra-orthodox Jews to operate their mobile phones on the Sabbath and religious holidays with their teeth." Via Fark where the first few comments about sum it up.

4. World's oldest sunglasses, perhaps. Via.

*Previously: Instant anonymity with Black Bars sunglasses.

*Buy Dharma Initiative merchandise at eBay.

Plush mandrake (link roundup)

Plush Mandrake with glow-in-the-dark eyes by Caroline Gaedechens on sale at Etsy.

And a few more links:

1. Some indication that "Life is fair. The children of the rich do better because talent breeds talent, and under capitalism, the cream rises to the top." Via.

2. Dharma Initiative desktop wallpaper. Via.

3. Amidst these calls to provide government subsidies to save newspapers, it's a good time to remember that reporters did a terrible job warning of the coming economic catastrophe, perhaps in no small part because they were too busy spending like mad.

4. A Kaiser hospital was fined $250,000 after it was discovered 23 unauthorized workers accessed the octomom's hospital files.

*Previously: Dharma Initiative advertising.

*Buy Dharma Initiative collectibles at eBay.

Dork Yearbook (link roundup)

Finally got around to mentioning Dork Yearbook, where people submit embarrassing photos of themselves. Bookmark it for the next time you're feeling down. Here's the direct link to little miss She-Ra.

And a few more links:

1. Jason Kottke calls out BoingBoing's and Gawker media's style of blogging for going past fair use to theft. A very simple test for fair use in the internet age is are you giving people a reason to leave your site and go visit wherever you took the intellectual property.

2. San Francisco's Giants current ad campaign includes banners that say, "Let's play with balls of fire."

3. How to use social engineering to commit identity theft on Facebook and other social networking sites. As people expose more and more about themselves online, it becomes easier and easier to impersonate them. Via.

4. Funniest story about the recent Somali pirate hostage drama.

*Previously: Steven Seagal is Cockpuncher.

*Buy Masters of the Universe Toys at eBay.

I swear this is the last time I'll post one of these parodies

"Lash out and cover up" by Rex Crowle.

Found while I was skimming Twitter for news on the Spector verdict (second degree murder) since the local news program in Los Angeles was instead showing footage of some woman in Germany who fell into a polar bear exhibit



and teasing a sale of Michael Jackson's property.

*Previously: Zoo sign says (and illustrates the concept), "If you sit on the fence you will fall in."

*Buy polar bear toys at eBay.

Stephen Colbert hilariously mocks Twitter (link roundup)

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Biz Stone
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

Colbert's at his best in this interview of Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. But the most uncomfortable moment is when Colbert simply lets Stone explain that Twitter is building "value" instead of "profit." Via.

And a few more links:

1. Relatedly, Mark Cuban says Twitter is for old people. I wonder if that's true.

2. Photoshop Disasters points out that new glamour photo of Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian strongly indicates that Reggie Bush is a vampire.

3. Proposed law in Massachusetts will make it illegal for consenting, competent adult 60 years old and over to pose for nude photos.

4. Boston Globe editor says good journalism is "shockingly expensive" and uses as an example the fact that in 2002, the Globe spent more than $1 million to investigate and report on sexual abuse of children by priests. Anybody here think the media's ability to ferret out that scandal decades (centuries?) after it started represents a triumph of the old way of reporting news? Via.

*Previously: How to announce you're on Twitter.

*Buy vampire posters at eBay.

Leonidas Sackboy amigurumi (link roundup)

Leonidas Sackboy amigurumi by Maggie Wang, who takes commissions.

And a few more links:

1. The Fast and Furious would be way more interesting if it was based on drift racing in Saudi Arabia. Here's a taste of Robert Worth's fascinating article:

Drifting, which tends to attract poorer, more marginal men, has also been an unlikely nexus between homosexuality, crime and jihadism since it emerged 30 years ago. Homoerotic desire is a constant theme in Saudi songs and poems about drifting, and accomplished drifters are said to have their pick of the prettiest boys among the spectators.

Via.

2. "60 Minutes was, and is, a competitive and combative place . . . . It’s a place where grudges are held for a long time. I remember Ed Bradley, not long before he died, talking about how Mike Wallace had screwed him over on a couple of stories." Read more.

3. Portland Trailblazer Channing Frye points out some weaknesses in the plot of Twilight. And here's another hilarious Twilight review.

4. NY Knick's coach Mike D'Antoni was Kobe Bryant's idol when he was a kid.

*Previously: Leonidas makes a dinner reservation.

*Buy plush vampires at eBay.

Redesigned video game covers (link roundup)

Lots of classy redesigned video game covers on display at Something Awful.

And a few more links:

1. Homemade plush Pikachu.

2. Here's what the first pressurized space suit looked like.

3. Tiny homemade Totoro.

4. Supposedly, it costs more than $10 to produce and deliver each copy of the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle. Via.

*Previously: Obama and McCain have a Pokemon battle.

*Buy Totoro toys at eBay.

Restaurant staff wears t-shirts featuring bad reviews (link roundup)

The staff at Pizzeria Delfina in San Francisco wears t-shirts featuring negative reviews posted at Yelp. Via these sites.

And a few more links:

1. The claim that chess moves are subject to copyright.

2. Supposedly, the Arizona Cardinals have refused to pay the Super Bowl bonus to employees who left the team after the game.

3. Some suggestions on how to evaluate your website's value.

4. Oh yeah, we'll miss the old newspaper companies. Former New York Times Reporter reminisces about all the times he wanted to write about the indications that Mike Piazza was using steroids, but was prevented from doing so by his editor.

*Previously: Copyright prevented Peter Pan from being the Adversary in Fables.

*Learn how to make money online with these books at Amazon.

Plush sweater monster (link roundup)

One of several plush sweater monsters on display here.

1. Animated gif of a princess riding a giant cat.

2. And a creepy animated gif of...a photo shoot?

3. U.S. Armed Forces Radio has changed dramatically in recent years. Less talk radio and country music. More hip hop.

4. Video of a (large) house being transported across a frozen lake. Via.

*Previously: Video of a lake full of jellyfish.

*Buy "Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book" at Amazon.

Sketch of "Rupture" by Doktor A. (link roundup)

Chris Rose received this sketch by Doktor A. of "Rupture" and "Runcible." A few of Doktor A's Rupture Dunnys are listed for around $150 at eBay.

1. Fascinating description of recent developments in EVE Online.

2. Owen Thomas on old media:

That's pretty much what Time did in its early years, when it was a fancy printed blog. Editors there subscribed to the New York Times and other papers, and wrote up a weekly digest, which Time's founder, Henry Luce, then sold for rather less money than one would pay at the newsstand for all their sources.

3. Prized college football recruit spurns Florida at the last minute to commit to the Tennessee WWE-style, and then the new Tennessee coach explicitly accuses Florida coach Urban Meyer of cheating.

4. The Kissing Mickey and Minnie Mouse toys I previously mentioned are on sale at Play-Asia for about $16 each.

*Previously: My Doktor A. sketch.

Spinning carnival wheel (link roundup)

Long exposure photo of a carnival wheel. High-res here.

And a few more links:

1. Nancy Dorsner is selling personalized robot and squid valentines.

2. Early designs for Team Fortress 2 scout.

3. Ethan Van Sciver draws Orson Welles (and Martian tripods).

4. Los Angeles Times eliminates local news section and 70 newsroom jobs. Meanwhile, South Bend Tribune reporters must write a daily memo explaining what they did during the day.

*Previously: Theme park devoted to construction vehicles.

*Buy War of the Worlds posters at eBay.

Fall Out Boy concert poster (link roundup)

Fall Out Boy concert poster by DKNG.

And a few more links:

1. Pretty photos of ice and snow in Oregon.

2. Top ten media blunders of 2008.

3. There's a purple squirrel running around England. Via.

4. Artist submissions in response to Warren Ellis' challenge to update the character: The Domino Lady.

*Previously: Someone put purple dye in Jeremy Shockey's glove.

*Buy concert posters at eBay.

Light Bridge (link roundup)

"Landings No. 2" by Branislav Kropilak. Via.

And a few more links:

1. David Horvath's mother was a toy designer. She worked at Mattel, but was largely required to keep her job a secret. "The only way [he] knew she still worked there was through catalogs and purple 'He-Man' errors she brought home." Learned from this interview.


2. Want to make money online? Michael Buckley makes over $100,000 on advertising and product placements in his his homemade YouTube videos. He spent "40 hours a week on YouTube for over a year" before making any money. Via.


3. New York Times published a letter from the mayor of Paris criticizing the prospect of making Caroline Kennedy a senator. Two problems. 1. It was a hoax and not written by the mayor. 2. Seriously, who cares what the mayor of Paris thinks? Shouldn't the NY Times be publishing the opinions of people who actually live in New York?


4. Car that looks like a giant boom box.

*Previously: Boom box monster sticker.

*Buy vinyl toys by David Horvath at eBay.

Deep Sea Diver Popeye (link roundup)

I've always been partial to toys with diving helmets. There's lots of photos of this Deep Sea Diver Popeye by Mezco here. And there's quite a few of the Mezco Popeye toys on sale at eBay.

Here's a few more links:

1. The year in media errors and corrections.

2. 2008 Plagiarism/Fabrication Round-Up.

3. Chuck Klosterman relates a charming anecdote about Michael Jordan trying to cheat at cards.

4. Spain's "copyright police" sneak into wedding to prove venue is playing music without paying royalties . . . ends up fined for invading the wedding couple's privacy. Via.

*Previously: Sarah Connor Chronicles poster was a total rip-off.

*Buy Popeye toys at eBay.

Godzilla cloud formation (link roundup)

Godzilla: The Clouds Honor Him found here.

Here's a few more links:

1. Working conditions at Amazon's fulfillment centers in Europe are punishing. Via.

2. Meet Swoopoo, a cross between eBay and slot machines, where an iPod Touch sells for $187.65, but costs bidders $938.25. Via.

3. The shadowy world of college basketball recruiting.

4. WSJ alleges feds rushed arrest of Blagojevich because Chicago Tribune refused to keep the story quiet. And then retracts the story.

*Previously: Dubai plans a city in the clouds.

*Buy Kaiju at eBay.

Incredible photos of celebrities with chest hair!

In some truly absurd spin, Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post fawns over a gossip/news website backed by Barry Diller, even though Diller "doesn't expect to make a dime on the venture for two to three years, if then." But that's ok, Diller says he is "quite surprised" at the sites "success" to date: "I thought we would take six months to get to the point where you could actually even say, 'Look at us.' I thought there would be a very long incubation period. What I discounted, stupidly, is that I'm dealing with a pitch-perfect editor who knew exactly what she was doing."

Coincidentally, I actually received a spam email from the site's PR person today. She thought I might be interested in their hot new article about chest hair. Seriously. Obviously, when I made up some parody lists in October, I didn't aim quite low enough.

Barry, you're doing it wrong. My site's profitable now. And I don't even need some absurd promotion from a reporter who is obviously hoping you'll pay him to blog about celebrities with chest hair when his newspaper lays him off.

*See also: Time magazine's Washington bureau chief hired to be Joe Biden press aide.

*Buy "Blogging for Dummies" at Amazon.

Scooter Geeks t-shirt

Scooter Geeks t-shirt by Jeremy Fish.


Here's a few random links:

1. The NBA slam dunk contest, three point shootout, and skills challenge will be shown in 3D at several movie theaters this February.


2. Clark Kent is the latest victim of newspaper layoffs.


3. I noted in September 2007 that Greg Packer was infamous for managing to get himself quoted in news articles as a regular joe. He's struck again, and this time the victim was the NY Post.


4. And I think it's the law, every blogger has to link to Markus Hofko's deconstructed Disney characters.

*Previously: Darth Vader on a scooter.

*Buy DC Direct action figures at eBay.