Link roundup

1. One of Bill Simmons's readers had a great idea - - losing team in the NBA all-star game has to wear short shorts in next year's game.

2. Here's a great explanation for why Mubarak will be very reluctant to give up power - - he fears prosecution:

So, how can Mubarak protect himself if he eventually makes an escape from Cairo? He's taking the usual steps now. Start with his decision to install foreign intelligence chief and CIA confidant Omar Suleiman as vice president and constitutional successor. (Mubarak himself came to the presidency through this route; he had been Anwar Sadat's vice president.) This comes close to matching what in the Russian-speaking world is known as the "Putin option," a reference to the exit strategy adopted by a teetering Boris Yeltsin: Fearing possible retribution from opposition figures, Yeltsin opted to surrender power through a transitional period to a wily senior player in the intelligence community. In exchange, Yeltsin is said to have extracted a firm commitment from Putin that the full machinery of the Russian state would be mustered to protect him. There would be no criminal probes or inquiries, and no cooperation with foreigners who undertook the same. Yeltsin would be free to live his final days shuttling between Moscow and the French Riviera. Putin scrupulously kept his end of the bargain.

Via.

3. Here's Consumer Reports' picks for best frozen pizzas. (Presumably they'll have to reevaluate once the pizza/cookie dough combo is released.)

Link roundup

1. From a review of Brutal Legend:

Like a solitaire or Bejeweled, you have to ask, when you remove even the context of resolution from real life, what is there but burning time. Is there an achievement out there for 1 million games of Bejeweled played? No amount of lines of Tetris fulfill anything. They disappear as soon as they form (Russians have a grim sense of humor–in my private world of crazy, my assumption is that the desire to build something constantly being undermined is some sort of metaphor about a totalitarian state, or maybe anybody with an MBA).

2. Two-headed snowman.

3. Pitchfork's top 100 songs of 2010.

*Buy albums for $5 each at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. Katy Hargrove's sketchbook is 148 pages for $15.

2. Russia is building floating nuclear power stations to assist in its planned conquest of the Arctic. Via.

3. ESPN blowhard Woody Paige talks about the time he nearly committed suicide.

*Learn how to cope with mental illness with these books at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. "The bizarre, constant audio output of one particular mysterious Russian 'Numbers Station' has changed, for the first time in 20 years."

2. How to make a cardboard mask.

3. "British Spy Stabbed, Murdered, Stuffed in Bag, Left in Bathtub."

*Buy Spy vs. Spy: The Complete Casebook at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. Teri Hatcher posted unflattering photos of her wrinkly forehead to prove she hasn't had botox.

2. Paul Robertson posted a bunch of the adorable character designs he created for the Scott Pilgrim game.

3. Fark:

Proving he's the most awesome world leader ever, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin personally pilots a plane that's fighting the fires in Moscow.

4. Slate:

For the disastrous Russian heat wave has exposed a key failing of Russian society: The flow of information has stopped. There is not a single newspaper that even strives to be national in its coverage. The television is not only controlled by the Kremlin; it is made by the Kremlin for the Kremlin, and it is entirely unsuited to gathering or conveying actual information. Even the Russian blogosphere is bizarrely fragmented: Researchers who "mapped" it discovered that, unlike any other blogosphere in the world, it consists of many non-overlapping circles. People in different walks of life, different professions, and different parts of the country simply do not talk to one another. The same is true of political institutions: Since the Russian government effectively abolished representative democracy, canceling direct elections, there is no reason—and no real mechanism—for Moscow politicians to know what is going on in the vast country. Nor do governors need concern themselves with the lives and the disasters in their regions—they, too, are no longer elected but are appointed by the Kremlin.

As a result, no one knows where the fires are burning—unless they are burning right next to you. There is no map that would tell you whether your loved ones are safe or whether there is a fire along your planned travel route. Often, there is also no way to call for help.

*Buy propaganda posters at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. Red Dead Redemption pulp cover (featuring Karl Urban). Via.

2. Too good to verify - - photos of an abandoned brain laboratory in Moscow. Via.

3. Lego Neuschwanstein castle. Via.

*Buy Pulp Art: Original Cover Paintings for the Great American Pulp Magazines at Amazon.

How to get rid of a troublesome statue

Two nights ago, "authorities in Tbilisi, under the cover darkness, decided to remove the giant statue of Josif Djugashvili (a.k.a. Stalin) from downtown Gori, the former Soviet dictator’s hometown." Georgian authorities had long wanted to remove the 48-year-old statue, but feared angering Stalin enthusiasts. In fact, "during the August 2008 war, the Georgian military suggested to their Russian counterparts that, in their shelling of the city, they might train artillery on the Stalin statue." Via these sites.

Soviet Arts Poster (link roundup)

One of several Soviet posters on display in this gallery. The posters are from the book The Soviet Arts Poster: Theatre, Cinema Ballet, Circus: 1917-1987.

And a few more links:

1. Lucy Knisley takes a look at nerd girls.

2. Made to order bobbleheads.

3. Shades of 1984 as schools discourage kids from having a best friend.

*Buy bobbleheads at eBay.

Seize the sun

This would be a good poster for geoengineers plotting to create solar energy - - spotted in this gallery of groovy Russian posters from the 70's.

*Previously: Russian Star Wars posters.

*Buy Russian posters at eBay.

An explanation for that ring over Moscow

William Gibson offered an explanation for that swamp gas/weather anomaly that appeared over Moscow earlier this month:

That ominous ring of cloud over Moscow was God noticing the whale-penis upholstery in those diamond-crusted Russian SUVs.

That line is not an exaggeration mocking the nouveau riche. He was referring to this.

*Previously: Diagram of the delicious parts of the whale, perhaps?

*Buy spaceship posters at eBay.

V for Vendetta CubeDude by polywen (link roundup)

V for Vendetta Lego CubeDude by polywen.

And a few more links:

1. One response to the claim in SuperFreakonomics that geoengineering is the easiest way to solve global warming, is that if we can't globally agree on cutting emissions, how could we possibly agree on affirmative geoengineering?

2. But that argument begs the question - - if it's so easy, why not just do it without reaching global consensus? Not too farfetched when you hear that the mayor of Moscow "for just a few million dollars" intends to hire jets to spray chemicals on approaching clouds, causing them to dump snow onto suburbs instead of Moscow. Via.

3. CBS News says it has more salacious news (and photos) about Steve MacNair's love life. Via.

*Previously: ESPN spends the day replaying the assertion that McNair was "such a good family man."

*Buy V for Vendetta masks at eBay.

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.

Ridiculous football team photos (link roundup)

Deadsping has asked for ridiculous football team photos and has received some tremendous entries.

And a few more links:

1. So you know: Leon Trotsky was a really bad man.

2. Too good to verify: Robin Williams has been asked to play Britain's Got Talent singer Susan Boyle in a biopic about her life. Sounds like a perfect fit.

3. The US "has decided to keep an elite 600-troop counterinsurgency operation deployed in the Philippines." Via.

*Previously: Portraits with laser backgrounds.

*Buy NFL bobbleheads at eBay.

Colorful PS3 ad (link roundup)

Adhemas Batista's portfolio is full of colorful art, including this Playstation ad.

And a few more links:

1. Samoa is going to change from driving on the right, to driving on the left, in the hopes of easing vehicle imports from Australia and New Zealand. Yes, many are not thrilled about the change. Via.

2. Great line about Robert Novak - - "Novak didn't have a chip on his shoulder—he was all chip." Via.

3. What do you do for a living? Mark Saylor used to be an LA Times editor, and now does PR for the Georgian breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia (apparently being paid by Russia). Via.

*Previously: Russia's version of "Married With Children."

*Buy Soviet propaganda at eBay.

The Stoli airship conquers America

Russian constructivism stars in this "Airship" commercial for Stolichniya Blackberry-flavored vodka:













The ad is by Publicis.

One of the men who worked on the ad was Alistair Ross. Here's two more clever ads from his portfolio:


*Previously: Russia is sending a mini-submarine to explore the ocean floor below the North Pole and find evidence to support its claims to Arctic territory.

*Buy zeppelin toys at eBay.

Website devoted to Soviet-era arcade machines (link roundup)

Museum of Soviet arcade machines.

And a few more links:

1. Colorful dragon cake.

2. An Oompa-Loompa stars in the Crazy for Cult 3 poster.

3. I'm not really into Suckadelic's Land of the Lost figures, but Sucklord's comments about the project are pretty funny:

The Movie is gonna suck, and Will Ferrell is a total douche for making it into some stupid asshole comedy. For real. The show, as cheezy and flawed as it was, had some pretty serious Sci-fi themes going on. There was a real charm to the low budget effects and the hoakey over acting. There is for sure a lot of opportunity for comedy there. I'm not mad that it's a comedy. It just looks like a very lowbrow, typical Will Ferrell show that shows no respect for the integrity of the source material or it's fans. I hope I'm wrong, but that awful clip they showed on Conan the other night was not encouraging at all. Stupid potty humor. That's why these figures are coming out now. To act as a salve to the heartbroken fans that are being screwed by Mr. Ferrell and his bullshit, self-serving stinkeroo. Enjoy!

4. The Manhatta Project: New York as it looked before colonists.

*Previously: Soviet giant robot.

*Buy Soviet propaganda at eBay.

Death of The Endless as a Garbage Pail Kid (link roundup)

Brett Engstrom has drawn Sandman and the rest of The Endless as Garbage Pail Kids.

And a few more links:

1. Meet Russia’s "Miss Atom" 2009.

2. Tremendous book cover for vintage book The Day Khrushchev Panicked. There seem to be several on sale at Amazon, but I can't tell because there are no photos posted.

3. Popsicle shaped like a shirtless Daniel Craig.

4. SF Signal is giving away copies of The Strain.

*Previously: Russia's Miss Atom 2008.

*Buy Sandman toys at eBay.

Frank Zieglar draws himself as Dr. Manhattan (link roundup)

Frank Zieglar draws himself as Dr. Manhattan. Via.

And a few more links:

1. A photo of Pete Rose you can't unsee.

2. There's a minisite promoting the release of Ghostbusters on BluRay, including a contest. Worth a look to see how Harold Ramis looks now.

3. "Mysterious 'ice circles' in remote Siberian lake baffle scientists." Check out the photos. Via these sites.

4. One of my favorite political bloggers is "Big Tent Democrat." Here's a few examples why.

*Previously: Forget ice, cool your drink with Nordic Rocks.

*Buy Ghostbusters toys at eBay.

Hulking Lego Mech (link roundup)

My what a big cannon you have. Hulking Lego mech by Squieu. Via.

And a few more links:

1. Apparently it's cheaper to fly to Seattle, stay in a nice hotel, eat fancy dinners, and see two games, than to watch a Mariners/Yankees game from the best seats at Yankee stadium. Via.

2. Writing for USA Today, Rhonda Abrams explains why multi-level marketing is almost certainly something you should run away from. Her article can't get enough attention. Via.

3. Whaddya know, there's apparently a hidden hiking trail in Sherman Oaks.

4. OK, looks like I'm never going to review a book written by a Russian author.

*Previously: Russia's version of Married With Children.

*Buy Soviet propaganda at eBay.

Custom sneakers (link roundup)

Custom sneakers by Jeremy Asher Lynch for the Inked Souls show at Art Whino in Virginia.

And a few more links:

1. Major layoffs announced for McFarlane Toys.

2. "In the heart of the Karakum desert of Turkmenistan the Darvaza Gas Crater or The Burning Gates give off a glow that can be seen from miles away during the dark night. The large crater is a result of a Soviet gas exploration accident in the 1950’s." Photo gallery.

3. Illustrations of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World by Roy Krenkel.

4. That Time magazine promotion where you could personalize your own magazine? Yeah, it was really just a way for Lexus to send targeted ads . And the magazines people received didn't reflect the type of articles they'd requested. Via.

*Previously: Seven Wonders of the IT World.

*Buy McFarlane toys at eBay.