Kudzu Jesus Spotted in Boylan

Kudzu Jesus Spotted in Boylan: "

It looks like Raleigh has its own permanent and three-dimensional example of pareidolia– the phenomena of seeing something significant (usually a face or religious icon) in an inanimate object. This one is visible from the Boylan Avenue Bridge.

The Kudzu Jesus blessing a passing freighter

While discussing the topic of local railroading history with Raleigh Boy and Craig on the Boylan Avenue Bridge, a patron from the Brewpub asked if we had noticed the figure with outstretched arms giving a blessing to passing trains. I was immediately interested, as the topic of pareidolia was the subject of a research paper and presentation I made for a class at State.

Chances are you’re familiar with perhaps one of the first examples, the ‘Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese’ which was auctioned off on eBay for $28,000. This and several other examples provided for some interesting reading, but I can’t say that I formed an opinion on either the people who found them or those who expressed a fervent interest in the artifact. I was and continue to be fascinated by the phenomena, however.

The example cited above is merely a coincidental growth formation on power lines, but can still be an interesting topic of conversation.

You can see more on the Pareidolia flickr group.

(Via Goodnight, Raleigh!.)

Memoirs Of A Gaysha

Memoirs Of A Gaysha: "

How amazing is this??????

Introducing…

The prettiest Gaysha in the world!!!!!

Yes, that is Perez!!!!

At the recommendation of Miz Dita Von Teese, on Wednesday we went to this portrait studio in Tokyo for our very own geisha photo shoot.

It was such an awesome experience!!!!

The whole process took a couple of hours, but it was sooooo worth it.

From the wig to the dress and the jacket and the umbrella, we were able to pick each piece and customize our ultimate Gaysha look. A makeup artist worked for over an hour to transform Perez into the prettiest Gaysha in the world.

We posted a couple of pics of our transformation HERE, and we loved every step of the way.

It was insanely fun, special and well worth it. The results are… to die for!!!!!

(Via Perez Hilton.)

Angelyne Graces Us With Her Presence

Angelyne Graces Us With Her Presence: "

Hollywood cult icon Angelyne was spotted out in her signature pink Corvette in Studio City.

Looking this good doesn't come easy, but Angelyne tries to work it with style and grace.

And is it just us, or is her face looking much younger than it did just a few months ago?

And color-coordinating with her car?

How Paris Hilton of her!

[Photo via JFX Images.]

(Via Perez Hilton.)

Joan Rivers And Her Look-A-Likes!!!

Joan Rivers And Her Look-A-Likes!!!: "

What do all of these ladies have in common?!

A giant set of balls!!!

Impersonators Melissa Rivers Jesse Volt, Gary Dee and Joe Posa pay tribute to the one and only Joan Rivers while promoting her show How'd You Get So Rich? in NYC on Tuesday.

We don't know who's wearing more makeup, Joan or her lady friends?!

Although, Miz Rivers definitely has the biggest bulge!!

[Image via Getty Images.]

(Via Perez Hilton.)

Harvard University Launches Fashion Line, Confuses Everyone

Harvard University Launches Fashion Line, Confuses Everyone: "

Now this is a first. Harvard (yes, that Harvard) is launching a contemporary menswear line called Harvard Yard. 

The university just signed a ten-year licensing deal with Wearwolf Group, a major clothing manufacturer.

The clothes won't say 'Harvard University' on them or don the schools colors except in the fine details (think crimson buttonholes) as they aren't geared toward their own students, but a larger contemporary male demographic.

The line, which will range in price from $165 for pants to $495 for sport coats, was inspired by photos of students lounging in Harvard Yard in the '60s. 

John Fowler, creative director for the line, says 'it's a style that has become current again and not just with the American consumer.  We think Harvard Yard will have global appeal.'

This is all fine and well, but there is one lingering question… why???

Image courtesy of Harvard Yard]

(Via Perez Hilton.)

Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons 2009

Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons 2009: "

329 balloons hot air balloons took place at the biennial Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons rally in Chamb..(more...)

(Via Likecool.)

SmartMeasure Measuring Cup Concept

SmartMeasure Measuring Cup Concept: "

SmartMeasure Measuring Cup Concept is a simple and brilliant idea. This digital measuring cup with a..(more...)

(Via Likecool.)

Fly-Goodbye Bug Vacuum Gun

Fly-Goodbye Bug Vacuum Gun: "

Suck them bugs! The Fly-Goodbye Bug Vacuum Gun($30) is a powerful weapon for bug, you just move the ..(more...)

(Via Likecool.)

Bag — by Hendrik Kerstens

Bag — by Hendrik Kerstens: "

'In Hendrik Kerstenss Bag, a portrait of his daughter as a 17th-century Dutch housemaid uses a plastic bag to mimic a lace hood.'

Below, Kerstens 'Napkin.'

Last but not least,

'Yankee.'

Theyre part of the show 'Dutch Seen: New York Rediscovered,' on view through September 13, 2009 at the Museum of the City of New York.

[via Martha Schwendener and the New York Times]

(Via bookofjoe.)

Digital DNA

Digital DNA: "

'Installed in 2005 at Lytton Plaza

in Palo Alto, California,

this
7-foot-tall egg is made

from welded steel,

polystyrene bead foam,

epoxy
resin fiberglass skin and,

for the outer shell,

recycled circuit
boards. 

Created by Brazilian artists 

Adriana Varella and 

Nilton Maltz,

the sculpture has

different phrases relating to technology

written in
multiple languages

on its surface.'

[via WomansDay.com, Wonderlane via Flickr and Milena]

(Via bookofjoe.)

Swearing Makes Pain More Tolerable

Swearing Makes Pain More Tolerable - Yahoo! News

Swearing Makes Pain More Tolerable


Buzz up!633 votes
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LiveScience Staff

LiveScience.com – Sun Jul 12, 10:10 am ET
That muttered curse word that reflexively comes out when you stub your toe could actually make it easier to bear the throbbing pain, a new study suggests.
Swearing is a common response to pain, but no previous research has connected the uttering of an expletive to the actual physical experience of pain.
"Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," said Richard Stephens of Keele University in England and one of the authors of the new study. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain."
Stephens and his fellow Keele researchers John Atkins and Andrew Kingston sought to test how swearing would affect an individual's tolerance to pain. Because swearing often has an exaggerating effect that can overstate the severity of pain, the team thought that swearing would lessen a person's tolerance.
As it turned out, the opposite seems to be true.
The researchers enlisted 64 undergraduate volunteers and had them submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice. The experiment was then repeated with the volunteer repeating a more common word that they would use to describe a table.
Contrary to what the researcher expected, the volunteers kept their hands submerged longer while repeating the swear word.
The researchers think that the increase in pain tolerance occurs because swearing triggers the body's natural "fight-or-flight" response. Stephens and his colleagues suggest that swearing may increase aggression (seen in accelerated heart rates), which downplays weakness to appear stronger or more macho.
"Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists," Stephens said.
The results of the study are detailed in the Aug. 5 issue of the journal NeuroReport.

(Via .)

Michel Gondry Limited Edition Toilet Paper — Notes from the throne

Michel Gondry Limited Edition Toilet Paper — 'Notes from the throne': "

'Michels notes, sketches, and other random thoughts printed in soy-based ink on luxurious two-ply sheets.'

Individually shrink-wrapped [the rolls, booboo — not each sheet].

The perfect gift for your (dare I say it?) favorite cineaste.

Get yours while supplies last.

$13.95.

(Via bookofjoe.)

Limited Edition Sleepy Bear Titus — by Patrick Ma

Limited Edition Sleepy Bear Titus — by Patrick Ma: "

3.5' long; lie down or stand up.

Serially numbered from 1 to 500.

Comes with a spork, combat knife and skull trophy.

$24.99.

(Via bookofjoe.)

Rice paddy murals of Japan — slow food for the eye

Rice paddy murals of Japan — slow food for the eye: "

Here's the back story, from the August 3, 2009 Telegraph.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Farmers create coloured rice 'murals' in Japan

 

The creations emerge in the late summer months after the rice plants have had a chance to grow.

But the farmers first sketch out their designs on computers so that they know exactly where the rice needs to be planted.

Hundreds of villagers and other volunteers then help plant the four different coloured varieties of rice in the vast fields.

The most famous work is grown in the village of Inakadate, 600 miles north of Toyko, where the tradition began in 1993.

 

Each year a different design is on show and more than 15,000 visitors travel to see the creation.

Images that have adorned the village fields include a Japanese Sengoku warrior on horseback, a giant frog and a butterfly.

Another famous paddy art venue is the city of Yonezawa, in northern
Japan, where this year's design shows fictional 16th-century samurai
warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife, Osen.

The farmers create the
murals by planting purple and yellow-leafed kodaimai rice along with
their local green-leafed tsugaru roman variety.

The rice is planted in May and the creations are at their best in September.

In Inakadate the art covers 15,000 square metres but anyone wanting to catch a glimpse has to climb the village's castle tower.

'Paddy art' was started in the village 16 years ago as a project to revitalise the local economy.

In the first nine years, the local farmers grew a simple design of a mountain every year.

But
in 2005, when the ideas began to attract more attention, an agreement
between landowners saw the creation of much bigger artworks.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

[via Milena]

(Via bookofjoe.)

Captain Jack and Doctor Who Kiss At Last! [Shameless Squee]

Captain Jack and Doctor Who Kiss At Last! [Shameless Squee]: "

Let's celebrate the impending weekend with some completely shameless fanwank, brought to you via this artfully-edited highlights video of Torchwood's John Barrowman at Comic-Con. First he kisses Doctor Who, and then former Doctor Who/Torchwood showrunner Russell T. Davies (who was reportedly seen running around drunk with balloons on his head earlier in the weekend). If you ever wondered what the sound of a million squees would be like, just listen to the audience reaction here.

via The Uniblog