Wizard Rock

Thanks (?) to Mac, I've now been exposed to the phenomenon that is Harry Potter fan bands - otherwise known as Wizard Rock. Mac is apparently a big fan of Draco and the Malfoys, so in his honor here's a link to their song "My Dad Is Rich (and your dad's dead)."

Paper Robots

Make your very own Optimus Prime (recomended for those with a very low marginal productivity of labor). For extra excitement, type "paper robots" into Google image search.

Credit to Devi.

Twelve Hour Lantern

Belated credit to Todd (who is now roughly two months overdue in revealing his own blog) for pointing out this site.

Is popcorn tastier in Morse code?

Art School Confidential fans should appreciate this catch from Klevay: "One of the post [sic] popular exhibits is Katchadourian's Talking Popcorn, a display of words translated from Morse code created by popping corn and capturing the sound with a microphone.

"'In my case, you can actually eat the words,' Katchadourian said, as she handed out small bags of fresh popcorn. 'It's a terrific show; we don't often connect language and visual art in the way that this show managed to do.'"

Pickles, The Movie

The Sneeze expands into the world of film.

Top 50 Pop Star Crazies

42. Little Richard
Invent rock & roll? Check. Watch people fondle your girlfriend? Check
Case History: By age 14, Richard Penniman had been beaten by his father for effeminacy and sexually abused. On tour, Richard enjoyed watching his girlfriends being serviced by other musicians — including Buddy Holly, who Richard says was hung like a stallion. Cocaine abuse (and arrests in public bathrooms) followed. Richard wasted away to 115 pounds, became nearly schizophrenic and was almost shot over a coke deal.
Crazy Moment: Once renounced rock & roll after a sign from God. (It was actually Sputnik flying over Australia.)
He's So Crazy: "I had to scream like a white lady!"

When Little Richard doesn't even make the top ten on the list, you know it's gonna be good.

Dodgeball dispute update

Via the New York Times: "Once upon a time in Ohio, he tasted another kind of stardom, and it was sweet. He was a national amateur dodgeball champion. 'Dodgeball was my life,' he said. 'You remember it being so fun and so simple. Yet so barbaric.'

"Back in Bexley, Ohio, in his early 20s, he was something of a pied piper of dodgeball. He was the force behind the Bexley Reckers, consisting of himself, two of his five brothers and assorted volunteers and draftees with a fan base large enough to get up a caravan of at least five cars.

"In 2000 and 2001, they went to the national dodgeball championships in the Chicago area and cleaned up.

"Perhaps it was not nearly so rough as the treacherous world of Hollywood, which Mr. Price says stole his movie idea and his screwball experiences as a dodgeball warrior. A federal judge this month set the stage for a classic show-business battle when she said a suit by Mr. Price and a writing partner could go to trial.

"The suit claims that the script of the 2004 hit movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, was so similar to one they wrote that it must have been copied. The judge, Shira A. Scheindlin of United States District Court in Manhattan, said some of the humor and other details were so similar that a jury should decide whether a copyright foul had been committed. She refused a motion to dismiss the suit filed by 20th Century Fox, which distributed the movie."

Carbon neutral cat flatulence

Via DoL: "Governments in rich nations are spending billions of dollars to buy a clearer conscience over climate change. Are they getting their money's worth?

"Enlightened individuals, those who stay awake at nights wondering what they can do to prevent the polar caps from melting, at least have a growing menu of choices.

"Sydney-based Easy Being Green says it will mitigate your cat's flatulent contribution to global warming for A$8 ($6). The same company could also make your granny 'carbon-neutral' at A$10 a year, according to a report in the Australian newspaper last weekend."

Dr. Pepper and peanuts

Following up on our coverage of hot Dr. Pepper, thanks to a friendly Southerner PoF can now share a cherished culinary delicacy: putting peanuts in that sweet bubbly nectar. If peanuts don't seem like they'll provide you with enough protein, though, you can always give Dr. Pepper beef jerky a try.

No one wants to look at ugly people

Via The Presurfer: "Remember the Dove Evolution of Beauty film?
Here's the Slob Evolution film."

How To Tell If You’re Watching A Bad Nicolas Cage Movie

Via Cruel: "In any given year 300 or so movies will be released into theaters. And on average, roughly 47 of them will star Nicolas Cage. With so many kooky, Cage-alicious movies to choose from it can be hard to tell which are worth your time and which would be best viewed on TNT, muted, and in the background while you work on your computer, many, many years after its release. So, if you’re watching a Nicolas Cage movie or considering watching a Nicolas Cage movie, and can’t quite decide if it’s bad or not, these 21 sure-fire red flags will make your decision for you."

Dig in

Via Neatorama: "The body is sculpted out of food - to start, you cut out a piece of skin (it even bleeds) and eat the interior."

Rogan v. Mencia

Joe Rogan VS Carlos Mencia



Read PoF's earlier coverage here.

Incidentally, Rogan is entertaining, but clearly nuts as his recent PennFreeFM debate where he argued against the moon landing can attest.

Bus Ball

Via The New Shelton Wet/Dry: ZZ Top guitarist Reverend Willie G apparently does not spend his free time crafting "rolling art creations." That's Lars-Erik Fisk's job.

Snow day craft idea

Versatile Vienna sausages aren't just for munching anymore, thanks to these step-by-step instructions for making some processed meat memories with the kids.

The inspiration of the kohlrabi

Did someone mention root vegetables? While its edible bulb technically forms above ground, the proud kohlrabi takes a back seat to no turnip when it comes to artistic inspiration:


Kohlrabi, Manfred W. Juergens


Kohlrabi, Mark Dickerhof


Kohlrabi, Susan Hagen


Kohlrabi, Renate Remy


Low Gravity Kohlrabi, Bruce Brodie

Brits tour Alabama

Via M&C: "The Top Gear gang drive through the Deep South with slogans painted on their cars designed to incite trouble. And do they ever find it."

Their conclusion: "In certain parts of America now, people have started to mate with vegetables."

Find out if they're telling the truth

Via Monochrom: "KishKish Lie detector offers you a tool to detect the stress level of the person you communicate with over Skype. With the use of KishKish Lie detector you can monitor in real-time the stress level of the person you talked with. This allows you to gauge the level of stress and modify your questions in real time."

Embroidery portraits

Via Drawn: From the mind of Christa Maiwald comes the inspired combination of politicians and needlecraft.

Malaysia seeks alternative to business, elementary ed majors

Via Cruel: "Some Malaysian colleges may soon offer courses on how to keep public restrooms clean, the national news agency reported Thursday.

"The effort is meant to help Malaysia's public lavatories become as hygienic as those in countries such as Britain and Singapore, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Robert Lau was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

"'Clean toilets cannot merely be judged by the eyes,' Lau was quoted as saying. 'This matter also involves the use of cleaning equipment, soap, fragrances and proper tissues.'

"Courses would involve managing washrooms by the highest standards in design and sanitation technology, said Lau."

Musical Net Memes

Todd via former DC Comics editor Dan Raspler points out this site cataloging homemade videos of Super Mario theme song covers.

John, almost simultaneously, sent along this link to the classic Tunak Tunak Tun song which YouTube reveals has a number of fan tributes, including a pretty awesome zombie version.

And, because I believe in adding value whenever possible, I posted the video combining the two. This completes this week's PoF triple feature of "linking things together for no apparent reason whatsoever."

Twinkie Nexus

"In this fascinating exploration into the curious world of packaged foods, Twinkie, Deconstructed takes us from phosphate mines in Idaho to corn fields in Iowa, from gypsum mines in Oklahoma to oil fields in China, to demystify some of America’s most common processed food ingredients—where they come from, how they are made, how they are used—and why. Beginning at the source, Ettlinger reveals how each Twinkie ingredient goes through the process of being crushed, baked, fermented, refined, and/or reacted into a totally unrecognizable goo or powder with a strange name—all for the sake of creating a simple snack cake."

Looking for more Twinkie goodness? Check out the Twinkies Flavored Lip Balm vs. an actual Twinkie taste test or look up the recipe for Twinkie Burritos.

Sin Matrix

Credit: Indexed.

We're the Government -- and You're Not

Via DoL: The latest PSA from the U.S. Department of Homeland Propaganda.

The Lifeboat Foundation

"The Lifeboat Foundation is a nonprofit nongovernmental organization dedicated to encouraging scientific advancements while helping humanity survive existential risks and possible misuse of increasingly powerful technologies, including genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and robotics/AI, as we move towards a technological singularity.

"Lifeboat Foundation is pursuing a variety of options, including helping to accelerate the development of technologies to defend humanity, including new methods to combat viruses (such as RNA interference and new vaccine methods), effective nanotechnological defensive strategies, and even self-sustaining space colonies in case the other defensive strategies fail.

"We have some of the best minds on the planet working on programs to enable our survival. We invite you to join our cause!"

The Return of Billy Zabka

No More Kings' "Sweep the Leg" feat. the Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio, and an odd homage to the bounty hunter from Raising Arizona.

K-Fed apologizes to fast food workers

"Kevin Federline has something to say to those who are offended by an upcoming Super Bowl ad featuring him as a fast-food worker: He's 'really sorry.'

""The commercial is completely intended for me, making fun of myself and my own situation,' the aspiring rapper, 28, told Associated Press Television in a recent interview. 'It has nothing to do with anybody in the fast-food industry at all. So, you know, if we've offended anybody, I'm really sorry about that.'

"National Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Steven Anderson said last week that the ad amounts to a 'strong and direct insult to the 12.8 million Americans who work in the restaurant industry.'

"'It's a 'Saturday Night Live' skit on myself. ... Maybe it'll land me some good roles in Hollywood,' said Federline, whose debut rap album, 'Playing With Fire,' has had dismal sales since its release last fall."

Woeful Whedon News

Whedon Bails on Wonder Woman project.

via AICN

ATHF is the Bomb

Get one before the cease and desist letter arrives.

Lonely in Japan

Via Tokyo Times: "As Charles Bukowski once wrote, ‘you get so alone at times that it just makes sense’. A sentiment that very often rings true, especially in a huge city like Tokyo.

"But not always."

Sell your soul for a DVD

Via M&C: "The Rational Response Squad is giving away 1001 DVDs of The God Who Wasn't There, the hit documentary that the Los Angeles Times calls 'provocative -- to put it mildly.'"

"There's only one catch: We want your soul.

"It's simple. You record a short message damning yourself to Hell, you upload it to YouTube, and then the Rational Response Squad will send you a free The God Who Wasn't There DVD. It's that easy.

"We're only giving away 1001 DVDs, so blaspheme now."