A fantastical Victorian device enabling Londoners to see America is coming to life, created by artist Paul St George and produced by Artichoke, the creative group that brought The Sultan’s Elephant to London 2 years ago.

This way to New York - through a 40ft-long Telectroscope
by Robert Gore-Langton
The Times
May 3, 2008

The story goes that an eccentric Victorian engineer called Alexander Stanhope St George invented a mysterious device called a Telectroscope. This would allow its users to communicate visually over long distances via a network of tunnels – a kind of steam-age webcam.

St George’s fanciful project came to nought. But his great-grandson, the tricksy British artist Paul St George, says that he has discovered the existence of the Telectroscope in the family archives, and has set about completing it using modern technology.

His 21st-century Telectroscope will allow people at one end in London to see those at the other, in New York. It opens later this month, just by Tower Bridge. (more…)

From Torrey Meeks who cut the video:

Music courtesy of http://www.myspace.com/revolucian. Video conceptualized by my gorgeous wife, the razor-sharp journalist and pop culture junkie who constantly makes me smile, Ashley ‘Danger’ Meeks.

In case you’d like to see the original rant this remix is based on, check it out from OffbeatEarth here:

thanks Erin

Red State Update’s Jackie Broyles and Dunlap have some advice for the Democrats:

thanks Don

Submitted by Steve Lambert:

Zachary Feinstein has declared for the NBA draft
He has no actual basketball experience!

From Zach’s Web site:

The short story is that I, Zachary Feinstein, have declared for the 2008 NBA Draft. As a 5′8″ 130 pound Caucasian, I am the perfect candidate for professional basketball. Also, I do not play basketball.

You see, I am not currently on my college’s basketball team (Division 3 just for reference) nor did I try out to be. I was at no point on my high school’s basketball team nor did I try out to be. I was at no point on my middle school’s basketball team nor did I try out to be. The last time I was on a basketball team was before Bill Clinton got caught with his pants down.

So there you have it, I, Zach Feinstein, am in the 2008 NBA Draft.

If you do not believe me, go to: draftexpress.com or nbadraft.net for proof (under “unknown players”).

Support Zach Feinstein in Getting Drafted into the NBA
Read through my site, and let’s create a campaign to get the worst player ever to declare for the NBA Draft into the NBA.

I would like to thank everyone for their support, and I will be updating this site periodically.

thanks Michael

Submitted by Marcy LaViollette:

One of the most difficult things for a DIY label to do is to create an engaging music video on a shoestring budget. The Get Out Clause has found a novel way around this problem using a combination of Manchester’s state of the art CCTV system and a little knowledge of the Freedom of Information & Data Protection Act. The Get Out Clause set up at various locations around Manchester city centre where they knew there would be CCTV coverage and performed their new signal Paper. The footage was then requested under the Freedom of Information & Data Protection Acts and a video was cut together in their home studio.

Read more about it on here on Telegraph.co.uk.

Presented on YouTube by Anti.com. Stick with this to the very end…

thanks Dino

Update submitted by Marcy LaViollette, May 8, 2008 (see original post below):

This stencil art festival has some pretty amazing artistry. This is my favorite:

Many other wonderful images to check out:

From ArtDaily.org:

Tunnel becomes Banksy art exhibit
BBC News
May 2, 2008

A disused road tunnel in south London has been turned into a giant exhibition space by graffiti artist Banksy.

Murals in the Bristol artist’s famous stencil style appear with work by 29 other artists in a half-mile stretch of the tunnel in Leake Street, Waterloo.

Images of Madonna kissing Britney Spears and a hoodie appear alongside installations of crashed cars. (more…)

PETA Offers $1 Million Reward to First to Make In Vitro Meat

Scientists around the world are researching or seeking the funds to research ways to produce meat in the laboratory—without killing any animals. In vitro meat production would use animal stem cells that would be placed in a medium to grow and reproduce. The result would mimic flesh and could be cooked and eaten. Some promising steps have been made toward this technology, but we’re still several years away from having in vitro meat be available to the general public.

PETA is now stepping in and offering a $1 million reward to the first scientist to produce and bring to market in vitro meat.

Why is PETA supporting this new technology? Read more here.

Of course, humans don’t need to eat meat at all—vegetarians are less likely to get heart disease, diabetes, or various types of cancer or become obese than meat-eaters are—and a terrific array of vegetarian mock meats already exist. But as many people continue to refuse to kick their meat addictions, PETA is willing to help them gain access to flesh that doesn’t cause suffering and death.

Contest Details

PETA is offering a $1 million prize to the contest participant able to make the first in vitro chicken meat and sell it to the public by June 30, 2012. The contestant must do both of the following: (more…)

thanks Nick

Gas price protest singer arrested at Ind. convenience store
1010WINS
May 6, 2008

Valparaiso, Ind. (AP) — A man with a guitar and a megaphone climbed atop a convenience store roof to serenade commuters with his musical protest of high gasoline prices - until police halted the impromptu concert.

Once atop the roof of the Family Express store Monday, and above pumps dispensing fuel at $3.78 per gallon, Jay Weinberg, 29, performed his ditty called “Price Gouge’n.”

Dozens of supporters chanted: “I can’t afford it. I’m banging on my dashboard. I can’t believe they think I’m a fool.”

The performance lasted about 15 minutes before three police officers arrived and arrested Weinberg on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct. Police said he was cooperative.

The crowd, made up of Weinberg’s friends and other people who just happened to be pumping gas, continued singing. Then some, including his wife, Danielle, drove to Porter County Jail to bail him out.

Weinberg left the building around 7:30 p.m. and was greeted with cheers.

image: crazy-jokes.com, via BruceFong