Here Be Treasures

Coolest T-Shirt Ever?

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | humor | No Comments

Michael Jackson may be dead and buried (finally) but there are still four brothers left to carry on the legacy of the Jackson 5. Or rather, the Jackson 4.
(via dooce)

Birds on a Wire

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | animals, music | No Comments

Via Ze Frank, a composer sets a photo of birds on electric wires to music, literally.

Turn Around Bright Eyes

Friday, August 28th, 2009 | infographics | No Comments

Who would have thunk that the humble flow chart could be crafted to reflect the lyrics of perhaps the most iconic 80s song?

Every now and then I fall apart…

Wood That Be A Real Moon Rock Then?

Friday, August 28th, 2009 | yikes | No Comments

With the discovery by a Netherlands museum that a moon rock presented to them by the Apollo trio is nothing more than petrified wood, expect conspiracy theorists to start beating their cover-up pots and pans again.
It will be interesting to see if other museums around the world test their moon rocks.

Some Nude Music Videos

Monday, August 10th, 2009 | music | No Comments

… because.
Make the Girl Dance:




Toe Jam:




Matt and Kim:

Cambridge University Photo Competition

Monday, August 10th, 2009 | photography | No Comments

The Engineering Department at Cambridge University have a photography competition every year for students and staff. They take some amazing photos.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Monday, August 3rd, 2009 | crass | No Comments

Pax Bank, a staunchly Catholic bank, blushes today over revelations that it bought over €1m of shares in tobacco and arms companies, and a pharmacutical company which manufacturers the dreaded and forbidden Pill.

In gambling circles, this is known as hedging your bets.

What Does Your Health Insurer Want For You?

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 | shocking | No Comments

How strange would it be to learn that health insurance companies are large stockholders in tobacco companies?

The RFID Chip In Your Passport Is A Security Risk Foisted On You By Your Government

Friday, July 17th, 2009 | technology | No Comments

RFID tags are tiny chips that can be embedded in a range of items and are activated by an electro-magnetic field which prompts the tag to divulge its information. Quite successfully used to manage retailers’ stock levels, the governments of the western world thought it would be a great idea to use these devices in passports.

The Economist features a report by one of its correspondents who has investigated how the claimed benefits of RFID chips in passports stack up against the reality.

Slightly open passports could leave holders vulnerable to physical attack. Each country encrypts data in a characteristic way that terrorists could use to identify the nationality of the person carrying the chipped passport. To demonstrate the point, a firm called Flexilis used a partially opened American e-passport tucked in the pocket of a dummy to trigger an explosion as it passed a dustbin containing a small charge.

These days, it seems that whenever a government decides to implement a large and new technologically based system, they fail miserably. What’s worse is that the shortcomings of RFID tags in passports were publicised years before their incorporation.

C’etait Un Rendez-Vous

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 | video | No Comments

It’s 1976. A madman races through the streets of Paris to a rendez-vous.

This is the best thing I’ve seen all week.

(via kottke)

Michael Jackson Now Appearing Somewhere Near You

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 | shocking | No Comments

Yeah I know, you miss the king of pop, but, like the Christian messiah, he may be manifesting in everyday objects around the world right now! This family have noticed Michael Jackson’s image in a tree stump, and goodness knows when this post-mortem iconography will end, but expect first reports to come from the US, home of the free and the brave and the impressionable. Of course, this could be a spectral ploy by Michael to prevent his family from making even more money from his life.
Nothing is as profitable as death.

Taking Liberties

Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | politics | No Comments

Charles Nevin, writing for more intelligent life takes a long long long look at the surveillance society that the UK has become. I recommend everyone take half-an-hour out of their life and read it.

The Sony Walkman Is 30

Monday, June 29th, 2009 | technology | No Comments

13-year-old Scott Campbell reviews a 30-year-old Sony Walkman. Find out how it compares to the iPod?

Sketch Your Own Criminal

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 | cool tool | No Comments

If you’ve recently been mugged by some hooded youths, now thanks to the power of the FlashFace you can create your own sketch of the thug that offended your dignity. I’ve put together a sketch of the French Philosophy student that stepped on my toes at a party recently.

Are You Talking To The Right Ear?

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 | psychology | No Comments

For years I’ve been a little obsessed with the mono nature of phone calls. Hearing someone talk in just one ear is a completely different experience than talking via speakerphone or through headphones. I’ve always felt that using a single ear means that the information is processed initially by that side, and this means that you’re either talking to someone’s creative or logical side. I guess you could say that the feeling you have that they are only half-listening to you is true.

This BBC report expands on the nature of right ear vs left ear conversations.