Art from stuff

Strangely enough in two different directions we heard about art made with a new and different medium. Both of these sites originally came to us through our northernmost New Jersey reader.

The first is amazing works of art made out of crayons. They are not drawn with crayon, mind you. But literally constructed out of crayons, set on their sides and stacked. It creates an almost pointilism type of effect. Read more about the artist, Christian Faur here.

The other is from a blog called, Boing Boing, which bills itself as "a directory of wonderful things." The folks over at Boing Boing have found an artist who makes amazing portraits out of old audio cassette tapes. You will hardly believe your eyes. The artists bills herself as Iri5. According to the blog Noise Addicts, she as an artist who, "specializes in using non traditional media such as old books, audio cassettes, playing cards, magazines, credit cards, basically whatever she can find."

Both of these artists are doing amazing work. Their creativity is an inspiration, in its willingness and success to explore and try new things.

Tremors

The were rumblings southeast of Los Angeles, Sunday and Monday, at a place called the Salton Sea. The California government's official website crows, "The Sea teems with fish. That is why some scientists have called the Salton Sea “California’s crown jewel of avian biodiversity” and perhaps the most productive fishery in the world." Impressive stuff, not everyone agrees.

The Los Angeles Times reported that approximately 150 miles from Los Angeles, and 110 miles northeast of San Diego, "in a 48-hour period starting Saturday morning, 42 quakes shook [an area] just south of Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea. The quakes ranged in magnitude from 0.5 to 3.3, with three larger than 3.0 hitting the area Saturday afternoon."

They talked to a UC San Diego geophysicist who said the area is dangerously interconnected with the legendary San Andreas fault. They report, "These quakes appear to be taking place at the hazy intersection of several recently mapped faults crossing beneath the Salton Sea and the the San Andreas fault."

They even-handedly offer both sides of the story. The UC San Diego guy with two first names, Graham Kent, is quoted offering the darker scenario, "The worry for scientists comes from a case in 1987, when a magnitude-6.2 earthquake on one of the crossing faults appeared to trigger a 6.6 quake 12 hours later on the Superstition Hills fault to the south. The San Andreas fault is north of these crossing faults and the geometry is similar." For the opposite side, to offer some reassurance, since honestly nobody can say for sure either way, they give the reader Kate Hutton, a seismologist at Caltech. She says, "The last time a swarm of this type occurred in the area was 2001, so they are not especially unusual. Every time you have a swarm of earthquakes, it does raise the chances of having a larger quake, but it doesn't raise it a huge number."

Just an fyi.

Fingers crossed, prayers said, geological long-run inevitability understood.

Read the whole story here.

Really?

The New York Times has a very disturbing follow-up to the Chris Brown-Rihanna domestic violence case. After the initial excoriation of Brown many youngsters, especially teenage women, have been able to not only forgive Brown, but reverse the blame on to the victim. What happened to the sisterhood? Where are the young feminists?

Some of the commentators in the Times blame hip-hop culture, Tricia Rose, who teaches African-American culture at Brown, said, “This is the air that hip-hop breathes. The celebration of a stereotype of an aggressive, physical, often misogynistic masculinity that often justifies resolving conflict through violence. It can’t be held responsible for this, but it can’t be ignored.”

Where are the hip-hop stars? Rather than rushing to Brown's side to declare their support, they had better take hard look at the critique of their music (and the accompanying implicit critique of their lifestyle and worldview.)

Meanwhile, the Times notes in a number of public forums from Facebook walls to school assemblies a disturbing number of young women either back Brown or blame Rihanna. All the more reason, the Clarion Content strongly urges you to talk to your kids about this incident, especially if they were fans of either Brown or Rihanna.

One hip-hop star who has got it right, sadly from personal experience of domestic violence is former Salt-n-Pepa rapper, Sandra 'Pepa' Denton, "At the end of the day, your life is on the line when you're dealing with abusive men, and your life is more important than any man. Don't rationalize or internalize abusive behavior because love doesn't hurt."

Radiohead blows off Miley!?!

The message seemed to be, 'We're too cool for all that...' It was strange, a rare discourtesy from one set of stars to another. Disney pop sensation Miley Cyrus wanted to meet her favorite band, Radiohead, who like Miley, just happened to be at the Grammy's in Los Angeles.

Surprisingly Radiohead big-timed her. They refused her entrance to their green room hangout because, allegedly, according to the band's spokespeople, "They don't really do that..." What don't they do? Meet adoring fans? Give other star entertainers the time of day? Treat people with respect?

Who knows what the self-flattering hipsters were thinking, but Miley was pissed. The next day on the radio Miley said, "Stinkin' Radiohead! I'm going to ruin them. I'm going to tell everyone," according to the UK version of Entertainment Weekly. Radiohead apparently feeling no guilt or doubt about the snub responded through a publicist, "When Miley grows up, she'll learn not to have such a sense of entitlement."

The Clarion Content's take, get a grip losers and give the teenie bopper five minutes of your time. It's like a star athlete refusing to sign an autograph for a young fan. Try to remember the flip side, you selfish buggers.

Special thanks to a local youthful reader who alerted us to this story.

Spotted

On Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC

One of the Clarion Content's staff recently spotted a cool old car on the road. Luckily he was able to snap some pics with his cell phone camera. The car was a Nash-Healey Le Mans. This is an extremely rare vehicle, so there is some possibility that the Clarion Content's amateur photographer was looking at a kit car.

Finger drive

One of the Clarion Content's intrepid editors spotted this incredible story on the BBC News website. A Finnish man had his finger amputated after a motorcycle accident last year when he crashed into a deer near Helsinki. The story is what he did afterward. Jerry Jalava, a computer programmer has created a 2 GB memory stick with a USB attachment that is installed in a prosthetic device in his finger. He accesses it by peeling back his fingernail. According to the BBC, "The finger is not permanently attached to his hand, so it can be easily left plugged into a computer when in use." Read more here.

Natasha Richardson

There are no movie mavens on the Clarion Content's current staff. We are by no means comprehensively familiar with her work, but we are greatly saddened by Natasha Richardson's sudden passing. We take it as a reminder to hold the loved ones around a little tighter and know that every day could be your last. We liked this essay about Richardson in Salon.

As you will.

Need a flute?

Ever been out and just wished you had a flute with you? Nobody we surveyed at the Clarion Content offices had either. But what if your name were Ron Burgundy and you were caught without your flute?

Maybe in the 1970's that would have been a problem, but not in 2009. In 2009 you can turn your i-Phone into a flute?!! What's that you say? You have got be kidding me! Oh no, faithful readers, we shit you not. Ge Wang, a Stanford University assistant professor, who specializes in music and computer science, and his fellow entrepreneur, Jeff Smith, developed the i-Phone application. It works by blowing into the i-Phone's embedded microphone. Offered for $.99, it was the No. 1 selling application at Apple's American stores four days after it debuted. Three weeks later, it held the top spot in 20 other countries.

Read more here in the San Jose Mercury News.

Hayden Panettiere has company

In the discussion about the most beautiful women in the world suddenly Hayden Panettiere has new company. Her name is Cintia Dicker. Ms. Dicker is a Brazilian born woman of German descent. At the moment she speaks only Portuguese. She has appeared in various fashion magazines as well as ads for the likes of Ann Taylor and Yves Saint Laurent. Ms. Dicker just got her big break when she appeared in the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

Breakthrough battery charger

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced a breakthrough in lithium-ion battery chargers yesterday. They claim that the advance allows lithium-ion batteries, the standard in small electronics cellphones, and hybrid vehicles, both to charge and discharge stored energy much more quickly than presently possible. While it might take six, eight, ten minutes to fully charge a cell phone now with a good charger, the MIT prototype can do it in thirty seconds. Because it is a new technique of manufacturing lithium-ion battery materials, rather than a new material, itself, researchers said production could be only two to three years away. It could be a huge boon to the electric car. Read more detail here from The Times of London.

Puppet philosophy

For those of you who have always wanted to get philosophical advice from a puppet, here is your opportunity. Meet Puppetji...





Thanks to a local Durham reader and UNC grad who sent this our way...

We warned you Facebookers

We have been trumpeting the privacy issues surrounding Facebook for quite some time here at the Clarion Content. This week Facebook cost another person a job. The lesson, don't post negative things about your employer on your Facebook, unless you are prepared to face the consequences.

The story is Philadelphia Eagles employee, Dan Leone, who managed the west gate of the stadium was upset when the Eagles let star safety Brian Dawkins escape to Denver via free-agency. Unfortunately, Leone instead of keeping it to himself posted on his Facebook, "Dan is bleeping devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver ... Dam Eagles R Retarted!!"

Bad idea. Dan Leone is now an ex-Eagles employee. ESPN cites the Philadelphia Inquirer,

"I shouldn't have put it up there [he] said...I was ticked off, and I let my emotions go, but I didn't offend any one person or target a specific individual. I was just upset that we lost such a great guy. Dawkins was one of my favorite players. I made a mistake."

Leone said he was shocked to lose his job of six years.

"I apologized for it...I apologized 20 million times. I never bad-mouthed the organization before. I made one mistake and they terminate me? And they couldn't even bring me into the office to talk to me? They had to do it over the phone? At least look me in the eye. To get done dirty like this, I can't believe it. I'm devastated."

F*ck, Amazing

The Clarion Content has never really watched the HBO crime show, The Wire. We have always heard good things about it. Our favorite sports columnist Bill Simmons frequently raves about it.

This scene is two of the shows fictional detectives, McNulty and Bunk, investigating the crime scene of a murder. The amazing thing about it is the only dialogue in the scene is curse words, particularly the F-note. Yet they manage to brilliantly convey their changing theory about how the murder went down.

Chris Brown and Rihanna

Chris Brown and Rihanna have been a ubiquitous presence in the headlines in recent weeks. For many, this was their first encounter with the couple and snap judgments have been made. But for most of America's youth this was not their first time, they have followed these two through the media for what seems like, by their time scale, ages.

Domestic violence and abuse is a significant problem in America. This is not a moment for parents, educators or adults in general to ignore. Nor is it something that should be pigeonholed with out real discussion and dismissed. Youth will sense the inadequacy of that and reject it. They will formulate their own opinions if conversations are not initiated. Forthright, open and honest talks with the kids and teens in one's life who admired this couple is how it should go down.

If you are intimidated by this prospect or don't know where to start, here are a couple of thoughts; one is from the Los Angeles Times, the other is from a favorite blogger of the Clarion Content, In Her Shell.

College Humor

The Clarion Content has recently been introduced to the website CollegeHumor.com (apparently they have a television show, too.) It is sophomoric, but some of it is soooo funny.

Here's a real prank the guys pulled. (What a surprise the Maryland fans were willing to get involved.)

This one was also bemusing if you have ever been at a bar a little too close to last call.

This one is ostensibly shot from the point of view of a hot girl at a bar.

TMZ linguistic hit

Gossip web site TMZ hit the perfect tone today describing a hardly recalcitrant Chris Brown partying in Miami, "With the sun beating down on his uncovered face, Chris Brown spent another awesome day smacking waves around with a jet ski in Miami." Perfect.

Reports in People Magazine had him partying with rappers Young Jeezy and Plies, football player Reggie Bush, and television socialite Khloe Kardashian, sister of Bush's girlfriend, Kim Kardashian at the Gansevoort South Hotel the previous night.

Neither Rihanna nor her family have ruled out her dumb ass getting back together with alleged abuser Brown.