On of the things I love about Squidmar Miniatures is that Emil is always trying unique, unusual, and just plain kooky stuff to make his miniature painting channel more entertaining and fun. Chalk this one up to kooky.

In it, he paints the bust of a medieval knight while dressed in a set of 14th century armor. Given the weight and the heat, he's exhausted even before he starts painting and it's not long before he starts removing the helmet, the gauntlets...

Some of the YouTube comments are great:

"Now to take it to the next level: Painting a dragon, as a dragon."

"When you realize the bust of the knight has no arms."

"You should make a series called 'painting an X dressed as an X.' That would be cool."

Image: YouTube Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/emil-of-squidmar-miniatures-pa.html

Spotted this while flying over the High Desert this weekend. It’s just north of Black Rock City, home to Burning Man from BlackLivesMatter

While flying over Nevada's Black Rock Desert a week ago, Redditor Nick Howard captured this aerial footage of a giant "Black Lives Matter" mural in the dust.

One commenter on Reddit figured out its location — it's not far from where Burning Man's temporary Black Rock City can be found every summer (though, not this summer):

It’s due East of where the city usually is by a few miles. Just North of Pahsupp Mountain. Rough coordinates 11TLF 2198 2473

No word on who's behind the mural!

image pieced together from screengrabs via Nick Howard/Reddit Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/black-lives-matter-spelled.html

I loved the movie Memento, about a man on a mission who has severe short-term memory loss. Every morning when he wakes up he had no memory of the hundreds of days preceding it, and so he develops a bunch of processes to bring him up to speed each day and keep him on mission. The movie was based on a short story called "Memento Mori" by Jonathan Nolan, and I read it when it came out in Esquire magazine in 2001.

Here's an excellent reading of the short story, which runs about 30 minutes. Highly recommended.

[via The Browser] Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/794790.html

Use code ADHNRSNZ to get these excellent noise-canceling Bluetooth over-ear headphones for a great price. Both my daughters have a pair and use them for hours a day. The batteries last a long time, and the noise canceling is comparable to my Bose wired noise-canceling headphones. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/these-excellent-noise-cancelin.html

University of Washington engineers developed a tiny, wireless, and steerable videocamera that can be worn by insects or minuscule micro-robots to stream live video. The device weighs just 248 milligrams. Evan Ackerman writes in IEEE Spectrum:

The system was successfully tested on a pair of darkling beetles that were allowed to roam freely outdoors, and the researchers noted that they could also mount it on spiders or moths, or anything else that could handle the payload. (The researchers removed the electronics from the insects after the experiments and observed no noticeable adverse effects on their behavior.)

The researchers are already thinking about what it might take to put a wireless camera system on something that flies, and it’s not going to be easy—a bumblebee can only carry between 100 and 200 mg [...]

Insects are very mobile platforms for outdoor use, but they’re also not easy to steer, so the researchers also built a little insect-scale robot that they could remotely control while watching the camera feed.

"A Bug-Sized Camera for Bug-Sized Robots and Bug-Sized Bugs" (IEEE Spectrum)

"Wireless steerable vision for live insects and insect-scale robots" (Science Robotics)

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/tiny-videocamera-worn-by-an-in.html

If data is worth saving to an external drive, shouldn’t it also be important enough to protect?

Since setting up shop in the UK over a decade ago, iStorage has become one of the top makers of encrypted, easy to use and affordable portable data storage devices. And while not everyone needs multi-level security in place before someone accesses their files, iStorage products make steel-trap protection a standard feature in all of their flash drives, hard drives and even cloud services options.

Flash drives usually live up to their name, used for quick data transportation and transfers. But that pocket-sized convenience has its security downsides as well, including vulnerability to malware, tampering, hacking or just outright theft. With the datAshur PRO and PRO^2, you get an assortment of protection measures to make sure no one compromises or steals your data ever. 

In addition to built-in full disk AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption, both models also feature keypad protection. Set a unique PIN of up to 15 digits — and without that PIN, no one gets to your information. The stick auto-locks the moment you unplug and with the brute force hack defense mechanism, all data permanently deletes with 10 incorrect login attempts. Better to be gone than fall into the wrong hands!

The PRO is available in sizes from 8GB to 128GB, while the PRO^2 with faster read and write speeds is available from 16GB to 512GB. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/these-encrypted-istorage-hard.html

Starting in 1970, Soviet scientists began drilling into the Earth as far as they could possibly go. The project ended in 1992 at 12,262 meters due to temperatures of 356 °F that far down into the Earth's crust. The Kola Superdeep Borehole remains the deepest artificial hole on Earth. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/this-is-the-deepest-hole-wev.html

While closed due to the pandemic, the owners of J&M Jewelers in Macomb County, Michigan came up with a new way to make money. They buried $1 million in jewelry, coins, antiques, and gold and silver bars across the state and anyone can pay to sign up for their monthly "Treasure Quests." The first few quests are sold out but there is one in September with open spots. For $59, you'll get clues that could lead you to $7,000 in booty. From Johnny's Treasure Quest:

At first I was going stir crazy being at home with nothing but time on my hands and literally pacing back and forth anxiously wanting to do something but with nothing to do. One day I got up and came across a news article while sipping coffee and scrolling the news on my phone. The article was about an anonymous person claiming to have finally deciphered the infamous riddle and discovered the Forrest Fenn treasure. Wow! how cool is that I thought. I’ve always dreamed of searching for that myself but never had the time. What Mr. Forrest Fenn really wanted is what I found to be most unmistakably true. It was getting off the couch and out of the house and adventuring outdoors. So that is exactly what we did. I began traveling up and down pure Michigan with my fianc'e. We went through woods, rivers, streams, mountains and waterfalls. We even got married!

I have buried not only my entire jewelry store but thousands upon thousands of dollars of gold, silver, diamonds & antiques in various locations in Michigan from the bottom to the upper peninsula.

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/jewelry-store-buried-1-millio.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/this-yarn-is-made-for-inclusiv.html

I've posted about the Oldschool PC Font Resource before, but the latest version of its ultimate font pack radically expands the project. The new pack adds 133 new font families, embedded bitmaps to sharpen TrueType rendering, .woffs for use on the web, and bugfixes throughout the entire set, released under a free Creative Commons license.

Check out the showcase page.

Leech 'em all! [int10h.org]

If you have any fonts from v1.x of the pack installed on your systems, I *strongly recommend* removing all older "Bm" and "Px" fonts before you install any from v2.0. Quite a few fonts have been renamed or have changed roles, so keeping the older versions will leave you with duplicates and with an inconsistent set.

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/ultimate-oldschool-pc-font-pac.html

From Boing Boing pal Dave Eggers' pitch perfect opinion piece in the New York Times:

Q: I think I have it.

A: Have what?

Q: It. I’ve got extreme fatigue, migraines, chills, aches, nausea and a fever of 102.

A: Are we talking about coronavirus?

Q: We are. I’m worried. I’m 50. People my age are dying.

A: That does sound concerning. Let’s get you tested.

Q: OK, I’m ready.

A: You mean now?

Q: Of course.

A: Oh, you can’t do one now.

Q: Why not?

A: How’s late next week look for you?

Q: Late next week? I’m sick today.

A: We have three appointments in mid July. Wait. Those were just taken. How’s your end-of-month?

Q: We’re four months into the pandemic. It still takes that long to get a test?

A: It depends. Looks like Tulsa has a drive-through thingie tomorrow. Are you anywhere near Tulsa, Okla.?

Q: No.

A: Keystone, S.D.?

Q: No.

A: Well, then it could take longer. Where are you?

Q: San Francisco.

A: Oh, then it’ll be a lot longer. Let me make sure … Let’s see … Typing in ‘San Francisco’ … Is that two S’s or two C’s? No, I got it. Whoa, looks like a lot of people want tests where you are.

Q: And you don’t have enough?

A: Oh, we have plenty of tests. We just don’t have appointments. You need an appointment to get a test, and the appointments — these we don’t have.

"Testing, Testing" (New York Times)

image: US CDC's COVID-19 laboratory test kit (public domain) Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/dave-eggers-on-getting-a-covid.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/the-marriage-from-hell-epstei.html

On October 2, Matt Berninger of The National will release his first solo album, Serpentine Prison, produced by Booker T. Jones of famed Memphis soul group Booker T. & the M.Gs. Above is the brand new music video for "Distant Axis," a stunningly beautiful track that Berninger co-wrote with Walter Martin, formerly of The Walkmen.

Berninger's brother Tom directed the video with Chris Sgroi.

Of "Distant Axis," Berninger says, "I think it’s about falling out of touch with someone or something you once thought would be there forever.” Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/gorgeous-new-music-video-from.html

Had to see it for myself. Strip District McDonald’s whole ass disappeared pic.twitter.com/q5tGQquPmq

 Alex Gordon (@shmalexgordon) July 16, 2020

My local McDonalds, in Pittsburgh's Strip District, recently closed without notice. One day it was serving burgers, then next it had shut up shop. "McDonalds in the Strip closes without explanation," reported Trib Live, which noted McDonalds was still paying rent to the landlord but was not renewing the lease. The landlord has no clear plans for what to do with the plot: it's not because a cookie-cutter development is getting stamped in.

The restaurant was immediately debranded, and now the entire building has disappeared completely, an efficient and rapid demolition leaving a smoothed field of light rubble. The sheer speed with which the structure vanished has locals startled. In Pittsburgh, a building hasn't even gotten started until it's been abandoned to begin a new life as a dilapidated navigational beacon. But look at that! It's as if aliens beamed it right up into the fucking mothership.

I cannot help but recall, however, that Pittsburgh was also the longtime home to a Burger King that lost its franchise but remained in the Burger King building, calling itself Burger King and serving all sorts of fake Burger King meals. For months.

The menu evolved, optimizing the Burger King pantheon of foodstuffs to local tastes and available substitutes. There was at one point, according to local folklore, a quintuple Whopper on offer. The legendary "Open Sauce" Burger King of Pittsburgh continued in business for some time until local reporters cottoned on and ruined it for everyone:

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/disfranchised-pittsburgh-mcdon.html

Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round the fire for Story Hour, brought to you by The Lincoln Project. Listen to excerpts from Mary Trump's fresh-off-the-press book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, the book that Uncle Trump tried but failed to stop from being published.

Episode 1 describes his deep-rooted personality and emotional dysfunctions, which have plagued him since the age of three.

"Donald today, as much as he was at three-years-old, incapable of growing, learning, or evolving. Unable to regulate his emotions, moderate his responses, and synthesize information. Donald's need for affirmation is so great, he doesn't seem to notice that the largest group of supporters are people he wouldn’t condescend to be seen with outside of a rally. His deep-seated insecurities have created in him a black hole of need that constantly requires the light of compliments that disappears as soon as he’s soaked it in. Nothing is ever enough..."

Episode 2 gives us a brief history of his mother, Mary (not to be confused with author Mary, his niece), who, "in a classic example of chain migration," boarded the RMS Transylvania and journeyed to America in 1930. "Despite her status as a domestic servant, as a white Anglo-Saxon Mary would have been allowed into the country even under her son's Draconian new immigration rules introduced nearly 90 years later." The storyteller stops to scold Trump. "Now Donald, your own mother was an immigrant. Shame on you."

Stay tuned for more insightful videos from The Lincoln Project, a group of relentless never-Trumpers. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/storytime-with-the-lincoln-pro.html

In the early 1970s, acclaimed horror director George A. Romero was commissioned by the Lutheran Society to make a new film to help raise awareness about ageism and elder abuse. And in true Romero fashion, he did just that. As Bloody Disgusting describes the story:

The Amusement Park stars Martin’s Lincoln Maazel as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies, and humiliations of aging in America are manifested through roller coasters and chaotic crowds.

According to the RogerEbert.com review, The Amusement Park was so shocking and appalling that the Lutheran Society refused to release it. The movie was canned until recently, when Romero's widow, Suzanne, produced a 4K restoration of the film, which has thus far aired at a few festivals. "Though not in the horror genre it is George’s most terrifying film," Suzanne Romero said. "It has Romero’s unique footprint all over it!"

OK, this movie is a REVELATION. pic.twitter.com/PaZA2HNDAW

 Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018

The formerly lost film has now been purchased by Yellow Veil Productions for distribution, and is expected to be available within the year on digital platforms as well as in theaters, if those still exist.

George A. Romero’s Long Lost Film “The Amusement Park” Being Sold by Yellow Veil Pictures [John Squires / Bloody Disgusting]

George A. Romero’s Restored Lost Film Is Ready for Release: ‘His Most Terrifying Movie’ [Zack Sharf / Indiewire] Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/long-lost-george-romero-film-d.html

In the latest Recomendo newsletter, Claudia Dawson wrote about Window Swap, a site where people share 10-minute videos of the view outside their windows.

I just spent the last ten minutes on Window Swap staring out a window in Villalago, Italy, where I could see the mountains and hear birds chirping and church bells ringing. Anyone is welcome to submit video (and audio) of their window view, and with the click of a button you can bounce around all over the world.

This project by Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam is my idea of social media. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/look-out-other-peoples-windo.html

Selfish, inconsiderate germ-spreaders are a big reason why the coronavirus pandemic has been getting worse. It turns out that anti-mask sociopaths were a problem during the 1918-1919 pandemic, too. The Anti-Mask League of San Francisco was formed during the time of Spanish Flu to protest mask requirements in the city.

From Wikipedia:

Although there were some complaints from citizens during the initial period of mask-wearing, the new ordinance in 1919 galvanized more serious opposition and the Anti-Mask League was formed. Members of the league included physicians, citizens, civil libertarians, and at least one member of the Board of Supervisors. An estimated 4,000–5,000 citizens attended the meeting on January 25. Some members of the league wanted to collect signatures on a petition to end the mask requirement, while others wanted to initiate recall procedures for the city health officer. Members of the anti-mask league also agitated for San Francisco Mayor James Rolph, Jr., to resign if he did not repeal the ordinance. The president of the League, suffragette, attorney, and labor rights activist Mrs. E.C. Harrington, was a fierce critic of the mayor, and it has been suggested that the anti-mask league protests were politically motivated. The debate was heated. Some objections to the ordinance were based on questions of scientific data while others considered the requirement to infringe on civil liberties

In addition to complaints from the Anti-Mask League, some health officers from other cities also contended that masks were not necessary. The San Francisco city health officer criticized the secretary of the state's Board of Health for questioning the efficacy of masks, saying "The attitude of the state board is encouraging the Anti-Mask League."

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/sociopathic-anti-maskers-were.html

Crema is the red-brown foam that sits on top of a freshly made shot of espresso. But what is crema, actually, and how is it formed? Coffee expert James Hoffmann made this video to explain.

He says that very early espresso machines did not produce crema. It wasn't until the mid-twentieth century, when high-pressure espresso machines were invented, that crema started appearing. At first, people weren't sure if crema was a good thing or a bad thing. In a savvy marketing move, the manufacturer decided to advertise its espresso as having "natural cream," turning a bug into a feature. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/17/this-16-minute-video-will-get.html

It’s one of those eternal questions — what do you do with your valuables when you go to the beach or take a swim in a public pool? You can’t take your phone in the water with you. Your wallet, sunglasses, keys and other assorted EDC items probably shouldn’t be getting wet either.

Of course, leaving your phone and wallet lying on a beach towel is a recipe for disaster — or at least, it’s a very easy payday for an enterprising thief. You could always try to hide them under a blanket or wrap them up in your clothes, but overall, there aren’t a lot of good solutions.

That’s the thinking that brought the Beachsafe Valuable Storage and Phone Cooling Kit to life.

Made from durable, water-resistant ABS plastic, the Beachsafe has a spacious compartment inside, fully equipped to hold all those items you want to be protected from theft or the elements. With enough room to store all those valuables, all you have to do once you fill it up is snap it closed. Armed with a high-quality, commercial-grade, four-digit reprogrammable lock, nobody but you will have access to your stuff. 

And just to make sure no one walks off with your Beachsafe, it’s also packing a stainless steel securing cable that can be locked to a bike rack, fence, beach chair, or other stationary objects to assure your loaded Beachsafe is still there when you get back.

While that would normally offer enough value, the Beachsafe has the extra versatility of two USB ports and a built-in battery pack, so you can plug in up to two phones at once and stay fully charged, even when they’re chilling in the Beachsafe. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/16/the-beachsafe-makes-sure-your.html