manna from heaven (11. 938)

Via the New Shelton wet/dry we are directed to an omnibus article on the research and development of producing food out of air, profiling some of the two dozen firms around the world seeking to transform carbon dioxide and water (see previously here and here) into an alternative protein-source, flavouring a substrate of desiccated cell walls of autotrophic, soil-dwelling bacteria. Using a fermentation process already well established in the production of insulin and the rennet enzymes for cheesemaking (eliminating the need to harvest it from the stomach lining of calves), scientists working for these biotech startups have isolated a highly palatable bacterium that thrives in captivity and have launched demonstration farms to show the concept’s viability to mill a nutritious flour and meal using a fraction of the land—allowing more opportunities for the rewilding of fields and pastures—and resources it required for traditional farming. While commercial-scale production is in sight, the largest hurdle remaining may be convincing the public to adopt such a diet of microbes that foregoes the folkways of cooking.

il giardino dei tarocchi (11. 937)

Messy Nessy Chic correspondent Francky Knapp turns our attention to artist Niki de Saint Phalle through her monumental landscaping project, one of her final works, that transformed a an ancient Etruscan quarry (preserving the ruins) into an esoteric park open to the public informed by figures in the tarot deck. The sculpture garden was inspired by de Saint Phalle’s visits to Gaudí’s Parc Güell and Parco dei Mostri (the sixteenth century sacred grove in northern Lazio filled with monstrous figures) and was begun in 1979 and opened in 1998. Mirrors and mosaics adorn the twenty-two greater Mysteries (the major arcana—see previously here and here) in this corner of Tuscany, and much more about the artist can be found at the link above and the garden’s website.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the coat of arms of Bill Clinton (with synchronoptica)

seven years ago: the passage of an interstellar comet, Trump in Korea, public sparkling water fountains in Paris plus AI suggests costume ideas

eight years ago: assorted links to revisit 

nine years ago: micromorts plus more links to enjoy

ten years ago: a condensed history of quarantines

9x9 (11. 936)

die krümelmonster: in 2013 the German version of Cookie Monster pilfered and ransomed the golden Leibniz Kek for charity  

bad map projection #102: a blended USA / Australia gazette that almost works 

0,1 arcsec: hunting for dark matter and dark energy the Euclid space telescope (previously) unveils a dazzlingly 3D map of one percent of the Cosmos—via Nag on the Lake’s Sunday Links  

bob & carol & martin & barbara: various adaptations of a comedy about partner-swapping during the sexual revolution  

red lion passage: alleyways of London then and now  

bokeh and backscatter: spirit photography and the history of the medium— the New Shelton wet/dry  

clockwork universe: The Birth of the Robot by Len Lye—see previously  

geoconfirmed: a volunteer group tagging the space-time coordinates for footage of conflict zones to combat disinformation  

cheese heist: using an elaborate scam, £300 000 pilfered from artisan cheddar makers—see previously—via jwz

ghosta nova (11. 935)

The latest musical animation from Louie Zong (see previously) brings back our departed duo for a harmonising session under the Brazilian moonlight with a distinct Rio bossa nova flair—including the nice detail of a looming ghostly statue in the background towards the end. Find all the iterations of this seasonal serenade at the artist’s Youtube channel and website. ¡Laiálaiá!

pooped in peolsis desk (11. 934)

Inspired by a spurious claim (confessed in a group-chat) by one of the January 6 rioters and Trump’s latest hailing the insurrection on the US capitol as a “day of love” following praise for those patriots, a bronzed sculpture of an emoji-style faeces on the desk of then Speaker of The House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, will remain on view through 30 October opposite Congress. While the artist and intention remain unclear, apparently the installation was given official sanction by the National Park Service which vets public art on the Mall in DC. Much more at Hyperallergic at the link above.

non-endorsement (11. 933)

Following on from the decision of The Los Angeles Times not to support the Harris-Walz ticket for the US presidential election, ostensibly owing to the newspaper’s billionaire surgeon’s possible appointment as a health care reform tsar in a second Trump administration, Jeff Bezos has reportedly killed the notion of his media outlet taking any stance in the vote, despite the Washington Post’s rigorous reporting on Trump’s misdeeds and Trump’s exposing Bezos’ infidelity that led to the breakup of his marriage—again owing to government contracts that Amazon holds. Meanwhile Trump himself pretended to work as a fry-cook for a staged event (see previously) at a closed-to-the-public fast-food franchise—we guess to rebuke his opponent’s bona fides for having worked there as a teenager and show he can do the same—while McDonald’s has backed away from the stunt, maintaining they are “golden,” not Red or Blue. While political endorsements are not necessarily a hallmark of journalistic independence, this suppression certainly does speak to the integrity of management and interference with the editorial board and how the spoils system is subject to intimidation. PfRC is certainly backing Kamala.

synchronoptica

one year ago: artist Robert Martiensen (with synchronoptica), assorted links worth revisiting, a petroleum tapestry plus location-based podcasts

seven years ago: the osage orange plus more links to enjoy

eight years ago: the Vatican on last rites

nine years ago: The Sea Devil Raids America, even more links plus tensions in the South China Sea

ten years ago: charting languages, a dive from space plus matchbook collecting

🥐 (11. 932)

Again via Web Curios, we find ourselves directed to a venerable web forum (circa 2000) that’s still active with the simple premise that anyone can submit an idea—no matter how rough and not thought through, hence the half-baked—of dumb to occasionally brilliant inventions, business models, policies and practises and frankly pranks and have them up- or down-voted by the community and invite feedback. Spare a moment to browse around the incubator—just from recent submissions art that reacts to viewers’ feelings about it, hedonistic tax schemes, graphic sugar warnings on food items, a crown-shyness relaxation regiment, a breakdance stage for chickens—and find your calling to bring one of these notions to fruition, just be sure to give credit.

t-800 (11. 931)

Released on this day in 1984 in the United States cinemas, the James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd (Roger Corman’s assistant) production starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, and conceived from the former screen-writer’s credit in a fever dream (a metallic torso wielding kitchen knives and made of liquid metal and impervious to conventional weapons but deciding that special effects were not that advanced, deferred the T-1000 to a later instalment) experienced with the release of Cameron’s first movie, Piranha II: The Spawning two years prior. The film franchise is premised on the idea that a cyborg assassin is sent back from 2029 to prevent the birth of John Connor, who in the Terminator’s time-line saves humanity from destruction by Skynet, an out of control and hostile artificial intelligence bent on self-preservation at all costs. Shooting scenes was delayed due to the principle’s commitment to Conan the Destroyer (OJ Simpson was also in consideration but the director thought he wasn’t a convincing killer), affording Cameron a chance to work on the script for Rambo: First Blood Part II and Aliens, and when filming finally began, it was mainly on location in Los Angeles and without permits—leading to low expectations (coupled with the low budget and other problems)—but was received as a cult classic and launched a franchise and multiple careers.

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 synchronoptica

one year ago: a rare Japanese-made electronic synthesiser (with synchronoptica) plus AI-generated Halloween candy

seven years ago: sonic sands, plates for classic cars, an infernal dictionary plus the royal we

eight years ago: hoop earrings plus some notes

nine years ago: Adam’s first wife

eleven years ago: kettling, Art as Therapy plus precarious jobs