From Toys to Royce

When passing thru Russian suburbs on a train you might have a rare chance to see $450,000 Rolls Royce Centurion car resting crashed on a railways sidewalk among the common for such places trash and tires, like an unwanted toy that is not interesting for the kid left in the dark corner of the yard.

MFBA: Interview with Raygun Gothic Rocketship crew

Maker Faire Bay Area, the world's largest DIY festival, is right around the corner, taking place at the San Mateo Fairgrounds on May 22nd and 23rd. One of the biggest new projects coming to the Faire this year is the Raygun Gothic Rocketship, pictured above and hand-crafted by a large and dedicated crew. We sent seven questions to the crew's three lead artists, Sean Orlando, Nathaniel Taylor, and David Shulman. Here's what they had to say.

1. Tell us about the project you're bringing to Maker Faire.
The Raygun Gothic Rocketship is built upon a future-rustic vision of yesterday's tomorrow. Aesthetically based on 1930s - early 1950s science fiction, the rocketship is a 41-foot-tall immersive environment, designed to carry explorers into the realm of rayguns, strange planets, and aliens, friendly or otherwise.




With 3 habitable decks, visitors can view and interact with a variety of ships systems and alien specimens. Visitors can enter the ship via the Engine Room & Life-Sciences Bio Lab. Once inside the engine room, look down into the engine compartment to see The Uira Plasma-drive engine. Cases and cages on the walls contain various creatures we've collected in our travels. Check on the ships status with the Systems Monitor, or speak to the Pilot via the tele-com.





Moving up a deck, you'll find Crew Quarters, Navigation, Communications & Remote Sensing. Check our approach trajectories using the Neutronium Scanner, confirm our location using one of several navigational devices, or deploy a remote probe via the Hollis 9000 Remote Science System. Finally, you can climb up to the flight deck and pilots chair. Take command of the ship and prepare for launch!


2. How did you hear about Maker Faire and why did you decide to participate?

As a group, we have been fans of or involved with the Maker movement and Maker Faire for many years. Many of our crew have shown other works, both large and small, at past MAKE events in association with such groups as The Crucible, Applied Kinetic Arts, Kinetic Steam Works, and SRL.


3. Tell us about yourself. How did you get started making things and who are your inspirations?

The three of us all have different stories.





David Shulman: I began making things with my father as a kid — mostly simple furniture. He inspired me in that he was an attorney, yet was not afraid to get his hands dirty, or try new things, and I have followed a similar path.





Sean Orlando: I've been tinkering and inventing for as long as I can remember. Creating three-dimensional artworks resonated with me more than any of the other art practice that I experimented with. My father was an aerospace engineer and exposed me to airplane and rocket engineering at an early age. The engineering challenges, collaborative creative process, and immersive potential of large-scale installations allowed me to explore a whole new level of art making... with friends.





Nathaniel Taylor: Nathaniel was born with a tool in his hands. He is the Chief Operating Officer and creative mind behind Radio Robot.


4. Is your project strictly a hobby or a budding business? Does it relate to your day job?

Our project is both. Through the RGR and past projects (such as the Steampunk Tree House), we are exploring the concept of cooperative art as both a focus for creative community, and an opportunity to generate income for our member artists. The Five Ton Crane Arts Group was formed as a direct result of these successful collaborations.


5. What new idea (in or outside of your field) has excited you most recently?

We are constantly inspired and motivated by artistic invention, clever engineering solutions, and creative collaboration. We strive to create immersive environments that combine sculpture, kinetics, performance, interactivity, and creative collaboration. It's exciting to see the latest inventions coming out of Europe by such groups as Royal de Luxe and La Machine.


6. What is your motto?

'Art is better with friends.'

'We aim to be rather than to seem.'

'Just because it hasn't been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done.'


7. What advice would you give to the young makers out there just getting started?

Just do it. Don't hesitate for fear of challenge or failure. Don't get caught up in what 'seems' to be impossible. Just because it hasn't been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. The benefits of your realized ideas are not only experienced in the end result of your experiments. There is so much fun to also be had through the process of invention, creative problem solving, overcoming challenges, and working together as a team.

Thanks, gentlemen, words of widsom for sure! We're excited to see the Rocketship in its full glory at Maker Faire. You can still get discounted tickets until May 12. For all the information you need, head over to the Maker Faire website.

Easter in the Philippines

In the Philippines, dozens of people allow themselves to be crucified on Good Friday, repeating taken many years ago on this day Passion of Christ, despite the condemnation of the custom and practice of mass self-flagellation of the Catholic Church. Colorful costume procession, repeating the main landmarks of the biblical stories, accompanied by hundreds of Flagellants – dealing with self-torture with whips Filipinos. It was expected that this spectacle will be observed from 20 to 30 thousand people – including those who ignore the prohibitions of the local authorities of foreign tourists.

Abandoned Biochemical Laboratory In Kiev

About how there was this laboratory, are a lot of rumors. One – that is the center of the modernization of man, the second – the laboratory for the production of biological weapons. But the effort to establish – that is a laboratory for the study of viral infections. The main activity was to develop a vaccine Anti AIDS. But first, 90 all gone off somewhere, leaving the laboratory intact. 

Officially there was a fire and from that day the establishment closed. That could happen in reality can only guess.Until recently, the building stood untouchable until the path to it is not trodden fans of urban culture and other “children” of iron and concrete. Nowadays teens greedily gutted windows and overturned boxes, but there really is to look at that. On the way to a tow-head spot meets the smell, which at first take flight to close the nose, but eventually get used to it and stop paying attention. 

From the entrance and up to the top of the mountain road beds of disposable gloves and respirators. Inside, get a variety of thought, and the level of adrenaline on the order increases. Inside all sunk, like yesterday, then ran Ellis from “Resident Evil”, are scattered around the tubes, packed syringes, and corridors lined with cells. In one form of all that once appeared the picture, as there is seething work, all worn with white robes and conduct experiments. 

In one room the door laid by the very metal cage. Making his way through them – you get to the operating room, where the nose beats the smell of dru*s, which seems to be more than 15 years is not eroded. But the most extraordinary painting in the attic waiting – all of those same cells, but hung with tags: “08.05.1990 – AIDS”, “03/02/1991 – CANCER.Location is extremely unusual, people hypochondriac and their nerves to visit not advise it. What could have left and what lies in wait for the bunker-bound door – do not even want to represent. So before you go go – three Consider whether it to you.

Shannyn Moore: Caribou Ken Sues the Feds!

My dear Alaskans, sadly Caribou Barbie has been replaced with Caribou Ken.

Tuesday, Governor Sean Parnell and Attorney General Dan Sullivan announced plans to sue the federal government over health care reform.

Every GOP/Republican dog whistle was blown during the press conference. Parnell was partisan, pathetic and pure pander. Governor Parnell had a personal feeling the health care bill was unconstitutional and had the department of law look it over. 'This is not about health care. It's a battle for freedom.' He stated the federal government 'is taking our freedoms'.

He had no choice; the government could decide to mandate we 'all buy gym memberships to fight obesity' or force us to buy GM cars. He claimed to protect 'liberty interests'. Huh? He won't 'trade freedom for health care'. Really? Easy to say when you have state paid health insurance for you and your family.

My favorite bite of this Parnell word salad? 'It's time for us to breathe again, and deeply, of this American air rather than labor like colonists for an individual mandate.' Oh, good, Palin's speech writer has a back-up job.

Parnell equated himself to the founding fathers fighting for freedom, but in July, 1798, Congress passed, and President John Adams signed 'An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen' into law. It authorized the creation of a marine hospital service, and mandated privately employed sailors to purchase health care insurance. Its passage created America's first payroll tax. Ship owners were required to deduct 20 cents from each sailor's monthly salary and provide proof of those receipts to the service, which in turn provided ailing sailors hospital care. A 100 dollar fine was levied on any violating owner, or ship's captain for failure to comply. Using the Production Worker Compensation Calculator the translation to 2009 would be an imposed fine of $72,600. Ouch! Seems worse than a public flogging.

Perhaps Attorney General Dan Sullivan could amend Alaska's lawsuit to conform to the 1798 precedent. Does Sean Parnell think Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison didn't know the limits of the Constitution? This law of mandated insurance was from the same Congress and President who signed unanimously the Treaty of Tripoli June 7, 1797. Article 11 stated, 'As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion...'

OMG, our founding fathers mandated insurance AND said we weren't founded on the Christian religion? This is getting awkward. This may be an indicator that Parnell and Sarah Palin could have been US History study partners.

Well, 1798 was a long time ago. In 1993, Sean Parnell was a state representative. I have looked high and low for his outrage and response to a Republican bill co-sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens. In November, 1993, Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., introduced what was considered to be one of the main Republican health overhaul proposals: 'A bill to provide comprehensive reform of the health care system of the United States' that MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE. So, Uncle Ted Stevens and the Republican party were trying to take away our freedoms? Well, where were you, Sean? Why didn't you speak up then? Oh, wait. You weren't running for governor.

In October of 2007, Sean Parnell endorsed to Governor Mitt Romney. 'I am supporting Governor Romney because his record shows that he can improve America.' Wow, is the mandated health care that Romney ushered in during his governorship of Massachusetts 'improving America?' Parnell went on, 'Additionally, he earned respect by keeping government spending under control as Governor of Massachusetts.' What? How could Parnell support a man who killed the 'liberty interests' of his own citizens?

Quite a day for the 'Wish-I-Were-an-ELECTED Governor' Parnell. He basically called the founding fathers 'unconstitutional'; accused Senator Ted Stevens and company of 'taking away our freedoms' in 1993, and must now be horrified he endorsed candidate Romney after Romney implemented legislation that enslaved the fine folks of Massachusetts! What would Parnell say about the Bush Administration spending almost a billion dollars to implement universal heath care...in Iraq?

Senator Mark Begich (D) added an amendment to the recently enacted federal health care reform bill allowing states to provide grants to medical providers who treat Medicare patients. State Representatives Les Gara, (D) and Lindsey Holmes, (D) joined State Senator Hollis French (D) in a letter urging Governor Parnell to act quickly to help more Alaskans have access to Medicare.

Crickets.

Sean Parnell's solution to making health care accessible to Alaskans? Another task force.

He had a much better option than a lawsuit. He had the option to be a leader.

The health care bill signed by President Obama last month gave governors a way out. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) included an amendment titled 'Empowering States to be Innovative.' Translation? If you don't like the federal bill, INVENT YOUR OWN! Yep! Ta-da! Not only that, but the shiny, new state plan DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE A MANDATE!

Senator Wyden told Sam Stein, 'Why would you just say you are going to sue everybody, when this bill gives you the authority and the legal counsel is on record as saying you can do it without an individual mandate?' Good question. Why would you waste money suing instead of coming up with a solution for the citizens of your state?

Did Attorney General Dan Sullivan bother to even Google the health care bill?

If the state of Alaska had our own system for affordable health care, we'd be thrilled. A special summer legislative session to figure out how Alaskans could do better would need true leadership. We'd be on the map for something other than a spokesmodel with a Bumpit for brains and a whiny default governor with no solutions.

After the string of Tea Party bumper sticker slogans, the governor was asked how much he expected the state to spend on the lawsuit. He said he didn't know. Sean, when you put something in the shopping cart that you aren't paying for, you should know what it's going to cost...or put it back on the shelf.

Sex And The City 2 Pre-Sale Outsells Released Movies!

Why are people so excited for this movie?? The first one didn't hold a candle to the original series!!

Pre-sale tickets for the May 27th premiere of Sex and the City 2 are already on sale - six weeks in advance! And it's already out-selling movies playing in theaters NOW!

According to Fandango spokesman Harry Medved:

'It was nearly 20% of our daily sales when it first went on sale, outpacing (new box office champ) 'Kick-Ass,' which was 17% of sales. We saw surprisingly strong advance ticket sales on the first one, with many female moviegoers buying tickets en masse, planning screening parties for groups of friends who were flying in from out of town.'

Regal Theater's Marketing Head Dick Westerling agrees:

'Women across the country are anxious to plan events and activities related to their evening out to see the film, and they want confirmation that they have tickets. Based on our experience with the first film, this can become quite an elaborate and fun-filled evening. Aside from purchasing tickets to see the movie, they are already reserving limousines and making restaurant reservations.'

We suppose we should never underestimate the middle aged housewive's undying need to feel fabulous! It's half the reason Twilight does so well, too.

BARF.

Pertamax !

Pertamax gan !