Skyehaven’s Cool Thing of the Day

So I’ll let them speak for themselves.

Judging from the number of views this has on YouTube, I’m coming late to the party. But I do love some good stop animation, and this is some of the best I’ve seen.

Anyone who’s followed my blog for a bit, or frankly even stumbled on it and explored a bit, will notice that I’m a freak for geeky things like space travel. I’m also a fan of interesting art. This cool image combines both. Enjoy.

Before you check out the YouTube videos that I’ll link below, be sure you read the news story about Kseniya Simonova.

Are you back? Excellent. As noted in the news article, Kseniya got involved in Ukraine’s Got Talent in order to benefit a child with leucosis that developed following a vaccination. The first YouTube video I found from her shows the story in real time of the family’s fight to save their daughter and ends with a plea to “Give the life to little Anasasia“. After entering Ukraine’s Got Talent, Simonova was an instant hit. The video is, unfortunately, in Ukrainian (or Russian?) so I’m not entirely sure what the story of her first UGT entry is.

And here’s her winning performance, the one I made you read about first. It helps to know the back story, but I didn’t when I first saw the video. Even without knowing the story and without the sound I found the video evocative and couldn’t tear my eyes away. If any video on YouTube deserves to go viral, these do.

Update: After watching the first entry again, I think it’s a “Cat’s Cradle” kind of story. A young man grows up and doesn’t learn how much his parents mean to him until it’s too late. What do you think?

It’s a time waster, but today’s not Friday. Whatever shall I do?

I know! I’ll post this, and then I’ll go make another kaleidoscope!

They’re not really moving, but they seem to be.

Why not try some hand drawn holograms?

I recently changed the background on my computer at work, because I came across this image and loved it that much. So I was poking around tonight and figured out the artist,Julian Beever. From an accident on a work site in Vienna to giant Coke bottles, he offers a little bit of everything, in chalk and in 3D. Definitely worth a look!

I’m old enough to almost sort of remember when :-) first came on the scene. That cute sideways little guy has gone through a lot of changes, to the point where now he’s a flashy graphic that might actually laugh at you, or even stick out his tongue! :P

It occurred to me tonight that there’s an entire generation out there who probably never handed someone a —-`–,—@ or a [_]) and would probably never even think to ( * )( * ) someone! o_0

I find I’m a little saddened by that. It’s not that it’s great art. In fact, some of that really early simple ASCii art is…well…pathetic insofar as art goes. But it showed a creativity on the part of the typist in getting their point, and their emotions, across. And while walking down memory lane, not only did I come across lots of history, from ancient (you know, around 1980-mumble) to modern, I found a couple of really nifty websites dedicated to ASCii art.

And we’re talking some REAL art here, not pathetic boob shaking emoticons. First have a look at Joan Stark’s outstanding ASCii cartoon art. Afr

After that, have a go at turning your face (or any other photo you like) into an ASCii portrait. When you’re done playing with that, you can peruse numerous ASCii art galleries out there, of which this is just one.

So, take a moment to reflect on the humble little :-)
He’s come a long way, baby.

Check out this awesome billboard by Berger Paints.