Laughing Squid

Giant Cardboard Robot

Today I went to Maker Faire Bay Area 2013 with my mom, my daughter and some friends and really had a blast. The festival also runs on Sunday May 19th, so if you’re in the area, you still have time to head down to the San Mateo County Event Center for the fun. Tickets are now on sale.

Here’s some photos from our day:

Wookie babee by Fat Rabbit Farm

DeLorean Hovercraft

Snail Mail plush by Claire Sanders of Fluff Engine

Jack SparX

Sashimi Tabernacle Choir

Crocheted baby cap that looks like a boob by Ruth Tillman of The Enchanted Square

Motorized cupcake

My daughter SJ making an LED pinnie at Google+ Maker Camp

Our friend Claire made a wallet out of duct tape, photo by Terry Ewing

Ran into my friend Devon McGuire of Maker Media, photo by Terry Ewing

My entire set of photos from Maker Faire Bay Area 2013:

photos by Rusty Blazenhoff unless otherwise noted

Machu Picchu, Peru

In his “Tilt Shift” series, photographer Richard Silver uses a digital tilt-shift effect to turn world landmarks into miniatures. For another interesting digital photo project by Silver, check out the “New York Sliced” series.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico

The White House, Washington, D.C.

Teotihuacan, Mexico

The Great Wall of China

The US Open, New York City

via PetaPixel

Canvas is a picture of a chair that also happens to be a functioning chair. The chair consists of a frame of elastic fabric with the image of a chair printed on it. When the frame is leaned against a wall, a person can sit against the fabric, which conforms to their shape. The Canvas series includes a stool, armchair, and sofa. The series was created by designers Naoki Ono and Yuki Yamamoto of Tokyo-based studio YOY.

photos by Yasuko Furukawa

via designboom

John Law holding a copy of ‘Tales of the San Francisco Cacophony Society‘, photo by Eddie Codel

To celebrate the release of Tales of the San Francisco Cacophony Society, the book that chronicles the “strange but true” history of the influential collective known as the San Francisco Cacophony Society, a launch party was held on May 16, 2013 at City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, California.

Our Contributing Writer-at-Large mikl-em writes:

So, last night, WOW what a party. The Book Launch at City Lights was sensational. Cacophonists of every generation were out in force, it was packed with so many incredible people, many of whom hadn’t seen each other in years–some in decades. There were numerous amazing readings from the book on Marcel Proust and Car Hunts and much more…

An ingenious bit of rigging and line-running brought the miracle of audio and video to Jack Kerouac alley for the overflow crowd. And the lucky stiffs with stiff drinks on the second floor of Vesuvio next door got to see the action that way, too.

And I’m thrilled to report that City Lights completely sold out of Tales books before the readings even happened. Then Last Gasp brought a bunch more which also all sold out by night’s end! I think we have a hit on our hands, folks.

Here’s a look at some photos from the fun-filled night:

Laughing Squid’s Contributing Writer-at-Large mikl-em “protesting” the book.

“Hand of Power” by Rev. Al Ridenour (1992) at the Cacophony Society art show at Vesuvio Cafe

Elisa Suetake and Vinnie Pescado holding tiny protest signs.

Protesters with signs that read: “Stop the Weirdness” and “God Hates Facts”

Old school cacophonists Rusty Blazenhoff and Danger Ranger, photo by Terry Ewing

Rusty Blazenhoff and Frank Chu (who is holding the sign that Laughing Squid sponsors)., photo by Jason Schupp

A note about the shirt I’m wearing: In 1997, I found a box of buttons that read “Eat Fuck Kill” at the flea market (they are from a 1995 movie called The Doom Generation) and distributed them at Burning Man later that year. They were a huge hit and, to this day, coveted by those who kept them (I still hear “I have mine.”). In 1998, I silkscreened this shirt and it’s been in storage since wearing it once that year. I also made stickers and handed those out the same year. Later, other versions of the button started popping up, like “Eat Fuck Chill” and more.

Tales of the San Francisco Cacophony Society is now available to purchase at Last Gasp.

photos by Rusty Blazenhoff unless otherwise credited

photo by Elvert Xavier Barnes

“Callinectes Douglassi” is a giant stained glass sculpture of a Chesapeake blue crab at Baltimore Washington International Airport. The 10-foot-wide, 500 pound crab was created back in 1984 by artist Jackie Leatherbury Douglass in collaboration with her husband, John Douglass. For more on the sculpture, see this article by The Baltimore Sun and this photo gallery by Elvert Xavier Barnes.

photo by Scotto Bear

photo by Michael Spry

photo by Elvert Xavier Barnes

via The Baltimore Sun, Twisted Sifter

Russian artist Petro Wodkins made a gold statue depicting himself urinating, and installed it in front of the Brussels landmark, Mannekin Pis, a 17th century statue of a urinating boy. Wodkins’ statue, entitled “Pissing Petro,” was seized by police shortly after Wodkins installed it in broad daylight.

photo and video via Petro Wodkins

via Wooster Collective

Oh, just a ridiculously cute video of Pancake the big-eyed flat-faced kitten nibbling a wedge of watermelon for the first time and mewing adorably.

photo and video by SweetFurx4 =^_^=

via Have you seen this?!