Everchanging Wallnado

That’s another name for this product that I just made up! I mean the name, that is, this concept was designed by the incomparable Amirko, and it’s real name is “Change It!” Ohh scoop it! It’s one big wall of turn-triangles. Each of these triangles has different colors on them – white – black – and a slightly unique rainbow shade. As you can see in the first picture here, when the color is on full blast, it makes a mural all it’s own.

What combination of madness can be made? Choose your own adventure!

For now it’s the colors as explained above. In the future it might have any number of different choices for the sides – lights, materials, typography, body parts, animal fur, whatever!

Designer: Amirko aka Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov

Using an iPhone, citizens can access this easy-to-use interface to the City of Portland’s issue reporting infrastructure. Citizens select the type of issue to report, take a photo (or upload an existing one), geo-locate the issue via GPS or interactive map, add comments, and send their report directly to the responsible bureau for resolution. Citizens can also view issues they have previously submitted and check the status or resolution of the issue.

Another of example of forward-thinking from Portland as this new iPhone app allows residents to photograph, geo-tag, and report issues ranging from potholes and broken traffic lights to graffiti.

Sinatra “My Way” Karaoke Killings Plague Philippines Bar Scene

Apparently, when people sing Sinatra’s My Way in a Philippines karoake bar, and they sing it poorly, they die.

The epidemic’s gotten so bad, in fact, that local law enforcement started calling it the “My Way Killings.”

No one really know why dozens have died over the past decade while warbling to one of Sinatra’s greatest hits, just that they have, and after this specific song. Is it bad singing? Traditionally violent streets being traditionally violent streets? Die hard Sinatra fans exacting their revenge on newbs who butcher the greats? Possibly. Karaoke is huge in the region, with machines popping up everywhere, from bars to alleyways (as you can see from the image). Combine that with high crime and a fanatical love of Frank Sinatra and you could have just the right mix for a kill (the audience with your talent) or be killed (by the audience for sucking) atmosphere.

One thing’s for sure: This guy should stay the hell away form the Philippines. [NYT]

Artist Caleb Larsen has created an art sculpture which, when connected to the Internet, perpetually attempts to sell itself on eBay.

Combining Robert Morris’ Box With the Sound of Its Own Making with Baudrillard’s writing on the art auction this sculpture exists in eternal transactional flux. It is a physical sculpture that is perpetually attempting to auction itself on eBay.

Every ten minutes the black box pings a server on the internet via the ethernet connection to check if it is for sale on the eBay. If its auction has ended or it has sold, it automatically creates a new auction of itself.

If a person buys it on eBay, the current owner is required to send it to the new owner. The new owner must then plug it into ethernet, and the cycle repeats itself.

Japanese sneaker brand Onitsuka Tiger has just completed a set of shoe sculptures, each of which represents different elements of Japanese culture. Created in a traditional workshop from carved wooden boxes and drawers, the latest piece from the series honours “Tansu” (the tradition of carpentry). Fans can head over to onitsukatiger.com to interact with the sculpture and discover stories, photos, films and more, which are contained within the boxes. Meanwhile the physical sculpture continues its tour around Onitsuka retailers, with the next stop being Offspring (within Selfridges), London.

Google Hacked the Chinese Hackers Right Back

One of the cooler stories out the whole Google-China debacle is that Google hacked the hackers. It “began a secret counteroffensive,” breaking into a computer in Taiwan, gathering evidence the attacks originated from mainland China, possibly orchestrated by the government.

Google’s delta force found evidence that the hackers had attacked 33 other companies, like Adobe, and that the onslaught actually came from China, not Taiwan. More to the point, “much of the evidence, including the sophistication of the attacks, strongly suggested an operation run by Chinese government agencies, or at least approved by them.” Unfortunately, Google can’t prove the Chinese government’s involvement 100 percent, which is why the Obama administration is pussy-footing around the issue.

Still, it’s pretty awesome: If you hack Google, they will hack your ass right back. [NYT]

Professional Bigot Pat Robertson Does It Again

13 Jan 2010 03:03 pm

Here’s Pat Robertson equating an attempt by slaves to claim their freedom with “a pact with the devil:”

“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it,” he said on Christian Broadcasting Network’s “The 700 Club.” “They were under the heal [heel] of the French. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it’s a deal.”

The next time your wondering why there are so few black Republicans, consider the fact this unreconstructed Confederate was not long ago one of their greatest crusaders. Consider that he is equating the resistance of slavery, with a rejection of Christ. And there’s an African-American right next to him, nodding in agreement.

Fuck Pat Robertson. Fuck the “Christian” Broadcasting Network. And fuck any black person who’d nod reverently while a white supremacist slanders our founding fathers. She should be ashamed of herself.

January 13, 2010 by Samuel Axon

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Haiti Earthquake Relief: 9 Ways to Help Now

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Want to help the people of Haiti who lost homes, friends and family members in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake yesterday? Well, there are several places online where you can easily and quickly donate without even leaving your desk.

Be careful, though. Some callous people have set up fake charities soliciting donations that won’t really help anyone. The U.S. Better Business Bureau runs a site where U.S. donors can verify that a nonprofit is legit before donating.

Donate on the Web

You have a lot of options on the web; here’s our list of trusted organizations. All of them will accept credit card donations through online forms.

The American Jewish World Service has set up the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to respond to the crisis by supporting a network of organizations it works with.

AmeriCares has pledged $5 million to Haitian quake relief, and is soliciting donations to a general emergency disaster relief fund to help it accomplish that.

CARE is sending relief workers into the city of Port-au-Prince and needs funds to support its efforts. Suggested donations range from $50 to $1,000, but you can name your own amount if you prefer.

Catholic Relief Services has an office in Haiti, and luckily it’s still standing even though one of its neighbors collapsed. The organization is accepting donations of any amount.

Direct Relief International has committed up to $1 million in aid through two on-the-ground partners, and is sending containers of medical material aid.

Oxfam has 200 people on the ground to deal with the crisis, and began its efforts by trying to get clean water to victims of the quake. One of its staffers recorded a podcast describing the situation. You can donate on the American or UK site, depending on where you’re located.

Yele Haiti is sponsored by prominent Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean. You can donate through its website or via text message as described in the next segment.

UPDATE: Google Support Disaster Relief is a website GoogleGoogle

has updated to respond to the crisis. Google has promised $1 million in support, but the site is also an easy place to donate money to either UNICEF or CARE. It also provides hospital addresses and links to sources for news on the situation.

Donate With a Text Message

Musician Wyclef Jean has used TwitterTwitter

to rally web users to contribute to his grassroots Yele Haiti earthquake fund. He’s urged his followers to text “Yele” to the number 501501. If you send the text, the organization will receive $5. The amount will be added to your next cell phone bill. Consider retweeting Wyclef’s updatesDaily Updates

and get some of your Twitter followers to donate, too.

There’s another texting option spreading through Twitter. You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 via the Red Cross. Thanks to ABC News for pointing these out.

UPDATE: Reader Suggestions

Our readers have also suggested Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF and SOPUDEP for our readers in Canada, Ben Stiller’s stillerstrong.org, the United Nations World Food Program, an orphanage near the site called OASIS, the orphanage-supporting organization Hearts With Haiti, Partner’s in Health, Latter Day Saints Philanthropies, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, AMURT, Missionaries of the Poor, World Vision, Convoy of Hope, Compassion International, Episcopal Development & Relief, the Lambi Fund of Haiti, and Food for the Poor. We’re unable to investigate and verify all of these organizations, but feel free to look into them for yourself if you’re looking for other options.

Do you have any other ideas about how to help the people of Haiti? Let us and your fellow readers know in the comments.

[img credit: @CarelPedre and @MarvinAdy]

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Tags: charity, donate, Earthquake, haiti, oxfam, relief, trending, wyclef jean

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