As dalek cakes go, this banana-caramel one with moving platform is a doozy. Link.
Like so many Rodent-American actors before him, "Dramatic Chipmunk" got his start in Japanese TV, trying to out-squeal the ladies. Video Link to clip from the program "Mini Moni," jump to about 2:43 to see his television origins.
Gigantomongous grasshoppers, known locally as "lubbers," invade Florida city: Link. Some children are afraid to play outside, according to news reports, and who can blame them? The money quote:
"It's like trying to stop the wind," said David Shibles, a horticulturist with the Polk County extension office. "If you find them, you need to kill them."
Washington Post runs four-part series on why Dick Cheney is the evilest vice president ever: Link (via Threat Level).
Ever wondered what an authentic LA lowrider car show looks like? Link to LA Weekly photo series shot yesterday. Includes Mexi-kitsch transformer cars, Aztec titties, velvet motors, and a golden tricycle. When I die, I intend to scoot around in heaven on one of these.
Gold statue of David Beckham statue placed on altar at Buddhist temple in Bangkok: Link. Not the first time, actually — happened back in 2000, also. Earlier stories of a Beckham idol at a shrine on Japan's Awajishima Island are said to be apocryphal, but he was immortalized in chocolate, in Tokyo, for World Cup 2002: Link.
Rediscovered photo of Laugh Out Loud Cats' creator: Link. (Previous posts: 1, 2, 3)
"Where the Wild Things Are" garden, recreated IRL: Link, and here is MOAR.
China's Three Gorges Dam is said to be changing weather patterns throughout the region: Link.
Wil Wheaton recently welcomed Gene Roddenberry into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Link.
"The Cloud is a speculative design for a resort city elevated 300 metres in the air above Dubai and supported on slanting legs resembling rain." Link.
Washing machines in concert: Link.
(Thanks, Eric, Avi Solomon, Mark Mauer, Chris, Ape Lad, José Leitão, Alex, Kier Smith, John, Marco, Matthew Sokoloff)
Reader comment: David Fischer says,
Regarding the origins of the Rodent clip – Mini-Moni isn't
a show, it's a singing group. They were a side-project of
Morning Musume, and they showed up on Momusu's TV show a lot.
Mini-Moni were the pinnacle of suger-overdosed jpop for children: Video link 1, Video link 2, Video link 3.
I sincerely hope that when the alien archeologists start digging
through the scorched remains of Earth, a Mini-Moni CD is their
first evidence of what humans were like.