A surreal and supremely inane compendium of miscellaneous knowledge, Vol 7

Free ebook — The Janus Syndrome, by Steven E. McDonald. “A freewheeling intergalactic agent trained to troubleshoot the hot spots of space… wild escapades that find him fending off the advances of a bevy of extraterrestrial beauties, fighting shoulder to tentacle with a madcap collection of alien companions … leading to an all out war against the deadliest beings in the universe — a race known only as The Enemy.”

Extraordinarily handsome-looking stringed instruments made from lunch boxes, cookie tins, and cigar boxes. (Via Makezine)

Homeland Security forbids Canadian cartoonist from pitching stories in United States. I feel safer!

1923 comic strip: How to be a successful comic artist.

Interview with Fletcher Hanks biographer Paul Karasik.

Photos of flowers reflected in drops of water on plants. (Via Arbroath)

NYT on psychological phenomenon of “priming” — “people tidy up more thoroughly when there’s a faint tang of cleaning liquid in the air; they become more competitive if there’s a briefcase in sight, or more cooperative if they glimpse words like “dependable” and “support” – all without being aware of the change, or what prompted it.” (illo by Jason Mecier)

New hotel security technology: retractable doorknob. (Via Grow-a-brain)

Artur Bergman writes about his first flight on Virgin America. “If you build a playlist from the 3,000 mp3s on board, the reservation system will remember it and pre-load it the next time you board.”

“Toothbrush can redirect water from a faucet to your lips for easy rinsing.”