WEEKEND ROUNDUP: 7/9 – 7/10 | Superheroes waterski at Sea World in the 1970s. Photographer unknown (via Leigh Walton).
Synthpop legend Thomas Dolby takes us to a dieselpunk dystopia for his first studio album in 20 years
https://gizmodo.com/synthpop-legend-thomas-dolby-takes-us-to-a-dieselpunk-d-5819806
After becoming famous for such hits as 1982’s “She Blinded Me With Science,” synthesizer maestro Thomas Dolby spent 20+ years in the private sector inventing new digital music technologies. Now Dolby’s getting back to his electronic music roots with his new album, the dieselpunk-inflected A Map of the Floating City. More »
The entire plot of Harry Potter on a single poster
https://gizmodo.com/the-entire-plot-of-harry-potter-on-a-single-poster-5819512
Cartoonist Lucy Knisley has finished her Harry Potter poster project, summarizing the series in eight comic posters poking loving fun at the books. She’s also amassed one mega-poster with the entire synopsis. Behold the “Sumharry!” More »
Taiwan’s funeral strippers dance for a dead crowd
https://gizmodo.com/taiwans-funeral-strippers-dance-for-a-dead-crowd-5819625
Should you meet your demise in Taiwan, a funerary option open to you is the Electric Flower Car (EFC), a wheeled, neon-lit platform upon which pulchritudinous women strip down to their skivvies for the benefit of audiences…both living and deceased. More »
The Lizard Man is terrorizing South Carolina again
https://gizmodo.com/the-lizard-man-is-terrorizing-south-carolina-again-5819665
In 1988, Bishopville, South Carolina fell under the thrall of a dark and handsome Lizard Man. After being out of the limelight for 20+ years, the Lizard Man’s returned to carve up random automobiles and shards of metal. Local news anchors were on hand to welcome his scaly excellence. Don’t call it a comeback! More »
30 Comic-Con exclusive toys you’ll sell your organs for
https://gizmodo.com/30-comic-con-exclusive-toys-youll-sell-your-organs-for-5819583
The cruel economics of Comic-Con dictate that gee-whiz collectibles (produced in ludicrously small quantities) will be rewarded to those who make the pilgrimage to San Diego. Here are the 2011 exclusives destined to whip convention-goers into a rampage. More »
Physics exonerates baseball players’ corked bats
https://gizmodo.com/physics-exonerates-baseball-players-corked-bats-5819596
After many carefully controlled collisions and hours of video of bats striking balls, a group of physicists at Washington State University came to the conclusion that the relationship between a baseball and a bat was inelastic. More »
Beware the cardboard kaiju of Argentina
https://gizmodo.com/beware-the-cardboard-kaiju-of-argentina-5819695
In August 2006, designer Pablo Curutchet placed a 28-foot-tall, 882-pound cardboard box golem leering at pedestrians in Cordoba, Argentina. Unfortunately for this giant, a steady rain could spell the end of his reign of terror. More »
Infographic lays out your chances of surviving an Alien vs. Predator film
https://gizmodo.com/infographic-lays-out-your-chances-of-surviving-an-alien-5819699
Steven Taubman’s handy infographic breaks down your chances of survival should you be caught in the middle of an Alien Vs. Predator film (although I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the “facehugger deflection via paper bag” technique). More »
This is the first ever photo of a fish using tools
https://gizmodo.com/this-is-the-first-ever-photo-of-a-fish-using-tools-5819728
This blackspot tuskfish, found in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, held a clam in its mouth and smashed it against a rock to reach the food inside. This photo is the first incontrovertible proof that fish are capable of tool use. More »
Perhaps the least enthusiastic rendition of Thriller ever performed
https://gizmodo.com/perhaps-the-least-enthusiastic-rendition-of-thriller-ev-5819740
At last month’s Denver Pridefest, a trio of dancers reenacted Michael Jackson’s zombie-stomp number “Thriller.” The performance would’ve been otherwise serviceable if it hadn’t been for a flailing werewolf who appeared perpetually on the verge of forgetting his choreography. More »
Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms rediscovered after 170 years
https://gizmodo.com/glow-in-the-dark-mushrooms-rediscovered-after-170-years-5819729
In 1840, English botanist George Gardner was traveling in Brazil. One night, he noticed some boys playing with a strange, glowing object. To his shock, he had encountered a bioluminescent mushroom. It’s only taken 170 years to find some more. More »
Watch 155 seconds of Robin screaming “Holy [Fill in the blank]”
https://gizmodo.com/watch-155-seconds-of-robin-screaming-holy-fill-in-the-5819755
Some intrepid soul has cobbled together a supercut of Casey Kasem yelping for two and a half minutes as the Boy Wonder on the 1960s Batman cartoons. And for posterity’s sake, here’s Burt Ward losing his mind for 143 seconds. More »
Tally-ho, old bean, might that be a Star Destroyer on horizon?
https://gizmodo.com/tally-ho-old-bean-might-that-be-a-star-destroyer-on-h-5819758
Reddit user DoubleChops decided that John Constable’s 1825 painting “Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Garden” didn’t have enough Star Destroyers. So he rectified that shit. More »
Check out Peter Jackson’s new video blog from the set of The Hobbit
https://gizmodo.com/check-out-peter-jacksons-new-video-blog-from-the-set-of-5819772
After teasing us with his first vlog (I hate that word) from Tolkienesque New Zealand, Peter Jackson’s posted a new clip jam-packed with cinematic goodies. Check out Andy Serkis Golluming it up, Jackson scouting shoot locations, and much more. More »
