Monday links

That time Columbus tricked Jamaicans into providing supplies using knowledge of an upcoming eclipse. Related; Columbus has been cleared of importing syphilis from the Americas to Europe.

Why Are Plastic Army Men Still from World War II?

Painting 'Zebra Stripes' on Cows Wards Off Biting Flies.

Physiognomy of eyebrows: everything you wanted to know about eyebrow interpretation from the 16th century.

The Behind-the-Scenes Quest to Find Mister Rogers’s Signature Cardigans - his mother knitted them for him, and he wore those for another 10 years after his death. They were not easy to replace.

Scientists Try to Make a Knife out of Frozen Human Poop.

ICYMI, most recent links are here, and include how ancient Greeks dig a 4000-foot tunnel from both ends and met exactly in the middle (200 years before Euclid), the invention of rock, paper, scissors (and how to win), awkward Russian food art, typewriter evolution, and the ownership of the North Pole.

Monday links

In honor of Robert Frost's birthday ("Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice..."), here's How The World Will End, According To 1939.

Why we cross our fingers.

Sounds like a Hitchcock (or maybe SyFy) movie: 20,000 Bees Chased a Car for 24 Hours to Rescue Their Trapped Queen Bee.

How Cheese, Wheat and Alcohol Shaped Human Evolution.

10 Dangerous Toys from Decades Past (and the Commercials That Sold Them)

You Can Now Buy Your Very Own F-4 Phantom Fighter Jet for a Total Steal.

ICYMI, Friday's links are here, and include a comprehensive breakdown of how much a person will poo in their lifetime, why UPS trucks (mostly) don't turn left, 17th century London weather, and how to make beer in space.  

Plastic prophets: artists create religious Barbie and Ken mods, "plan to skip Muhammad"

Argentinian artists Marianela Perelli and Pool Paolini will show their Barbie and Ken dolls modeled after religious figures at an Oct. 11 show titled, "Barbie, The Plastic Religion." I don't have a problem with this in principle - I've had a Dashboard Jesus in my car for years. The crucifixion version (at the bottom of this post), though, is a bit much.

Apparently they're smart enough not to take on the "religion of peace":

Pools also explained they have “nothing against religion” and were even careful about respecting all beliefs. The pair is working on Islam figurines and plans to skip representing Muhammad, as this religion condemns representing the prophet.

BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 23 (UPI): A pair of Argentinean artists are courting controversy with a series of Barbie and Ken dolls modeled after religious icons including Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.

Marianela Perelli and Pool Paolini posted photos online featuring Mattel's famous plastic couple as religious figures complete with boxes explaining their intended identities.

The artists said the dolls will be displayed Oct. 11 at an exhibition titled "Barbie, The Plastic Religion" in Buenos Aires.

The 33 dolls feature icons from religions including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism.

"If there's a Barbie doctor, a teacher and a police officer, why shouldn't there be a Virgin of Lujan Barbie?" the artists said on their Facebook page.

Today is National Play-Doh Day

Mental Floss has 10 Fun Facts for National Play-Doh Day.

When my kids were little, and then when my grandkids were little, I used to make playdough for them from flour, salt, oil, water cream of tartar and food coloring.  You can make a really large amount cheaply. You still have to buy the toys to mold stuff; my personal favorite is the dentist set - Dr. Drill N' Fill:

Spoof of movies based on 80's toys: Literally Everything Else From Your Childhood: The Movie

Parody movie trailer from The Wil Wheaton Project:

Reminds me of this excellent live-action trailer from a few years ago - My Little Pony: Reign of Buttercup Sprinkles.

What if Every Little Girls Dream Became Mankind's Worse Nightmare?

via Neatorama

Tired of losing Nerf wars to superior weapons? Check out the Nerf Nuke

For your next Nerf battle:



This was ThinkGeek's April Fools' Day joke this year, and unfortunately is not actually available.  Yet.