Hello, tentacle fans. As you may have noticed, I have (sadly) been unable to update this blog as frequently as I would like. Today in Tentacles? More like Annually in Tentacles. And that has no ring to it at all.
I've decided to experiment with Tumblr, which makes it easier to upload images (blogger requires more clicks to deal with the spacing). We'll see how this goes.
Please adjust your RSS feeds to: TodayInTentacles.Tumblr.com!
20091016
20090513
Tentacle Pizza
No, really. They have a pizza with calamari on it. And I don't even eat calamari.
That's right, I do not dine upon tentacles.
Ignazio's Pizza in DUMBO, discovered by Chassy on a menu in our wacky office.
That's right, I do not dine upon tentacles.
Ignazio's Pizza in DUMBO, discovered by Chassy on a menu in our wacky office.
20090504
Tabular Tentacles
Chul An Kwak, a Korean designer, created these tables to inject more emotion into what he sees an otherwise static aspect of our lives. Which is kind of beautiful, actually.
I think these are the bees' knees. Or rather, the octopus' kneew.
At Boing Boing and Nerve.com and a bunch of other places. Sent in by @publichistorian and Jonathan Harford, because you all know me so very well.
20090430
Dumpling Tentacle
They call it a "dumpling squid." I kind of wish I were this squid. Although it's a bit smug.
From Redbubble.com, by James Peak. Found by my stupid friend Max, who was clearly making fun of me.
From Redbubble.com, by James Peak. Found by my stupid friend Max, who was clearly making fun of me.
20090427
Tentacle Terror!
More fabulous tentacle fashions, this time by Hogboy. Sometimes I feel as though I could wear tentacle threads head to toe, 365 days a year. Plus accessories and leap day!
Not a bad idea.
Via Threadless and thanks to Dan, who thinks I'm weird.
Not a bad idea.
Via Threadless and thanks to Dan, who thinks I'm weird.
20090425
Alma Mater Tentacles
Glass Sea Creatures Shatter Expectations of Harvard Museum Visitors
by Michelle Hunter
2/12/2009
CAMBRIDGE - The spineless sea creatures on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History look as though they were once alive. They don't look like they were hand made, and crafted more than a century ago. Yet for the first time, Harvard is displaying its incredible collection of "Sea Creatures in Glass."
The collection of glass sea creatures by father and son duo, Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, were acquired by Harvard University around 1878. Fifty-eight of Harvard's 429 glass sea creature models are on display at the museum's special exhibit, which is on until March 1.
"I never would have guessed that these models were over 100 years old," said Suet Wong, a Northeastern University student visiting the museum.
The intricacy of each jellyfish, amoeba and octopus model demonstrates the preciseness and complexity each one required to be made. But why glass? The glass models were preferred to real specimens, traditionally kept in formaldehyde, because they kept their color and would also never lose their shape - as specimens do when they sink to the bottom of the jars they're kept in, explained Blue Magruder, the museum's director of communications.
With tools that were big and awkward, nothing like modern technology that glass makers use today, the Blaschkas fused and glued glass together and created their own pigments by melting colored stone. They would also use copper wire for certain models for tentacles that were too fine to be made of glass.
"It's exciting that the models are both beautiful, exquisite works of glass art, as well as anatomically precise and scientifically valuable teaching models of marine creatures which can be so difficult to preserve and display," said Elisabeth Werby, the executive director of the museum.
This special exhibit also displays the original work station and tools the Blaschkas used to create these delicate models.
"These are the tools they used. These are tools you would pluck your eyebrows with. It was human skill," said Magruder.
The museum exhibit provides an extensive background on the Blaschka family, who had a long history of glassmaking. The family actually got its start in the business by making glass eyeballs. As the family business succeeded, Leopold Blaschka (1822-1895) the fourth generation and father to partner and son Rudolf (1857-1929), decided to create sculptures of living organisms that would document natural history, which was becoming a popular field at that time. The family commissioned invertebrate to museums and educational facilities throughout Europe.
"I can't believe that the museum had these special artifacts hidden away in the back," said Carly Yarbrow, a student at Quinnipiac University.
As museums and private collectors began to buy the Blaschkas' work, which also included replicas of plants and flowers, the glass works caught the attention of a botany professor at Harvard, George Lincoln Goodale. He thought that these may be an excellent way to teach the students about flowers because the glass would not lose its shape or color and would remain three dimensional.
"The Blaschkas made over 4,000 plant models for Harvard University," said Magruder. "It took them over 10 years to get some of the colors to be exactly of the real specimen's."
The plant exhibit has been permanently on at Harvard since 1893 and people have come from all over the world to see it.
As for the sea creatures, they are not permanently on display and will go back in to storage with the rest of the collection in March. However, works for a smaller, permanent installation of the sea creatures are being discussed, said Werby.
From the boring-sounding Journalism Students' Online News Service
by Michelle Hunter
2/12/2009
The collection of glass sea creatures by father and son duo, Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, were acquired by Harvard University around 1878. Fifty-eight of Harvard's 429 glass sea creature models are on display at the museum's special exhibit, which is on until March 1.
"I never would have guessed that these models were over 100 years old," said Suet Wong, a Northeastern University student visiting the museum.
The intricacy of each jellyfish, amoeba and octopus model demonstrates the preciseness and complexity each one required to be made. But why glass? The glass models were preferred to real specimens, traditionally kept in formaldehyde, because they kept their color and would also never lose their shape - as specimens do when they sink to the bottom of the jars they're kept in, explained Blue Magruder, the museum's director of communications.
With tools that were big and awkward, nothing like modern technology that glass makers use today, the Blaschkas fused and glued glass together and created their own pigments by melting colored stone. They would also use copper wire for certain models for tentacles that were too fine to be made of glass.
"It's exciting that the models are both beautiful, exquisite works of glass art, as well as anatomically precise and scientifically valuable teaching models of marine creatures which can be so difficult to preserve and display," said Elisabeth Werby, the executive director of the museum.
This special exhibit also displays the original work station and tools the Blaschkas used to create these delicate models.
"These are the tools they used. These are tools you would pluck your eyebrows with. It was human skill," said Magruder.
The museum exhibit provides an extensive background on the Blaschka family, who had a long history of glassmaking. The family actually got its start in the business by making glass eyeballs. As the family business succeeded, Leopold Blaschka (1822-1895) the fourth generation and father to partner and son Rudolf (1857-1929), decided to create sculptures of living organisms that would document natural history, which was becoming a popular field at that time. The family commissioned invertebrate to museums and educational facilities throughout Europe.
"I can't believe that the museum had these special artifacts hidden away in the back," said Carly Yarbrow, a student at Quinnipiac University.
As museums and private collectors began to buy the Blaschkas' work, which also included replicas of plants and flowers, the glass works caught the attention of a botany professor at Harvard, George Lincoln Goodale. He thought that these may be an excellent way to teach the students about flowers because the glass would not lose its shape or color and would remain three dimensional.
"The Blaschkas made over 4,000 plant models for Harvard University," said Magruder. "It took them over 10 years to get some of the colors to be exactly of the real specimen's."
The plant exhibit has been permanently on at Harvard since 1893 and people have come from all over the world to see it.
As for the sea creatures, they are not permanently on display and will go back in to storage with the rest of the collection in March. However, works for a smaller, permanent installation of the sea creatures are being discussed, said Werby.
From the boring-sounding Journalism Students' Online News Service
20090412
High Art Tentacles
Yet another beautiful piece - this one by Sven Atema. I can't reproduce the images here, but click through to his website: http://www.svenatema.com/
Select sculpture, and feast your eyes on the first two images. They're two different views of a gorgeous bronze tentacle sculpture.
Select sculpture, and feast your eyes on the first two images. They're two different views of a gorgeous bronze tentacle sculpture.
20090411
Meaty Tentacles
The headline for this one is "Redneck Sushi." The best part about it is that it's made by a brilliant artist for himself - not for a child. I will admit that I could never cut hot dogs so delicately.
From SuperTouchArt, found by Tentacle fan Katherine
From SuperTouchArt, found by Tentacle fan Katherine
Poke-Twitter-Tentacles
I never followed Pokemon, but apparently many of the creatures are now on Twitter, including this guy - Tentacruel.
Tweet your tentacles away!
Tweet your tentacles away!
More Tentacles Than You Ever Imagined
The oh-so-necessary
Tentacle Flickr Pool
- officially entitled "Welcome, Squid Overlords."
Hours of squiddy fun!
Tentacle Flickr Pool
- officially entitled "Welcome, Squid Overlords."
Hours of squiddy fun!
iTentacles
Squid iphone case! Most tragically, it's already sold out.
Via Laughing Squid, as sold by Hine Mizushima.
Via Laughing Squid, as sold by Hine Mizushima.
20090329
Japanese Tentacle Advertisements
Things I like:
1. Advertising
2. Japan
3. Tentacles
1. Advertising
2. Japan
3. Tentacles
The city of Hakodate, Japan has been producing official tourism videos unlike any you’ve ever seen before — action-packed affairs starring famous landmarks as giant robots that battle a runaway mechanical squid hijacked by vengeful aliens.
The first video begins with an interesting factoid: According to a survey of 100 aliens, Hakodate is the number one city they would most like to invade.
Via Pink Tentacle20090325
Pretend Video Game Tentacles
I can't say I really understand this one, but the wacky video game octopuses/octopi/octopodes are *amazing. Yes, you must watch all 12 minutes. There's some good octopus action around the 3 minute mark, and plenty more where that came from.
Via Elliot. Because he's weird.
Via Elliot. Because he's weird.
20090324
Ancient Tentacle Games
Behold the greatness that is Utagawa Kuniyoshi, who has an exhibit at the Royal Academy (in the UK). They call him "Manga master of the 19th century."
This work is entitled Octopus games, dating from 1840-42. Definitely better than Rudolph's reindeer games.
Photograph from the American Friends of the British Museum (The Arthur R Miller Collection)
Via the UK Guardian. Thanks to n8!
This work is entitled Octopus games, dating from 1840-42. Definitely better than Rudolph's reindeer games.
Photograph from the American Friends of the British Museum (The Arthur R Miller Collection)
Via the UK Guardian. Thanks to n8!
20090323
Baby Tentacles
Guest blogger Aaron Muszalski on Laughing Squid says it best when he writes:
American sculptor Daniel Edwards, best known for his often controversial depictions of celebrities and other figures from popular culture, has produced a sculpture inspired by Nadya Suleman, aka “OctoMom”, the California woman who recently gave birth to octuplets. The sculpture is entitled “String of Babies, holds a baby bottle upright” and depicts Ms. Suleman as a disembodied cephalopod, beatifically embracing her brood with her hot pink tentacles.
From the always-essential Laughing Squid
American sculptor Daniel Edwards, best known for his often controversial depictions of celebrities and other figures from popular culture, has produced a sculpture inspired by Nadya Suleman, aka “OctoMom”, the California woman who recently gave birth to octuplets. The sculpture is entitled “String of Babies, holds a baby bottle upright” and depicts Ms. Suleman as a disembodied cephalopod, beatifically embracing her brood with her hot pink tentacles.
From the always-essential Laughing Squid
20090317
Beware of Tentacles
Signs warning of poisonous jellyfish, ostensibly in Australia.
Read the full article about box jellyfish at The Gladstone Observer.
Don't Touch a Tentacle
Kiss a Jellyfish and Live to Tell About It!
March 14
Monica Bryant
Oceanic adventures abound from kitesurfing and windsurfing to snorkeling and scuba diving. But nothing puts a damper on a great adventure like getting stung by a jellyfish, unless, of course, you know how to handle one. Then jellyfish can become part of your adventure! For beachgoers, the possibility of a shark sighting may be on the minds of some, but chances are pretty slim that one will be spotted. Jellyfish sightings, on the other hand, are not so rare an occurrence.
.jpg)
March 14
Monica Bryant
Oceanic adventures abound from kitesurfing and windsurfing to snorkeling and scuba diving. But nothing puts a damper on a great adventure like getting stung by a jellyfish, unless, of course, you know how to handle one. Then jellyfish can become part of your adventure! For beachgoers, the possibility of a shark sighting may be on the minds of some, but chances are pretty slim that one will be spotted. Jellyfish sightings, on the other hand, are not so rare an occurrence.
.jpg)
Most people equate jellyfish with warnings like “Beware!” “Don’t step on it!” and “Touch it and you’ll be in the hospital!”. Rightly so. Jellyfish may be 95% water, but they can pack a painful and dangerous sting. The average person, though, has never heard how to safely handle a jellyfish. Before working a short stint at a local aquarium, I had never heard either. In fact, a recent internet search I did on the subject turned up little. So, consider yourself in an elite group.
Now that you're overcome with curiosity, here's the "fun fact" that few beachgoers are privy to: Only the tentacles of a jellyfish sting. The dome-shaped part of the jellyfish (called the bell or hood) can actually be touched. The president of the Lebanese Union of Divers, Mohammed al-Sarji, even goes so far as to kiss them! Personally, I like to keep my face a safe distance away. Jellyfish tentacles can be extremely long and they have a way of floating all over the place. (Apparently, the largest jellyfish can reach 8ft. in diameter with tentacles as long as half the length of a football field!)
Now before you set out to make “jellyfish-handling” the next great reality t.v. show, remember to exercise caution and common sense. This tidbit of information should not to be taken lightly. Picking up a jellyfish washed up on the shore is one thing. By the time you see one in the ocean, it’s tentacles may have already reached you. If you or someone you know has the misfortune of being stung by one, experts recommend washing off any tentacles with salt water or removing the tentacles with tweezers and then treating the affected area with vinegar to neutralize the toxin.
Now you've been informed and warned... so this summer when you want to impress your friends, you can courageously demonstrate how to handle a jellyfish and live to tell the tale!
From Examiner.com.
From Examiner.com.
Excellent Tentacle Taste
Via the messy web of the internet, I bring you another Octopus necklace.
On Flickr via the owner's Twitter account, as reposted by another who asked how to avoid tangled necklaces when traveling.
On Flickr via the owner's Twitter account, as reposted by another who asked how to avoid tangled necklaces when traveling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
