Scientist turns human shit into burgers
““Sewage mud” is exactly what you think it is – poop. [Scientist] Ikeda’s process begins by extracting protein and lipids from the “mud.” The lipids are then combined with a reaction enhancer, then whipped into “meat” in an exploder. Ikeda then makes the poop more savory, by adding soya and steak sauce.”
Those crazy Japanese! It might help cut down on greenhouse gases though, so the environmentally minded among you should form an orderly queue. [Via MetaFilter]
17 Jun 2011
The most annoying adverts of June 2011
Lynx
This is everywhere at the moment, and it’s dire. The reason is neither the grating puerility of the concept, the always tiresome madonna/whore idealisation of the babes, or the fact that it’s a shameless rip off of a three year old viral smash. This is a Lynx advert, that’s par for the course. What’s awful about this is that it marks a shift in Lynx’s approach from wear this to attract babes and get laid, to wear this or you will be publically embarrassed and no one will sleep with you ever again. I’d rather be sweaty than bullied, thanks.
Google chrome
Is “I’ve been emailing you all your life” something any person wants to hear? I can’t wait until little Hollie is finally given access to her account and discovers 500 messages from her stalker Freudian nightmare of a father to wade through. What. Ever. You’re not doing it for her, dad, you’re doing it for you, to fulfil some cutesy sentimentalised notion of parenthood which places you and what you did and how great a parent you were at the centre of the parent/child relationship. Delete all.
Windows 7
An easy target, so lets get started. When Ikea had an advert in which they rebuilt someone’s kitchen for them without them knowing, it was pretty annoying. But at least the victim got a brand new kitchen. Windows have taken the same approach here, but instead of getting a new kitchen for their house the victim gets…a new computer showroom for their house. Riiiiiiiiight. Sorry, but what the hell is a computer showroom doing in my lounge? I like my lounge. I sit there to read and watch Eggheads. And you’ve gone and filled it with loads of computers I’ve already told you I don’t really want? Wtf?
Mazuma
That we’ve come to the point in the history of western society where tweenagers not only own phones, but are being explicitly invited to sell them in order to fund god knows what appalling habit, is a matter of deep regret. That the human brain is permeable to that repetitive jingle is a reproach to evolution. Ugh.
Direct Line
Feng Shui LOLs? They stopped being quirky and modish about ten years ago. I’ve no problem with comedians doing adverts, god knows I’d take the money if someone offered it me, but at least pay some lip service to cultural relevance. Feng shui indeed. I ask you.
17 Jun 2011
London agenda for Friday 17 June
1. Listen to a ‘rare live performances by groundbreaking ambient house duo Global Communication and The Radio Science Orchestra plus DJs Rob da Bank and Jon Hopkins’ colourful left field vibrations on the universe’ at Late at the Library [Le Cool]
2. Join an 18th Century-style literary salon with an evening of short stories written by local rabble-rousers, rebels & hell-raisers. Plus cake. Are you sitting comfortably? [Run Riot]
3. Sample some free ice cream on St Martins Lane at Dri Dri Gelato [Time Out]
4. Sweat over the history of the Turkish Bath in London [Ian Visits]
5. Buy drugs at D.R. Harris [Tired of London]
17 Jun 2011
She's No One by Plant Plants
London duo Stuart Francis and Howard Whatley, a.k.a. Plant Plants, are a relatively new proposition, having only formed in 2010 through a mutual love of ‘film scores, weird guitar tunings and heavy beats’. They seem to have found the ideal stable-mate for their brand of warped electronica meets melodic indie in the shape of Simian Mobile Disco’s Jas Shaw, who produced their self-titled debut EP. You can get your hands on it June 20th, via Less Music. In the meantime, bask in the dramatic, eastern-stylings of She’s No One. They play the Camden Barfly June 24th and the Hoxton Pony, June 30th.
16 Jun 2011
Americans no longer feel inferior when they hear a British accent
“Americans are happy to rate the English as more intelligent than themselves up until they actually start meeting and talking to the English.”
That’s the tongue in cheek suggestion here, along with data which suggests that the automatic respect accorded to the Brits over the pond is on the wane. Please don’t take away our Hollywood villain roles, America, they’re all we’ve got left!
16 Jun 2011
Bandying around some outrageous national stereotypes based on countries' choice of national birds
Antigua and Bermuda Magnificent Frigatebird Profoundly unserious
Australia Emu Athletic, but fundamentally unpleasant
Bangladesh Oriental Magpie Robin Charming but somewhat incoherent
Bhutan Common Raven Mysterious, and full of foreboding
China Red Crowned Crane Just pretending to be red
Denmark Mute Swan Better seen and not heard
France Gallic Rooster Insufferably arrogant
India Indian Peacock Intensely vibrant
Mauritius Dodo Worlds fail me
New Zealand Kiwi Essentially useless
Panama Harpy Eagle Wouldn’t want to meet one up a dark alley at night
Peru Andean Cock of the Rock Amazing
Sweden Common Blackbird Know their place
United Kingdom European Robin Insignificant, and cloyingly sentimental
United States Bald Eagle Big, but past their best
16 Jun 2011
Think London has too many coffee shops? You should have seen the 18th century
This map of c.1746 shows no fewer than 19 coffee shops squeezed between Cornhill and Lombard St in the City. Remarkable. Let’s learn something about them.
“There was a rabble going hither and thither, reminding me of a swarm of rats in a ruinous cheese-store. Some came, others went; some were scribbling, others were talking; some were drinking (coffee), some smoking, and some arguing; the whole place stank of tobacco like the cabin of a barge.”
That’s a description of a Starbucks from c.1700 by someone who didn’t enjoy his frappuccino. Coffee houses were not just meeting points, but also crucibles of debate. Here’s a rundown of notable locations.
The Grecian
A sciencey crowd, just off Fleet St: Isaac Newton, Edmund Halley, and the great Sir Hans Sloane used to come and shoot the breeze, while educated gentlemen sat around debating the Iliad. There’s a story here that two customers got into an argument about the correct accent of an ancient Greek word. Neither would yield, so it was decided to settle the matter with swords. The loser was run through and died. Over the accent on some ancient Greek.
London Coffee House
A favourite of lovable dogsbody Boswell and American sex addiction sufferer Benjamin Franklin.
Lloyd’s
Whence the insurance company sprang. Lloyds had a pulpit where resident bores would stand and tell the customers what to think about the great issues of the day.
Jonathan’s
Home of a possible Popish plot to kill the king, epicentre of the South sea bubble crash, and origin of the Stock Exchange. This place really knew how to dominate the 18th century news cycle.
Will’s
“And indeed the worst conversation I ever remember to have heard in my life was that at Will’s coffee-house, where the wits (as they were called) used formerly to assemble.” Jonathan Swift, not a fan of this Covent Garden joint.
Button’s
Where the wits went next. Alexander Pope got in a huff when his fellow caffeine junkies decided that they preferred a rival’s translation of the Iliad to his own, and he refused to go there anymore. You’d be forgiven for thinking that all anyone did in 18th century London was fight over the Iliad. And people say we’ve dumbed down.
Here is an outstandingly thorough account of the whole scene. Here is a brisker run down for the attention deficient. And here is what happened when I spent a day doing a coffee crawl of modern day independent coffee shops in East London. It got messy.
16 Jun 2011
Canadians interesting for once: amazing photos from the Vancouver riots
All because they lost a game of Ice Hockey. At least some people are non-rioting in style. Epic slideshow of photos here.
16 Jun 2011
Wolf Gang, When The Saints Go Machine @ XOYO
First hearing about a band on the lineup of Iceland Airwaves festival comes as a positive recommendation. Snipe didn’t catch Danish upstarts When The Saints Go Machine at that particular festival, but a few months later at London’s Ja Ja Ja night – a monthly showcase for the best new Scandinavian bands breaking out of their home countries. They thoroughly justified the distinction. Icy electronica is set off by the hypnotic presence of their frontman, who stares into the distance through saucer blue eyes as if transfixed, twitching, crooning and yelping his way through their set. The band reconfigured at several points, surrounding a table full of effects units and sequencers, effortlessly switching from dark pop into rhythmic dance music. Here they support Wolf Gang, but they’ll be headlining their own London shows before long.
16 Jun 2011
London agenda for Thursday 16 June
1. Listen to some classical, jazz, opera and folk at Spitalfields Music Festival [Le Cool]
2. Watch some live betrayals on stage at Belongings [Run Riot]
3. Debate Aesthetics, Art and Pornography at ULU [Flavorpill]
4. God, is it time for the National Gallery Portrait Award again? [Time Out]
5. Have a conversation with Melvin Bragg [Ian Visits]
6. Explore the Urban Physic Garden [Tired of London]
7. Chill like Iceland with Wolf Gang, When The Saints Go Machine @ XOYO [John Rogers]
16 Jun 2011
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
- A unique collection of photos of Edwardian Londoners
- Diary of the shy Londoner
- 9 poems about London: one for each of your moods
- Silencing the Brick Lane curry touts could be fatal for the city's self-esteem
- Nice Interactive timeline lets you follow Londoners' historic fight against racism
- Margaret Thatcher statue rejected by public
- London has chosen its mayor, but why can’t it choose its own media?
- Only 16 commuters touch in to Emirates Air Line, figures reveal
- Random Interview: Eileen Conn, co-ordinator of Peckham Vision
- Number of people using Thames cable car plunges
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