Here's a video of Nathan Myhrvold's absolutely terrific March 2007 presentation at TED. Nathan Myhrvold talks about a few of his latest fascinations -- animal photography, archeology, BBQ and generally being an eccentric genius multimillionaire. Listen for wild stories from the (somewhat raunchy) edge of the animal world. Link...

I like Sarah Ross' line of leisure jogging suits made to counteract anti-sleeping benches. Archisuit consists of an edition of four leisure jogging suits made for specific architectural structures in Los Angeles. The suits include the negative space of the structures and allow a wearer to fit into, or onto, structures designed to deny them. Link (via CRAFT)...

In the 1960s, Leon Berry built an insanely incredible pipe organ. He dubbed it the "Beast In The Basement." Berry outfitted the Beast with a slew of electromechanical special effect sounds too, from birds chirping to a Chinese gong. John Brownlee has more on this amazing instrument over at Boing Boing Gadgets. Link to BBG, Link to YouTube clip (via MAKE:)...

The TED Prize event is streaming live now. I watched it last year and it was very moving. I imagine it will be again this year. About the 2008 TEDPrize The TED Prize was created as a way of taking the inspiration, ideas and resources generated at TED and using them to make a difference. Winners receive a prize of $100,000 each, and more importantly, a wish. A wish to change the world. During today's session, webcast live from Monterey, California, the 2008 TEDPrize winners will unveil their wishes for the first time. Prize winners Neil Turok, Dave Eggars and Karen Armstong will be joined by singer-songwriter Vusi Mahlasela. Link...

Each year, a string of Yuri’s Night World Space Parties around the globe celebrate humankind’s first foray into space. That first human was Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, on April 12, 1961. The events are a lot of fun (I hosted one in Texas, had a blast!), and the 2008 Bay Area edition is calling for artists and scientists -- deadline is February 8. We’re looking for visionaries of the sciences and arts to join our celebration: artists who love science, scientists who love art, and those who blur the line between all disciplines. Exhibit or demonstrate your works in the spacious NASA hangars or adjoining tarmac and structures. ively for installations, performances and demonstrations. This is an exciting opportunity for unique collaboration between the science world and the art world. We encourage partnerships between scientific and artistic minds and may be able to assist in partnering. We are looking for: New installations of all sizes and types, interactive works, sound works, light works, large-scale sculpture, live demonstrations, working models, table top demonstrations, prototypes, new technology, presentations, impromptu lectures, and unique performances from international and local artists. We are also seeking new video works documenting arts, humanities, performances, installations and microgravity works. Link.UPDATE: Organizer Matt Hancher (of the NASA/Google Planetary Content Team at NASA Ames) says: Thanks for posting the Yuri's Night call for proposals to Boing Boing! Unfortunately, the event website doesn't yet have info about how to propose. Anyone who's interested can send email to proposals@worldspaceparty.org to get more info. Previously: Yuri's Night: spacemen branded me with Yuri Gagarin's head!...

The folks who made the brilliant Battle of Helm's Deep made of candy over last year's Christmas break have topped themselves with a followup: a candy scale model of Minas Tirith from the Battle of Pelennor Fields. It's giant. Stupendous. Edible! Link (Thanks, Miss(ed) Manners!)...

In today's episode of Boing Boing tv, we visit the workshop of automotive engineering guru and multiple land speed record-holder Gale Banks, known to many as the godfather of speed. Who knew encryption played a role in high-performance engine design? We take an up-close look at diesel racing trucks capable of speeds over 220 mph -- and we peek at the software that commands their guts. Banks is an advisor to the Automotive X Prize, and the guy Jay Leno calls when he wants to double the muscle of an 810-horsepower racecar. Link to BBtv post with video and comments. (special thanks, Ruth and Coop) See also: Extreme Diesel Truck Racing....

My pal Elizabeth Bear -- award-winning sf writer and all-round swell cat -- has just launched an exciting new publishing project with a gang of pals: Shadow Unit is, more or less, the website for a serial drama in internet form. Or possibly it's a fan site for a TV show that doesn't exist. Over the next couple of months, the site will be updated on a weekly or biweekly basis with new information, vignettes, character sketches, character bios, a community message board, and other exciting things. And starting in mid-February, there will be a series of novellas and novellettes, and one complete novel. Approximately one story every two weeks for sixteen weeks (though we are still tweaking the schedule), comprising the first season (of hopefully many) of a television show that doesn't exist. Some of the content will be free. Some will be by subscription. (Subscriptions will be extremely reasonable.) There will be DVD extras, deleted scenes, background information, character-based digressions, and I dunno what all else. The staff writers (as of today) are Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Sarah Monette, and myself. The Brilliant Web Ghoul and Fabulous Artist is Amanda Downum. The Technical Supergeek is Stephen Shipman. Link to announcement, Link to Shadow Unit) (Thanks, Bear!)...

Snip from AP obit: Former CIA agent Philip Agee, a critic of U.S. foreign policy who infuriated American intelligence officials by naming purported agency operatives in a 1975 book, has died, state media reported Wednesday. He was 72. Agee quit the CIA in 1969 after 12 years working mostly in Latin America at a time when leftist movements were gaining prominence and sympathizers. His 1975 book "Inside the Company: CIA Diary," cited alleged CIA misdeeds against leftists in the region and included a 22-page list of purported agency operatives. Link (via Ned Sublette)...

Today in my ongoing series of photos from my travels: the Christian Atheism guy who stands quietly at Speaker's Corner in London every Sunday, with signs that proclaim: CHRISTIAN ATHEISM: TO FOLLOW JESUS, REJECT GOD. Link...