“In a triumph of art, science and architecture, Argentine artist Tomás Saraceno’s site-specific exhibit 14 Billions scales a Black Widow’s web up to magnificent proportions. Currently on display at Stockholm’s Bonniers Konsthall, 14 Billions is an extension of the work he showed at the 2009 Venice Biennale called ‘Galaxy Forming along Filaments, like Droplets along the Strands of a Spider’s Web.’

“The Frankfurt-based artist worked in collaboration with astrophysicists, architects, engineers and spider researchers to create a stimulating series of installations with 14 Billions as the focal point. A massive undertaking, the project took two years to complete with the black rope spanning 400 cubic meters, consuming much of Bonniers Konsthall main gallery.

“Saraceno’s work looks to scientific study which uses the imagery and structure of spider webs to map the origin and structure of the universe. Referencing these studies, the sculptural pieces explore the delicate balance between ourselves and the earth.” (source: Cool Hunting)

posted by: Harold Johns III

According to Consumer Reports (published March 5, 2010):

“Here we go again. A seemingly random list of recently recalled dips, soups and snacks apparently have a common ingredient—a flavoring agent recalled Thursday by the Food and Drug Association. All the foods contain hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) paste or powder distributed by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas. Salmonella has been detected in the plant’s processing equipment.

“Already 56 foods have been recalled and the FDA anticipates that the list will grow. To keep consumers informed, the agency has created a searchable database of foods containing the tainted HVP.  On the list are dips, dressings and dressing mixes, snacks and snack mixes, soup mixes and some pre-packaged meals. At this writing, no illnesses have been associated with the recall.

“The FDA reported finding salmonella in one production lot of HVP after inspections at Basic Food Flavors following a customer complaint. The agency collected and analyzed samples at the facility and confirmed the presence of Salmonella Tennessee in the company’s processing equipment. The recall includes all hydrolyzed vegetable protein in powder and paste form produced there since Sept. 17, 2009.”

Read the full article here

The list has since grown to 94 products and now includes brand names like Walmart’s Great Value brand, Safeway, Reser’s, McCormick and Trader Joe’s.

The FDA’s recall list and searchable database is here

Learn about the signs and symptoms of Salmonella via WebMD

posted by: Harold Johns III

Meet Thomas Burso, aka Epic Beard Man, aka Tom Slick, aka Vietnam Tom, the 67 year old, self-proclaimed “motherfucker” who recently became an internet sensation after a YouTube video of his fist fight with a fellow bus passenger went viral on February 16. The video has since received more than 3.7 million views and is still causing heated, sometimes racially charged debates to break out all over the web. And since his display of old man strength, Burso has inspired video game parodies, various YouTube video responses, an Epic Beard Man Facebook fan page, a twitter account, t-shirts, several photo mashups and most recently a two part documentary about Burso himself.  So much has already been said of Epic Beard Man, the only thing left to do is let the videos and links speak for themselves.

This is the video that got it all started.

• Watch Lyanna Washignton, the woman who captured the fight on camera, in an interview with CBS5 explaining how it all went down from her perspective here
• Read what Micheal, the man who was beaten by EBM, had to say about the incident here
• Watch EBM’s description of the what happened here
• Watch bonus footage of EBM after he exited the bus here
• Watch a Mortal Kombat parody of the fight here

Part one of the I am a Motherfucker documentary about EBM:

• Watch EBM get tasered at the Oakland A’s game like he described in part one of the documentary here

Part two

posted by: Harold Johns III

In an attempt to lose weight most people start by reducing their fast food intake, but thanks to a rather ironic cross-promotion between Weight Watchers and McDonald’s, that might change.

According to the Associated Press:
“McDonald’s is hardly an ideal dining location for anyone struggling to stay slim. But the fast food chain scored a PR coup today when Weight Watchers agreed to endorse some of its products in New Zealand – a move met with outrage by nutritionists and obesity experts…

“As part of the deal, which the company says is the first of its kind in the world, McDonald’s will use the Weight Watchers logo on its menu boards and Weight Watchers will promote McDonald’s to dieters…

“Several items on the fast food giant’s menu – the Filet-O-Fish, Chicken McNuggets and Sweet Chilli Seared Chicken Wrap – have been approved for the Weight Watchers diet in McDonald’s 150 New Zealand restaurants. Each meal is worth 6.5 points on the program, which assigns points to food items and allows dieters to consume 18 to 40 points each day to achieve their goal weight…

“But nutritionists and obesity experts said the menu items were a marketing ploy to lure customers into the restaurant. ‘It’s all about sales,’ said Jane Martin, senior adviser of Australia’s Obesity Policy Coalition. ‘It implies this food is healthy … when often it is high in fat and salt. Chicken McNuggets are Chicken McNuggets whether it’s got Weight Watchers on it or not…

“The fast-food chain, widely criticized for selling a high-calorie, high-fat menu that includes super-size meals, was ‘making every best effort to generate a change in behavior, to create an awareness in consumers about making healthy choices’, McDonald’s New Zealand managing director, Mark Hawthorne, said.”

Read the full article here

posted by: Harold Johns III

“The suburb of Agbogbloshie in Ghana’s capital, Accra, has in recent years become a dumping ground for computers and electronic waste from Europe and the US. Of the 20 to 50 million tons of electronics discarded each year 70% will end up in poor nations, and in the EU alone 6.6 million tons of e-waste are unaccounted for every year.”

Children break apart CRT monitors to salvage metal from inside. Many children work at the dump salvaging metals which they sell to middlemen. They do not wear any protective clothing, exposing themselves to lethal doses of hazardous chemicals like mercury and lead.

“The Democratic Republic of Congo remains in turmoil 7 years later after the formal end of the 1998-2003 civil war. The International Rescue Committee estimated that 5.4 million people lost their lives in Congo during the last 10 years.”

IDP’s (internally displaced people) in the town of Kitchanga. People fled their homes in the surrounding area after fighting broke out between government forces and troops loyal to renegade general Laurent Nkunda.

Bio:
Andrew McConnell began his career covering the closing stages of the conflict in Northern Ireland and the transition to peace. He has since worked on stories worldwide, covering events in Europe, Asia and Africa. His work has appeared internationally in the New York Times, the Guardian, FT Magazine, L’Express, Sunday Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, Time and National Geographic Magazine.

A couple embrace at one of the traditional 11th night bonfires in Northern Ireland. The bonfires are built by the members of the Protestant community ahead of the July 12 commemoration of William of Orange’s victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

“The people of Katwe in western Uganda have worked the nearby salt lake for centuries. It is the most important natural resource in the area and the only source of income for many, some 700 men, women and children work in and around the lake everyday.”

Early morning and locals arrive for another day of monotonous toil in the salt pans of Lake Katwe, Uganda.

“Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in May, 1991, after a brutal civil war ended the overthrow of military dictator Siad Barre. For the past 16 years the country has operated as a de facto state with relative stability; it has a constitution, a working political system, government institutions, police and military and its own currency. However, despite its success, no country formally recognizes Somaliland’s sovereignty, which has lead to widespread unemployment, a high poverty rate and a lack of medical aid.”

Mother and daughter are treated for Cholera at Save the Children’s Cholera Treatment Center in Burao.

See more of McConnell’s photography here

posted by: Brent Carter