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Brooklyn's Underground Zoetrope

Board a Manhattan-bound Q or B train from DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn (or on weekends, currently due to constructions, the R train runs on this track as well) and look out the right side just before the train emerges out of the tunnel onto Manhattan Bridge.

You'll see a unique and playful piece of urban art: an underground zoetrope ("a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures"). This is one of my favorite "hidden" treasures of New York City.

Created in the 1970s by Bill Brandt and titled "Masstransiscope," it fell into disrepair before being restored in November 2008 with no formal announcement.

The first time I noticed Masstransiscope, I thought it was just graffiti, but I was puzzled by why it was so brightly lit. And then when it registered that this "graffiti" was "alive" and moving with a specific intent, my brain exploded. I consider it a real treat that this is a frequent sighting in my regular commute and it never gets old. Vast majority of the people on the train never notice, but occasionally after the train passes this mass-transit zoetrope, I'll make eye-contact with a stranger whose eyes too were caught by Masstransiscope and we smile as if we just shared a wonderful secret. The reaction of little kids to it is particularly awesome. They respond to it like Christmas. "Mommmmm! Looooook! It's moving!!!!"

I'm almost hesitant to share a video of Brandt's underground work because I don't want to spoil it for you. I highly recommend everyone take this train to see it in person. That said, for my friends and readers who don't live in New York City, here it is:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwVD5efXz0&fmt=18]

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World's Shortest Escalator

This escalator located at Kawasaki More’s department store in Japan was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989 as the world's shortest (and most pointless) escalator. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s9VkJ38KNE&fmt=18]

[Via - Thanks Chris!]

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Most Expensive Fixed Wheel Bicycle

This limited edition (obviously) hand-built fixed wheel bicycle from luxury brand Aurumania is plated in 24 karat gold and adorned with 600 Swarovski crystals. And this blingcycle can be yours for $102,418. I was going to buy this but that damn Bernie Madoff fucked me with my multimillion dollar account.

[Via]

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Nerd Merit Badges

My friend Andy was shocked recently at the number of unread messages in my inbox (currently 5299...). He bragged, "I have zero unread in mine." "Okay. Dork."

I recommend he stitch this merit badge to his girl scout sash to show off his achievement:

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The Teenager Audio Test

There is a very annoying tone similar to a buzzing mosquito that can generally only be heard by people under the age of 25. It's sometimes played in malls and shops as a repellent against loitering teenagers. Ya' know, those hooligans. Of course in the ever escalating battle between kids and authority figures ("The Man"), some students adopted that same sound as a ring tone or alert for their cell phone that teachers ("Old Fogies")  can't hear.

Try the "Teenager Audio Test" to check whether you can hear the sound.

I could. You?

[Via]

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Spotlight: Floating Logos by Matt Siber

Inspired by the proliferation of very tall signs in the American Mid-West, Floating Logos seeks to draw attention to this often overlooked form of advertising. Perched atop very tall poles or stanchions, these corporate beacons emit their message by looming over us in their glowing, plastic perfection. Elimination of the support structure in the photographs allows the signs to literally float above the earth. In some cases the ground is purposefully left out of the image to further emphasize the disconnect between the corporate symbols and terra firma.

[Via]

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