finding cain

What's behind the resurgence of wooden toys in the screen age? First, they are sturdy enough to be passed on for generations. Second, they never go out of style. Most wooden playthings also enhance the creativity and imagination of kids and help them with numeracy, literacy, motor skills and problem solving. They are also biodegradable and some are made from sustainable timber. Last but not the least, there are lots of quality wooden toys on the market that won't leave a hole in your wallet—like this unique piece of artwork from Greek design studio Matolaki . This beautifully-crafted push-pull toy is guaranteed plastic free, doesn't need batteries and run on pure imagination. In the box you'll find a nice hand-printed cotton pouch, tied to a plan-card of a few animal toy models. Recommended for children ages 3 and up. You can get them for about $63 on Etsy .

Do You See What I See tells the story of David Dees, who started out working for Disney, Hanna-Barbera, and Sesame Street and eventually became the artist-in-residence for internet truthers. Short of the Week's Chelsea Lupkin has a review of the Brad Abrahams-directed documentary. A film that will frustrate, enlighten, and enrage, Do you see what I see? is an unsettling, yet empathetic portrait of the "notorious" illustrator, his beliefs and his eye-catching, yet problematic works of art. The spread of misinformation is now so commonplace the issues Do you see what I see? raises are certainly not to be ignored. Presenting a glimpse into the psyche of someone who has gone so far down the rabbit hole they are living in an alternate reality, Abrahams’ short provides a chilling word of warning for us all. I don't really know what that was about, but that, uh, that was intense. Anyway, here's the video:

Did you ever listen to Faith No More? I did when I was in high school and this morning I wondered, "Did they sound awful?" So I listened to some tunes and the answer is sometimes they sounded atrocious, but King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime has moments of enjoyability. Here's a song from that album.

As kids, we were all too busy appreciating how good Simon Le Bon looked in his jacket or trying to imitate his dance moves to ever give a f*ck about his lyrics. New Moon on Monday (1983) "Shake up the picture the lizard mixture with your dance on the eventide You got me coming up with answers all of which I deny I said it again but could I please rephrase it, maybe I can catch a ride I couldn't really put it much plainer but I'll wait 'til you decide" The Chauffeur (1982) "The aphids swarm up in the drifting haze Swim seagull in the sky Towards that hollow western Isle My envied lady holds you fast in her gaze" The Reflex (1984) "The reflex is a lonely child, who's waiting by the park The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre? And every little thing the reflex does Leaves you answered with a question mark" Come Undone (1993) "Mine, immaculate dream made breath and ski...

It's about freaking time — Bad Robot's iconic logo is finally getting an action figure treatment. That's right folks, J. J. Abrams' production outfit has partnered with Mattel Creations to make a really cool toy. Standing 7.25-inches-tall, the die-cast and plastic figure has twenty-four points of articulation and even includes a removable panel on the back of its head to reveal the robot's true inner workings. The Bad Robot Premium Action Figure is now available for pre-order ($100), but won't ship out until February 2022. Some more info while I start manufacturing bootlegs to sell to desperate nerds: The head, torso, legs and feet are made of heavy die-cast metal. The packaging design is inspired by retro comic mail-in ads. Comes with a plastic display base and a certificate of authenticity. Packaging Dimensions: 6.75" wide x 4" deep x 10" tall.  

Right now I'm listening to a cricket. It sounds like it's in my room but I'm quite certain it's not. Do I wish it were in my house instead of outside of it? No, but you do have to admit that would be more interesting.

Finland's Juho Könkkölä recently folded an incredibly intricate origami spearman using a single sheet of 68cm x 68cm Wenzhou paper without any cutting or tearing. And I can barely even get my paper boats right.

The sight of needles during vaccination can cause severe anxiety in some kids. To make the doctor's job easier, James Dickson designed these 3D-printed needle covers.  These camouflaged syringes are playful and they act as distraction tools. They will surely lessen the trauma of poking needles, if not eradicate it completely. [h/t: Yanko Design ]

You may recognize these pieces as some of the world's most famous works of art. But take a closer look: these renderings have been completely remade with pebbles and found stones by British artist Justin Bateman. These reinterpretations include such classic artworks as da Vinci's Mona Lisa , Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and many more. They may not as look as good as the original, but they're definitely more rugged. Check out Justin's  site  and follow him on IG to learn more about his land art and to keep updated with his latest creations. [h/t: My Modern Met ]

I'm not questioning the artistic excellence of Venus de Milo—the Greek marble sculpture is indeed a masterpiece. It just doesn't speak to me the same way a detailed sculpt of Loki does, so if I had my way I'd put Thor's adopted brother at the Louvre instead. In this time-lapse video, Steven Richter shows the process of creating a half-sized bust of Loki from scratch, molding clay into the handsome face of Tom Hiddleston before turning that depiction into the god of mischief, complete with his iconic head piece.

Peanuts has been an integral part of many childhoods, and beyond the comic strip itself the character design really appeals to me. I like the Peanuts movie too, but not as much as my daughter. And I thought today's kids would have no interest in Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Linus and Lucy. If you like drawing, this easy, step-by-step tutorial will show you how to draw yourself as a Peanuts character. All you need is any device/app or even a pencil and paper. The video is also an advertisement for The Snoopy Show , which is now available on Apple TV+. [h/t: The Verge ]

In addition to being known for its lush forests, white sandy beaches, and crazy movie posters, Ghana is also celebrated for its insane coffin designs.

I'm enthralled with the things Tip Toland creates. Each piece is so carefully and realistically rendered, it's unbelievable that she can make the epic sculptures that she does entirely out of clay.

I know you've probably seen the second trailer for Denis Villeneuve's Dune by now but I was out for a late night walk and missed it so we're all going to watch it together all right? Possibly the greatest science-fiction novel ever written, Dune is even more relevant now than when it was first published. It's a political saga. It's a technological thriller. It's an ecological drama. If you've never read Dune , do pick it up.

The Ducati Pro-I Evo can be yours for under $500. It's foldable, has an aluminum alloy frame, and features a 350W motor with a 280Wh battery for a top speed of around 15mph. Range is estimated at 25 to 30 kilometers on a single charge and the vehicle also has an LED display that connects to an integrated User App developed by Italdesign. Pretty slick. The bad news is, it appears to be a rebranded Xiaomi electric scooter. While disheartening somehow, it means you can technically own a Ducati if you buy one.

I'm envious of people who are good at making things with their hands. I'll likely never be able to create something worthy of a gallery spot, but guys like Salman Khoshroo can. These are some wool sculptures crafted by the Iranian artist. When I look at his creations, I just want to run my fingers along them to feel each and every thread. Aside from these interesting pieces, Salman also has been creating large foam paintings, thick impasto portraits, and abstract silicone art, all of which you can view on his site and IG .

Nethmie Hetti is the artist behind this somewhat mind-bending toilet paper art. For almost a year, she drew European cityscapes and landscapes onto an entire roll of toilet paper to create a continuous 37 feet long panorama. Ok, just watch it. I'm bad at describing things.

Thom Yorke has released a slowed-down, nine-minute version of Radiohead's debut single Creep . It doesn't sound great, but if you're the kind of person who falls all over himself at every new Thom Yorke remix, I think you will appreciate it.

Here's another product designed to handle the traumatic aftermath of yet another mishap.

For some reason I am highly susceptible to earworms. "And baby pulls her hair for a Vicodin. She falls flat on the bed again, mutters something about the end while covering her eyes with both her hands." The title is Guts , from Swedish singer-songwriter Augustine, and I was stuck with this song for nearly six hours before it finally went away. Researchers still haven't figured out what causes earworms, but according to science there are five ways to get rid of them .

I haven't featured any of Leeroy New 's work on this blog yet – a major oversight, given the Filipino artist's reputation and influence. A graduate of the Philippine High School for the Arts and the University of the Philippines, Leeroy is known for his outlandish headgears, immersive sculptures, and spectacular large-scale installations. I'm especially in love with this massive piece in Paoay.

Love her or hate her, whether her pieces make you laugh out loud or cringe in disgust, you have to admit that Louise Bonnet 's work is certainly distinct. Sphinxes is on view through July 31 at Gagosian Basel.