super-secret-deal

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The Weekend Links

This link is too good to not have already traversed the well worn paths of the internet yet, but if you haven't seen it, I feel it is my duty to provide for you what I consider to be one of the greatest achievements in mixing nostalgia with current pop candy. A guy bought those infamous singing animals from Chuck E. Cheese and programs requests into them for the viewing pleasure of the masses. Check out the band performing Usher's "Love in the Club." Flossy reader Jill attended Comic Con this year,... READ ON

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The Art of History: The Farm Security Administration

When the Farm Security Administration (FSA), part of the New Deal, began its photography program in 1935, the intent was not to create art, but to depict the challenges of rural poverty by "introducing America to Americans." Yet despite their historical significance and the propaganda-like nature of some of the images, most of the photographs that came out of the FSA's nine-year photography program are seen today as art. Since requests have been made for FSA photographers Dorothea Lange... READ ON

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5 Graffiti Artists You Should Know

British graffiti artist Banksy, who's been in the news quite a bit lately, is probably the most well-known graffiti artist of all time. He's also the only graffitist most people know by name. But there is a plethora of graffitists, both talented and not-so-talented, and some of them warrant just as much attention, if not more so, than Banksy. A few that top the list... 1. Lady Pink: Sandra... READ ON

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The Least Addictive Mistake

The First Puff: R.J. Reynolds & Co. thought it had it made. The American public wanted a healthier cigarette, and in 1988, RJR was finally ready to give it to them. The company's solution? A smokeless cigarette. If it sounds too good to be true, that's because it was. After spending around $1 billion to develop and market the Premier smokeless cigarette, not even... READ ON

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Pleasant Peasants: Daniel Ridgway Knight

The art of American ex-pat Daniel Ridgway Knight (1839-1924) captures the beauty of spring and summer, as seen with his "At Poissy "˜Your Health'." Although he lived and painted in France for more than 52 years, Knight is still claimed as an "American artist," as is his artist son, Aston Knight, despite a birth and life in France. 1. With the support of his grandfather, Daniel Ridgway Knight began attending the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1858, with Thomas Eakins... READ ON

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The Worst Parking Job in History

The Tinderbox: Europe—all of it. By the dawn of the 20th century, the European powers were involved in so many treaties and counter-treaties, it's a wonder one of the countries didn't declare war on itself. The Lit Match: One wrong... READ ON

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Our first $100 challenge!

In an effort to show off our magazine content, and lighten our wallets (those bills are causing such a strain on our back), we're debuting a whole new contest... The $100 Challenge! (Note: these are American dollars, not Canadian or Zimbabwean, just in case you were looking for a favorable exchange rate.) The... READ ON

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The Mistake That Burned Down London

The British Mrs. O'Leary: Thomas Farynor, royal baker to King Charles II of England His "Cow": His oven, which sparked a fire in the middle of the night on September 1, 1666. Oops: Around 2 a.m., smoke woke up the Farynor family and their servants in the house above the bakery. Luckily, the entire lot managed to escape—all except for one maid who was too frightened to run and became the fire's first victim. The blaze quickly spread, but surprisingly, the conflagration... READ ON

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Changing Art Forever: Marcel Duchamp

("Church at Blainville," "Sundays," "Portrait of the Artist's Father," "Nude Descending a Staircase") Four readers requested a post on Marcel Duchamp, one of the most controversial and most discussed artists in recent history. A Google search yields almost 1.5 million results for the French and American artist, whose 121st birthday was yesterday. Much of the controversy and discussion revolves around Duchamp's "readymades,"... READ ON

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6 Presidential Siblings and the Headaches They Caused

Every aspect of the American presidency comes under intense scrutiny, but few parts of a president's life contain as many amusing, slightly sordid anecdotes as their siblings' behavior. When a new president takes office, his ne'er-do-well siblings receive a whole slew of opportunities for corrupt behavior, legal scrapes, and generally humiliating mayhem. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Neil Bush: Opening Doors When Opportunity Knocks! George W. Bush's younger brother Neil... READ ON