bookofjoe

Checker Shadow Illusion

From Yahoo! Games:

Don't believe everything you see. Take this insane optical illusion, which uses light and shadow to transform a gray square into a white square right before your eyes.

Checker Shadow illusion was published back in 1995 by MIT professor Edward H. Adelson, though optical illusion guru "brusspup "really gives it new life by bringing it off the page and into the real world.

So how does it work, exactly? The key lies in the shadow cast by the cylinder and how our poor, confused brains process light. The shadow darkens the central square, but it still appears to be "light" in color because of the contrast with its darker neighbors. Our brains are so fooled by this local contrast that it's difficult to perceive that the "light" square in the shadow has the same absolute shade as the "dark" square out of it.

For a more detailed explanation, check out Adelson's original take on the illusion. His brain is MUCH bigger than ours.

[via Joe Peach]

Pizza Pillow

"Ultra-realistic photo prints on front and back.

16"Ø x 4"D.

$30.

MorphWorld: New French virtual airport agent into Hillary Clinton

When I happened on the photo above in yesterday's Daily Progress I did a double take: the "agent" looked way too much like Hillary Clinton.

What really dumbfounded me was that on the very same page of the paper, no more than eight inches away and on eye level with the virtual agent was a picture of Hillary Clinton herself speaking at a State Department press conference.

Very, very eerie.

I think I'm gonna have to take a photo of the newpaper page to show just how bizarre the juxtaposition is.

Now do you see why I was struck?

Small Bamboo Scoop

Handmade Japanese-style scoop

for watering plants.

Handle: 33cm L.

Scoop: 6cm Ø.

$14.

Ingmar Bergman on the Dick Cavett Show in 1971

Above, part one of six 10-minute long clips from his hour-long interview.

Links to the remaining five parts here.

The UFO Handbook

By Jonny Packham.

Apply within.

[via Fancy]

Hipster Ipsum — "Artisanal filler text for your site or project"

My secret is out.

[via Richard Kashdan]

China Knuckles

From the website:

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China Knuckles are for the girl who wants to be chic and eco-friendly while still conscious of self-defense.

China Knuckles are made from a recycled piece of Blue Willow Ware china. The pattern on your knuckles my vary slightly, but they are all cut from blue and white Willow Ware china.

They are the size of standard brass knuckles: 4-1/4" W x 2-1/4" H.

Can also be made into a necklace (leave a note at checkout).

**Warning: Fragile! Not meant for use in an actual fight. If a fight should break out, the sight of these bad boys should earn you instant respect and a white flag.

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$60.

[via Fancy]