Rural Russian hand painted posters for contemporary films

Tattooed dolls, the plastic kind.

Microsoft linguistical help for challenged parents...
"ph": often replaces "f," as in "phear" for "fear" (as in "ph34r my l33t skillz") and vice versa, such as spelling "phonetic" as "f0|\|371(."
...uhuh so where's the translation for M$ then?

Ninja's and Pirates... yarrr!

Wondertoonel - A retrospective exhibition of the art of Mark Ryden featuring more than thirty artworks on display.

The exhibition will be traveling to Pasadena Museum of California Art on February 25th. Opening reception is from 8 to 11 PM.

→ Mark will be present for a catalog signing at the museum on February 27th, time t.b.d.

Moreover, the cryptic Daniel Martin Diaz created a painting entitled Illuminati for the Wondertoonel exhibition.

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PAUL BURN

Please join the Flux Factory folks for a very special Flux Thursday on February 24th, 8 PM.

It's the closing party for Paul Burn's show Absolute Zero Nowhere - your very last chance to see Paul's work in all its wintry splendor!

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YANG FUDONG

N.B.: The opening reception for the Yang Fudong exhibition at Kunsthalle Wien has been postponed to February 22nd.

If you're at Kunsthalle Wien, don't miss
Aidas Bareikis' spooky and grotesque installations. He will be exhibiting his works until March 13th.

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EDVARD MUNCH

On February 19th, Moderna Museet in Stockholm will open Munch by Himself, a unique exhibition featuring the Norwegian artist's self-portraits. Never before have so many of Munch's self-portraits been brought together in one show.

This is an absolute must-see if you live in Sverige and/or if you're one of those epileptic Munchaholics.

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MATTHEW PORTER

Matthew Porter - co-owner of Bluebottle Art Gallery - showcases a collection of brand new paintings at Artemis Gallery in Seattle. He'll be showing 3 new pieces from his Cat that Ate the World series.

Artist reception is on February 19th, 6 - 9 PM

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EMIR KUSTURICA

The Institut Français' retrospective of one of European cinema's most exuberant and controversial directors gives Londoners a rare chance to see his early work.

Kusturica fans will also get a chance to see a preview of his new film Life is a Miracle, an epic romance set during the Bosnian war, before it gets released in March.

As always, Kultureflash has more details for those who are interested.

→ The retrospective runs from February 18th - 24th at the Ciné lumière

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NIEVES BOOKS

For Helvetistani folks living in the Zu-reich area:

Go and have a look at the 1 Year / 12 Months / 36 Zines exhibition - featuring all 36 Zines and the Zine Series Box published by the most inspiring Nieves Books folks throughout the last year.

→ Saturday, February 19th, From 2 - 6 PM @ Nieves Books, Hohlstrasse 122, Zurich.

In other bibliophile news, The Drama Online Store just released Art Prostitute 05. It features interviews with Gary Baseman, Tiffany Bozik, Kozyndan, and Cody Hudson as well as the freshest eyecandy on over 100 pages.

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WARREN ELLIS

The cold's gotten into my knee --
the old rugby injury, don'cha know --
and my knee's blown out, and I'm
back on my walking stick. Lucky I
got a new one for Xmas. The handle
is a carved wooden cobra. It somehow
got knocked when it was brought
over to the house Xmas Eve, and it
now has a fang missed.

Oh, I am cranky today.

- Warren Ellis (for BadSignal)

Happy belated birthday, my favourite grumpy Englishman and beloved leader!

Oh and from me and here's your present see the Japanese do make better clocks than the Swiss

Ever wondered why you can't remember your dreams? Don't give a damn then skip this one. Actually the whole Freudian *masterpiece*, The Interpretation of Dreams, is here Now I managed that whole bit of text without one Freudian slip or cheap jibe, impressive huh

Vidi well, oh my brothers and sisters, vidi well.

(Found by HereticalPigeon - click to enlarge)

It's my birthday.

It's also Simon Pegg's birthday.

God, we're old, Simon!

That is all.

Thank you kindly for your attention.

(By Shanna)

Thank you Shanna, Meagan, Angeliska & Mer for making DJ always worth a visit!

(Found by Karen Leigh)

Yup, it's that silly day soon...

Here are some ideas how you can get yourself through the most overrated day of the year alive and reasonably sane:

• Start your day with a healthy intake of St. Valentine history presented by the fabulous Mr Ze Frank.

• Play Tokidoki's candy-coated Ninja Cupid Game and Gaumina's totally demented Valentine's Game until you get so irritated that you...

• Go to the mall and shoot random strangers with your Love Gun. And then...

• Go home, relax and watch Bin Laden's Valentine video tape followed by the Making Fiends Valentine special that our brilliant data mineress Michelle posted earlier on.

• Later at night, go for a stroll and drop a few heartwarming Love Coupons or the infamous YouYesYou Valentine Cards into your ex's letterbox.

And for all those who want to start preparing for next year's debacle:

Subversive Cross Stitch has some new curses patterns for you and your loved ones!

And don't forget to check out Dame Darcy's running Valentine auctions!

© Dame Darcy - click to enlarge

And finally, happy belated B-Day, my dear Michelle. I wanted to congratulate earlier, but my diary managing armadillo mixed up the dates. Anyway...

P.S.: Did you ever realize that we're all Aquarians, Michelle & Juju?!?

Oh, and also a very happy birthday to Flickr, who was born about a year ago. Truly one of the few purty things on Thee Evil Interweb ov D00m! Live long and prosper, dear Flickr!

Here's my birthday shot for you:

(Oh, and thanks for the kind feature, my favourite grumpy Englishman!)

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CURIOSA

In totally unrelated news, Mark Dery recently wrote an amazing blog entry about the phallic big toe and how it adds to the polymorphous perversity.

→ Go read it over at Shovelware!

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ADDENDUM

- I -

A quick note from Steve Ash of the Dionysian Underground for all Londoners:

• Sun 20th Feb at 5:15PM

Fortean Ghost and Monster Walk (definitely last one this year!)

→ Meet outside Barbican Tube

• Sun 27th Feb at 5PM

The Trail of Spring Heeled Jack (and other 19th century weirdness)

→ Meet outside Bow Church DLR station

All walks £5 - unless you have a wyrd voucher.

(via Mark Pilkington)

- II -

Special thanks to Mr Robottle (previously featured here) for looking after my hand. Cheerio!

Okay, now I'm scared... o_O

In a white room, ten cubes made of yellowish gelatine lay symmetrically on the floor. Each contain a voice coil from which audio-signals - spoken numbers from one to ten - are emitted. From outside the room, come "atmospheric" sounds and voices from a psychiatric ward.

Sounds interesting to me, it was at transmediale 05

Continuing on the sound production theme here's an interesting approach to a drum machine.

Whispering imps on magic posters, mmm that's right up my street that is - here's a rather intriguing history of the devilish little blighters.

Miss Tod's recent injury sparked a recollection of X-Rays and how much I enjoy them. Perhaps you do to? Some links to pursue.

http://www.bmyersphoto.com/BWXRAY/index.html
http://www.alternativephotos.com/Dolls_Prints.html
http://www.xray2000.co.uk/ibase5/index.htm

Finally a cola advert that denigrates the church, at last I hear you all cry. My German may not be up to the task quite yet but some of you might even follow the message.

Can you cough so hard that you strain your ribs?

Well, I obviously can!

I'd love to share this unique talent of mine and perform with a circus troupe if it only wouldn't hurt so badly.

Lessons I learnt today:

Stripping in front of 4 assistant doctors who are in average 5 years younger than me isn't really my kind of exhibitionistic fetish.

Nope.

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PRO OCULIS

- I -

© Kathie Olivas - click to enlarge

The Valentines Variety Show has opened its door to the public and will be running until February 22nd at the Gallery 1988 in L.A.

Featuring the work of:

• Jason Sho Green
• Tim Reed
• Dez Einswell
• Kathie Olivas
• Angie Mason
• Adam Connelly
• Michael Sieben
• Chris Bettig
et al.

- II -

© Alex Gross - click to enlarge

Alex Gross recently updated his portfolio with a few new paintings.

Go have a gander.

- III -

Keren Richter's ultra-short video clip HOUSE OF THE 1000 EX-GIRLFRIENDS (previously featured over here) is now available on her own website in a much better quality.

- IV -

Jason Yungbluth was in a supermarket recently when he suddenly discovered a children's book with the title "My Little Golden Book About God".

For the safety of our race he has translated this book in the hopes that a resistance may arise.

→ Read the baby powder scented Final Solution of Our Enemies From Beyond otherwise known as: The Cuddly Menace

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PRO AURIBUS

Ad Noiseam kindly informs us that Larvae (a.k.a. Matthew Jeanes) will be presenting a DJ set at Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta this Thursday, February 10, 2005.

→ See photos from the Larvae/Panacea/Hecate live set in Lausanne

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PRO MEMBRANA

Also, a loud kawaa-aaaaiii-iiii for Mr Sakai who seems to be back in full force.

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PRO LIBIDO

The organisers of the regular filth-fest that is Torture Garden have booked the basement club of the delightfully austere St. Matthew's Church, at the foot of Brixton's very own "pleasure Mile", for this outrageous and profane Valentine's event, the theme of which is "obsessive love".

→ 12 Feb 2005 at St. Matthew's Church - click here for more info

(Thanks, Kultureflash)

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PRO NARCISSO

Yup, that's me as a tentacled triclops doll.

Or something. o_O

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PRO NUPTIA

Oh, and I got engaged to Dale Cooper again over the weekend. Just so you know...

© Suzanne

© The relevant artists, The Institut Drahomira

Some interesting work over there, worth a look I'd say.

  
left to right: "Bunny Experiences Morbid Introspection", "Bunny's Airship", & "Bunny Watches The Invasion From The Window"
© Valery Milovic

(click thumbnails for bigger)

(yaaaaaay for squid-things!)

____________________________

Making Fiends is back once again with a heartwarming Valentine's Day episode! Watch it with your best-loved squid human for that extra-special glowy feeling.

____________________________

The Comics Interpreter needs your support! This zine is currently threatening to go under, but for a mere $12 you can purchase the latest three issues, including interviews with James Jean, Paul Pope, Hans Rickheit, and Kozyndan. Nailbunny says: GOOD DEAL.

Meanwhile, Kenichi Hoshine, talented Meathaus contributor and James Jean's collaborator on the gorgeous webcomic A Polite Winter, has recently launched his personal site at kenichihoshine.com.

SA Stormtroopers ov occultish d00m
"Occult-related crime means any human conduct that constitutes any legally recognized crime, the modus operandi of which relates to or emanates primarily from any belief or seeming belief in the occult, witchcraft, satanism, mysticism, magic, esotericism and the like. Included in the scope of occult-related crime are ritual muti/medicine murders, witch purging, witchcraft-related violence and sect-related practices that pose a threat to the safety and security of the Republic of South Africa and/or its inhabitants."

Gentlemen's relish?
Vintage risqué images from the Ivan Brunetti archives.

CSS, Zen and gardening...
Well not really but if you have more than a passing interest in web site design and what can be achieved using CSS this might tickle your fancy

Or perhaps you are a touch more morbid than that? You might prefer the National Museum of Funeral History although there will be every chance the nation in question is not your own.