Wired:

Nathaniel James Nicholson of Eugene, Oregon, traveled throughout the world using coded e-mail messages to plot meeting locations with the Russians, and received tens of thousands of dollars on behalf of his convicted spy father, Harold James Nicholson.

"I Can Read" book covers for movies

Mitch Ansara created a series of book covers for movies like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Big, Teen Wolf, Highlander, and more.

"Britain's House of Lords voted Wednesday to suspend two of its members over corruption claims -- the first time a lord has been barred from the chamber since 1642"

"Two other lawmakers, Lord Moonie and Lord Snape, were found not to have breached the code."

Name this purple luchador and win

This purple luchador is a vinyl toy by Blockhead Brigade and doesn't have a name. Come up with a good name and post it at Spanky Stokes and you can win this custom Madl:

Door Lock/Maze by Art Lebedev

"Defendius" door chain lock/maze by Art Lebedev.

Make your own Other Mother's Button Box

Donovan Beeson didn't receive a button box from Coraline's Other Mother, so she made her own and even posted step-by step instructions. Here's her Etsy shop.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse vinyl toys

These Mickey and Minnie Mouse figures are officially called "Modern Pets Friend Disney" by Organic.

One of many Edward Gorey-inspired costumes spotted here.

Papercraft bird

Letter Pressed hired Matt Hawkins to design a paper toy version of their mascot Preston. You can download Preston here.

Steampunk zeppelin over old San Francisco

Awhile back, I mentioned this steampunk airship by Myke Amend:



And over San Francisco just after the 1906 quake and fire:

Lego Hellboy bust

Lego Hellboy bust by misterzumbi.

Tiny Lego Star Destroyer

Tiny Lego Star Destroyer by Matt "monsterbrick" Armstrong.

Chimera

Tiger, snake, octopus Chimera by Melita "Miss Monster" Curphy. Here's her Etsy store.

Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris

By Patrick Mate.

Harry Potter-themed mystery box

Inspired by the Coraline boxes, Bruce Wright created a Harry Potter-themed box:

The parcel arrived on our doorstep around eleven pm on the Twenty-fourth. It was addressed to Harry Potter, 12 Grimauld Place, London. It was wrapped in brown paper, and two envelopes from the Department of Mysteries were attached with string.

The letters expressed that this box had been in the custody of the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Mysteries in the intervening years since the passing of Albus Dumbledore, and he had indicated that the items were intended for Harry. Now the Department was insisting that Harry come ‘round to collect it or it would be sent by Owl or disposed of. Also no-one at the Ministry could manage to open the box, or knew what it contained.

The Box was wooden, clad with iron bracing, and sealed with wax and cord. A silver crest bearing the Fleur de Lis was affixed to the front.

The box contained a message from Albus Dumbledore to Harry, as well as the collected effects and writings of Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist who discovered the Philosopher’s Stone.

It also contained the Stone itself, which Harry had believed had been destroyed almost seventeen years ago.

Go here for a photo gallery.

Found item bug sculptures

A few of the found item sculptures recently put on sale in Ann Smith's Etsy store.

Leather Day of the Dead bandit mask

"Calavera Loca Motorcycle Riding Mask" on sale for $100 at Etsy.

Water Polo t-shirt design

By Dan Hipp. You can see a few panels from his issue of Gen 13 here.

Obi-Wan Kenobi as Sith

It's been abandoned, but Star Wars Battlefront III was supposedly going to feature Obi-Wan Kenobi as Sith, corrupted by Palpatine. More images here.

Gallery of abandoned, nuclear-powered Soviet lighthouses

English Russia:

[T]he Communist Party of the Soviet Union decided to build a chain of lighthouses to guide ships finding their way in the dark polar night across uninhabited shores of the Soviet Russian Empire. So it has been done and a series of such lighthouses has been erected. They had to be fully autonomous, because they were situated hundreds and hundreds miles aways from any populated areas. After reviewing different ideas on how to make them work for a years without service and any external power supply, Soviet engineers decided to implement atomic energy to power up those structures. So, special lightweight small atomic reactors were produced in limited series to be delivered to the Polar Circle lands and to be installed on the lighthouses.

The lighthouses have been abandoned and looted. See a gallery of images here.

Vicar orders removal of "unsuitable" crucifix from church.

How do you celebrate landing the Levi's ad account?

With blue champagne.

Fringe ARG leaks into Fox's NFL broadcast

The mysterious character known as The Observer made an appearance at the Eagles/Giants game today.

Darth Malak Munny

Darth Malak and Zartan Munnys.

Heavy Machinery in the Rainforest Poster

Species in the Rainforest poster by Ogilvy, Frankfurt, Germany for the German environmental group OroVerde.

Tron "Bit" papercraft

Download Tron "Bit" paper toys in various configurations here.

Relatedly, check out this gallery of Tron concept art.

Breaking Bad News with Baby Animals

On sale at Amazon.

"If You Dropped a Corn Kernel From Space, Would it Pop During Re-Entry"

Popular Science considers the question.

Shepard Fairey’s "Hope" Obama action figure

Available soon from Jailbreak Toys.

Viacom's crying Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants advertisements

Viacom ran print and television ads featuring Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants crying in its effort to pressure Time Warner to pay more for Viacom channels.

Motive: Secret Baby

Playground

Tin man "Playground" by Tom Otterness.