We’ve just returned from China where The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume 2, is being printed, and one of the things we’re always fascinated by there are the joss papers. Also known as dzi-dzat, these are paper reproductions of commerical objects that are burned as offerings for the dead. Traditional joss papers are silver and gold paper squares. Others take the form of stacks of faux paper money (known as “hell notes”). But these days, all manner of objects are appearing in temple stores: paper cell phones, TV sets, laptops, and even small cars, to be burned in large ovens on site. Pictured above is one of our favorites, a dental kit featuring a paper toothbrush, toothpaste tube, mouthwash bottle and cup.
The tradition of joss papers goes back to feudal China, when printed paper charms and offerings were displayed and burned at auspicious times of the year. For more information on joss papers, visit these sites:
wikepedia.com
latimes.com
library.thinkquest.org
Want some fun furniture for your kids to play on? Try making these folded paper pieces: a stool, a chair, and a rocker. Designed by Swiss architect Nicola Enrico Staubli, these simple yet sturdy items can be constructed from corrugated cardboard (preferably recycled) and decorated with paints, crayons, or collage elements. You can download the patterns for free from Staubli’s Foldschool web site: http://foldschool.com/_objects/objects_stool/objects_stool.html
Pop-up books have been making appearances in a range of new media situations lately, from ads to TV shows to music videos. Here are a few engaging examples:
Fergie’s new music video “Clumsy” is an amazing combination of pop-ups, animation, and live action. Watch it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnBcIN1PExk
The Lexus may not be the car for everyone, but you’ve got to appreciate the ingenuity behind their pop-up book commercial. Here’s the link for viewing. And if you’re interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how the commercial was made, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyrTCqdVG-8
Finally, The ABC TV show “Pushing Daisies” recently featured a paper engineer character in the episode titled “The Smell of Success.” To view the episode, go to the ABC web site, scroll down to the “Pushing Daisies” series, then find “The Smell of Success” episode. (You might have to load ABC’s player program, which just takes a few minutes.)
Here at Popular Kinetics, radio is our constant studio companion. One of our favorite shows is Radio Lab, produced by New York Public Radio station WNYC. With themes such as Sleep, Morality, and Time, each hour-long segment approaches its subject from a scientific, artistic, and philosophical viewpoint. The station only produces about five shows a year because they are so research- and labor-intensive. Each program is funny, insightful, and full of great storytelling.
Here’s a sample podcast. Sleep Every creature does it - from giant hump back whales all the way down to fruit flies - and yet science still can’t answer the basic questions: Why do we sleep? What is it for? We’ll eavesdrop on the uneasy dreams of rats in search of answers. http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2007/05/25
