As the post-Halloween haze lifts, lets take a moment to reflect back on some of the more imaginative, creative, and/or topical costumes from around the country that reverberated around the Internet and blogosphere this week. My favorite this year fell on the surreal artsy side of things. Artist Eric Testroete built a “papercraft self-portrait,” which reminds me of those easter egg modes in video games that turns all the characters heads into “big heads.” More after the jump.

READ MORE >>

An impressive meticulously detailed large map measuring 6 feet x 8 feet of New York City cut out of paper by hand. It’s separated into four panels each representing the main boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens), except for the Rodney Dangerfield of the boroughs: sorry, Staten Island. Along with a Paris version, this unique one of a kind map is available at the popular DIY website Etsy.

[Via]

Wind-powered techies, energy-capturing pavement, and DIY hybrid electric sports cars… it’s time for your weekly green tech finds.

• This light rocks: Literally… kinetic energy from rocking the Murakami chair powers an attached OLED lamp. (via Gizmodo)
  
  
• Plug-ins aren’t so weird: CNET editor Martin LaMonica takes note of the strides automakers are taking to make electric vehicles perform in a similar manner to their gas-powered counterparts.
  
  

READ MORE >>

Posted on DeviantArt, a popular online community for a wide range of artists to showcase and share their art, a talented user posted an impressive dress made from recycled materials as her final piece for college. It’s made from newspapers, plastic bags, bin liners, curtains, and old fake fur. She also made this small matching hat.

[Via]

Instead of just tossing them into your recycle bin, give your magazine a second life as a DVD sleeve, envelope, paper bowl, photo frame or my favorite, a wallet by following these DIY instructions provided by Wired UK (part 1 and part 2).

[Via]

If you don’t have the financial wherewithal to possess these pieces of art, nor the creativity to produce your own original works that’ll capture the imagination of the public, then use these do-it-yourself kits to imitate your favorite contemporary art superstars. For example, Damien Hirst’s “For the Love of God” – a diamond covered skull – cost £14 million to create. Make your own for just £49.99! Now this is truly affordable art!

[Via]

It’s Thursday again… here’s some of the notable green tech news from the week.

• Keep an eye on renewable energy developments in your area? Build Baby Build’s Greenspotter contest gives you an opportunity to win some cool energy monitoring equipment for your photos of those projects.
  
  
• Not sure where to find a nearby recycling location? Earth 911’s new iPhone app provides locations, directions, and a list of accepted materials.

READ MORE >>

Filmmaker Michel Gondry is back at Sundance with his latest romp BE KIND, REWIND [www.bekindmovie.com]. In it, a video store dude (Jack Black), who, after he accidentally erases the store’s merchandise, decides to remake all the lost films on video. Gondry, who has taken his DIY aesthetic to sublime places, is endorsing others video imagination this week. While at Sundance, he will be curating YouTube [www.youtube.com] videos all week.

READ MORE >>