We're Moving!

As you might have noticed, I haven't really been updating lately; I've started college and I've been hella busy. For that reason, I've decided that Tumblr would be a better format for this blog. Posts here may or may not continue. Come and check out our new place! 

Off Grid Living: Bus Houses!

Ever since this whole economic crash and teenage peer pressure business started (which was around the same time for me) I've thought it'd be really convenient to live like a hermit in the middle of nowhere, where I wouldn't have to deal with money or humans. I don't much like humans; they creep me out.

It was a bit more recently that I found out about the trend of converting old buses into homes. What could be cooler than living in an old bus? It's cheap, cozy, green, and pretty damn unique. Also you could totally drive your house down the street, were you so inclined. Whee!

Here are a few cool pictures that I pilfered from the internet:

Not gonna fit. :(

So with that, I thought I'd try my hand at designing one of my own. Not in real life, though; it's midterm season so I wouldn't have the time. But that's what CAD modelling is for! If I do say so myself, I think I managed to make a pretty cool off-grid home. I'd seriously consider making the real thing and moving in, but then I realized that there's no way I could find room for my bass.

I built with self-sufficiency yet simplicity in mind. Note the solar panels and veggie gardens. I aimed to keep the gardens compact, to create a plot of land that could fit in an country, suburban, or even urban location. I wouldn't mind hermit-ing in a city, either; there it's acceptable to just ignore everybody else.

Overview from above.

The front yard.

A cozy little nook for reading, writing, and dining. 

The living room and kitchen, as viewed from the doorway. 

The living room, as viewed from the kitchen.

The bathroom. 

The bedroom.

The backyard: a shady orchard with a gazebo. 

The floor plan. 

The Diamond Industry (and Other Ways Advertisers F*ck With Society for Money)

I remember at some point in high school math class, the subject of diamond ring prices came up in an example problem. One of my classmates raised her hand and asked "What's the deal with diamonds? They're overpriced shiny rocks."

A good point, I thought, but the rest of the class looked at her in utter shock. "What do you mean 'what's the big deal'?" the teacher responded. "They're diamonds!" Note that she didn't really answer the question.

But that got me thinking: Just what is the big deal with diamond culture? I mean, sure, they're shiny, which is always a plus, with with so many gemstones in the world that are just as beautiful and far more economical, why are we obligated to demand the most expensive ones, especially given the amount of corruption involved in the process of diamond mining? College Humor offers a delightfully cynical insight in this video.

Spray some mildly poisonous cleaning solutions
up your genitals or your husband will leave you and it
\will totally be your fault. Yeah, seems legit.  

And that made me wonder some more--what other things do we do just because advertisers imply that its "normal"? One of the most infamous examples would be the prevalence of douching in the 20th century, which thank goodness, is a trend that's pretty much died out. The same goes for shampoos, deodorants, and plenty of cleaning products; all things that are stunningly easy to make on one's one.

In any case, here's a thought: why not try offering/accepting a ring without a diamond, or maybe even getting a used one. Personally, as a history geek, I'd be utterly delighted to get a piece of vintage jewelry, regardless of  how much or little money the giver spent on it. Hell, if you're really adventurous, you can actually get engaged without having to trade status symbols.

This Video Wins the Internet

Five Ways Baking Soda Can Help You Fight the Beauty Industry

Seems legit. Image from Ad Busting at Tumblr.

It's not secret that the cosmetics industry is full of shit--it relies on the unnecessary insecurity of girls and women for at least half of its existence, in addition to all the use of animal testing. I myself spent years in high school blowing most of my allowance so I could afford to cake on makeup and hide my face; to this day, the habit of being terrified of every blemish and smudged bit of lipstick still sticks with me to this day.

But this isn't to say that I'm against the use of makeup and cosmetics altogether--indeed, I think there are few things more beautiful than self-expression, and cosmetics are a great way of achieving that. The issue is the attitudes surrounding the use of these things. Rather than a choice or something to add a little extra to one's look, they have become all but a requirement--thanks largely to irresponsible and-or manipulative advertising. So here I present a few DIY alternatives to mainstream beauty products:

1. Conditioning Shampoo
Shampoo is a remarkably recent invention--not considered a necessity until the mid twentieth century. There's a reason for that--it's incredibly easy to replace. Here's a simple recipe that I like to use:
                   -Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda to a small jar.
                   -Blend in olive or vegetable oil (olive oil is more moisturizing, but also has a strong scent that might not work well for hair) until achieving a paste-like consistency.
                   -If desired, add a few drops of essential oil for a nice scent.

2. Toothpaste
Baking soda on its own makes a great toothpaste with a strong whitening effect. Simply sprinkle a little on your toothbrush, or, if you prefer it in mint flavor and paste form, follow this recipe.
                  -As with the shampoo, add a few spoonfuls of baking soda to a jar, and blend in oil to give it a paste-consistency. Use an oil without too much flavor, like vegetable.
                 -Stir in a bit of mint extract.

3. Exfoliating Scrub
                  -Blend one part baking soda and one part honey.
                  -If desired, add a few drops of lemon juice for an astringent effect, but keep in mind that this can have a bleaching effect on skin, so it might not be the best if you're going for a tan.

4. Deodorant
Keep in mind the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant--this will reduce body odor, but not the total amount of sweat your body produces. Some say  deodorant is better for one's skin, but it won't keep those annoying sweat stains from showing up on your clothes, if that's normally a problem for you.
                   -Add a few drops of essential oil to a few tablespoons of baking soda--and that's it!

5. Bath Salts
I mean the kind for actual use in a bath, not the kind that turns people into zombies, in case there was any confusion. This particular concoction adds a nice feel to bath water, and has a great softening effect on skin.
                   -Blend one part salt (table and/or Epsom, your choice) and one part baking soda.
                   -Add a few drops of essential oil and, if desired, food coloring. This will initially leave clumps, which you can break up with your fingers until color and scent are distributed evenly.
                   -To use, add one to two cups to a hot bath.

                 

We're Back!

As you may have noticed, I've been on something of a hiatus lately, thanks to running out of ideas  Google+ being a horrible, horrible thing that effs up pretty much all of Blogger (and the rest of the internet, for that matter.) I swear, one of these days we're gonna be living in a cyberpunk dystopia ruled by Google.

Anyway, throughout that time, I've had something of a branching out in interests, thanks to me going from a nerdy high school kid to a hippie-ish college kid. So now, therefore, my usual steampunk programming will be supplemented with other facets of Alt culture, including, but not limited to, Goth fashion, Punk living, feminism/social justice, environmental/DIY lifestyle, and whatever other crap I feel like posting. Yay!

Also,you should totally check out the Facebook page I've just started admin-ing: We Love Bats. Come on, its awesome. Please?

DIY Roundup: Victorian Christmas

I don't know about you, but I personally like to spend my Christmases frolicking around in poofy dresses pretending that I'm in Victorian London--well, I do that pretty much all year, but its particularly atmospheric when there's snow and Christmas trees and shiny stuff everywhere.

But there's more, of course, to the Neo-Victorian/Steampunk lifestyle than frolicking around in fancy clothes, as much fun as that is. Here are a few tutorials for a Victorian Christmas that Mister Dickens himself would geek out over.

1. Christmas Crackers
The Christmas cracker--an iconic symbol of the English Christmas. And it's surprisingly easy to make. Sadly, the bits that make it pop are tricky to find in U.S. stores, although I've found a few suppliers online. Also, they aren't magical like the ones in Harry Potter. Damn. Still pretty cool, though.





2. Make Your Own Wreath!
With the steampunk philosophy of DIYing everything that can be DIYed, why not try making your own Christmas wreath? If you've got a pine tree to trim a couple branches off of, it's easier than it sounds!











3. Light Bulb Snow Globes
A simple tutorial for making snow globes from light bulb ornaments. With a little creativity, this could be made into something mind-blowingly steampunk.













4. Hot Air Balloon Ornaments
Hot Air Balloons--the vehicle of choice for many an explorer! They also make lovely ornaments for your tree. This one's a bit more complex, but totally awesome.












5. Terrarium Ornaments
What better home decor for the scientifically-minded Victorian than a terrarium? (I mean, besides a complete size dino fossil, but those are a bit tricky to find.) Now, wouldn't that terrarium look lovely on your tree? Of course it would. Here's an easy tutorial.

Game Review: Ironcalypse

Hey everyone! Today I'm reviewing another random flash game, because random flash games have pretty much been my only way of passing the long hours while I'm sitting around and waiting until I can walk. Today, we have Ironcalypse, a platformer by ParaArt.

You play as one of several adorable robots escaping some kind of apocalypse. What kind of apocalypse, you ask? Good question; they never really specify.  Either way, you've gotta escape it.

The Good Stuff: Aw, look at dem cute little robots! Good music (when you can hear it over the ridiculously loud sound effects) and a nice industrial-style design.

The Bad Stuff: I noted a lot of people had complaints about lag in this game. While I personally never noticed any, that might have been sheer luck. What I did have some issues with was the lack of control the player has over the character. You cannot control speed, direction, or anything other than jumping and ducking.

The Verdict: It's okay. Not really good, not really bad.
It was fun at first, but it got repetitive very quickly. There's potential there, but it just isn't that well-executed. I guess its worth checking out if you have nothing better to do. It's not like it costs you anything.

Play for free here: http://armorgames.com/play/15743/ironcalypse

DIY Roundup: Build Your Own Library

Who hasn't dreamed of having a library like this at home? (source here) Unless you're really freaking rich, that's not very apt to happen. But maybe you can get away with a smaller home library--a cozy collection of books stacked on unique DIY shelves. Here are a few tutorials that could help make it happen:

1. Invisible Bookshelves. 

                Shelves that defy gravity, or at least appear to. This tutorial is simple, cheap, and looks awesome. The only downside is that a book must be destroyed in the process, but if you have a few books that look cool but never get read, this might be worth the sacrifice.

2. Upside-down Bookshelves.

              The only thing better than floating books is upside-down floating books! Another simple tutorial.  However, since the books are held in place with elastic, it might not be the most practical or versatile, but damn does it look cool.

3. Skateboard Shelves.

               I like books. I like skateboards. So why not combine the two? Need I say more?

4. Pipe Shelves!

           Probably the most quintessentially steampunk item on this page, pipes shelves look awesome and are much easier to make than they look. They'd look fantastic in an industrial styled library. *drools* That would look so cool!

Game Review: The Gentleman

As I've mentioned before, I've spent a great deal of time on the internet lately, seeking free games to pass the time as I wait for a broken ankle to heal, and I thought I would review a few of these. Up today: The Gentleman. Produced by SoulGame Studios, this simple platformer features the adventures of a top-hat-wearing gentleman as he explores a vintage-styled city.

The Good Stuff: DAT ATMOSPHERE! Really, it's fantastic! A moonlit city, reminiscent of old London, filled with rats and bats and black cats... Oh, and that music--I love it!

The Bad Stuff: There's nothing really wrong with this game, per se, although it isn't exactly anything groundbreaking about it. It's a standard 2d platformer.

The Verdict: A fantastic and challenging time-killer! If you have the spare time, it's absolutely worth a look.

Play for free here: http://armorgames.com/play/15405/the-gentleman

Just a Little Mini Post

Found this on Pinterest. Awesome, yes?

Run, Run, Run...

...as fast as you can. I can catch you; I'm the Gingerbread Man!
I totally decorated the most beautiful gingerbread man ever today. This is art:

Okay, maybe I had a little TOO much fun. Maybe.

The Most Adorable Cafe Ever

So this is pretty off topic for my blog, probably more in the vein of Gothic Lolita than steampunk, but dang, is it cute! This new trend of "bunny cafes" is just another one of the many things that makes Japan an awesome place. See for yourself:

D'aww! Aren't they adorable!

3D Environment--An Encampment for the Zombie Apocalypse

After a dreadful incident involving a freshwater kracken, I've been spending a great deal of time confined to bed, whiling away the hours by searching the internet for free games. Many, if not most, of said games involve zombies, which got me thinking all along the zombies/end of the world train of thought. 

So, using CAD software that just happened to be on my computer, I built this:

The Scene: 1950's. The unthinkable has happened, and the Cold War has escalated to a nuclear emergency. After an attack of several major U.S. cities, survivors emerge from their backyard bunkers to find not a nuclear wasteland, but an atmosphere infected with a deadly virus that disfigures its victims and turns ordinary people into mindless, violent zombies. The population drops as the infection spreads, leading to months of martial law, and, eventually, a collapse of organized society.

An intrepid group of roughly ten people take shelter in an abandoned warehouse in the Chicago area. It is a large, defensible building, which, over the months, is modified into a well-defended sort of home.

Despite the risk of attracting zombies and raiders,  a fire is invaluable for the preparation of food, when one is prepared to deal with undead company. 

An overview of the warehouse interior.

A simple kitchen. 

A lofted space makes for defensible storage of essential resources such as food and water.

As supplies of prepackaged food run out, the presence of a garden and a rabbit hutch become more essential by the day.

A makeshift medical station.

The common room. A space for relaxation between zombie hunts. 

So that's my zombie camp! How effective do you think it would be in a real zombie attack? Let me know in the comments!

 Please note that the individual models and textures in this design are not my own. I merely put them together.

 

Suspicious Disguise No. 1: The Gray Ghost

Need to hide your identity while demanding candy from the neighbors? Nothing could be more classic for Halloween than the visage of a tragic ghost bride. Here's a DIY costume idea that looks more elaborate than it is. A simple project with a distinct Victorian Gothic mood.

Eight DIY Projects to Decorate Your Mansion/Secret Lab/Fortress of Evil!

It's that magical time of year again! The time when it's not only normal to be dark and scary and wear silly hats, but it's almost mandatory! Ah, Halloween!

But like any holiday, it has its pressures. After all, be you a vampire, a murderous widow, or an evil super villain, you simply cannot be caught with your lair in disarray, or, worse yet, non-scariness! Honestly, no one will take your plans of world domination seriously if you leave your teddy bear out.

But fear not, my villainous friend! Here are some clever and simple ways to get that cutely little sewer lab you've got looking more like a lair worthy of Doctor Frankenstein!

 1. Rats! 
             Concerned about the plague this year? Don't be; these rabid little cuties are made of paper!

2. Goblins!
                Love all things whimsical and creepy-cute? And what about fun yet easy projects? This little guy takes the cake in both departments.

3. Burning Coals
                 The warm glow of a fire in the night is something that's been sadly lacking in the daily lives of most modern people. Of course, not everyone happens to have the luxury of a piping hot coal stove on a chilly fall day, but this decoration here at least looks like one.

4. Graveyard Fence
                    Problems with neighborhood kids and dogs coming too close to your secret experiments? Well, nothing says "you shouldn't be here" like a spiky iron fence topped with skulls. If that's out of your budget, this simple tutorial will aid you in making a purely decorative variety.

5. Spooky Curtains
                    Need some torn-up black curtains that flow in the wind and send chills down the spine of potential trick-or-treaters? Turns out, a plastic garbage bag and two simple steps manages that quite well.

6. Candle Cluster
                Given how so many "creatures of horror" are sensitive to light (ghosts don't much like sunlight, and vampires sunburn so easily, you know.) any considerate evil host would keep the lighting down to candles rather than pushing his or her luck with those ghastly electric things. Worried about those dangerous chemicals in your secret lab catching fire? No problem; this tutorial is made with false candles in mind.

7. Bloody Candles!
                 Hey, why not? This is remarkably easy, taking just a white candle and a red one, and incredibly atmospheric.

8. Raven Dinnerware
                A dinner display that Mister Poe himself would be proud of. It's simpler than you'd expect, and, although this tutorial is perfect for Halloween, the same method could be applied, with different artwork, to just about any occasion.

A Tale of Woe and Excuses

I do apologize for my lengthy absence, but I assure you, there is a good reason for it. I spent several weeks as of late studying at a prestigious local academy. I put utter devotion into my noble studies, which kept me very  until a fateful event struck.

On a fine September evening, I was cruising over the shining waters of Lake Michigan in my personal balloon, when a fateful disaster struck. A mighty freshwater kracken sprung up from the waters, grasping my balloon in its tentacles and dragging me down into the water. (Normally I have the skill to steer around such creatures, but I was not expecting one to appear so early in the evening.)

In the depths of the frigid lake, I struggled in the beast's grasp, until I was able to locate and take up my trusty cutlass. In one desperate swing, I succeeded in slicing through the kracken's tentacles Once the creature had been frightened away, I fought my way to the surface, and, clinging to the wreckage of my beloved balloon, awaited rescue. I survived that night, although the beast had entirely crushed my right leg and slightly jostled my spinal cord, causing me to spend several weeks confined to the local medical complex.

I went mad with the terror of what I had seen, and thus was sent to an asylum for yet another week. Despite the horrors of the place (many of which were located in the cafeteria--French fries simply should not bounce off of hard surfaces), I managed to find a few kindred spirits. A fellow inmate of mine created this mechanical aid to the healing of my leg:

So now here I am, back at home, more or less confined to my bed, and left with no excuses to keep from my Aether-web journal. More DIY tutorials, book reviews, and tales of my adventures soon to come.

Hyde Park and Kensington Palace

Of course, what trip to London is complete without a visit to Hyde Park? Once the fashionable home of Queen Victoria, the setting for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and yet another location featured in my favorite video game--how much more steampunk could it get? 

 

Inside Kensignton palace itself, which is now open to the public, was an exhibit on the life of Queen Victoria!

This was her wedding dress. By the size of it, she probably wasn't much taller than four feet.

Also was a recreation of what the personal rooms of King George would have looked like: