Plantage is a gorgeous flash video created for Danish music group Under Byen by Amanita Design, who brought us Samorost. This and other cool videos found at Blue Tea.

The Whale Hunt - more than three thousand photos taken at five minute intervals over a period of nine days, documenting a northern Alaskan community's annual Bowhead harvest. Interesting interface. Via DIMMN, by way of Haddock.

The Lives They Left Behind - a haunting examination of suitcases and trunks found in the attic of an abandoned psychiatric center. more inside

HBO Voyeur - what sordid secrets lurk behind closed doors? (Some bits may be NSFW if you have a huge fresnel lens on your monitor.) Via Ample Sanity.

Stunning monkeys! At peacay's gorgeous site. The one on the right is Kitworthy, no?

Sorry, gotta go - convincing sound files for when you really, really want to end that pesky call. Takes me back to the old days when my mother, talking on a black rotary dial phone, would frantically make doorbell pushing motions to us kidlets so she could escape a boring call. I like "My carriage is here".

Better dead than red? - gingerism threatens carrot-tops. (Yes, carrot tops are green, but try telling non-reds that.) more inside

Best Visual Illusion of the Year Contest - quite a collection. The visual illusion community includes visual scientists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, and visual artists that use a variety of methods to help discover the neural underpinnings of visual illusory perception. First place went to The Leaning Tower Illusion, submitted by McGill University. *preen* Via FmH

A book a fortnight - in which award-winning Yann Martel (Life of Pi) sends Canada's Prime Minister suggested volumes to read, along with quite fascinating letters. The response from Mr. Harper has been underwhelming.

Curious George: Heave-ho hovel - does anybody have experience with selling a house without a realtor? Any words of warning or hot tips? more inside

Save Pooky! A charming adventure game - puzzles to solve and keys to find. From Wortel Drie, a Netherlands site that has lots of interesting stuff. Via Ample Sanity

Not a safe haven, eh? U.S.A. army deserters run, can't hide. Fookin' tory gubmint.

Do Penguins Fly? - a fabulous, amusing bit of animation. See also Magik Circus at the same site, bearing a character reminiscent of Michigan J. Frog. Note: you'll have to enter disguised as a French person, as 'twere, but it's worth the sacrifice. Heh.

Exquisite sea slugs - such variety! more inside

The Sea Organ - a coastal installation at Zadar, Croatia, designed by architect Nikola Bašić. It plays strangely beautiful music with the aid of the Mediterranean Ocean, wind, some polyethylene tubes and a resonating chamber. Sample.

Recycled tintype images - strange and lovely rearrangements of bits of very old photos. Seen at Ample Sanity more inside

Hand bookbinding . Chinese bookbinding. Embroidered bookbinding. Sprinkled, dyed, marbled, gilt or gauffered edges. more inside

Aquarium toilet - who could possibly wee with all those witnesses? Video! more inside

Cyclical Non-uterine Dysmenorrhea - Dr. Gehardt Fardel's breakthrough cure for male menstrual cramps. (Via NOTCOT.)

It's the 21st Century, damnit - where's my jetpack? - Here's a look at the progress of the hydrogen peroxide rocket belt. Dan Schlund seems to be the current world master of hydrogen peroxide hovering (yootoob), but it's still only a 30-second flight. more inside