week of 07/06/2008

TCHO, part 1: chocolate origins.



Xeni and Pesco visit TCHO, a homebrew chocolate technology startup hacked together by a space shuttle technologist, Timothy Childs, and the founder of Wired, Louis Rosetto.

In part one of BBtv's multi-part exploration of Tcho, we begin in the lab, and learn about the origins of chocolate: it's a weird looking fruit with biological roots in faraway tropical lands. How this fruit is cultivated, harvested, and cured determines the flavor of the final product, and we learn about the hedonics -- the sensual nuances -- of this exotic and temperamental element.

Related: read a feature about TCHO by David Pescovitz in the current issue of MAKE Magazine, Timothy and the Chocolate Factory.

Here are some iPhone snapshots from Xeni on Flickr: TCHO, Boing Boing tv.


(Special thanks to Amy Critchett, and Wayne & Breanna)

Monochrom: Kiki and Bubu and The Self



Austrian subversive art collective monochrom present an all-new installment of the philosophical sock puppets Kiki and Bubu on today's episode of Boing Boing tv.

These fuzzy logicians ponder the true nature of individual identity in capitalist societies, and connect the dots between Star Trek fandom, Sesame Street characters, Broadway musicals, and racy jpegs.

Previously:

* Nazi Petting Zoo
* Fisch Interview
* Orwell's 1984 deconstructed by puppets
* Monochrom's Marxist sock puppets
* Monochrom: MyFaceSpace, the musical
* Monochrom: Campfire at Will
* Monochrom: Falco Stairs
* Monochrom: Bar code artist Scott Blake / Falco stencil memorial
* Human USB Hack / Very Simple Motor
* Mark's Curie Engine / Monochrom's love song for Lessig

Joel Johnson interviews Syd Mead: part 1.



In today's episode of BBtv, Boing Boing Gadgets editor Joel Johnson meets with his hero, futurist and artist Syd Mead, to discuss the evolution of conceptual design.

Mead is a former designer for Ford Motor Company and US Steel. His designs have appeared in many movies, including Aliens, Tron, and Blade Runner.

Russell Porter with Alice Russell, pt. 2 (music)



UK-based Russell Porter chronicles alt music culture in the Porter Report with aggressive wit and offbeat charm.

Today, part two of his exclusive two-part interview for Boing Boing tv with the soulful Brit singer-songwriter Alice Russell, whose musical influences include Chaka Khan, Jill Scott, Aretha Franklin, and Minnie Riperton. Here's the Brighton beauty's Wikipedia entry (with a decent discography); here's her MySpace page with tons of music clips, and gig dates.

Previous PORTER REPORT episodes on BBtv:

  • Russell Porter with Alice Russell
  • Russell Porter and Cadence Weapon, pt. 1.
  • Russell Porter and Cadence Weapon, pt. 2.
  • Russell Porter with George Pringle
  • Russell Porter with The Young Knives pt 1
  • Russell Porter with The Young Knives pt 2
  • Russell Porter with The Futureheads
  • Russell Porter with The Guillotines
  • Russell Porter with Peggy Sue and the Pirates
  • Russell Porter with Dockers MC
  • Russell Porter with Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
  • Russell Porter with Alice Russell (music)



    UK-based Russell Porter chronicles alt music culture in the Porter Report with aggressive wit and offbeat charm.

    Today, part one of his exclusive interview for Boing Boing tv with the soulful Brit singer-songwriter Alice Russell, whose musical influences include Chaka Khan, Jill Scott, Aretha Franklin, and Minnie Riperton. Here's the Brighton beauty's Wikipedia entry (with a decent discography); here's her MySpace page with tons of music clips, and gig dates.

    Previous PORTER REPORT episodes on BBtv:

  • Russell Porter and Cadence Weapon, pt. 1.
  • Russell Porter and Cadence Weapon, pt. 2.
  • Russell Porter with George Pringle
  • Russell Porter with The Young Knives pt 1
  • Russell Porter with The Young Knives pt 2
  • Russell Porter with The Futureheads
  • Russell Porter with The Guillotines
  • Russell Porter with Peggy Sue and the Pirates
  • Russell Porter with Dockers MC
  • Russell Porter with Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
  • week of 07/06/2008