The pineal gland may be small, but it looms large in the minds of literary types. Did you know the pineal gland was a source of fascination to philosophers like Descartes, who called it the “seat of the soul“? The pineal gland captured the imagination of authors like Hunter S. Thompson, whose character Dr. Gonzo feared the psychoactive properties of pineal gland extract in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. “Man, I’ll try just about anything, but I’d never in hell touch a pineal gland,” Dr. Gonzo said in the movie version of the book. In his novel Broom of the System, David Foster Wallace’s fictional corporation Stonecipheco worked on putting a pineal additive in baby food. More pop culture pineal stuff here.
Archive for the ‘Artsy Guts’ Category
Kidneys Are Back!
Posted: Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Boring news alert: We were out of a few sizes in our When Urine Love kidney shirt for a while, but we’re happy to let you renal fans out there that kidney shirts are back in stock in all sizes! Just the thing if you’re getting a kidney, giving a kidney, need a boost during dialysis, etc.
Taking Out the Bowels
Posted: Thursday, March 11th, 2010
We heart this fabulous new Samurai-themed birthday card by the bright minds over at Fomato, which explains all the many different reasons these Japanese warriors ritually disembowel themselves in ritual suicide. Study this guide carefully to make sure you don’t have to take out your intestines to say, preserve your mother’s honor or whatnot.
Mind the Guts
Posted: Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Take the green line to the stomach, transfer at the spleen, then take one stop to your pancreas… This bodily subway map by illustrator Samantha Loman reminds us of the body’s complicated connections in a clean and handy format in the style of the London Underground. {Street Anatomy via Cool Hunting. Thanks, Julie!}
Everything is Illuminated
Posted: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
A chandelier made from syringes from the brilliant minds over at Bughouse. Whoever thought medical supplies could be made so pretty and bright? {via Trendhunter}
For Your Bones
Posted: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
You break it, you can buy it — an xray depiction of the mess inside your cast by Casttoo. They even use your actual x-ray! It tells a story and of course if more exciting than your usual signatures and the retelling of “Yes, I really broke my wrist opening a can of cat food.” {JWZ via Boing Boing}
Free Plush Hearts!
Posted: Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
Don’t forget to visit and enter Chronicle Books’ I Heart Guts giveaway, which ends this Friday — five lucky winners will get a free plush heart, Spill Your Guts journal, I Heart Guts mix and match stationery set, stickers, and “I Work In Detox” liver lapel pin. All ya have to do is tell ‘em your favorite organ and why and you’re entered. Some of our favorite comments so far: “My bladder makes sure I never oversleep, it interrupts long road trips to keep them from getting boring, it gives you an excuse to inspect someone’s bathroom.” AND “As a new dad, I have to go with the uterus! Due to a bit of (mis)fortune the doctor actually held up my wife’s uterus for me to “check out”. Umm, not such a pretty site. Thankfully, I have managed to replace that image in my mind with your adorable plushie.” AND “I love the liver – it allows us to enjoy the finer things in life such as champagne, chocolate and hot chips. Sorry liver.” Winners are picked at random, but we’ll keep our guts crossed for your good fortune! NOTE: The contest is NOT ON THIS BLOG, it’s right here on Chronicle Books’ blog.
High Fashion Guts
Posted: Monday, March 8th, 2010
Organic fashion just got a new look courtesy of Rei Kawakubo’s fall 2010 collection for Comme des Garçons. Her dresses were decorated with blobby shapes that resembled kidneys, pancreases, stomachs, hearts and intestines, but worn on the outside. The theme for the collection? Inside decoration. We love it! {photos courtesy Hint Magazine and Style.com}
Inside the Oscars
Posted: Monday, March 8th, 2010
We never thought about Oscar’s guts until this statue appeared at the top of the Hollywood Hills’ Runyon Canyon. He’s flesh and blood and bone like the rest of us, but we bet he’s still got a heart of gold (heard to tell, though). {Losanjelaous blog via Street Anatomy}
Win Hearts and Guts!
Posted: Friday, March 5th, 2010
The wonderful people at Chronicle Books must be crazy — they’re giving away our new Spill Your Guts journals and mix-and-match stationery sets to five lucky winners on their blog. That’s right, freeeeee guts for you to win! We figured their generosity shouldn’t go unmatched, so we’re throwing some heart plushies, stickers and pins to go with it. All you have to do is describe your favorite organ and why on Chronicle’s Paper Goods blog and you’ll be entered to win. Good luck winning those guts!
