America and Japan Are Going to Have a Giant Robot Duel
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When I was a kid, I used to love the Gundam anime series (G Gundam, for life). Giant robots punching each with laser light fists just spoke to me. Humanity's been chasing that impossible dream for years, but now it's just a wee bit closer. Last week, American company Megabot showed off footage of a real working mecha (that shot paintballs of course) with the intention of fitting someone inside for giant robot battles a la Pacific Rim or Robot Jox. Footage of their robot came with a challenge to Japanese robotics company Suidobashi Heavy Industry for their robots to fight in 2016.
This week, Suidobashi replied with their own video. Draped in a Japanese flag, CEO Korgoro Kugata had some awesome trash talk claiming the American machine could have been cooler (and has too many guns because America). All the while accepting the challenge to fight their robot, Kuratas, against the American Megabot. Unfortunately we don't have any details of the big "fight," and the whole thing screams publicity stunt. Perhaps it's to draw attention to Megabot's once failed Kickstarter campaign to start an entire league of mecha fights. Whether or not it's a coordinated stunt, why has it taken this long for us to get to this point? Something like this should've happened a long time ago. When will our lives go full anime?
Hilariously enough, this was all around the time of a notable World Cup match between America and Japan where Japan was decimated as USA scored four goals in under sixteen minutes (three of those belonging to superwoman Carli Lloyd). To top if off, Independence Day was last weekend so everyone's far more patriotic than usual. I'm sure the American robot will win just because I don't see any other outcome being possible. It's running on bald eagle power right now.
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[via Popular Science]
Mossless in America: Documentary Photos by Paul D'Amato
Photos by Paul D'Amato
In an experimental photography publication run by Romke Hoogwaerts and Grace Leigh, who partnered with Mossless Magazine, is a creative column titled Mossless in America, featuring interviews with various documentary photographers from around the United States. Amongst those photographers is Paul D'Amato, who has been documenting dramas in the everyday lives of ordinary people for more than two decades. Born in Boston, D'Amato has gone across the country hitchhiking and hopping freight trains to achieve the work he has. After years of moving around he ended up in to Chicago, where he discovered communities like Pilsen and Little Village, which are where most of his featured photography in Mossless was taken.
In an inclusive interview with VICE, D'Amato speaks in detail about these photos, in addition to the new series he is currently photographing on the west side of Chicago, which is called HereStillNow. The photos are raw and powerful, and a perfect example to the type of documentary photography used in Mossless Magazine. Be sure to check out it's third issue to be published this spring, titled The United States (2003–2013). And be sure to see more of Paul D'Amato's work here.
[Via VICE]
Rifles Manufactured Specifically for Young Children
Photos by An-Sofie Kesteleyn
“My First Rifle” is the advertising slogan for small rifles manufactured specifically for young children. For appeal, they come in an assortment of colors and styles like hot pink, orange, royal blue or with multicolor swirls, and although they look like toys, these rifles are very real. The bizarre concept instantly grabbed the attention of Belgian photographer An-Sofie Kesteleyn, and she immediately took on a project to photo shoot children with their own rifles in America.
The idea first came about when Kesteleyn read an article about a 5-year-old boy in rural Southern Kentucky who accidentally shot his 2 year old sister, and not with any gun, with his own gun. Having been raised in Belgium, she found this astonishing, so when she traveled to the United States she sought out to find gun shops and shooting ranges with families who had bought these playfully colored guns for their children. With the permission of the children's parents, she photographed them with their rifles. While meeting with these families, she respected that most of the parents discussed self-defense and their fear of attacks with the kids, so she then asked the children to write about their own fears, and she presents their writings and drawings next to their portraits.
Although the idea and gun topic are both very controversial, the portraits are intriguing and thought provoking. Take a look for yourself and let us know how you feel about the concept.
[Via The NY Times]
