Link roundup

1. The new shirts by Last Exit to Nowhere I featured recently are now on sale.

2. 25 animated gifs from Madonna's halftime show. My favorite moments were the pulsating numbers on the field, and when the field was sucked up and turned into a star field.

3. The Game of Thrones first season blu-ray set is $45 (half-off) at Amazon.

4. New painting by Dave MacDowell (NSFW).

Commercial for Nike Football Combines

Advertisement by Nimpsy for Nike's football training sessions. Via.

*Buy the Nike+ Sportband at Amazon.

Nike Chain Maille Mesh technology

Nike:

Nike will celebrate the Ducks’ return to the Rose Bowl with the debut of its latest Nike Pro Combat system of dress – the most advanced football uniform system ever assembled.

This fully integrated uniform system, debuted in its first iteration by the University of Oregon during last years’ BCS National Championship Game, incorporates the pinnacle in performance innovation and design from the world’s most renowned athletic outfitter. The new uniform provides enhanced thermoregulation and more durability with the inclusion of Nike Chain Maille Mesh – a lightweight ultra-breathable material – used in both the jersey and pant.

While the uniform certainly makes the team more recognizable, it’s their commitment to innovation and building better athletes that allows the University of Oregon to take its place among the nation’s most elite programs.

“Nike’s relationship with the University of Oregon represents a forward-thinking approach to innovation and design. Our goal is to help build better athletes by providing them with state-of-the-art-innovation combined with a deep knowledge and understanding of their heritage” said Todd Van Horne, Nike’s Creative Director for Football. The latest Nike Pro Combat system of dress uniform delivers more on-field performance benefits than ever before while pushing the limits on creativity and design. The Oregon Ducks truly represent Nike's approach in developing athletes from the inside-out.”

“Oregon represents the gold-standard when it comes to merging science and innovation with athletic performance and we are excited to continue our partnership with Nike by unveiling the next iteration in uniform innovation for the Rose Bowl” said Oregon Ducks Head Football Coach Chip Kelly. “Nike always starts by listening to the voice of the athlete as they continue to bring the most intuitive technology to the game.”



INNOVATION

From the cleats to the base layer, to the gloves and helmet, the Ducks’ uniform represents the pinnacle in game-day innovation for speed. New this year is the development of Nike Chain Maille Mesh technology, the ultimate in breathable uniform design. These innovations coupled with durable, lightweight padding provide athletes with a complete on-field suit of armor. Performance benefits include:

• Eleven different materials in the Nike Pro Combat uniform (jersey and pant), and 16 different materials in the complete system of dress – each to address the specific needs of the athlete in game situations

• Nike Chain Maille Mesh material incorporated into the back and under the arms in the jersey, as well as down the sides of the pant for exceptional ventilation without sacrificing durability. The new Nike Chain Maille Mesh integration also emphasizes improved thermoregulation, including the Nike Pro Combat Deflex padding layer, which is constructed with fabric selected for its ability to help keep the body cool and wick away sweat – making the uniform, and player, lighter and dryer.

• Increased air flow with large open-hole woven construction for more ventilation

• A redesigned base layer that facilitates the uniform’s overall innovation, delivering the ultimate in lightweight protection for maximum speed. The base layer in the pant also features customizable protection that incorporates a thin, incredibly strong carbon fiber plate that can be placed on the thigh padding where needed.

• Strategically placed seams, pads and cooling zones that help minimize distraction and optimize protective coverage. Robust padding, without the bulk, has also been added to offer optimal low-profile impact protection specifically throughout the crucial “hit zone” between the knees and shoulders.

• Nike Pro Combat Deflex padding integrated in the hip and knee areas of the pant for crucial impact protection that stays in place

• A Flywire collar eliminating two layers of fabric for improved breathability, providing a more stable anchor to keep the jersey in place



DESIGN

The uniform wouldn’t be complete without combining these innovations with a nod to the Duck’s rich heritage. Design elements include:

• A completely re-designed number system boasting an iridescent sheen similar to that on a mallard’s feathers. The larger, bolder numbers shift in color as they move.

• An armored wing design resting on new material engineered for maximum strength along the shoulder area

• A new look for the helmet featuring bright wings atop a mirrored appearance using a LiquidMetal black finish never before seen on the field. Though the wings are featured on the side, the iconic Oregon "O" still appears on the helmet located in a unique top-center placement.

The black and yellow uniforms Nike created for Arizona State were terrific, also.

Link roundup

1. Michael Lewis's latest great article. Does it even matter what it's about? Here's a taste - - the main subject of the article grew up Jewish in World War II:

On weekends Danny and his mother would watch the bus stop from their house, waiting for his father’s bus to arrive. Each time was a cliff-hanger: he knew his father was in constant danger and was never sure that he would come home. “I remember waiting with my mother, and as we waited we darned socks,” he said. “And so darning socks for me has always been an incredibly anxious activity.” His relationship to his father, whom he adored, was further queered by a mere typo; in the phony identity papers his father procured for them there was a mistake. Danny’s last name had been printed as “Godet”; his father’s had been printed as “Cadet.” Because of this typo Danny was required to address his father as “uncle.”

2. Detailed explanation for why Andrew Luck shouldn't even be in the Heisman discussion. Relatedly, USC's quarterback has him beat in almost every important statistical category.

3. And speaking of playing quarterback, a detailed explanation of what the 49ers have done to help Alex Smith succeed.

4. The new Superman iOS game is really fun (although shooting run of the mill crooks with heat vision seems a bit excessive) and is now on sale for 99 cents at iTunes.

5. And speaking of deals, Thor (the movie) is a 99 cent rental at Amazon.

The Carolina Panthers logo is supposed to be shaped like the borders of North and South Carolina

Wikipedia says, "The Panthers logo consists of the head of a snarling Black panther outlined in blue. It is shaped to resemble the combined borders of North and South Carolina."

However, it's a bit of a stretch....

Link roundup

1. The latest Laika art contest is designing a costume for that dog I posted the other day.

2. Boing Boing has a much bigger preview of that nursery rhyme book I mentioned yesterday.

3. How to turn any song into a ringtone.

4. A claim that Mike Shanahan ordered Elvis Grbac to throw a football at Al Davis. (Grbac obeyed, and of course he missed.)

5. Last Exit to Nowhere t-shirt giveaway.

Link roundup

1. Futuristic mouthguards:

The football team at Stanford University has gotten a high-tech upgrade to its uniform.

This season, players have begun wearing mouthpieces lined with sensors that measure the force and angle of collisions, to help researchers understand what kinds of hits and body positions are associated with concussions.

2. CBLDF fundraiser includes lunches with Neil Gaiman, Frank Quitely, and more.

3. China:

For example, when Shang-Jin Wei, an economist at Columbia University, and Xiaobo Zhang of the International Food Policy Research Institute examined the size distribution of Chinese homes, they found that families with sons built houses that were significantly larger than those built by families with daughters, even after controlling for family income and other factors. They also generally found that the higher a city’s male-to-female ratio, the bigger the average house size of families that have sons.

Mr. Wei reports that many families with sons have begun to add a phantom third story to their homes, one that looks normal from the outside but whose interior space remains completely unfinished.

“Marriage brokers are familiar with the tactic,” he reports, “yet many refuse to schedule meetings with a family’s son unless the family house has three stories.”

Via these sites.

4. The Portal-themed iPad decals I posted a few days ago are now on sale.

Link roundup

1. The tap water in a Pennsylvania town is so polluted with methane that you can light it on fire. Via.

2. Today's new free games: City of Heroes and Glitch (haven't tried either yet as I've been spending my video game time enjoying Lego Clone Wars).

3. In light of the way Google has cancelled projects under Larry Page, it's reassuring that they keep rolling out new improvements for Blogger.

4. Cheating by the Redskins apparently caused those bad snaps in last night's Cowboys game.

Jerry Rice and Nitus Dog football for the Wii

Jerry Rice and Nituss Dog Football for the Wii. Yes, it's a real product, and you can try out this flash version, but it wasn't working for me. Via.

Epic Tecmo Bowl run by Bo Jackson

Epic touchdown run in Tecmo Bowl starring Bo Jackson (the kickoff return at the beginning is just the setup). Via.

*Buy Bo Jackson toys at eBay.

Link roundup

1. I mentioned before that I actually preferred Last.fm to Spotify because it does a decent job streaming songs you might like, while Spotify is just a big library. Well, here's Lifehacker's recommendations for how to get a similar service at Spotify.

2. I'm not sure if I've posted about this before, but Boise State's college football team has enjoyed an unfair advantage for years - - they wear blue uniforms and play on a blue field, which makes it very difficult for opposing coaches to study their formations (the players blend into the background). Well, they can't wear the uniforms on that field anymore.

3. Japan is drilling for "burning ice," hoping it will replace nuclear power.

4. Free ios games (at least as of this moment): Allied Star Police by Popcap, To-Fu: The Trials of Chi. Via.

Link roundup

1. How to move a Blogger blog to Wordpress. Via Blogger.

2. "Justin Bieber Takes A Picture Of Traffic, Instagram Usage Explodes."

3. I realize they have a new coach and that Ohio State's implosion has helped, but still, in light of Michigan's recent failures, it seems notable that they have the top-ranked recruiting class.

Michael Vick as a minotaur by Simon Bisley

Michael Vick as a minotaur by Simon Bisley - -a Nike ad from several years ago.

*Buy Slaine: The Horned God at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. Cupid paper toy. Via.

2. From an interview with Pen Ward:

What were you like as a kid?

Nerd. I would call myself a big nerd. As a child I played Diablo online and lots of games, I was a pretty awkward person. I would sit by myself in the treehouse in the school's playground and draw robots. I'd try and figure out how robots work by drawing them and then just hope cute girls would come up, look at my drawings, and think I was cool.

I'm sure this is a totally common thought for geeky boys, and it doesn't help that the cartoons they see teach them that good dating strategies include kidnapping girls with dragons, or drugging and tying them up and taking their comatose bodies on romantic dates.

3. You can impress your friends on Sunday by telling them the "G" on the Packers helmet stands for "greatness." Also, the Steeler's have a logo on only one side of their helmet because they initially thought the logo wouldn't look good and thus only put it on one side. But the look ended up being popular.

Mike Ditka as a bear

Mike Ditka as a bear t-shirt by David Schwen for Threadless. Click on the voting widget if you'd like the chance to buy it:



Via.

Link roundup

1. Freakonomics interviews a Football Outsider.

2. UCLA is pitching its law students on a job as a chauffeur.

3. Rugby player bites down on a blood capsule to fake an injury (and allow a substitution), and then convinces the team doctor to cut his mouth to make it look legit.

*Buy NFL bobbleheads at Amazon.

Watch a young boy frighten Donovan McNabb

Chris Cooley arranged for a boy to hide in Donovan McNabb's locker and jump out and frighten him. Via.

*Buy practical jokes at Amazon.

Link roundup

1. After a year out of football, Pacman Jones is trying to make the Bengals. Ochocinco torched him in practice.

2. Fark on a CNN article:

Majority of Americans: Immigrants are lazy free-loaders who take our jobs by working harder for less pay.

3. I've been waiting for this feature for years - - Metroid The Other M will feature a cinema mode:

This theater-mode movie is about two hours in length and divided into chapters like a DVD film. It's not just the movie cutscenes straight from the game, though -- there's some pre-recorded gameplay bits to it as well, although those sections aren't recorded off your own moves as you beat the game.

Via.

*Buy Metroid toys at eBay.

Link roundup

1. Chipotle was found to be in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act because people in wheelchairs couldn't see over the counter to where the food was being prepared. Via.

2. A key topic in Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver - - pseudoscience, such as alchemy, is often the gateway to valid scientific discovery.

3. The Tennessee Titans have sued USC over the manner in which Lane Kiffin and USC poached one of their Football coaches. (How many times during the day must Lane Kiffin fail some sort of moral test? It must be constant, right?)

The Aliens bow to their master (link roundup)

Snoop Dogg and Aliens by Yellow Duck.

And a few more links:

1. Papercraft turkey.

2. USC students draw first blood, splash UCLA's Bruin mascot statue with cardinal and gold paint.

3. A parent unhappy with his son's lack of playing time on the high school basketball team hired a private investigator to follow the coach. The PI watched the coach drink at a bar, and then reported him to the police when he proceeded to drive away. Via.

*Previously: Xenomporph stapler.

*Buy Alien toys at eBay.