Link roundup

1. The Oakland A's were the talk of the sports world on Monday after signing Cuban slugger/outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who put out a truly outlandish promotional video. If you're not convinced it's worth your time to watch, read this detailed description.

2. A lengthy analysis of why the Death Star's trash compactor makes little sense.

3. Bonsai tree houses.

4. Gyroscopically stabilized pool table for cruise ships.

Link roundup

1. The Mass Effect 3 demo is now available.

2. Mike Krahulik has some negative comments about the story in The Old Republic.

3. The 10 worst swings of the 2011 baseball season. Via.

4. The latest Paranorman newspaper.

5. The BBTS already has preorders for some of the Toy Fair 2012 toys, including Play Arts Kai Mass Effect and Lego Star Wars and Avengers.

Link roundup

1. Modder's Guide: Planescape: Torment.

2. Grantland's suggestions for improving the Pro Bowl.

3. Artist copies of Mondo's Adventure Time posters are on sale right now.

Link roundup

1. Chipotle's spinoff ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is doing well enough to justify a second restaurant in DC.

2. Belichick Breakdown's are weekly posts by Bill Belichick explaining football plays. Relatedly, here's some detailed analysis of what to expect in the Saints/49ers and Broncos/Patriots.

3. ESPN suggests that Kobe is driven to humiliate Steve Nash:

When Bryant got the chance to go one-on-one with Nash in the first half Tuesday night, he even changed his signature sound. Normally Bryant calls for the ball by using his tongue to push staccato bursts of air through his teeth. It sounds kind of like the Smoke Monster on “Lost.” As soon as Nash switched onto Bryant, however, Kobe made sure he wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity. He posted up Nash on the right block and let loose a holler that could be heard throughout Staples Center.

“Whooo!” he yelled. “Whoo!”

4. Artist looking for commissions.

5. 50% off t-shirts at Zazzle with the code FFHSFRIDAY13. I recommend Miskatonic University, Vonster, Steve Thomas, Franco Brambilla, Adam Koford, and my own store. (FYI, at least in my store you can customize with a wide variety of shirt types and colors.)

Link roundup

1. Nick Denton's latest memo on the state of blogging.

2. NSFW, but really striking iPhone docking station.

3. Detailed analysis of how the Houston Texans' running game works.

4. Has anyone watched Nick's House of Anubis? Seems like every episode to date is free at iTunes. (At first glance it looks like maybe something my boys might like? Or more for tweens?)

Link roundup

1. Penny Arcade's business manager participated in an interview at Reddit.

2. Deadspin's picks for the top 10 sports articles of the year.

3. Teddy Roosevelt once gave possibly the best start to a speech ever:

Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose. But fortunately I had my manuscript, so you see I was going to make a long speech, and there is a bullet - there is where the bullet went through - and it probably saved me from it going into my heart. The bullet is in me now, so that I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best.

He wasn't joking.

4. The Smithsonian's top 10 science blog posts.

Link roundup

1. Darpa held a contest, challenging people to put back together several shredded documents. The winning team took advantage of ink hidden in the paper:

Then he happened on an article about a little-known government project: The U.S. Secret Service has been working with manufacturers of color laser printers to place tiny, imperceptible yellow dots on printed pages so that the government can track the machine that produced them. Good put the puzzle under a blue-light filter and saw the dots. “It was a breakthrough moment,” he says. “The pattern of dots is practically a map for how everything comes together.”

2. If you're looking for some good cheap iPhone games for your kids, I recommend Stunt Bugs and Temple Run (they were free last time I checked and my boys love them both).

3. i09's picks for the best tv moments of 2011.

4. The various writers for Grantland picked their sporting moments of the year. Here's part of Hua Hsu's pick:

We've grown so accustomed to seeing American athletes treated with some measure of deference abroad, particularly in places where the level of play might not be up to the standard of the American ideal. As I watched the brawl, it felt like something was changing: Maybe they no longer aspired to be versions of our stars. It's impossible to disentangle the factors that resulted in the melee, whether it had to do with slack refereeing or China's recent generations of treasured "only children" or maybe the aggressive, chippy play that has, in recent years, become the Chinese style. It's hard to ignore the larger backdrop, this shifting balance of global power, the realities that link the front page to the sports section. We still have the stars, but the money is elsewhere. Geographies are global now. It troubles our stable sense of lineage — the common, generational mythologies and legible, cross-town battle lines, our sense of who seeks approval from whom. Not everyone aspires to Springfield, Canton, or Cooperstown, and maybe a "love of the game" is no longer what unites us. The Brooklyn Nets might be a Russian billionaire's plaything; they might exist, in his mind, only to make him sufficiently famous so that he won't be assassinated. Striker Samuel Eto'o, a champion with both Barcelona and Inter Milan, relocated to Anzhi Makhachkala, in Dagestan, to become one of the best-paid athletes in the world. He flies 1,200 miles to home games. Playing for the Bayi Military Rockets might be the sum of one's dreams.

5. Genuinely funny comic strip/ad by The Oatmeal for Sriracha. Discovered via this giveaway.

6. Don't forget to participate in this month's art contest. Amazon and Threadless credits are up for grabs.

Matt Stutzman, archer

Matt Stutzman is an archer:

If Matt Stutzman could pick only one word to describe himself, it would be "motivated!" His positive attitude and confidence are part of what makes Matt so inspirational.

He was born without arms and given up for adoption at four-months-old. His adoptive family raised him to believe in himself and his inherent abilities.

He taught himself how to do everything —like eating, playing guitar and even archery—with his feet. He qualified as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Archery Team and will represent Team USA against the best archers in the world at the 2011 Para Pan Am Games. Matt regularly beats able-bodied competitors in various events across the country. He recently broke the world record for the longest archery shot by hitting a 122 centimeter target from 230 yards away!

Link roundup

1. Jason Chalker is looking for commissions.

2. Boing Boing has details and more photos of the Portal Christmas tree.

3. Serious Eats says don't buy Costco's $20 champagne. Buy $15 Domaine J. Laurens Cremant de Limoux Brut.

4. Brief summary of all 30 NBA teams.

5. I love Nike product descriptions:

Nike’s Proprietary Flywire Technology Offers Great Fit Support: the outsole of the Nike Fly Leather J Elite SHA|DO uses the leather sole, the most trusted sole among bukatsu players, and Nike’s proprietary traction system that maximizes a player’s potential at base running.

6. Dave MacDowell posted a bunch of recent paintings (NSFW).

7. How one person achieved 1 million karma points at Reddit. (Short answer: "I spend about 3-4 hours a day on Reddit.")

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. 13 sno-cone machines bought by the Department of Homeland Security.

2. Vandal captured because he thought "slut" was spelled "sult."

3. Grantland predicts which team will acquire Peyton Manning.

$400 Nike soccer cleats designed to dazzle opposing players

Cristiano Ronaldo's Nike CR Mercurial Vapor Superfly III shoes are designed to mislead opposing players as t which way he's going to move:







The pattern is reminiscent of dazzle camouflage:





They come in yellow, too:





Via these sites.

Bumpy Pitch x Nike t-shirts

Raiders, Lakers, Giants, and Celtics-themed t-shirts by Bumpy Pitch and Nike on sale here. Via.

Link roundup

1. Cory Doctorow's auctioning off the naming rights to a character in an upcoming book (for charity).

2. "Even as experts predict that the 2012 presidential race will be the most expensive in U.S. history, a funny thing is happening on the way to the Republican nomination: It’s becoming one of the cheapest primaries in a more than a decade."

3. Fried Squid Po' Boy with Avocado and Black Chile Oil recipe.

4. A very specific breakdown of why the Philadelphia Eagles have been so bad. (There's a lot of experts who owe the Raiders an apology for ripping them for letting Nnamdi Asomugha go.)

Link roundup

1. Two great articles about baseball (I like reading about baseball infinitely much more than actually watching it) - - what its like to be a Milwaukee Brewers fan; the sad state of the Baltimore Orioles.

2. I think I posted about this guy before - - he forges famous paintings, poses as a Jesuit priest, and then donates them to various art galleries. Well, the Financial Times tracked him down and interviewed him. Via.

3. An assertion that Olympus lost a huge amount of money and tried to hide the losses with help of the Yakuza.

Link roundup

1. Wide-ranging interview with Robin Williams about many of his famous roles (including how Star Wars led to Mork and Mindy). On Popeye:

Literally, near the end of the movie ... the studio had pooled all of the money, so all the special effects people left. It was Ed Wood the last weeks of the movie. Shelley Duvall was in a pond, basically, with an octopus with no internal mechanism, having to drape it over her body like a feather boa.

(That octopus scared me badly.) Via.

2. Telltale Games employees were caught posting perfect 10 reviews to Metacritic for their game Jurassic Park (which is apparently terrible).

3. Speaking of video game reviews, here's a really well-written review of Super Mario 3D Land.

4. Good article by Bill Simmons on the NBA negotiations.

*Buy the 3DS at eBay.

Link roundup

1. How to hire an artist to illustrate a book cover (and how much it costs).

2. Mumm-Ra paper toys.

3. An assertion that Cleveland sportswriters were well aware of Delonte West's mental problems (and witnessed various outbursts) but decided not to report on them.

4. The process of adding a custom domain to a Blogger blog has been simplified (with Go Daddy).

5. New shirts on sale at Last Exit to Nowhere - - Bedford Falls and Cyberdyne Systems (new color).

6. The BBTS has available for preorder Marvel Select movie versions Hulk and Hawkeye.

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.

Link roundup

1. Now here's a lawyer who knows how to specialize - - he's sued Allen Iverson three times.

2. How to keep a blog anonymous. Via.

3. "Everything You Need to Know About Using iTunes Match."

4. It's that time of year where USC and UCLA have to hide their school mascots - - "the Bruin Bear is enclosed by an approximately $5,000 box engineered like a jigsaw puzzle."

Link roundup

1. Watch a player on the Buffalo Bills score a touchdown in Dallas, and then give the ball to his girlfriend, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

2. And more on football and "romance" - - Bart Scott of the Jets:

Do you sense a rivalry between the Jets and Giants?

"Not at all. Like I said when I was in Baltimore I could remember with the Redskins you had guys fighting over strippers and all kind of stuff. I don't sense that here. I think it is a mutual respect. I think the town is big enough for both of us. I think we were just trying to make a statement that hey we wanted a little bit bigger piece of the spotlight because when I got here my sense was pretty much all Giants type of town. We played in Giants Stadium. We just want to get our piece of the pie. We respect them, but we would definitely love – we look forward to that game. I believe it is the 24th of December for bragging rights and hoping that's the game that could help us win this division."

Bart you gotta help me out. You guys fought for strippers? What does that mean?

"When you are in a small place like Baltimore and the temperature is relatively cold – hey you compete over the same chicks. That's a football players favorite spot. Especially young football players. It was always a rivalry. Guys fight about hey that is my girlfriend and that's my girlfriend, but here? Five million people, maybe more. There is plenty for everybody."

3. Prison in Acapulco:

Authorities say a surprise search at an Acapulco prison has netted two peacocks, 100 fighting cocks, 19 prostitutes and two sacks filled with marijuana.

4. Finally, taking a break from the sex and sports talk - - Joe Ledbetter's excellent Zodiac toys are finally in stock at Tenacious Toys. These are about twice the size of typical blind box toys, and slightly poseable (heads and/or limbs that turn). Probably my favorite designer toy set of the year (I'll be giving out some as gifts over the holidays). They're not blind box, so you can pick the one(s) you want.