SPIEGEL Surfs the Web On Death and Taxes
You probably knew that the US government spends more of taxpayers' money on military jets than public housing, not to mention the lack of support for the arts. But it's shocking to see, in graphic form, that in 2004 more than 50 percent of the Federal Discretionary Budget -- otherwise known as the federal income tax taken out of Americans' pay packets every month -- was spent on the military. According to the diagram, which is an online art project shown on the Web site deviant art, $399 billion was spent on defence in 2004 compared to $383 billion for non-military needs. The purpose of the project is to inspire Americans to contact their congressperson about government expenditure.
Spam or Art?
The random, often sublimely strange combination of offers and ads that floods in-boxes everywhere has inspired fits of rage, spam poetry and now an online art installation.
Spamgraffiti , created by Texas artist David Chien, visually tags the sea of spam constantly streaming across the Web. New spam starts out on top, then gradually migrates to the bottom as more arrives, and each "page" of art is fully updated within five minutes. "Penile implants and more." "Come get your daily dose." "100 percent herbal Viagra!" You've seen the message, but have you seen it in the form of art?
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Getting up can be torture for those people biologically inclined to sleep in late. SPIEGEL ONLINE can't call the boss for you to tell him you'll be in around 11 a.m., but we have found a Web site listing the top 10 most annoying alarm clocks. The winner? Well, Clocky , of course. The bizarre little contraption has plush carpeting and comes with wheels. "When you hit Clocky's snooze button, he will roll off of the nightstand, fall to the floor, and run around the room, searching for a place to hide. When the alarm sounds again, you have to get out of bed to find it and turn it off." Hmm. Then again, maybe you can just look for a job with a late shift.
