On the one hand, I think the projects this group does are amazing.

[cupcake_goth]

La Machine (clicky-link) is the artist collective that created The Sultan's Elephant (you remember, the time-traveling mechanical elephant that was in London in 2006).

On the other hand ... I just read a news story about their newest project. Hoo-boy, am I glad I'm not in Liverpool. Why? Because there's a giant mechanical spider on the side of an office building. From the BBC article:

The spider is believed to be "waking up" on Friday.

It will descend from its current position on the side of Concourse House on Thursday to be moved to the city's new arena, before coming to life on Friday.

The creature will then begin exploring the city later that evening.

COMING TO LIFE. EXPLORING THE CITY. OH LOOK, THE STUFF OF MY NIGHTMARES, COMING TRUE.

::twitches::

The BBC article, for those that want to read more or look at the photos: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7595486.stm

(HOLY SHIT GIANT SPIDER GET ME A FLAMETHROWER NOOOOWWWWW)

Comments

[e-juliana.livejournal.com]

I am sorry that it freaks you out, but I think it's WAY COOL. I wish I could see that.

(There's also been a rather Geiger-esque sculpture of a spider on display on the Embarcadero for the past year. I hope by the time you visit (le hint), it'll be gone.)

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

When I try to be objective about it, I think it's a fascinating art project. But good god, coming to life and moving around? Exploring the city? I ... no.

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

Sweet bleeding jeebuz, I am NOT going anywhere near those articles for fear of possibly seeing a damn SPIDER!!! Wrongity-wrong-wrong.

It's like during C7, there were giant towering spider statues in a plaza near the hotel (srsly, like 20 feet tall!). Everyone said, cool, how goth, I said, get me the hell away. Sheesh.

I'm very sorry it bothers you

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

But YAY my PLAN comes to FUITION!

Wait. I'm not Doctor Steel.

*shucks*

[poh.livejournal.com]

That is *so* cool!!!

[ozitonaranjo.livejournal.com]

Well, you could always have someone draw a mechanical Delbert McClintock to eradicate that spider.

The spider is cool but still... *shudder*

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

it reminds me of the tachkomas in Ghost in the Shell, which makes it look a lot LESS like a spider to me. I don't have an issue with spiders either, though, so that may help.

I like the concept of it, and I like what it means for technology.... and I think that making it in this FORM is a wee bit dreadful really. Spiders are a really common phobia.

[lilmartini.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Tachkomas were much cuter, less jointed and chibi than that monstrosity.

My phobic self wants to run screaming and my arty self wants to see the shiny.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

AAGH! ICON! AAGH!

::runs away::

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as I was recoiling from the monitor in fear, I was also thinking "Wow, I wonder if Ann knows about this. This is totally her type of thing".

[tzaddi-93.livejournal.com]

Somehow I think a giant mechanical spider would be less scary if you were riding it. I'm thinking the view from the top would be less holy-shit-it's-gonna-eat-me!

[rev-blacky.livejournal.com]

Protected
I hope I will see you there!!!!! (If not, I may cry.)
Steampunk in Fremont
in 17.5 hours!!

SteamPunk Event!!
Here's the info from Snap!

21+

Wednesday Sep 03, 2008
at 8:00 PM

steampunk in fremont
no cover
full bar
photo shoot
award for best dressed

we have a happy hour that starts at 10
photo shoots will be around the same time
out door and in door shots planed
award won't be till midnight

and we are still accepting artists

the red door
3401 Evanston Ave n Seattle, 98103
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Seattle&state=WA&address=3401+Evanston+Ave+N

[master-cobweb.livejournal.com]

I am SO going to make an EVEN BIGGER mechanical rolled-up newspaper...

And then I'll make my husband go take care of it. I am quite arachnophobia myself. It's very annoying, as I find spiders conceptually cool, but that doesn't mean they don't make me break out in a cold sweat.

[master-cobweb.livejournal.com]

Edit: arachnophobe. Sorry, my firefox spell checker doesn't recognize that as a word. :)

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

Oh dear lord... I would not do so well there.

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

Oh, but I, for one, will welcome our new robotic overlords.

Really. I will.

I promise.

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

Gah! I mean I can deal with jewelry with FAKE spiders on it and such and I can admire a spider from a distance but I don't know that I could handle a giant mechanical one walking at me! **shudder**

[lilmartini.livejournal.com]

Runs screaming. Nothing like a life sized metal Shelob to scare you into an agoraphobic, homebound funk.

[water-of-fire.livejournal.com]

Ohshit.

*hides*

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

It's going to start exploring the city in the evening? Because running into a 50-foot mechanical spider at NIGHT is somehow extra-whimsical? W. T. F. I hope the thing falls off the side of that building and smashes into a hillion jillion cogs (miraculously with no loss of life, limb or property to anybody else).

Pete, explain this, please.

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

I look forward to close up pictures. Hi-def preferably.

I'm also really want to see video to see how well it moves.

Very exciting.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

STONE THE FREAK!

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

You are a luddite, a philistine and a thug.

Apparently.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

I'm not a luddite! I got my torch and pitchfork off eBay, so there.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

::goes back to twitching::

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

Oh hush. No one's asking you to watch the video.

[amaliedageek.livejournal.com]

This was also K.'s reaction.

More specifically: "Oh, my God, that is so damned cool! Is there video yet? Do we know anyone in Liverpool who'd go shoot some? Mum! This is great!"

[e-juliana.livejournal.com]

This is what I'm saying!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

You, the Stroppy One, and K. can all go watch video of giant mechanical spiders together. I will be far away, teaching myself how to build a giant flame thrower out of common household items. Step 1: buy a case of AquaNet ...

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

Oooh - that would be fascinating! I think I could deal with it better on video than in real life - though I might be able to handle it OK since I know it's a machine... unless it moves as fast as the real thing and/or jumps!

Me too!

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

So in lurve with the spi-dew.

*cuddles mechanical monster*

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Here, someone from the Steamfashion comm has additional photos of it being taken for a test ... crawl.

http://sistercarrion.livejournal.com/695764.html

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

Wow. Twice as awesome. Twice as scary.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I called him to tell him about this. "I'm glad I'm not in Liverpool. Remember that art group that did the giant mechanical elephant in London?"

"Yeah, why? Did they make a giant mechanical spider?"

See, now my asking for an arc welder is SENSIBLE.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

I have felt all along that you need an arc welder! Or a plasma cutter! They would also be helpful against zombies.

[maschalismos.livejournal.com]

[drools at the thought of this thing walking around]

That is so freaking cool. I am sorry it freaks you out and totally understand the need for building a giant flamethrower to deal with it but OMG.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

As I just said to the Stroppy One, someone on the Steamfashion comm had a post with more photos. http://sistercarrion.livejournal.com/695764.html

[maschalismos.livejournal.com]

♥_♥

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

GIANT SPIDER

You know what this means, don't you? Fewer giant flies & mosquitoes.

[cass404.livejournal.com]

I've told you the homemade flame thrower story, yes? To defeat leggy things?

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

Stop. Now.

[cass404.livejournal.com]

*tries silence*

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Hairspray and a lighter? Or was other technology involved?

[cass404.livejournal.com]

There was total technology involved. Basically homemade napalm, conceived by a ten year old who was clearly too smart for his own (or the neighborhood's) good.

[lylassandra.livejournal.com]

God, this reminds me of some novelty soap I found online that had a REAL (dead) BLACK WIDOW in the center. Just the idea of coming to the end of the bar... I couldn't stop whimpering for a good 10 minutes.

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

So.Not.Looking.

GAH. *Really* Glad I'm not in Liverpool at this point.

[dark-phoenix54.livejournal.com]

Heebie. Fucking. Jeebies. DO NOT WANT

[pix-kristin.livejournal.com]

Setting aside all thoughts of giant, mechanical spiders (which, though very cool, are also freaky as shit), I love the tags on this post so much I want to eat them.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

In my mind, they really were the only appropriate response.