Afternoon Links of Awesomeness: January 12, 2012 | Sojourners

Afternoon Links of Awesomeness: January 12, 2012

High-fiving a million angels! ... TV’s multi-award winning smart-comedy 30 Rock begins its 6th season tonight on NBC — here’s a few links to catch you up on the latest buzz around its stars. Tina Fey was interviewed on ELLE yesterday, plus she recently appeared on a lively episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Alec Baldwin continues to garner strong presence on the internet –he’s back on Twitter after his feud with American Airlines, plus his radio show, Here’s the Thing, continues on WNYC.

Joseph Herscher is an artist/engineer who builds complicated machines to perform mundane tasks. Case in point: The Page Turner (see video below). [Automata]

You be the DJ in this New Year’s gift from the designers at mono. Monotunes, allows you to create songs by clicking on lo-fi avatars of their employees. Each features a different 8-bit sound-bite that, when synced up with one another, give you the potential to create some pretty groovy rhythms. [Laughing Squid]   

Literature is a creative art — but books can also be the medium for other forms of creative art. The artists over at Saatchi Online (UK) have been putting together some incredibly unique sculptures from the printed word. [Colossal]   

Discover free apps and secret features of the new iPhone with 11 awesome things you probably didn't know your iPhone can do – like remembering your touch, masking your number, storing your personal vocabulary for texting/emailing. [Made Man]   

Jon Stewart has a heart to heart talk with Iran on nuclear weapons, bombing, and the 2012 GOP presidental candidates. [Watch via Daily Show]

The GOOD Maker is the latest effort from the creative folks at GOOD to fund innovative ideas in issues of social justice. Similar to a Kickstarter profile, you can submit your ideas and work to raise funds to transform your community. [GOOD]

According to recent reports, the Hostess company is bankrupt — the future for the all the Twinkie, Ho-Ho, and Wonder Bread lovers of the world is a little uncertain. But while you’re thinking about pastries, watch this video that examines the Twinkie’s 37 ingredients, questioning whether or not it could survive a nuclear explosion. [CBC & Divine Caroline]

Lastly, a video you won’t want to miss. A backstage recording of Wilco, Mavis Staples, and Nick Lowe rehearsing The Band’s classic tune ”The Weight” before a gig at Chicago’s Civic Opera House. After seeing this clip, you’ll agree with One Campaign director and Sojourners blogger Adam Phillips that “church music should be more like this.”

Joshua Witchger is an editorial web assistant for Sojourners. Follow Joshua on his blog, Hail Fellow, Well Met.