February 6, 2015
The Anti-Pick Up Artist's Guide
Sex educator Colin Adamo is working on an illustrated guide to healthy and enjoyable sex for young straight guys. And about time, too.
This tunnel goes by many names
"In 1914, a four-block-long tunnel was constructed through College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island to let the trolley system easily and quickly move from Main Street to Thayer Street and vice versa. After 34 years of use, it was paved to support buses and trackless trolleys. Though the trolley system was taken apart after about a decade, the tunnel continues to provide a portal for Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) buses to get up and down College Hill without being affected by traffic — but that is not the only purpose the tunnel serves. Despite several messages by the tunnel’s entrances warning passersby of the illegality of doing so, graffiti writers frequent the tunnel to spread their paint on its walls. I followed suit on two occasions to document it for others."
* arms wide, then up, then down *
Number 3: Just an Asshole - 19 Types of Beer Snobs
These effects are too important for me to allow you to jeopardize them
Kubricks' 2001: One Man's Incredible Odyssey - "With today's article I've decided to cover the truly outstanding visual effects and design work from one of the single most influential and remarkable pieces of cinema of the twentieth century - Stanley Kubricks' 2001-A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) - a film that just gets better and better with the passing years"
"Ida": Film nominated for two Oscars draws praise & controversy
"Ida" (trailer: YouTube & Apple) is a black & white (and a Polish language) film from Poland by director Pavel Pawlikowski (this link contains spoilers). Hailed a film "masterpiece" by more than one critic, the film has now been recognized in America by not just one Oscar nomination (Foreign Language Film) but a 2nd in the broader category of Cinematography. For those interested in filmmaking, cinematography, and lighting, here is a look at three scenes from Ida. More? Here are another four scenes. The film is not without controversy, including Poles who are upset at the portrayal of their countrymen (and women) during the Nazi occupation and the Stalinism that followed WWII. Does 'Ida' misrepresent Poland's treatment of Jews?
DC: The New 49
Four years ago, in the wake of the Flashpoint crossover, DC Comics made a semi-reboot of their comics universe and introduced the New 52.
This was, unsurprisingly, rather controversial. [more inside]
are you aware you are ‘shouting'
by A Member of Congress
Colleges, assaults and carrying the weight
A look at Emma Sulkowicz's (The Columbia University student who carried a mattress around campus as a statement and art project) accused rapist, Jean-Paul Nungesser (who was found innocent by the university, but branded as guilty by the public) and the messy intersection of colleges handling assault cases themselves, instead of police dealing with the reported crimes. The Columbia University student newspaper weighs in.
Drone Takeoffs Limited by No-Fly Software
This article, about a software rollback, explains that drone maker DJI can use software updates to limit the places where drones can take off.
elevator.on("idle", function() { elevator.goToFloor(0); });
1969 was a year giants rocked the earth, and they wanted big amps.
The biggest, loudest, nastiest, heaviest amps the world had ever seen. How The Rolling Stones accidentally ended up using Ampeg amplifiers for their 1969 US tour, creating a sound preserved on their Get Yer Ya Ya's Out album.
Not All Voices For Men
BuzzFeed profiles Paul Elam, founder of notorious MRA website A Voice For Men: "Elam calls AVFM “the largest men’s human rights group of its kind anywhere,” though it does few of the things human rights groups typically do. It provides no services, offers no legal aid, and litigates no cases. It does not regularly lobby lawmakers, advise candidates, produce public policy proposals or original research." [more inside]
Found: The Oldest Known Maternal Death During Childbirth
Prehistoric Grave May Be Earliest Example of Death During Childbirth "It might be a bit circumstantial, but I think it's quite strong," Lieverse said of her interpretation. She added that there has been very little postmortem shifting of the bones found at Lokomotiv, and everything is in place on the mother, even her ribs and little bones in her hands. [more inside]
"Come on big dude!"
Everything You Wanted To Know About Yarmulkes
You can tell a lot about a Jewish male by the type of yarmulke that he wears. Like the jacket and shirt on his back, the absence or presence of peyes, the headgear announces to the world his family’s tradition and his Jewish denomination.
Beautiful jewelry. Heavy use of Javascript.
Beautiful jewelry from Japan's Albion Art [note: autoplaying music] with high resolution pictures and information. Start in Mesopotamia and scroll through to the 1930s or use the Age List on the right to find your favorite era. [more inside]
It isn’t going fast, but STOPPING FAST, that causes problems!!!
The Science of Survivability (PDF) is a presentation by Anthony T. Brickhouse about maximizing survivability in airplane crashes. It is presented as part of the NOAA Aviation Safety Program, and contains many interesting facts about surviving a plane crash.
Dying with dignity
In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that Canada's century-old legislation banning doctor-assisted suicide is unconstitutional. The decision is stayed for 12 months to allow for legal frameworks to be devised.
"Just a Little Heart Attack"
To commemorate American Heart Month, The American Heart Association and Go Red for Women present, "Just a Little Heart Attack" starring Elizabeth Banks. Know the Warning Signs.
Half the DNA on the NYC Subway Matches No Known Organism
ENDLESS AMUSEMENT
Have you any spare mercury about the house? Are you well supplied with saltpetre, phosphorus, and oil of vitriol? Such domestic staples can you afford you ENDLESS AMUSEMENT! in the form of hundreds of science tricks from 1847! [more inside]
partly a romantic romantiquarianism
From neo-pagan marriage ceremonies to edda study groups and plans for a new temple, Iceland is reconnecting with its pagan past.
Welcome to Americana
The Brazilian Town Where the American Confederacy Lives On 'I asked if she knew there was a connection between slavery and the American South. "I've never heard that before," she said. She wasn't sure why her ancestors had left the States. "I know they came. I don't really know the reason," she said. "Is it because of racism?" She smiled, embarrassed. "Don't tell my grandmother!"'
The Catman Website
All About Dominique, the Catman of Key West, FL. Please do not miss the section concerning his clowning days.
The "future of brewing"
A World Overflowing with Debt
Step Aside from US Centric. Eurocentric and Step into Global Debt. 2007 revisited That's the warning today from McKinsey & Co.'s research division which estimates that since 2007, the IOUs of governments, companies, households and financial firms in 47 countries has grown by $57 trillion to $199 trillion, a rise equivalent to 17 percentage points of gross domestic product.
While not as big a gain as the 23 point surge in debt witnessed in the seven years before the financial crisis, the new data make a mockery of the hope that the turmoil and subsequent global recession would put the globe on a more sustainable path. This is not new but it is troublesome--particularly the concern that neither austerity nor growth will solve this.
The Secret Life of Tim Hunkin's Personal Novelty Arcade
"I know I cannot be the only one who still has a cardboard file of copies of Tim Hunkin’s genius cartoon strip, ’The Rudiments of Wisdom’ (previously), clipped weekly from the Observer and cherished through all these years. So I hope you will appreciate my excitement when Tim invited me over to Bloomsbury last Sunday to photograph the arrival of his automata and slot machines, prior to next week’s opening of Novelty Automation, his personal amusement arcade." There, "Londoners will be able to practice money-laundering, witness a total eclipse, lose weight, get frisked, get divorced, get chiropody and – of course – operate a nuclear reactor." Delightful! Hunkin, previously.
The Shapes of Stories
Ex-Military Leaders Debate Senators On Closing US Prison Outside US Laws
"The greatest single action the United States can take to fight terrorism is to close Guantanamo." So explains the letter from 40 retired military leaders, including the first commander at Guantanamo, General Hoar, former head of CENTCOM General Maddox, and former head of the US Army in Europe. Senator Graham rebuts: "Common sense would tell us that if you’re still in Guantanamo Bay after all these years you’re probably a high risk.” [more inside]
My Dad, the Pornographer
In the mid-1960s, Dad purchased several porn novels through the mail. My mother recalls him reading them with disgust — not because of the content, but because of how poorly they were written. He hurled a book across the room and told her he could do better. Mom suggested he do so. According to her, the tipping point for Dad’s full commitment to porn, five years later, was my orthodontic needs.If people know of Andrew J. Offutt, it's as a science fiction and fantasy writer. However, it turns out he was much more successfull as a porn writer back in the days you could still make a good living writing softcore porn novels. For the New York Times, his son Chris Offutt, goes through his legacy and finds some real surprises.
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