July 22, 2009

A Moveable Book

A new edition of Hemingway's memoir A Moveable Feast, edited by the author's grandson, purports to complete the book as Hemingway intended it. Reviews are mixed. Now, the man who wrote the book on Hemingway and gave A Moveable Feast its title claims that the new edition is merely an attempt to by the editor to censor the negative portrayal of his grandmother.
posted by chrchr at 11:23 PM PST - 28 comments

It's a metaphor!

8-miles wide: I just saw Storm Large's autobiographical show, "Crazy Enough." It was a great show, and this song concludes a key epiphany she had. [more inside]
posted by dylanjames at 11:03 PM PST - 19 comments

Wisconsin book burners

"If you told me we would be going through a book challenge of this nature, I'd think, 'Never in a million years.' " [more inside]
posted by sredefer at 10:32 PM PST - 110 comments

Overthinking Carol

The Carol Syndrome "Carol's perception that she scares men away is not a delusion after all. … It is not a matter of bad luck but a collateral effect of interactive rationality. A paradoxical consequence is that Carol's attractiveness acts as a repellent." Game theory (mis?)applied to dating. [more inside]
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:57 PM PST - 73 comments

Company Denies its Robots Feed on the Dead

Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. and Robotic Technology Inc. have sent out a press release denying that their new robot will feed on the dead. "It's a vegetarian!", they claim. Desecration of the dead is a war crime under Article 15 of the Geneva Conventions, and is certainly not something sanctioned by DARPA, Cyclone or RTI. “We completely understand the public’s concern about futuristic robots feeding on the human population, but that is not our mission,” stated Harry Schoell, Cyclone’s CEO.
posted by dejah420 at 7:28 PM PST - 48 comments

Now that's what I call a screensaver

Kuroshio Sea HD Video of the world's second largest aquarium tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan (via). [more inside]
posted by jontyjago at 6:53 PM PST - 22 comments

Did they use one-click?

People adore Zappos. Will that continue now that Amazon has bought them for nearly a billion dollars? In a battle of new wave corporate communication, Jeff Bezos announced it on Youtube while the Zappos' CEO posted his letter to the employees on their blog. (Previous Zappos posts: 1, 2)
posted by smackfu at 5:58 PM PST - 80 comments

3D Mapping

Durango Bill's Home Page. With topics that include: 3D end-to-end tour of the Grand Canyon, the origin and formation of the Colorado River, and examples of river systems that cut through mountain ranges instead of taking easier routes around them in Ancestral Rivers of the World. [more inside]
posted by netbros at 5:44 PM PST - 5 comments

When keeping it real(ist) goes wrong

Back when he was younger, Jay-Z was a merciless, ruthless killer in the "beefs" which define hip hop politics. [...] As Jay-Z got older and more powerful, the marginal benefits of such battles declined and the costs increased even as the number of would-be rivals escalated. Just as the U.S. attracts resentment and rhetorical anti-Americanism simply by virtue of being on top, so did Jay-Z attract a disproportionate number of attackers.
Marc Lynch compares international relations to rap feuds, with Jay-Z as the hegemon and up-and-comer The Game as the "insurgent." [more inside]
posted by aheckler at 5:38 PM PST - 16 comments

Easy Recipes. Does what it sez on the tin.

The 100 easiest, fastest recipes. Ever.
posted by lalochezia at 5:20 PM PST - 72 comments

103: Having a lawn you could tell kids to get off

100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About a rather comprehensive list, ranging from the gone-and-forgotten (22: Using jumpers to set IRQs) to the not-yet-extinct-but going-there (41: Phone books and Yellow Pages). But missing a few like 101: wired.com not being a nostalgia site and 102: getting punished for calling your dad a geek.
posted by wendell at 4:51 PM PST - 92 comments

The FBI looks Beyond Survival for law enforcement officers

The May 2009 issue of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin has a special focus: "Beyond Survival," helping law enforcement officers to do more than survive in their careers. [more inside]
posted by rmd1023 at 4:20 PM PST - 6 comments

Tyler Cowen on why it's OK to pay for sex

Tyler Cowen on why it's OK to pay for sex [more inside]
posted by reenum at 3:18 PM PST - 111 comments

On specialization in biology

An Outsider's View "Over the past fifty years, factions of biologists have had a complex relationship. Some scientists have continued to carry out relatively traditional natural history work, with little need to delve into molecular (or computational) biology. Others have given little attention to natural history, focusing their efforts instead on deciphering the complexities of a membrane channel, or building new algorithms for identifying open reading frames. In some cases, biologists have bridged this divide, and the result has been a fruitful collaboration. But in other cases—such as the DNA studies on whales and hippos—one group moves into the other's traditional territory, sparking new conflict."[via]
posted by dhruva at 3:18 PM PST - 12 comments

From the Poor Man's Tesla to the Rich Man's Sedan

From the successful conversion of a Porsche 914 into a battery electric vehicle (BEV), MIT's Electric Vehicle Team are now working on the conversion of a Mercury Milan Hybrid into a quick-charging BEV. Instead of the typical 10 to 12 hours for a full charge, the MIT team is looking at an 11 minute charge-time for their BEV, dubbed "elEVen," and they're blogging in detail about their progress. (via) [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:54 PM PST - 44 comments

Lo Siento, Taco Bell.

Gidget, controversial pop-icon who only wanted some Taco Bell, has died at the age of 15.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:33 PM PST - 63 comments

Please keep your arms and legs inside the OH MY GOD THERE'S NO FREAKING CAR!!!

German inline skater Dirk Auer rides a roller coaster... [more inside]
posted by mudpuppie at 2:26 PM PST - 18 comments

"There's an audience for the story...largely the result of Senator John Ensign's libido..."

Jesus Plus Nothing, Minus Somalia: How the Christian fundamentalism of The Family (also known as the C Street Fellowship) turned Somalia into the next staging ground for Islamic radicalism.
posted by jonp72 at 1:42 PM PST - 41 comments

"She was obsessed with God. He was obsessed with her."

Mark Twain & Mary Baker Eddy, a film by Val Kilmer.
posted by hermitosis at 1:37 PM PST - 15 comments

Trees Never Meet

Trees Never Meet is the thoughtful blog of David, a historian of Africa. Though posting has slowed recently, the archives are fascinating. On fitting in; on killing animals as an ex-vegetarian; on Namibian legal history; on "anti-conquests"; on the types of people who have inhabited Namibia since the conquest; on Namibian politics. David also has a fantastic, well-written dream blog.
posted by nasreddin at 1:35 PM PST - 8 comments

Cho's Mental Health Records found

Over two years ago Seung Hui Cho killed 32 people on Virginia Tech's campus, spawning an intensive investigation. Police never found his mental health records from the campus Schiffert health clinic. Today investigations for lawsuits brought by two victim's families that didn't settle earlier, uncovered these "lost" records. In the home of Schiffert's former director. [more inside]
posted by fontophilic at 1:28 PM PST - 33 comments

how do you write "loaded" in Sanskrit?

Drunk Yoga. An age-old practice of healing and mindful positions for the absolutely smashed. (bus stop optional)
posted by oneirodynia at 1:22 PM PST - 15 comments

Pink Floyd, Buy 'N Large.

You've heard of Dark Side of the Rainbow? Now there's Another Brick in the Wall·E. So sorry about the quality of the video.
posted by litterateur at 10:42 AM PST - 72 comments

This balladry makes me spoony

Final Fantasy IV remix project. This week the videogame music rearrangement site, OCRemix.org, released a new project covering Nobuo Uematsu's soundtrack to FFIV (originally FFII in the US). FFIV's was the first game soundtrack I fell in love with, back in 2nd grade. Maybe you feel the same. [more inside]
posted by grobstein at 10:27 AM PST - 19 comments

California breaks off into the Pacific Ocean! Well, circa 1650.

It would take over 50 years after the creation of this map before it was confirmed that California is indeed attached to the mainland of America. 20 Fascinating Ancient Maps (via). More zoomable historical maps at the World Digital Library. (previously)
posted by desjardins at 9:20 AM PST - 32 comments

These guys play rough

There's no way we get all this stuff and everything is done fair and square and everyone gets treated right. A Chinese employee of Foxconn, entrusted with fourteen (maybe sixteen) prototype iPhones misplaced one before they could be shipped; what followed was his detainment and torture at the hands of company police, and his eventual suicide. Shanghaiist has confirmed the story. Fake Steve weighs in.
posted by littlerobothead at 9:02 AM PST - 125 comments

Healthy Honey

When it was found in Ancient Egyptian tombs, it looked fresh - so somebody tasted it. Honey can last thousands of years without spoiling, a remarkable feat for a foodstuff. These antibacterial and antioxidant qualities of honey have been applied to food preservation for years, but the medical community is just beginning to look closely at how this can be used to assist in healing. In particular, Honey from Australia and New Zealand seems most successful in helping large wounds heal without infection. This is due to particular plants that the bees frequent, which provide greater antibacterial qualities to the honey. The FDA has even approved honey-infused bandages for use in healing. After the buzz of medicinal leeches and medical maggots, I'm glad there's a natural therapy that doesn't creep people out.
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:01 AM PST - 91 comments

Leszek Kolakowski dies at age 81.

Leszek Kolakowski, a distinguished Polish philosopher who critiqued the Communist system and helped inspire the Solidarity movement, passed away last Friday in Oxford, UK. [more inside]
posted by orrnyereg at 8:52 AM PST - 14 comments

Baby Beauty Queens

BBC iPlayer: As the American phenomenon of the children's beauty pageant hits the UK, this documentary uncovers a surreal new world where nine-year-olds get fake tans and seven-year-olds wear contact lenses. [more inside]
posted by nam3d at 8:41 AM PST - 41 comments

Superman once went back in time and beat up Hitler. I mean, who can compete with that?

Man Not Superman based on a story by Jonathan Goldstein about a mortal man dealing with the pressures of dating Lois Lane. Found on Post-it Note Stories: Stories illustrated on little yellow Post-It Notes in beautiful black Sharpie. (via).
posted by ND¢ at 7:49 AM PST - 61 comments

Love In Vain

“BRING: staple gun, hammer/driver, screws, dance stuff, advil, hacksaw, cell numbers, MUSIC." Love In Vain is an amazing short film created in only 48 hours as part of the Dance Films Association 48 Hour Challenge. Here's how it was done. Recommended for fans of Robert Johnson. (via Projects.)
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 6:35 AM PST - 4 comments

No more ditching in the Hudson is a plus.

The Manhattan Airport Foundation. From the About Us: It doesn’t take long to realize Central Park squanders 843 acres of the most valuable real estate in the world. From the FAQ: To date, nearly 100 investors have signed on to provide approximately $130M in equity with another $80M from the bond market making Manhattan Airport the most ambitious privately-funded airport development project in US history. Apparently this is for reals.
posted by allkindsoftime at 6:33 AM PST - 77 comments

Obama's Honeymoon Over?

According to the Pulitzer Prize winning Politifact.com, change has stalled. Obama has kept 2 of his top 25 campaign promises so far. But he hasn't closed Guantanamo, restored habeus corpus for "enemy combatatnts", attempted to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, attempted to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, or cracked down on lobbyists. With promises on healthcare in the works, Obama seems to be at a crucial point in his first term.
posted by Hume at 6:20 AM PST - 171 comments

Who said war can't be comfortable?

Legofilter: Introducing the all new 2010 KLR-20 from Regent. The very first luxury combat vehicle. [more inside]
posted by Fleebnork at 6:10 AM PST - 8 comments

The Beziers Massacre.

"Kill them all. For God knows His own." Today is the 800th anniversary of the massacre of the inhabitants of the town of Beziers in Languedoc, in the south of France, known by the Romans as Gallia Narbonensis. Beziers was the first town to be sacked in the Albigensian Crusades to extirpate the Christian heresy of Catharism, which flourished in Languedoc. The Albigensian Crusades represented the initial application in Europe of religious warfare sanctioned by the resurgent medieval Papacy, and led directly to the institution of the Inquisition and rise of the Dominican Order.
posted by rdone at 5:06 AM PST - 37 comments

A Normal Day

SYTL: A Normal Day [more inside]
posted by kolophon at 5:05 AM PST - 16 comments

Expensive gasoline is good for you

The author of a new book on how rising oil prices will change America makes the claims that higher gasoline prices will make the country healthier and safer. Christopher Steiner asserts that, for every $1 that gasoline prices rise, obesity rates drop by 10% (as people walk more and eat out less). As for "safer", that comes in when high gasoline prices force police out of their cruisers and onto bicycles and foot patrols, where they can interact more closely with their communities. [more inside]
posted by acb at 3:58 AM PST - 63 comments

Let Us Face the Future*

Conservatism Is Dead, Reagan Was Wrong [more inside]
posted by kliuless at 3:45 AM PST - 91 comments

Pot Tax on Oaksterdam

Oakland California passes landmark marijuana tax cnn video [more inside]
posted by hortense at 1:29 AM PST - 33 comments

Their vote counts too

It's important to remember that everybody in our great republic has an equally important voice. [via Reddit]
posted by Netzapper at 12:48 AM PST - 21 comments

Buzz Aldrin don't have any beef with no earth walkers.

Buzz Aldrin, aka Doc Rendezvous, raps about his Rocket Experience. The video even comes with a making-of featuring Snoop Dog and Talib Kweli. Reflections on the video as being more than internet ephemera.
posted by phyrewerx at 12:14 AM PST - 13 comments

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