October 9, 2002

The Journey to the West

The Journey to the West is one of China's most popular literary classics. This site illustrates one section of this important story, the birth of the Monkey King, with 100 beautiful images. You can also take the time to read selections from several other Chinese classics, notably The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Tale of the Water Margin and one of my all time favorites, The Romance of the Western Chamber. These works, and others on the site, are important in their own right, but are also significant because they are source material for Chinese film, TV and especially for Jingju, which Westerners call Beijing opera.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:31 PM PST - 16 comments

Ever wonder what molasses is? Or how it's made?

Ever wonder what molasses is? Or how it's made? The last of the old-fashioned craft of making molasses. At this point you're just a few steps away from making moonshine.
posted by nyxxxx at 10:50 PM PST - 24 comments

Army for sale!

Army for sale! Russia will back the US in it's Iraq campaign only in exchange for money. Didn't they used to be a superpower? Now they are the A-Team?
posted by wolfgangnorton at 10:47 PM PST - 17 comments

Before we go to war based on whether or not Saddam (or the UN Security Council...) agrees to the Bush administration's proposed UN resolution, would anyone care to discuss what their proposed resolution actually says?
Apparently, the text of the resolution isn't in the public domain... but things leak. According to this article, the resolution allows the UN or its members (including the US) to station armed guards in Iraq, establish no-fly and no-drive zones, and create exclusive ground and air transit corridors. Robert Fisk, one of England's most respected reporters, believes the resolution is a poison pill, designed to lead to "regime change", whether he accepts it or not. So, what else do we know about the proposed resolution, and why isn't anyone talking about it?
posted by insomnia_lj at 10:43 PM PST - 32 comments

Sorry, Big Brother.

Sorry, Big Brother. Appeals court says Mormon Church can't restrict speech on sidewalks of Salt Lake City Plaza. "The city cannot create a 'First Amendment-free zone." This comes punctually after allegations that LDS security harrassed evangelical volunteers.
posted by aaronshaf at 10:41 PM PST - 84 comments

Think you know your gods? Most people know that the Greek god of war was Ares, and probably would know that the Roman god of war was Mars, but how many know the Norse, Aztec, Celtic, Hindu, Egyptian or Chinese gods of war?
posted by nick.a at 10:00 PM PST - 15 comments

It's not a news link if the news is total fluff.

It's not a news link if the news is total fluff. For your consideration: a suit drawn on stealing the idea to REMAKE a film, then a suit drawn over who saw a SAMPLE first. The debate! Which outweighs, legal chicanery or creative bankruptcy?
posted by damehex at 9:16 PM PST - 10 comments

Big Bird is bringing peace to Northern Ireland

Big Bird is bringing peace to Northern Ireland This brilliant (and timely) story is doing the net 'rounds. The scary thing is? This story is true. And to think: it was only next month Sesame Street was dealing with AIDS. Maybe Kermit will have sorted out Iraq by Christmas...
posted by tapeguy at 7:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Egg separator.

Egg separator. Come on. This stuff is important.
posted by swift at 7:51 PM PST - 17 comments

Since Genetically Modified Organisms are a big no-no in Europe, some scientists are now focusing their efforts on TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes), a novel technology for rapid selection of a mutation in any gene from mutant plant, through the use of a mutagen, Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS). Will this method be seen as less dangerous than Genetic Engineering à la Monsanto? During my search on this topic, I stumbled on this entertaining story about DIY genegeneering.
posted by titboy at 6:47 PM PST - 6 comments

It's not your imagination, Americans (and those of us who live in similar cultures) really are getting fatter. The latest Journal of the AMA has the reports.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 6:06 PM PST - 23 comments

"And due to the flagrant violations of U.N. resolutions, we now order Israel, Turkey, Morocco, and most every other country to bow before us..."

"And due to the flagrant violations of U.N. resolutions, we now order Israel, Turkey, Morocco, and most every other country to bow before us..." Otherwise known as 'things George Bush overlooked when planning his Cincinnati speech.' Numerous UN resolutions have been disregarded and have gone unpunished-Israel being one of the most serious violators. Who else believes that their most hard-assed university professors would fail them for using the rather weak, subjective arguments that have been popping up in political speeches lately?
posted by tgrundke at 5:24 PM PST - 24 comments

The 'Corporate Reform' President?

The 'Corporate Reform' President? Harken Energy, when run by George W. Bush used the practice of shifting troubled assets and large debts on a seperate set of books (like the much beloved Enron). Harvardwatch has memos (1, 2) right from where Bush personally took part in meetings authorizing the deal. Its good to see those Ivy League dollars at work.
posted by owillis at 5:17 PM PST - 22 comments

Remember this thread regarding Planned Parenthood of Iowa, confidentiality and a murder investigation? The county attorney has now dropped the case due to lack of resources. I was looking forward to the ruling on this one.
posted by justlisa at 4:14 PM PST - 4 comments

Reality check from Swiss Re and UNEP

Reality check from Swiss Re and UNEP "The increasing frequency of severe climatic events...has the potential to stress insurers, reinsurers and banks to the point of impaired viability or even insolvency." "Climate Change and the Financial Services Industry", a UNEP report supported by 295 banks and insurance and investment companies around the world. The report concludes that, worldwide, loses from Climate related disasters are doubling every decade . NOAA generally concurs. Dr. Bob Gagosian, Director of Woods Hole, has even worse news. Should we take the scientific mainstream seriously? Or is it all "Junk Science"according to the industry funded Steve Milloy or the CEI, or even a New Age Pagan Conspiracy? Play on little humans......play on.....
posted by troutfishing at 3:02 PM PST - 15 comments

Swain,

Swain, written and directed by Dave Jones, is the latest Flash animation from Transience's impressive body of work. Although all the pieces (and good games!) are subtly surprising, I particularly enjoyed Teev. In a time where the dominant credo is "messages are for Western Union", Transience seem to pushing an old-fashioned but timely agenda of poetry and peace, whilst using a refreshingly modern neo-expressionist aesthetic. [The website, apart from requiring Flash, has, like MetaFilter, been a bit unstable all day - but is definitely worth bookmarking.]
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:27 PM PST - 12 comments

And the Winner Is ...

And the Winner Is ... Tomorrow the Nobel Foundation will announce its 2002 award for literature. Anyone have a particular author they'd like to see get the gold?
posted by risenc at 1:09 PM PST - 91 comments

Women Mathematicians.

Women Mathematicians. With numerous biographies and photographs, this website indexes the many contributions that women have made to the field of mathematics. From Pythagoras' wife Theano and martyr Hypatia, also notable are the first female computer programmer and the first female Ph.D. recipient.
posted by moz at 12:47 PM PST - 17 comments

Vote Pancake?

Vote Pancake? Some say no.
posted by putzface_dickman at 11:53 AM PST - 23 comments

"Dear policeman, I am God" found inscribed on a Tarot card. This latest clue in the Maryland sniper case will no doubt be tested and thoroughly investigated, although it was reported that it could be the work of prankster. If you have read the interesting post below by stevis ("I am who I am") of a Florida man who was legally denied the right to call himself "God", doesn't it make you wonder if the human desire to personify or impersonate God is a manifestation of the desperation for control over others, but not for the better? God, after all, wants you to surrender your life to the almighty. Or (mental illnesses aside) is it much more complex than that?
posted by taratan at 11:03 AM PST - 69 comments

There may be something in the human psyche that finds crumbling and abandoned structures somehow fascinating. In Abandoned-Places.com, Henk van Rensbergen, a Belgian airline pilot, has compiled an archive of brilliantly atmospheric and evocative images from decaying and deserted industrial complexes, airports, hotels and other assorted structures from around the world. Arguably superior in composition to those found on many comparable sites such as zone-tour.com and abandoned-buildings.com, his images can be haunting, intriguing or disturbing, but are always strangely compelling. Enjoy!
posted by Doozer at 10:39 AM PST - 22 comments

Professor Barnhardts Journal

Professor Barnhardts Journal could become one of my favorite ezines. This week they have a short story from MST3000's Mike Nelson, and last week they had essays from Roger Ebert and T. Coraghasen Boyle. Bored with McSweeneys? Still bummed that Feed is gone? This zine looks like fun.
posted by braun_richard at 10:26 AM PST - 2 comments

The Art of Terror.

The Art of Terror. Damien Hirst, one of Britain's most celebrated artists, told the BBC last month that the Sept. 11 attacks were "visually stunning" artworks and that the perpetrators "need congratulating." A stomach-turning account of how the art-dingbat world views the September 11 attacks.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:00 AM PST - 61 comments

A nighttime menace or kids having fun?

A nighttime menace or kids having fun? Playing tag at night seems like a pretty harmless way of having a good time if you're a teenager. A group of my friends used to play Ghost in the Graveyard up at a lakeside cottage in the summer and it definitely got the adrenaline pumping on a dark night. For the kids of Bismarck, a rainy night alternative could be to make Ghosts in the Graveyard.
posted by MediaMan at 9:48 AM PST - 12 comments

Zoë

Zoë is Google for your inbox (and outbox, too). It's written in Java and actually works on a number of platforms, using a browser-based interface. Jon Udell describes the way he uses Zoë in this O'reilly article.

But be warned: navigating through archived email from five years ago is as humbling as it is addictive.
posted by gdog at 9:38 AM PST - 12 comments

Metafilter

Metafilter is a genetically-modified sheep that keeps your carpets clean! It communicates with wireless devices and makes reassuring noises.
posted by revbrian at 8:54 AM PST - 129 comments

Comics for the Handicapped

Comics for the Handicapped These are all funny, but in the wrong way. (via SA:ALD)
posted by oissubke at 8:34 AM PST - 20 comments

David Sedaris on tour

David Sedaris on tour Go see him in your town! Anybody see David Sedaris on Letterman last night? He read a new piece about a portable colostomy bag. Mr. Sedaris is a regular contributor to This American Life on NPR. If you haven't read or heard David Sedaris, you are really missing out.
posted by puddsharp at 7:09 AM PST - 38 comments

The virtuous image of the Bertelsmann media empire has been destroyed by a devastating historical study into the company's Nazi links that exposes its post-war success as built on a lie. The report, published this week, not only details the company's role in the Nazi propaganda machinery, but provides evidence of the company's use of forced labour during the war.
posted by tpoh.org at 12:53 AM PST - 12 comments

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