November 10, 2016
Himmelsscheibe: The Nebra Sky Disc
In 1999, two men with metal detectors unearthed one of the most significant finds of modern archaeology: the Nebra Sky Disc, a 30-cm bronze disc inlaid with gold depicting the sun, moon, stars (including the Pleiades), and arcs that apparently represent sunrise and sunset at the solstices at Mittelberg Hill in Germany, and a holy sun boat symbol, dating from 1600 BCE or earlier. Because the illicit finders sold the disc on the black market, skepticism about its authenticity abounded for several years before scientific investigations confirmed it was a legitimate find and possibly the oldest concrete depiction of astronomical phenomena ever found. (The looters were seized by police in a sting operation in a bar in Switzerland, sentenced to prison, appealed, and got longer sentences.) [more inside]
It may very well be game over.
Recent climate studies predict that global temperatures could raise as much as 7C within our lifetimes, putting Earth on the fast track to a full Venus atmosphere.
Wheeeow
Cat likes broom rides (don't we all?)
Safety Pins and Paper Clips against Racism
After Brexit, Tolerant Britons Adopted a Simple Symbol of Solidarity.
In response to the open environment of hatred, people across the U.K. are now wearing safety pins — and tweeting pictures of themselves wearing them — in an act of solidarity with immigrants.Via Jason Kottke [more inside]
We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries
to express what is ultimately mysterious and ineffable
The last post on Facebook by San Antonio artist Jim Harter (d Oct 2015 aged 74) was a quote from Sadhguru,
“Life is neither a gift nor a punishment. It is just a phenomenon that you need to learn to ride.”
In the 70´s Harter created concert posters for Austin’s Vulcan Gas Company and Armadillo World Headquarters, as well as other counter-culture establishments.
Some of his poster plates were hand coloured.
His book Initiations in the Abyss: A Surrealist Apocalypse was published in 2001.
Here are a few more of his collages.
“Life is neither a gift nor a punishment. It is just a phenomenon that you need to learn to ride.”
In the 70´s Harter created concert posters for Austin’s Vulcan Gas Company and Armadillo World Headquarters, as well as other counter-culture establishments.
Some of his poster plates were hand coloured.
His book Initiations in the Abyss: A Surrealist Apocalypse was published in 2001.
Here are a few more of his collages.
You need a little bit o' Souls to put you right
Young Hollow, there are but two fan-made Dark Souls web comics in this post: Lordran & Beyond and Karniz's Many Deaths In Dark Souls. But only a true monarch can click such links. Very few, indeed, have read the previous Dark Souls posts on MetaFilter. And yet, your journey is far from over. Half-grown Hollow, have you what it takes, truly?
Tintype Type Celebrity Portraits
Celebrity portraits that look like old tintype photos. Yes, its a mindless, silly post with old timey looking photos of celebs, but its all that I can manage this week.
Dump the Electoral College
The National Popular Vote Twice out of the last five elections, and five times total, the candidate who won the majority of the popular vote lost the election for president. In the last election, almost all of the campaigning for president happened in just 12 "swing" states. If you are not in one of those states, your vote for president doesn't matter very much. This is because of the way that states send their electors to the electoral college, where (except in Maine and Nebraska), all of the electors of a state are allocated "winner take all". But it doesn't have to be that way. The Constitution (and Supreme Court) has left it up to the states to decide how to choose their electors, as long as they do not discriminate. They can do it any way that they want. Ten states (CA, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, VT, WA), plus DC, with 165 electoral votes have signed onto the National Popular Vote. If states with 105 more electoral votes sign on it takes effect. It essentially does away with the power of the electoral college and moves to the winner of the popular vote becoming president. [more inside]
High housing costs? Yuck. New idea? Yea!
Homeownership Rates Drop to Historic Lows; Middle Class Feels the Strain of Rising Rents The fledgling U.S. housing recovery lost momentum last year as homeownership rates continued to fall, single-family construction remained near historic lows, and existing home sales cooled, concludes The State of the Nation’s Housing report released today by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. In contrast, rental markets continued to grow, fueled by another year of large increases in the numbers of renter households. However, with rents rising and incomes well below pre-recession levels, the U.S. is also seeing record numbers of cost-burdened renters, including more renter households higher up the income scale. [more inside]
Stories from Hawaii
Offshore Podcast, a collaboration between PRX and Honolulu Civil Beat, is "a new immersive storytelling podcast about a Hawaii most tourists never see." Season 1: A Killing in Waikiki presents the story of two killings, 80 years apart, that highlight the race and power struggles in "the most multicultural place on the planet." [CW: sexual assault, racism, violence] [more inside]
I Am A Warrior Forged In Ice And Iron, And I Will Take No DAMB Baths!
The whole world is wondering: what's wrong with the United States?
"We've come tonight to bring you some joy, some happiness, some inspiration, and some positive vibrations. We want to leave you enough to last you maybe the next six months." Eight years ago this month, soul/pop/gospel music legend Mavis Staples released a live recording titled Live: Hope at the Hideout. Recorded in Chicago's tiny Hideout Lounge, these thirteen songs of protest, hope, and defiance feature Mavis with a stripped down, raw and swampy three-piece band and just a handful of back-up singers. You can stream the entire album here (YT) and all things considered, you really should. [Alt link: stream from her record label's site]
Fat Cats
Hurry, Gather Your Companions
With Adventure Time ending in 2018, the void has already been pre-emptively filled by The Legend of Lucky Pie, a Chinese series that caused a stir upon its initial discovery when it was thought to be a televized Adventure Time knock-off, but which is actually being made by a small team with the goal of fighting the ‘tacky’ and ‘trite’ animated shows usually shown in Chinese media. Episode 1 (turn on YouTube subtitles if not already on; others have subtitles in video): Who Makes That Voice? Episode 2: The Zodiac Maze. Episode 3: If It's The Last Thing I Poo (and recent English dub). Episode 4: Coming Soon.
After the 2016 US election
The 2016 US election is over and most of the results are in. Barring incident, Barack Obama (#44) will hand over to Donald Trump (#45) at noon on January 20th 2017; transition activities are underway. Following a relentless campaign, Hillary Clinton conceded and called for unity. The Republican Party has also secured the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as electing more governors. Voter suppression during the election continues to be an issue. Reaction to Trump's victory has ranged from protests to shock, and there are many questions about what he will do in office regarding issues such as Obamacare. Some are drawing parallels between the election result and Brexit. The press is also contemplating the future of the Democratic Party and their road ahead. [more inside]
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