February 25, 2013
Dalek designer sadly exterminated at 84
In 1963, BBC production designer Raymond Cusick was asked to design the first monster for a new show, Doctor Who. Terry Nation's script required aliens called "Daleks" whose hobbies included world-domination and shouting "exterminate". In response, Cusick came up with the amazing and even iconic Dalek design which spawned Dalek-Mania across the world. [more inside]
Metallurgical!
TINY LINCOLNS FOR ALL
The original point of the sequester was that it would be terrible and “inflexible,” which would force Congress to choose a less terrible path, but obviously trusting Congress to not pick the most terrible of all available options was something of a gamble. So yes, sure, “flexibility,” but also maybe just “let’s not do this.” Unfortunately, “let’s just not do this” never comes up as an option on any of the shows, which all presented the argument as, on one side, “flexibility,” and on the other side, “a balanced approach,” which means a shitload of unnecessary cuts plus a bit more tax revenue, which sound nice but is still pointless contractionary policy.Alex Pareene watched the sunday morning shows so you don't have to.
Seismic (political) event in Italy.
There's been quite the political earthquake in Italy this weekend: the latest national elections have up-ended all expectations, with Silvio Berlusconi's populist right bouncing back to a photo-finish against the forecasted favourite center-left coalition, headed by Pier Luigi Bersani. But it's neither of their results that will cause the real aftershocks - those are the sole honour (and, now, onus) of the most meteoric of political entities Europe has ever witnessed: former comic Beppe Grillo's 5-Star MoVement, formally founded just three years ago, have crowned their national electoral debut by earning over 25% of the popular vote, becoming Italy's leading political force. [more inside]
L'Ecume Des Jours
Trailer for Michel Gondry's new film, Mood Indigo, based on the book Foam of the Daze (or Froth on the Daydream, depending on the translation) by Boris Vian. [more inside]
Selecting Instagram Filter "Supreme Leader Glow"
Visitors to, and other non-residents in, North Korea are now able to tweet and instagram, as mobile data services are gradually opened up. (Probably) the first tweet sent in this way appeared earlier today. [more inside]
Sociology (and other group data) assumptions based on Americans.
And that's a bad idea. Much of standard group behavior data in Sociology/Economics/Psychology is based on Americans. Which don't seem (contrary to universal assumptions) to be shared by a lot of the World.
Not Tentacle Porn (well, kinda tentacle porn...)
The sex lives of octopuses is often difficult to photograph in the wild, however Dr. Roy Caldwell got very fortunate with a pair in his lab. Here are some very rare pictures of the Abdopus aculeatus octopus mating, with a photo by photo explanation of what is happening.
"I'll steal it from this very earth."
A timeline of Blue Note jazz album covers.
History in (a) Flash
Our Story in 2 Minutes An amazing visual history of our existence from the beginning to now...in 2 minutes.
David Lynch, working.
The moon! I can't reach it!
A moment of adorable: two year old Kayla can't reach the moon, but that doesn't lessen her interest in it. Kayla's dad shared the video on Reddit, where he got a lot of suggestions for books and items to appease her lunacy, and was invited to tour the NASA facilities in California.
The Irony Is
Charles Krafft is known for his ironic Nazi ceramics — except that he's a Nazi Jen Graves in the Stranger finds malice under Krafft's provocation. (Via; previously, previously.)
Great supine protoplasmic invertebrate jellies!
Today the London Assembly Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green Party members all voted to bypass the session in which Mayor Boris Johnson would answer questions about his controversial £16.5bn budget cuts. Accordingly, Assembly chair Jennette Arnold asked Mr Johnson to leave the session. Hilarity ensues .
“We Saw Your Boobs.”
“We Saw Your Boobs.” The Academy is supposedly a trade group, and yet it devoted its opening number to degrading a good part of its membership. [more inside]
Awards don't mean a god damned thing
Jerry Seinfeld accepts award for something-or-other, gets stuff off his chest about the nature of awards shows. Peaks about half-way through, runs out of gas from there.
Born Digital Folklore
"Its not like we all sat in silence and stared blankly at our TVs waiting for the Internet to show up. We have probably always had vernacular webs of communication." Digital studies scholar Robert Glenn Howard talks about vaccines, the Christian right [PDF], AC/DC guitar tutorials and other "born-digital folklore" on the "vernacular web."
At the end of the play we're another year older
If you haven't yet had enough of Les Miserables - or have had way too much - you might enjoy what Forbidden Broadway did with it. (slyt) [more inside]
Everyday it's a-gettin' closer...
"I’ve been working with a team of artists, engineers, and producers to bring Achewood to life." - Chris Onstad, 2/24/13
She took us there.
When Staple Singers hits like I’ll Take You There and If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me) came on the radio, it was easy to get lost in Mavis Staples’ raspy, soulful lead vocals. But if you listened closer, a key element in the Chicago gospel-soul group’s warmly distinctive sound was the deft soprano harmony of Mavis’ sister Cleotha Staples, who died on Feb. 21 at age 78 in Chicago. RIP Cleotha Staples.
Two wheels bad, four wheels good
Following a parent-governor meeting at North Downs Primary School last Thursday, pupils will be banned from cycling and walking to two primary school sites over fears it would be too dangerous.
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