May 2, 2014

The Untold Story Of Larry Page's Comeback

One day in July 2001, Larry Page decided to fire Google’s project managers. All of them.
posted by SpacemanStix at 11:05 PM PST - 28 comments

"The truth is...I am Iron Man."

Six years ago, the comic book adaptation Iron Man premiered in US theaters, kickstarting the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 364 days is the premiere of The Avengers: Age of Ultron, the MCU's eleventh completed film. To wallow in mild nostalgia, here's the original theatrical Iron Man trailer, plus Robert Downey Jr.'s screen test for the role. For another little blast from the past, this CNN Money article from May 2007 recounts Marvel's financial woes and checks out those ambitious Hollywood plans with a cautious eye. [more inside]
posted by nicebookrack at 10:09 PM PST - 62 comments

It is a dream itself

So it's Kentucky Derby time, once again. But I don't care much for horse racing. So I could say it's really just an excuse to post this wonderful video of Chris McMillian on how to properly craft a Mint Julep. But that would be a lie. I don't care much for Mint Juleps either. They're really just an excuse to post this heart-breakingly beautiful poem about Mint Juleps: [more inside]
posted by mikeand1 at 8:21 PM PST - 29 comments

High-dollar trolling

Vice has photos and updated information about the Baphomet statue that the Church of Satan wants to install at the Oklahoma City Courthouse.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:47 PM PST - 132 comments

The novel is dead!

The literary novel as an art work and a narrative art form central to our culture is indeed dying before our eyes. Will Self on the future of the novel.
posted by dng at 4:35 PM PST - 56 comments

I'm from Tennessee, and...I just don't know

A report on the Fiorucci store, New York, c.1979
posted by mippy at 3:47 PM PST - 24 comments

A Monstration In St. Petersburg

In Russia today, it's illegal to engage in "homosexual propaganda", and "anti-Russian propaganda" can attract ugly attention. So on May 1, there was a "Monstration" in St Petersburg. Absurd signs and costumes had no prosecutable meaning, but the message was unmistakable. In Novosibirsk, a little further from the Kremlin, the message was more direct. [more inside]
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 1:38 PM PST - 32 comments

"Gabourey, how are you so confident?"

Gabourey Sidibe's speech at the Ms. Foundation Gala
posted by neroli at 12:23 PM PST - 42 comments

Because God can use the internet too.

If you're looking for someone to date, other than Jesus, look no further. And the follow-up: Christian Tingle 2.
posted by emjaybee at 11:05 AM PST - 48 comments

Mayday, Mayday, democracy in danger . . .

The Mayday SuperPAC. Yesterday Lawrence Lessig announced the launch of the Mayday SuperPAC, "The SuperPAC to end all SuperPACs." Its ultimate goal is to achieve constitutional campaign finance reform. They've set out specific funding goals--$1 million in 30 days, $5 million in the next 30--which will be matched by Lessig and other (currently) anonymous funders once achieved. Their initial goal is to influence races in five House districts and if successful they hope to expand in 2016.
posted by Anonymous at 10:09 AM PST - 95 comments

Be it resolved state surveillance is a legitimate defence of our freedom

Alan Dershowitz and Michael Hayden (for); Glenn Greenwald and Alexis Ohanian against. Tonight. “I consider him and Alan Dershowitz” – the two men Mr. Greenwald, 47, will face at Friday’s Munk Debates – “two of the most pernicious human beings on the planet. I find them morally offensive. There’s an element of hypocrisy to being in the same room with them, treating them as if I have outward respect, because I don’t.” [more inside]
posted by whyareyouatriangle at 9:35 AM PST - 285 comments

Pretty big, actually.

Just how big are the Game of Thrones dragons, anyway? [Contains minor book spoilers for the Unsullied]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:33 AM PST - 82 comments

"I usually like chicken nuggets, but not these chicken nuggets."

"FOUR-YEAR-OLD REVIEWS PLUM RESTAURANT (WITH HER FACE)"
posted by davidstandaford at 9:01 AM PST - 148 comments

"...and we are a hell of a lot more diverse than you might think."

We are comics. When former DC Comics editor Janelle Asselin wrote a scathing critique of the art on the company's new "Teen Titans" book, the response she got was depressingly predictable; a deluge of insults, some anonymous rape threats and even one (less predictable) attempt to hack her bank accounts. But after much of the online comics community rallied around Asselin, a tumblr-based project to show off the true diversity of comics creators and fans took off. [more inside]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:49 AM PST - 65 comments

Does telling history honestly justify resurrecting human zoos?

As part of the bicentennial celebrations of the constitution of Norway, two artists are recreating the "human zoo" featured at the 1914 Oslo World Fair. [more inside]
posted by MartinWisse at 8:34 AM PST - 22 comments

Who knew Beeftank was a two sport athlete?

The Return of Beeftank Football legend Clarence Beeftank gives basketball a try.
posted by drezdn at 7:04 AM PST - 40 comments

Your crush mileage may vary.

May 7 is International Tell Your Crush Day. Maybe you found this site after someone told you they had a crush on you. Maybe you thought of the same holiday and we beat you to registering this username. Perhaps you’ve been a fan all along and have always wanted more propaganda to peruse while at work.
posted by aka burlap at 7:04 AM PST - 113 comments

In the fall of 1961, a PDP-1 was installed in the "kludge room"

Spacewar! was perhaps the first true video game. Now, thanks to the Internet Archive, you can play it in your browser.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:41 AM PST - 14 comments

Work the Line

Conservative bon vivant Michael Anton writes about the thrill of cooking in an haute cuisine restaurant, as well as the rise of celebrity chef culture and personalities like Anthony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman.
posted by Cash4Lead at 6:24 AM PST - 21 comments

National Magazine Awards for 2014

The American Society of Magazine Editors announced its 2014 winners at last night's annual awards presentation in New York (complete list here). While Fast Company won Magazine of the Year and New York Magazine won both General Excellence and Website—and Cosmopolitan brought home its first-ever award (Personal Service) for "Your Cosmo Guide to Contraception"—below the fold is a selection of the winners from individual categories that are all available on the web. [more inside]
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:24 AM PST - 10 comments

Steadfast Stanley, a Calarts student cartoon by John Cody Kim

Steadfast Stanley the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is left behind in the break of an apocalypse. All he wants to do is get back to his owner…
posted by The Devil Tesla at 5:13 AM PST - 18 comments

The right balance of strangeness and familiarity.

An Interview with Richard Tuschman, the photographer Behind ‘Hopper Meditations’
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:56 AM PST - 4 comments

« Previous day | Next day »