August 22, 2010
Movies From An Alternate Universe
Movies reimagined by way of their poster. Movie posters are sometimes considered art and we've had posts on Metafilter about movie posters being redesigned and reimagined but, these posters appear to be from another universe. I want to be there.
James Patterson Inc.
Food Days
I was a bit disheartened to discover that one of my favorite frozen treats, the Creamsicle, has an "official" day (August 14th) and that I'd missed it. Well, that will never have to happen again thanks to the handy Food Holidays Calendar, part of the Bizarre American Holidays page (Warning -- the graphic design will make your eyes bleed). Today (August 22nd) was Be an Angel Day, but for most of you reading this, I wish you a frabjous National Spongecake Day
Magda Boreysza
Q to the E to the D
Futurama has always been a haven for geek humor, but last week's episode "The Prisoner of Benda" pushed things to the next level. First hinted at in an American Physical Society interview with showrunner David X. Cohen (previously), staff writer and mathematics Ph.D. Ken Keeler devised a novel mathematical proof based on group theory to resolve the logic puzzle spawned by the episode's brain-swapping (but no backsies!) conceit. Curious how it works? Read the proof (in the show or in plain text), then see it in action using this handy chart. Too much math for a lazy Sunday? Then entertain your brain with lengthy clips from the episode -- including two of the funniest moments in the series in the span of two minutes.
When Fortuna spins you downward, go out to a movie and get more out of life
john Kennedy Toole was an American novelist from New Orleans, Louisiana, best known for his Pulitzer Prize–winning novel A Confederacy of Dunces. Joe Sanford directed a documentary about the departed writer, John Kennedy Toole: the omega point [more inside]
A.D. 79
AD 79: Destruction and Re-discovery is full of information about the Roman cities wiped out by Vesuvius in Titus' reign.
"This is the CBGB of video games."
Better Than Jet Packs
Jet Trains! Jet Trains! The Americans built one, so the Soviets had to build one, too. The Soviet one appears to be in disrepair now.
Indian voting machine researcher arrested
The Indian government describes their electronic voting machines as 'perfect', but has never permitted an independant evaluation. A team of three academic researchers received access to a machine from an anonymous source, and demonstrated several flaws. Concerns are being expressed in India. At 5:30 this Saturday morning, police arrested Hari Prasad, one of the research team, at his home, transporting him to Mumbai.
[more inside]
If You Can't Buy 700 Bicycles, Don't Buy Any
The Hughes family does a good deed and gets beaten up by some in the international development community, reigniting the debate on poverty tourism. (previously)
CATFIGHT!
Introducing CATFIGHT! Battle for the Internet's Favourite Feline. The Bracket. Round 1: Old School Cats. Round 2: Eight Down, Eight Return to Duke It Out. Round 3: The Final Four. Last Round: The FINALS! And the Winner is...
OWRRRR
The Scorsese of the Midlands
This is England '86, the television series sequel to the film This Is England by director Shane Meadows will broadcast in the UK next week. Meadows started his career with a number of ultra-cheap short films on borrowed equipment, a couple of which have found there way onto the internet. [more inside]
One giant leap for goonkind.
Some people make DIY drones. Some people build WiFi-hacking UAVs. Somethingawful members build their own submarines, floating launch-platforms, and tow their own manned spacecraft out to sea.
What a shame
An oral history of DIY pioneers CRASS - with details about the court battle that may soon mar 30+ years of advocacy for anarchism, permaculture, workers' rights, and free thinking. [more inside]
From Basics to Technical
100 Helpful Photography Tutorials for Beginners and Professionals. Photography as both a profession and a hobby is an expansive topic that covers a vast range of subjects from science and art. No matter where you lie on the spectrum, there is always more to learn. From the folks at Tuts+.
The hooligan problem and the football violence that just won't go away.
Scholarship in the service of poetry
It's about ethnomusicology, immigrants, and a tiny bit about depression. Read about Ian Nagoski and the music he discovered in a box of records that survived a foreclosure (WaPo link - register or bugmenot). Listen. Podcast. Buy some.
It is these that the vendor suggests may have been dreamed up while sitting on the toilet.
American Apparel unravels
American Apparel, the clothing company which became synonymous with the "hipster" look of the 2000s, is facing bankruptcy. [more inside]
I was born, for starters ...
What Happened in My Birth Year? If you have the patience for the slow onscreen text printout, you might find some interesting tidbits. [more inside]
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