November 26
hi hungry, I'm dad
Cells, is there anything they can't do?
@SCOTTeHENSLEY: "We developed a new multivalent mRNA vaccine against all known influenza virus subtypes. Our study describing the vaccine was just published..." [more inside]
If you fake the funk, your nose will grow.
How Bootsy Collins Impostors Pulled Off the Ultimate Music Biz Scam (David Browne, Rolling Stone)
Nazi Cola
The soft drink Fanta was invented by Coca-Cola, an American company, inside of Nazi Germany during World War II. Developed at the height of the Third Reich, the new soda ensured the brand’s continued popularity. Fanta became a point of nationalistic pride and was consumed by the German public, from the Fraus cooking at home to the highest officials of the Nazi party. How Fanta Was Created for Nazi Germany [more inside]
Assorted Aleatory Moondog
How Moondog Captured the Sounds of New York
Moondog -- Do Your Own Thing
The Genius of Moondog, New York’s Homeless Composer
Random Moondoggery and details within regarding the life of someone Mefi's Own nickyskye knew well and counted as a close friend... [more inside]
Synchronizing his work to traffic and footsteps, the musician and composer translated the clamor of street life into song.The weird and true story of Moondog
Moondog -- Do Your Own Thing
The Genius of Moondog, New York’s Homeless Composer
Random Moondoggery and details within regarding the life of someone Mefi's Own nickyskye knew well and counted as a close friend... [more inside]
Michaelsoft Binbows
An obscure ages-old internet photo sparks an investigation that leads to a giddy, joyful conclusion. Nick Robinson takes us on a journey as we learn that "MICHAELSOFT BINBOWS' isn't what you think it is. [35m] Features use of Google Earth VR which is the only thing that's made me want VR so far.
The Tyranny Of Time
Every day, tens of thousands of people line up outside the Temple of Time where the Great Clock resides, waiting their turn to enter and bow before it. “They stand quietly, but secretly they seethe with their anger. For they must watch measured that which should not be measured. They must watch the precise passage of minutes and decades. They have been trapped by their own inventiveness and audacity. And they must pay with their lives.” from Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman.
"The clock is a useful social tool, but it is also deeply political. It benefits some, marginalizes others and blinds us from a true understanding of our own bodies and the world around us." Joe Zadeh writes a compelling essay in Noema magazine about the origin and meaning of globally standardized clock time.
Happy Birthday Sparky
In honor of Charles Schulz's 100th birthday, dozens of syndicated cartoonists worked Peanuts references into their strips today.
The McCallister Clan is Riding a Shooting Star
A family moves their inn from the Earth to outer space in a failed 1979 TV pilot. Obviously inspired by a certain scene Star Wars, "Starstruck," on YouTube (27 minutes), starring Beeson Carroll, Lynne Lipton and Roy Brocksmith, may remind you of a certain holiday special from the year before. [more inside]
"we were, in effect, rewriting our own childhoods"
"The songs and stories on "Free To Be" showed kids that they could question the world they lived in, that parents are just people and that emotions are real. And what's on TV might not be." [more inside]
Nothing at that scale is sacred at all
"If you look up quark masses online, you’ll find that the mass of an up quark is around 2 MeV while a down quark is close to 5 MeV. But those same sources will tell you the mass of a proton is a whopping 938 MeV. Our sums are off by about 99 per cent." Dr. Katie Mack explores the weird nature of protons in a short article.
Codified Likeness Utility
Using the Midjourney AI, graphic designer Johnny Darrell has come up with some mind-bending imaginings [Facebook link] of a "Tron" directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky.
PRojects IN Controlled Environments, version Sith
The overworked project manager on the redesign of the Imperial Lambda-class shuttle gets surprisingly competent feedback from an unknown official on Coruscant. She promptly decides that anyone bored enough to do a technical review of their own free will should be found proper employment for their own good. (AO3, Beth Winter, Star Wars, Gen) - because project management in any galaxy goes darkside.
Ten Years Of Being Overly Sarcastic
Overly Sarcastic Productions is a YouTube channel where the two creators/owners - going by the colorful monikers of Red and Blue - provide overviews and analysis of pop culture, myths, legends, literature, tropes, and other such topics. With the 10 year anniversary of the first video on the channel nearing, Red and Blue recount lessons learned from a decade of creating content.
November 25
A Plethora of Unaired Pilots
A Plethora of Unaired Pilots Warning: time destroyer. One YouTube user has posted over 50 unaired TV pilots. [more inside]
Steven Seagal Choke Hold...Diorama
Bobby Fingers has uploaded another diorama build video showcasing an incident between Steven Seagal and Gene LeBell. (Previously) [more inside]
Significant protests at Foxconn iPhone factory in Zhengzhou
"It's not hyperbolic to say that this is the most significant worker revolt we've seen in China for many years" says Chris Cash, Director of the China Research Group in a four minute interview with Times Radio that includes graphic footage from an unverified video. [more inside]
The Biggest Art Collab on YouTube, Season 2
The BIGGEST Art Collab On YouTube IS BACK! [S2 E1] In early 2021, graphic artist and YouTuber Ten Hundred painted a character in the middle of a large wooden panel, then sent it to another YouTuber to paint another small section, who then sent it to another, until it was done. The first panel traveled over 30,000 miles before it arrived back at Ten Hundred's studio to be auctioned for charity. For season 2, he started two different panels and sent them off. For one of them, each artist has to choose another YouTuber with fewer subscribers. Season 2 is still in progress. [more inside]
Every Bone in the Human Body and How They Break
Coins with only mention of Roman “emperor” authenticated
More than 50 Years of NASA Wake-Up Songs
As far back as Gemini 6, NASA has used music to wake astronauts - and robots - to start their day. From Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra to Puccini and Rachmaninov, from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Weird Al Yankovic, from the Ramones to the Everly Brothers to ABBA, NASA crews have woken up to meaningful and whimsical music. Archivist Colin Fries compiled a chronology of Wakeup Calls for NASA (89-page PDF). Previously. [more inside]
Buy Nothing Day
Why Brussels sprouts are good again
“It’s completely normal for people to be in the family business”
Hey, it's another listicle!
Perhaps the gentleman would like the "Poo Driver"
Prune Juice and vodka! What could go wrong?? Bon Appétit magazine known for it's exquisite taste and innovations in cuisine has a few recipes they'd like you to try.... [more inside]
Zan. Zendegi. Azadi.
Women, Life, Freedom is the cry heard across Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini 70 days ago. UN launches human rights investigation after Iranian regime murders over 300 protesters. [more inside]
November 24
Missing “Chico & The Man”
The 100 Greatest TV Theme Songs of All Time according to Rolling Stone
Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, riffs, one riff wonders & primal voices
And here is Bo Diddley & Chuck Berry -- Bo's Beat from Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley -- Two Great Guitars
Only Solitaire blog gives it a bit of side eye
Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley Together LIVE (2009)
And down the tesseracted rabbit hole we go... [more inside]
Only Solitaire blog gives it a bit of side eye
More of an historical curiosity here than an actual good album — but a terrific historical curiosity all the same. ...the album is never remembered as a particular highlight for any of those guys; however, in some ways it is a rather unique artifact of the era. Even if you find it horrible, you won't ever forget how you found it horrible, that is for sure.All the same here are the two men in concert all of 45 years later:
Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley Together LIVE (2009)
And down the tesseracted rabbit hole we go... [more inside]
Restaurant-ing Through History
Short little essays about little-known facets of American restaurant history. Including such gems as: The Public Natatorium, Milwaukee's only dolphin-equipped restaurant (how could it fail?) And... [more inside]
Smokin' Bear
Smokey Bear is supposed to communicate an important message about wildfire safety. But viewers were talking about his balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for a totally different reason this year: his looming, brawny, unsettling hotness.
Feel what it's like to tickle bug feet
From IEEE Spectrum comes These Haptic Microfingers Tickle Pill Bugs’ Toes subheadlined Balloon actuators and liquid metal sensors enable tactile human-insect interactions in which is described microfingers with tactile fingertip feedback so one could feel things at insect scale. This feels really important, even if right now it's just tickling bug toes.
film strip 1
Eat up, they said
These men are geniuses! Their shit tastes like candy! Adam Conover (recently previously on Metafilter) continues to press his case for treating billionaires with the respect they deserve (YouTube, 19m30s)
“So cooking it at 325° was actually the right thing to do.”
ooh.directory
It's a directory of blogs. Avoid your family today like it's 2006.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
‘We’re dog facilitators’
Meet the hounds trained to track down rhino poachers in Kruger Park. Rhino poachers entering Kruger National Park are increasingly being run down by packs of unleashed hunting hounds in full cry, followed by a chopper tracking their hi-tech GPS collars. [more inside]
Space is for all
ESA has announced their Astronaut Class of 2022. Comprising 17 astronauts from 12 countries, of which almost 50% are women, the cohort includes 5 career astronauts, 11 reserve astronauts, and 'parastronaut' John McFall, the world's first disabled astronaut. Although not guaranteed to go into orbit, the former British Paralympian will be part of a feasibility project to see what the requirements would be for that to be possible. [more inside]
LEA Project: The ARG, The Musical
LEA is EthiCo's own Learning-Enabled Algorithm: an anticipatory artificial intelligence program built with next-generation machine learning. That's just our fancy way of saying that she's designed entirely around you! She can automate your daily purchases, manage your hectic schedule, and even suggest the perfect time for you to sit back and chill out!The LEA Project: An interactive, musical horror-comedy from composer, writer, and sound designer Eric Matthew Richardson.
This is Jo Carol Pierce.
The greatest Texas songwriter you’ve never heard of is a 72-year-old grandmother from Lubbock. This is her story. What do you do when you find yourself in the midst of middle age, you can’t stay in a relationship to save your life, and your friends keep trying to get you to check into a mental hospital? If you’re Jo Carol Pierce, you go instead to a zen monastery in New Mexico and begin writing emotional, hilarious songs about sex, suicide, and the blessed Virgin Mary. From there, you move to Austin and craft the songs into a piece of musical theater called Bad Girls Upset by the Truth, recruiting other misfits to play with you. Then—again, if you’re Jo Carol Pierce—you watch as the play becomes a big hit and you, at age 51, transform into something of a rock star. [more inside]
November 23
NOTE: Sigma cannot be deselected
Trendwatch is an ongoing series of short unsettling videos examining such current trends as New Time, modes and operation of the A-CS unit, and nausea in the workplace. (No jumpscares. Loud high-pitched beeping at times.)
Cat in costume
This Library Attracts The Public By Dressing Up One Librarian’s Cat As Literary And Movie Icons Notable photos: Queen Elizabeth II, Mary Queen of Scots, Cat With A Pearl Earring, Phantom mask, Iron Throne, Teddy Roosevelt, Gritty, members of Clone Club.... [more inside]
I've brought. . . some corn for. . . popping.
Around 20 professional singers and composers attempt to sing a very badly transcribed version of "Let It Snow" as written. (SL Twitter.)
I can't imagine a US intelligence official would be wrong on this
A 10-minute miscommunication on Slack between journalists at the Associated Press resulted in an erroneous report last week that appeared momentarily to bring tensions between NATO and Russia to their highest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis ... Last Tuesday, AP posted a news alert saying that a “senior U.S. intelligence official says Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, killing two people,” and noting that leaders in Poland were “holding an emergency meeting due to a ‘crisis situation’” ... The report, which would have represented a Russian missile striking a member of NATO, immediately sparked fear of a dramatic escalation of tensions between the US and Russia. from AP fired a reporter after a dangerous blunder. Slack messages reveal a chaotic process.
“The crowd has taken on a more violent approach towards me."
Two pro wrestlers developed ‘The Progressive Liberal’ to be the bad guy at matches. Then the atmosphere turned far darker (previously on MeFi)
Canada at a Glance 2022 | Coup d'œil sur le Canada 2022
Prepared by Statistics Canada, Canada at a Glance presents current statistics on Canadian society. Subjects covered in Canada at a Glance include population, education, health, and others to provide a statistical portrait of Canada. [more inside]
National Day of Mourning
"Since 1970, Indigenous people & their allies have gathered at noon on Cole's Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US Thanksgiving holiday. Many Native people do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims & other European settlers. Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands and the erasure of Native cultures. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Indigenous ancestors and Native resilience. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection, as well as a protest against the racism and oppression that Indigenous people continue to experience worldwide." [more inside]
It's Not Christmas Yet!
The 9 best Thanksgiving songs I definitely didn't just make up by Alexandra Petri at The Washington Post, with composer Jack Mitchell. [more inside]
Westeros and Essos and Valentino
Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire, love(d) them or hate(d) them, the clothes are fabulous! A Game of Clothes is a tumblr blog that deliciously, obsessively, meticulously records the real life styles the vast cast of characters would wear, and where they would wear them, and why, and who they are, and where they are from. Pretty much all the W questions, but most particularly, what would [ASoIaF Person] wear, or maybe who would wear [Famous Designer]? Basically a "Westeros Wear Daily." [more inside]