January 25, 2016
Let's talk about daily life with depression
New Yorkers Alice Bradley and Deanna Zandt made a podcast about life and depression. It’s all going to be okay. Probably.
Economic Class != Social Class, and why.
Ever confused about why it's so hard for Americans (US) to talk about class issues? LJ blogger Siderea has some answers for you, having to do with the distinction between social and economic class. [more inside]
For more than 2000 years, Jews lived among Arabs
When asked to speak at certain Zionist functions, many Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa are asked to focus on the mistreatment they experienced under Arab rule—not the ways in which they successfully coexisted with Muslims, or the serious discrimination they have faced in Israeli society after arriving in the Promised Land. In anti-Zionist circles the situation inverts: the hosts are delighted to hear tales of Israeli malfeasance but are deeply hostile if the topic turns to the oppression and expulsion of Jews from Arab countries or if the Jews proclaim a proud connection to Israel. - An Intersectional Failure: How Both Israel’s Backers and Critics Write Mizrahi Jews Out of the Story
Hard Truths
You don't understand anything until you learn it more than one way.
The Longest-Ever White House Protester Died Today
Concepcion Picciotto, who held vigil outside the White House for more than three decades, died today. [more inside]
"We must go where the evidence leads us."
A grand jury in Houston investigating the recent videos that claimed that Planned Parenthood sold fetal organs (previously) has cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing. Instead they indicted two videographers, David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, on charges of Tampering with a Governmental Record. Mr. Daleiden has also been charged with violation of the Prohibition of the Purchase and Sale of Human Organs.
Gareth Evans doing what he does best.
Director Gareth Evans (Merantau, The Raid, and The Raid 2) has posted a test action sequence to his YouTube channel. "In a time of civil war, a young warrior is given the task of delivering a treaty between two rival lords. During her journey through the woods however, she finds herself hunted by two assassins intent on intercepting her message of peace in a bid to maintain the fear, instability and violent rule of their leader." [more inside]
Hyper Speed Walking to Parallel Universes via Scuttlebug Raising
Scott Buchanan is a Super Mario 64 challenge runner who can do amazing things in the game while pressing buttons as little as possible. Here's a 25 minute long video of him collecting the Watch for Rolling Rocks in Hazy Maze Cave star while only pressing the A button one half of a time.
The Pistol and its Songbird
"In 2016, after twelve months of work, Parmigiani Fleurier has brought back to life a unique object" (SLVimeo) [more inside]
Looking Back on Romer (1990)
25 years ago, Paul M. Romer's oft-cited article: "Endogenous Technological Change" (pdf) was published in The Journal of Political Economy. In it, he tried to explain how technological progress and knowledge creation affected the dynamics of growth. Romer’s model (pdf) became the "primary engine that fueled a decade-long re-examination of long-term growth in economics." This past October, Dr. Romer posted 7 follow-up blog entries to his historic paper, in order to 'revisit the basics,' starting with: Nonrival Goods After 25 Years. [more inside]
Can't cut the throat of every person whose demeanor it would improve
Weird Al steps in as CBB Bandleader
On today's Comedy Bang Bang podcast it was officially announced that Weird Al will take over as bandleader for the fake talk show on IFC.
Sexism in the Oxford Dictionary of English
Why does the Oxford Dictionary of English portray women as “rabid feminists” From the MEDIUM article: "The Oxford Dictionary of English is the default dictionary on Apple’s Mac OS X operating system. Anyone using a Mac, an iPad, or iPhone will get definitions from this dictionary. So why is it filled with explicitly sexist usage examples?" [more inside]
Death Race 2014
In 2014, gun deaths outpace motor vehicle deaths in 21 states and D.C., according to the newest study from Violence Policy Center. (VPC previously) [more inside]
Flying Lotus - FUCKKKYOUUU
( SLYT ) With the ability to travel in time, a lonely girl finds love and comfort by connecting with her past self. Eventually faced with rejection she struggles with her identity and gender, and as time folds onto itself only one of them can remain.
Director: Eddie Alcazar
Composer: Flying Lotus
Producer: Javier Lovato
A Mortician Challenges Our Obsession With Looking Young
I pulled the zipper down, revealing a body like I had never seen. She appeared as if emerging from the primordial goo at the beginning of time. It was Mother Earth, severely decomposed and glorious.
Think you can tell a Democrat from a Republican?
Think you can tell a Democrat from a Republican? You are presented with a bill from 2005-2014, and have to decide if that bill was sponsored by a Democrat or a Republican. Some are obvious, some are tricky, and some are really surprising!
[via mefi projects]
She don’t say a word, and she won’t say a word, until you kiss the girl
"The plot of "The Little Mermaid," of course, involves Ariel literally losing her voice — but in the five Disney princess movies that followed, the women speak even less. On average in those films, men have three times as many lines as women."
Guilty. Ish.
On 27 July, 2013, Sammy Yatim was shot nine times by Toronto police Constable James Forcillo after brandishing a knife on a streetcar. A jury has found the officer guilty of attempted murder, not guilty of second-degree murder.
Genius troll forces British film board to watch 10 hours of paint drying
Charlie Lyne was sick of the censorship of the UK's ratings board. Upon discovering the BBFC has committed to watch every minute of every submitted film, the filmmaker raised £5963 on Kickstarter to make a film of paint drying. He has now submitted a 607 minute long film for their review. There's an AMA with him on Reddit.
someone needs a semiotic square
How to Be an Anticapitalist Today, Erik Olin Wright at Jacobin: Tame, Smash, Escape, Erode. [more inside]
Montgomery v. Louisiana
"Petitioner Montgomery was 17 years old in 1963, when he killed a deputy
sheriff in Louisiana. The jury returned a verdict of “guilty without capital punishment,” which carried an automatic sentence of life without parole. Nearly 50 years after Montgomery was taken into custody, this Court decided that mandatory life without parole for juvenile homicide offenders violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on “ ‘cruel and unusual punishments.’" Today, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, said that ruling will apply retroactively. [more inside]
Conversations From the Comic Book Store
It's a known fact that people in comic stores say things. It's undeniable that many of these things are inane, oblivious, foolish, and occasionally perspicacious. Comic book owner and artist Tim Chamberlain, aka MrTim, chronicles his customers' conversations in his webcomic, Our Valued Customers.
Why don't you dance with me? I'm not no limburger!
Oh it's time to do 'em right. Early concert footage of The B-52's. Hey now, don't that make you feel a whole lot better? Stream The B-52's Live! 8-24-1979. They do all 16 dances: [more inside]
"You have to respect the absurdity of it,"
Iowa's caucus system, explained. [YouTube] [Vox] Each US primary election season kicks off in Iowa. Learn the process behind one of the pivotal events of the general election. [more inside]
Research integrity: Don't let transparency damage science
We have identified ten red-flag areas that can help to differentiate healthy debate, problematic research practices and campaigns that masquerade as scientific inquiry. None by itself is conclusive, but a preponderance of troubling signs can help to steer the responses of scientists and their institutions to criticism.
An elegant weapon for a more civilized age
Not content at making Thor's hammer Mjölnir (and a Rasengan) Allen Pan has made a working lightsaber (probably best not to try this at home) (MLYT) (previously)
woah dude
Spherical Droste video (may require desktop browser for ability to pan around)
What if the Bond girl and Bond villain were the same person?
. . . . . . ...:..:.:.::.:::.::::.:::.::.:.:..:... . .
Planning a romantic evening, a night of meteor watching or taking pictures of the milky way or auroras? Want to know the closest, darkest place to observe the night sky? Consult the Light Pollution Atlas for the darkest viewing areas near you. Yes, even those of us residing outside the borders of the USA. [more inside]
YTMND is dead. Long live YADN.
You Are Dog Now is a Twitter account that matches pictures sent to it with 'doggie doppelgangers'. Since being discovered by BuzzFeed last week and forcibly made viral, YADN has matched hundreds of people with dogs, some simply by appearance (1, 2, 3), others based on expression (1, 2, 3), location (1, 2, 3) or props (1, 2, 3). And yes, some Celebrities Are Dog Now (1, 2, 3).
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