April 9, 2009
The Ring of the Nibelungs: I'm not making this up!
Anna Russell's marviously classic digest of The Ring of the Nibelungs. Part 1. Part 2. Part 3 (~1/2 hour of YT links)
I was just a broken head. I stole the world that others punctured.
Incredible superlyricism, what's the next topic
Supernatural, best known for his battles with (MC) Juice and his appearances on the Wake-Up Show, freestyle raps the entire lineup (8:33) of this year's Rock the Bells (Hip Hop) Festival as they sit behind him, leaving rap legend Krs-1 saying "That's the essence of emceeing...I'm just floored." [more inside]
Every time I look at you I don't understand
Ted Neeley has made an entire career of playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. He starred in the movie back in 1973, and is currently on tour, still playing Jesus at age 65, almost twice the age of the historical Jesus when he died. Like the character he portrays, Neeley has quite the following, but some wonder if he's too old to play Jesus.
Everything Costs Something
What It Costs provides information on the costs associated with a wide variety of services and concepts. Whether you want to know the price range of practical activities — such as what it costs to replace a kitchen countertop, building a nuclear aircraft carrier — or are interested in unusual articles — such as the cost to build Fenway Park, being cryogenically frozen or cleaning up a murder scene — you will find all this and much more.
Vandalism or Sabotage?
Last night in San Jose and San Carlos, fiber optic communication cables were deliberately cut, knocking out landlines, cell phone, 911 and internet for several California counties. AT&T is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction for those responsible “for the vandalism incidents.” [more inside]
Never a moment's peace...
Tonight in the MetaFilter Lecture Series, "Health through Nutrition: Its Prevention and Cure" by Brother Theodore Gottlieb (1906-2001), stand-up tragedian. [more inside]
The power of... steam?
Steam Powered iPod Charger What more is there to say?
"Oh Dear"-ism
"Monsters Inc. meets The Nightmare Before Christmas inside a retro Japanese video game"
"Once upon a time there was a game that nobody ever played, sitting on the floor in the back room of an empty arcade. The game was full of life and strife, mega-monsters and robot fights. We Are The Strange was the title. Now meet the players who live inside, idle." The story of filmmaker M dot Strange and his solo indie masterpiece, We Are The Strange. [more inside]
Offal off-limits? Officially, no.
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that a search of your trash doesn't violate your privacy. This decision is in line with that of the United States. [more inside]
"Ko" *is* pretty difficult.
Chinese is a rather difficult language. That's why Rep. Betty Brown (R), of Texas, suggests that Asians change their names to something "that’s easier for Americans to deal with." Via.
A wee dram
Downward Facing Dog. No, Seriously -- Dog
This was fake. This is not. “Peanuts, my retired racer greyhound, didn’t participate at all. Instead, I did downward-facing dog while he ate the most treats he’s ever had in a 60-minute period.”
Truth: Out there?
Dave Arneson, co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons, dead at 61
Dave Arneson joins Gary Gygax in the Happy Hunting Grounds. Arneson helped develop the original Dungeons and Dragons and was the man who introduced Gygax to the concept of roleplaying. Surely, it's a sad day in Blackmoor.
Robot Dinosaurs That Shoot Beams When They Roar
Michael Bay has never made a flash game, but if he did, it would probably be Robot Dinosaurs That Shoot Beams When They Roar. [more inside]
Nick Adenhart (1986-2009)
Four hours after his start against Oakland, his first time beginning the year with a major league team, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a hit and run by a van speeding through a red light.
Uninvited Googley Guests
It's the wrong time of year for Street View to come to the Ether City
Google Street View is in Winnipeg this week, and some of us are absolutely appalled by this idea - but not for the reasons you may think. Winnipeg has several beautiful seasons ...but early spring isn't one of them. We're having a flood, the streets are f - i - l - t - h - y and the city lies exhausted from a long winter. It's the wrong time of year for Google Street View to come for a visit...
Google Street View is in Winnipeg this week, and some of us are absolutely appalled by this idea - but not for the reasons you may think. Winnipeg has several beautiful seasons ...but early spring isn't one of them. We're having a flood, the streets are f - i - l - t - h - y and the city lies exhausted from a long winter. It's the wrong time of year for Google Street View to come for a visit...
Self-Irrigating Planter Resources
Summer's coming! The tried-and-true food growing tool of the aspiring urban agriculturalist: self-irrigating planters. Make or buy one of these things and vegetable container gardening is a breeze. [more inside]
The Eighth Wonder of the World
3D laser scanning offers a fly-through view of the Eighth Wonder of the World. Carved directly into volcanic bedrock, the churches of Lalibela were built during the Zagwe Dynasty (1137-1270). YouTube video of the church and local villagers.
Sustainable energy - do the math
David JC MacKay's "Sustainable Energy -- Without the Hot Air" is available from his website for free download. Lots of numbers without being too heavy. (via)
The Doctor Will Sue You Now
"If you’re ever looking for a warning sign that you’re on the wrong side of an argument, suing Medecins Sans Frontieres is probably a pretty good clue." Science journalist and blogger Ben Goldacre has released the missing chapter of his book, Bad Science, telling the story of Matthias Rath, vitamins and the AIDS crisis in South Africa. [Previously. Also.]
Bob Thurman, Tibetan Monk
Tenzin Bob Thurman became a Tibetan monk at age 24. He's a professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University, the first American ordained by the Dalai Lama. Here is his TED talk. If you are really interested in Tibetan Buddhism, check out his many podcasts.
The Case Against Homework.
The Case Against Homework. Does assigning fifty math problems accomplish any more than assigning five? Is memorizing word lists the best way to increase vocabulary—especially when it takes away from reading time? And what is the real purpose behind those devilish dioramas? Sara Bennett wants to stop homework. Here she explains why (pdf).
Out of that I have written these songs
Justin M. Nickels, Mayor-Elect
Meet Justin Nickels, the 22-year-old grocery store cashier and college student who was just elected Mayor of Manitowoc, WI by a margin of 15 votes.
"Police, stop or you will be hit with 50,000 volts of electricity!"
Taser use in law enforcement has been under increased scrutiny in recent years, especially following the death of Robert Dziekanski in a Vancouver airport last year after being Tasered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (previously). Now the CBC and Canadian Press have sifted through over 5,000 incident reports to create a RCMP Taser use database, tracking use of tasers by Canada's federal law enforcement by province, incident, year or stuns used. [more inside]
When Mining Attacks
Picher, Oklahoma was part of a major lead mining area in the central US until the middle of the last century, when the mines closed down. It is now the epicenter of the Tar Creek Superfund site. Residents live among mountains of mine tailings known
as chat. Heavy metal poisoning is endemic in the area. With fits and starts, things do begin to get done about it, but only very slowly.
To add insult to injury, Picher was struck by an EF-4 tornado on May 10th, 2008. The residents are finally suing over the long in
coming buyout plan. Shockingly, the buyout plan was put into place with urgency not because of the lead, zinc, and cadmium poisoning,
but because the mines are in danger of caving in. There is still word on when the mountains of debris will be removed, or the acid mine drainage stopped. Despite attempts to prevent further contamination in the 1980s and 90s, the waste is still poisoning local creeks and wildlife.
Ten principles for a Black Swan-proof world
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