April 9, 2020
The radical right wants to do away with democracy and human rights
“Back to the Future? - Weimar Today” (42½min video, .mp4, magnet) A Deutsche Welle documentary analyzing and comparing contemporary German right-wing nationalism to the political right of the Weimar Republic era.
“All around me are familiar faces...”
Curt Smith of Tears for Fears and his daughter duet on “Mad World” while in quarantine. (SLYT) [more inside]
Grand Theft Accessibility
This video is a demonstration of Grand Theft Accessibility, a mod which does a number of cool things to make Grand Theft Auto playable for the blind. It has been discussed at length on the AudioGames.net forum, but recently had a release.
3D Printed PPE
People with 3D printers are being recruited into networks to produce face shields and other PPE.
World wide: Europe, US,
Vancouver: 300 masks a day
Across BC: Also gowns, etc.
My own rural area: Locals with printers plus at least one industrial size unit.
Other Stuff?: Untested respirators (may or may not work in hospital settings)
"It always seems impossible until it is done."
On the morning of April 8, 2020, Bernie Sanders spoke to his supporters (YouTube, recorded livestream) to end his campaign, clearing the way for Joe Biden as nominee (CBS News). Sanders said he will remain on the ballot in states that have yet to hold primaries, hoping to rack up more delegates so that his supporters, and his policies, will be able to influence the party platform at the Democratic convention. [more inside]
New Jersey needs volunteers who know COBOL
The Virus Changed the Way We Internet
"This is where Mabel is strong..."
Sports commentator Andrew Cotter calls a couple of plays: The Dog's Breakfast Grand Final and Game of Bones.
ingenuity that comes from necessity
One gamer's quest to achieve the lowest graphics settings [YouTube]
“Though he lives in Barcelona now, The LowSpecGamer (as he likes to be called) was born in Venezuela and grew up unable to afford the newest hardware. For him, learning to push games below their minimum settings was the only way to play them. “There’s always this narrative about PC gaming being about trying to get the best out of the game, trying to get the best graphics and so on,” he says. “That’s the main narrative in gaming culture. That didn’t really fit with what I was doing or how I felt and I thought I was the only one.” [...] “I remember one guy commenting, ‘I don’t see the point of this, you can get a good computer for X amount of dollars at your local store and put it together so I don’t see the point of your channel.’ I was about to answer him when one person responded, ‘The world doesn’t end at your doorstep.’””LowSpecGamer is a channel dedicated to budget gaming and low graphics, from pushing entry-level and old hardware to its limits to forcing the lowest graphics on modern games by all means possible. [via: PC Gamer] [more inside]
"Worst. Quarantine. Ever."
"Our kids were bored after four weeks of social isolation. My wife and I cleaned the basement and wondered what we should do with our old Simpsons Halloween costumes. One of these problems solved the other. The end result was this video." [SLYT]
Carrie Meets Kimberly Meredith: Single-Blind Edition
Carrie Poppy of Oh No Ross and Carrie fame interviews a medical intuitive. It gets interesting. "Carrie follows up with Conscious Life Expo presenter Kimberly Meredith, a self-taught medical intuitive and trance channeler. After an accident and near-death experiences, Meredith claims that with channeled energy and eye blinks she can diagnose conditions with the accuracy of an X-ray and even cure cancer and Coronavirus. Carrie asks Meredith directly about her claims of scientific confirmation, double-blinded testing, and nursing credentials." [more inside]
Corona cuffing
The BBC asks: What’s it like living and working in self-isolation with someone you’ve only just started dating?
The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic
After 40 years, Yankovic is now no longer a novelty, but an institution — a garish bright patch in the middle of America’s pop-cultural wallpaper, a completely ridiculous national treasure, an absurd living legend. [more inside]
“We’re fighting for our survival.”
“Many unions will suffer during the coronavirus crisis, but the situation facing Unite Here is particularly acute. Nearly all of its members are in industries — not just hotels and casinos, but also providing food services for universities, airlines, airports and sports stadiums — that have been ravaged by the pandemic. Two months ago, Taylor could boast that the organization had never seen better days. Today, a staggering 98% of Unite Here’s 307,000 members are out of work, he said.“
"We understand that the whole world is also impacted by the same crisis"
NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy, Crewmates Arrive Safely at Space Station. The NASA astronaut, Russian cosmonauts launch to the space station during a pandemic. So, ISS crew blast off after long quarantine.
"I'm re-reading...."
Shark still looks fake
Project 88 - Back to the Future Too is a shot for shot fan-made remake of Back to the Future Part II divided into 88 scenes, each made by a different person or group. The final result is a mix of live action, stop motion, puppets, animation, and other forms of film making. [more inside]
best with headphones.
Apocalypse Here: Bernie Krause’s field recordings sound the alarm - "A pivotal figure in early electronic music, Bernie Krause has dedicated his life to recording the Earth’s natural habitats. Dorothy Feaver traces Krause’s journey from Moog sales rep to the mastermind behind the urgent audio-visual artwork, The Great Animal Orchestra [previously]." [more inside]
Invertebrates have a PR problem
Insects do all the dirty work. They process faeces and decompose corpses. Plus they pollinate flowers. In spite of this, their image sucks. We need to change that. Because a dramatic decline in invertebrates threatens the liveability of this green planet. 98% of all animal species on Earth have a PR problem. That’s bad news for everyone. (Tamar Stelling, The Correspondent) [more inside]
What Will You Remember?
This site is dedicated to presenting engaging contemporary photography views, reviews and interviews. From the website: "We want to share our excitement about the great photography we discover in clear, conversational language. While we aim to write analytical reviews, we choose not to write derogatory articles. Rather, we prefer to function as a filter, presenting pieces on those exhibits and people we think merit the time and attention of our readers. Through our curated online exhibits and competitive calls for entry, we highlight the most exciting and compelling new photography from across the nation and around the world." [more inside]
Girls Just Wanna Have ...Their Own Museum
Girl Museum is a virtual museum with exhibits and projects about global girlhood, now and in history. Learn about Girl Saints, Illustrated Girls, the history of Girl Groups ; contribute to user projects like Why I Game and Alternative Girls (about the music scene); or download coloring books and pamphlets about girls' rights and safety. Originally envisioned by "Head Girl" Ashley Remer, it is now a the project of a volunteer staff and advisory board whose believe that "it is our responsibility to represent girls and girlhood, to celebrate and make their lives important."
"I could turn you into a snowflake."
Marion Nichols makes intricate paper snowflakes. A Flickr album includes examples and templates (with a Creative Commons license). Check out the elaborate octopus snowflake, the friendly otters, or the tail-bumping ankylosauruses. A Saint Louis radio profile describes Nichols' work at the City Museum and includes pictures of more snowflakes, cut from her templates by third-graders. [more inside]
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