July 12, 2016
Medieval Graffiti
"The past five or six years have seen a massive rise in one particular area of medieval studies – an area that has the potential to give back a voice to the silent majority of the medieval population. New digital imaging technologies, and the recent establishment of numerous volunteer recording programmes, have transformed its scope and implications. The first large-scale survey began in the English county of Norfolk a little over six years ago. The results of that survey have been astonishing." [more inside]
A Girl Who Ages as Slow as Mountains
Using just the saxophone, violin, and their voices--and with no looping--saxophonist Colin Stetson and violinist Sarah Neufeld create incredibly layered and engrossing aural landscapes on their 2015 album Never were the way she was. Their video for "The rest of us", directed by Dan Huiting, is cinematic in its own right, but it's the driving gallop of the music that will stick with you. [more inside]
The First Civil RIght
"We as a polity seem to think policing is the solution to every social problem." Political scientist Naomi Murakawa's book The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America tackles assumptions about how we got to today and what needs to change. In an interview at the Marshall Project, Murakawa argues "those being sentenced under punitive sentencing guidelines it doesn’t make a difference to them that Sen. Ted Kennedy was liberal and overall had a good voting record." [more inside]
Betty Pack, spy
Part One: "The British and American spymasters had ordered “Cynthia” to penetrate the Vichy embassy – a fortress of armed guards, steel doors, and locked safes – and make off with its most closely guarded secrets." Part Two: "Betty cut him off. She explained that she’d open the safe. She had the combination, it would be simple." The extraordinary story of Amy Elizabeth Thorpe's most dangerous operation.
"Unfortunately, nobody knows where the solid double line is."
RBC recently became the latest of many independent news organization in Russia to face resignations, restrictions and closures due to mounting pressure from authorities. In May, the editor-in-chief was dismissed, reportedly due to political pressure resulting from stories about Putin's inner circle. Two other chief editors and numerous editorial staff left in protest. The replacement chief editors, brought in from state-controlled media outlet TASS, wanted to introduce themselves to the remaining RBC staff. The Q&A with the new bosses started with a simple request: “Everything we discuss here … doesn't go beyond this room and doesn't end up on social media.” Naturally, the whole thing was recorded, and the transcript was posted online. [more inside]
“What bothers me is the way people were applauding him.”
To "more fully understand why conservative [American] politics [has] become synonymous with no-questions-asked support of Israel," Author Tom Bissell went on a ten day “Stand with Israel Tour” hosted by right-wing Jewish Conservative talk show pundit Dennis Prager. My Holy Land Vacation: Touring Israel with 450 Christian Zionists, is this month’s Harper’s Magazine cover story. [more inside]
The open hand and the closed fist
Just print money and give it to everyone by Chris Arnade: "The usual answer to why we don't do this is that it isn't politically feasible and there is no precedent. 1) That has never stopped bank bailouts, which often require a great deal of political and regulatory ingenuity to jam through. (TARP cough TARP) 2) It is a symptom of a system built by and for the bankers to benefit themselves. It is the equivalent of saying, 'We can't do it because we have never wanted to do it'. That we don't do it this way isn't just a small economic quibble with no impact. The most visceral anger I hear from voters across the country is directed at bank bailouts, which they see as evidence of a rigged system. They are right. The system is rigged in the sense that our primary method to stimulate the economy also conveniently bails out bankers." (previously; via) [more inside]
Inside the World's Chicest Cult
Teachers come forward and introduce their workshops—there are close to 100—one by one, which takes well over an hour. There's one on multiple-hand ayurvedic breast massage, a braiding circle, sacred tarot, "mapping feminine wisdom," and something described as "calling the salmon home" (which sounds like a potential sex act, but is in fact about "water healing.") One instructor introduces herself as "a honeybee priestess in the British tradition."
TC BANKCALL # TEMPORARY, I HOPE HOPE HOPE
Margaret Hamilton's source code for Apollo 11 on Github! The extraordinary code from the original Apollo 11 guidance computer has been converted to .s files for syntax highlighting and posted to Github. The project was undertaken by Virtual AGC and the MIT Museum. [more inside]
Allegiance
George Takei, broadcasting on Facebook Live from Heart Mountain Internment Camp, where he and his family and tens of thousands of Americans of Japanese ancestry were forced to live in during World War II. Mr. Takei was recently instrumental in convincing the Rago Arts and Auction Center not to auction off artifacts and artworks created in internment camps.
Making musical lemonade out of Brexit
Take it to the bank boys!
(Almost) Every time [Justin and Griffin McElroy] say "BOY" on Monster Factory. A fan highlights one of the best bits in a keystone of the MCU (McElroy Content Universe). [more inside]
High Times and Low Tide at Reefer Beach
“High Times and Low Tide at Reefer Beach”
Forty years ago, six young, Florida beach boys and a shrimper named Bubba smuggled more Jamaican weed into America than the nation had ever seen. Until one night in 1973, when too much weed on too small a boat with too little tide beneath it resulted in a bust that sent them to federal prison. Today, writer, Jodi Cash, takes us down to St. Pete Beach to meet some old weed pirates - and the man who eventually made their way of life a thing of the past. (Photography by Ethan Payne)
The least suitable species for a pet? Screaming Hairy Armadillo
I want to vote, but my wife won't let me! ~copyright 1909~
Here’s a collection of totally ridiculous vintage postcards and posters dated from around 1900 to 1914 warning men of the dangers associated with the suffragette movement and of allowing women to think for themselves.
"I promise it will take less than 18 years."
Freefall is a science fiction webcomic that has been updating thrice-weekly since 1998. Yesterday, it finally reached a satisfying conclusion... to its first chapter.
☠ Thank you for being a friend ☠
The Nude Economy
"Brett knows all the top Chaturbate models and analyzes their shows with the intensity of a film critic. He’s even made a YouTube channel to share tips with potential cammers: Invest in studio lights, keep a consistent schedule and don’t text during a performance. Yet for all his professionalism, Brett is fairly new to the job." - How To Be A Cam Boy - Angelica Chapin profiles one of the most popular men in the online stripping business. (photos slightly NSFW)
US Presidential Election Roundup: But If You Had to Choose
Sanders endorses Clinton. Trump rebukes Ginsberg. RNC prepares for their convention in Cleveland. Pundits debate the best VP choice for Trump.
The Other Black Shoe Drops
After being forced to pay out millions in settlements to the victims of former coach and child molester Jerry Sandusky, Penn State University attempted to recover the money through their insurance coverage. But in a twist, their insurer, PMA, instead fought back in court, with a disturbing argument - Penn State officials, including Joe Paterno, had known since 1976 of Sandusky's abuses. Today, their risk assessment was unsealed by the court, including information from past sealed settlements. [more inside]
Come, gentle night, come, loving, blackbrow'd night.
Guess What?
Mark R. asks: Where did the whole kids thing of saying “Guess what?” and answering with “chicken butt!” come from? Today I Found Out delves into the history of the greatest joke in the world (if you are seven years old). [more inside]
“I've decided that this is it. It's done.”
Marc Maron Ending His IFC Show “Maron” [Pitchfork Media] Marc Maron’s IFC show “Maron” is coming to an end. Maron (@marcmaron) announced the news on today’s episode of his “WTF” podcast. “I've decided that this is it,” he said. “It's done. There’s ways to do more, but this was the vision. This season was the season. And I couldn't be more thrilled about how it came out—how all four seasons came out.” The show is a fictionalized account of Maron’s life and often features him conducting “WTF” interviews in his garage with celebrity guests.
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