Glass Wings Blog: February 2014

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

Sat, 01 Feb 2014 23:04:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://lwn.net/Articles/579852/

"The idea behind HOT is to make use of both open source software and
open data to prepare for and respond to disasters anywhere in the world.
Supporting economic development is also an important goal behind HOT's

(More...)

Cicada Princess

Sat, 01 Feb 2014 23:12:25 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://vimeo.com/84058031

An animated short narrated by Stephen Fry.

Via Bug G. Membracid  and S Lyn Watson.

(More...)

How Copyright Is Being Used To Destroy Property Rights

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:55:59 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140116/11211125904/copyright-week-how-copyright-is-being-use-to-destroy-property-rights.shtml>

"But we're not here to discuss whether or not copyright is or isn't
property right now. Instead, let's look at how copyright has
fundamentally taken away property rights from many."

(More...)

Roger Ailes' Secret Nixon-Era Blueprint for Fox News

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:58:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://gawker.com/5814150/roger-ailes-secret-nixon+era-blueprint-for-fox-news>

'Republican media strategist Roger Ailes launched Fox News Channel in
1996, ostensibly as a "fair and balanced" counterpoint to what he
regarded as the liberal establishment media. But according to a

(More...)

Rabbit Cafe Offers Bunny Snuggles

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:42:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.incrediblethings.com/food/rabbit-cafe-offers-bunny-snuggles/

"We’ve already seen restaurants that offer the company of pretty ladies,
kitties, dogs, and owls. The next obvious step would be to open a rabbit
cafe. Thankfully Japan is ahead of the curve (as they usually are when

(More...)

The Fact That The US Intelligence Community So Readily Admits To Fantasies Of Killing Ed Snowden Shows Why They Can't Be Trusted

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:44:24 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140116/22482625914/fact-that-us-intelligence-community-so-readily-admits-to-fantasies-killing-ed-snowden-shows-why-they-cant-be-trusted.shtml>

"Now, Benny Johnson, over at Buzzfeed, has been able to get a bunch of
intelligence community and military officials to comment anonymously,
but on the record, about how much they want to kill Snowden, often

(More...)

Hey Ocean! - If I Were A Ship

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:47:00 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRU0qBUYSKs

Hey Ocean  have a new song out with a charming animated video.

Via Neezam Haniff and Mz Maau.

(More...)

Technology Is Not Driving Us Apart After All

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:48:40 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/magazine/technology-is-not-driving-us-apart-after-all.html

"Hampton found that, rather than isolating people, technology made them more
connected. “It turns out the wired folk — they recognized like three times as
many of their neighbors when asked,” Hampton said. Not only that, he said, they

(More...)

My Mannequin Family: Living the American Dream

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 08:18:41 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
"Photographer Suzanes Heintz is a self-proclaimed spinster. As a single
woman, she got fed up with the bombardment of questions about when she
was going to get married. Tired of being pittied, she decided to
confront this issue head on. She purchased two mannequins — one male
and one female child — and the series Life Once Removed was born.

(More...)

52 Animals

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 08:27:09 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
"Several months ago @Shopify ran a Facebook competition... asking... for
top tips when working from home - and the one with the most likes would
win $150.

"52 kind people 'liked' my top tip, helping me win the competition -

(More...)

When Humans Chose Compassion Over Violence

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 12:18:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.twosexygeeks.com/when-humans-chose-compassion-over-violence/

An uplifting photo gallery.

Via Robert Gladwin and Ugyeong Kim.

(More...)

Amanda Palmer: agony aunt – your problems answered

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 12:19:24 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2014/jan/17/amanda-palmer-agony-aunt-your-problems-answered>

"You shared your problems with punk-cabaret pioneer Amanda Palmer. Now, between
Sydney festival shows, she imparts her advice for dealing with trolls, family
and relationships"

(More...)

The Techno-Militarization Of America

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:31:13 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/18/the-techno-militarization-of-america/

"The anthropic law of bureaucracies dictates that the ones which thrive are the
ones which make self-perpetuation their first priority. And so now the police,
and just about every American agency you care to name, and the contractors who

(More...)

The Whistle-Blower Who Freed Dreyfus

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:32:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/opinion/the-whistle-blower-who-freed-dreyfus.html

"Georges Picquart died 100 years ago this Saturday. To which the response from
most quarters is likely to be “Georges who?” Even in his native France, his
centenary is passing largely unremarked. Yet in the days of Queen Victoria and

(More...)

Dangerous Aliens and Stephen Hawking

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:00:25 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Hawking made his pronouncements about aliens more than three years ago,
but the debate about statements made by scientists cum media figures
continues. Stephen Freeland wrote this insightful article on the
occasion. His observations still bear thinking about.

(More...)

You Bought It, You Own It!

Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:15:59 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/01/you-bought-it-you-own-it-time-reclaim-right-usetinkerrepairmakeselllend-your-stuff>

"You bought it, you own it, right? Not always. Over the past decade, we have
been quietly shifting to a world in which both digital goods (like mp3s, video
files, and ebooks) and physical goods that contain software (like cars,

(More...)

Tomgram: Alfred McCoy, It's About Blackmail, Not National Security

Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:17:32 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175795/tomgram%3A_alfred_mccoy%2C_it's_about_blackmail%2C_not_national_security/>

"Spying has a history almost as ancient as humanity itself, but every now and
then the rules of the game change.  This post-9/11 moment of surveillance is
one of those game-changers and the National Security Agency (NSA) has been the

(More...)

Knit Olympics

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 08:04:36 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
"Jill and I recently started designing fiber-inspired window displays
for our local yarn shop, Nine Rubies, in downtown San Mateo, California.
Here is our previous knitted window display, with pom-pom Christmas tree
and knit wrapping paper. Saloni, the shop owner, challenged us to a 2014
Sochi Winter Olympics window display to enliven the remainder of what

(More...)

To save a generation from despair, it’s not enough to hassle them into low-paying jobs

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:02:19 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.newstatesman.com/2014/01/save-generation-despair-not-enough-hassle-them-low-paying-jobs>

"Here’s what is notably not being said to the young and desperate: you
are more than your inability to find a job. Your value to a potential
employer is not the sole measure of your worth as a person. If you can

(More...)

For the Love of Money

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:04:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/for-the-love-of-money.html>

"Only a wealth addict would earn hundreds of millions as a hedge-fund
manager, and then lobby to maintain a tax loophole that gave him a lower
tax rate than his secretary."

(More...)

Eight Year Old Rides to a Blaze With His Firefighter Grandfather

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:05:16 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/19/eight-year-old-rides-to-a-blaze-with-his-firefighter-grandfather.html>

"Eight-Year-Old Matthew Smith was home sick one day when his
grandfather, a volunteer firefighter, had to respond to an alarm. So
Matthew rode along to the fire, where the pint-sized firefighter played

(More...)

Nuzzles: Giant Koosh Balls of Warmth

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 08:41:56 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
I just wish these did some cooling as well for those of us having a hot
summer.

http://www.designboom.com/architecture/raw-design-wins-2014-warming-huts-competition-with-nuzzles-02-07-2014/

(More...)

Can former “pirates” fix a broken movie market?

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 11:04:00 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/01/where-movie-makers-and-former-pirates-are-starting-to-get-along/>

"Government didn't provide adequate IP structure, so Ecuador movie fans
did it themselves."

(More...)

Out from behind the razor wire.

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 11:05:21 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2014/01/18/out-from-behind-the-razor-wire/>

"Polly Hemming’s contacts “through the wire” with a group of young
asylum seekers have enriched her life. Her story is one we can all –
hopefully – take heart and our own lessons from."

(More...)

CAT Super Skateboarding Adventure! Go Didga!

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 11:07:47 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRbakPKgU5Y

Time for a cat video!

'World's BEST Skateboarding CAT! Go Didga! The Action starts when Ollie,

(More...)

Kickstarter Pledges Are Risky Investments, Not Purchases

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:09:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/21/kickstarter-pledges-are-risky-investments-not-purchases/

"Here’s an important thing about games: sometimes they’re terrible. Mostly
they’re average. Quite often they’re good. That’s how “average” works."

(More...)

The science behind fonts (and how they make you feel)

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:10:59 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://thenextweb.com/dd/2013/12/23/science-behind-fonts-make-feel/

"I’ve noticed how seemingly small things like font and the spacing between
letters can impact how I feel when reading online."

(More...)

Jessica Joslin's Animal Alchemy 2014

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 22:44:49 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Lovely sculptures that are somewhere between taxidermy, robotics, and
steampunk. Exquisite detail.

http://jessicajoslin.com/jessica/gallery/animal-alchemy-2014

(More...)

Fifty States of Fear

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 13:23:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/fifty-states-of-fear/

"The British philosopher Bertrand Russell, writing as World War II was drawing
to a close in Europe, observed that “neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can
be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great

(More...)

Kevin Richardson (zookeeper)

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 13:34:13 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Richardson_%28zookeeper%29
http://www.lionwhisperer.co.za/

A fascinating guy who works respectfully with lions and other big cats.

(More...)

Fun Animal Stories

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 08:58:06 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
On a hot July day, we dressed ourselves up with masks borrowed from a
friend and started shooting self-portraits. We were fascinated by these
characters and immediately named them Horace and Agnes. Once we gave
them an identity, their story began to unfold. They met through random
circumstance and their love for each other is literally blind. They

(More...)

New Virtual Library Offers over 250 Art Books for Free Download

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 16:36:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/new-virtual-library-offers-over-250-art-books-for-free-download/>

"Getty Publications makes 45 years of art and conservation titles
available online, with more to come"

(More...)

How Art Can Take Us to the Stars

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 16:37:47 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/blog/astroart-blog/item/how-art-can-take-us-to-the-stars.html>

"I distinctly remember the first time that I saw space art as a child.
It wasn’t artwork of the moon or planets, nor was it of distant stars
and galaxies, or even of people working in Earth orbit. It was Chris

(More...)

Friendly Robots of the Soviet Union

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:51:26 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://theappendix.net/blog/2014/1/soviet-robots

"Robots strike me as a particularly interesting space where the technological
competition between the Western and Eastern blocs played itself out."

(More...)

In the Name of Love

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:53:24 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/do_what_you_love_love_what_you_do_an_omnipresent_mantra_that_s_bad_for_work.html>

"Elites embrace the “do what you love” mantra. But it devalues work and hurts
workers."

(More...)

Modems, wArEz, and ANSI art: Remembering BBS life at 2400bps

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 11:45:31 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/modems-warez-and-ansi-art-remembering-bbs-life-at-2400bps/>

'I am a child of the BBS era. BBSs—that's "Bulletin Board Systems"—were sort of
the precursors to the modern Internet, though that's not quite accurate, since
the Internet evolved separately and in parallel. It would be more accurate to

(More...)

On Persistence, And The Long Con Of Being A Successful Writer

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 11:47:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2014/01/22/on-persistence-and-the-long-con-of-being-a-successful-writer/>

"Samuel Delany once said that to succeed at writing, he had to give up
everything else. He sacrificed his health, his relationships, in pursuit of
becoming the best at what he did. The people who won worked harder than other

(More...)

Paperback Art

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 11:06:56 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
ZOMG!!!1! I would buy this art! Paperbacks turned into the most adorable
little wire characters.

http://terryborder.com/wiry-limbs-paper-backs/

(More...)

Funny Story, Funny Translation

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 11:17:54 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Ten year old boy with his toddler sister is found by snowplow driver
after the boy has driven the family car 15km from home. He tells the
driver he's a dwarf, which is why he is so small, and that he's on his
way home to get his license. Hilarious.

(More...)

An insider’s story of the global attack on climate science

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 16:15:44 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/01/an-insiders-story-of-the-global-attack-on-climate-science/>

"An epic saga of secretly funded climate denial and harassment of
scientists."

(More...)

An 800,000-plus jobs gap between ‘welfare to work’ and reality

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 16:17:22 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://theconversation.com/an-800-000-plus-jobs-gap-between-welfare-to-work-and-reality-22226>

"The problem is not supply-side inadequacies but the demand for labour:
there are far too few jobs on offer."

(More...)

Biodiversity can flourish on an urban planet

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 16:18:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/01/biodiversity-can-flourish-on-an-urban-planet/>

"For instance, cities now support 20 percent of the world's bird species."

Hopefully town planners will consider urban biodiversity issues and

(More...)

Rainbow Town!

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 08:34:48 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
"Long ago, the fishermen of the island of Burano decided to paint their
houses with bright colors so that while coming back home they can easily
distinguish them through thick fog. The result is a cheery
rainbow-colored town bursting with charm, culture and history."

(More...)

Reminder: Gold Farmers Are People, Too

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 15:21:54 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://kotaku.com/reminder-gold-farmers-are-people-too-1507602367

"The vast majority of people playing a big-deal MMO probably view it as
an escape, something to do when not clocking in on the chores of daily
life. Yeah, folks make friends and fall in love dressed in avatar skin

(More...)

New Research Shows That Copycats Lead To More Innovation

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 15:23:38 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20140117/11512625922/new-research-shows-that-copycats-leads-to-more-innovation.shtml>

"We thought at first it would be better to have innovators around you,"
said IU cognitive scientist Robert Goldstone, professor in the
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Arts

(More...)

BeWifi lets you steal your neighbor’s bandwidth when they’re not using it

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 15:25:10 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/01/bewifi-lets-you-steal-your-neighbors-bandwidth-when-theyre-not-using-it/>

"By aggregating wireless signals, Telefonica is trying to make
unreliable Wi-Fi better."

(More...)

Wolverine Cat

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 08:32:54 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
The Movie...SNORK!

This is hilarious

http://youtu.be/3d4XMUYj-9k

(More...)

10 years of Opportunity: Celebrating the rover’s role on Mars and Earth

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 10:51:29 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/01/10-years-of-opportunity-celebrating-the-rovers-role-on-mars-and-earth/>

"How a slow drive on Mars has changed what we expect from space exploration."

An anniversary article about the very cool Mars rover Opportunity.

(More...)

A retirement home turned its residents into movie stars for a wonderful calendar

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 10:52:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/senior-citizens-movie-calendar/

"When it comes to drawing up their year-end calendar, Elisabeth Hospital in
Essen, Germany, does not play around. Rather than stick to generic images of
senior citizens posing with puppies or kitties, or even going down the Calendar

(More...)

The Undeserving Rich

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 11:38:44 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/20/opinion/krugman-the-undeserving-rich.html

"The reality of rising American inequality is stark. Since the late 1970s real
wages for the bottom half of the work force have stagnated or fallen, while the
incomes of the top 1 percent have nearly quadrupled (and the incomes of the top

(More...)

The Brittle Grip, Part 2

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 11:39:44 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-brittle-grip-part-2

"Let me state the phenomenon as clearly as possible: The extremely wealthy are
objectively far wealthier, far more politically powerful and find a far more
indulgent political class than at any time in almost a century - at least. And

(More...)

The House That Sweaters Built

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 15:31:30 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
I am in deep awe of this woman's sweaters and have longed for one. Her
house is also something I dearly love. So beautiful.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/02/05/the-real-life-house-of-oz/

(More...)

The most humorous table-tennis match ever

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:44:58 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
Chuang Chih-Yuan Vs Jean-Michel Saive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITR88wT8ekM

Very very silly!

(More...)

School ditches rules and loses bullies

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:47:21 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/9650581/School-ditches-rules-and-loses-bullies

"The school is actually seeing a drop in bullying, serious injuries and
vandalism, while concentration levels in class are increasing. Principal Bruce
McLachlan rid the school of playtime rules as part of a successful university

(More...)

Serious Cat House

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:12:08 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Must...have...this...decor.

http://www.homesandhues.com/The-Purrfect-Home-For-A-Serious-Cat-Lover/

(More...)

Stunning Lost City

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:20:44 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Lost City Shicheng found Underwater in China
Qiandao Lake (Chinese: lit. Thousand Island Lake), a man-made lake
located in Chun'an County, Zhejiang, China, formed after the completion
of the Xin'an River hydroelectric station in 1959. 1,078 large islands
dot the lake and a few thousand smaller ones are scattered across it.

(More...)

NASA 3D Models

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:03:04 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/models.html

"These models are for anybody that uses a 3D software package."

Need any public domain 3D space models, textures etc?

(More...)

ICE Takes To Twitter In Ridiculous Attempt To Defend Interrogating A Man In A Movie Theater For Wearing Google Glass

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:05:08 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140123/07494325966/ice-takes-to-twitter-ridiculous-attempt-to-defend-interrogating-man-movie-theater-wearing-google-glass.shtml#c1625>

This comment is an important point on the ethics of cultural access:

"Generally speaking, when the public can't afford works, the moral thing

(More...)

Trading with the Grandparents

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 08:24:40 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
This photographer had grandchildren and grandparents exchanging clothes,
taking before and after photos. The transformations are hilarious at
times and mostly heartwarming.

http://www.qozop.com/r38bnreh3pnzzio1rclcl96mwpwyew

(More...)

“We can’t trust capitalism to just fix this” global warming mess

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:47:48 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://grist.org/climate-energy/we-cant-trust-capitalism-to-just-fix-this-global-warming-mess/

"Windfall is fascinating, entertaining, and ultimately troubling as the
author uncovers more and more evidence of what he calls the implicit
“unevenness” of global warming, and the futility and/or unfairness of our

(More...)

Innovation Asymmetry: Why The Copyright Industry Always Freaks Out About New Technologies

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:51:04 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20131220/00174325644/innovation-asymmetry-why-copyright-industry-always-freaks-out-about-new-technologies.shtml>

'A few weeks ago, I was in Washington DC to moderate a panel concerning the
intersection of innovation and copyright. One of the panelists, law professor
Michael Carrier whose work we've mentioned before, talked about an interesting

(More...)

India Declares Dolphins & Whales As ‘Non-Human Persons,’ Dolphin Shows Banned

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 13:05:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/09/17/india-declares-dolphins-whales-as-non-human-persons/>

"It was a great day for animal rights activists around the world when
India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests agreed to ban the use of
dolphins and other cetaceans such as whales and porpoises for public

(More...)

Hello Ruby kids' coding book raises $185k (and counting) on Kickstarter

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 13:17:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/27/hello-ruby-kids-coding-book-kickstarter>

"'I really thought this would be a little art project,' says Linda
Liukas, after crowdfunding project beats original $10k goal"

(More...)

Newcastle Might Win The S**** B*** Ad Championship With An Ad It Didn't Make And Can't Afford To Buy

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 13:19:57 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140128/12052226026/newcastle-might-win-s-b-ad-championship-with-ad-it-didnt-make-cant-afford-to-buy.shtml>

"An ad about an ad they didn't make but want you to test market? And
it's funny? A good start, but one clever spot ain't going to do it. Good
thing Newcastle decided to make a bunch of content around this idea,

(More...)

An Illustrated Book of Bad Agruments

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:14:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://bookofbadarguments.com/


I've seen lists of bad arguments before, but I like the idea of putting
into the form of an illustrated book.

(More...)

Hollywood Screenwriters Worry About Aggressive Copyright Enforcement And Threats To An Open Internet

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:15:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140128/17412926030/hollywood-screenwriters-worry-about-aggressive-copyright-enforcement-threats-to-open-internet.shtml>

"The letter opens up by talking about just how much their members rely
on copyright to make a living, and how important copyright is — but
then highlights where copyright law has gone too far, and how it risks

(More...)

Andres Amador Arts

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:18:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://andresamadorarts.smugmug.com/Playa-Paintings/

Impressive sand art.

Via morte oakley and Mz Maau.

(More...)

Hanging Flower Art

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:22:02 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
"Rebecca Louise Law is known for her breathtaking installations that
consist of thousands of hanging flowers suspended overhead. Last
February, she was commissioned by London's Garden Museum to create a
temporary, site-specific work for their Floriculture: Flowers, Love and
Money
 exhibition. 3,500 multicolored roses were hung on copper wire and

(More...)

Entering Our Orbit: Apsis

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:46:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/29/entering-our-orbit-apsis/

"I’m so thrilled that explorey games are becoming a bigger thing of late. Low
pressure, relaxing games about discovering, as a calming interlude between the
DEFEATING. Yes, I’m an old, old man. Apsis looks like it could be a lovely

(More...)

CDC Warning on Misuse of Pest Strips

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:48:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/01/cdc-warning-misuse-pest-strips

"DDVP kills insects so well because it is one of the last organophosphate
pesticides still available for indoor use in the US. Organophosphates can be
dangerous, and misuse can result in ending up on your back twitching like a

(More...)

For sale: Swiss Scrooge McDuck swimming pool/vault full of shiny coins

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 13:37:59 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://boingboing.net/2014/01/28/for-sale-swiss-scrooge-mcduck.html

"If you've ever dreamed of owning a bank-vault mounded high with shiny coins in
which you can bathe like Scrooge McDuck, now is your chance. A Swiss bank-vault
filled with 8 million Swiss 5-cent pieces is up for auction. The vault was made

(More...)

Drilling surprise opens door to magma-powered electricity

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 13:39:39 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/01/drilling-surprise-opens-door-to-magma-powered-electricity/

"Well hit magma at unexpectedly shallow depths and used it to generate steam."

Unexpectedly efficient geothermal energy.

(More...)

Happy Birthday Glass Wings!

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:58:57 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
This year Glass Wings will be celebrating twenty years on the Web and
twenty years of serving fine arts and literature. Katherine and Andrew
will be hooping it up at Writers Victoria in The Wheeler Centre with
food, drinks, literary readings, and talks about the past and future of
electronic publishing.

(More...)

Party Dresses as Art

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 08:31:22 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
This is a fascinating look at party dresses over a century and the
influences that created the styles, including trade arrangements with
certain countries, world events, and more. I didn't know it could get so
interesting.

(More...)

Cute Japanese Orange Peel Art

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:37:50 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.finedininglovers.com/blog/out-of-the-blue/japan-orange-peel-food-art

"The Japanese are famous for their gorgeous origami, the art of folding paper
into decorative figures. It seems the latest trend in food art is to apply
origami techniques to orange peels."

(More...)

"I have a favour to ask."

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:38:53 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://pjf.id.au/ethics/2014/01/30/one-favour.html

"Dear everyone, I have a favour to ask… Imagine the future. Not as it is next
week, next year, or even in a hundred years hence. Imagine the future as it
exists in ten thousand years time; and imagine that’s a future where things

(More...)

Amazing Places Around the World

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:38:01 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
These locations are bright, psychedelic, and all quite real.

http://www.oddee.com/item_98876.aspx

(More...)

When Street Art Goes Cute!

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:03:20 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
This woman's street art is adorable: from tire Loch Ness Monsters to
candy bow ties on bridges.

http://www.fra-biancoshock.org/

(More...)

Subtle Patterns

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:46:18 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://subtlepatterns.com/

"There has always been great resources available online for designers and
developers, and I’ve been using these myself since I started making websites
some twelve years ago – that’s the fantastic thing about the web community. Now

(More...)

Animagraffs

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:48:38 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://animagraffs.com/

"I do it for the love, and I firmly believe that’s why my work seems to find
its way around the web. I used to get in trouble as a kid for taking things
apart – and I’m sure that’s not a unique childhood experience :) I’ve

(More...)

More Adorable Art

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:30:00 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Here we have some adorable anthropomorphic art...but not your usual
anthropomorphics. Both the animal and human aspects are more realistic,
but in a way that will have you cooing. Nicely conceived.

http://www.helenafrank.com/

(More...)

Picking up the pieces after the @N Twitter account theft

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:04:08 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/01/picking-up-the-pieces-after-the-n-twitter-account-theft/>

"A detailed look at how it happened and how to keep it from happening to you."

A very clear explanation and discussion on practical security measures. If you

(More...)

Dear America, I Saw You Naked

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:05:16 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/tsa-screener-confession-102912.html

"And yes, we were laughing. Confessions of an ex-TSA agent."

The TSA really is as bad as everyone thinks.

(More...)

Home E-Mail Sponsors Index Search About Us