Glass Wings Blog: June 2015
Happy Hippie Presents: Don't Dream It's Over (Performed by Miley Cyrus & Ariana Grande)
Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:21:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2ua3O_fdCY
"Founded by Miley Cyrus, The Happy Hippie Foundation is a nonprofit
organization that rallies young people to fight injustice facing
homeless youth, LGBT youth, and other vulnerable populations."
(More...)
50 Lies Programmers Believe
Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:22:43 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://tommorris.org/posts/9317
"Software is terrible."
Another one of these entertaining lists. Via Peter da Silva.
(More...)
Having Vin Diesel as your dungeon master is really soothing
Tue, 02 Jun 2015 15:06:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://boingboing.net/2015/05/27/having-vin-diesel-as-your-dung.html
"What would it be like to have actor Vin Diesel gently and encouragingly
DM a game of Dungeons & Dragons for you? Thanks to a new Twine game, you
don't have to guess, and the result is joyful."
(More...)
I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss. Here's How.
Tue, 02 Jun 2015 15:07:41 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-into-thinking-chocolate-helps-weight-1707251800>
"My colleagues and I recruited actual human subjects in Germany. We ran
an actual clinical trial, with subjects randomly assigned to different
diet regimes. And the statistically significant benefits of chocolate
(More...)
Web Designers
Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:16:59 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The medieval 'New England': a forgotten Anglo-Saxon colony on the north-eastern Black Sea coast
Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:18:09 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.caitlingreen.org/2015/05/medieval-new-england-black-sea.html
"Although the name 'New England' is now firmly associated with the east
coast of America, this is not the first place to be called that. In the
medieval period there was another Nova Anglia, 'New England', and it lay
(More...)
TTIP explained: The secretive US-EU treaty that undermines democracy
Thu, 04 Jun 2015 13:09:47 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2015/05/ttip-explained-the-secretive-us-eu-treaty-that-undermines-democracy/>
"The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), sometimes
known as the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), is currently
being negotiated behind closed doors by the European Union and the US.
(More...)
Australian film gender imbalance: shock statistics reveal what’s old is new again
Thu, 04 Jun 2015 13:11:06 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://dailyreview.crikey.com.au/australian-film-gender-imbalance-shock-statistics-reveal-whats-old-is-new-again/24701>
"Sony’s 17 highest-earning executives are predominantly white men.
According to a leaked spreadsheet, Sony co-chair Amy Pascal was the only
woman earning $1 million or more at the studio. It’s not just
(More...)
This Dog Left His Toy Outside and A Fox Found It. The Dog’s Reaction? Hilarious
Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:39:40 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.sun-gazing.com/dog-left-toy-outside-fox-found-dogs-reaction-hilarious/>
"The red fox is clearly having an awesome time with the toy as he
excitedly leaps up in the air and pursues it. He tumbles in the grass
and bounces around wildly, behaving just like a dog would."
(More...)
Data furnaces arrive in Europe: Free heating, if you have fibre Internet
Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:41:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://arstechnica.co.uk/business/2015/05/data-furnaces-arrive-in-europe-free-heating-if-you-have-fibre-internet/>
"What costs between €400 and €500 (£290 and £360) to set up, requires a
fibre-optic connection, is sold by a company that has the uncoolest name
ever, and provides 1000 watts of free heating forever? The Nerdalize
(More...)
Konstrui Pli Bonan Lingvon (To Build a Better Language)
Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:35:49 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/29/8672371/learn-esperanto-language-duolingo-app-origin-history>
"How an artificial language from 1887 is finding new life online"
Nice article about Esperanto.
(More...)
Selling Off Apache Holy Land
Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:39:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/opinion/selling-off-apache-holy-land.html>
"About an hour east of Phoenix, near a mining town called Superior, men,
women and children of the San Carlos Apache tribe have been camped out
at a place called Oak Flat for more than three months, protesting the
(More...)
Night Light by Qing Han
Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:40:14 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://vimeo.com/41219207
A lovely short animation. Via Muse.
(More...)
Obituary for Marlene June Mallicoat (1944-2015)
Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:12:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=marlene-mallicoat&pid=174972671>
"Software designer and facilitator of imaginative projects, Marlene
Mallicoat died on May 22, 2015, after a long illness. She is remembered
for her brilliance, sweetness and elegance."
(More...)
dragon.love by Haleigh Toney
Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:14:28 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://vimeo.com/39976685
"A knight journeys into a dark forest to rescue his wife from the belly
of a dragon, only to find that it's not a fierce battle that is waiting
for him..."
(More...)
850 meters
Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:15:46 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://vimeo.com/80977329
"A not-so-brave knight is on a quest for Fame and Fortune - legend says
rescuing a princess is the way to go. And in those same fairy tales,
there's only one way to slay the dragon that holds the fair lady
(More...)
In Norway, A Prison Built On Second Chances
Mon, 08 Jun 2015 16:18:10 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/31/410532066/in-norway-a-prison-built-on-second-chances>
"The first thing you notice when you enter the grounds of Halden Prison
in Norway's far southeast is the forest: Pine and birch trees surround
buildings of dark black brick with elegant windows. There's no concrete
(More...)
The Tricky (And Necessary) Business Of Being A Male Advocate For Gender Equality
Mon, 08 Jun 2015 16:19:06 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.fastcompany.com/3046555/strong-female-lead/the-tricky-and-necessary-business-of-being-a-male-advocate-for-gender-equ>
"Two researchers from the National Center for Women & Information
Technology offer their ideas for getting men involved in gender
diversity efforts."
(More...)
CD Projekt Red Does Everything Right With Witcher 3 DRM & DLC...And Breaks Sales Records
Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:05:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20150527/14051731130/cd-projekt-red-does-everything-right-with-witcher-3-drm-dlcand-breaks-sales-records.shtml>
"If you need an example of a game developer doing something (well, a lot
of things) right, look no further than CD Projekt Red and their latest
multi-platform role-playing game, Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. The
(More...)
Hand Painted Tulip Cookies
Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:08:09 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://5thavenuecakedesigns.com/2015/05/29/hand-painted-sugar-cookie-tutorial/>
"Decorated cookies is an awesome and yummy way to say thank you."
Beautiful food art. Via Kimberly Chapman.
(More...)
How fast, cheap, and online became the new king of comedy
Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:36:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/staff-editorials/13185/fast-cheap-diy-comedy/>
"We’re all members of fragmented, overlapping audiences. It’s easy to
forget that shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad, even as high-gloss
cable dramas, had regular audiences in the low millions. Comedy
(More...)
Believing that life is fair might make you a terrible person
Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:38:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/oliver-burkeman-column/2015/feb/03/believing-that-life-is-fair-might-make-you-a-terrible-person>
"If you’ve been following the news recently, you know that human beings
are terrible and everything is appalling. Yet the sheer range of ways we
find to sabotage our efforts to make the world a better place continues
(More...)
The quest to save today’s gaming history from being lost forever
Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:10:21 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/06/the-quest-to-save-todays-gaming-history-from-being-lost-forever/>
"The very nature of digital [history] is that it's both inherently easy
to save and inherently easy to utterly destroy forever."
(More...)
Jackson 5 and Bach were funky way before Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk! - "I Want You Bach" -ThePianoGuys
Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:11:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZPSV78iQxg
"What if the harpsichord from the 1770s hit headlong into the talk box
from 1970s? What if J.S. Bach and Jackson 5 met up and just jammed?
Would they jive? Can you dig it? These are the kind of far out questions
(More...)
Amanda Palmer: Playing the Hitler Card
Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:10:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.newstatesman.com/2015/05/playing-hitler-card
"We live in an age of endless, foaming outrage. The only answer is to try to
feel empathy for other people, no matter who they are."
(More...)
Incredible Octopus Behavior Nearly Caused Scientist To Drown From Laughing
Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:13:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.thedodo.com/octopus-carries-coconut-1178413280.html
"It doesn't take a backbone to be a genius — or a master of the comedic arts,
apparently."
(More...)
Jetsetting Terrorist
Sat, 13 Jun 2015 13:14:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://jetsettingterrorist.com/
"This is my journal of traveling in post-9-11 America as someone on the
government’s “terrorist” list. And it’s a lot funnier than you’d think…"
(More...)
What The Oracle-Google Copyright Fight Has To Do With Klingon... And Lots Of Other Innovations
Sat, 13 Jun 2015 13:15:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150603/16584831212/what-oracle-google-copyright-fight-has-to-do-with-klingon-lots-other-innovations.shtml>
"Languages and APIs are how we communicate. Languages may be how humans
communicate with one another, while APIs are often how computers
communicate with one another."
(More...)
Why new housing estates and whole towns will go off grid
Sat, 13 Jun 2015 13:16:46 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/why-new-housing-estates-and-whole-towns-will-go-off-grid-27409>
"Experts say new housing estates may be built that do not connect to the
grid, offering instead free electricity, and even free EVs to residents.
Meanwhile, numerous towns are looking how to buy back their grid."
(More...)
Animals are now legally recognised as 'sentient' beings in New Zealand
Sun, 14 Jun 2015 13:43:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Galactic Dimension – a supersized DIY pinball machine
Sun, 14 Jun 2015 13:44:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://hackaday.com/2015/06/05/galactic-dimension-a-supersized-diy-pinball-machine/>
"The game machine was built on a steep ramp and has a gigantic play
field measuring 3m x 6m (10’x20′). It features Sci-Fi game elements in
the play field which blend perfectly with the futuristic building where
(More...)
Miss Piggy Receives Her Feminist Award and Talks About Feminism
Sun, 14 Jun 2015 13:46:57 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://jezebel.com/miss-piggy-receives-her-feminist-award-and-talks-about-1709558194>
"Miss Piggy has received her controversial award from Brooklyn’s Sackler
Center for Feminist Art during a ceremony this past Thursday. The
world-famous celebrity, author and style icon has been added to an
(More...)
What changes at Medium and Yahoo Pipes teach us about the persistence of the web
Mon, 15 Jun 2015 12:57:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://scripting.com/2015/06/07/whatChangesAtMediumAndYahooPipesTeachUsAboutThePersistenceOfTheWeb.html>
"I wondered what will happen to the people who follow feeds produced by
Yahoo Pipes? Yahoo doesn't say they'll provide free redirection, but it
would be good for the web if they did. However, even if they did provide
(More...)
Only The Copyright Office Would 'Fix' The Problem Of Orphan Works By Doubling Down On The Problem Itself
Mon, 15 Jun 2015 12:58:56 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150607/14411031264/only-copyright-office-would-fix-problem-orphan-works-doubling-down-problem-itself.shtml>
'For many, many years, we've been discussing the "problem" of "orphan
works" under copyright law. These are works that are not available any
more, and where it simply is not possible to find the copyright holder
(More...)
How to Survive New York and Stay Polite in GIFs
Tue, 16 Jun 2015 13:24:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/05/02/nathan_pyle_s_cartoon_gifs_show_you_how_to_survive_new_york_and_have_a_laugh.html>
"Pyle noticed that New Yorkers are constantly thinking about 10,000
things as they navigate their daily lives. He wanted to create a
guidebook of easy tips, covering everything from how to tell the
(More...)
The significance of plot without conflict
Tue, 16 Jun 2015 13:25:50 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://stilleatingoranges.tumblr.com/post/25153960313/the-significance-of-plot-without-conflict>
"The necessity of conflict is preached as a kind of dogma by
contemporary writers’ workshops and Internet “guides” to writing. A plot
without conflict is considered dull; some even go so far as to call it
(More...)
The Sixsmiths
Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:58:42 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.thesixsmiths.com/
"Although it’s usually categorized as a work of horror, The Sixsmiths is
actually a comedy about an ordinary family of Satanists who have fallen
on hard times."
(More...)
Climate, Politics and Religion
Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:01:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.planetexperts.com/climate-politics-and-religion/
"How did we get to this point, where our political affiliation became
the best determinant of whether we agree with the simple fact—and with
over 97 percent of scientists—that human choices are changing the
(More...)
Fairytales!
Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:34:32 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
This is the one Sandbox Land at least that you should come and see. We
will be focussing on fairytales, and there are discounts for people
dressed in a fairytale costume.
http://katherinephelps.com/2015/06/sandbox-land-once-upon-a-time/
(More...)
Introducing Eco: An ecosystem sim where everyone must nurture a shared planet
Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:05:10 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-09-introducing-eco-an-ecosystem-sim-where-everyone-must-nurture-the-same-planet>
"Eco is one of the most ambitious and original concept I've seen in a
while. It tasks players with manipulating an ecosystem with one catch:
all players on the server are working in the same environment. If the
(More...)
Smithsonian Digitizes & Lets You Download 40,000 Works of Asian and American Art
Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:06:40 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.openculture.com/2015/06/smithsonian-digitizes-lets-you-download-40000-works-of-asian-and-american-art.html>
"See delicate 16th century Iranian watercolors like “Woman with a spray
of flowers” (top), powerful Edo period Japanese ink on paper drawings
like “Thunder god” (above), and astonishingly intricate 15th century
(More...)
10 things you want to know about human nature if you’re fighting climate change
Fri, 19 Jun 2015 14:24:16 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://grist.org/climate-energy/10-things-you-want-to-know-about-human-nature-if-youre-fighting-climate-change/>
"//Climate change has been my window into learning about human nature — or, at
least, about what we humans do when faced with a challenge much greater than
ourselves. The experience has also persuaded me that a better understanding of
(More...)
What Is Code?
Fri, 19 Jun 2015 14:26:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-paul-ford-what-is-code/
"This issue comprises a single story devoted to demystifying code and the
culture of the people who make it. There’s some technical language along with a
few pretty basic mathematical concepts. There are also lots of solid jokes and
(More...)
How to design a metaphor
Sat, 20 Jun 2015 13:15:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://aeon.co/magazine/culture/how-to-design-a-metaphor/
"The metaphor designer isn’t trying to make something beautiful. She
wants to change your view on things. Here’s how"
(More...)
Leave the damn fossil fuels in the ground, says big nerdy study
Sat, 20 Jun 2015 13:17:21 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://grist.org/climate-energy/leave-the-damn-fossil-fuels-in-the-ground-says-big-nerdy-study/>
"To keep the climate somewhat safe and relatively stable, 82 percent of
the world’s coal reserves, half of all natural gas, and every drop of
Arctic oil must be left in the ground, according to a new study from
(More...)
Attribution is hard
Sat, 20 Jun 2015 13:19:18 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/message/attribution-is-hard-4164f8389eb8
"The truth is, like most hacking attacks, we will probably never be sure
who hacked Sony. This is because we’ve reached a point in history where
it’s easier to find earth-sized exoplanets than it is to figure out
(More...)
The Case of the Amazing Gay-Marriage Data: How a Graduate Student Reluctantly Uncovered a Huge Scientific Fraud
Sun, 21 Jun 2015 12:50:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/05/how-a-grad-student-uncovered-a-huge-fraud.html>
"The exposure of one of the biggest scientific frauds in recent memory
didn’t start with concerns about normally distributed data, or the
test-retest reliability of feelings thermometers, or anonymous Stata
(More...)
Impress your demanding Russian in-laws in this cute, weird game
Sun, 21 Jun 2015 12:51:16 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://boingboing.net/2015/06/12/impress-your-demanding-russian.html
"Surviving family dinners can feel like a gauntlet at the best of times,
especially when it's your potential in-laws. Za Vas (To You) makes a
game out of impressing your date's demanding Russian family by managing
(More...)
Awesome Stuff: New Digital Instruments Done Right
Sun, 21 Jun 2015 12:52:37 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20150612/20155631331/awesome-stuff-new-digital-instruments-done-right.shtml>
"The OWOW devices all look pretty cool, even if they aren't all
revolutionary. One essentially serves as a theremin, one as a tiny drum
pad, two as neat handheld motion controllers, and the most innovative of
(More...)
Broccoli is bad for you, like, really toxic bad
Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:49:19 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.thinkingnutrition.com.au/broccoli-is-bad-for-you/
"An alternative title I had for this blog post was: “Don’t believe
everything you read on the Internet to do with nutrition”, but I wager
this one was more effective in getting your attention."
(More...)
Sunday Sweets Celebrates Kids' Movies
Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:50:06 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2015/6/14/sunday-sweets-celebrates-kids-movies.html>
"Anyone else out there addicted to kids' movies? 'Cuz I admit it: I love
'em. Especially since they keep making so many amazing ones."
(More...)
The truth about "political correctness" is that it doesn't actually exist
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 12:46:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.vox.com/2015/1/28/7930845/political-correctness-doesnt-exist
"But political correctness isn't a "creed" at all. Rather it's a sort of
catch-all term we apply to people who ask for more sensitivity to a
particular cause than we're willing to give — a way to dismiss issues as
(More...)
This American Indian Dungeons and Dragons lets you weave powerful stories
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 12:46:48 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://boingboing.net/2015/06/15/a-game-that-shares-the-traditi.html
"Ehdrigor, a game created by a black, American Indian game designer,
gently reflects the Native experience, and how that approach to
storytelling differs from Western narratives."
(More...)
Tech Weekly: Making Magic
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:41:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/tech-weekly-making-magic
"This week's Technology projects are all about the stuff that dreams are
made of."
(More...)
How Tesla Will Change The World
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:42:54 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/06/how-tesla-will-change-your-life.html
"To understand if and why Tesla Motors matters, you have to understand
both the story of cars and the story of energy—two worlds I somehow am
simultaneously confused by and tremendously sick of."
(More...)
Airport staff takes boy's lost 'Hobbes' on epic adventure (photos)
Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:45:41 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.krmg.com/news/news/national/airport-staff-takes-boys-lost-hobbes-epic-adventur/nmdwS/>
"A stuffed tiger was finally returned to his 6-year-old owner, but not
before the employees of Tampa International Airport photographed it
having the time of its life."
(More...)
Horses Get Blinky Rainbow Tails
Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:47:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://blog.adafruit.com/2015/06/17/horses-get-blinky-rainbow-tails-wearablewednesday/>
"Sami created a bundle of LED strips that wrap-mount to a horse’s tail
and provide different lights and patterns for visibility. Tail Lights
are currently used by some mounted patrol groups, and they often use the
(More...)
Zookeepers Are Recreating Jurassic World’s Raptor Training
Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:50:08 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.wired.com/2015/06/zookeepers-jurassic-world/
"[...]zookeepers and other animal lovers have started imitating the
tableau of Pratt’s outstretched arms fending off three raptors, but with
other, variably less threatening creatures. There are walruses, cats,
(More...)
The joy of reading role-playing games
Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:51:18 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/jun/19/the-joy-of-reading-role-playing-games>
"You don’t have to actually play a role-playing game for it to fire your
imagination, so why don’t RPG manuals count as books?"
(More...)
"The Appropriation of Cultures" by Percival Everett
Sat, 27 Jun 2015 13:02:28 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.graywolfpress.org/blogs/appropriation-cultures-percival-everett>
A brilliant short story. Although already overtaken by current events,
the message is a powerful one. Via Irreverent Monk.
(More...)
cdza Takes a Stroll Down Comedy Music Memory Lane by Covering 10 Hit Songs in Two Minutes
Sat, 27 Jun 2015 13:04:19 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://laughingsquid.com/cdza-takes-a-stroll-down-comedy-music-memory-lane-by-covering-10-hit-songs-in-two-minutes/>
"This is just a small clip from IFC and CollegeHumor’s Comedy Music Hall
of Fame, an hour-long special honoring the comical form of music."
(More...)
30 Things You Should Know About “Weird Al” Yankovic’s ‘Dare to Be Stupid’
Sat, 27 Jun 2015 13:05:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Answer to a 150-Year-Old Math Conundrum Brings More Mystery
Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:39:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.wired.com/2015/06/answer-150-year-old-math-conundrum-brings-mystery/>
"Yet for more than 150 years after Kirkman circulated his schoolgirl
problem, the most fundamental question in the field remained unanswered:
Do such puzzles usually have solutions? Kirkman’s puzzle is a prototype
(More...)
Naomi Oreskes, a Lightning Rod in a Changing Climate
Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:41:09 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/science/naomi-oreskes-a-lightning-rod-in-a-changing-climate.html>
"Dr. Oreskes is fast becoming one of the biggest names in climate
science — not as a climatologist, but as a defender who uses the tools
of historical scholarship to counter what she sees as ideologically
(More...)
“America floats between modernity & collapse”: What Japan can teach the U.S. about averting disaster
Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:42:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.salon.com/2015/06/21/america_floats_between_modernity_collapse_what_the_united_states_can_learn_from_japan/>
"Morris Berman, American historian, cultural theorist, and sociologist,
is a starry eyed realist whose grim forecast of American demise makes
him alone even in leftist circles. In the brilliant trilogy of books on
(More...)
Stanford researcher declares that the sixth mass extinction is here
Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:32:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/june/mass-extinction-ehrlich-061915.html>
'As species disappear, so do crucial ecosystem services such as
honeybees' crop pollination and wetlands' water purification. At the
current rate of species loss, people will lose many biodiversity
(More...)
Doctoral dissertation in graphic novel form
Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:33:41 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://boingboing.net/2015/06/21/doctoral-dissertation-in-graph.html
"Columbia University awarded a doctorate in education to Nick Sousanis
for Unflattening, a graphic novel about the relationship between words
and pictures in literature."
(More...)
3,000 mourners pay final respects to cat stationmaster Tama
Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:32:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201506290067
"KINOKAWA, Wakayama Prefecture—Thousands of people from around the
world bid an emotional farewell to Tama, the beloved stationmaster cat,
at the female calico’s funeral here on June 28."
(More...)
Samsung is testing a new ‘Safety Truck’ that could change the way people drive
Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:35:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-safety-truck-makes-driving-safe-2015-6>
"Last week, Samsung shared a blog post about its “Safety Truck,” a
trailer-truck that has a wireless camera in the front and four giant
screens on the back to display its front view to cars behind it."
(More...)
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