Glass Wings Blog: January 2017
Happy New Year 2017!
Sun, 1 Jan 2017 19:32:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Thank you everyone for reading our posts. Hope you have a great 2017!
Share and enjoy,
*** Muse and Xanni ***
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Marion Pritchard, Dutch rescuer of Jewish children during the Holocaust, dies at 96
Sun, 1 Jan 2017 19:34:44 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/marion-pritchard-dutch-rescuer-of-jewish-children-during-the-holocaust-dies-at-96/2016/12/20/d5ca50e0-c61b-11e6-bf4b-2c064d32a4bf_story.html>
"Marion Pritchard, a Dutch social work student who was credited with
saving dozens of Jews during the Holocaust, spiriting some to safe
houses, hiding others under floorboards, and, in one case, executing a
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T is for “Thanks”
Sun, 1 Jan 2017 19:35:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/uprooted/t-is-for-thanks-7c18e2090882
"An English class is much more than an education for refugee children in
Serbia. It’s a lifeline."
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Long live intrinsic motivation. Or why it’s time to ditch the carrots and the sticks
Sun, 1 Jan 2017 19:38:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://thecorrespondent.com/5889/long-live-intrinsic-motivation-or-why-its-time-to-ditch-the-carrots-and-the-sticks/226402605-5dbd8da4>
"Humans are lazy and greedy by nature, or so we tend to believe. But a
new generation of psychologists and economists disagree. Their
groundbreaking research paves the way for a revolution in healthcare and
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Anthony Bourdain: The Post-Election Interview
Mon, 2 Jan 2017 17:57:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.eater.com/2016/12/21/14038332/anthony-bourdain-election-trump-interview>
"Spend any time in contemplation of the astronomical map of food-world
celebrities, and it becomes clear that Bourdain is not actually a star —
he is a nebula. His fame is almost incomprehensibly vast, his brightness
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Teen compiles 700-page list for anyone who thinks Muslims don't condemn terrorism
Mon, 2 Jan 2017 17:58:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/culture/article/2016/12/22/teen-compiles-700-page-list-anyone-who-thinks-muslims-dont-condemn-terrorism>
"The spreadsheet includes 5,700 statements from prominent Muslims across
the globe, including Australia, and creator Heraa Hashmi is still adding
more."
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The food in "Final Fantasy XV" looks amazing
Mon, 2 Jan 2017 17:59:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://boingboing.net/2016/12/22/the-food-in-final-fantasy-xv.html
"Whitney Reynolds of
Eater interviewed the director of FinalFantasy XV
to find out why the food in the game looks so mouth-wateringly delicious."
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A history of global living conditions in 5 charts
Mon, 2 Jan 2017 18:00:53 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://ourworldindata.org/a-history-of-global-living-conditions-in-5-charts/>
"For our history to be a source of encouragement we have to know our
history. The story that we tell ourselves about our history and our time
matters. Because our hopes and efforts for building a better future are
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Making the Gig Economy Work for Everyone
Tue, 3 Jan 2017 14:21:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/institute-for-the-future/making-the-gig-economy-work-for-everyone-79ff4620bbc>
"Why am I doubling down on optimism? It’s my only chance for survival.
It’s definitely your only chance for survival."
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Click on this f**cking outrage (that is not at all what it seems).
Tue, 3 Jan 2017 14:21:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@ketch/click-on-this-f-cking-outrage-that-is-not-at-all-what-it-seems-a199e6699ad3>
"This is not a thinkpiece about fake news."
Another thoughtful article about the problems with using outrage to
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Top open source creative tools in 2016
Tue, 3 Jan 2017 14:22:46 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://opensource.com/article/16/12/yearbook-top-open-source-creative-tools-2016>
"Whether you want to manipulate images, edit audio, or animate stories,
there's a free and open source tool to do the trick."
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He Really Let Himself Go
Tue, 3 Jan 2017 14:24:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://notalwaysworking.com/really-let-go/48546
"I have just walked into the office on a Monday morning, and my manager
calls me into his office."
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Refunct
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 14:37:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://store.steampowered.com/app/406150
"Refunct is a peaceful, short first-person platformer about restoring a
vibrant world."
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Year of Upheaval for Restaurants That Ended Tipping
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 14:38:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/dining/restaurants-no-tipping-service.html>
"Instead of expecting customers to tip the people who wait on them,
tip-free restaurants pay all employees wages that reflect their skill
and seniority."
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It may have seemed like the world fell apart in 2016. Steven Pinker is here to tell you it didn’t.
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 14:39:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/22/14042506/steven-pinker-optimistic-future-2016>
“The world continues to improve in just about every way.”
On conditional optimism. Via David Brin.
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6 Badass Unsung Heroes From History's Darkest Hours
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 14:40:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.cracked.com/article_24518_6-incredible-acts-humanity-during-historys-darkest-hours.html>
"[...] even humanity's biggest shitshows have life-affirming moments
hidden within, courtesy of regular people stepping the hell up to help
others. Here are six unexpectedly heartwarming stories born out of
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The sugar conspiracy
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 13:01:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/07/the-sugar-conspiracy-robert-lustig-john-yudkin>
"In 1972, a British scientist sounded the alarm that sugar – and not fat
– was the greatest danger to our health. But his findings were ridiculed
and his reputation ruined. How did the world’s top nutrition scientists
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'Outrageous': Coal mine gets expansion nod despite secret, incomplete studies
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 13:02:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/outrageous-coal-mine-gets-expansion-nod-despite-secret-incomplete-studies-20161222-gtgz4d.html>
"The Baird government has approved the expansion of the most aggressive
coal mine in the Special Areas of Greater Sydney's catchment despite not
knowing the compounding impact it will have on water supplies."
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It's Called A Hustle, Sweetheart
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 13:03:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2016/12/27/its-called-a-hustle-sweetheart.html>
"And now, since we just watched Zootopia again and I love it so much,
it's time for... John Reacts To Animal Cakes With Zootopia GIFs!"
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Dear world, refugees are not to be feared
Fri, 6 Jan 2017 12:58:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/uprooted/https-medium-com-uprooted-dear-world-refugees-are-not-to-be-feared-c262a9673881>
"I always knew America wasn’t a place where one can survive without a
lot of hard work and dedication, without encountering obstacles and
failures. My journey from Syria to the United States is a testament to
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Why We’re Protecting the Arctic
Fri, 6 Jan 2017 12:59:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/the-white-house/why-were-protecting-the-arctic-9a01d9e9e741>
"For the last 40 years, I’ve roamed the polar regions of our world. I
started as a child, growing up in an Inuit community on Baffin Island,
Canada, where I learned from the Inuit people not just to survive in our
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A Brief History of the Idea That Everyone Should Get Free Cash for Life
Fri, 6 Jan 2017 13:00:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/12/brief-history-income-inequality-minimum-wage>
"From 18th-century radicals to a countrywide referendum."
A history of "basic income". Via Antony Barry.
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Fan-O-Rama, The Live-Action Futurama Fan Film
Fri, 6 Jan 2017 13:02:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://laughingsquid.com/fan-o-rama-the-live-action-futurama-fan-film-has-been-released-and-is-now-available-to-watch-online/>
"Cinema Relics has released Fan-O-Rama, their unofficial live-action fan
film based on Matt Groening‘s popular animated sci-fi series Futurama.
The entire film is now available to watch online for free."
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The Politics of Optimism
Sat, 7 Jan 2017 17:18:37 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/@AlexSteffen/the-politics-of-optimism-37a5006e8ba8
"I think, now more than ever, choosing and voicing optimism is a
powerful political action. It seems like a good time to share this essay
again."
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I’m Tired of Star Wars - The MCU, too
Sat, 7 Jan 2017 17:19:35 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://bullshit.ist/im-tired-of-star-wars-242a69536b0e
"Star Wars offers a limited space for storytelling. Bear with me here,
as I am about to say something that probably seems utterly indefensible.
The Star Wars universe as a whole suffers from a crippling lack of
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History of Information
Sat, 7 Jan 2017 17:20:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.historyofinformation.com/
A fascinating history resource. Via Edward Morbius.
See also the History of Science:
www.historyofscience.com
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Franka: A Robot Arm That’s Safe, Low Cost, and Can Replicate Itself
Sat, 7 Jan 2017 17:21:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/industrial-robots/franka-a-robot-arm-thats-safe-low-cost-and-can-replicate-itself>
"This factory robot can be trusted not to kill its human coworkers"
Great progress in this field. Via Kam-Yung Soh.
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You Say You're An American, But What If You Had To Prove It Or Be Deported?
Sun, 8 Jan 2017 12:18:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
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This one weird trick will not convince conservatives to fight climate change
Sun, 8 Jan 2017 12:19:49 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/28/14074214/climate-denialism-social>
"For most people, most of the time, social bonds matter far more than
any particular bit of knowledge, any fact or belief.
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Buta
Sun, 8 Jan 2017 12:21:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6w1J5ESblQ
"An anime project made by Telecom Animation Film Issued as part of Anime
Mirai 2012."
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China to ban ivory trade by the end of 2017
Sun, 8 Jan 2017 12:22:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/30/china-ban-ivory-trade-2017-elephants-wwf>
"China will ban all domestic ivory trade and processing by the end of
2017, state media reported on Friday, in a move hailed by activists as a
gamechanger for Africa’s elephants."
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Petra Hadens' stunning a capella cover of the Blade Runner theme
Mon, 9 Jan 2017 14:36:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://boingboing.net/2016/12/30/petra-hadens-stunning-a-cape.html
"Petra Haden is a talented violinist and singer who has performed with everyone
from The Decemberists to Victoria Williams to Sunn O)))."
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The Hardware Hacker: Bunnie Huang's tour-de-force on hardware hacking, reverse engineering, China, manufacturing, innovation and biohacking
Mon, 9 Jan 2017 14:40:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://boingboing.net/2016/12/30/the-hardware-hacker-bunnie-hu.html
"The book draws heavily on Huang's own hardware projects, which have included
substantial manufacturing in south China, with many hard-won lessons about how
things can go wrong and how to make them go right. This is more than a
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How to Convince Someone When Facts Fail
Mon, 9 Jan 2017 14:44:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-convince-someone-when-facts-fail/
"Have you ever noticed that when you present people with facts that are
contrary to their deepest held beliefs they always change their minds? Me
neither. In fact, people seem to double down on their beliefs in the teeth of
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The Problem With ‘Self-Investigation’ in a Post-Truth Era
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:05:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/magazine/the-problem-with-self-investigation-in-a-post-truth-era.html>
"The internet can’t route around censorship when the people who use it
remain in their own closed information loops, which is nothing more than
self-imposed censorship."
(More...)
Tyrus Wong, ‘Bambi’ Artist Thwarted by Racial Bias, Dies at 106
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:06:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/movies/tyrus-wong-dies-bambi-disney.html>
"Mr. Wong died on Friday at 106. A Hollywood studio artist, painter,
printmaker, calligrapher, greeting-card illustrator and, in later years,
maker of fantastical kites, he was one of the most celebrated
(More...)
Our Murrow Moment
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:07:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/12/31/our-murrow-moment.html
"The time for hand-wringing and hysteria is over. The Trump presidency
promises a civic stress test. In a time of principled fights, citizens
and journalists need to respond with fearlessness rooted in fairness."
(More...)
Lion Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Dev Patel Movie
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 21:27:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RNI9o06vqo
Via Muse, who wrote: "It has opened! Go see me as woman crossing the
mall and looking at shoes! Perhaps I will get an award for best extra!"
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Why Don’t Women Say “Stop That, I Don’t Like It” to Catcallers?
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 21:28:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@emmalindsay/why-dont-women-say-stop-that-i-don-t-like-it-to-catcallers-ba162c60bbee>
"And this is about catcalling, but this isn’t about catcalling. When I
reflect on the sexual abuse I have received in my life, there is one
fundamental theme: I am denied the authenticity of my own reality."
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Who do we seek to persude? Climate change and right-wing populism – @JanB_QLD
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 21:29:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://nofibs.com.au/who-do-we-seek-to-persude-climate-change-and-right-wing-populism-janb_qld/>
"The success of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation was the story of the 2016
Federal Election and its implications have occupied commentators,
journalists, community and family members, over the past six month[s].
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The Best Things That Happened For Animals In 2016
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:02:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.thedodo.com/2016-for-animals-video-2173771896.html
"2016 may have been tough — but so many great things happened for
animals this year"
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What If Jobs Are Not The Solution But The Problem?
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:04:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://aeon.co/essays/what-if-jobs-are-not-the-solution-but-the-problem
"Economists believe in full employment. Americans think that work builds
character. But what if jobs aren’t working anymore?"
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Why Trump should 'cyber' Earth
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:05:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/invironment/why-trump-should-cyber-earth-eb9c119262ad
"I’m ready to disrupt stuff. I say let’s cyber the whole damn planet.
Other planets even. I think there are some asteroids we probably need to
cyber…"
(More...)
Racists Take DNA Tests To Reveal True Ethnicity — The Results Bring Them To Tears
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:54:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://countercurrentnews.com/2016/11/racists-take-dna-tests-reveal-true-ethnicity-results-bring-tears/>
"In an effort to contrast the prejudices we all have with the facts
about who we actually are, travel company Momondo gathered 67 people
from various ethnicities and offered them a DNA test."
(More...)
Illustrator Uses Clever 3D Tricks To Bring His Cartoons To Life
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:55:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.boredpanda.com/3d-paper-art-huskmitnavn/
"Danish artist, HuskMitNavn, has taken his playful black-and-white
drawings of things as simple as opening a can of food, or as frustrating
as running out of toilet paper, and brought them to life as incredible
(More...)
Tolerance is not a moral precept
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:56:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://extranewsfeed.com/tolerance-is-not-a-moral-precept-1af7007d6376
"Tolerance is not a moral absolute; it is a peace treaty. Tolerance is a
social norm because it allows different people to live side-by-side
without being at each other’s throats."
(More...)
The Road to Pokémon Go—and Beyond
Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:21:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://backchannel.com/the-road-to-pokémon-go-and-beyond-ed7dc20f4b5e
"Backchannel’s Big Idea of 2016 is a breakout game that thrust us into
the future. Here’s how it happened."
(More...)
Our Self-Flying Car Future
Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:21:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/swlh/our-self-flying-car-future-21674e97b67d
"Self-driving cars might be exciting, but not nearly as much as what
comes afterwards."
(More...)
The UBI already exists for the 1%
Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:23:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@MattBruenig/the-ubi-already-exists-for-the-1-d3a49fad0580>
"The universal basic income — a cash payment made to every individual in
the country — has been critiqued recently by some commentators. Among
other things, these writers dislike the fact that a UBI would deliver
(More...)
Why the Technology in Rogue One Is So Old-Fashioned
Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:23:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/01/rogue-one/512072/
"There is a reason the film’s machines seem stuck in the 20th century."
Star Wars is essentially "dieselpunk". Via George Station.
(More...)
Rx for the Anthropocene?
Sun, 15 Jan 2017 14:59:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/@revkin/rx-for-the-anthropocene-289180ad28e5
"We have to accept ourselves, flaws and all, in order to move beyond
what has been something of an unconscious, species-scale pubescent
growth spurt enabled by fossil fuels in place of testosterone."
(More...)
Oldest Southern Resident killer whale considered dead
Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:03:54 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.king5.com/tech/science/environment/oldest-southern-resident-killer-whale-considered-dead/381349614>
"Ken Balcomb, executive director of the Center for Whale Research,
shared photos and typed a tribute on New Year’s Eve. It was his goodbye
to Granny, the oldest southern resident killer whale. The Orca, part of
(More...)
Aussie Productivity Commission Doubles Down On Fair Use And Serious Copyright & Patent Reform
Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:05:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161228/23145236363/aussie-productivity-commission-doubles-down-fair-use-serious-copyright-patent-reform.shtml>
"Unlike so many government reports on copyright issues, this one is
careful and methodical, and actually establishes a clear framework for
analyzing copyright and patents — both the benefits and faults."
(More...)
2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:06:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Solar-powered Farm From a Box is a compact farm kit that feeds 150 people
Mon, 16 Jan 2017 23:15:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-farm-from-a-box-is-a-compact-farm-kit-that-feeds-150-people/>
"Two acres of land is enough to farm a sustainable food supply for as
many as 150 people, and now a San Francisco startup is making it even
easier to get that farm growing."
(More...)
Meltdown of the Phantom Snowflakes
Mon, 16 Jan 2017 23:16:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://thebaffler.com/blog/meltdown-phantom-snowflakes-penny
"Demanding stoic “strength” from an oppressed person is just another way
of silencing calls for reform"
(More...)
Nomads no more: why Mongolian herders are moving to the city
Mon, 16 Jan 2017 23:17:11 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/05/mongolian-herders-moving-to-city-climate-change>
"Climate change and the end of Soviet state support have forced 600,000
to migrate to the capital, leaving it struggling to cope"
(More...)
"Revenge" by Elisa Chavez
Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:58:09 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.seattlereviewofbooks.com/notes/2017/01/03/revenge/
"Since you mention it, I think I will start that race war."
Lovely poem. Via Geoffrey Snyder and CathiBea Stevenson.
(More...)
Design for internationalization
Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:59:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/dropbox-design/design-for-internationalization-24c12ea6b38f>
"Build better products for people around the world"
A useful summary of some classic internationalisation issues.
(More...)
I Can’t Answer These Texas Standardized Test Questions About My Own Poems
Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:01:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
A Technical Follow-Up: How We Built the World’s Prettiest Auto-Generated Transit Maps
Wed, 18 Jan 2017 20:03:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The Scottish pioneer whose plan for a basic income could transform Britain
Wed, 18 Jan 2017 20:03:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/08/universal-basic-income-glasgow-welfare-revolution>
"Support is growing for an idea that used to be considered eccentric"
Yet another basic income advocate! Via Ethan Beck and Sue T.
(More...)
What New Writers Need
Wed, 18 Jan 2017 20:04:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://katherinephelps.com/2017/01/what-new-writers-need/
"The question asked was, “What mistakes do new writers often make in
their writing?” The answers given to the young writer almost universally
had to do with spelling and grammar. I have to admit, I was appalled.
(More...)
The Couple Who Saved China's Ancient Architectural Treasures Before They Were Lost Forever
Thu, 19 Jan 2017 21:46:24 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/lovers-shanxi-saved-chinas-ancient-architectural-treasures-before-lost-forever-180961424/>
"As the nation teetered on the brink of war in the 1930s, two
Western-educated thinkers struck out for the hinterlands to save their
country's riches"
(More...)
This teddy bear is the hardest working waiter in Japan
Thu, 19 Jan 2017 21:47:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://boingboing.net/2017/01/10/this-teddy-bear-is-the-hardest.html
"Tumblr user Svzannebrown shared this utterly delightful video, noting
that it’s “all that anyone needs to know” about her time in Japan."
(More...)
FurBox! Furry Care Packages!
Thu, 19 Jan 2017 21:48:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.gofundme.com/furbox-furry-care-packages
"This program is to help furries in need. Furries with abusive families,
major depression, and lack of funds/art supplies/merch are who this
program is for most of all."
(More...)
Robert Eklund records the purring cheetah Caine at the Dell Cheetah Centre, Parys, South Africa
Fri, 20 Jan 2017 14:59:30 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFvULxbN3NM
"Linguist Dr Robert Eklund records Caine the cheetah at the Dell Cheetah
Centre <
http://www.dccafrica.co.za/> in Parys, South Africa."
(More...)
Tanzanian Farmers Face 12 Years In Prison For Selling Seeds As They've Done For Generations
Fri, 20 Jan 2017 15:13:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170103/05344436390/tanzanian-farmers-face-12-years-prison-selling-seeds-as-theyve-done-generations.shtml>
"One of the key battlegrounds for seeds and their ownership is Africa,
as we discussed back in 2013. The Belgian site Mondiaal Nieuws has an
update on what's happening in one of the poorest African countries,
(More...)
Techdirt's First Amendment Fight For Its Life
Fri, 20 Jan 2017 15:15:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170111/11440836465/techdirts-first-amendment-fight-life.shtml>
"As you may have heard, last week we were sued for $15 million by Shiva
Ayyadurai, who claims to have invented email. We have written, at great
length, about his claims and our opinion — backed up by detailed and
(More...)
A message to my doomed colleagues in the American media
Sat, 21 Jan 2017 17:42:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@alexey__kovalev/message-to-american-media-from-russia-6e2e76eeae77>
"Congratulations, US media! You’ve just covered your first press
conference of an authoritarian leader with a massive ego and a deep
disdain for your trade and everything you hold dear. We in Russia have
(More...)
How Can Literature Resist Islamophobia? One Writer Answers: Gay Muslim Furry Romance.
Sat, 21 Jan 2017 17:43:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2017/01/13/the_time_he_desires_gay_muslim_furry_romance_is_a_book_against_the_trump.html>
"Kyell Gold’s new novel may lie at the most unlikely intersection in
literary history: a gay immigrant Muslim romance involving furries—that
is, people who feel a close identification with anthropomorphic animal
(More...)
Whenever He Goes Diving, This Shark Comes To Cuddle With Him (This Has Been Going On For 7 Years)
Sat, 21 Jan 2017 17:44:35 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.boredpanda.com/diver-cuddles-shark-rick-anderson-australia/
"Meet Rick Anderson, an Australian man who calls a female Port Jackson
shark his friend, saying she comes to cuddle with him whenever she sees
him."
(More...)
Sneaky Cards
Sat, 21 Jan 2017 17:46:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://sneakycards.com/
"Your mission, should you choose to accept it: become a secret agent of
joy, spreading art and intrigue to an unsuspecting public. Inside this
box is an interactive scavenger hunt that inspires creativity and
(More...)
Quick, How Might the Alien Spacecraft Work?
Sun, 22 Jan 2017 13:24:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://blog.stephenwolfram.com/2016/11/quick-how-might-the-alien-spacecraft-work/>
"This post is about the movie Arrival; there are no movie spoilers here."
An entertaining blog entry. Via David Brin.
(More...)
The future is becoming a burden on the young. These three principles could change that
Sun, 22 Jan 2017 13:25:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Martin Luther King Was A Democratic Socialist
Sun, 22 Jan 2017 13:27:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/martin-luther-king-was-a-democratic-socialist_b_9008990.html>
In 1964, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, he observed that the United
States could learn much from Scandinavian “democratic socialism.” He often
talked about the need to confront “class issues,” which he described as “the
(More...)
Charity Can’t Replace the Safety Net. This New Study Is a Reminder Why.
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 13:56:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2016/12/05/study_shows_charitable_giving_fell_during_the_great_recession.html>
"There are lots of reasons why private philanthropy can't replace the
government safety net, but one of the most fundamental is that people
tend to stop giving to charity right when the poor need it most."
(More...)
I wore men’s clothes for a month – and it changed my life
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 13:57:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.thefword.org.uk/2017/01/i-wore-mens-clothes-for-a-month-and-it-changed-my-life/>
"Motivated by Octieber and determined to combat the world of gendered
clothing, Lucy Rycroft-Smith tries menswear for a month and documents
her findings"
(More...)
Open Canvas - art with heart
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 13:59:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.opencanvas.com.au/
A relative of our founder Andrew Mahar has recently started a great new
initiative - Open Canvas - a social enterprise empowering homeless artists.
Some further details below including an invitation to an opening function
(More...)
Automation is already here and its taking jobs and annoying customers
Tue, 24 Jan 2017 22:49:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://qz.com/881454/automation-is-already-here-and-its-taking-jobs-and-annoying-customers/>
"If you’ve been stuck in an airport because of delays recently, you
already know how bad a highly automated society will be"
(More...)
NoDAPL: Standing Rock and the 'Deep North'
Tue, 24 Jan 2017 22:50:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/01/nodapl-standing-rock-deep-north-170109063857178.html>
"As Standing Rock protests come to an end, Native Americans still face
discrimination and racism across the Dakotas."
(More...)
The entire modern copyright was built on one fundamental assumption that the Internet has reversed
Tue, 24 Jan 2017 22:51:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://falkvinge.net/2017/01/17/modern-copyright-built-assumption-internet-reversed/>
"When the copyright monopoly was reinstated in 1710, the justification
was that of publishing being many orders of magnitude more expensive
than authoring, and so without it, nothing would get published. But the
(More...)
The Selma March In Some Rare Photos, And The Obligation To Speak
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:30:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.popehat.com/2017/01/16/the-selma-march-in-some-rare-photos-and-the-obligation-to-speak/>
"Alfred M. Loeb was a dedicated and skilled photographer interested in
justice. More than a half-century ago he participated in the legendary
march from Selma to Montgomery, taking pictures all the way. His
(More...)
People Are Knitting Giant Sweaters To Keep Rescued Elephants Cozy
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:31:11 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.thedodo.com/giant-sweaters-rescued-elephants-2199775497.html
"Cozy winter garments, made with love, are a bit like hugs that you can
wear. And these lucky elephants clearly couldn't be happier to feel that
warm embrace from people who took the time to care."
(More...)
"Here's the Plan" - CG animated short film
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:32:31 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://herestheplanfilm.com/
"A married cat-dog couple of cupcake bakers dream of opening their own
bakery. One day their oven breaks and they have to postpone their dream
in order to earn money and replace it. Somewhere down the line, they
(More...)
Dolph C. Volker (Big Cat Videos)
Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:48:37 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25bqOksVyD-SfdAToam-Bg
"I'm a Huge animal advocate with a Zoology degree; fascinated by animal
behavior; studying them all my life. I'm also a Starfisher; making a
difference to individual lives. Began after watching my 1st dog die in
(More...)
Building the world we want to have
Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:50:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://lwn.net/Articles/711804/
"Everybody, she said, is creative in some way; every person she has ever
met has something interesting inside them somewhere. Sometimes one has
to dig a bit to find it, but it's there. Almost all of us switch it off
(More...)
How the town of Whitefish defeated its neo-Nazi trolls — and became a national model of resistance
Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:51:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.yahoo.com/news/how-the-tiny-montana-ski-town-of-whitefish-defeated-its-neo-nazi-trolls-and-became-a-national-model-of-resistance-225557686.html>
"What if, at a moment of mounting political anxiety and creeping
Internet thuggery, of fear and loathing and all the rest of it,
Whitefish has, in fact, been demonstrating how America, at its best, can
(More...)
Stepping into math: Open-sourcing our step-by-step solver
Fri, 27 Jan 2017 18:06:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://blog.socratic.org/stepping-into-math-open-sourcing-our-step-by-step-solver-9b5da066ae36>
"Our mission at Socratic is to “make learning easy”. Our app lets you
take a picture of a homework question, and we teach you how to answer
it — magic!"
(More...)
Copyright Has A Real & Serious Free Speech Problem
Fri, 27 Jan 2017 18:08:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170119/22004636522/copyright-has-real-serious-free-speech-problem.shtml>
"There are tons and tons of examples of copyright being used to stifle
different forms of expression — from blocking derivative works to
sending bogus takedowns and more. Copyright can be and is frequently
(More...)
Battlelines are now drawn in the war against transparency and truth
Fri, 27 Jan 2017 18:10:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/battlelines-are-now-drawn-in-the-war-against-transparency-and-truth-1,9948>
"With the inauguration of the Trump presidency, the battlelines have
been drawn in the contest between falsehoods and truth. Help is on its
way as Alan Austin plucks a few useful tactics from his anti-humbug
(More...)
We’ll Never See These Animals Again
Sat, 28 Jan 2017 14:10:35 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/mother-jones/well-never-see-these-animals-again-2c3900b30868>
"If 2016 was a rough year for the animal kingdom, 2017 could be worse.
Most scientists agree that we are experiencing a sixth mass extinction,
but unlike the previous five that extended over hundreds of millions of
(More...)
Jitendra Patil's answer to "Who was the best customer you ever had and why?"
Sat, 28 Jan 2017 14:12:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.quora.com/Who-was-the-best-customer-you-ever-had-and-why/answer/Jitendra-Patil-1
"This one gets me smiling."
Cute story! Kudos to the management of Optus and their outsourced
(More...)
Meet the leader of a billionaires’ club determined to stop Trump from destroying the world
Sat, 28 Jan 2017 14:13:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://qz.com/844487/meet-the-leader-of-a-billionaires-club-determined-to-stop-trump-from-destroying-the-world/>
"A long, wiry man with a gravely voice and a penchant for hugging his
clients, often while also capturing the moment with a selfie, Doll calls
his club Syneidesis, which in ancient Greek means conscience. He started
(More...)
A new year’s publishing resolution
Sun, 29 Jan 2017 19:22:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://sophieclewis.com/2017/01/25/a-new-years-publishing-resolution/
"Like many individual researchers and organisations before me, I’ve had
enough of exorbitant page charges for poor service. I’ve had enough of
the expectation that I will volunteer my time as a reviewer for journals
(More...)
First Human-Pig Chimera Is a Step Toward Custom Organs
Sun, 29 Jan 2017 19:24:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.wired.com/2017/01/first-human-pig-chimera-step-toward-custom-organs/>
"Every day, 22 people in America die while waiting for an organ transplant. But
when scientists can grow replacement livers or kidneys or pancreases inside of
animal hosts, medicine’s organ shortage may end. That’s the hope anyway—and
(More...)
Girl who had her third birthday party gatecrashed by Sir David Attenborough in a hot air balloon is reunited with TV legend
Sun, 29 Jan 2017 19:24:53 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/girl-who-third-birthday-party-9693311>
"The TV legend was speaking at an event in Edinburgh and Julie Paterson
was in the audience to hear his recollection of the story."
(More...)
Photographing one of the world’s tallest trees
Mon, 30 Jan 2017 22:46:49 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/abc-news-australia/photographing-one-of-the-worlds-tallest-trees-3ae8a57bcd84>
"It took 67 days, 12,000 images and a climb to stomach-churning heights,
but photographer Steven Pearce finally got the image he was after of the
world’s tallest flowering plant, Tasmania’s eucalyptus regnans."
(More...)
A Woman Moves Like a Parrot While Wearing an Incredibly Realistic Costume of Her Own Design
Mon, 30 Jan 2017 22:47:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://laughingsquid.com/a-woman-moves-like-a-parrot-while-wearing-an-incredibly-realistic-costume-of-her-own-design/>
"The very talented costume designer Chrystumes modeled a beautiful
headpiece from an incredibly realistic blue and gold macaw costume of
her own design, mimicking the very deliberate movements made by these
(More...)
A Four Planet System in Orbit, Directly Imaged and Remarkable
Tue, 31 Jan 2017 21:16:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/a-four-planet-system-in-orbit-directly-imaged-and-remarkable/>
"This evocative movie of four planets more massive than Jupiter orbiting
the young star HR 8799 is a composite of sorts, including images taken
over seven years at the W.M. Keck observatory in Hawaii."
(More...)
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