Glass Wings Blog: December 2017
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (ONE TAKE Vintage Postmodern Jukebox Cover)
Sat, 2 Dec 2017 21:52:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UngXu2zwF9E
'Postmodern Jukebox's Vintage One-Take Cover of "Don't Stop Believin'"
by Journey'
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Elephants, empathy and the consolation of art
Sat, 2 Dec 2017 21:53:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://dailyreview.com.au/elephants-empathy-consolation-art/68660/
"Why would any decent person want to kill an elephant? The way we treat
animals is as good a guide as any to our true character. Art helps us to
deepen our understanding and appreciation of lives other than our own,
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Obituary: Kumantjai L Namatjira Lankin
Sun, 3 Dec 2017 19:44:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://dailyreview.com.au/obituary-kumantjai-l-namatjira-lankin/68669/
"Kumantjai L Namatjira Lankin, artist, granddaughter of Albert Namatjira
and tireless advocate for the return of the copyright in his work to her
family, died at Alice Springs Hospital October 19, 2017. A double
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Researchers find oddities in high-profile gender studies
Sun, 3 Dec 2017 19:45:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/researchers-find-oddities-in-high-profile-gender-studies/>
"Guéguen's large body of research is the kind of social psychology that
demonstrates, and likely fuels, the Mars vs. Venus model of gender
interactions. But it seems that at least some of his conclusions are
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A Night at the Garden
Mon, 4 Dec 2017 21:50:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://fieldofvision.org/a-night-at-the-garden
"In 1939, New York's Madison Square Garden was host to an enormous—and
shocking—gathering of 22,000 Americans that has largely been forgotten
from our history."
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Everything That's Wrong With Social Media And Big Internet Companies: Part 1
Mon, 4 Dec 2017 21:53:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171128/23565738694/everything-thats-wrong-with-social-media-big-internet-companies-part-1.shtml>
"We need to chart the kinds of arguments for new internet regulation
that are going to confront us, so I've been compiling a list of them.
It's a work in progress, but here are three major claims that are
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7 ways towns and cities are turning from grey to green
Tue, 5 Dec 2017 23:52:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/11/7-ways-towns-and-cities-are-turning-from-grey-to-green/>
"These are seven stand-out examples of how cities are learning to
nurture plants and wildlife."
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The Problem With Stories
Tue, 5 Dec 2017 23:54:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/whither-news/the-problem-with-stories-4fdcec216228
"The problem, I think, is our system of pitching stories to fill our
products. The goal of journalism is not to write stories people will
read. The goal of journalism is to educate, to uncover, to check, to
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Happy - Pharrell Williams (on 10 Different Musical Instruments Cover) (ft. Gunhild Carling)
Wed, 6 Dec 2017 21:59:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xywNeumntoE
"Postmodern Jukebox 10 Different Musical Instruments cover of
Happy by
Pharrell Williams ft. Gunhild Carling."
(More...)
Geena Davis meets Paul Feig: ‘I had an audition cancelled when I wouldn’t have dinner with the producer’
Wed, 6 Dec 2017 22:01:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/02/geena-davis-paul-feig-actor-director-gender-bias-hollywood>
"The actor and the director discuss Hollywood, harassment and gender bias"
Good people doing good work. Via Kee Hinckley.
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Why do blind people wear glasses when they can't see?
Thu, 7 Dec 2017 23:44:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-blind-people-wear-glasses-when-they-cant-see/answer/Arie-Anna-Farnam>
"I am going to try very hard to be polite here. It isn't easy because
this question makes my blood boil. I am often harassed by people who
take exception to the combination of my white cane, my glasses and the
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Your “Financial Shock” Wealth
Thu, 7 Dec 2017 23:46:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://shift.newco.co/your-financial-shock-wealth-4845e6dc1d2f
"If you want to know how wealthy you really are, ask what kind of
financial shock you could weather."
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The new Patreon fee structure
Fri, 8 Dec 2017 17:03:20 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Here's the background:
https://blog.patreon.com/updating-patreons-fee-structure/
Let me start by saying that I am a great fan of Patreon. However, I
believe they have made another major mistake with these changes that
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Oceans under greatest threat in history, warns Sir David Attenborough
Fri, 8 Dec 2017 22:58:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/05/oceans-under-greatest-threat-in-history-warns-sir-david-attenborough>
"The world’s oceans are under the greatest threat in history, according
to Sir David Attenborough. The seas are a vital part of the global
ecosystem, leaving the future of all life on Earth dependent on
(More...)
Portugal’s radical drugs policy is working. Why hasn’t the world copied it?
Sat, 9 Dec 2017 22:39:33 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radical-drugs-policy-is-working-why-hasnt-the-world-copied-it>
"Since it decriminalised all drugs in 2001, Portugal has seen dramatic
drops in overdoses, HIV infection and drug-related crime."
(More...)
When You Want Your MRI Like a Blanket
Sat, 9 Dec 2017 22:40:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://blog.adafruit.com/2017/12/06/when-you-want-your-mri-like-a-blanket/>
"Although I’m aware of traditional and open MRIs, I’ve never witnessed
something that was easy to use for young children. Fellow wearable tech
lover @MarijaButkovic alerted me to an exciting collaboration happening
(More...)
The Literary Prize for the Refusal of Literary Prizes
Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:00:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2017/12/06/literary-prize-refusal-literary-prizes/>
"It isn’t what the people who established the awards want them to do or
to mean, but it’s how they’re used. As a way to honor a writer, an award
has genuine value, but the use of prizes as a marketing ploy by
(More...)
Joan Jett in new Blondie video
Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:01:31 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://boingboing.net/2017/12/07/joan-jett-in-new-blondie-video.html
"Enjoy the dark (very dark) comedy of this new Blondie video for the
track "Doom or Destiny," starring Joan Jett and Debbie Harry anchoring
an apocalyptic newscast about global warming, nuclear war, and, of
(More...)
THE FORCE: A musical tribute to Princess Leia
Mon, 11 Dec 2017 22:28:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L_a9HxXzS0
"A superchill tribute to Carrie Fisher, the galaxy's favorite princess.
Rest in Peace."
(More...)
Adult Content Policies: A Textbook Case of Private Censorship
Mon, 11 Dec 2017 22:29:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/12/adult-content-policies-textbook-private-censorship-fail>
"Of the many reasons why social media platforms should resist pressure
to “voluntarily” censor their users, one stands out: history shows that
they will do it badly, taking down valuable and lawful content in the
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This Tiny Country Feeds the World
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 22:24:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/09/holland-agriculture-sustainable-farming/>
"The Netherlands has become an agricultural giant by showing what the
future of farming could look like."
(More...)
Cards Against Humanity Redistributes Your Wealth
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 22:25:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://cardsagainsthumanityredistributesyourwealth.com/
"In order for Cards Against Humanity to truly save America, we realized
we would have to tackle the biggest issue in the world: wealth inequality."
(More...)
Visions, Ventures, Escape Velocities: A Collection of Space Futures
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 23:57:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://csi.asu.edu/books/vvev/
"Why should we go to space? To learn more about the universe and our
place in it? To extract resources and conduct commerce? To demonstrate
national primacy and technological prowess? To live and thrive in
(More...)
Pets of the Homeless Australia
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 23:59:34 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://petsofthehomeless.org.au/
"Pets of the Homeless Australia provides food, veterinary care and other
support to pet owners in need. We help people who are at risk of or currently
experiencing homelessness by making sure their companion pets are well looked
(More...)
10 SFF Books Written by Women of Color That Will Change Your Worldview Completely
Thu, 14 Dec 2017 22:45:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://tubbyandcoos.com/10-books-woc-change-worldview/
"All too often, we don’t get to see books written by women of color.
They exist; they’ve always existed, but most of the time, they remain
hidden behind a wall of white male stories, especially in science
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Fascism Runs in My American Family
Thu, 14 Dec 2017 22:47:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.thedailybeast.com/fascism-runs-in-my-american-family
"The diehard Trump supporters aren't being fooled. The Moore voters
aren't pinching their noses. A large portion of Americans actually agree
with the hateful things these men spew."
(More...)
Wintergatan: Music Machine Mondays Theme Song
Sun, 17 Dec 2017 23:49:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5t3bbsJpYk
"This has been requested by you in the comments so here it is!"
Great work expanding this into a full-length track! Lovely video too.
(More...)
Love Is Not Capitalist
Sun, 17 Dec 2017 23:50:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://katherinephelps.com/2017/12/love-is-not-capitalist/
"Love is an important way that we relate to ourselves, one another, and
the planet. Currently what this planet needs most is more love. Sadly,
love is used as a commodity, an enticement, and a weapon, thereby not
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Margaret Atwood: It's Not Climate Change - It's Everything Change
Mon, 18 Dec 2017 20:47:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/matter/it-s-not-climate-change-it-s-everything-change-8fd9aa671804>
"What are the implications for the way we view both ourselves and the
way we live? In brief: in the coal energy culture — a culture of workers
and production — you are your job. “I am what I make.” In an oil and gas
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A journey through a land of extreme poverty: welcome to America
Mon, 18 Dec 2017 20:48:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/15/america-extreme-poverty-un-special-rapporteur>
"The UN’s Philip Alston is an expert on deprivation – and he wants to
know why 41m Americans are living in poverty. The Guardian joined him on
a special two-week mission into the dark heart of the world’s richest
(More...)
Using computers made from e-waste and jerrycans, kids in Chad use internet for first time
Tue, 19 Dec 2017 22:32:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://mashable.com/2017/12/11/jerrycan-computers-chad-unicef/
"Making computers out of e-waste and casing them in jerrycans is
allowing kids their first chance to go online. The computers were built
by an association in Chad, called Wenaklabs, in association with UNICEF."
(More...)
Pepper & Carrot Episode 24: The Unity Tree
Tue, 19 Dec 2017 22:35:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.peppercarrot.com/en/article433/episode-24-the-unity-tree
"Behind this little parody about Xmas I hope you noticed the metaphor
about the creative process described in the steps of this story: the
desire, the frustration, the combination of resources, the isolation,
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The Sore Tooth and the Broken Umbrella: Brexit and the Crisis of Nationalism - Fintan O’Toole
Thu, 21 Dec 2017 22:30:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://vimeo.com/247411379 (52 mins)
"Brexit is “no longer a credible national project,” said writer and
commentator Fintan O’Toole at the TASC annual lecture 2017. The more it
recedes as a practical proposition, the more its focus will shift into
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The Future Is Inside Out
Thu, 21 Dec 2017 22:31:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/@muse_9093/the-future-is-inside-out-620847df4d2f
"No grouping of human beings seems to be immune from a felt need to
hate. We are drawing each other in such absolutist terms, as if no one
can change and no one can grow. This makes apparent solutions to the
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The 2017 comedy wildlife photography awards
Sat, 23 Dec 2017 16:58:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2017/dec/14/the-2017-comedy-wildlife-photography-awards>
"Out of 3,500 entries from across the world, this year’s funny winners
include a laughing dormouse, a shocked seal, and bears caught in the act"
(More...)
The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest: 2017 Contest Winners
Sat, 23 Dec 2017 17:05:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2017win.html
"As has happened every year since the contest went public in 1983, thousands of
entries poured in not just from the United States and Canada but from such
far-flung locales as England, Wales, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
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Customer Service Wolf: Apex Retail Predator
Mon, 25 Dec 2017 23:54:15 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Humble Book Bundle: A Galaxy of Stars in Sci-Fi & Fantasy by Open Road
Mon, 25 Dec 2017 23:55:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/galaxy-of-stars-books
"Sometimes you just need a little space. Take some time for yourself to
explore new worlds in this science fiction & fantasy bundle! You'll find
flights of fancy from Ursula K. Le Guin, Patricia C. Wrede, Greg Bear,
(More...)
In Australia, Mental Healthcare is a Luxury Not Everyone Can Afford
Tue, 26 Dec 2017 22:58:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
It’s a wonderful raven’s life
Tue, 26 Dec 2017 22:59:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://corvidresearch.blog/2017/12/21/its-a-wonderful-ravens-life/
"Every year, Jimmy graces our screens as countless people watch him help
tell the story of the Christmas classic,
It’s a Wonderful Life. I’m
talking of course about Jimmy the Raven, though I suppose one could make
(More...)
Reality Winner profile is a beautiful portrait of a brilliant, principled patriot who messed up
Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:37:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://boingboing.net/2017/12/23/reality-winner-profile-is-a-be.html
"This is a long overdue dive into Winner and her story, and it's [...]
aimed at both the general public and a specific constituency: the other
young idealists in the intelligence community who have watched the
(More...)
How Do You Keep an Elephant Warm? Knit a Giant Blanket
Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:38:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/24/world/asia/elephant-blanket-myanmar.html>
"When the temperatures dipped, Ms. Chailert and Blankets for Baby Rhinos
connected on Facebook, and the blankets-for-baby-elephants operation began."
(More...)
The impossibility of intelligence explosion
Thu, 28 Dec 2017 22:48:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@francois.chollet/the-impossibility-of-intelligence-explosion-5be4a9eda6ec>
"In this post, I argue that intelligence explosion is impossible — that
the notion of intelligence explosion comes from a profound
misunderstanding of both the nature of intelligence and the behavior of
(More...)
Photographer Spends Almost 10 Years Photographing the Most Beautiful Libraries Around the World
Thu, 28 Dec 2017 22:49:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://blog.adafruit.com/2017/12/26/photographer-spends-almost-10-years-photographing-the-most-beautiful-libraries-around-the-world/>
"German architectural photographer Reinhard Görner has been working in
the field since 1982, photographing both historical and contemporary
architecture."
(More...)
Want a Smart Home Assistant? Invite This Artist to Watch You for Three Days Instead #ArtTuesday
Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:26:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://blog.adafruit.com/2017/12/26/want-a-smart-home-assistant-invite-this-artist-to-watch-you-for-three-days-instead-arttuesday/>
"Artist Lauren McCarthy wants to be your virtual assistant, but the
catch is you have to invite her into your home to surveil your life. It
might not sound like a bad idea, since she promises to listen to you,
(More...)
Professional climate denial took hundreds of millions from the CO2 industries, then slipped off their leash
Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:27:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://boingboing.net/2017/12/26/mandatory-co2-increases.html
"These thinktanks are made up of true believers, people who literally
think that scientists are secretly conspiring to trick us all about
climate change. They're pushing the US toward a bizarre place where
(More...)
Asking the Right Questions About AI
Sat, 30 Dec 2017 20:05:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Warning: may be paywalled.
<
https://medium.com/@yonatanzunger/asking-the-right-questions-about-ai-7ed2d9820c48>
"So today, we’re going to talk about the realities of AI: what it can
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True Justice Is Restitution, Not Punishment
Sat, 30 Dec 2017 20:07:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://fee.org/articles/true-justice-is-restitution-not-punishment/
"Justice is served when people who have had their rights violated
receive restitution as compensation for the harm they suffered."
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They Should Stop Their Crying. They Hate Their Country …
Sun, 31 Dec 2017 23:46:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The Fourth Annual Academics with Cats Awards 2017 – Winners!
Sun, 31 Dec 2017 23:47:15 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
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