- Mitch Horowitz: What is the occult? – Boing Boing
Interesting definition supplied. I like the term "occult" because it's admirably woobly-woo resistant, when correctly understood (something far too many "practicioners" fail to do). As I'm sure most of you know, it means "hidden". And what is hidden may be revealed with science when we work it out. It's a lot better than "supernatural", which is a term I don't like – there is no supernatural, merely the natural that science has not fully explained yet.
- Chord by Conrad Shawcross
Must remember to book tickets to see this.
- re:vision recycled camera lens bracelets – Oye Modern. Unique, funky, limited edition jewellery.
Beautiful, and I kinda want one, but much, much too pricey to be worth it.
- MediaPost Publications Judge Orders Google To Deactivate User's Gmail Account
This sort of combination of abuse of power and utter moronic stupidity by the courts and major institutions makes me incandescent. There are far worse things that happen in the world every day, and I know it, but this sort of thing is a particular hot-button for me, because it's so self-evidently unjust and unreasonable that I cannot fathom how any sane person could conceive of it as a decent or sensible thing to do.
- Dyatlov Pass incident – Wikipedia
Well, this is crying out to be recycled into some nasty bit of horror/mystery fiction or something.
Bookmarks for September 24, 2009
- Innocent in London – 'Suspicious behaviour on the tube'
Interesting, if long, account of one man's unlawful arrest shortly fter the 7/7 bombings, and his long, slow progress to getting the records expunged, and a general apology for the shoddy behaviour of the police. Worth a read.
- Stacey, Simplified portfolios
Really, really simply image portfolio system. Might have a go at this myself, as and when I get around to organising my photos in some useful manner.
- Blood-powered lamp
This is awesome on a number of levels. I want several.
- Nee Naw – Marshmallows
On the one hand, this is a tragedy. Someone's, y'know, dead. On the other, well…
Bookmarks for September 23, 2009
- Let Pandas Die out, Says Naturalist – ABC News
I have been saying this for years. They're bad tempered (even by the standards of bears), given any sort of choice, they will choose eat food that is nassively bad for them, and they don't like shagging. And while I know I fit two of those three criteria myself, the difference between me and them is that I'm not draining the resources of charities that could be better used for other, more useful species.
- russell davies: ruricomp
Some musing on the fate of those who may not get caught up in the u(r)bicomp culture shift of the coming decades.
- LRB · Roy Mayall: Diary
Fucked off by postal strikes? (I know I am – my twice-weekly delivery from Graze hasn't had any delicious fresh fruit in for weeks, and often turns up on completely the wrong day of late.) Go and read this, and learn a bit about what's actually going on with your post. Maybe you'll have a bit more sympathy for the poor bastards who have to deliver it. I know I do.
- Red Dust – a gallery on Flickr
Jesus cocking christ. A) I am glad I do not live anywhere near Sydney right now. B) These are some fucking stunning photos – it's like looking at life in some future martian city.
Bookmarks for September 22, 2009
- David Byrne’s Perfect City – WSJ.com
A quote by David Byrne from Matt's article that I thought I was worth saving in it's own right:
"A city can't be too small. Size guarantees anonymity—if you make an embarrassing mistake in a large city, and it's not on the cover of the Post, you can probably try again. The generous attitude towards failure that big cities afford is invaluable—it's how things get created. In a small town everyone knows about your failures, so you are more careful about what you might attempt." - The City Is A Battlesuit For Surviving The Future – Future metro – io9
Matt Jones on the future of cities, their place in sf, and well, a typically smart piece of joined up thinking. Just go and read it.
- YouTube – Outlaw commentary highlights
This is one of the funniest bits of DVD commentary I've heard in ages. I am genuinely unsure if this is a joke or not, but still, it's hysterical.
- The Ultimate Uncluttered Tube Map – Londonist
This is inspired. I recommend this map to all vistors to London. It really does contain 90% of everything tourists need, and for the other 10%, just ask a native. (Assuming you know any. If you don't, then how the hell are you reading this?)
Bookmarks for September 21, 2009
- The 50 best foods in the world and where to eat them | Life and style | The Observer
Well, I've had one of them, and yes, it really is *that* good. So I probably ought to get on with a few of the others.
- The next generation bends over
This phenomenon can be observed in so many walks of life, and is most commonly known as "selling out", but I do find this specific case particularly interesting, largely for the reasons Jason lays out here.
Bookmarks for September 16, 2009
- Eleven Things I’d Do If I Ran a News Organization « Mediactive
Yes. This. Get to it, news organisations.
Bookmarks for September 15, 2009
- Open Rights Group | Stop Disconnection without trial
Go here. Sign this. Now. It is almost certainly the most important and useful thing you will do today.
- The Amazing Renewable Dress! — Scene 360 Illusion – Amazing Art, Design, Technology, and Video
Another really cunning bit of product design, although I think I can do without actually owning this one myself.
- Nearness – Blog – BERG
A short film about RFID and NFC. It is very pretty.
- but does it float : Mona Hatoum
Some lovely installations here.
- chris chapman: roll-out vegetable garden
There are absolutely inspired bits of design genius. I want them. Of course, I would also need a garden, so my plan falls down, but still, these are just fucking magic…
Bookmarks for September 11, 2009
- Literary technique – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In future, I shall employ alien space bats in all things. Just because I want to be able to answer the question "how're you going to do that" by shouting "WITH ALIEN SPACE BATS" at people.
- Treatment of Alan Turing was “appalling” – PM | Number10.gov.uk
I know that this is just words. It's an easy thing to say, and it costs him nothing. Of course it was bound to happen. But still: it has taken such a very long time for it to be said, and it is absolutely right that it should be said. And as cynical as I am about politics and politicians, it still makes me happy when they do something that I agree with 100%, however easy and simple it is. And it's this simple "we’re sorry, you deserved so much better."
Bookmarks for September 10, 2009
- A glass act: sculptures of deadly viruses | Art and design | guardian.co.uk
I may have to go and look at these, if I can find the time.
- Superman 2000
The rejected pitched by Morrison, Millar, Peyer and Waid from 2000, when they were told they'd never be allowed to writer Superman. Quite a lot of this clearly showed up in All Star Superman, but still – it's a fun read.
Bookmarks for September 9, 2009
- Matthieu Ricard on the habits of happiness | Video on TED.com
I have heard of this guy before, but this is a truly amazing talk.
- TEDTalks as of 09.02.09
A spreadsheet listing all the various TED talks to date, and providing a brief summary of each. Really nice way of finding talks by smart people that you may have missed.