Cool Things You Read on the Internet

[playwithfire]

I figured we could use a thread where you post interesting things you read on the internet. NOT a General Headlines thread, though I think any good articles that you find that explore a topic could absolutely be posted here, but I also mean things like The Onion and Thought Catalog and things. We all read too much awesome shit to not share.
NASA was founded in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for the express purpose of locating and assassinating God. By 1969, it had completed a successful lunar landing, bringing mankind that much closer to neutralizing the Almighty. It was in that year that U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first to step on the moon, and uttered the legendary phrase, "Where are you, God, you fucking faggot? Come and get me! (http://www.theonion.com/articles/nasa-completes-52year-mission-to-find-kill-god,19263/)"

[Elke]

I like this idea! Currently don't have anything to share, but I just wanted to let my support for your excellent thread be known!

[playwithfire]

Thanks, Elke! <3

Okay, I failed at changing the thread's title. I wanted it to say "Cool Things You Read on the Internet" instead of "Articles" because I felt that was too narrow. Also I should have added "johnbron" as a tag.

One of the most dead on articles about being an introvert I've ever read. (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/2696/)

[ltrandazzo]

I'm curious, can you, the creator of the thread, go to the forum view and double click on the thread title that you created to change it? Because I can.

[playwithfire]

Nope. Not unless I'm missing something. Thanks for changing it, though.

[ltrandazzo]

No problem.

http://io9.com/5864384/worlds-biggest-insect-could-snap-your-finger-off

GIANT INSECT WILL EAT YOUR FINGER AND LAUGH AT YOUR WEAKNESS

[icklekitty]

This website counts http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com (http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/)

[Elke]

Slightly more serious, but I thought these articles and opinion pieces were rather interesting:
- Marines Urinating On Corpses: What the Video Doesn't Show (http://open.salon.com/blog/annie_keeghan/2012/01/13/marines_urinating_on_corpseswhat_the_video_doesnt_ show)
- Lucretius’ Poem “On the Nature of Things”: The Answer Man (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/08/110808fa_fact_greenblatt)
- Why Are Smart People Usually Ugly? (http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/01/are_smart_people_ugly_the_explainer_s_2011_questio n_of_the_year_.html)

And, to throw in a lightweight: 10 Nagging Questions Left Open by Disney Movies (http://io9.com/5872495/10-nagging-questions-left-open-by-disney-movies)

[halloween]

AWESOME! I can finally spam somewhere appropriate! Lydia, i love you.

[Fixer808]

Yeah, the Star Wars one is dead on. (http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-biggest-missed-opportunities-in-fiction)

[heroicraptor]

Yeah, the Star Wars one is dead on. (http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-biggest-missed-opportunities-in-fiction)

Wow, that actually sounds really good. I would watch that.

[Halo Infinity]

Would Maddox count here? I can see how that could be debatable though, because there are people that also thought that he's lost his edge a while ago. (Not just in ETS, I'm also referring to people in general as well.) I still like to read his entries from time to time, and I'm just glad to know that he's still keeping it going.

http://maddox.xmission.com/

His latest update is about math.

http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=math

[Elke]

I had fun reading this, though it's not really interesting :D: Swallowed by a whale — a true tale? (http://www.salon.com/2012/01/15/swallowed_by_a_whale_a_true_tale/singleton) It's actually more about how American whalers died in the 19th century, but still. It was a good read.

[Pillfred]

I had fun reading this, though it's not really interesting :D: Swallowed by a whale — a true tale? (http://www.salon.com/2012/01/15/swallowed_by_a_whale_a_true_tale/singleton) It's actually more about how American whalers died in the 19th century, but still. It was a good read.

That was a pretty good read. It's pretty crazy the information that is out there.

[Elke]

Yeah, isn't it? And I love reading about pointless things like whale-related injuries during 19th century whaling expeditions. I've always found you learn a lot more about human beings and their world by discovering seemingly useless tidbits of information, than by actually studying them.

Also found this very interesting, mostly because I'm a teacher myself: What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finland's School Success (http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/).

[Ryan]

No problem.

http://io9.com/5864384/worlds-biggest-insect-could-snap-your-finger-off

GIANT INSECT WILL EAT YOUR FINGER AND LAUGH AT YOUR WEAKNESS

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/commenter/1600000/1607510_32.jpg (http://io9.com/people/serenada/) serenada (http://io9.com/people/serenada/)
01 Dec 2011 5:27 PM (http://io9.com/5864384/worlds-biggest-insect-could-snap-your-finger-off?comment=44834103#comments)

That thing's way too big to lay eggs in your ear. It'd have to lay them in your anus or something.


lmao

[heroicraptor]

Nixon's speechwriter had prepared a speech in case of a catastrophic event Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin could not return to Earth.

Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.
These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.
These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.
They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.
In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.
In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.
Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.
For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.

http://watergate.info/nixon/moon-disaster-speech-1969.shtml

[Beef of the Sea]

Keloid: A Short film by BLR (http://vimeo.com/33030265)

[Fixer808]

Nixon's speechwriter had prepared a speech in case of a catastrophic event Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin could not return to Earth.

Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.
These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.
These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.
They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.
In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.
In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.
Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.
For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.

http://watergate.info/nixon/moon-disaster-speech-1969.shtml
Now picture it coming out of this guy:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LvdCtiHppcA/TaN0pWqEg2I/AAAAAAAADkM/MMLY1bkKdhc/s1600/most-hated-liar-richard-nixon.jpg

[heroicraptor]

I would post a Futurama Nixon "Aroo!" gif, but I can't find one.

[halloween]

This is a fascinating read! For those interested in the topic of evolutionary psychology!
http://edge.org/conversation/the-argumentative-theory

IT'S BLOWING MY MIND MAN.

[theruiner]

Really interesting article (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202?link=mostpopular2&page=1) about the homophobic atmosphere of a small town and its toll on the local youth.

[halloween]

Really interesting article (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202?link=mostpopular2&page=1) about the homophobic atmosphere of a small town and its toll on the local youth.
Ugh, i read that...so sad.

[theruiner]

^^Definitely. I teared up a bit reading it.

[theimage13]

Am I a horrible person for having no interest in reading that? Homophobia pisses me of to no end...I just don't see what good could come from reading about an entire town of complete ass hats.

[Elke]

This is a fascinating read! For those interested in the topic of evolutionary psychology!
http://edge.org/conversation/the-argumentative-theory

IT'S BLOWING MY MIND MAN.


I'm always amazed at how modern scientists can pretend the things they find are 'new'. Just look back at the debates between philosophers and sophists in ancient Athens (think for instance Socrates) for the exact same insight.
Ironically, new contexts don't create new truths, just different arguments to support the same basic concepts.

[/rant]

[halloween]

I'm always amazed at how modern scientists can pretend the things they find are 'new'. Just look back at the debates between philosophers and sophists in ancient Athens (think for instance Socrates) for the exact same insight.
Ironically, new contexts don't create new truths, just different arguments to support the same basic concepts.

[/rant]

Heh, the one philosophy class i took wasn't a history one, so i don't know much know about what these debates are that you're talking about. I'll have to take the time to read up on it one day ( i've repeating "i'll have time to read ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!!" after graduation, to keep me going through this last semester, hehe.)

[Elke]

Plato writes about them in The Sophist, and there's also some secondary litterature on it. If I have the time before Wednesday, I'll try to post it here. It's pretty interesting, from an epistemological point of view.

[halloween]

Oh I'd love to read it!

Also, astronomy is pretty interesting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17117030

[halloween]

Dolphins name themselves apparently! Neat.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060508_dolphins.html

[Fixer808]

I would totally be "Fish-Lord, the Mackeral Destroyer".

[theruiner]

A trip to Mars will run you about $500,000...eventually. (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/03/elon-musk-says-ticket-to-mars-will-cost-500000/)

[ibanez33]

I would totally be "Fish-Lord, the Mackeral Destroyer".

Shit, this was way funnier before I went back a page and saw the context. Now it's just slightly less hilarious.

[halloween]

In the quest to understand a little about chaos theory- I came about this page talking about mathematics and truth! (http://www.abarim-publications.com/KurtGodel.html#.T6xiMOtYuSo)I don't know if this is what is given in classes i've heard called "applied math", but if I knew math could be applied to things like this/ideas as a child- I probably would have tried harder in math class, haha!

[onthewall2983]

Probably not as cool to a lot of people here, but someone on another music forum I was more active on before coming cut and paste 2 chapters of an unpublished Sammy Hagar biography. I think he actually sued the writer to keep it from being released because the ill-fated reunion of 2004 was probably in the works then. It basically covered the last two years he was in Van Halen in the 90's. Morbidly fascinating stuff about the inner-workings of a band in collapse. It's long and rambles a bit in places but is a good read. I'd post the whole thing here, but it's way too long.

[Elke]

Who works the longest hours? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18144320)

I work a lot more than the average Belgian and even the average person, but thankfully not as much as the average Greek, Chinese or Korean worker. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. Fun to do, though.

[Beef of the Sea]

Huh, apparently I work 1200 more hours than the average Australian, there you go.

[theruiner]

Astronauts work on recipes that may someday be eaten on Mars (http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-06/creating-cuisine-eat-mars)

[theruiner]

About a million years ago, humans almost went extinct (http://tinyurl.com/d7pznkn)

[halloween]

A really inspiring read about post-capitalism society
http://jacobinmag.com/winter-2012/four-futures/

[Elke]

10 Languages You Probably Hadn't Heard Of (http://listverse.com/2012/07/17/10-languages-you-probably-havent-heard-of/) (they got a bit of the info on Fries wrong, but still nice to discover new things)

Poll Shows Fivefold Increase in Ranks of U.S. Atheists (http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2012/08/14/american_atheists_1_in_20_americans_say_they_are_a theists_.html): the interesting bit is the link to the actual survey, and the actual numbers there. Now of course this is a survey asking about how people identify, not what they are. Most of my students would probably say they're atheists, but they still believe in life after death, fate/destiny and that 'something' created the world but through the Big Bang. So what I'd really like to read is the follow-up to that question, specifying what aspects of the supernatural people do still believe in when they call themselves atheists. And also: how many of the people who call themselves religious, do not believe in god (which would qualify them as atheists as well). Because there are plenty of those around. And finally: why people would choose non-religious over atheist - how do they define religious/atheist?
Anyway, interesting starting point, and some surprising numbers, but dodgy methodology and ultimately unsatisfying. But it's a good thing to see scientific research into religion making some headlines.

Five atheists who ruin it for everybody else (http://www.salon.com/2012/08/04/five_most_awful_atheists_salpart/)is refreshing because it's written by an atheist. It's not at all serious, but notable for finally FINALLY putting GODDAMN Ayaan Hirsi Ali in her place. This is something that can't be done in Belgium or The Netherlands, because she's like a fucking holy cow over here, but she's the worst case of convert-killing-own-past imaginable. Only Hitler's hatred of short dudes with black hair was more obviously Freudian than her self-destructive turn for the neocon worst.
Also, the piece of Sam Harris was funny, because it's true.

And finally, Love, Actually (http://www.guernicamag.com/features/love-actually/)by Eva Illouz from her book Why Love Hurts: A Sociological Explanation points out a crucial change in the relationship between self-validation and romantic relationships in the last 200 years. It's a really good read, and thought-provoking.

[Elke]

Oooh, loved this, it was on my tumblr this morning:


Queerness, to me, is about far more than homosexual attraction. It’s about a willingness to see all other taboos broken down. Sure, many of us start on this path when we first feel “same sex” or “same gender” attraction (though what is sex? And what is gender? And does anyone really have the same sex or gender as anyone else?). But queerness doesn’t stop there.
This is a somewhat controversial stance, but to me queer means something completely different than “gay” or “lesbian” or “bisexual.” A queer person is usually someone who has come to a non-binary view of gender, who recognizes the validity of all trans identities, and who, given this understanding of infinite gender possibilities, finds it hard to define their sexuality any longer in a gender-based way. Queer people understand and support non-monogamy even if they do not engage in it themselves. They can grok being asexual or aromantic. (What does sex have to do with love, or love with sex, necessarily?) A queer can view promiscuous (protected) public bathhouse sex with strangers and complete abstinence as equally healthy.
Queers understand that people have different relationships to their bodies. We get what it means to be stone. We know what body dysphoria is about. We understand that not everyone likes to get touched the same way or to get touched at all. We realize that people with disabilities may have different sexual needs, and that people with survivor histories often have sexual triggers. We can negotiate safe and creative ways to be intimate with people with HIV/AIDs and other STIs.
Queers understand the range of power and sensation and the diversity of sexual dynamics. We are tops and bottoms, doms and subs, sadists and masochists and sadomasochists, versatiles and switches. We know what we like and don’t like in bed.
We embrace a wide range of relationship types. We can be partners, lovers, friends with benefits, platonic sweethearts, chosen family. We can have very different dynamics with different people, often all at once. We don’t expect one person to be able to fulfill all our diverse needs, fantasies and ideals indefinitely.
Because our views on relationships, sex, gender, love, bodies, and family are so unconventional, we are of necessity anti-assimilationist. Because under the kyriarchy we suffer, and watch the people we love suffering, we are political. Because we want to survive, we fight. We only want the freedom to be ourselves, love ourselves, love each other, and live together. Because we are routinely denied that, we are pissed.
Queer doesn’t mean “don’t label me,” it means “I am naming myself.” It means “ask me more questions if you’re curious” and in the same breath means “fuck off.”
At least, that is what it means to me.


http://tranarchism.com/2011/07/07/what-queerness-means-to-me/

[Magtig]

Who works the longest hours? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18144320)

I work a lot more than the average Belgian and even the average person, but thankfully not as much as the average Greek, Chinese or Korean worker. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. Fun to do, though.
"You work 2859 hours more than the annual average for United States.
This is 2836 hours more than the OECD average."

O_O

[Pillfred]

http://www.upworthy.com/a-tea-partier-decided-to-pick-a-fight-with-a-foreign-president-it-didnt-go-so-we?g=2&c=la1

"Michael D. Higgins (who was elected president of Ireland last year) is fed up with over-the-top Tea Party rhetoric, and he isn't afraid to show it. Listen to him call out radio host Michael Graham on everything from health care to foreign policy in this heated exchange from 2010. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one." - From the site.

Not really sure where to put this, here, random news, or just in things that cheer me up. I any event, old man owns face.

[jessamineny]

OK, so this isn't something I read, but it really didn't belong in the YouTube thread... I'm not sure how I haven't seen this TEDTalk before. It's awesome.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o&amp;feature=youtu.be

[allegro]

Wow. Wow wow wow, that is amazing.

[Elke]

I absolutely adore both Brene's talks for TED, they're both amazing, powerful and inspirational.

[Pillfred]

Chris Kluwe pro jock owns (http://deadspin.com/5941348/they-wont-magically-turn-you-into-a-lustful-cockmonster-chris-kluwe-explains-gay-marriage-to-the-politician-who-is-offended-by-an-nfl-player-supporting-it) Emmet C Burns Jr. for chastising some Ravens player, "They won't magically turn into a lustful cockmonster". It's pretty standard fair but he has some pretty good lines and make the ever obvious points these thick headed fucks cant seem to wrap their heads around.

[jessamineny]

I absolutely adore both Brene's talks for TED, they're both amazing, powerful and inspirational.

I didn't know there was a second one. Thank you!! (She has a new book coming out, btw.) Here's a direct link to the second TEDTalk, if anyone else wants to see it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0

[halloween]

Mitt Romney and The Arts (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lucas-kavner/mitt-romney-would-elimina_b_1834429.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false). I didn't necessarily want to post this in some political thread, because to me this was more interesting because of the author's explanation of the role the "arts" has in our economy, and it's basically a "trickle down" (my words, not his) effect in terms of jobs- by funding the arts, you're giving work to all the people behinds the scenes in the art "industry"- many who might not even be artists themselves.
I wish art had a bigger "role" in the culture of this country (not sure how to define what I mean except that people are more likely to be discouraged rather than encouraged by society to pursue the arts. We had a discussion about this in a Russian Lit class, where my teacher was explaining how in Russia, it's considered a very noble pursuit and highly encouraged.) I'd like to fantasize that such a thing would make it easier for this country to have some sort of unified identity/pride. I'm not an expert on such things, so I'm just conjecturing.

[Elke]

Some random stuff:
- The crappest atheist flowchart (http://www.godvoordommen.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AwP-42GCMAAXp_5.png)ever.
- 7 Awesome Facts of Nature (Science Can't Explain) (http://www.cracked.com/article_17679_7-awesome-acts-nature-that-science-cant-explain.html?wa_user1=4&wa_user2=Science&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=recommended)
- Can You Die From a Nightmare? (http://www.buzzfeed.com/doree/can-you-die-from-a-nightmare) Yes, it's buzzfeed, but it's a pretty good read.

[hobochic]

62 Reasons To Go Batshit Over The Birth Of Bill Murray (http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/62-reasons-to-go-batshit-over-the-birth-of-bill-mu-6ygq)

[Magtig]

50 Reasons Orange County is the Worst Fucking Place in America (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/09/50_reasons_why_orange_county_is_the_worst_place_in _america.php)

Oh god, thank you Jesus. Sane people who have noticed how insane this fucking awful place is.

[halloween]

An interesting read about the relationship with the Arab world and the Israeli.
http://www.arabnews.com/arab-spring-and-israeli-enemy

[hobochic]

What does one trillion dollars look like? (http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html)

[halloween]

Autism and cultural context. (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v491/n7422_supp/full/491S18a.html) Really fascinating!

[Christo]

Who works the longest hours? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18144320)

I work a lot more than the average Belgian and even the average person, but thankfully not as much as the average Greek, Chinese or Korean worker. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. Fun to do, though.
Chile isn't China.

[ambergris]

Awesome people hanging out together (http://awesomepeoplehangingouttogether.tumblr.com/)

[Elke]

Eight bosses who screwed their employees after the election (http://www.salon.com/2012/11/20/8_bosses_who_screwed_their_employees_after_obamas_ reelection/) [Salon]

The Tweets of War (http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/11/the-tweets-of-war-israel-and-hamas-take-to-twitter.html) [The New Yorker]

[hobochic]

50 Reasons Orange County is the Worst Fucking Place in America (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/09/50_reasons_why_orange_county_is_the_worst_place_in _america.php)

Oh god, thank you Jesus. Sane people who have noticed how insane this fucking awful place is.

I feel ya, I spent 3 years going insane in OCC.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
from: http://www.trueactivist.com/forum/inspirational-group18/life-forum49/a-professor-stood-before-his-philosophy-class-thread375/

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzp8vy7bwt1qflyrno1_500.jpg

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes”.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed
The professor waited for the laughter to subside…
“Now”, said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things… Your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”
“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your home, your car.”
“The sand is everything else… The small stuff.” If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house or fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just sand.
One student asked, “What about the beer?” The professor responded, “No matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”

[Elke]

I was reading up on the Miami Zombie thing via Slate, and stumbled across this article (http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/the-miami-zombie) in Playboy about the whole 'bath salts' thing (which I genuinly thought were bath salts, until I read it. Ahum.) I thought it was pretty interesting, but if you don't want to read the gross details start on page 2. Page 1 is something out of a horror film.
And for a critical second opinion, the Slate's (http://[B)http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2012/12/28/bath_salts_illegal_will_bath_salts_make_you_go_cra zy.html (Will Bath Salts Make You Go Crazy and Eat Someone's Face? Probably Not.

[Camille]

Some very evocative photographs here.

Enjoy. http://blogs.reuters.com/fullfocus/2012/11/30/best-photos-of-the-year-2012/#a=1

[Elke]

Famous Photographers with their Most Iconic Images (http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2012/01/famous-photogs-pose-with-their-most-iconic-images?cid=5044394&pid=1615)

[Magtig]

Letters of Note (http://www.lettersofnote.com/)

A site filled with letters written by famous people like Bill Hicks and Stanley Kubrick, as well as not-so-famous people such as this (http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html) letter written by a former slave to his former master.

[Elke]

I'm making my year review for my blog, and wanted to share these links:

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/05/12_most_despicable_things_fox_news_did_in_2012/
http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-best-movies-of-2012
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2013/01/2012_national_geographic_photo.html
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/12/2012_year_in_pictures_part_i.html
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/12/2012_year_in_pictures_part_ii.html
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/12/2012_year_in_pictures_part_iii.html
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/12/best_nature_pictures_of_2012.html

[Alexandros]

Letters of Note (http://www.lettersofnote.com/)

A site filled with letters written by famous people like Bill Hicks and Stanley Kubrick, as well as not-so-famous people such as this (http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html) letter written by a former slave to his former master.

Hehe, that letter from the former slave is such a polite, slow burn!

[Elke]

Going All the Way (http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2013/01/nagisa_oshima_s_in_the_realm_of_the_senses_sex_vio lence_and_beauty.html), about Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses

[october_midnight]

Nature has a mathematical formula that will tell you when you will die. (http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/01/22/169976655/nature-has-a-formula-that-tells-us-when-its-time-to-die)

[sentient02970]

Search with Google as if it were the 60's "Mad Men style". (http://www.masswerk.at/google60/) I'm such a computer dork that this has been the best thing I actually USE lately despite how awfully slow it is.

[Elke]

Something that made me think, which doesn't happen often enough: Cracked on Honey Boo Boo (http://www.cracked.com/cracked-64-top-8-everything-of-2012/TV-Show_p2)



So why does TV follow these people and not, say, some suburban family of high-achieving kids balancing their 4.0 GPA with violin lessons?
Because society is in the process of leaving people like the Shannon family behind, and we as a people are going to have to get to where we're OK with that -- it's going to be too horrible to watch otherwise. This is what the election was actually about, if you knew how to read between the lines -- when politicians talk about the 47 percent of Americans who are leaching off the system, they want you to picture 150 million Honey Boo Boos.



People like the Shannon family aren't new, of course, but there was a time when uneducated fuckups could make a good living by working in a coal mine or on an assembly line, or by marrying somebody who did. But those jobs are gone forever, and society has absolutely no solution for what to do with all of its millions of uneducated fuckups who will never go to college or learn the kind of high-tech jobs the future will be based on. Society doesn't have the money to support them, and they can't produce anything society wants. There is no market for their continued existence.
But exist they will, and as low-skill jobs continue to vanish and government checks dry up, they're going to be left to scrounge in the junkyards and scrape up roadkill to eat. Well guess what: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo portrays the Shannons doing both of those things, and doing it happily. That's why the show exists.

[hobochic]

Search with Google as if it were the 60's "Mad Men style". (http://www.masswerk.at/google60/) I'm such a computer dork that this has been the best thing I actually USE lately despite how awfully slow it is.

I got stuck on it as well. Realized after 15 minutes that the volume was loud as hell through my stereo system. Comforting machine sounds letting you know that something concrete is being processed, delivered and presented. Something real is moving, and it pushes air.

[meetree]

Some very evocative photographs here.

Enjoy. http://blogs.reuters.com/fullfocus/2012/11/30/best-photos-of-the-year-2012/#a=1


this is intense!!

[miss k bee]

This guy has devoted his life to looking after orphaned baby Kangaroos - amazing

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267017/Kangaroo-Dundee-Australian-lives-Outback-surrounded-marsupials-set-star-BBC-documentary.html

[Magtig]

Conservatives certainly don't have a lock on unscientific stupidity.

When Progressives Wage War on Reason (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729026.200-lefty-nonsense-when-progressives-wage-war-on-reason.html)

"Of all of today's political philosophies, progressivism stands as the most pressing problem for science. Progressives, not conservatives, are the ones most likely to replace scientific research with unscientific ideology."

[Elke]

Conservatives certainly don't have a lock on unscientific stupidity.

When Progressives Wage War on Reason (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729026.200-lefty-nonsense-when-progressives-wage-war-on-reason.html)

"Of all of today's political philosophies, progressivism stands as the most pressing problem for science. Progressives, not conservatives, are the ones most likely to replace scientific research with unscientific ideology."

Hilariously, this is backed up by 0% evidence, and a lot of anecdotes. I'm sceptic. I'm not saying progressive politicians don't use and abuse science as ill as any other ideological counterparts, just that I'm not convinced it's not just a staple of politics as a whole.

[Pillfred]

http://www.juxtapoz.com/Street-Art/aerial-photographs-of-tulip-fields-by-normann-szkop

Cool shots of tulip fields.

[Elke]

How Scientology targets celebs (http://www.salon.com/2013/02/07/how_scientology_ensnares_celebrities/). I want to read this book!

And Slate has this incredibly moving piece on Aaron Swartz (http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/02/aaron_swartz_he_wanted_to_save_the_world_why_could n_t_he_save_himself.html). It's long, but it's interesting and in a way it's inspiring as well.

edit 2: Rick Moody on the Taylor Swift backlash (http://www.salon.com/2013/02/09/i_dared_criticize_taylor_swift/). He says some things about objectivity in art criticism that reminded me of a discussion we had on this board a good while back.

[sentient02970]

Well, I didn't exactly "read" this (http://vimeo.com/motionkicker/a-forest-year) but it's very cool and I love watching it.

[allegro]

Well, I didn't exactly "read" this (http://vimeo.com/motionkicker/a-forest-year) but it's very cool and I love watching it.
oh, my god, that is so beautiful.

[the duder]

I'm currently obsessed with WNYC's Radiolab program and came across this incredible blog post (http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blogland/2013/feb/06/fast-cash-flash-crash-mad-dash-clash/) from their "Speed" episode. Very intriguing.

[themethatyouknow]

This almost obituary of David Bowie is amazingly well done.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9019434/chuck-klosterman-alex-pappademas-david-bowie-career

[miss k bee]

http://www.youarewhatyoulike.com/index.php

Your 'one click' personality from your Facebook likes, was a lot in the news this week. Apparently I am shy and reserved and also assertive and competitive!!!!

[JamesCmuse]

Some very evocative photographs here.

Enjoy. http://blogs.reuters.com/fullfocus/2012/11/30/best-photos-of-the-year-2012/#a=1

I don't think I've ever seen a collection of photos that epitomises humanity so well. Teared up a few times, too. I spent roughly 2 hours taking them in and reading the descriptions given. Wow.

[theruiner]

I cannot stop reading about Forrest Fenn's hidden treasure. (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/if-you-re-hunting-for-forrest-fenn-s-buried-treasure-start-here.html) Fascinating.

I wish I had the time and money to be able to do this. Even if you don't find the treasure (obviously most people won't) it would still be a lot of fun and you'd be able to explore nature. It would be an adventure. Damn job and not having time off available or money.

[the duder]

Been on a Henry Rollins kick lately:
"I fear too much comfort, too much stillness and the crippling regularity of it all. Why does time seem to pass more quickly when you get older? I think it's because many of us start dialing it in. I fight this constantly. I am easily lulled into safe routines. I remind myself that all of this is over very soon, my anger rises and off I go. Life is the racehorse, I am the rider and there's no one on the track but me. Watch this."
(http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2013/03/henry_rollins_getting_older_doesnt_mean_going_down _with_the_ship.php?page=3)

[Elke]

A really beautiful piece on the late Shulamith Firestone (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/04/15/130415fa_fact_faludi)by Susan Faludi in The New Yorker. Really a must-read.

Also quite interesting: FP on The Cuba Lobby (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/04/11/the_cuba_lobby_jay_z), in light of the shit storm caused by Beyonce and Jay-Z's trip overseas.

[the duder]

'Murica: Our kids are smarter than yours. (Just ask us, we'll tell you (http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/how-parents-around-the-world-describe-their-children-in-charts/274955/).)

[sentient02970]

http://www.bornofsound.com/

Cool idea but really?? $250 for a picture of a sound?? Wow.

[Fixer808]

http://www.bornofsound.com/

Cool idea but really?? $250 for a picture of a sound?? Wow.
And that's the low end. Compare that to a $5 hit of acid...?

[the duder]

David Lynch on meditation and bliss. Powerful stuff. http://www.openculture.com/2013/04/david_lynch_explains_how_meditation_enhances_our_c reativity.html

[the duder]

Double post-worthy video: http://www.upworthy.com/the-people-who-approved-these-ads-have-a-lot-of-explaining-to-do-6

[ambergris]

http://www.geoguessr.com/

A game. Look at a picture taken from Google Street View and guess where you are. Do it five times, you are allowed to move around.
My first try got me 10397 points. I was lucky to get the Netherlands once.

Test:
http://www.geoguessr.com/?v=eyJ0b3RhbFBvaW50cyI6MTQwODAsInZlcnNpb24iOjEsInJ vdW5kcyI6W1sicm91bmQiLCJsYXQiLCJsbmciLCJnTGF0IiwiZ 0xuZyIsImNMYXQiLFtudWxsXSwiY0xuZyIsW251bGxdLCJwb2l udHMiXSxbMSwzNy42NzEzNjIsMTI2Ljc0MjE1MDAwMDAwMDA0L DM3LjUwMTAxMDQyOTQ5MzI4NCwxMjcuMDI5NDE4OTQ1MzEyNSw wLDAsNDU5NF0sWzIsMzUuMTg4MDI3LC05NC4xNzk0MTEwMDAwM DAwMiwzMy4xMzc1NTExOTIzNDYxNCwtMTA0Ljc2NTYyNSwwLDA sMjE4MF0sWzMsNTQuNDc4NDc5LDIyLjc3OTk2MDk5OTk5OTk1N yw1Ni4yNzk5NjA4MzE3Mjg0NiwxMy44MjA4MDA3ODEyNSwwLDA sMjM2N10sWzQsNDQuNDY1NzkyLC0xMDQuNjQ0NjI5MDAwMDAwM DEsNDYuMzE2NTg0MTgxODIyMTgsLTEwNy40MDIzNDM3NSwwLDA sMjYzOV0sWzUsMzguMTkyMTY3LC05Ny4xMzQzNjg5OTk5OTk5O Sw0NC4wODc1ODUwMjgyNDUxOCwtMTAwLjU0Njg3NSwwLDAsMjM wMF1dLCJpc0NoYWxsZW5nZSI6ZmFsc2UsImNoYWxsZW5nZVNjb 3JlIjpudWxsfQ%3D%3D

[Pillfred]

http://io9.com/nasa-unveils-a-spellbinding-billion-pixel-panorama-of-m-514412670

[Pillfred]

A partial map of the internets, kind of.
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/this-is-most-detailed-picture-internet-ever

[botley]

This blew my fucking mind: how evolutionary theory can inform economics. http://www.aeonmagazine.com/living-together/how-evolution-can-reform-economics/

[mfte]

in some cases these are better than the originals

http://thekittencovers.tumblr.com (http://thekittencovers.tumblr.com/)

[ambergris]

Guy plays all PC role-playing games.... yes, all of them, starting in 1979:

http://crpgaddict.blogspot.de/

He's arrived at (in?) 1990 now.

[miss k bee]

How a 91-year-old geek helped keep the elderly independent

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-28/news/42481672_1_geek-tv-remote-graying-boomers

[hobochic]

Ten Exceptionally Well-Written Horror Films

http://litreactor.com/columns/ten-exceptionally-well-written-horror-films

[sentient02970]

Ten Exceptionally Well-Written Horror Films

http://litreactor.com/columns/ten-exceptionally-well-written-horror-films

I'm happy they listed Session 9! I'm sad they didn't list Angel Heart.

[Pillfred]

I'm happy they listed Session 9! I'm sad they didn't list Angel Heart.

Angel Heart is a great film. I remember seeing that when I was like 12 wasn't till I watched it a few years later that I really understood what was going on.

[Highly Psychological]

How have i just discovered this website? i find it fascinating as a lifelong aviation obsessive, However apparently they are trying to shut it down because it 'helps' potential terrorists or something. Earlier on today the Atlantic Ocean was a big blob of red and orange planes. Literally thousands of planes were flying between Europe and the American continent. It puts flying phobias into perspective. If you hear a plane over your head you can also check on here to find out where the plane is from and where its heading! My area seems to be a popular route for Turkish Airlines! You know you want that information! Seriously tug worthy addictive site for aviation fans.

http://planefinder.net/