Glass Wings Blog: September 2013
The Vitamin Myth: Why We Think We Need Supplements
Sun, 01 Sep 2013 17:22:41 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/07/the-vitamin-myth-why-we-think-we-need-supplements/277947/>
"Nutrition experts contend that all we need is what's typically found in
a routine diet. Industry representatives, backed by a fascinating
history, argue that foods don't contain enough, and we need supplements.
(More...)
What happens when you actually click on one of those “One Weird Trick” ads?
Sun, 01 Sep 2013 17:25:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/07/how_one_weird_trick_conquered_the_internet_what_happens_when_you_click_on.single.html>
"You’ve seen them. Peeking out from sidebars, jiggling and wiggling for
your attention, popping up where you most expect them: those “One Weird
Trick” ads. These crudely drawn Web advertisements promise easy tricks
(More...)
Six Australians share their bully stories: 'I lost faith'
Sun, 01 Sep 2013 17:27:42 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/six-australians-share-their-bully-stories-8216i-lost-faith8217/story-fnet09p2-1226689405651>
"They come from all walks of life. They are somebody's brother, sister,
son or daughter. They have vastly different jobs and lives. But they all
share one thing in common. They were bullied."
(More...)
The Internet: Missing the Light
Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:09:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://frankston.com/public/?n=CILight
"If we seek to improve on the Internet or, to speak loosely, get more Internet,
we need to recognize that its power lies in making it easy for everyone and
anyone to create their solutions by simply exchanging a few bits between two
(More...)
Don't Ignore the Trolls. Feed Them Until They Explode.
Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:11:09 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://jezebel.com/dont-ignore-the-trolls-feed-them-until-they-explode-977453815
"Internet trolling is not random-it is a sentient, directed, strong-armed goon
of the status quo."
(More...)
MouseCraft - The Cheesiest Game Ever
Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:16:59 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://mouse-craft.com/
"Ever wonder what a cross between Tetris and Lemmings would look like?"
Available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Soundtrack and Steam keys included.
(More...)
Why privilege is so hard to give up
Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:43:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Acknowledging our racial or gender privilege forces us to admit we didn't
achieve everything on our own:
http://www.salon.com/2013/08/01/why_privilege_is_so_hard_to_give_up/
"No matter how much we deny it, we all consciously and unconsciously benefit
(More...)
Adventures With Post Offices
Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:44:49 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/31/adventures-with-post-offices/?_r=1
"Four Septembers ago, my husband and I were bundled up in a yurt in the Gobi
Desert at the end of a trip around the world. Our journey had included 21
countries, both one- and two-humped camels, swims in the Nile and the
(More...)
Is Gender-Flipping The Most Important Meme Ever?
Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:46:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://junkee.com/flip-it-and-reverse-it-how-to-fight-the-gender-wars/15081
In the wise words of Community's Dean Pelton, sometimes we don't see our
own patterns until they're laid out in front of us. We, as consumers of media
and culture, absorb a lot of sexist, racist, heteronormative bullshit every
(More...)
Fashion of the Future-ture-ture!
Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:01:49 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
So what will fashion look like in the 1970s? Well according to the
1920s, it will include Jodhpurs.
http://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/1970s_fashion_as_imagined_in_the_1920s/
(More...)
Abandoned Walmart is Now America’s Largest Library
Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:53:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://weburbanist.com/2012/09/04/abandoned-walmart-is-now-americas-largest-library/
"There are thousands of abandoned big box stores sitting empty all over
America, including hundreds of former Walmart stores. With each store taking up
enough space for 2.5 football fields, Walmart’s use of more than 698 million
(More...)
Annoying Trends In Modern Web Design
Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:55:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.designyourway.net/blog/inspiration/annoying-trends-in-modern-web-design/
"So as we all know the world of web trends is a fast paced one. Trends come and
go before people can even enjoy them. Unfortunately not all of them go as
planned, some seem to cause more usability issues than they solve – and for
(More...)
YouTube co-founder calls for global access to TV online
Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:58:13 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.afr.com/p/technology/youtube_co_founder_calls_for_global_sFVUIKr17luhpnJYBwCOLM
"Chad Hurley, a co-founder of video-sharing site YouTube, says television
viewers should be able to legitimately watch content from anywhere in the world
at any time, backing recommendations made by an Australian parliamentary
(More...)
Awesome Star Trek Poster Art
Thu, 05 Sep 2013 08:32:14 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
"There's not exactly a shortage of
Star Trek fan art out there, but
Juan Ortiz came up with a fresh and fascinating angle for his new book
*
Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz
<http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Art-Juan-Ortiz/dp/1781166706/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377884987&sr=1-1&keywords=star+trek+juan+ortiz>/
*(out today from Titan Books). Ortiz, a longtime /Trek enthusiast and
(More...)
Marking time, more thoughts (Charlie Stross)
Thu, 05 Sep 2013 15:49:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2013/08/marking-time-more-thoughts.html>
"How do we structure a society where only a dwindling fraction of the
potential workforce is required for keeping the wheels on the track?
Assuming the point is to structure a society that tries to minimize
(More...)
Weasel Words
Thu, 05 Sep 2013 15:54:46 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://weaselwords.com.au/
"This site is for people who have silently wept into a crumpled copy of
their company's mission statement, for teachers who want to work in
classrooms and not customer service points, and for all those who have
(More...)
Britain Discovers Food Banks, Can’t Decide If It Likes Them
Thu, 05 Sep 2013 16:00:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://thebillfold.com/2013/07/britain-discovers-food-banks-cant-decide-if-it-likes-them/>
"The debate over Britain’s food crisis has been going on since last
year, but has exploded since May, when Oxfam and Church Action on
Poverty released a report showing that in 2012, an estimated 500,000
(More...)
Ten reasons why Australia urgently needs a space agency
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 12:23:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://theconversation.com/ten-reasons-why-australia-urgently-needs-a-space-agency-16386
"There is a hole in the Australian public administration where a space agency
should be. That was the clear lesson from the Australian Space Research Program
(ASRP) project delivered at the end of June this year."
(More...)
What Interracial and Gay Couples Know About 'Passing'
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 12:25:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
The misery of masquerading
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/07/what-interracial-and-gay-couples-know-about-passing/278232/
"I had underestimated the severe emotional toll of hiding an important part of
my authentic self, my life partner. I had miscalculated the exhaustion that
(More...)
Let's chat about child porn
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 12:28:40 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
taking up a taboo topic
https://plus.google.com/101371184407256956306/posts/aaZNcEHxFx6
"Oh why not. Here's a topic I have no direct interest in, but have ended up
peripherally involved with on a global basis for about six or so years now, and
(More...)
Birds Nests from Around the World
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:16:34 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Sarah Stillman: The Use and Abuse of Civil Forfeiture
Sat, 07 Sep 2013 18:52:45 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/08/12/130812fa_fact_stillman?currentPage=all>
"Under civil forfeiture, Americans who haven’t been charged with
wrongdoing can be stripped of their cash, cars, and even homes. Is that
all we’re losing?"
(More...)
Thoughts about Internet Surveillance
Sat, 07 Sep 2013 18:54:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://blog.martin-graesslin.com/blog/2013/08/thoughts-about-internet-surveillance/>
"Privacy has a long tradition in modern Germany. In 1983 the German
government wanted to organize a census and drafted a law for this
census. People protested against this law in front of Germany’s highest
(More...)
Public divide on climate change: Right wing nature or human nature?
Sat, 07 Sep 2013 18:56:04 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
A study shows that cultural identity trumps ideology.
<
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/08/public-divide-on-climate-change-right-wing-nature-or-human-nature/>
"Arguments over publicly controversial scientific issues like climate
change commonly include a lot of accusations of ignorance, naïveté, and
(More...)
There is No Difference Between Fur and Hair
Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:09:18 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/02/there-is-no-difference-between-fur-and-hair/>
"Today I found out that there isn’t any difference between fur and hair;
it’s all just hair."
(More...)
Libraries don't have to be a thing of the past - just look at Melbourne's
Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:10:52 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/06/libraries-australia
'I was given a tour of Melbourne’s Victoria state Library, just next to
the Wheeler Centre of Books Writing and Ideas, when I first arrived in
Melbourne as an international writer in residence. I was awed by the
(More...)
Asylum Solutions: saving money with a more humane response
Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:12:28 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://theconversation.com/asylum-solutions-saving-money-with-a-more-humane-response-16504>
"First, it is essential for a political leader to show some actual
leadership by explaining the facts: boat people are not “illegals”; they
are almost always found to be refugees; we deliberately, consciously
(More...)
E-Books Strain Relations Between Libraries, Publishing Houses
Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:43:14 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/05/209114978/e-books-strain-relations-beween-libraries-publishing-houses
"E-books have changed the world of publishing in fundamental ways. The business
model that encouraged publishers to support the work of public libraries has
changed to such an extent that this relationship has been stressed to the point
(More...)
Empress of Uruguay-Worlds Largest Amethyst Geode
Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:49:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://rockhoundblog.com/regular-postings/empress-of-uruguay-worlds-largest-amethyst-geode/
"How much does it weigh? 2,500 kilograms, or 2.5 tonnes. That’s a lot more than
a large family car and as heavy as TWO small cars! When The Empress arrived at
The Crystal Caves in November 2007, two large cranes were needed to lift her
(More...)
Dolphins have 'longest social memory' among non-humans
Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:51:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23589041
"Forget about elephants - scientists say that dolphins have the longest
memories yet found in a non-human species. Researchers in the US say that even
after 20 years of separation, dolphins could recall the whistles of former
(More...)
On the importance of Magical Girl Heroines & Weaponized Femininity
Tue, 10 Sep 2013 13:57:15 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/57525046929/aristi-cthonia-simplysailormoon
"Why does Mahou Shoujo stick with us? The show I loved when I was six is
something I love when I’m twenty, and something my cousin who is a tween also
loves. For that matter, Puella Magi is, essentially, an update of the classic
(More...)
Stephen Fry: An Open Letter to David Cameron and the IOC
Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:11:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.stephenfry.com/2013/08/07/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc/single-page/
"I write in the earnest hope that all those with a love of sport and the
Olympic spirit will consider the stain on the Five Rings that occurred when the
1936 Berlin Olympics proceeded under the exultant aegis of a tyrant who had
(More...)
Ursula Vernon: Charming Stupidities
Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:13:21 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.redwombatstudio.com/blog/?p=5622
"I was thinking today about good stupid characters, and it struck me that
y’know…there’s just not that many."
(More...)
The Three Ladder System of Social Class in the US
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:53:48 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
Wowee! This is an impressive essay about social systems in the US and to
some extent internationally. I don't agree with everything, but it is
really worth thinking about.
http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/the-3-ladder-system-of-social-class-in-the-u-s/
(More...)
Puppet Comedy Fantasy
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:31:55 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
This is a new show being put together by the same people who did
Horrible Histories and it looks hilariously awesome!
http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/yonderland/videos/5881/yonderland_first_trailer/
(More...)
Abuse of Turning Nut Screw Driven
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:07:33 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The Stores Without Staff
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:11:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://pingmag.jp/2013/08/07/mujin/
"Overseas visitors to Japan are often surprised by the sheer number and
variety of vending machines in the country. But there’s something which
might just surprise them even more: Unmanned stores (mujin hanbai). A
(More...)
Ten Amazing American Arcades (That You Can Still Visit)
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:12:53 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.toplessrobot.com/2013/08/ten_amazing_american_arcades_that_you_can_still_vi.php>
"Topless Robot reached out to two of the biggest names in arcade games,
Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day and classic gaming phenom Billy
Mitchell to find out what makes an arcade great, and which of the
(More...)
Jscrab, Scrabble Game in JavaScript
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:14:36 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Oh My Gosh, Japan's Animal Donuts Are Too Cute
Thu, 12 Sep 2013 12:02:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://kotaku.com/oh-my-gosh-japans-animal-donuts-are-too-cute-1075618608
"Animal donuts! Japan has
animal donuts, and holy mackerel, they look
adorable. Delicious, too."
(More...)
Star Trek Cat Tree (with Enterprise and Romulan Bird of Prey)
Thu, 12 Sep 2013 12:04:14 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.instructables.com/id/Star-Trek-Cat-Tree-with-Enterprise-and-Romulan-Bi/?ALLSTEPS
"I knew I wanted a cat tree, but I think most cat trees are really ugly. I
wanted something both humans and cats would enjoy, if it was going to stay in
my living room for the foreseeable future. My solution was to build a Star Trek
(More...)
BUGGER
Thu, 12 Sep 2013 12:06:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/posts/BUGGER
"The recent revelations by the whistleblower Edward Snowden were fascinating.
But they - and all the reactions to them - had one enormous assumption at their
heart. That the spies know what they are doing."
(More...)
Endonyms of the World
Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:17:30 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://endonymmap.com/
"An
endonym is the name for a place, site or location in the language of the
people who live there. These names may be officially designated by the local
government or they may simply be widely used. This map depicts endonyms of the
(More...)
Eddy's run
Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:20:00 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.eddysrun.com/
"Eddy's run is a project by Binji, a young game developer studio from Hamburg,
Germany, that has put two intense weeks into creating this game. We strongly
believe that Edward Snowden is a true hero and we try to use the tools that we
(More...)
No, You Shouldn’t Fear GMO Corn
Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:23:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
How Elle botched a story about genetically modified food.
<
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/08/can_gmo_corn_cause_allergies_don_t_believe_elle_s_scary_story.html>
"While every major scientific regulatory oversight body in the world, including
the National Academies of Science and the Food and Drug Administration in the
(More...)
Play classic video games in your browser
Sat, 14 Sep 2013 19:13:55 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Sega Megadrive (Genesis) games:
http://www.ssega.com/
Super Nintendo games:
http://www.snesfun.com/
(More...)
Worst Client Comments Turned Into Posters
Sat, 14 Sep 2013 19:15:47 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.boredpanda.com/sharp-suits-worst-client-comment-posters/
"Frustrated by stupid client criticism, Irish graphic designers Mark
Shanley and Paddy Treacy decided to turn their “favorite worst feedback”
into posters."
(More...)
A World Most Strange and Beautiful: Five Stunning New UNESCO Sites
Sat, 14 Sep 2013 19:17:29 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/2013-new-unesco-sites
"At its session this summer in Cambodia, the UNESCO World Heritage
Centre added 19 new inscriptions to its World Heritage List. Here are
our five favorites that show just how strange and beautiful the world is."
(More...)
Great maps
Sun, 15 Sep 2013 17:32:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The Getty Gets It: 'Open Content, An Idea Whose Time Has Come'
Sun, 15 Sep 2013 17:34:48 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130814/09484724173/getty-gets-it-open-content-idea-whose-time-has-come.shtml>
'Techdirt has published a number of posts that explore the issue of
whether art organizations can stop people sharing images of works in
their collections when the latter are indisputably in the public domain.
(More...)
7 worst international aid ideas
Sun, 15 Sep 2013 17:36:20 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://matadornetwork.com/change/7-worst-international-aid-ideas/
'Maybe their hearts were in the right place. Maybe not. Either way,
these are solid contenders for the title of “worst attempts at helping
others since colonialism.”'
(More...)
"Flightline" hand-crafted PC case
Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:24:28 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://slipperyskip.com/page37.html
The latest beautiful hand-crafted PC case from Jeffrey Stephenson. Check out
the whole site if you haven't seen his earlier work.
(More...)
How to break out of your own little corner of the Internet: Rewire, reviewed
Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:30:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Internet scholar Ethan Zuckerman challenges us to find, become "bridge
figures."
<
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/08/how-to-break-out-of-your-own-little-corner-of-the-internet-rewire-reviewed/>
"In short, Zuckerman takes us on a journey that explores how even in our
(More...)
Inside Printrbot: One of the rising, inexpensive 3D printer manufacturers
Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:31:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/08/inside-printrbot-one-of-the-rising-inexpensive-3d-printer-manufacturers/
"Hardware that had previously cost thousands of dollars is now being sold by a
handful of companies around the world for just a few hundred bucks."
(More...)
The Particle Adventure
Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:36:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.particleadventure.org/
"An award-winning interactive tour of quarks, neutrinos, antimatter, extra
dimensions, dark matter, accelerators and particle detectors from the Particle
Data Group of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory."
(More...)
For $50, you can build a custom Android or Linux mini-computer
Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:38:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
A new crowdfunding-based service makes it possible to build custom-designed
hardware at an extremely affordable rate.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/83652
"Gumstix, a company that has been selling small system boards – about the size
(More...)
Happiness is a glass half empty
Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:39:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jun/15/happiness-is-being-a-loser-burkeman
"Be positive, look on the bright side, stay focused on success: so goes our
modern mantra. But perhaps the true path to contentment is to learn to be a
loser"
(More...)
How and why to use whom in a sentence - The Oatmeal
Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:24:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom
Inman provides another memorable grammar tip.
Via Chad McCullough.
(More...)
Ferrets: Man’s Other Best Friend
Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:28:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/2012/08/24/ferrets-mans-other-best-friend/
"If a human points his or her finger at something, a dog might infer that
there’s hidden food, while the chimpanzee remains more or less clueless about
the meaning behind that sort of non-verbal communication. As dogs have evolved
(More...)
Why Homophobic Russia Loves Gender-Bending Pop Stars
Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:31:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Recent laws and polls reveal an uptick in anti-gay sentiment, but
paradoxically, Russians like their music acts as campy and flamboyant as
possible.
<
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/08/amid-rampant-homophobia-gender-bending-stars-rule-in-russia/278833/>
(More...)
Philip Pullman: 'Loosening the chains of the imagination'
Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:51:07 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
The author, whose His Dark Materials trilogy alone has been translated
into 40 languages and sold millions, talks about what children look for
in stories:
<
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/aug/23/philip-pullman-dark-materials-children>
(More...)
Star Trek: Renegades
Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:04:57 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://startrekrenegades.com/home/
It's interesting to see the rise of projects like this, where the cast
and crew of a popular franchise such as Star Trek crowdfund new stories
rather than getting commissioned by a TV channel or studio.
(More...)
Armadillo Electric Car: Fold It, Park It With A Smartphone
Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:06:08 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1086456_armadillo-electric-car-fold-it-park-it-with-a-smartphone>
"They aren't practical for all, but some of the ideas for future urban
electric cars are certainly intriguing."
(More...)
Animals Wearing Slippers
Fri, 20 Sep 2013 07:56:50 +1000
Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Comment Sections Are Wastelands Ruled by Trolls. Here Are Alternatives
Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:11:32 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/08/gl_honan-conversation/
"We’ve bought into the fallacy of comments so completely that they
remain nearly universal—and universally terrible."
(More...)
Damsel in Distress: Part 3 - Tropes vs Women in Video Games
Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:15:21 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjImnqH_KwM
'This is the third installment in our three part mini-series exploring
the Damsel in Distress trope in video games. In this episode we examine
the rare Dude in Distress role reversal and then take a look at the use
(More...)
UK Artists Develop 24-inch Flexible Remote Control Tail for Humans
Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:16:53 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.sciencespacerobots.com/uk-artists-develop-24-inch-flexible-remote-control-tail-82420133>
"Greyworld, a group of UK artists that create public art, have developed
a 24-inch electronic remote-controlled tail for humans. The group spent
two years designing a tail that has four different modes: slow moves,
(More...)
Sarah Horn Shares Inspirational Story of Singing with Kristin Chenoweth at the Hollywood Bowl and Going Viral!
Sat, 21 Sep 2013 03:08:20 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/In-Her-Own-Words-Sarah-Horn-Shares-Inspirational-Story-of-Singing-with-Kristin-Chenoweth-at-the-Hollywood-Bowl-and-Going-Viral-20130825>
'"Tonight I sang "For Good" with the LA Philharmonic and Kristin
Chenoweth at the Hollywood Bowl. I never thought I would be able to say
those words even in my wildest dreams.'
(More...)
Steampunk Computer
Sat, 21 Sep 2013 03:10:07 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://steamworker.deviantart.com/art/Steampunk-Computer-394623796
"Fully working Steampunk workstation consisting of a computer table, a
computer, a monitor, a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse. The table
was build from an old Singer sewing machine. The wood was completely
(More...)
NSA and GCHQ: the flawed psychology of government mass surveillance
Sat, 21 Sep 2013 03:12:29 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Research shows that indiscriminate monitoring fosters distrust,
conformity and mediocrity
<
http://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2013/aug/26/nsa-gchq-psychology-government-mass-surveillance>
"For more than 15 years we've known that surveillance leads to
(More...)
Super Mario Brothers Parkour [In Real Life]
Sun, 22 Sep 2013 15:23:52 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67qqEcGDC0s
"Mario and Luigi doing what they do best: freerunning."
Great mix of parkour and effects, but they really needed a hairclip or
(More...)
Lord of the Rings Tarot
Sun, 22 Sep 2013 15:25:54 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://sceithailm.deviantart.com/gallery/42629932
Via ThinkGeek and lerato majikfaerie, who added:
"I see much travel in your future and many new friends. There will be
(More...)
Top 10 jokes at the Edinburgh Fringe 2013
Sun, 22 Sep 2013 15:27:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2013/features/dave_joke_of_the_fringe_2013/>
"TV channel Dave has announced the results of its annual 'Funniest Joke
of the Fringe' award."
(More...)
I Met The World's Smartest Dog
Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:36:32 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.popsci.com.au/science/i-met-the-world-s-smartest-dog
'Pill has a magnet on her fridge that says "my border collie is smarter than
your honor student." It's not quite true - Dr. Stanley Coren, author of The
Intelligence of Dogs, estimates that a very bright dog like Chaser has the
(More...)
Abandoned House in the Woods Taken Over by Wild Animals
Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:38:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.boredpanda.com/abandoned-house-animals-kai-fagerstrom/
"Finnish photographer Kai Fagerström presents unique photo series, where he
captures wild animals making themselves comfortable in abandoned houses in the
woods of Finland. Titled
The House in the Woods, the photo series is set in
(More...)
Shelter - a badger simulation
Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:42:58 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.gog.com/game/shelter
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/29/wot-i-think-shelter/
"Experience the wild as a mother badger sheltering her cubs from harm. On their
journey they get stalked by a bird of prey, encounter perils of the night,
(More...)
Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names
Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:24:14 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/08/apostrophes-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-names
"In honor of International Apostrophe Day, August 16, we’re going to talk about
apostrophes in science fiction and fantasy names. Why do authors think
apostrophes make characters seem exotic? Who started it? And why do some people
(More...)
Tomorrow's cities: How big data is changing the world
Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:25:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23253949
"You may not be that bothered about the idea of living in a smart city but I
bet you'd love to live in one that was happy."
(More...)
Intelligent recycling machine starts service in Beijing Subway Line 10
Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:27:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingInformation/BeijingNewsUpdate/t1292114.htm
"The recycling machine, which can convert the waste bottles into the
corresponding money to recharge users' Public Tranport One Cards, started
service here on Thursday."
(More...)
The Robber, the Judge, and the Case for Leniency
Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:02:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/us/taking-a-second-chance-and-running-with-it.html
'“When I sent him to prison, I would have bet the farm and all the animals that
Hopwood would fail miserably as a productive citizen when he finally got out of
prison,” he wrote on his blog. “My gut told me that Hopwood was a punk — all
(More...)
Are you breaking copyright law?
Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:07:53 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Support [the CHOICE magazine] campaign for fair use of the books, music and
movies that you own
http://www.choice.com.au/media-and-news/consumer-news/news/are-you-breaking-the-law.aspx
"Now is the time for consumers to lend their voice to a 21st-century copyright
(More...)
Global Network on Copyright Users’ Rights: Model Flexible Copyright Exception
Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:10:18 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://infojustice.org/flexible-use
"The Model Flexible Copyright Exception is designed to be adaptable in general
form to most copyright laws – including those in common and civil law systems.
The model could be included in a copyright law as a stand alone catch all
(More...)
Thoughts on privacy
Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:09:43 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2013/08/31/thoughts-on-privacy/
"Private spaces in public settings are well understood in every healthy and
mature culture. This is why no store on Main Street would plant a tracking
beacon in the pants of a visiting customer, to report back on that customer’s
(More...)
Making friends with a paedophile: 'We can't kill him, so we help him not to do it again'
Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:11:00 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Could it help to cut reoffending rates? Emily Dugan gets unprecedented access
to a pioneering project in which the public encourage abusers to change:
<
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/making-friends-with-a-paedophile-we-cant-kill-him-so-we-help-him-not-to-do-it-again-8793019.html>
Compassion is hard, but the successful outcomes are worth it.
(More...)
Quadruple Take Masterclass with Sir Patrick Stewart
Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:12:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFMrBldVk0s
The inimitable
Sir Patrick Stewart teaches the art of the "take".
Via Muse.
(More...)
The Baby and the Baath Water
Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:08:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/06/the_baby_and_the_baath_water.html>
"What is happening in Syria feels like one of the last gasps of the age
of the military dictators. An old way of running the world is still
desperately trying to cling to power, but the underlying feeling in the
(More...)
Inflatable space stations, Reusable rockets and Spiderfab for the 2020s
Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:10:10 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/09/inflatable-space-stations-reusable.html
"Bigelow Aerospace has launched some smaller scale demonstration
inflatable space stations. They have a design for an 84 persons resupply
Depot. It would have 8300 cubic meters of space."
(More...)
Awesome geek cakes
Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:12:13 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2013/9/1/sunday-sweets-dragon-con-2013.html>
"Just think: at this very moment I could be passed out on top of a pile
of Klingons, joining a conga line of kilted Storm Troopers, or even -
EVEN - listening to the seventh Doctor play the spoons. For those of
(More...)
The (New) Adventures of Spot (Superdog): Spot and the Cost of Business
Sat, 28 Sep 2013 18:36:40 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Hidden in Paradise: Fascinating, Rare Dolphins and Whales You’ve Never Seen Before
Sat, 28 Sep 2013 18:37:59 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/rare-hawaiian-dolphins-whales/
"Rising straight out of deep ocean water, the Hawaiian Islands offer
easy access to the realm of deep-diving creatures. Baird's work, part of
which is funded by the U.S. Navy, is providing unprecedented insights
(More...)
Two memorials to burnt books
Sat, 28 Sep 2013 18:39:09 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Modern art was CIA 'weapon'
Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:56:07 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Revealed: how the spy agency used unwitting artists such as Pollock and
de Kooning in a cultural Cold War
<
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/modern-art-was-cia-weapon-1578808.html>
(More...)
How to Keep the NSA Out of Your Computer
Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:58:06 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Sick of government spying, corporate monitoring, and overpriced ISPs?
There's a cure for that.
<
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/08/mesh-internet-privacy-nsa-isp>
"THE INTERNET may seem amorphous, but it's at heart pretty physical. Its
(More...)
Austin mom launches clothing line for girls who don’t want to be defined by pink and purple
Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:59:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.statesman.com/news/lifestyles/austin-mom-launches-clothing-line-for-girls-who-do/nZYGm/>
"There’s no pink or purple or glitter or hearts or flowers in the Girls
Will Be clothing brand, and owner Sharon Choksi has made sure of it. The
Austin mom was inspired by her 8-year-old daughter Maya, who at 3
(More...)
Big cats like to play too
Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:28:39 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Spottacus Cheetah visits an animal sanctuary and plays with a cheetah and some
pumas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJwnO0W8-Hs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBGqw90aJ7Y
(More...)
Deconstructing Astronomy’s Holy Grail
Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:30:21 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
The following is an article from The Annals of Improbable Research.
http://www.neatorama.com/2013/09/03/Deconstructing-Astronomys-Holy-Grail/
"Astronomy, it strikes this observer, attracts an inordinate number of grail
references because the field naturally lends itself to exaggeration: the
(More...)
Fantastical plates of food art
Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:32:04 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Family/Features/2013/09/04/Fantastical-plates-of-food-art.aspx
"One mother’s knack for making meal times fun for her kids has propelled her
into super-stardom."
(More...)
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