Signs

Australian wallabies get high off eating opium poppies, then hop around creating crop circles.

Here's a collection of short stories I've enjoyed from strange horizons.

http://strangehorizons.com/2009/20090622/empire-f.shtml

http://www.strangehorizons.com/2001/20010820/toaster.shtml

http://www.strangehorizons.com/2000/20001127/transubstantiation.shtml

enjoy.

Dr. Strangelove's Voice

Another link I found from The Online Photographer, but it's another good one. Weegee, one of the first crime photographers ever, was recorded just talking about photography. He was called Weegee (from Ouija board) because he always seemed to know exactly when a crime or tragedy happened before anyone else, sometimes appearing before the police did.

He also happened to be the voice Peter Sellers based Dr. Strangelove on.

Listen here.

My favorite phrase: "Even a picture of a drunk has to be a masterpiece!"

John Hodgman speaks at TV & Radio Correspondents' Dinner, is Delightful

Frames this 14-minute talk around the real culture divide: jocks vs. nerds. Obama, President, present.

They're taking my Kodachrome away...

Today Kodak announced that they will stop making Kodachrome transparency film. It's been coming for awhile, but it's still sad to see a film with such a history end its run.

In celebration, here are some 4x5 transparencies from the WW2 era. I think that the level of detail you can see is truly mindblowing. Even the best modern digital cameras, with the possible exception of some $60,000 digital backs, can't come anywhere near this level of image quality.

If you're interested in seeing more early color pictures, the Library of Congress has thousands of photos scanned and up on Flickr. Here's an example album.

The Joker's Greatest Boner!

Perhaps one of the most unintentionally funny Batman stories ever.

Bodyscapes

Check out gallery II on this website--it's a pretty neat idea. She takes close ups of various types of cattle, turning their bodies into design elements.

Sonic 'black hole'

Light escapes it, but not sound...

Ahoy, Net pirates!

Careful about those illegal music downloads...

Stop motion

This is a pretty cool music video. Check it out.

Am I still here?

Yes, you're here.

It's a short personal essay on the author's relation to the information overload of the modern world, particularly from the Internet. The overarching point of this article - that we as a society have become too dependent on the wired world - is nothing new, but the author's observation that we use the Internet to validate our locus at any given time is interesting, and probably an oddly familiar feeling for most of us.

Plus, I just like the idea that I have an evil twin inside my head.

Online encyclopedias II

If you've ever tried to look up song lyrics online, you've probably noticed that while you can always get the information you desire (with frequent misspellings), it often takes you to the seedier sort of web page. No more. I'm shocked I didn't know about it sooner-- it came out in 2006. I'm also shocked it didn't come out sooner, but apparently there are issues associated with publishing lyrics online that the crappy sites I used to use obviously didn't worry about it.

A site that contains significantly more depth and less breadth is, of course, This Might Be a Wiki.

Legal Logic!

I stole your images and use them on my Web site. You moved them. Put them back or I'll call my lawyer.

The best excuse ever

With its very own best note to get out of class.

The sounds of Science

In the Philadelpha area next week? Can't think of anything to do?

This may interest you. From the event description:

"A three-day series of conversations, workshops, and performances exploring the intersection of music and quantum mechanics. Organized by Professors Joshua Schrier (Chemistry) and Stephon Alexander (Physics). Supported by a Mellon Arts Residency Planning Grant."

Looks like it will actually be something of an event. DJ Spooky will apparently be stopping by. Not to mention everybody's favorite computational chemistry professor, Squashie.

PS: if the above description sounded a little bizarre, this might offer something by way of explanation:

"Mathematically, quantum mechanics (QM) has many analogies with the classical wave phenomena of sound, and yet the pedagogy of QM is almost entirely visual. This series of conversations and performances will explore how to “listen to” the simple systems used to teach QM, how this can increase student comprehension, reach out to non-technical audiences, and for its own inherently aesthetic benefits. In addition, we would like to explore how this could be used to explore/comprehend our research interests in cosmology and nanoscience. This planning grant will explore directions for this work during Spring 2010, determine how this could be integrated into the current chemistry/physics courses, and find synergies with courses in other departments."

Graffiti from Pompeii

Exactly what is sounds like.

Some of the 2000-year-old vandalism is rather prosaic:

"Aufidius was here. Goodbye"

Some are fairly sweet:

"Auge loves Allotenus"

There are a few which are eerily prescient:

"O walls, you have held up so much tedious graffiti that I am amazed that you have not already collapsed in ruin."

Others are just cruel:

"Epaphra, you are bald!"

And now

For the real-life Banana Grabber.

Coke vs. Pepsi

Used to think that they were both heartless corporations overcharging for a product that damages the health of consumers.

Turns out that's true, but where they have failed to differentiate their products, they have differentiated the political affiliations of their corporations: while Pepsi has angered conservatives by donating money to organizations promoting gay rights, Coke has become a corporate partner with the Creation Museum.

Adam

So I've been talking to Adam Shusterman recently, that's been fun. I think we should invite him to join us here, but I'm not sure I have that privilege. Who does and does anyone have any objections?

Stem cells == magic

Once again, it appears just slapping stem cells onto something makes it better. In this case, three people who were blind in one eye had their sight restored via a contact lens slathered with stem cells from their functional eye.

Warning about the movie in the link: contains mild to moderate eye-poking. I give it a PG-13.

Singularity == rapture for geeks

According to this Newsweek profile of Ray Kurzweil.

Gay Penguins!

Homosexual penguins rearing an adopted chick!

Is it wrong to murder an abortionist?

Fascinating article on slate. Here

Important survery question