Glass Wings Blog: October 2013

Three Gray Fandoms

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:00:29 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.redwombatstudio.com/blog/?p=5642

"Now, before anybody gets their bowels in an uproar about ageism or about how
we're blaming fandom's intransigence on old people, let me hastily say that
this is a symptom, not necessarily the /cause."

(More...)

Schneier on Security: Our Newfound Fear of Risk

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:01:28 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/09/our_newfound_fe.html

"We're afraid of risk. It's a normal part of life, but we're increasingly
unwilling to accept it at any level. So we turn to technology to protect us.
The problem is that technological security measures aren't free. They cost

(More...)

British university posts exclusive photo scans of space exploration artifacts

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:02:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/09/space-exploration-artifacts-emerge-as-new-photo-scans/

"University College London (UCL) has released a set of photos collected from
periods throughout the history of space exploration, from the first map of the
Moon's surface to the Soviet Union's missions to Venus. UCL says that these

(More...)

Getting Ready for Halloween

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:26:10 +1000

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
These pumpkin carvings are astounding. The detail and sheer imaginative
caricaturisation make these pumpkins the pinnacle of cheesy Halloween art.

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/incredible-blue-squash-carvings-ray-villafane

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RimbaTubes: Daft Punk Medley

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 12:24:48 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69mFL5Hj4s0

"A medley of Daft Songs played on the RimbaTubes and a plethora of other
instruments by my Snubby J clones!"

(More...)

The Hidden Message in Pixar’s Films

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 12:27:13 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2011/05/14/the-hidden-message-in-pixars-films/>

"What if I told you they were preparing us for the future? What if I
told you Pixar’s films will affect how we define the rights of millions,
perhaps billions, in the coming century?"

(More...)

Ursula Vernon: "It Was A Day"

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 12:28:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.redwombatstudio.com/blog/?p=5651

A beautiful poem about being a writer.

(More...)

Child Porn Laws Aren’t As Bad As You Think. They’re Much, Much Worse.

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 13:37:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://beforeitsnews.com/eu/2012/09/child-porn-laws-arent-as-bad-as-you-think-theyre-much-much-worse-2449840.html

"These laws weren’t primarily written to help children at all, I’m afraid.
That’s not their effect, either. As I described in my last post, these laws
were constructed by Christian-fundamentalist pressure groups with the intent of

(More...)

Jonathon Fletcher: forgotten father of the search engine

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 13:38:55 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23945326

"Mr Fletcher called his invention JumpStation. He put together an index of
pages which could then be searched by a web crawler, essentially an automated
process that visits, and indexes, every link on every web page it comes across.

(More...)

Intercepto's DeviantArt Gallery

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 13:41:08 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://intercepto.deviantart.com/gallery/

Wow.  Some really impressive 3D CG art!

Via Tyro Vogel.

(More...)

Pumpkins for Halloween

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 08:02:47 +1000

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Growing up Halloween was a wonderful time of year. It wasn't just the
candy. We would carve pumpkins and roast up the seeds for snacking. We
would make our own costumes. We had special games we would play like
eating an apple dangling from a string without using our hands.

(More...)

Size Matters

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 12:53:31 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.popehat.com/2013/09/08/size-matters/

A simple explanation of password strength.

(More...)

Ylvis - Stonehenge

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 12:57:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
You've probably already seen "The Fox" by now - here's another Ylvis video
that's just as fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbyzgeee2mg

Via Jane Wancheng Tsai and Stephen Fonnesbeck.

(More...)

After 2,500 Studies, It's Time to Declare Animal Sentience Proven

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:00:26 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.livescience.com/39481-time-to-declare-animal-sentience.html

"Marc Bekoff, emeritus professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is one
of the pioneering cognitive ethologists in the United States, a Guggenheim
Fellow, and co-founder with Jane Goodall of Ethologists for the Ethical

(More...)

The 3-ladder system of social class in the U.S.

Sat, 05 Oct 2013 13:20:17 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/the-3-ladder-system-of-social-class-in-the-u-s/>

"Typical depictions of social class in the United States posit a linear,
ordered hierarchy. I’ve actually come to the conclusion that there are 3
distinct ladders, with approximately four social classes on each.

(More...)

Support 0 A.D., an Open-Source Strategy Game

Sat, 05 Oct 2013 13:26:18 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/support-0-a-d-an-open-source-strategy-game/x/1104255>

"It's a real-time strategy game based on the years 500 B.C. through 1
B.C., when the Roman Republic saw its meteoric rise, Alexander the
Great's epic empire was built and crumbled into competing kingdoms, the

(More...)

My Son Wears Dresses; Get Over It

Sat, 05 Oct 2013 13:29:53 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/09/my-son-wears-dresses-get-over-it/279333/>

"A lot of marriages don’t survive raising a gender-creative son who is,
statistically speaking, most likely going to be gay or transgender as an
adult. I wish I could to talk to those men. I wish I could be there for

(More...)

Awesome Textbook Doodles

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 09:45:24 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
"Remember back in high school when you’d opened up your textbook to find
George Washington picking his nose and Joseph Stalin with a peg leg and
eye patch. It was enough to make you bow down and thank the graffiti
gods for giving you a much needed distraction from the incessant
ramblings of your instructor.

(More...)

The Maniacal Street Art of Mr. Thoms

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 09:48:01 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Bold, funny, and inventive street art:

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/mr-thoms-street-art/

(More...)

To my daughter's high school programming teacher

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 13:24:34 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.usenix.org/blog/my-daughters-high-school-programming-teacher

"During the first semester of my daughter's junior/senior year, she took
her first programming class. She knew I'd be thrilled, but she did it
anyway."

(More...)

I'm an Ex-Westboro Church Member Who Has Renounced the Group My Grandfather Founded

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 13:27:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.xojane.com/issues/libby-phelps-alvarez-westoboro-baptist-church>

"It’s been four years since I left my family, my friends, my community -
the only world I had ever known - the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC).

(More...)

Comic Book Shop [Thrift Shop Parody]

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 13:29:10 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DExFBTr6l8Q

'Our parody of "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Video premiered at Dragon Con 2013 "Page to Stage" contest as a tribute

(More...)

A BIT ABOUT WORDS - Julian Burnside

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:55:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
Holy Wars, or how crusades led to coffee and croissants:
http://www.julianburnside.com.au/holywars.htm

In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the USA, President Bush
said that America and the rest of the free world would embark on a "crusade

(More...)

Where's The Octopus?

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:56:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/08/05/2011/where-s-the-octopus.html

"Hanlon, senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole,
studies camouflage in cephalopods--squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They are
masters of optical illusion. These are some of Hanlon's top video picks of sea

(More...)

Culture is not about aesthetics. Punk rock is now enforced by law.

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:57:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://rocknerd.co.uk/2013/09/13/culture-is-not-about-aesthetics-punk-rock-is-now-enforced-by-law/

"Record companies complain the Internet will destroy music. Musicians complain
that they can’t make a living any more. The unsympathetic public, feeling the
squeeze themselves, tell them to get a proper job.

(More...)

The Feynman Lectures on Physics

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:27:45 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/

"Nearly fifty years have passed since Richard Feynman taught the introductory
physics course at Caltech that gave rise to these three volumes, The Feynman
Lectures on Physics
. In those fifty years our understanding of the physical

(More...)

The end of kindness: weev and the cult of the angry young man

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:29:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindness-weev-and-the-cult-of-the-angry-young-man>

Lengthy and important article on Internet abuse.  Warning: extreme misogyny is
discussed, including details of serious crimes.

(More...)

Dungeons & Developers

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:32:34 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.dungeonsanddevelopers.com/

Fun way to rate your web design skills!  Can you spot a useful feature that's
missing, and describe a simple workaround?

(More...)

The 2013 Ig Nobel Prize Winners

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:50:09 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
"For achievements that first make people LAUGH then make them THINK"
http://www.improbable.com/ig/winners/#ig2013

Also, coverage at Ars Technica:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/09/ig-nobels-2013-from-attaching-penises-to-stargazing-dung-beetles/

(More...)

Making Fun: Tooth Fairy Tooth Transport

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:51:36 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-i1HHad9Zk

"When my older son discovered his first wiggly tooth, I realized that I
had the chance to define the Tooth Fairy experience for another
generation. As I pondered how the Tooth Fairy would collect our family's

(More...)

Russell Brand and the GQ awards: 'It's amazing how absurd it seems'

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:52:38 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
The comedian on his evening at the GQ awards, from which he was ejected
after cracking a joke about sponsor Hugo Boss:
<http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/sep/13/russell-brand-gq-awards-hugo-boss>

Putting things in perspective, an important function of comedians.

(More...)

Empathy: helps on the way

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:42:31 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://plus.google.com/107896084561441926092/posts/RCM1mG2ioCL

"Bartal et al showed that rats can demonstrate empathy by having a free rat
rescue his or her cagemate, which is placed in a plastic restrainer. Once the
rats learned to open the restrainer, they only opened it if there was a

(More...)

Awesome Stuff: Reclaiming Classic Culture

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:46:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
Following on from David Gerard's "Rocknerd" article about there being a
superabundance of cultural content, here's an article about some efforts to
preserve older works:
http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130914/01010824515/awesome-stuff-reclaiming-classic-culture.shtml

(More...)

Mi Angel | Pogo & John Sean

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:47:47 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvIg57u_zXM

"On a trip to Manila, my friend Garry takes out his phone to show me this kid
singing his heart out. Needless to say, I was pretty gripped. I flew back a few
weeks later, and I spent a few days writing and recording this song with him

(More...)

Train Of Thought

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:21:06 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://plus.google.com/115647124668311066800/posts/JSrnurTik7E

"To my absolute amazement, less than a minute later, a train rolled
straight through the middle of the market, seemingly missing the stalls,
the owners, and all of their stock by mere centimetres. Seconds after

(More...)

It's not the morphine, it's the size of the cage: Rat Park experiment upturns conventional wisdom about addiction

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:23:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://sub.garrytan.com/its-not-the-morphine-its-the-size-of-the-cage-rat-park-experiment-upturns-conventional-wisdom-about-addiction>

"Alexander's hypothesis was that drugs do not cause addiction, and that
the apparent addiction to opiate drugs commonly observed in laboratory
rats exposed to it is attributable to their living conditions, and not

(More...)

Capital, dialogue, and community engagement—My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic understood as an alternate reality game

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:26:00 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/510/405>

"The experience of engaging with the television show My Little Pony:
Friendship Is Magic is structurally and affectively analogous to the
experience of an alternate reality game. The community presents multiple

(More...)

Halloween Cause for Inspiration or Whimpering

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 08:43:40 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
Some people go to crazy lengths to decorate their houses for Christmas.
This is what happens when people go equally crazy at Halloween.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jeremybender/houses-that-are-nailing-halloween

(More...)

Cartoon Art

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 09:11:54 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
These are so much fun.

Cartoon figures bursting from their frames:

http://www.olsencreation.com/pages/mural-painting/les-evades-du-plak-adre.html

(More...)

Rock painting art by Roberto Rizzo

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:09:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.robertorizzo.com/sassi-dipinti/

Lovely rock paintings!

(More...)

Sunday Sweets: Fine Art Cakes

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:12:16 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2013/9/15/sunday-sweets-fine-art-cakes.html>

"...welcome to Art History, Sunday Sweets Style!"

(More...)

Studio C - Phone Magician

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:13:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luEVPxnYOfA

Great sketch!

Via kenneth baldwin and Muse.

(More...)

Putting Time In Perspective

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 16:18:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/putting-time-in-perspective.html

"Humans are good at a lot of things, but putting time in perspective is
not one of them.  It's not our fault—the spans of time in human history,
and even more so in natural history, are so vast compared to the span of

(More...)

Hands on: striking action game Apotheon plays as well as it looks

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 16:22:18 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://indiegames.com/2013/09/hands_on_striking_action-platf.html

"It's hard not to notice Apotheon thanks to its rather unique, Greek
pottery-inspired art style."

(More...)

HTML5 is the Future of Book Authorship

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 16:24:32 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
The key advantages of the HTML5 platform for authors and publishers:
<http://programming.oreilly.com/2013/09/html5-is-the-future-of-book-authorship.html>

"What HTML5 offers is an escape hatch from a publishing workflow weighed
down by conversions, because it’s possible for HTML to serve both as

(More...)

Optical Illusions

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 08:17:15 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
These artist optical illusions are beautiful and whimsical.

"Anamorphoses is a site-specific series by French street artists Ella
& Pitr, who also go by Papier Peintres, that playfully transforms
rundown spaces into colorful settings for people to pose in for a

(More...)

Japan's Straw Beasts

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 08:29:48 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
It's fall in Japan. And like every fall, rice is harvested, leaving
behind straw to be hung and dried. In some rural areas, though, the rice
straw has a special use: Making giant beasts.

http://kotaku.com/japans-straw-beasts-are-huge-wonderful-and-highly-fl-1443800882

(More...)

The Most Depressing Discovery About the Brain, Ever

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:47:38 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.alternet.org/media/most-depressing-discovery-about-brain-ever

"Say goodnight to the dream that education, journalism, scientific evidence, or
reason can provide the tools that people need in order to make good decisions."

(More...)

Miniature libraries of Marc Giai-Miniet

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:49:15 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://boingboing.net/2013/09/20/miniature-libraries-of-marc-gi.html

"Sculptor Marc Giai-Miniet creates astounding miniature boxes with beautiful,
hypothetical libraries of teeny, tiny books in them."

(More...)

Robert Llewellyn on News v Ideas

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:50:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://plus.google.com/+RobertLlewellyn/posts/ZwLg5Diu7ta

"I do occasionally read online versions of newspapers, I listen to radio news
but it’s a bit like paddling in the incoming tide of a particularly polluted
beach. I feel obliged to know about all this stuff and a bit guilty when I

(More...)

A painting removed led to color steps all over Turkey

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 12:35:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=12546

Via Susan Lewis, who wrote:

In Istanbul earlier this month, a retired forestry engineer decided to paint

(More...)

costume swap

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 12:47:57 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://godohelp.deviantart.com/gallery/45764264

Great idea and very well executed.

Via Kee Hinckley and Kimberly Chapman.

(More...)

The play deficit

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 12:50:05 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
Children today are cossetted and pressured in equal measure. Without the
freedom to play they will never grow up
http://www.aeonmagazine.com/being-human/children-today-are-suffering-a-severe-deficit-of-play/

"For more than 50 years now, we in the United States have been gradually

(More...)

Gorgeous art nouveau-inspired portraits of Miyazaki's characters

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:17:50 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://io9.com/gorgeous-art-deco-inspired-portraits-of-miyazakis-char-1366703124/@georgedvorsky>

"Pixiv user marlboro creates richly detailed portraits of the characters
from Hayao Miyazaki's films. Each art nouveau-flavored illustration is
packed with images and symbols from each movie."

(More...)

Grumpy Disney

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:24:29 +1100

"Andrew Pam" <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://tsaoshin.deviantart.com/gallery/45473299

"Classic Disney animated films. Now with Grumpy Cat!  This series features
well known Disney films with the Internet's most famous grouchy feline in
place of one of the characters. The concept is simple: the appearance of

(More...)

Diana Beltran Herrera’s Flock of Paper Birds

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:29:20 +1100

"Andrew Pam" <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/artscience/2013/09/diana-beltran-herreras-flock-of-paper-birds/>

"To represent the birds as they are in nature, Herrera makes her
sculptures life-size. For a cardinal, that might translate to just over
six sheets of paper and five days of labor. An eagle or a crane, on the

(More...)

The Muppets Take the Smithsonian

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 11:29:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
Elmo, Fozzie Bear, the Count, Miss Piggy and 17 other Jim Henson puppets
are coming to the American History Museum:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/The-Muppets-Take-the-Smithsonian-224898722.html

As a massive Henson fan I'm glad to see the Muppets getting due recognition.

(More...)

YouTube rolls out a new royalty-free music library

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 11:33:15 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://venturebeat.com/2013/09/25/youtube-rolls-out-a-new-royalty-free-music-library/

"The number of songs you're legally allowed to mix into the personal
videos you upload to YouTube is understandably low when it comes to
well-known songs.  For this reason, YouTube is launching a new

(More...)

The Muppets: Pöpcørn

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 11:35:08 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UmUX68KtE

The Muppets never get old.  (Unless they're Statler and Waldorf, who
have always been old.)

(More...)

Superhero: The Flipside

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 13:05:24 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
What is your superpower? This is an awesome video about one person's
secret identity.

http://youtu.be/gE6Mv-aaBC0

(More...)

Is Google Wrecking Our Memory?

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:00:51 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/09/are_search_engines_and_the_internet_hurting_human_memory.html>

"So what’s going on? Each time we reach for the mouse pad when we space out on
the ingredients for a Tom Collins or the capital of Arkansas, are we losing the
power to retain knowledge?

(More...)

The Slow Winter

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:10:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.usenix.org/system/files/1309_14-17_mickens.pdf

This... this is true genius.  A very entertaining read!

Via Chris DiBona, who wrote: "Best article on chip design, or anything else,

(More...)

Jimmy Fallon, Sesame Street & The Roots Sing "Sesame Street"

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:13:26 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHogg7pJI_M

Yay!

Also, I haven't seen a classic Casio VL-Tone for ages.  My brother used to own

(More...)

So You've Been Threatened With A Defamation Suit

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:46:16 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.popehat.com/2013/09/26/so-youve-been-threatened-with-a-defamation-suit/>

"So. You have a website, or a Facebook page, or you comment on a forum,
and somebody just sent you an email saying that they are going to SUE
YOU FOR DEFAMATION because of SOMETHING TERRIBLE that you said."

(More...)

Why two spaces after a period isn’t wrong (or, the lies typographers tell about history)

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:47:29 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.heracliteanriver.com/?p=324

"The topic of spacing after a period (or “full stop” in some parts of
the world) has received a lot of attention in recent years.  The vitriol
that the single-space camp has toward the double-spacers these days is

(More...)

Muppet Mash by Pogo

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:49:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwvflO3QKrI

"A composition of music, voices and sounds from Sesame Street."

Via Muse.

(More...)

Nissan's Autonomous Car Is Road Legal in Japan

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:15:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/nissans-autonomous-car-is-road-legal-in-japan>

"Nissan is one of the more ambitious automakers in the driverless car
game, and this week took a notable step forward when its Leaf autonomous
vehicle (can we call them AVs now?) testbed received license approval to

(More...)

Neglecting our nukes

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:17:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/neglecting-our-nukes-96854.html

"More than two decades after the end of the Cold War, the fear of
nuclear weapons has largely disappeared in the United States. The
anxieties about Armageddon and existential dread that pervaded American

(More...)

Did you ever wish that Harry Potter was real? Well it kind of is.

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:19:44 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://thehpalliance.org/

"Just as Dumbledore’s Army wakes the world up to Voldemort’s return,
works for equal rights of house elves and werewolves, and empowers its
members, we: Work with partner NGOs in alerting the world to the dangers

(More...)

Is our education system teaching us to learn but not to think?

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:06:10 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://schoolofthinking.org/2013/09/is-our-education-system-teaching-us-to-learn-but-not-to-think-2/

"The Western education system teaches students to be logically irrational
rather than creatively rational. We teach our children to debate and defend
their viewpoints rather than to escape and find even better ones. We teach our

(More...)

Joblint

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:08:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://github.com/rowanmanning/joblint

"Test tech job specs for issues with sexism, culture, expectations, and
recruiter fails."

(More...)

Cats. Where they do not belong.

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:10:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://getoutoftherecat.tumblr.com/

"I decided there is not enough internet space devoted to pictures of cats
trying to fit into anything they can. So I have graciously decided to take on
this challenge."

(More...)

The 21 Most Touching Interspecies Friendships You Never Thought Possible

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 12:28:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseamarshall/most-touching-interspecies-friendships-you-never-thou

"If you think you’ve seen every interspecies friendship, think again. In her
new book, “One Big Happy Family,” Lisa Rogak collects the pictures and stories
of 50 different interspecies friendships that are bound to brighten your

(More...)

Friends Without Benefits

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 12:36:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/09/social-media-internet-porn-teenage-girls

"Speaking to a variety of teenaged boys and girls across the country, Nancy Jo
Sales uncovers a world where boys are taught they have the right to expect
everything from social submission to outright sex from their female peers. What

(More...)

Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 12:39:02 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.openculture.com/2011/07/franz_kafkas_its_a_wonderful_life.html
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTMHUIN6ciM
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDD7j8p9RE
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eccLAZvTpk

(More...)

ark nova inflatable concert hall to tour japan's flood-hit areas

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:37:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.designboom.com/architecture/ark-nova-inflatable-concert-hall-to-tour-japans-flood-hit-areas/

"the balloon-like architecture is stationed in matsushima city, which is still
healing after being struck by the natural disaster, and the team behind its
creation hopes to deliver encouragement and positivity in the form of music.

(More...)

What Happens When You Abolish Tipping

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:39:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/08/tipless_restaurants_the_linkery_s_owner_explains_why_abolishing_tipping.single.html>

"When we switched from tipping to a service charge, our food improved, probably
because our cooks were being paid more and didn't feel taken for granted. In
turn, business improved, and within a couple of months, our server team was

(More...)

Hyperbole and a Half: Menace

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:55:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/menace.html

'Power is intoxicating. Everyone loves having the ability to make their
decisions into reality --- to think "this should be something that happens,"
and then actually be able to make that thing happen. It is also dangerous.  And

(More...)

This Is What Happens When You Let Random People Lead An Orchestra

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:22:15 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.beautyexists.net/humor/this-is-what-happens-when-you-let-random-people-lead-an-orchestra/

"For our latest mission, we put a Carnegie Hall orchestra in the middle of New
York City and placed an empty podium in front of the musicians with a sign that
read, "Conduct Us." Random New Yorkers who accepted the challenge were given

(More...)

Laserman Electronica 2011 - Laser show Disney California

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:24:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgIZrSlPuko

Very cool laser show!

Via Scott Buehler and J. Langille

(More...)

A Visual Guide To Creative Commons Licensing

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:25:54 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/the-ultimate-visual-guide-to-creative-commons-licensing/

"Where once the internet was an untamed beast overran by plagiarism,
non-attributed image theft, copyright confusion, and super shaky sense of who
owns what–well, really that hasn’t changed for most. But for those paying

(More...)

Dolphin Hear, Dolphin Do: Imitation by Echolocation

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 11:19:15 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/10/dolphin-hear-dolphin-do-imitation-by-echolocation/

"These experiments demonstrate dolphins can recognize and imitate trained
behaviors, but Jaakkola is also interested in investigating spontaneous
imitation in problem-solving situations. So far, all dolphin imitation studies

(More...)

Down with Unicode! Why 16 bits per character is a right pain in the ASCII

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 11:26:45 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/10/04/verity_stob_unicode/
http://utf8everywhere.org/

"Ladies and gentlemen, place your ears in the amenable-to-bended position, and
stand by to be swept along by the next great one-and-only true movement."

(More...)

Getting JRPGs Out In English Is Harder Than You Think

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 11:28:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://kotaku.com/getting-jrpgs-out-in-english-is-harder-than-you-think-1441094168

"Maybe one day, when the rapture comes, every single Japanese game will be
instantly translated and localized for English-speaking audiences, and then
they will be transmitted into our brains so we can experience them without

(More...)

Help Rebuild the Birthplace of the Rock-afire Explosion!

Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:34:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.crowdtilt.com/campaigns/help-rebuild-creative-engineering

'The Rock-afire Explosion had a "blast" on September 26th, 2013, and not the
good kind. The creator of the Rock-afire Explosion, Aaron Fechter is developing
an alternative fuel called Hydrillium in the same building that the Rock-afire

(More...)

With 2.3 Million People Incarcerated in the US, Prisons Are Big Business

Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:35:57 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.thenation.com/prison-profiteers

"Worse still are the implications on a larger scale: when corporations seek to
profit from prisons, it creates a powerful financial incentive, not just to
push for policies that fuel mass incarceration but to cut corners in the

(More...)

Take Back Halloween! A costume guide for women with imagination.

Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:37:53 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://takebackhalloween.org/

"First of all, Take Back Halloween isn’t a store. We’re not selling any of this
stuff. We’re a resource guide: we come up with the costume designs, explain
what you’ll need to pull off the look, and provide links to where you can buy

(More...)

An inspiring quote told in pony fanart

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:58:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://imgur.com/eR3Y6Cv

Via David Formosa.

(More...)

William Shatner: Ponder the Mystery

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 15:00:40 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/10/william_shatner_1.html

"My brain starts to ache when I try to imagine the specifics of what
this album is going to sound like, but I do not exaggerate when I say
that I can't wait to hear what this sounds like. Hopefully it will be

(More...)

Jess Day is Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 15:02:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.abitfairytale.net/blog/2013/08/22/jess-day-is-not-your-manic-pixie-dream-girl/>

"Mary Sue, while still common, appears to have been replaced these days
by another catch-all: The Manic Pixie Dream Girl, a term that has been
gaining more traction under an abuse of its misinterpreted meaning

(More...)

Intro to Drums

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:23:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jntqBIjVNc

"Allan Mednard gives us the details on two very popular styles of drumming, and
what their rhythms are all about."

(More...)

Progressbar

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:24:13 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://vimeo.com/62147173

Brilliant!

(More...)

Charles Duhigg on safety habits

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:27:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://plus.google.com/106597887376283858570/posts/NysxhCdcKPk

"O’Neill’s safety plan, in effect, was modeled on the habit loop. He identified
a simple cue: an employee injury. He instituted an automatic routine: Any time
someone was injured, the unit president had to report it to O’Neill within

(More...)

Big News In Anti-Poaching Efforts

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:39:15 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/09/Big-News-In-Anti-Poaching-Efforts/

"...you could even make $25,000 and win a free 10-day trip to a South African
Wildlife Reserve for helping to fight poaching -that is, if you can design an
anti-poaching drone that can help protect endangered rhinos."

(More...)

義足のMoses

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:08:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://vimeo.com/74621649

A cute animation about a ghost who loves Singing in the Rain.

(More...)

History Must Be Curved

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:09:49 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.popehat.com/2013/10/09/history-must-be-curved/

"HISTORY MUST BE CURVED, for there is a horizon in the affairs of mankind.
Beyond this horizon, events pass out of historical consciousness and into myth.
Accounts are shortened, complexities sloughed off, analogous figures fused,

(More...)

Our Toyota Was Fantastic

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:18:38 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://english.bouletcorp.com/2013/10/08/our-toyota-was-fantastic/

Nice use of animation in a comic.

Via David Formosa.

(More...)

20 tools and apps for digital journalists

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:19:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
A collection of some of the best storytelling, search and productivity tools
and apps for journalists:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/20-tools-and-apps-for-digital-journalists/s2/a554321/

Lots of great tools.

(More...)

CloudPaint

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:20:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.cloudpaint.com/client/index.php

Some nostalgia:  It's the original MacPaint, now on the web!

(More...)

oftenpaper.net

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:43:15 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.oftenpaper.net/

Mathematical fun, including lots of embedded Mathematica - be sure to
check out the third and fourth articles on the page on Sierpinski
Triangles and L-systems!

(More...)

The Phantom Tollbooth: Beyond Expectations

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:46:20 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://phantomtollboothdoc.vhx.tv/

“The Phantom Tollbooth: Beyond Expectations” playfully explores the
creation, creators, lasting impact and enduring relevance of one of
the most universally beloved children’s books of our time. Through

(More...)

Undercover Police, Just About Everywhere

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:48:36 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/nyregion/undercover-just-about-everywhere.html?smid=go-share&_r=0>

"So before and during the Iraq War, the organization of antiwar rallies
was regarded as a fit matter for police surveillance; so were the
monthly Critical Mass bicycle rallies, as well as groups protesting at

(More...)

A Tea Song for Halloween

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:28:51 +1100

Katherine Phelps <muse [at] glasswings.com.au>

Katherine Phelps
This is an ad for British tea.

http://youtu.be/GFfn8L2saYI

Trust me, you want to see this. One word...zombies! snork

(More...)

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