April 3, 2010
Good luck, America.
The New York Times has published an informative graphic realization of projected costs and likely funding sources for the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). [more inside]
Thank God for Rock
God Gave Rock and Roll To You.
With more than 7 million records sold, four Grammy Awards, ten Dove Awards and an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame - the first rock band ever to be so honored - Petra (wiki) is widely considered the father of Christian rock. [more inside]
A glimpse of Seba Jun, aka Nujabes: 1974-2010
Seba Jun, aka Nujabes, was a quiet and rather reclusive Japanese hip-hop DJ/producer/label head, as far as hip-hop personalities go. He didn't do many interviews, and his two albums and 15 or so vinyl singles which were released on his own Hydeout Productions label, all of which were only released in Japan. Regardless of the limited push, he gained renown world-wide for his relaxed, jazzy hip-hop, due in part to his music being featured on the anime series Samurai Champloo. The musician's life was cut short in late February, following a car accident. He was 36 years old. [more inside]
Pixar Characters, To Scale
stimulusing
Veronique de Rugy, NRO contributor and George Mason fellow, says her research indicates that stimulus funding was disproportionately directed towards Democratic congressional districts. Nate Silver begs to disagree. De Rugy responds here; Silver responds here. Others say that this is a model "for the quick, effective peer-review that the internet facilitates." Perhaps this is a new model for peer review?
Garry Shandling Movie Posters
Cause, meet effect
In March a South African High Court heard a demand to ban the president of the African National Congress Youth League from singing the song Ayesaba Amagwala; the ruled the song unconstitutional hate speech for its incitement to "shoot the Boer", to the disappointment of the ANC, but the Freedom Front Plus were more enthusiastic.
Yesterday another Afrikaner farmer was found hacked to death in his bed. This one was more notorious than most.
"My job was to make it look like Atari!"
When TV's Fringe dipped into an episode-long flashback to 1985, the opening title sequence flashed back with it. Sequence creator Andrew Kramer discusses how a 1985 version of the opening title was made; VHS tracking distortion, CyFy font, and all. [more inside]
Sartorial Night/Day wear
"In preparation for the 2010 World Expo opening in May in Shanghai, city officials have been busy making sure the metropolis and its inhabitants are presentable. The World Expo is a ‘Big Deal’; ... The government is determined to whip the city into shape, even if it stretches the very fabric of society, which in Shanghai happens to be … cotton and silk pajamas!"
Pathological Geomorphology
Pathological geomorphology, the blog. Featuring: dunes vs. river, parabolic [not Barchan] dunes, annular drainage, salt! glaciers, thermokarst, and another structurally controlled lake.
Flint is on Fire.
Jesus is everywhere.
While looking at La Luz De Jesus gallery art I found this painting of Jesus in a kitchen sink and an easter bunny suicide which reminded me of the Easter Bunny beat down in Mallrats. And then George Carlin busting out Buddy Christ in Dogma.Which got me looking at the trailer for the Jesus face movie. Then wondering where else Jesus Face has shown up. And now I'm learning about the Shroud of Turin and then immediately unlearning it. And ultimately deciding I only want to learn from Eddie Izzard.
Space Shuttle 2.0
Certainly you've read of the Space Shuttle's imminent retirement, but are you prepared for the secret robot "mini" shuttle, the X-37B? After a decade of checkered development under NASA, DARPA (with assistance from Scaled Composites' White Knight) and finally the U.S. Air Force, the first X-37B spaceplane, the Orbital Test Vehicle, is ready for an April 19th launch.
Woz's Ring
Penelope Fitzgerald's marginalia
"Dear Penelope Fitzgerald, Among the books chance puts in our hands are a few that were never meant for us: this one, of course, was meant to come back to you, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to redirect it. With all best wishes, Alberto Manguel." [more inside]
He just broke the candy machine
That's My Uncle Kim "A song about everyone's favourite kooky, incorrigible uncle: Kim Jong-Il" (SLYT) (Previous)
John Strype's Survey of London (1720)
LONDON, the Metropolis and Glory of the Kingdom, was anciently the Seat of the British Empire; and since, stiled commonly, the Royal Chamber of our Kings. The Kings Chamber, the Heart of the Commonwealth, and a Short Draught of the whole Kingdom: As it was once described by Sir Edward Coke, sometime Recorder of this City. It may boast it self to be the largest in Extent, and the fairest built, the most Populous, and best inhabited (and that by a Civil, Rich and Sober People) of any in the World. And for a general Trade throughout the Universe, all other must give her the Precedence. [more inside]
"Au Soleil (To The Sun)"
"Au Soleil" is based on my memories of a cycling trip I undertook across Eastern Europe from Berlin to Istanbul. Vimeo video. A (surprisingly relaxing) short multimedia documentary, created using open source 3D animation software and a keen artistic eye. [more inside]
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