August 23, 2011
Print out your own home: WikiHouse
Harold Brodkey
[Harold] Brodkey produced fiction that was epic too, but chiefly in its elaboration of human intimacy. To read his prose is to be incarcerated in the situations of his characters; indeed, it is to be very nearly overwhelmed by them. ... Brodkey moved forward with new forms for rendering human consciousness. His protagonist was, almost always, "a mind shaped like a person." The action consisted of that mind discovering its thoughts. [more inside]
Wealthy French Want to be Taxed More
16 of France's mega-rich signed a petition urging the goverment to raise their taxes. Despite relatively high taxes and a wealth tax signatories such as the L'Oreal heir and the head of a major oil company, Total, are asking the government to raise their taxes to help solve the country's financial issues. Original petition (French).
Lolita's Wikipedia Page
Case History Of A Wikipedia Page: Nabokov’s 'Lolita' Since 2001, the Wikipedia entry on Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita has been edited 2,303 times. It's a popular entry, too: of approximately 750,000 Wiki articles out there, it ranks at 2,075 in traffic.
In the past ten years, the entry has grown to the detailed, 6,000-plus-word monolith of today. The two Lolita films now have their own pages, while the entry on the novel has expanded to include sections on such subjects as Lolita's Russian translation and its literary allusions. An edit is made, on average, about every other day.
Welcome to the Enrichment Center for Aperture Science Laboratories
Artists in love
Lewin was Parrish's constant companion for 55 years.
"He and Lewin must have had a magical life together out in the country. When Parrish was 90 years old and Lewin was 71, Parrish's wife finally died, leaving him free to marry Lewin. However, he declined so she packed her bags, left the estate and went back to her village where she married someone else."Part one in an occasional series on artists and their love life. [some NSFW] [more inside]
Now How Will I Know Where I Am?
I beg you, crying on my knees: please, oh please, don't feed the children!
Seoul mayor issues ultimatum in bid to limit free school lunches. 'Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wants to limit free school lunches to poor children and take students from wealthy families out of the gratis cafeteria line. And he warns that if voters don't back his agenda in a Wednesday referendum, he's going to quit his post.' [more inside]
Earthquake in Virginia
As everyone knows there was an earthquake in central VA today that could be felt from South Carolina to Maine and points west. Stunning pictures of the carnage are beginning to appear. This is also time to consider nuclear power plant vulnerability in the USA (interactive map). North Anna Power Station was very close to the epicenter and shut down automatically.
Pat Summitt diagnosed with early onset dementia; will continue to coach Lady Vols
University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history (men or women) has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Regardless, she plans to continue coaching the Lady Vols for the 2011-12 season.
12 reasons why Arabic is terrific
Scroll scroll scroll scroll AIIIGHH
This comic isn't in English, but you'll get the gist of it. NOT for the easily unnerved. Scroll down slowly! Hat tip: Scott McCloud.
The notes they play
The Next Big Things of Yesterday
Megatrends That Weren't "From "the rise of the rest" to the resource wars, pontificating on the big trends that will shape the future of global politics and economics has become a big business. But history can be awfully unkind to pundits wielding crystal balls." Many people, events, organisations and Guardian political pundits have erred in the past, but perhaps their record will be better in the future.
A GAME ABOUT AN ADVENTURE BY A HERO
Protected by the legendary Jedi Order, the Galactic Republic stood as a bastion of peace in the galaxy for a thousand generations...
Can't wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic? You'd better be Jedi fast! EA wants you to pre-order its game real bad. [more inside]
Athel the Griefmaster meets his public.
Jimmy Kimmel's Uncle Frank had died
"Uncle Frank" of late night TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live has died at 77
£10,000 Man
Matthew James, born without a left hand, contacted Ross Brawn at Mercedes GP to sponsor a prosthetic hand (with the Mercedes logo). Brawn was contacted because he is a former student of Matthew's school, Reading. The result, Mercedes GP has worked with Touch Bionics and Matthew has a new prosthetic hand.
A live electrical wire
Tom Waits' Private Listening Party
The whole thing's gonna to have to be rethought. [SLYT]
We have never asked, and they have never had to tell.
It's that time of year. Freshmen are confusedly wandering campuses around the nation in packs, searching for free food, and some good folks in Wisconsin want the kids off their lawn. [more inside]
Just call my name/ I'll be there in a hurry/ You don't have to worry
Songwriter Nick Ashford died yesterday.
Nickolas 'Nick' Ashford, along with his songwriting and marriage partner Valerie Simpson, wrote dozens of songs performed, covered and interpreted by artists like Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Chaka Khan, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake and Amy Winehouse. [more inside]
What You Don't Get About The Job Search
The Atlantic collects responses from readers on both sides of the current employment market:
part 1 - the unemployed
part 2 - the employers
part 3 - the jobless
part 1 - the unemployed
part 2 - the employers
part 3 - the jobless
Seoul's Intellectual Pressure Cooker
Welcome to Exam Village, a neighborhood in Seoul where people live while studying for various professional entrance exams.
Some studies can go either way on the subject
The Muppets meet OK Go.
It's fun! There are Muppets everywhere! I really do like the Muppets. I saw them on Top Chef the other night too!
I am troubled. The question is obscure
In 1989, invited to an open air theatre, late at night, I first experienced the 6 hour long screening of Peter Brook's Mahabharata, a much revered Hindu epic which includes the complete Bhagavad Gita as a central part of its narrative. Brook's multiracial casting and innovative treatment received criticism yet its impact has been acknowledged anyone who sat through the 9 hour play, the 6 hour TV serialization or only the 3 hour DVD. [more inside]
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