A daily miasma of frivolity by two wanna-be cultural critics. Or: just, like, some good links, dude.

Jan 11 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Wikipedia: List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events

Wikipedia: List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events

Gaze upon my favorite Wikipedia article of right this second: “List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events.” As one may be able to infer from the title, it contains a giant table of failed predictions for the end of humanity, the end of the planet, the end of the universe, etc. 169 of them at the time I write this, in fact. I counted. (With a computer, not by hand.)

To restate: Wikipedia editors have compiled 169 distinct instances of people being incorrect, most of them not notable in any way, and presented them as encyclopedic information. This article has existed for over a year and a half, and over 1,300 edits have been made to it. All solely to catalog people being wrong.

I hereby coin “wikismug” for those situations where you read something on Wikipedia and just know the submitter was grinning smugly as they hit submit. This article is some of the most concentrated wikismug I’ve ever seen.

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Jan 10 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Poland probes artist’s claim he used Holocaust ash

Poland probes artist’s claim he used Holocaust ash

AP report:

Polish prosecutors are investigating a Swedish artist’s claim that he used the ashes of Holocaust victims to make a painting, an act that could carry a prison term.

…

Spokeswoman Beata Syk-Jankowska said Tuesday that prosecutors in the eastern city of Lublin have opened an investigation to check whether there is truth to the artist’s claim. She said there is no evidence and prosecutors are acting on media reports.

This could be a completely false publicity stunt. Of course, it could be a true publicity stunt. :(

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Jan 10 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Ken Burns wants Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens to ‘suffer’

Ken Burns wants Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens to ‘suffer’

Me too, Ken. Also, I think they should be put in Cooperstown in a special “Cheats & Liars” wing. I’m thinking Clemens can go right next to the Black Sox.

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Jan 10 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Harmonica of Wonder

Harmonica of Wonder

Wonderful set of stories about Stevie Wonder’s harmonica playing. There’s no denying that Wonder’s harmonica sound is unique but I bet you haven’t given much thought as to why (I hadn’t). Well, these folks have.

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Jan 09 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Mille Bornes is an excellent card game, a favorite of both mine and Colin’s. It was originally released in 1954, and like all board and card games, it’s had several art redesigns over the years. Codex 99 has a post showing off some of the different card and box art,  and you all should check it out because it’s pretty delightful.

The card selections above are from the 1960 “edition spécial” deck by an unknown artist. I can’t take my eyes off the accident card in the middle.

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Jan 09 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Gene for poor science journalism discovered

Gene for poor science journalism discovered

Pitch perfect.

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Jan 08 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Co.Design:

Platinum and gold records are a big deal in the music biz, but what about one made entirely of ice? It had been three years since Swedish indie rockers Shout Out Louds released their last album, and they wanted something special to introduce “Blue Ice,” the first single off their upcoming Optica, to the world. In collaboration with the creative folks at ad agency TBWA Stockholm, they came up with a way to transform the physicality of vinyl into something more ephemeral.

The sound quality was a lot better than I was expecting it to be, although you’ll notice it degrades quite a bit by the end. Also, is it actually safe in any way to melt something on a turntable?

Anyway, still fuckin’ neat.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
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Jan 07 2013
Mark Twain, probably

I don’t believe I’ve ever posted anything from 9-Eyes here before. It’s a collection of Street View pictures from Google Maps, curated by Jon Rafman.

I don’t have the slightest idea where this one is located in the world, but it is a pretty neat photograph.

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Jan 07 2013
Mark Twain, probably

Girls Spike Parents’ Milkshakes To Avoid Internet Curfew

Girls Spike Parents’ Milkshakes To Avoid Internet Curfew

Ed Fletcher, Sacramento Bee:

Two Placer County teenage girls were arrested for allegedly using drugged milkshakes to knock out the parents of one of the girls so they could log on to the Internet, Rocklin police said.

Internet access at the Rocklin home was routinely shut off at 10 p.m., said Lt. Lon Milka, a department spokesman. […]

“The girls wanted to use the Internet, and they’d go to whatever means they had to,” Milka said.

Oh for crying out loud.

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Jan 06 2013
Mark Twain, probably

California man says he can drive in carpool lane with corporation papers

California man says he can drive in carpool lane with corporation papers

Isolde Raftery, NBC News:

When Jonathan Frieman of San Rafael, Calif., was pulled over for driving alone in the carpool lane, he argued to the officer that, actually, he did have a passenger.

He waved his corporation papers at the officer, he told NBCBayArea.com, saying that corporations are people under California law.

See, the joke is that corporate personhood is ruining this country.

Actually, the real joke is in the next paragraph:

For 10 years, Frieman says he had been trying to get pulled over to get ticketed and to take his argument to court

TEN YEARS

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