Monthly Archives: April 2011
“The Pale Blue Dot,” animated
Carl Sagan’s call for a sense of cosmic perspective and human solidarity continues to resonate and inspire. Here’s a wonderful take by budding animator Adam Winnik: Sagan’s insight highlights the exquisite irony of our position: the vastness of the cosmos … Continue reading
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Existentialism, with lightsabers
Possibly the coolest expression of Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy ever: I love how Artoo and Threepio’s personalities are perfectly suited to existentialism’s implications: Threepio tapping into despair (“We’re doomed!” as he often says in the actual films), and Artoo cheerily pointing … Continue reading
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Best mashup ever, cont’d: “No One Takes Your Freedom”
The Beatles! Scissor Sisters! Aretha Franklin! George Michael! Beautifully blended together by DJ Earworm (via a fan-edited video on YouTube). All together now: More “best mashups ever” here.
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“Our weapons are the ironic mind against the literal, the open mind against the credulous”
In a letter to the National Convention of American Atheists, Christopher Hitchens writes what sounds, sadly and suspiciously, like a farewell: Dear fellow-unbelievers, Nothing would have kept me from joining you except the loss of my voice (at least my … Continue reading
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Mountain, sandstorm, stars
Photographer Terje Sørgjerd has put together a magnificent time-lapse video, filmed on the slopes of Mount Teide in the Canary Islands. Be sure to view this full-screen: At about 30 seconds in, a sandstorm from the Sahara Desert hits: Interestingly … Continue reading
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On identity beyond ethnicity, cont’d: Donald Glover likes white stuff
Actor, comedian, writer, and rapper Donald Glover is insanely and unfairly talented. A daring, subversive, puckish spirit runs through all of his work — whether riffing on racial stereotypes in his standup routine, writing for Tina Fey’s 30 Rock, spitting … Continue reading
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Why libraries matter, cont’d: the pop-culture treasure trove
From NPR’s “Monkey See” blog, a fantastic post by Linda Holmes on how the library is the best friend that pop-culture geeks may not have known they had: There’s a big public library literally across the street from my bank … Continue reading
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Why libraries matter, cont’d: “The most beautiful word in the English language”
Happy National Library Workers Day! (And Happy National Library Week.) Here’s an addition to my small collection of library quotes: The lexicographer Wilfred Funk was once invited to say what he thought was the most beautiful word in the English … Continue reading
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“Every mystery ever solved has turned out to be NOT MAGIC.”
Hot off the presses, here’s DC Turner’s short animated film of Tim Minchin’s celebrated beat poem “Storm”: (Update: Interviews with Minchin and the filmmakers here and here.) Very well done, I think, though I prefer Minchin’s live delivery (which you … Continue reading
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My cup of irony runneth over
Conservative Christians in Australia apparently don’t like it when church services mix religion with science fiction and fantasy (emphases mine): A CHURCH service where the angels and saints make way for wizards and warlocks has been damned by conservative Christians. … Continue reading
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