Tuesday various

  • It’s been said that the human brain is sort of hard-wired to see faces everywhere, even where there are none there. I find it amusing that we’re now designing software that can be equally fooled. [via]
  • Of course, that’s not the only thing humans are designing software and robots to do. We’re also, apparently, building robot suits. This is equal parts cool and goofy looking.
  • I’ve never really been tempted to get a tattoo, mostly because I can’t think of a particular design I’d want to carry around with me forever. That said, these science and science fiction tattoos are pretty cool. Free lifetime subscription to the first person who gets a Kaleidotrope tattoo! (Lifetime of the zine, not of the subscriber.) [via and via]
  • Sometimes I think maybe I picked the wrong month to visit Chicago. If you’re there next month, May 9th specifically, Terry Jones will apparently be hosting a screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Sounds like fun!
  • And finally, following up on Gwenda Bond’s recent thoughts on sci-fi foodstuffs, I see that over at Tor.com Jason Henninger is starting a new series on science fiction cuisine. While meanwhile Chris McLaren shares some interesting thoughts on spun sugar and other marvels of our modern age.