- That recent NASA study has gone from “discovery that will shake the foundation of all that we know” to “just some arsenic-based microbes — but kinda neat” to “probably crap science” in record time. [via]
- Speaking of record time, that AIDS fundraiser I briefly mentioned yesterday is already over. Which is good news for AIDS research and prevention, I guess, but bad news for everyone who just wants Kim Kardashian to go away.
- You know it’s funny, Fantastic Four made me wish Jessica Alba would quit acting too!
- All Of Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits Played At Once. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Don’t ask me why. [via]
- And finally, along the same lines, but actually really fascinating: a deconstruction of the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter”. Well worth a listen. [via]
science
Monday various
- You know, I’m all for preventing the spread of AIDS and everything, but I’d pay good money to keep a lot of these people off Twitter.
- The New York Times‘ 100 Notable Books of 2010 looks like an interesting list. I’ve read — count ’em — one of the books on the list.
- I may have discovered a reason to use Facebook as something other than a Scrabble-delivery system: supposedly there’s a Monty Python game coming soon.
- Swede broadcasts music from his stomach. Apparently he was disappointed by the sound quality, however. [via]
- And finally, Scott McCloud on comics [via]:
Wednesday various
- I like Todd VanDerWerff ‘s write-up of Dancing With the Stars a lot more than I think I would ever like the show itself.
- Popular Mechanics looks at shipping scientifically: “One disheartening result was that our package received more abuse when marked ‘Fragile’ or ‘This Side Up.'” [via]
- The Harry Potter series from Hermione’s point of view [via]
- John Scalzi’s accurate but misleading descriptions of famous science fiction films. Mild spoiler warnings all around.
- And finally, John Cleese on the creative process [via]:
Wednesday various
- The Monsters of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos, As Drawn By Children [via]
- I would so read an entire comic about The Motleys:
Lurk was the muscle. He didn’t talk much, except about Joss Whedon.
The Mime wasn’t on the team, he just followed them around, as if it was really windy.
- An incredible story about twins joined at the brain. [via]
- Ursula K. Le Guin’s touching tribute to her friend and collaborator: Someone Named Delores [via]
- And finally, Science Saved My Soul [via]:
Tuesday various
- “This will end us.” Oh, Cooks Source, you say that like it’s a bad thing. (That you say it with many, many typos is just sort of amusing.)
Seriously, though, had there not been scores of examples of Cooks Source being a copyright-theft-for-profit publication, and had each “apology” from Monica Griggs not smacked of arrogance and shifting of blame, I might be sympathetic. I might chalk it up to an honest mistake, crossed wires in communication, overly tired people saying things they later regret. But Cooks Source‘s actions and attitudes speak for themselves.
- Far be it from me to badmouth a fledgling genre magazine, but…Sci-Fi Short Story Magazine launches with impressive art and no pay.
In theory, I wish them really well. But seriously? $11.99 for 34 pages (that’s about 35 cents a page!), plus a site heavy with ads, and you can’t pass along any of the money to the writers and artists? I give next to nothing at Kaleidotrope — I recognize that what I’m able to offer is only a token payment — but I think it’s still important to offer it. And Kaleidotrope, it should be noted, does not turn a profit. If you’re charging twelve bucks and hosting lots of ads, and you’re still not making any money, maybe it’s time to rethink your business model. And if you are making money, I feel you have an obligation to share some of that money with the people who provide you with content.
- Physician, heal thyself! A newly elected Maryland Republican, who campaigned strongly for repealing Obamacare, wonders why he can’t have his government-paid health care right away. [via]
- Which lends itself immediately to this question for the Democrats: when it’s increasingly clear that your opposition is a walking Onion headline, why do you keep insisting on caving into them? It’s hard to argue with the position that “every time Republicans are on the opposite side of an issue from the public, it’s the Democrats who cave and talk about ‘compromise.'” [via]
- And finally, the big news today is that the Beatles are finally on iTunes. As Rob says, “Hopefully now The Beatles will finally get the publicity and sales they deserve.”