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2012-02-24T11:13:00.000-05:00

Hi there. It’s Friday, yay! Let’s get straight to the links from others.

From Cassandra: the Pope is sending out one Tweet per day for Lent. I’m not sure if that indicates he gave up anything.

From Julie: A Swedish man survived two months trapped in his car. Yikes!

Also from Julie: a very cool interactive look at the depths of the Marianas Trench.

From Bunny: What kind of vagabond are you?

Also from Bunny: a video from a man who lives in a New York storefront.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone! See you next week.

2012-02-23T09:24:00.002-05:00

Evidently it is time for the annual sinus infection here in SpookyLibrarianLand. Bah. Back tomorrow, hopefully.

2012-02-22T11:38:00.000-05:00

Hello! Today, we start at ground level and go up from there.

From Bunny: what’s the difference between a road and a street? I had no idea. It’s pretty fascinating, actually.

Ruined buildings are fascinating, too, and have been for thousands of years.

Looking up, you might be able to see Mercury this time of year! Thanks to Cassandra for the link.

From Bunny again: a new exoplanet has been sighted.

How big is space? Here it is, in book form. (Spoiler: lots of black pages.)

And lastly, planetary chocolates. Heavenly.

2012-02-21T12:52:00.000-05:00

Today, we are all about media, it seems.

Many thanks to Bunny, who sent in Dr. Grordbort Presents: The Deadliest Game (steampunk hunting in space!) and a link to the “Inspector Spacetime” project’s Kickstarter page.

Arc is a new publication which focuses on the future. The first issue is out!

In other publication news, Penumbra’s March issue will be dedicated to steampunk.

Via Wondermark, here are amazingly complicated book sculptures, created with a surgical knife. Beautiful and spooky, just how we like them!

2012-02-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

If you liked Freakangels, artist Paul Duffield has a new project, Firelight Isle, which looks just as beautiful. Support great art!

I had no idea dachshunds were so popular amongst writers.

It’s too late to participate in LA’s Entropy Symphony (of car horns!), but not too late to see Manifest Destiny (a tiny cabin built into a wall!) in San Francisco.

If you ever wondered just how big a certain monster was, wonder no more, for there is now a handy chart!

2012-02-17T11:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s time for Links from Others.

From Julie: a colour-blind artist is able to “hear” colour thanks to an ingenious gadget. (Julie is British and so I am employing the British spelling here!)

From Cassandra: Charles Dickens vents about his marriage. (True story.)

Also from Cassandra: With the recent reboot of comic superheroes, Batgirl, who was paralyzed and then became the super hacker Oracle, is now unparalyzed. Disability groups are irked. (Although I absolutely love Oracle, I agree with the people who point out that everyone is being rebooted and retconned in this latest move, for better or worse.)

From Bunny: a painting of Leonard Cohen consoling Nick Cave. Wow!

If you’ve become bored by Sudoku, try Masyu. (Don’t blame me if you lose a few hours.)

The Bat Segundo Show interviews Stephen Fry! (The show is always interesting; check it out if you can.)

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone. See you Monday.

2012-02-16T13:38:00.000-05:00

Today, we rage against the institutions. Academics boycott Elsevier! Librarians are rising up against the ebook barricades! Bring back the Coconut Clusters! (Wait, that last one is a flashback from an old Pepper Ann episode. Never mind.)

The International Justice Resource Center is an amazing website with a wealth of information.

Women in Libraries now has their newsletter online, viewable to the public.

And, in completely unrelated news, I have joined the curious masses exploring Pinterest. I don’t have much up yet, obviously, but feel free to say hello if you’re there!

2012-02-16T13:30:00.002-05:00

Goodbye, Gizmo the Wonder Puppy. We will keep the memories of your antics and your fantastic personality forever.

2012-02-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today, we zip around the world. Here we go!

In Canada, the Victoria Tea Festival gets underway this weekend.

In London, they’re on the hunt for Underground ghost stations.

By using Google Earth, one can create amazing works of abstract art.

Ever wanted to hear the national anthem of other countries without having to wait for the Olympics? The World Factbook now has you covered!

And lastly, imagine bananas ripening…in the Bronx. It’s true, and it’s going on right now!

2012-02-14T11:33:00.000-05:00

Back in 1900, predictions were made about the future, and many of them came true. So why not predict what 2112 will bring?

Ay-leen is compiling all steampunk-related conventions for the year, and it looks as if one might be able to travel for the entire year visiting convention after convention! There’s also a monthly compilation, for those of us with more spontaneous agendas.

The Vandermeers are at it again! They’re looking for submissions to their next anthology, titled Steampunk Revolution.

The consistently amazing NPS site has posted mp3s of Theo Wangemann's 1889-1890 European recordings. How fantastic is that?

And for those of us who like a good drink now and again, there is a (Kindle) tome just for you – SteamDrunks! Enjoy!

2012-02-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday!

Can you guess the film from the original book cover? (I can’t; I only got four right.)

Kodak may be fading, but its name will live on. I like the word Kodakery.

A famous portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln is actually a hoax. Wow.

T.S. Eliot worked in a bank for years, and even liked it. Some people throw the whole wacky artist stereotype out of whack. So to speak.

Like video games? Tokyo is now the home of a Capcom restaurant with game-themed items on the menu!

2012-02-10T12:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! It’s a disorganized end to a disorganized week here, so here are some bits and pieces:

From Cassandra: a really interesting history of Abraham Maslow and his ideas.

Also from Cassandra: the strange and developing history of drone weapons.

Vermont inmates got creative and hid a small pig on cop cars. Hee.

Bill Lucey asked for opinions on the Dec. 21 doomsday theory. Apparently no one believes anything will happen. Someone should at least plan a party or something.

Airport terminals can be beautiful, as this Flickr gallery shows.

And from disorganization, art! How to reuse books no one wants any more.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone. Back on Monday!

2012-02-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

Unexpected day away from the interwebs yesterday. Onward!

Bad news for California libraries; all state funding has been slashed. A multimillionaire celebrity needs to step up, I think.

Meanwhile, other public libraries are trying out some interesting campaigns. I really like the Ljubljana City’s “mystery pack” idea.

More intriguing online debuts: Reuters begins its “Social Pulse” concept, EU Screen opens up thousands of archived broadcasts from European vaults, and Quick Screen Share does just what it says – possibly a godsend for anyone trying to do tech support over the phone!

2012-02-07T09:37:00.000-05:00

It is the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens! I think he would be pleased at the attention this day is getting; Google’s illustration of the day honors the man, the BBC reports on the occasion, the New York Times examines his attitude toward the legal profession, and, perhaps most importantly, a global read-a-thon of his works takes place today.

In other happenings, please regard (and try not to drool near) the EER Patent Solar Powered Turbine Steampunk Fob Watch. In exploring more on the “EER” part of this creation, I was led to Alchemy Gothic’s Empire page, which is mesmerizing.

And finally, take a moment to read the story of Owney, a dog who found a home with the Railway Post Office in the 1880s. I do believe this needs to become a children’s book.

2012-02-06T12:17:00.000-05:00

We start Monday with something I forgot last Friday – via Dawnowar, one brave soul is listening to nothing but Chicago for 30 days, and documenting the results (and reviews).

NASA is putting amazing photos on Flickr, including an updated “Blue Marble” shot of our planet.

RIP Dorothea Tanning, considered “the last of the Surrealists.”

Have you heard of F.C. Judd? I hadn’t until now, but he was an electronic music pioneer and deserves some rediscovery.

I hadn’t heard of P183 either, but the “Moscow Banksy” is putting up amazing work.

Boey is running a fan art contest, and you should enter!

And finally, consider these (imaginary) beverages for your enjoyment.

2012-02-03T10:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! Many thanks to everyone who sent in links. We’re going through them alphabetically by contributor, just to be librarian-like about it.

From Aaron (via Bunny): Sure, anyone can make a gauntlet. But can you make a Dungeons & Dragons gauntlet, with real dice-shaking action implanted in the gauntlet itself?

From Brendan: The Komen Foundation/Planned Parenthood kerfuffle takes on a whole new level of weirdness when it's pointed out that there's a Komen-sponsored pink handgun. Er….

From Bunny: an amazing new mobility device (Bunny says it looks a little like a Dalek prototype, which is true, but don't let that deter you!) that lets disabled individuals stand, move, and engage with others at eye level.

Also from Bunny: Ants! They’re incredible. See the proof.

From Cassandra: After a person is cremated, the surgical implants can be recycled and used again. Interesting stuff. (Cue some bizarre horror movie script...)

From Julie: The headline she sent, “Shock as blue balls fall from sky,” says it all, really.

From the Sparkle Queen: Celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens by swinging out at the Revolving Museum this weekend! This looks like a great time all round.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone! Back next week.

2012-02-02T12:45:00.000-05:00

RIP to poet Wislawa Szymborska, one of my favorites.

Joan of Arc was born 600 years ago, and she’s still known worldwide.

In more modern times, Shelf Check celebrates its 500th comic! Contribute to the sheep party fund! (Really. It’s only a dollar.)

In Buenos Aires, an inspired man has turned a tank into a bookmobile (or maybe it’s the other way around) and is going about spreading the word via this “weapon of mass instruction.” Hee.

For Super Bowl fanatics, check out the official media guide, complete with history and technical details about the cameras and whatnot.

2012-02-01T13:07:00.000-05:00

Is everyone getting ready for Groundhog Day and the forecast of Punxsutawney Phil tomorrow? Or how about Wiarton Willie, if you’re in Canada? (I had not heard of Willie before.)

Elsewhere, the UK is hosting its National Badminton Championships, and Miami is throwing an international map fair. Whee!

If you’re in a place where it makes more sense to stay inside, consult this amazing Metafilter post about Percy Fawcett. There are literally dozens of links to follow, all of them interesting!

2012-01-31T13:13:00.000-05:00

Bruce Sterling and Jon Lebowsky talk about future change as we start 2012. It sounds sort of ominous.

Speaking of, the Victorians had some ideas about the apocalypse. (A related link that’s just as interesting is io9’s “Victorian Hugos.”)

Lovecraft always manages to creep into steampunk conversations. Now Clockwork and Cthulhu make it more overt!

Blade Runner also creeps in a bit, and here’s a fantastic sketchbook of the production.

Want to race a dirigible? Sure you do! If you’re near Ohio this year, consider becoming part of the fun.

2012-01-30T12:24:00.000-05:00

Arty stuff all around the world!

In Norfolk, England, a “winged” structure built in Roman times has been rediscovered.

You never know what you’ll find in a junk shop – maybe a scrapbook of Soviet memorabilia!

In Montreal, En Masse is taking over the streets with art.

If you’ve gone to a concert – ever – it might be listed in Metafilter’s mega-post on gigographies.

And hooray for Madeleine L’Engle, who took us out of this world through her stories.

2012-01-27T11:23:00.000-05:00

Well, this has been a week. Fortunately, it’s almost over! Many thanks to everyone who sent in links to make this Friday post possible.

From Holly: The Ramones? No, Small Potatoes, singing about being an individual. I think. This broke my brain a little.

From Cassandra: Look out for the asteroid today! Also, in June, we can (weather permitting) watch Venus cross the sun.

Also from Cassandra: Ubuweb, keeping you up to date on minimalist music. (Delia Derbyshire rocks. Minimally speaking, that is.)

From Julie: Invisibility cloaks are coming soon! Yay!

From Bunny: Alex Gross gives old photographs a fresh coat of color, with added superhero abilities. Hee.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone! See you next week.

2012-01-25T13:20:00.000-05:00

What are your plans for the weekend? There's a wide range of possibilities. You could run a marathon in Egypt, or watch a hill go up in flames in Japan, or go yeti-hunting…er, snowshoe racing in Canada.

If the yeti-hunting idea intrigues you, you may be glad to know there’s a weblog devoted entirely to another cryptozoological creature, the Loch Ness monster. And if you’d like to get involved in the paranormal and/or you like Hellboy, good news! The B.P.R.D. is holding a summer camp!

2012-01-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

I start today off with something decidedly unVictorian, but bear with me. In 1964, the World’s Fair was held in New York City. Not only is the fair’s site now the host of the (annual?) New York Maker Faire , it was also the site for the 1939 World’s Fair. More than that, however, it showed Americans not only sights and sounds, but also tastes of the world, due to a set of circumstances which led Asian and African countries to hold a prominent spot in the culinary offerings and which led to an influx of wonderful cuisine in the United States.

And speaking of fairs and broadening’s one travel (and mind), it may be winter but that means it’s prime planning time for steampunk conventions! The Steampunk World’s Fair is preparing to knock one’s silk stockings off in May; if you’re near the East Coast this spring, try to visit it. (Thanks to Haley for the information!) If you’re impatient, the incomparable Shien Lee is putting on another extravaganza next month – live the life Parisienne without leaving New York.

Meanwhile, here in Ohio, of all places, plans are afoot for great stuff this year. The Steampunk Empire Symposium is taking over the city in April; if you’re part of the Steampunk Empire, you should attend (and if you’re not, you should join the fun anyway!). Later on in the year, PandoraCon lurks, full of geeky goodness for all.

2012-01-23T13:22:00.000-05:00

Poets may feel as if they’re cursed by the gods, but it's not just them; sometimes droids have bad days, too, you know.

And what of conductors? Conducting an orchestra is harder than it looks!

To make up for today’s brevity, here’s a great challenge: go look at Steven Wildish's amazing film alphabets of the last few decades and see if you can name them all. This, too, is harder than it looks!

2012-01-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! Many thanks to everyone who sent in links. Here we go!

From both Zazoo and Cassandra: Kings Island has supposedly been haunted since its opening by a little girl in a blue dress. Neither I nor anyone else I know who worked there (and this was the place to work when we were in high school) ever saw a little girl in a blue dress haunting anything. I call shenanigans!

From Bunny: The apocalypse in 14 days, as depicted by social media. Good stuff.

Also from Bunny, who likes me despite my being an introvert: Stop putting us in teams! We like working alone!

From Cassandra: January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Also from Cassandra: Many doctors have a view of death which might be unexpected.

From Julie: Should we eliminate the leap second? Time travelers are on edge, waiting to find out!

From Zazoo: a steampunk laptop for gaming. Wow.

Also from Zazoo: Think Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” sounds suspiciously like Madonna’s “Express Yourself”? Someone has done an experiment and, uh, I think Madonna may have a case here.

Have a spiffy weekend, everyone! See you Monday.