Glass Wings Blog: March 2016

The world regards Australia's healthcare system as one of the best. It's time we realised why.

Tue, 1 Mar 2016 12:56:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/15/the-world-regards-australias-healthcare-system-as-one-of-the-best-its-time-we-realised-why>

"After decades in the public system I still experience a thrill each time I’m
able to call the brightest minds to the side of a patient who can’t afford his
groceries"

(More...)

Buy Me Once: the online shop for stuff that lasts, from T-shirts to tweezers

Tue, 1 Mar 2016 12:58:28 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/16/buy-me-once-online-store-lifetime-guarantee-product-reviews>

"Whether you’re talking about appliances, cars or clothing, it’s true: they
don’t make ’em like they used to. Here’s an easy way around a persistent
problem"

(More...)

kitten and donkey

Tue, 1 Mar 2016 12:59:28 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_0btuRhxnQ

"Two friends I met while walking in Lamu, I guess kittens and donkeys are
friends after all!"

(More...)

Mental health woes are rife in the arts – no wonder

Wed, 2 Mar 2016 15:24:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/mental-health-woes-are-rife-in-the-arts-no-wonder-54386>

"The arts have always been linked to mental health, often in the form of
stories about tortured artists. The sad life of Vincent van Gogh is but one
example."

(More...)

Cancer cons, phoney accidents and fake deaths: meet the internet hoax buster

Wed, 2 Mar 2016 15:25:18 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/18/cancer-cons-phoney-accidents-fake-deaths-internet-hoax-buster-taryn-wright>

"After Taryn Wright exposed an elaborate fake tragedy on Facebook, she found
herself leading a squad of online detectives – but on the internet, it doesn’t
take long for a crowd to become a mob"

(More...)

Penn Jillette: With game design, “the challenge is precisely the same as magic”

Wed, 2 Mar 2016 15:26:36 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/02/what-video-game-designers-can-learn-from-stage-magicians/>

While many people think of misdirection as essentially pointing and saying
"look over there" to fool someone, Jillette stressed that's not actually the
case. Instead, misdirection is about studying and learning where people's

(More...)

In the battle of Internet mobs vs. the law, the Internet mobs have won

Thu, 3 Mar 2016 14:16:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2016/02/17/in-the-battle-of-internet-mobs-vs-the-law-the-internet-mobs-have-won/>

"According to a review by Danielle Citron, a professor of law at the
University of Maryland and the author of the book “Hate Crimes in
Cyberspace,” only 10 cyberstalking cases were filed in federal courts

(More...)

Meet the most overpaid CEOs in America

Thu, 3 Mar 2016 14:17:55 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://grist.org/business-technology/meet-the-most-overpaid-ceos-in-america/>

"Unlike everyone else in the world, executives have seen pay increases
of an astonishing 997 percent over the past 36 years. Think about that
for a second: While you’re struggling to afford the payments on your

(More...)

Kyoto book cafe serves up cute cat parfaits in traditional Japanese machiya townhouse

Thu, 3 Mar 2016 14:18:48 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/02/18/kyoto-book-cafe-serves-up-cute-cat-parfaits-in-traditional-japanese-machiya-townhouse/>

"Now you can enjoy all the delights of a cat-shaped dessert while
immersed in the traditional culture of Kyoto."

(More...)

Yoro Park: The Site Of Reversible Destiny

Fri, 4 Mar 2016 12:46:45 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.tofugu.com/travel/yoro-park/

'With a name like "The Site Of Reversible Destiny" you know that it has to be
good… or at the very least, weird.'

(More...)

Tipping screws poor people, women, brown people, restaurateurs, local economies and...you

Fri, 4 Mar 2016 12:47:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://boingboing.net/2016/02/19/tipping-screws-poor-people-wo.html

"The evidence against tipping is voluminous and damning: it plunges workers
into sub-subsistence wages, subjects woman servers to sexual harassment,
encourages servers to deliver poor service to people of color (and old, young,

(More...)

Dinosaur Comics: Cassandra

Fri, 4 Mar 2016 12:48:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2944

Rethinking the story!  Sometimes you can turn what at first seems to be a
negative into a positive by looking at it from a different perspective.

(More...)

Hear Seven Hours of Women Making Electronic Music (1938- 2014)

Sat, 5 Mar 2016 13:06:09 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.openculture.com/2015/06/hear-seven-hours-of-women-making-electronic-music-1938-2014.html>

"Many of the composers represented here worked for major radio and film
studios, scored feature films (like 1956’s Forbidden Planet), invented
and innovated new instruments and techniques, wrote for orchestras, and

(More...)

Pee-wee’s Big Comeback

Sat, 5 Mar 2016 13:07:10 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/magazine/pee-wees-big-comeback.html

"After disappearing for nearly three decades, Paul Reubens’s
subversive alter ego returns — and seems more radical than ever."

(More...)

meet nigeria’s most famous gay activist

Sat, 5 Mar 2016 13:07:59 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/meet-nigerias-most-famous-gay-activist>

"Nigerian LGBT campaigner Bisi Alimi talks about coming out on national
TV, escape to the UK and the ballroom scene in his homeland."

(More...)

The epic journey of a refugee cat to find its family

Sat, 5 Mar 2016 13:09:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05K-YUezBKA

"Kunkush the cat was a beloved member of a family who became refugees
when they fled Iraq for the safety of Europe."

(More...)

How One Mashup Artist Got Legal Permission to Pair Calvin & Hobbes with Dune

Sun, 6 Mar 2016 12:44:58 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/how-one-mash-up-artist-got-legal-permission-to-pair-calvin-hobbes-with-dune/>

"When a grandiloquent phrase from Dune is paired with Watterson’s
whimsical art, there is no punchline. The result feels almost like an
anti-joke, a la the similarly tweaked comic Garfield Minus Garfield; the

(More...)

The Golden Age Of Tech Support

Sun, 6 Mar 2016 12:46:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://notalwaysright.com/the-golden-age-of-tech-support/50605

"I get a call from a customer about computer text-sizes. I can hear from
the user’s voice that he was getting on a bit, and notice in the ‘notes’
section that the customer is semi-retired and not very computer-savvy."

(More...)

RainFurrest 2016 Post-Mortem

Sun, 6 Mar 2016 12:54:51 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://orrery.prismaticmedia.com/2016/02/20/rainfurrest-2016-post-mortem/>

"It’s my opinion that what really killed RF2016 was RF2011 to RF2015.
During those years we failed to deal with problem behavior as it started
happening."

(More...)

Modern Daydreams 1: Deere John

Sun, 6 Mar 2016 12:56:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKfO1DuiegE

"In this episode a man and a 22 ton John Deere excavator dance a dance
of discovery, fulfillment, and eventually, the loss that any
diesel-based relationship must suffer."

(More...)

This is what happened when we posted Monica Lewinsky’s TED Talk

Mon, 7 Mar 2016 12:47:07 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://ideas.ted.com/want-to-help-prevent-online-bullying-comment-on-facebook/>

"As TED’s social media editor, I have seen a lot of nasty comments. I’ve seen
grown men and women deride a 14-year-old girl for her choice of dress. I’ve
seen them say they’re revolted by a beautiful transgender woman. On every talk

(More...)

The Gloriously Immortal Life of “My Immortal”

Mon, 7 Mar 2016 12:48:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mathildia/he-put-his-boys-thingy-in-mine

"A decade on, Tara Gilesbie’s epic fanfic tale is a glorious mess that we
should keep celebrating."

(More...)

Trebor Scholz’s New Report on Platform Cooperativism

Mon, 7 Mar 2016 12:50:34 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/trebor-scholzs-new-report-on-platform-cooperativism/2016/02/22>

"The backlash to the corporate “sharing economy” is gaining momentum, and one
key player is the movement to develop “platform cooperativism.”"

(More...)

Chris Uhlmann should mind his language on 'cultural Marxism'

Tue, 8 Mar 2016 12:20:25 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/22/chris-uhlmann-should-mind-his-language-on-cultural-marxism>

"In the Australian, ABC political editor Chris Uhlmann repeated a disturbing
theory about the origins of 20th century social change and the culture wars"

(More...)

Use Apple’s App Store and Google Play like they would have looked in the 1980s

Tue, 8 Mar 2016 12:21:32 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://thenextweb.com/apps/2016/02/18/use-apples-app-store-and-google-play-like-they-would-have-looked-in-the-1980s/>

"If you find Apple’s App Stores or Google Play a bit overwhelming at times,
check out App Store Retro. This late-1980s MS-DOS style reworking boils today’s
stores down to low-res text straight out of your parents’ old 386 PC."

(More...)

What’s Next in Computing?

Tue, 8 Mar 2016 12:22:48 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://medium.com/@cdixon/what-s-next-in-computing-e54b870b80cc

"The computing industry progresses in two mostly independent cycles: financial
and product cycles. There has been a lot of handwringing lately about where we
are in the financial cycle. Financial markets get a lot of attention. They tend

(More...)

Unicorn vs. Goblins: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure

Wed, 9 Mar 2016 13:46:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-vs-Goblins-Another-Adventure/dp/1449476287/

"Not every kid skips a rock across a pond and winds up with a unicorn best
friend, right? The popular friendship of Phoebe and Her Unicorn is back for a
third collection of adventures so heavenly they had to be shared."

(More...)

4K? (yes) Drones? (yes): BBC brings out big guns for Planet Earth II

Wed, 9 Mar 2016 13:47:21 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/02/bbc-planet-earth-ii-4k-uhd-drones/>

"It's been 10 years since the BBC's groundbreaking Planet Earth series hit our
screens—and it's now making a welcome return, complete with full use of the
latest UHD 4K technology."

(More...)

Emu Discovers A Sprinkler And Completely Loses His Mind

Wed, 9 Mar 2016 13:48:25 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.thedodo.com/emu-plays-sprinkler-1609960184.html

"An emu from Australia named Blacky was just hanging out and running around — a
normal day, in other words — when the unexpected happened: He discovered a
sprinkler."

(More...)

YouTube creators want changes to copyright rules knocking their videos offline

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:22:37 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/youtube-fair-use-channel-awesome/>

"Feeling ignored by the system and fearing their inaction would crush their
company, Channel Awesome took action, launching a campaign that’s drawn
attention on and off the platform."

(More...)

The U.S. has Gone F&*%ing Mad

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:23:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://medium.com/@jamesallworth/the-u-s-has-gone-f-ing-mad-52e525f76447>

"Do you know how a properly functioning society would react to an event like
San Bernardino? I do — because I’ve had the misfortune of living through such
an event."

(More...)

New York Public Library Puts 20,000 Hi-Res Maps Online & Makes Them Free to Download and Use

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:24:51 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.openculture.com/2014/03/new-york-public-library-puts-20000-hi-res-maps-online.html>

"Whether you’re like me and simply love the imaginative exercise of tracing a
map’s lines and contours and absorbing information, or you love to do that and
you get paid for it, you’ll find innumerable ways to spend your time on the new

(More...)

Journalism crisis leads to shameful compromises

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:16:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2016/2/journalism-crisis-leads-to-shameful-compromises.html>

"As publications go bust, Vox hires commerce editor in attempt to save
journalism by destroying it"

(More...)

I bought some awful light bulbs so you don't have to

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:17:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/40397.html

"I maintain an application for bridging various non-Hue lighting systems
to something that looks enough like a Hue that an Amazon Echo will still
control them. One thing I hadn't really worked on was colour support, so

(More...)

Christina Hess Illustration

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:18:30 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.christinahess.com/

'Christina studied illustration and graduated from University of the
Arts a long long time ago.  Since then she has worked as an illustrator
and designer in the publishing industry.  She likes to draw ornate

(More...)

Half the price in half the time: solar storage innovation harnesses new energy frontier

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 12:14:13 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/23/half-the-price-in-half-the-time-solar-storage-innovation-harnesses-new-energy-frontier>

"Brisbane company Redback Technologies, backed by researchers from the
University of Queensland, says it has cracked the formula for the most
cost-effective solar storage system on the Australian market"

(More...)

“Barefoot” Matriarchs Take On India’s Electricity Gap

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 12:15:22 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/barefoot-matriarchs-take-on-indias-electricity-gap>

"Some 240 million people in India don’t have electricity. Can illiterate
village women solve the problem with off-grid solar power?"

(More...)

The Black Fish: undercover with the vigilantes fighting organised crime at sea

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 12:16:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/24/black-fish-undercover-with-vigilantes-fighting-organised-crime-at-sea>

"Illegal fishing controlled by organised crime is a growing menace,
offering big rewards for low risk. But the seaborne raiders have a new
force to contend with. An army of amateur sleuths are spending their

(More...)

Patreon Moves To Give Users A Chance To Respond To DMCA Notices *Before* Taking Down Content

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 12:17:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160222/23113233679/patreon-moves-to-give-users-chance-to-respond-to-dmca-notices-before-taking-down-content.shtml>

"We've seen all sorts of problems with the DMCA's notice and takedown
system that is frequently abused. Many companies, either because they
want to avoid any risk of liability or because they don't actually

(More...)

Night of the Cleaning Lady

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 12:40:13 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://hyenafu.tumblr.com/post/138553823709/hyenafu-heres-a-fun-story-i-wanted-to-do-for-a>

"Here’s a fun story I wanted to do for a lot of reasons. Hope you
enjoyed it!"

(More...)

This 43-tweet story explains how black kids are treated by America’s criminal justice system

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 12:53:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://fusion.net/story/272058/43-tweetsttorm-race-criminal-justice/

"In a 43-part tweetstorm on Tuesday, Doucette recounted a recent
experience defending a 17-year-old black teen from claims by a police
officer that the teen was doing 360s in the middle of the street. Over

(More...)

36 year-old DESTROYS 29-year-old millennial who “ripped” 25-year-old Yelp employee who got fired after complaining about her salary

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 12:54:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://medium.com/listen-to-my-story/36-year-old-destroys-29-year-old-millennial-who-ripped-25-year-old-yelp-employee-who-got-fired-aa91972dedff>

"On Friday, a Yelp/Eat24 employee wrote a blog post to her CEO about her
minimum wage compensation, which she said came out to about $8 an hour
after taxes. A few hours later, she was fired. It imploded certain

(More...)

Why Yes, Yes We Would Like to See a Ghibli Version of the Millennium Falcon!

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 12:55:36 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.tor.com/2016/02/26/star-wars-meets-hayao-miyazaki-in-this-wonderful-fan-art/>

"Berlin-based illustrator Lap Pun Cheung is creating one of the most
charming mashups we’ve ever seen by transforming scenes from the Star
Wars Universe into Hayao Miyazaki-style illustrations."

(More...)

Japanese Street Fashion - 10 Things You Need To Know in 2016

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:31:57 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://medium.com/@TokyoFashion/japanese-street-fashion-10-things-you-need-to-know-in-2016-59221ab241ee>

"Japan’s street fashion scene is famous around the globe for its ever-changing
face - from over-the-top cute and colorful to extreme darkness, from haute
couture to hardcore sneaker heads, from styles inspired by ancient fairy tales

(More...)

You wouldn’t be able to pause your video games today without Jerry Lawson

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:33:00 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/02/you-wouldnt-be-able-to-pause-your-video-games-today-without-jerry-lawson/>

"Though you may not know his name, Jerry Lawson helped lay the groundwork for
all modern gaming consoles. As chief hardware engineer for Fairchild
Semiconductor’s game division in the 1970s, Lawson was largely responsible for

(More...)

Helen Ahpornsiri

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:33:55 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.instagram.com/helenahpornsiri/

"Illustrations made from pressed Fern. Mostly."

Lovely!  Via Muse.

(More...)

How Corporate America Invented Christian America

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:33:24 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/04/corporate-america-invented-religious-right-conservative-roosevelt-princeton-117030>

"Inside one reverend’s big business-backed 1940s crusade to make the country
conservative again."

(More...)

Puritanical Facebook Censors Parody Publication, Makes Appeal Process A Threat

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:34:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160216/06342933609/puritanical-facebook-censors-parody-publication-makes-appeal-process-threat.shtml>

"I have no idea why, but there seems to be a sudden influx of stories
concerning Facebook patrolling its site and taking down content over rather
puritanical standards of offense and vulgarity."

(More...)

Wild gorillas compose happy songs that they hum during meals

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:35:03 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.newscientist.com/article/2078781-wild-gorillas-compose-happy-songs-that-they-hum-during-meals/>

"Gorillas sing and hum when eating, a discovery that could help shed light on
how language evolved in early humans."

(More...)

Chris Rock’s Opening Oscar Monologue: A Transcript,,FEB

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:30:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/movies/chris-rock-monologue.html

"I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice
Awards."

(More...)

Bidding on Security

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:32:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://thedailywtf.com/articles/bidding-on-security

"Ebay thought they were secure, you see. They thought they'd done everything
right."

(More...)

Life in Technicolor—One month wearing EnChroma’s color blindness-fixing glasses

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:33:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/02/seeing-in-techicolor-one-month-wearing-enchromas-color-blindness-correcting-glasses/>

"By blocking wavelengths, glasses create a new world complete with grass,
traffic lights."

(More...)

A copyright troll took down one of our favorite Tumblrs. Here's why it could happen to you.

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 13:04:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://boingboing.net/2016/02/26/a-copyright-troll.html

"This stuff happens all the time with our blogging and remixing artist
friends, but I like to share these stories because they're totally
outrageous and wrong, and— they now happen all the time."

(More...)

Google's crash is a very positive sign

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 13:05:51 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://ideas.4brad.com/googles-crash-very-positive-sign

"This crash ties into an upcoming article I will be writing about
driving in places where everybody violates the rules. I just landed from
a trip to India, which is one of the strongest examples of this sort of

(More...)

Galaxy Magazine on the Internet Archive

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 13:08:05 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://archive.org/details/galaxymagazine&tab=collection

"Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction
magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian
company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American

(More...)

Felt made by hand - unique textile art by Gladys Paulus

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 21:12:20 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.etsy.com/shop/gladyspaulus

"Inspired by the alchemy of the ancient feltmaking process, my work
explores the notion of transformation: By adding water, heat, soap and
friction, loose wool fibres become a versatile fabric which is then

(More...)

9 Ways We Can Make Social Justice Movements Less Elitist and More Accessible

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 21:14:21 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/9-ways-we-can-make-social-justice-movements-less-elitist-and-more-accessible/>

"Social justice and feminist culture are incredible positive forces that
can transform the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Without
social justice and the activist communities that form around it, I

(More...)

Thanks to U.S. copyright laws, nothing has entered the public domain in nearly 40 years.

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 21:15:55 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.upworthy.com/thanks-to-us-copyright-laws-nothing-has-entered-the-public-domain-in-nearly-40-years>

"No copyrights have entered the public domain in the United States since
1978, and no open source intellectual properties will become available
until 2019, when we'll finally have access to things from 1923. Yay?"

(More...)

Wintergatan - Marble Machine (music instrument using 2000 marbles)

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 21:35:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q

Now that is AWESOME!!

Via Matthias Wandel, Laughing Squid, Randal L. Schwartz, Sai, Andrew

(More...)

Anatomy of Japanese folk monsters

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 22:07:58 +0900

yoshida yukihiko <yukihikoyo [at] gmail.com>

yoshida yukihiko
Here is Anatomy of Japanese folk monsters
http://pinktentacle.com/2009/10/anatomy-of-japanese-folk-monsters/

Warmest Regards,
Yukihiko YOSHIDA

(More...)

Historical Context and “Men of Their Times”

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:37:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.jimchines.com/2016/03/historical-context-and-men-of-their-times/>

"At the World Fantasy Awards ceremony in November 2015, it was announced
that the bust of H. P. Lovecraft would no longer be used as the award
trophy. This came after statements from prominent authors such as Nnedi

(More...)

The rise of American authoritarianism

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:38:29 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/trump-authoritarianism

"A niche group of political scientists may have uncovered what's driving
Donald Trump's ascent. What they found has implications that go well
beyond 2016."

(More...)

Racial history lingers

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:40:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://plus.google.com/+YonatanZunger/posts/guKNJgC1gjV

"Racial attitudes of adults are tremendously influenced by their early
upbringing, even when the adults are more than 50 years old. American
attitudes are shaped by those of 150 years ago, but European attitudes

(More...)

There’s A Village In Wales That Is Basically One Big Library

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:41:16 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseypippin/hay-on-wye

"Book your holiday now."  (Ho ho...)

Definitely somewhere to visit one day!  Via Jon Swabey and Muse.

(More...)

Automation may mean a post-work society but we shouldn't be afraid

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:12:48 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/17/automation-may-mean-a-post-work-society-but-we-shouldnt-be-afraid>

"To benefit from the automation revolution we need a universal basic income,
the slashing of working hours and a redefinition of ourselves without work"

(More...)

Can some birds be just as smart as apes?

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:13:57 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160303084615.htm

"At first glance, the brains of birds and mammals show many significant
differences. In spite of that, the cognitive skills of some groups of birds
match those of apes, according to a new article."

(More...)

The MobilECG Business Card, A Tiny Portable Heart Monitor That Fits in a Wallet

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:14:55 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://laughingsquid.com/the-mobilecg-business-card-a-tiny-portable-heart-monitor-that-fits-in-a-wallet/>

"The MobilECG business card is a tiny portable heart monitor that fits in a
wallet. It was created by the same team behind the MobilECG, an open source and
affordable heart monitor. They stress that the business card is not a

(More...)

Deep-Diving Robot Discovers Mysterious and Adorable Octopus Species

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:58:36 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://gizmodo.com/deep-diving-robot-discovers-mysterious-and-adorable-oct-1762856027>

"Would you just look at him? Sprung to life out of a Pixar movie, the
ghostly little fella pictured above was discovered last month by Deep
Discoverer, the deep-diving robot that travels with NOAA’s Okeanos

(More...)

Cory Doctorow: Wealth Inequality Is Even Worse,in Reputation Economies

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:59:50 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2016/03/cory-doctorow-wealth-inequality-is-even-worse-in-reputation-economies/>

"I need to confess something: 'Whuffie' would make a terrible currency."

Great post on the problems with reputation systems.  Via Peter da Silva.

(More...)

Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:01:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.monstersupplies.org/

OK, that's cute!  Via Daryl Tester, who wrote:  'Be sure to try the
"Automatic Translation" option at the top of the page, especially for
"Vampire Bats".'

(More...)

I’ve Had a Cyberstalker Since I Was 12

Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:21:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://backchannel.com/i-ve-had-a-cyberstalker-since-i-was-12-384ea9853b79

"After 14 years I finally reported him. In the eyes of the law, my biggest
mistake was not fearing him more."

(More...)

Table for one: How to play board games without a group

Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:22:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/03/table-for-one-how-to-play-board-games-without-a-group/>

"From solo games to apps and virtual tabletops, there's a world of options."

Good overview of solo and online boardgaming.

(More...)

Lady Tilda and the Dragon

Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:23:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://smgoetter.tumblr.com/post/138995738670/lady-tilda-and-the-dragon-or-mom-knight-which>

"Or “Mom Knight” which is what I kept calling it for most of the time I worked
on this. This was my story for Valor, a fairy tale anthology I was in last
year! It’s a really great book, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it."

(More...)

Abuse Of Power: Laws Should Be Designed As If The People We Distrust The Most Are In Power

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:48:24 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160306/07562633815/abuse-power-laws-should-be-designed-as-if-people-we-distrust-most-are-power.shtml>

"There have been a few stories lately that have all combined to make a
few key points crystallize in my mind, concerning various legal powers
and the way that some people view them. It starts with an excellent

(More...)

Furry Fandom

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:49:41 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://uncannymagazine.com/article/furry-fandom/

"The community of people who are fans of anthropomorphic animals
(“furries” can refer either to the fans or the anthros) often find their
fandom hard to explain, but we don’t shy away from the chance to do so.

(More...)

The 20 best science images of the year?

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:50:55 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-35744907

"From multicoloured scans of parts of the human body to vivid photos of
creatures up close, the finalists of the annual Wellcome Image Awards
have been announced."

(More...)

Using HTTPS Properly

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:21:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://textplain.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/using-https-properly/

"This post isn’t really about Pandora, per-se, but about common
anti-patterns in the industry."

(More...)

My secret debate with Sam Harris: A revealing 4-hour dialogue on Islam, racism & free-speech hypocrisy

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:22:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.salon.com/2016/03/07/my_secret_debate_with_sam_harris_a_revealing_4_hour_dialogue_on_islam_racism_free_speech_hypocrisy/>

"When I wrote an essay critical of the famous atheist, he asked me to
debate the issues. Now he refuses to air it"

(More...)

Towards a taxonomy of cliches in Space Opera

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:24:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2016/03/towards-a-taxonomy-of-cliches-.html>

'Some of you might remember the Evil Overlord's List, a list of all the
generic cliche mistakes that Evil Overlords tend to make in fiction (16:
I will never utter the sentence "But before I kill you, there's just one

(More...)

Up and Coming: Stories by the 2016 Campbell-Eligible Authors

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:32:55 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.badmenagerie.com/up-and-coming-stories-from-the-2016-campbell-eligible-writers/>

"It’s HERE! Get over a million words of fiction from this year’s
Campbell-eligible authors!"

(More...)

Refugee camps are the "cities of tomorrow", says humanitarian-aid expert

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 14:54:54 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.dezeen.com/2015/11/23/refugee-camps-cities-of-tomorrow-killian-kleinschmidt-interview-humanitarian-aid-expert/>

"Governments should stop thinking about refugee camps as temporary
places, says Kilian Kleinschmidt, one of the world's leading authorities
on humanitarian aid"

(More...)

Feminism has failed and needs a radical rethink

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 14:56:04 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://katherinephelps.com/2016/03/feminism-has-failed-and-needs-a-radical-rethink/>

"In Australia, women are still clearly the “other”. Our once radical
social movement has been diverted into good works such as women’s
refuges, counting female victims of violence and calling out sexism.

(More...)

Hacksplaining. Learn to hack, learn to protect yourself

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 14:57:05 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.hacksplaining.com/

"Hacksplaining is the best and most complete way for developers to learn
about the security vulnerabilities that threaten your business."

(More...)

Syrian refugees in Canada got housed in same hotel as VancouFur furry convention and the children loved it

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 14:58:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/syrian-refugees-in-canada-got-housed-in-same-hotel-as-vancoufur-furry-convention-and-the-children-a6921341.html>

"Syrian refugees in Canada have been personally welcomed into the
country at Vancouver airport by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, they have
been welcomed by children in a video saying “see you in school,” and now

(More...)

5 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Verbal Abuse

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:47:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/tech-support/201602/5-things-everyone-needs-know-about-verbal-abuse>

"Science knows better, but the culture does not; the mantra seems to be
that if you’re not bleeding or physically maimed, you’re not really hurt."

(More...)

Penguin swims 5,000 miles every year for reunion with the man who saved his life

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:48:02 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/09/penguin-swims-5000-miles-every-year-for-reunion-with-the-man-who-saved-his-life-5741518/>

"For the past five years, Dindim has spent eight months of the year with
Joao and is believed to spend the rest of the time breeding off the
coast of Argentina and Chile."

(More...)

Make It So: Interaction Design Lessons From Science Fiction

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:48:58 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160309/17583933852/techdirt-reading-list-make-it-so-interaction-design-lessons-science-fiction.shtml>

"For years, people have talked about how early Motorola flip phone
designs were inspired by the Tricorder device in Star Trek, but the book
appears to go much further in detailing lots of other examples."

(More...)

New Order, olden style: A unique take on Blue Monday

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:54:38 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/qnLLpZgBW92dSrV2mmGyCb/new-order-olden-style-a-unique-take-on-blue-monday>

"New Order's Blue Monday was released on 7 March 1983, and its
cutting-edge electronic groove changed pop music forever. But what would
it have sounded like if it had been made 50 years earlier?"

(More...)

The Angry God of ARPU

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:49:45 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/10/11193086/verizon-att-carrier-crapware-revenue-trick-samsung-software>

"Ten years ago, I attended a panel of cell phone executives talking
about the mobile industry. Yes, it sounds like a snoozer and in many
ways it was, but I perked up when a tall nordic man began telling us a

(More...)

Meet The Germaniac Family

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:50:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://notalwaysrelated.com/meet-germaniac-family/39626

"My dad is born-and-raised German, and the only one of his siblings to
be born after WWII. He is telling me about some of his family’s
experiences in the war."

(More...)

‘Howard The Duck’: The Oral History

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:52:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://decider.com/2016/03/11/howard-the-duck-the-oral-history/

"The wisecracking, sarcastic, beer-drinking anti-hero made for an
unlikely comic success story, but throughout the mid- to late-1970s, he
was."

(More...)

涙の10段跳び 園児の頑張りに感動の嵐

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:54:50 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW0ahs49hWE

"Storm of excitement to the hard work of kindergarten children"

Awww.  Via Muse, who wrote: "Okay, I cried. We can learn from the

(More...)

Decrepit fish camps built on broken promises

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:16:22 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/page/tribal_housing_a_run_of_broken.html>

"How we treat Indian Country is shameful," said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer,
D-Oregon. "We have cheated Native Americans out of their heritage."

(More...)

To download or stream: 1000 hours of classic jazz, mixed and annotated by a master collector

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:17:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://boingboing.net/2016/03/11/to-download-or-stream-1000-ho.html

"David W Niven began collecting jazz records in 1925, when he was 10 years old.
He continued to collect until 1991, amassing a nearly unparalleled collection
of 78s and LPs, whose highlights he eventually transferred to cassette, boiling

(More...)

TeleMonster's 'Monster Time' melds K-pop with canids

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:19:28 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.flayrah.com/6487/telemonsters-monster-time-melds-k-pop-canids>

So, what's happening here? Well, as explained on TeleMonster's website, it's
a series of children's cartoon shorts featuring forest monsters Eerie (a
wolf), Yossi (three-tailed fox), frog sidekick/snack Rock-G, and the

(More...)

Atlantic Salmon Is Basically Extinct: You’re Eating a Genetically Eroded Version

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:35:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.alternet.org/food/atlantic-salmon-basically-extinct-youre-eating-genetically-eroded-version>

"Atlantic salmon, the native salmon that used to inhabit the northern Atlantic
Ocean, rivers and seas, is a species now represented by an impostor: farmed
salmon. Also known as cultured salmon, farmed salmon comes from hatchery

(More...)

Totoro & Brown Bear Pull-Apart Bread

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:37:22 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.bentomonsters.com/2015/09/totoro-brown-bear-pull-apart-bread-bun.html>

"Pull-apart bread buns are called chigiri pan in Japan. Chigiri pan made into
various characters are all the rage in Japan recently. I first saw them on
various Japanese accounts on Instagram a couple of months ago, and they

(More...)

Batzilla the Bat

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:38:23 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://www.facebook.com/445796495553687/videos/782823091851024/

"I guess we have all heard the old adage, 'as blind as a bat' and lots of
people still believe that bats are blind.  However, nothing could be further
from the truth and all bats can see."

(More...)

Why does Britain have such bizarre place names?

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:56:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160309-why-does-britain-have-such-bizarre-place-names>

"Bishop’s Itchington, Westley Waterless: there is plenty to smile or snigger at
on a map of the UK. But in fact, these names reveal a hidden – and fascinating
– history."

(More...)

See the First “Drum Machine,” the Rhythmicon from 1931, and the Modern Drum Machines That Followed Decades Later

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:57:31 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<http://www.openculture.com/2016/03/hear-the-first-drum-machine-the-rhythmicon-from-1931.html>

"I doubt many people have ever heard of it, yet it can probably claim the title
of the first drum machine—or at least first rhythm machine—ever built."

(More...)

Encryption By Analogy

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:59:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://thedailywtf.com/articles/encryption-by-analogy

"Why do non-technical people fail to grasp important issues, and how can we do
a better job helping them?"

(More...)

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