Warren Ellis's Blog, page 326
October 13, 2009
Links for 2009-10-12
"….extremistan. That's Nassim's term to describe areas of our experience that defy statistical analysis, modeling and thereby prediction. Essentially, he makes the persuasive case that all of the topics covered by the social sciences (from economics to warfare) are now firmly in extremistan, rather than the gaussian and statistically predictive world of mediocristan. Outcomes in extremistan are opaque to prediction yet can yield system...
Wil Wheaton's MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE
Today, Wil Wheaton releases his new book MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE (a title I think I'm responsible for talking him into using). All details, including the explanatory and funny foreword, are here at this link.
(And, no, I can't find it in myself to give much of a toss about Star Trek, even though I can feel Katie West glaring at me all the way from Canada right now. But Wil is a funny writer, and funny writers can make anything entertaining, including reviews of Star Trek episodes, especially...
Suicide Magic: Or How The Higgs Boson Might Have Busted The Large Hadron Collider
People who had problems with the time-travel theories in PLANETARY #27 should look away right now. There is a theoretical possibility that an elementary particle is reaching into the past to destroy itself:
…time to test one of the most bizarre and revolutionary theories in science. I'm not talking about extra dimensions of space-time, dark matter or even black holes that eat the Earth. No, I'm talking about the notion that the troubled collider is being sabotaged by its own future. A pair of...
The Spider Pill
From Italy, a tiny telefactored robot camera that you swallow. I suspect not everyone will be ready for The Spider Pill:
Experts believe the device, which is swallowed by the patient and controlled by doctors using a wireless connection, could transform the difficult and invasive process of diagnosing serious conditions. The pill, which contains a tiny camera, is also fitted with tiny legs that can be activated remotely once it is inside the colon or intestine.
The legs protrude outwards and...
They Shoot Porn Stars, Don't They?
A brilliant essay on the adult film industry and its recession, the depths of its dissonance and damage, by Susannah Breslin. I would call this your essential read of the day: They Shoot Porn Stars, Don't They?
At the center of the screen, a young woman is perched on the edge of the couch, alone. As the camera closes in on her, she smiles tentatively and crosses her arms protectively.
Her look is that of a 21st century Bettie Page. She has long, dark hair with short bangs and bright blue...
DO ANYTHING: 020
Bugger the robot head that steals my cigars. I love these Gil Kane BLACKMARK pages. It's pretty generic post-apoc barbarian fantasy. Archie Goodwin, once again writing for Kane, does his best, but he had to follow the genre ("Obey and enjoy the genre," Michael Moorcock once said), and, you know, it was the 1970s… it's pretty prog-rock purple…
October 12, 2009
Light Art Performance Photography
I usually find light-drawing fairly dull. But LAPP have evolved the form into something that's generating some pretty interesting images. Also, I'm greatly admiring the composition. More (and links to larger) images, and text, at the link. But look at these:
LAPP originates on a real-time basis directly in front of the camera. Created between opening and closing the shutter. The pictures shown here are in each case one single photo, not a result of working on the computer…
Newspaper Legally Prevented From Reporting On Government
This is just fucking disgusting.
The Guardian has been prevented from reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds which appear to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights.
Today's published Commons order papers contain a question to be answered by a minister later this week. The Guardian is prevented from identifying the MP who has asked the question, what the question is, which minister might answer it, or where the question is...
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