There are a bunch of links I’ve been meaning to post here; so, as a sort of year-end housecleaning, here they are.
Artist and friend of the blog Liza Cowan on the world’s largest photograph, as of 1904.
“The Paranoid Center: How the panic over right-wing violence is being used to marginalize peaceful dissent,” from Reason magazine.
A much-discussed article from The Independent about how to keep young Muslims from turning into terrorists.
Osama bin Laden probably died years ago, but Americans and others go on marching to their deaths in the name of a campaign against him.
“Repentance is knowing that I am loved,” according to a certain “Father Gregory” of the Orthodox Church in America.
Imagine yourself as a contestant in a beauty pageant. A judge asks you a question about an explosively controversial topic. You had no reason to expect the question, and have not prepared an answer. What do you do? Friend of the blog Ellie is a former beauty pageant contestant who has some pointers for you.
The thank-you key (thanks to Cymast for pointing that one out to me.)
The world’s least comfortable chairs.
Taschen book catalog entry for Insects of Surinam, by Maria Sibylla Merian, edited by Katharina Schmidt-Loske.
Do you like the Periodic Table of the Elements? Then you’ll love the Periodic Dessert Tray of the Elements!
Some characteristic symptoms of phony science.
Get out your red and green 3D glasses to view these Italian postage stamps.
acilius
believer1
lefalcon
losthunderlads
vthunderlad
Panther Red 
cymast
/ December 31, 2009My beauty pageant answer: “Judge me on my beauty, not my answer.” If that’s not acceptable, then: “Marriage is so gay!” That way I get to be politically incorrect (using “gay” as a slander of sorts according to a pro-gay organization) AND get to be pro-gay marriage! BTW “marriage is so gay” is quoted from another pro-gay organization.
Ununseptium is delicious in spite of its undiscoveredness.
Phony science: My relatives-by-marriage keep sending me links proving “global warming” is a myth. I guess the less evidence you have to support a position, the more credible that position is. A load off my mind.
liza
/ December 31, 2009That’s the cutest widget I’ve ever seen. I want one.
And thanks for the link.
acilius
/ January 4, 2010@cymast: “Delicious in spite of its undiscoveredness”- That’s a great line, you should put that in your beauty pageant answer (regardless of the question.)
@Liza: You’re welcome! I love that post of yours.
cymast
/ January 4, 2010What do you think of gay marriage? “Delicious in spite of its undiscoveredness.”
It works!