Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday Links!

Leading off this week, from Sam Veilleux, a link to a story about one of the greatest badasses I've ever seen: Nancy Wake, aka "The White Mouse."

Next, and this is entirely, utterly awesome, the Milwaukee County Zoo is using iPads-- with orangutans. Their favorite app? The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

Here's a fascinating article about Andy Kaufman, one of my favorite comics ever and certainly one of the most opaque (Lee, check my usage): Andy Kaufman, The Unlikely Bombthrower

DQ reader Keith Leinart just published an Amazon e-book titled What Really Happened?, a witty send-up of historical events. A few subjects:
--A look inside the "Tournament Scene" for Knights of the 12th century
--Final box score, highlights, and recap of the 1066 battle at Stamford Bridge
--Life and times of John Brown, revolutionary abolitionist & music industry visionary

And many more.

On Penny Arcade last Friday, Tycho made mention of a fellow who's created a Starbucks card for other people to use. It's called Jonathan's Card, and it's one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a long time.

Here's a fascinating article about secrets: 5 Ridiculous Secrets Only Two Living People Know. Also, please note that it includes video of the single most incredible magic trick I've ever seen.

From Frank Regan, and this is quite a stunning video, it's Rarely seen smoke rings at Mt Etna.

From Jesse Leimkuehler, it's NASA Rover Arrives at Huge Mars Crater After 3-Year Trek.

If you're into music or technology, this next story will blow you away:
Pioneering '50s Synthesizer unearthed in French Barn.

Surely, this is one of the greatest charts ever: The Titantic Taxonomy Of Wrester Names.

From Steven Davis, and this is mind-blowing, it's 3D Printed Model of a Virus Self Assembles When Shaken. Here's another one, and it's mind-blowing as well: Sending the Police Before There’s a Crime.

From Jeremy Fischer, and this is fascinating, a story about research designed to enable emergency responders to communicate while using different device types.

From J.R. Parnell, an uplifting (and awesome) story: F1 fan receives bionic hand from Mercedes team. The hand, by the way, is incredible.

From Sirius, and this is quite a bombshell: Fossil 'suggests plesiosaurs did not lay eggs'. Also, a clever dose of physics humor. This next link is required reading: Mad about metered billing? They were in 1886, too.

From John D'Angelo, one of the most interesting optical illusions I've ever seen: this video illusion will destroy your brain.

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