Friday Ephemera

Hats made of hair. And they look like animals. // The perils of showing off. // Zo explains his politics. 1, 2, 3. (h/t, The Thin Man) // “Evil imperialist hegemon” remarkably popular. // Radical Lesbians versus Libertarian Trannies. // Real-life Transformers. Well, nearly. // A Reggie Perrin moment. // Nifty subwoofers. // Opniyama. // Interact with zombies. (nsfw) // Plants have rights and feelings too. Or not. // Food sculptures. // A century of toothpaste. (h/t, Coudal) // The fearsome Sun. // Saturn V slow-motion launch. // More high-speed photography. // Machines that draw. // Reconstituted Star Trek. // River deep, mountain high. // And, via The Thin Man, it’s The Skatalites.

Comments

[sk60]

"Dr. Keller recently sought government permission to do a field trial of genetically modified wheat that has been bred to resist a fungus. He first had to debate the finer points of plant dignity with university ethicists. Then, in a written application to the government, he tried to explain why the planned trial wouldn't "disturb the vital functions or lifestyle" of the plants."

Plants have a lifestyle?

[Anna]

So the new Star trek IS keeping the old school miniskirts. Why does Uhura look like she's working on the door of an expensive restaurant?
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/wp-content/2008/10/0005tq1h.jpg

[David]

Yes, it is a bit “Table for two, Lieutenant.” Perhaps it’s a leg visibility thing, what with the miniskirts and all.

Very bright and shiny, though.

[Anna]

"Perhaps it's a leg visibility thing"
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/4/42/Male-lt-skirtvar-eaf.jpg

[carbon based lifeform]

So Kirk and Spock are lovers now, right?
http://www.geektyrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/star-trek-entertainment-weekly.jpg

[David]

Gosh. It’s ever-so-slightly Top Gun. Maybe it’s meant to convey their close working relationship. That, or it’s an ad for an interplanetary chat line.

[John D]

The "showing off" clip is awesome. POW!

[David]

“POW!”

I like to think of it as a parable with an uplifting and important message.

[longshot]

Does anyone know what the music is on the Saturn V clip?

[David]

It’s part of Bear McCreary’s score for Battlestar Galactica:

http://www.last.fm/music/Bear+McCreary/+videos/+1-Lq_BdJbFMg0
http://www.last.fm/music/Bear+McCreary
http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/

[AntiCitizenOne]

Spock's looks like the baddy from heroes?

The Star Trek set reminds me of a nightclub that's trying much too hard to be cool.

[bgc]

"Plants have a lifestyle?"

Sedentary. As long as he's not creating triffids he should be OK.

[Shave the Forest]

The Zo guy is very good. Not always right, but very good.

[David]

Shave,

Yes, he is good. I don’t think it’s necessary to agree with every point Zo makes to appreciate the delivery - or the surprise. And I think the clips show just how accustomed we are to generic identity politics. (Or, “This is what this kind of person *should* think.”) As Brian says at the Samizdata link above, “When I started listening, I kept thinking, there’s a snag. When is the ambush coming?” And by virtue of those same identity politics, Zo is “allowed” to make arguments that from another designated identity group – say, white conservatives - could be deemed inadmissible by default. (Though perhaps he’ll be considered an “inauthentic” black person for doing so.)

If Zo’s politics were different, I suspect he’d already have a popular TV show.

[longshot]

Thanks, David

[Anna]

The Battlestar Galactica music is lovely. Quality show.