Arts
Oddities
A collection of failures, flops and surrealist design curated by Sylvie Sauvignet is opening virtually in Saint Etienne. From a wavy ping pong table to a watering can that waters itself, some of these items are wonderfully absurd, and some are flawed designs that just didn’t work (like the Delorean). The exhibition has dedicated a […]
Life
Read more, read widely, take time to read deeply. The effects on your brain are good: Different experts disagree on some of the finer details, but a growing body of scientific literature shows that reading is basically an empathy workout. By nudging us to take the perspective of characters very different from ourselves, it boosts our […]
Environment
Why aren’t we more afraid of global warming / climate change, asks the Independent (UK) Our perception of the threat posed by climate change is also skewed by how it’s presented to us, says Salamon, who points out that climate stories often aren’t written in such a “visceral” way as news stories about stabbings or […]
Europe
Wonderful World
Want to feel small? Watch the earth in action: Amazing photographs here via The Guardian.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Health
Science!
Great way of picturing how vaccines work over by Randall Munroe: “To ensure lasting immunity, doctors recommend destroying a second Death Star some time after the first.”
Arts
Sci-fi, Steampunk and all that
“Art is the universal language used to evoke feelings of mixed thoughts and emotions” Blunt Action I love this type of surreal work, alternate worlds and retro sci-fi futures. There’s more here, and also a book.
Arts
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Oddities
Rare glimpse of North Korea on a rainy day. Via digg
Inspiration
People
When George Shultz was secretary of state in the 1980s, he liked to carve out one hour each week for quiet reflection. He sat down in his office with a pad of paper and pen, closed the door, and told his secretary to interrupt him only if one of two people called: “My wife or […]
Covid-19 Pandemic
Food for Thought
Some public health experts argue it can be done, but the experts in carrying out that kind of thing, the politicians, believe it cannot. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/covid-19-is-now-a-global-problem-in-search-of-an-irish-solution-1.4464511 Easily forgotten, but that’s a good definition of what a politician is: an expert in what’s possible to do, which may not be what a health expert says we should […]