Naa na na na-na naa naaah.
A statistical analysis of the repetitiveness of pop lyrics… with a bonus 101 explainer on how compression (y’know, like in .zip files) works.
… I always was a sucker for a sweet animated infographic.
EULAs and RoboCop.
Filler English text in Japanese TV shows (mostly anime).
(Plus some bonus content of Japanese filler text in English-language media, for good measure.)
Tumblr fandom, LJ fandom.
Interesting interview with Casey Fiesler on fandom social media use, particularly the parts further towards the end about the differing social norms between the older LJ- and newer Tumblr-style fandom.
Tinhatters.
Fandom conspiracy theories. They’re all fun and games until someone starts sending death threats to the SOs of the One Direction dudes…
Salt-IA.
Apparently the CIA does movie reviews as part of its internal newsletter, and that those reviews are hilariously salty when dealing with movies that have negative portrayals of the CIA. Which is to say: basically every movie featuring the CIA.
Hopepunk.
I don’t want to see stories of the future in which humans are treated as slaves, in which millions are murdered to disguise the kidnap of a plot token, in which torture is treated seriously as an intelligence-gathering technique, in which violence against women is used as “character development”, in which the othering of non-white people is considered “world-building”…
I want a socially responsible science fiction, that is self-aware, that knows it is a powerful tool for affecting public opinion – and not just at the behest of corporate paymasters. I want a science fiction that scorns shit right-wing concepts like evo psych and alpha males and eugenics. I want a science fiction that tells good stories and does so responsibly. I want a science fiction that doesn’t abandon its ethics or its artistic integrity in pursuit of the bottom-line. And I want a science fiction readership that accepts partial responsibility for the shit content that is produced, that demands more [responsible] content and rewards it by consuming it in sufficient numbers to make it profitable.
Ian Sales on better futures.
Amen.
Science fantasy.
You know, I believe that. I believe that the human race belongs in space. It might be silly, it might be naïve, but I know people who believe all sorts of ridiculous things that do a lot more damage. I don’t acknowledge any vengeful God the Father. I don’t believe in a great Rapture to come. I do believe that if we are spared, if we spare one another, we will make it to the stars.
Not you and me personally, of course. By the time the species sorts its shit out enough to think about sending starships full of adventurers to distant planets, we’ll be too old to get on them, but I’ve met some kids recently who might not be.
Laurie Penny on being lost on space.
Today Big Mood.
Man isn’t it great Doctor Who is finally back on TV after seven years. Man, those seven years where it didn’t air were tough, but they’re over now, so woohoo!
Poképins!
Apparently when I drink wine I go out and back enamel pin Kickstarters.
… I have no idea what I’m going to do with all of these.