Siren of Titan

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Tue, 21 May 2013 08:19:17 -0400

itsmillartime: I cannot describe to you how hard I laughed.

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:18:19 -0400

itsmillartime:

I cannot describe to you how hard I laughed.

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Mon, 20 May 2013 23:45:27 -0400

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Mon, 20 May 2013 23:33:55 -0400

freshoffthepitch: The new England kit was unveiled today, with...

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:35:47 -0400

freshoffthepitch:

The new England kit was unveiled today, with the first official sighting via a picture posted on Twitter by England midfielder Jack Wilshere of a pupil at his former school wearing the jersey, demonstrating that the kit belongs to the nation, not just the players lucky enough to represent England. Following its reveal via social media, Nike has created a campaign emphasising that while the kit may feature technical innovation and performance benefits, it cannot win games by itself, and it is what the players do in it that counts.

Wilshere arrived to watch a training session at The Priory School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, before picking out lucky student Jason Kelly to wear and reveal the shirt for the first time .

“This is where my dream of playing for England started and it’s great to be back here to see a new generation playing with the same passion,” Wilshere said. “I gave Jason the shirt because his commitment and work-rate really impressed me today, he showed that it’s what you do on the pitch that matters — from your first match as a nine year-old all the way up to the international stage.”

A clean, distinctive design takes the kit back to its roots with its traditional colors of white and dark blue to celebrate the Football Association’s 150th anniversary. The iconic three lions crest was prominently featured in dark blue on the team’s first kit, and once again, the crest is the proud focus - now with a gold border, a gold star above it signifying England’s World Cup win, and a gold ribbon graphic below inscribed with “150 years” and the dates 1863 and 2013, marking the Football Association’s anniversary.

The blue on the new kit is the same dark blue colour that featured on England’s first kit. Embodying the clean lines and understated style of the best of English fashion, the white shirt features a dark blue classic crew neck collar, while two side vents on the hem of the shirt subtly feature the St George’s cross. The shorts are entirely dark blue and the socks are white with a thin dark blue band at the top.

The kit showcases Nike’s belief in style, craft and pride while aiding the performance of players with key technological features.

Well, so much for not wanting to spend money for the rest of the summer.

Getty

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:46:16 -0400

Getty

Eggs and bacon. Bacon and eggs. MCC members queuing for...

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:14:52 -0400

Eggs and bacon. Bacon and eggs.

MCC members queuing for member’s stand access at Lord’s during the first Test between England and New Zealand.

Reuters

thewell-dressed: David Beckham : The boy from Leytonstone...

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:59:39 -0400

thewell-dressed:

David Beckham : The boy from Leytonstone who became a legend. Thank you for everything.

salesonfilm: Gene Kelly in An American in Paris (Vincente...

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:56:58 -0400

salesonfilm:

Gene Kelly in An American in Paris (Vincente Minnelli, 1951)

buzzfeedsports: Introducing your new favorite sport, “Combat...

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:55:17 -0400

buzzfeedsports:

Introducing your new favorite sport, “Combat Juggling”

Shoelessly chilling on the Lord’s balcony. Getty

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:24:34 -0400

Shoelessly chilling on the Lord’s balcony.

Getty

buzzfeedsports: Sometimes all you can do is tip your cap....

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:05:23 -0400

buzzfeedsports:

Sometimes all you can do is tip your cap. [via]

Last weekend was full of this shish.

science-junkie: Bloodthirsty ‘factual’ TV shows demonise...

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:11:52 -0400

science-junkie:

Bloodthirsty ‘factual’ TV shows demonise wildlife

“Major US TV channels are promoting hysterical and outdated ideas about wildlife in popular, blood-soaked shows”

My 2¢ and a plea.

When it comes to animals and especially wildlife, we always have to deal with two big groups and the political/economic forces that support them.
Farmers/Hunters seek to protect their livestock and their game clinging, tooth and nail, to the story of the bad wolf (and the like).
Animal “Lovers” choose the beasts to defend (generally, cute, majestic or colorful ones) and, undeterred, they go on and on with their cause, often without the slightest awareness of these animals’ biological cycles and the possible problems that they could cause without a minimum of contrast.
Then, in a world largely disconnected and ignored, there are the scientists, who are trying to produce impartial and legitimate studies — like this one — to be used to develop management plans, where everything is taken into consideration (wildlife, species at risk of extinction, habitat conservation, hunting sustainability) to ensure the precarious balance of an ecosystem of which we are part.

Where are the networks in all this?

The link on top of the post gives us the answer for some of these networks (Discovery, Animal Planet, History Channel). They are widely recognized for their ‘factual’ shows, but essentially they sensationalize facts and notions to capture more audience possible.
I understand this necessity, but the shows mentioned in Adam Welz’s article offer an alarming disinformation service. They excuse the killing of carnivore wildlife (being cruel and vengeful beasts thirsty for human blood) shielded by ambiguous facts, viewpoints of convenience, one-sided argument, and often, as in the case of wolves, taking advantage of old fears: historically terrifying, but now inconsistent for more than 200 years .

Now, I am not here to claim that these networks should broadcast lessons of biology and ecology in place of these shows. However, I wonder if they can attract the same number of viewers by stopping this nonsense and offering an useful service to people. A service that provides a real insight into nature, into mankind, and therefore into man-nature connection and coexistence.
If the answer is “NO”, they turn on and off the switch of science at will and the difference between these networks’ documentaries and, in Welz’s words, the “‘trashy’ material that dominates free-to-air network TV” will be non-existent.

Image credit: Kaya.

afootballreport: One final farewell to Beckham From the...

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:39:02 -0400

afootballreport:

One final farewell to Beckham

From the sponsorships to the movie star lifestyle, David Beckham always seemed on the cusp of his career as a professional athlete being less important than his life on talk shows or in photoshoots. But looking back on his career that spans over two decades, the man had it (mostly) figured out. There were certainly highs and lows, but ultimately no one conquered football, and the world of sports at large, quite like David. As he walked off the pitch one last time, it’s clear how much he loved the game. [GIFs by Dale con Comba]

AP

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:17:47 -0400

Me: With all your knowledge of the French language, what do you think the French word for 'champion' is?

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:10:00 -0400

Me: With all your knowledge of the French language, what do you think the French word for 'champion' is?
My sister: *In French accent* Champiiiioooon.
My sister: Thierry Henry
My sister: Robespierre
My sister: Zidane?

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Sun, 19 May 2013 16:07:18 -0400

AP

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:25:10 -0400

AP

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:16:00 -0400

Europa bling. AP

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:10:55 -0400

Europa bling.