Links for January 15th through January 16th

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on January 16, 2009). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Sometime between January 15th and January 16th, I thought this stuff was interesting. You might think so too!

  • no news is bad news: An expression of the value of local news, especially in Seattle, especially in these uncertain times.
  • Cool Stuff: Olly Moss’s Poster Remakes: 21-year old UK artist Olly Moss is probably best known for his popular t-shirt designs which have virally spread across the interwebs. Olly has decided to create a series of movie posters reinterpreted in a kinda minimalistic post modern German-ism style.
  • Strong Women Steer Battlestar Galactica’s Final Voyage: In her autobiography Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher recalls her most memorable direction from George Lucas while playing Princess Leia in Star Wars: Forget about wearing a bra because "there's no underwear in outer space." The women of sci-fi have come a long way since then, and for proof, look no further than Battlestar Galactica. Returning Friday night for the start of its final half-season, the Peabody Award-winning television series continues to blend current events and religion into its thoughtful story lines. Along the way, BSG has also conjured a gender-blind universe filled with female characters of genuine substance.
  • Little Progress on Adult Literacy: One in seven adults lacks the literacy skills required to read anything more complex than a children's book, a staggering statistic that has not improved in more than 10 years, according to a federal study released last week. The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy surveyed more than 18,500 Americans ages 16 and older and found about 14 percent could not read, could not understand text written in English, or could comprehend only basic, simple text.
  • Top 10 Sci Fi Flicks For The Thinking Man (beerandscifi version): How many times do we need to see Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes in a top 10 list? My list will contain alternative options with movies that you may not have seen. Also, I’m taking the liberty to make my list a list not only about “what it means to be human” but also a list where “thinking people are allowed to think.”