Did you know that you can install the same CSS validation tool on your
local machine? Follow the simple instructions below, to set yourself up to
run the W3 CSS validator from
the command line!
As someone who designs boardgames, I feel lucky that I get to see all
the different stages a game goes through before it's published. First there's
making a prototype, typing up rules, playtesting, etc. But my favorite part
is watching the artwork develop. I'm no artist myself, so aside from making some suggestions along the way I leave the artwork to the professionals at
Fiery Dragon.
My latest game creation is on the very Nerdabout-worthy topic of mad scientists, so I thought I'd share some of this early artwork, to be followed
up with pics of the finished product when it comes out in a month or two.
First up is the board, which no boardgame should be without. This first pic
is of my own homemade prototype which I used while developing and playtesting the game.
Things have come a long way since then, and now a veteran chatbot programmer named Rollo Carpenter has come up with a new solution to the "computer conversation" problem that ironically updates ELIZA's method.
Here's another Lizts by Liz! She puts it all in order so you don't have to. This week...Top 10 Animal Videos! A mix of old and new animal video classics that will make you laugh, giggle or gasp.
By now you’ve probably seen Carl Sagan’s (born 75
years ago on November 9) viral music video hit from beyond the
grave, “A Glorious Dawn”:
Well, Monday 11/9 would have been Carl Sagan’s 75th birthday, and
there are two celebrations on tap.
One: White Stripes guitarist Jack
White has a
record label, Third Man Records, which has issued “A Glorious Dawn” on
limited-edition 7"
vinyl . Who knew that Jack White was a secret nerd? Even more
awesome is the fact that the record’s B-side has an etching that
reproduces Sagan’s famous “Golden Record” of earth sounds, which was
launched on the Voyager 1 probe in 1977. The probe left our solar
system in November of 2004.
Two: I’ve conducted a short interview with the creative genius behind
the song, John
Boswell. Enjoy!
What inspired you to remix COSMOS into a music video?
I gained a deep appreciation for science and philosophy in college,
and when I first saw an episode of Cosmos about 5 years ago, it
immediately resonated with me. I loved the style and message, and
Carl's charisma was the cherry on top. The idea to remix it came to
me after being inspired by other artists that have used auto-tune
technology on speech, such as the Gregory Brothers and DJ Steve
Porter; they were both working in mostly comedy but I wanted to apply
the concept to a more personally meaningful source. I turned to
Cosmos because I knew how profound Carl's message is and that it would
fit well with a mash-up; the result was surprisingly pleasing, so I
decided to put it on Youtube for anyone who may take interest in such
an idea.
Were you surprised at the attention that "A Glorious Dawn"
received? Has anyone from Carl Sagan's estate commented on it?
At first, I was only expecting maybe a few thousand views for the
video - through some devoted Sagan fans that keep tabs on new
Sagan-related material. However, the song and video quickly caught on
to the Sagan community, and spread from there, to viewership levels
that I did not forsee in any way. To my delight, the song has reached
and inspired many people who have never heard of Sagan and motivated
many to further research his books and TV series. I have been in
touch with his wife and people who have worked on Cosmos, and they
have expressed their sincere appreciation for the song, which is
highly satisfying for me. I feel honored to give back to the Sagan
community in this sense.
How did the record release with Third Man come about? Is Jack White
a COSMOS fan?
Third Man Records approached me about releasing A Glorious Dawn not
long after the video began its viral spread. Jack White loved the
song, and I can safely assume he is a big fan of Cosmos and Carl's
message. I was initially skeptical about the ability to get proper
copyright clearance for release, but Jack and friends really pulled
through on that front. We reached an agreement that keeps them, the
Sagan family, and myself very happy and excited about the release.
Even if you don't own a record player, it is a pretty cool collector's
item.
You’ve made a sequel to the original music video. Are you going to
make a whole album's worth?
Since the follow up video, We Are All Connected, was a success as
well, I will definitely continue the series. Whether I will
eventually compile a whole album's worth of material is yet to be
seen; there is a plethora of footage out there with excited scientists
talking about all sorts of fascinating subjects, so there will never
be a shortage of source material. I am currently working on a third
video, which is coming along great, and it should be out in about a
week or two. If you enjoyed the previous two, this new one will fit
right in.
When I think of the holidays I think of a fine stout, hot tea, seed cake, and other delightful treats all to be drunk and eaten while sitting around a crackling fire watching a Lord of the Rings (special extended version of course) marathon. If you're like me and know lots of geeky folk, here are some truly inspired Lord of the Rings Amigurumi patterns you can use to make presents that will be treasured everlastingly long. All patterns were created by and originally posted on Geek Central Station.
Frodo and Gimili. You can use this pattern make Sam, Merry and Pippin.
Legolas and Gandalf You can also use this pattern to make the feared Ringwraith King. Why not make Eowyn while you're at it and then act out the Ringwraith's death scene. "I am no man!" Stab. The end.
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