Monthly Archives: October 2016

Oct 11

Via Winchell Chung, who also has some interesting thoughts on his share of the post.

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Via Winchell Chung, who also has some interesting thoughts on his share of the post. (Sorry, can’t link directly to it, since the mobile app doesn’t seem to give me that option.)

Originally shared by Emily Dresner-Thornber

Vikings between 900AD and 1100AD had Ulfbehrt swords. Swords so strong and flexible, so much better than any other western weapons, they were essentially magic. They’re real and about 170 of them are scattered in medieval weapon collections in museums.

They’re made out of crucible steel. This is a process for heating iron up to 3000 degrees to push out all the impurities and increase the carbon content. The process for producing crucible steel was unknown until the 1800s in the West when it was discovered during the Industrial Revolution.

So how did Vikings in 900AD lay hands on swords made of steel not discovered until 1800AD? Time travelers? Well, maybe. But the process was actually discovered first in Sri Lanka and southern India around the birth of Christ, and ingots likely came to Damascus and newly-established Baghdad via the Indian Sea trade route. And from there, Vikings reached the Middle East markets via the Volga Sea/Caspian Sea routes. They bought ingots in the marketplaces in exchange for northern goods (pelts, dried fish, etc) and brought them back home. Their blacksmiths forged the swords…

And because they were so storied, fakes appeared in West marketplaces everywhere. But because most people were illiterate, they failed to properly replicate the marks of a real Ulfberht swords…

Cool story and makes from an interesting possible driver for a campaign.

#gaming #dungeonsanddragons

http://www.critical-hits.com/blog/2016/10/11/the-quest-for-a-magic-sword/

http://www.critical-hits.com/blog/2016/10/11/the-quest-for-a-magic-sword/

Oct 11

At least they’re making an attempt.

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At least they’re making an attempt.

Originally shared by Maria Rich

This is very interesting! I like what they are attempting to do. Tom Weldon, chief executive of Penguin Random House UK, said “We feel very strongly about diversity in publishing. For me it is a real problem when we don’t reflect the society we live in. It’s not good for books, or culture, or commercially. We are going to become irrelevant.”

What they are doing about it also interesting. A three-part workshop for potential new authors and a year-long mentorship for three of those. Also, they are making efforts to employ more diversity. To the extent of changing their hiring qualifications!

Weldon said, “When a publisher has a bestseller, it’s easy to [just keep publishing] what sold yesterday. [But] there are amazing writers out there who we aren’t commissioning. The whole industry needs to change.” AMEN. Now can we bring this thought process over to the US?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/10/publishing-risks-becoming-irrelevant-warns-penguin-random-house-boss
Oct 11

Follow-up to yesterday’s post. Whew.

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Follow-up to yesterday’s post. Whew.

Still a concern that someone wrote that script in the first place, but at least it sounds as if that isn’t what’s getting made.

Originally shared by Derrick “Quite Clever” Sanders

Hey, Mike Reeves-McMillan…

http://io9.gizmodo.com/thank-god-the-live-action-mulan-will-have-an-all-chine-1787657434

http://io9.gizmodo.com/thank-god-the-live-action-mulan-will-have-an-all-chine-1787657434
Oct 10

The big deal about quantum computing is that when you have that kind of power, you can model things – organic…

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The big deal about quantum computing is that when you have that kind of power, you can model things – organic molecules, materials, the interactions of complex systems – down to the atomic level. That means you can figure out how to build all kinds of useful things, without having to actually build the ones that won’t work.

Which effectively means “a quantum computer worked it out” is like “a wizard did it,” only for SF.

Originally shared by Singularity Hub

Quantum computing is such an enormous advancement it’s unfair to even describe it in terms of computers as we know them.

http://bit.ly/2dGyHbo

Oct 10

Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is 3D printing coral reefs

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Originally shared by Adafruit Industries

Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is 3D printing coral reefs

https://blog.adafruit.com/2016/10/10/jacques-cousteaus-grandson-is-3d-printing-coral-reefs/

Via Smithsonian

Climate change, water pollution and fishing practices have been decimating coral reefs for decades, threatening the ecosystem that’s home to 25 percent of all marine species. Within the next 15 years, nearly three quarters of all reefs will likely be damaged or destroyed.

Scientists have long been searching for ways to help repair these delicate living structures. They’ve replanted reefs, using both natural and artificial materials. They’ve tried replacing reefs’ algae with stronger varieties. They’ve even used electric current to help stimulate coral growth. Lately, they’ve been working with one of the technology community’s current darlings, 3D printing. Printed reefs can closely mimic natural ones, providing a home for baby coral to take root and grow. The process is still in its infancy—in 2012, the first 3D printed reefs were sunk in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Bahrain, where the existing reefs had been badly damaged. Similar projects are in the works around the world.

Read more: https://blog.adafruit.com/2016/10/10/jacques-cousteaus-grandson-is-3d-printing-coral-reefs/

Oct 10

What.

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What.

Originally shared by Gretchen Sher

“The 1998 Disney animated classic focused on Mulan’s transition from being a young girl failing to fit the mold of a perfect daughter and wife to a heroine whose brave acts ultimately save ancient China. Her determination allows her to rise above the gender expectations of her culture and become the one who brings “honor to us all.” Hers is essentially an Asian American tale because it fused Asian characters and culture with a coming-of-age hero’s journey that resonated with American audiences.

So why does the script for the live-action remake feature a white male lead? “

http://blog.angryasianman.com/2016/10/an-open-letter-to-creators-of-disneys.html

Oct 09

I first encountered Spring-Heeled Jack in Tim Powers’ excellent The Anubis Gates.

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I first encountered Spring-Heeled Jack in Tim Powers’ excellent The Anubis Gates. There’s great potential in the legend for casting him as an alien, a time-traveller, or something supernatural.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meet-springheeled-jack-the-leaping-devil-that-terrorized-victorian-england

Oct 09

Be aware that some of these are cultural, and restricted to certain times and places.

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Be aware that some of these are cultural, and restricted to certain times and places.

Personally, I enjoy inventing my own body language for the Gryphon Clerks series. The gnomes have a whole language of gestures for conversing in noisy environments (or plotting without being overheard by the dwarves), and they use a lot of the gestures in everyday life. For example, waving your hand past one ear means something like, “I know, but what can you do?”

Originally shared by Writers Write

http://writerswrite.co.za/cheat-sheets-translate-emotions-into-written-body-language