The Black Hole's Ledge

100 Greatest Writers of All Time

2010-05-23T23:27:00.000-07:00

Other lists of this kind have been attempted, none very successfully. We would like to stress that there is a crucial difference between "an important writer" and "a great writer"; the latter is at this time our sole interest. We will account for some of the names that did not make this list in a later dispatch. There is nothing bad to say about anyone we list here, except in some cases that they were anti-Semitic or racist, hated women or hated men. Literary crimes are usually relative, the caveats of which we shall enumerate. Featured above, Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Chinese Claim Teleportation over 10 Mile Radius

2010-05-23T23:25:00.000-07:00

"Quantum teleportation has achieved a new milestone or, should we say, a new ten-milestone: scientists have recently had success teleporting information between photons over a free space distance of nearly ten miles, an unprecedented length. The researchers who have accomplished this feat note that this brings us closer to communicating information without needing a traditional signal, and that the ten miles they have reached could span the distance between the surface of the earth and space."

New Car Breaths Like Animal

2010-05-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

WOW, where have you been the past few months??? If you'd really like to know, mostly -HERE- and -HERE- . Now back to business, shall we?! Will try to update BLACK HOLE'S LEDGE at least a couple times a week, but if you wanna find my regular posts, CONSPIRAPORN! is your best bet....

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"One reason treehuggers like myself love trees is that the leaves scrub CO2 from the atmosphere, use it for energy and emit life-giving oxygen, the process of photosynthesis. Wouldn't it be great if cars — notorious for CO2 emissions — could do the same?"

Happy 50th Birthday, Lasers

2010-03-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

If you had to single out one cool, geeky technology as the preeminent cool, geeky technology, lasers would be a fine choice. They've enriched our gadgets, confused our cats, and, for half a century, lit up our imaginations.

VIA: -GIZMODO-

700 year old preserved brain

2010-03-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

Evolutionary psychology tends to receive harsh criticism, and often rightly so. One of the main reasons for this is the severe lack of evidence for many of it’s proposals given that the paucity of fossilised brains fails to bolster many a case. And it isn’t even anyone’s fault. That’s just the way it goes sometimes, that the brain is a jelly-like substance that is subject to decay after death, and there’s no way we can objectively analyse or verify any differences in brains of long ago with brains of today.

Universal Gadget Wrist Charger

2010-03-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

“The Wrist Charger, or as we like to call it, Bracer of Battery Life +2, straps comfortably to your wrist and plugs in to just about any electronic device you like. It’ll power cell phones, mp3 players, gaming systems, or any device compatible with mini USB. Now you’ll have plenty of power to get through long days traveling (or long lines at the DMV, we’ve been there, too!). When you reach your destination, simply plug your bracer in and charge its battery back up so you’re ready with plenty of entertainment for the long trip home.”

Wandering Star

2010-03-12T22:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a song from my new band PIECE DE RESISTANCE. We had a surprise performance (our 1st show) Feb. 4th @ a venue here in Indianapolis called The Vollrath Tavern (built in like 1936, John Dillinger used to be a frequent customer). We're on the lookout for a keyboard/bass player and recently acquired a great lead guitar player to even out our sound. We're not a cover band, but we have a few covers, this one among them: WANDERING STAR by the band PORTISHEAD. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy. We're playing out around town about twice a month at the moment, trying to make our set stronger and more diverse.

Unsleepable Pillows

2010-03-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this series of Forensic Pillow designs and couldn’t help thinking they are not the most relaxing things out there.

Imagine walking in on someone sleeping under this:

VIA: -SHE WALKS SOFTLY-

New Book: THE CRYPTOTERRESTRIALS

2010-03-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

-Posthumous release from author, Fortean researcher, and prolific blogger Mac Tonnies-

Likewise, with any luck I'll be a weekly contributor over here for the next couple months; a new website tribute to the late Mac Tonnies who passed away Oct. '09....
macbots.wordpress.com/

Monsters and Marilyns

2010-03-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

Monsters and Marilyns is a project by Jesse Lenz. The hair and make-up from Andy Warhol's 'Marilyn Monroe' painting is placed on politicians, dictators, public officials, as well as old horror movie monsters that are liars, murderers, and tyrants.

By doing this the statement is made that no matter how much popular culture or the mass media tries to dress up and beautify these people, they are still monsters.

-VIA: PRESURFER-

New Interview w/ Cult Favorite Horror Author David Wellington

2010-03-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

It’s the End of the World as we Know it:
Interview with cult-favorite horror author David Wellington
-MAD 3/4/10
http://www.upsidebackwards.info

==========

-MAD: MR. Wellington, it’s really awesome to speak with you, thanks for taking some time with us. I just finished reading your MONSTER TRILOGY and could tell from the start that this is definitely an instant classic of the “zombie apocalypse” sub-genre of horror literature, and just an all together great series of books even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of horror! When did you first realize that you wanted to be an author, and how did the genesis of the MONSTER TRILOGY first come into fruition?

-D.W.: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I started when I was six years old. Thirty years later, I was getting a little frustrated that I’d never been published. So I put my new book online, thinking that at least people would get a chance to read it. Enough of them did that I got a book deal out of it. I was pretty excited.

-FULL INTERVIEW CONTINUED-

Top 12 Comic Book Superweapons

2010-02-26T00:14:00.000-08:00

#1 The Infinity Gauntlet - A big poncy glove that turns you into God
Pros: Grants omnipotence
Cons: No commensurate omniscience. Bearer becomes target of every major figure in the Marvel Comics universe. No one has ever successfully kept it. Tacky Power Gem color scheme clashes with everything. You'll inevitably be charged with a task even omnipotence can't perform: Making third-rate characters like Adam Warlock, Pip the Troll, and Drax the Destroyer cool.

MOON

2010-02-26T00:08:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_(film)

The Zombie Bite Calculator

2010-02-26T00:02:00.000-08:00

That would have a lot to do with the severity and location of the bite too though, wouldn't it?! And I mean, in some zombie scenarios, the monster is at different levels of infectiousness.

In case you're wondering how long you'd last if bitten by a zombie, the folks at TheOatmeal.com have posted a convenient Zombie Bite Calculator. The 13-question quiz takes into consideration your personal health metrics — age, weight, and overall wellness — and then estimates how much time you have before becoming infected.

80's Thai Horror Movie Posters

2010-02-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

In the 1980s, painted movie ads were the norm in Thailand. These exquisitely creepy collages didn't just divulge important plot points to audiences... they were scarier than the movies themselves.

8 Bit Weapon: A Chiptune Odyssey

2010-02-25T23:54:00.000-08:00

Set the wayback machine to the golden age of gaming with 8 Bit Weapon: A Chiptune Odyssey, a massive collection powered up with vintage low-bit sounds coaxed from the most venerated micro-computers and game consoles of the '70s and '80s. Accept no imitations! Chiptune is the real thing—all the gritty lo-fi basslines, whirling computer arpeggios, bleepy synth solos, cosmic FX, and squishy drum patterns you’ve come to know and love. For your pixilated pleasure, each royalty-free sample has been energized with modern-day metadata to ensure seamless playback in your DAW of choice. With hundreds of building blocks to choose from, you'll have all the pieces you need to build your own chiptune masterpiece. Now get to work, and don’t forget to save the princess! Download edition includes the free seven-track EP, 8 Bit Weapon: Electric High.

Most Expensive Piece of Virtual Property Sold

2010-02-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

The most expensive piece of digital property has been sold for £200,000 on Planet Calypso – a space station.

Online gamer, Erik Novak splashed out on the building at an auction and believes he’ll be able to recoup his investment by letting users use the facilities, before selling at a profit.

The makers of the game believe he could do this within two years.

Buzz Erik Lightyear, to use Erik’s character name hails from Canada and is one of 800,000 users of the game which launched in 2003.

Computer games writer Andrew Thomas stated on tgdaily.com that the Canadian had ‘proved you can put a price tag on stupidity’.

10 Weird and Wonderful Beers from Around the World

2009-12-21T23:06:00.000-08:00

With news today that a Scottish brewing company has laid claim to creating the worlds strongest beer, we take a look at some other tipples you may well want to think twice about trying.

OK, Part of my Christmas Wish List...

2009-12-21T23:01:00.000-08:00

Don't know quite know how I missed this series. Also really, really need to catch up on EXILES and DOOM PATROL.

Entropy Alone Can Create Complex Crystals

2009-12-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

In a study that elevates the role of entropy in creating order, research led by the University of Michigan shows that certain pyramid shapes can spontaneously organize into complex quasicrystals.

-ARTICLE CONTINUED-

Rainbow Trapped for the 1st Time...

2009-12-08T01:15:00.000-08:00

Oh, to catch a rainbow. Well, it's been done for the first time ever – and with just a simple lens and a plate of glass at that. The technique could be used to store information using light, a boon for optical computing and telecommunications.

All-optical computing devices promise to be faster and more efficient than current technology, but they suffer from the drawback that signals have to be converted back and forth from optical to electrical. The ability to "slow" light to a crawl or even trap it helps, as information in the light can then be manipulated directly.

360 degree panorama of Stonehenge

2009-12-08T01:13:00.000-08:00

An exclusive image of Stonehenge taken from within the inner circle - normally out of bounds to the public. To move around the image click the left mouse button and hold down whilst dragging the mouse around. To zoom in press A and to zoom out press Z.

VIA: -THE PRESURFER-

Medical Marijuana: Ancient and Modern History, Current Therapeutic Eruptions

2009-12-08T01:10:00.000-08:00

The ancient history of cannabis/marijuana is even more interesting than its present use as a modern medical miracle.

Top 10 Reclusive Artists

2009-12-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

While some celebrities and artists embrace the attention their fame brings them, others shy away from the spotlight and choose to lead lives of solitude away from the constant examination of the press. Ironically, this often only inspires an even more cultist devotion from their fans, and encourages the media to speculate about their whereabouts and reasons for wanting to remain unknown. As a result, some of these people become the victims of wild rumors and accusations, while others develop eccentric, almost mythic reputations. The following are ten of the most famous of these artists, both living and dead, who chose to opt out of being a public figure.

Masturbate in Style...

2009-12-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

Both fun and functional, these glow in the dark gloves are great for parties and raves, but are also intended for sign-language users to use at night.

Using the latest photo-luminescent materials they charge up from the sun or any bright light source, so they can be used again and again – they’ll just keep on glowing for up to two hours per charge!

(Sorry, I post funny titles sometimes. And I'm not responsible for any penile cancer which might ensue due to prolonged usage of glow gloves!)

Creepy Singing Android Heads

2009-12-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Legends, Tales, and Myths of The World

2009-11-22T02:44:00.000-08:00

Although myths and fables can be strangely odd in orientation and include mythical creatures and godly beings, they are closely related to religion and endorsed by kings, queens, and priests. In some cases, these myths are so bizarre that they scream fabrication; however most of them are regarded as “a true account of the remote past".

Extinct Goat was Cold Blooded, Reptilian

2009-11-22T02:41:00.000-08:00

The goat, Myotragus balearicus, lived on what is now Majorca, a Spanish island. The island had scarce resources, and there was no way for the goats to leave, and so scientists wondered how they had thrived for so long. A recently published research paper reveals the extinct goat survived by adjusting its growth rate and metabolism to suit the available food, becoming cold-blooded like reptiles.

Whosoever Holds This Hammer, If They Be Worthy...

2009-11-22T02:37:00.000-08:00

-MORE-

A striking clock, literally and figuratively

2009-11-15T23:12:00.000-08:00

"One of our favorite wall clocks, the catena wall clock harkens back to traditional mechanical clocks. Copper digits mounted onto a bicycle chain place emphasis on the cyclical nature of time. This clock is a striking clock, literally and figuratively."

How to make your own Green Lantern ring

2009-11-15T23:08:00.000-08:00

“Here’s how to make your own resin cast Green Lantern ring. This a complete overhaul of my original instructable on how to make a Green Lantern ring, which previously only showed how a cast sterling silver ring is created. Since many people don’t have access to silver casting equipment I decided to show how to cast a ring in resin and also how to make a translucent resin version that glows.”

Google unveils protocol for an interplanetary internet

2009-11-15T23:04:00.000-08:00

Vint Cerf, Google's internet evangelist, has unveiled a new protocol intended to power an interplanetary internet.

The Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) protocol emerged from work first started in 1998 in partnership with Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The initial goal was to modify the ubiquitous Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to facilitate robust communications between celestial bodies and satellites.

Peacock Spider

2009-11-07T00:50:00.000-08:00

This is a kind of jumping spider, and it’s only about 5mm in size. The males have a colorful pattern on flaps that extend from their abdomen during breeding/mating. In addition to this, they raise their back pair of legs and dance from side to side to win over their plain brown females.

Only found in Australia, they were classified as species Maratus volans because people originally thought the flap was for gliding after jumping. Wiki

For Improving Early Literacy, Reading Comics Is No Child's Play

2009-11-07T00:43:00.000-08:00

Although comics have been published in newspapers since the 1890s, they still get no respect from some teachers and librarians, despite their current popularity among adults. But according to a University of Illinois expert in children's literature, critics should stop tugging on Superman's cape and start giving him and his superhero friends their due.

Animal Mummies

2009-11-07T00:40:00.000-08:00

Wrapped in linen and reverently laid to rest, animal mummies hold intriguing clues to life and death in ancient Egypt.

The First Starlight...

2009-11-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

Scientists have seen the first starlight ever recorded, and we don't mean the first incidence of a monkey marking something down - we mean the first star to send light which reached Earth. This light is the earliest, the furthest away, the most red-shifted, and every other factor that could possibly say "Everything else ever came after this."

Confirmation of Underground Lunar Caves

2009-10-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

New satellite photos have revealed what scientists have long suspected: There are large tunnels made from lava running beneath the Moon's surface. These caves could provide shelter from radiation for future lunar settlers. Or they might already be occupied!

What a bird brain, Hummingbird that is!

2009-10-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

Also works wth dogs, though the pork chops can get heavy.

Eye Candy

2009-10-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t all that impressed with these swirling colors until I started playing with the sliding controls. You can change the size of the colored splotches, the amount of blur, the color change rate, and other dimensions until you find a very pleasing sequence of eye candy. Link

VIA: -NEATORAMA-

This Page is Under Construction

2009-10-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

-THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION-

The Eye-Popping Moment When Human Life Begins

2009-10-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

This dazzling image looks like an orange sun blazing in an alien sky, but it's actually a micrograph of in-vitro fertilization, showing the moment at which the sperm penetrates the egg's membrane. It's just one of many award-winning science images.
http://io9.com/5383016/the-eye+popping- ... s/gallery/

TV project in works based on Bat Boy, other characters

2009-10-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

Move over, Astro Boy and Iron Man -- Bat Boy could be stepping up to the plate soon.

The half-bat, half-human character is just one of 30-odd wacky creations spawned by the erstwhile supermarket tabloid Weekly World News and now up for grabs in Hollywood.

CAA has signed WWN to a representation deal, and DreamWorks is developing a TV show that likely will be the first to tap into the company's library of characters and its tens of thousands of offbeat stories.

Giant Posable Centipede

2009-10-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, here’s something you don’t see every day, a Giant Posable Centipede! Yes, that’s right, now you can finally have your very own 56 inch long, one hundred legged centipede to play with. This realistic killer insect is foam-filled, hand-painted and fully posable. You could have a total blast playing pranks with this thing.

10 Famous Unfinished Works of Art

2009-10-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

For every great work of art, literature, or architecture that gets completed, there are probably just as many that are abandoned and left unfinished because of wars, political strife, lack of funding, or the death of the artist. Most of these works are lost and forgotten, but some, by masters like Da Vinci and Mozart, are regarded as incomplete masterpieces. The following are ten of the most famous unfinished works of art in history.

Easter Island Ice

2009-10-09T01:07:00.000-07:00

Stone Cold Ice Cube Tray – $7.95

Here’s one for your next party: the Stone Cold Ice Tray that makes ice shaped like the moais of Easter Island! Perfect for your tropical drink.

VIA -NEATORAMA-

The Ultimate Zombie Book List

2009-10-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate Zombie Book List is attempting to assemble the most complete list of zombie and zombie-like books available on the internet.

Also: THE WIKI LIST OF ZOMBIE FILMS

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life...

2009-10-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

-THE MONTY PYTHON REVOLUTION-

A hot spot called Hell’s Café

2009-10-09T00:18:00.002-07:00

Modern franchised theme restaurants can’t hold a proverbial candle to what may have been the first restaurant of its type.

A hot spot called Hell’s Café lured 19th-century Parisians to the city’s Montmartre neighborhood—like the Marais—on the Right Bank of the Seine. With plaster lost souls writhing on its walls and a bug-eyed devil’s head for a front door, le Café de l’Enfer may have been one of the world’s first theme restaurants. According to one 1899 visitor, the café’s doorman—in a Satan suit—welcomed diners with the greeting, “Enter and be damned!” Hell’s waiters also dressed as devils. An order for three black coffees spiked with cognac was shrieked back to the kitchen as: “Three seething bumpers of molten sins, with a dash of brimstone intensifier!”

How in the world can I be impressed with an old baseball bat on the wall at TGIFriday’s when Hell’s Cafe had writhing lost souls on the walls?

Source

-VIA: SHEWALKSSOFTLY-

No One Can Hear You Scream...

2009-10-03T01:57:00.000-07:00

A Canadian circus billionaire boarded the International Space Station on Friday after a smooth ride up from Earth, and promptly played the entertainer by donning a red clown nose for a camera.

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte became the seventh paying space tourist to travel to the station, where he plans to mix clownish fun with a serious message about the growing shortage of clean water on the planet 220 miles (355 kilometers) below.

Rare Apple has Split Personality

2009-09-25T00:36:00.000-07:00

Ken Morrish of Colaton Raleigh, Devon, England picked a bizarre Red Delicious apple off his tree. It looks as if someone stuck together half of a green apple and half of a red apple, but these colors are natural.

John Breach, chairman of the British Independent Fruit Growers Association, said: ‘I’ve never seen this happen before to a Golden Delicious. It is extremely rare. It is an extreme mutation.

Zombie Pin-Ups and other Retro Horrors

2009-09-22T16:27:00.000-07:00

Kristian Hammerstad's posters features well-dressed zombie women, an alien invasion, and other images out of scifi-influenced horror, rendered in a nostalgic, Charles Burns-influenced style.

12 Surface IQ Pentagon

2009-09-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

Move over, Rubik’s Cube: the 12-Surface IQ Pentagon is a Rubik’s Dodecahedron that promises to train both your left and right brain, if it doesn’t permanently scramble it into goo first.

20 Things You Didn't Know About... Eclipses

2009-09-15T23:42:00.001-07:00

Cave Diving into the Devil's Eye

2009-09-15T23:38:00.000-07:00

Jill Heinerth has spent the past 14 years exploring underwater caves all over the world. Wired has a gallery of beautiful photographs she’s taken in underwater caves, lava tubes, and glaciers. This picture was taken at Devil’s Eye Spring off the coast of northern Florida.

Longest lightning storm on Saturn breaks Solar System record

2009-09-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

A powerful lightning storm in Saturn’s atmosphere that began in mid-January 2009 has become the Solar System’s longest continuously observed thunderstorm. It broke the record duration of 7.5 months set by another thunderstorm observed on Saturn by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft between November 2007 and July 2008.

Egyptian temples followed heavenly plans

2009-09-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

ANCIENT Egyptian temples were aligned so precisely with astronomical events that people could set their political, economic and religious calendars by them. So finds a study of 650 temples, some dating back to 3000 BC.

Hieroglyphs on temple walls have hinted at the use of astronomy in temple architecture, including depictions of the "stretching of the cord" ceremony in which the pharaoh marked out the alignment for the temple with string. But there had been little evidence to support the drawings. Belmonte and Mosalam Shaltout of the Helwan Observatory in Cairo found that the temples are all aligned according to an astronomically significant event, such as a solstice or equinox, or the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.

How magicians control your mind

2009-09-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

Magic isn't just a bag of tricks - it's a finely tuned technology for shaping what we see. Now researchers are extracting its lessons.

Secrets Of Hats On The Easter Island Statues

2009-09-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

It is one of the great mysteries that has baffled explorers, archaeologists and anthropologists alike – what was the meaning of the giant Easter Island statues and what role did they play in the demise of this once-complex civilisation? But since the first non-islanders arrived in the remote archipelago half a millennium ago, another equally profound question has niggled away at the backs of their minds: where did they get those hats?

Gaze Upon The Most Beautiful Viruses You'll Ever See

2009-09-07T16:31:00.000-07:00

We're taught to think about viruses in certain ways. "Beautiful" isn't one of them, but British artist Luke Jerram - who created these sculptures with virologists and glassblowers - is looking to challenge our preconceptions with his new work.

Old Photos of the Egyptian Pyramids and Sphinx

2009-09-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

-Click Image for Full Gallery-

New Study Shows Each Person has "At Least 100 Mutations"

2009-09-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

Every person born has at least 100 new mutations in her genome, and probably a lot more. That was the finding from a group of scientists who studied genetic mutations in two men from an extended family. The scientists published their work in Current Biology, and described using rapid DNA sequencing technology to investigate the subtle genetic differences that signal mutation from one generation to the next. Based on the number of mutations they found, the scientists estimate most people would have between 100-200 unique mutations in their genomes.

Too Many Zombies!

2009-08-31T23:06:00.000-07:00

The Too Many Zombies blog posts one little zombie a day, along with a name and brief bio/obituary.

VIA: -SHE WALKS SOFTLY-

Disney Purchases Marvel Comics for estimated $4 billion

2009-08-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

Talk about strange bedfellows. The Walt Disney Co. announced today that it will spend $4 billion to buy Marvel Entertainment -- and the more than 5,000 Marvel characters, including Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men, Captain America and Fantastic Four.

UUuuuuggghhhhh.....

When Black Devil Dolls Attack!

2009-08-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here’s a trailer for the film Black Devil Doll… A radical black power militant is on death row for raping and murdering 15 white women. He is executed and his soul is transformed into the body of a wooden doll via a young teen girl’s Ouija board. The two have a torrid love affair until the doll gets bored with her pussy and goes after her hot stripper girlfriends and her wigger ex-boyfriend.

Molecule Million X Smaller than Grain of Sand, Imaged

2009-08-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

It may look like a piece of honeycomb, but this lattice-shaped image is the first ever close-up view of a single molecule.

Scientists from IBM used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to reveal the chemical bonds within a molecule.

'This is the first time that all the atoms in a molecule have been imaged,' lead researcher Leo Gross said.

Time Machine Clock

2009-08-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

Time Machine is the clock that’s fun to watch! Just turn it on and its precise mechanism transfers a chrome ball every sixty seconds for the perfect time. With its custom acrylic display case and ultra-modern design, Time Machine is destined to become the centerpiece of any room or office and will entertain and amaze for years!

Where It's At!!!

2009-06-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

To the 5 of you who might have bookmarked 'BLACK HOLE'S LEDGE', you've probably noticed I haven't been posting much lately. That's because I'm hard at work on a couple new websites that need my attention.

Firstly is a new Dream Width account at http://mad30.dreamwidth.org/ which will be dedicated to dreams, nightmares, and subconscious rumblings that go bump in the night.

Secondly is the new CROSSROAD RESONANCES which will be a brand new site & forum to be officially launched in the next couple weeks (along with new podcasts). This site will be dedicated to local music and independent arts in my home state of Indiana, and in particular the Indianapolis area!

http://www.myspace.com/crossroadresonanc es

Also at work on a new "roundtable" interview with Mr. Gareth Icke (musician and son of author David Icke), occult researcher (and regular Coast to Coast AM guest) Tracy Twyman, and author Brian Allan which is sure to be both informative and entertaining!

So, I guess my point is I'll still be utilyzing BLACK HOLE'S LEDGE, but wouldn't be expecting more than 5 or 10 updates per month here. There's simply too much going on elsewhere at the moment that requires my time and dedication!

Sun Wheel in Ancient & Modern Paganism

2009-06-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

The sun wheel is a potent symbol of the cycles of the seasons including the concept of death and rebirth. Several variations exist of this ancient symbol such as a circle with a dot in the center and a circle divided into six parts.

-FULL ARTICLE-

Rainforest Sculptures by William Ricketts

2009-06-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

Hidden deep within a lush Australian rainforest are a set of mystical Aborigine sculptures seemingly merged into the natural surroundings. Moss covered torsos of men, women and children protrude from tree trunks and boulders. Some reach heavenward with widespread wings, others envelop each other protectively – all are symbols of the relationship the indigenous Australian Aborigines have with nature.

World's Smallest Personal Computer

2009-05-19T02:30:00.001-07:00

CompuLab introduces fit-PC2 – the smallest, most power-efficient Intel Atom PC to date. fit-PC2 architecture is what sets it apart from other nettop PCs - fit-PC2 is designed around the Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz and the ultra low power Intel US15W system controller hub, rather than the Atom N270 and 945G used in other nettop-PCs, thereby reducing power consumption by more than two thirds. US15W incorporates hardware video acceleration. This allows fit-PC2 to run Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux at just 6W and to play full HD 1080p H.264 video using less than 7W.

Is Everything Made of Mini Black Holes?

2009-05-19T02:27:00.000-07:00

Could All Particles Be Mini Black Holes?:
May 14, 2009

The idea that all particles are mini black holes has major implications for both particle physics and astrophysics, say scientists.

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23530/

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Is Everything Made of Mini Black Holes?:
May 14th, 2009

In 1971 physicist Stephen Hawking suggested that there might be “mini” black holes all around us that were created by the Big Bang. The violence of the rapid expansion following the beginning of the Universe could have squeezed concentrations of matter to form miniscule black holes, so small they can’t even be seen in a regular microscope. But what if these mini black holes were everywhere, and in fact, what if they make up the fabric of the universe? A new paper from two researchers in California proposes this idea.

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/05/14 ... ack-holes/

My First Promotion of Legos, EVAR!

2009-05-19T02:20:00.000-07:00

This Maniac t-shirt shows that even Legoland has its deviants; Jason never was the same after someone switched his head, but thankfully it’s relatively easy to reassemble his victims.

Dark Side of the Shoes

2009-04-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

Most of you are too young and/or mentally stable to know who Pink Floyd is, but these Converse Dark Side His look psychedelically stunning with artwork from their classic Dark Side album.

A Cybernetic Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

2009-04-29T00:12:00.000-07:00

This paper surveys evidence and arguments for the proposition that the universe as we know it is not a physical, material world but a computer-generated simulation -- a kind of virtual reality. The evidence is drawn from the observations of natural phenomena in the realm of quantum mechanics. The arguments are drawn from philosophy and from the results of experiment. While the experiments discussed are not conclusive in this regard, they are found to be consistent with a computer model of the universe. Six categories of quantum puzzles are examined: quantum waves, the measurement effect (including the uncertainty principle), the equivalence of quantum units, discontinuity, non-locality, and the overall relationship of natural phenomena to the mathematical formalism. Many of the phenomena observed in the laboratory are puzzling because they are difficult to conceptualize as physical phenomena, yet they can be modeled exactly by mathematical manipulations. When we analogize to the operations of a digital computer, these same phenomena can be understood as logical and, in some cases, necessary features of computer programming designed to produce a virtual reality simulation for the benefit of the user.

Interview W/ Bestselling (Trek) Author Greg Cox

2009-04-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Of Men and Supermen:
Interview W/ Bestselling Novelist Greg Cox
mad - http://www.upsidebackwards.info
4/27/09

-MAD: Greg, it's an honor to speak with you today and I'm not blowing smoke when I say you've emerged as one of my favorite authors over the past few months. Thank you kindly for taking the time to answer a few questions. Your contributions to the STAR TREK universe have been second to none, with the exception, perhaps, of the illustrious Peter David.
The masterfully crafted books 'The Eugenics Wars' Volumes 1 & 2, as well as 'To Reign In Hell' and 'The Q Continuum' are among the most highly recommended works of Trek literature! First off, a broad question but could you give us a little personal insight into the process of becoming an author, particularly in regards to the 'Star Trek' franchise? How did you break the galactic barrier and get signed on as a Captain (or at least a lieutenant commander) at the literary helm of such an acclaimed series?

-G.C: I've been a Trek fan all my life, but my big break came when Pocket Books had to launch the DEEP SPACE NINE book line in a hurry. The editor, John Ordover, needed to sign up a whole lot of DS9 novels to coincide with the TV series so he started looking around for new Trek writers. Fortunately, John and I had previously worked as assistant editors at Tor Books before, and he knew that John Gregory Betancourt and I had recently written several BATMAN short stories for DC Comics, so he recruited us for the DS9 program.

That was nine Star Trek novels ago!

-FULL DISCUSSION CONTINUED-

10 Fascinating Graveyards

2009-04-11T22:28:00.001-07:00

While still considered a strange destination on holiday, a growing number of people are seeking out cemeteries to visit. There is an inherent fascination in cemeteries that should be embraced. Whether you are interested in the architecture or artwork of the tombs, the history of the area, or simply seeking out the final resting place of a favorite personality, cemeteries are a worthwhile destination.

SEE ALSO: -HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL GRAVEYARD PHOTOGRAPHY-

Learn to Play the Keytar

2009-04-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

Arduinocaster is a an Arduino based MIDI instrument modelled on a guitar sometimes called a keytar. It uses switches and LEDs to control six “strings” which are held down in guitar like chords. Triggering the strings is through an opto reflective switch for a continuous repeating strum and four touch sensitive switches for a one off sequence. There are three banks of four picking/strumming/arpeggio styles and a three octave capo. Voice change information can also be sent.

Pyramid Bookshelf Makes a Monument of your Library

2009-04-11T22:21:00.001-07:00

There's nothing quite like a huge bookshelf to make your home more impressive. And this gigantic, modular pyramid bookshelf is totally badass.

142 Fantastically Funky Modern Furniture Designs

2009-03-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

We sit on it during the day, sleep on it at night, eat off it and even look at our reflection in it - but how much thought do we really give our ordinary to amazing furniture and the rooms we have full of it? Some designers have gone to great lengths to get us to view even the most mundane pieces of furniture in a new and different light. From creative transformable, collapsible and comfortable designs to incredible, offbeat and painfully awkward ones here are one hundred and forty-two furniture innovations that will at least turn heads.

12 Rad Retro Vehicles That Were Never Produced

2009-03-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

Concept cars, dream machines and technology-packed prototypes give us hints of what the future holds for bikers, drivers, sailors and flyers - many have even gone into production little changed from their showpiece status. Here are 15 that have not, though they live on in our imaginations.

Trinity of the Sun Dog

2009-03-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

A sun dog or sundog is a common bright circular spot on a solar halo. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon primarily associated with the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Often, two sun dogs can be seen (one on each side of the sun) simultaneously.

Big tip of the hat to -UNIQUE DAILY-, for being... unique daily.

Link title says it all...

2009-03-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.collthings.co.uk/2009/01/cool-guitars.html

=MUCH MORE!=

High-Tech Gadgets that Detect Magic

2009-03-06T23:23:00.000-08:00

Science can't explain magic - but that doesn't mean science can't detect it. Modern fantasy is full of cool gizmos that can identify sources of mystical power... and even track them down. Here's our list.

Wicked R/C Zombie

2009-02-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

Foment your own undead rebellion with this 7.75″ R/C Zombie that groans as he shambles; he features a poseable joints and is operated by a brain-shaped remote control.

There is no sound this far underground...

2009-02-24T23:24:00.000-08:00

PLEASE CLICK ON THE BANNER ABOVE TO CHECK OUT MY LATEST 5 SONG EP!

Not one for Legos, but too Cool to pass up...

2009-02-24T23:18:00.000-08:00

River Thames, United Kingdom, February 19, 2009--A Lego pharaoh winds its way along the River Thames on the final leg of its 1,395-mile (2,245-kilometer) journey to Windsor's Legoland, where it will be the centerpiece of the new attraction Kingdom of the Pharaohs.

The 16-foot (4.9-meter) replica of an Egyptian king is the biggest Lego structure ever created, with 200,000 individual pieces and a weight of more than one ton.

The End (or beginning) of the Rainbow

2009-02-14T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Anatomie Vivante

2009-02-07T23:33:00.000-08:00

"There was a 'living skeleton' brought to England in 1825 by the name of Claude Seurat. He was born in 1798 and was in his twenty-seventh year. He usually ate in the course of a day a penny roll and drank a small quantity of wine. His skeleton was plainly visible, over which the skin was stretched tightly. The distance from the chest to the spine was less than 3 inches, and internally this distance was less. The pulsations of the heart were plainly visible. He was in good health and slept well. His voice was very weak and shrill. The circumference of this man's biceps was only 4 inches."

– George Gould and Walter Pyle, Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, 1896

If I Only Had a Plasma Heart...

2009-02-07T23:20:00.000-08:00

Geek love doesn’t get much more electric than this USB Plasma Heart, which for $17 won’t be nearly enough to replace a dinner, but should be sufficient to get glowing comments.

Have a Seat W/ Anatomy Chairs

2009-02-07T23:16:00.000-08:00

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO

'Ego Death' by Olivia Neutron Bomb

2009-02-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

CLICK IMAGE FOR COMPLETE GALLERY

Military Compounds Disguised as Rubbish Piles

2009-01-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

As seen in the photos above, the measures described in Masquerade hide military presence amongst nature or historical sites or everyday human life. Today's War on Terror measures ramp up the sensation of barricading. Maybe it is a way of visually manifesting the fear of attack amongst everyday urbanism - propaganda of fear.

Ethernet Cable Action Figures

2009-01-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

Who needs Gi-Joe when you can build your own badass action figures with some cable? Seriously, this is brilliant. I think it is worthy of an art exhibit.

The Art of War (guns and bullets)

2009-01-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

There are artists who work with paint and clay, and then there are artists who create bizarre and thought-provoking art from slightly less conventional materials to prove a point. This collection features sculptures made from guns and bullets, high-speed bullet photography, illustrations of what happens when bullets pierce flesh and even drawings made by shooting at metal and paper with a sub-machine gun.

CONSPIRAPORN! (REBOOT)

2009-01-20T00:33:00.000-08:00

Just leaving word that I'll be a lot more scarce around these parts, as I continue developing the brand new experimental CONSPIRAPORN! website over the coming weeks (and of course the whimsically lumbering behemoth of UPSIDEBACKWARDS too). A new batch of original podcasts, interviews & articles are on the way, with a healthy dose of news/perspective and random chaos. Be sure to bookmark this historic moment for the civil rights and consciousness expansion of all humanity! Tell your friends, whisper it to strangers on the street, call the media! If you've got news or suggestions -something you think is worthy of a little more attention- please send it to mad247@weirdness.com . Thanks.

Top 10 Gruesome Fairy Tale Origins

2009-01-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

Fairy tales of the past were often full of macabre and gruesome twists and endings. These days, companies like Disney have sanitized them for a modern audience that is clearly deemed unable to cope, and so we see happy endings everywhere. This list looks at some of the common endings we are familiar with - and explains the original gruesome origins.

You've got mail from half-digested children

2009-01-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

Poor little kiddies have been gobbled up by artist Alex Pardee's nightmarish monsters, and will be in an adorably gruesome and intricate art show this week. Check out our haunting gallery.

Polybius: Mind experiment or urban legend?

2009-01-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

Polybius is a supposed arcade game featured in an Internet urban legend. According to the story, the Tempest-style game was released to the public in 1981, and caused its players to go insane, causing them to suffer from intense stress and horrific nightmares. A short time after its release, it supposedly disappeared without a trace. No evidence for the existence of such a game has ever been discovered.

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Polybius was born around 203BC in Megalopolis, Arcadia which at that time was an active member of the Achaean League.

Milky Way — the galaxy — not snack-sized anymore

2009-01-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

Take that, Andromeda! For decades, astronomers thought when it came to the major galaxies in Earth's cosmic neighborhood, our Milky Way was a weak sister to the larger Andromeda. Not anymore.

The Milky Way is considerably larger, bulkier and spinning faster than astronomers once thought, Andromeda's equal.

The Latest in Monster Fashion

2009-01-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

If you like monsters, then this fanged, googly-eyed hoodie from Monsterhoodies will make you roar with glee. Or you can show monster pride by carrying an elephant-squid messenger bag.