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Before you try to get that fantasy novel published, take this simple test.
You know those scenes in movies like The 13th Warrior where the hero can't even lift a sword? It's BS. A heavy two-handed sword probably weighed about 4 lbs; most single handed blades were under 3 lbs.
Don't take my word for it. J. Clements can tell you way more than you want to know on the subject.
And yes, it is a sad comment on my life that it's worth a headline.
There has been a quirky story going around the web about cooking an egg with two cell phones that I resisted posting (no!) because I found it implausible. David Goldenberg actually tracked down the truth, instead of simply dismissing it as balderdash. Love the last line.
Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head: The Beatles Records and the Sixties is, quite simply, the best book ever published about the Beatles and their music. Its first half is the best description of the '60s I've ever read; its second half is a track by track exploration of the songs and the process of recording them. It's out of print in the USA, but there's a new edition available in the UK and it can be ordered from the link. Do yourself a favor and read this book if the Beatles mean anything to you at all.
MacDonald writes like an angel and his passion shines through in every line.…
You should see Elizabeth right now, in blue sweater and black jeans, hair obscuring her sharp eyes as she preys over hundreds of black & white photocopied pages of equipment reports, columns, and, of course, "Recommended Components."
Yes, "Recommended Components."
She wields a powerful red pen and an awful permanent marker. She turns pages and makes slashes and check marks as she goes along. Her system, if one can call it "a system," is chaotic and unpredictable.
To be clear: I can't figure it out. I sort of simply keep out of her way; I nod when she asks me…
I'm linking to Senor Coconuts' wacky cover of "Smoke on the Water." Money quote: "The Rolling Stones playing yust outside," Cha cha cha!
Via Bubblegum Machine.
Richard Taylor analyzed a selection of Pollock's paintings and found them
"composed of distinct fractal patterns," even though Pollock was working long before the science of fractals was refined. Now pattern analyses may prove critical in determining the authenticity of 32 possible Pollocks.
J10 Scull passes along this hard hitting Radar investigation that involves two potheads, two small children, and a primate researcher.