The search for surÂvivors still goes on near the TusÂcan island of Giglio, where the CosÂta ConÂcorÂdia hit rocks and listÂed helpÂlessÂly to the side. The helpÂlessÂness of the cruise ship has been capÂtured in a remarkÂable image takÂen by DigÂiÂtal Globe from outÂer space. Click here (or above) to see the image in a rather stunÂning, enlarged forÂmat.
via UniÂverse Today
Before pixÂels there were silÂver halide crysÂtals, and before memÂoÂry cards, film. LitÂtle yelÂlow boxÂes clutÂtered the lives of phoÂtogÂraÂphers everyÂwhere, and the EastÂman Kodak ComÂpaÂny was virÂtuÂalÂly synÂonyÂmous with phoÂtogÂraÂphy.
Things have realÂly changed. With the recent news that Kodak is teeÂterÂing on the brink of ChapÂter 11 bankÂruptÂcy, many are feelÂing nosÂtalÂgia for those litÂtle yelÂlow boxÂes and the rolls of silÂver gelatin film inside. To indulge this nostalgia–and perÂhaps learn someÂthing new about an old technology–we offer a fasÂciÂnatÂing 1958 docÂuÂmenÂtary from Kodak entiÂtled How Film is Made.
The docÂuÂmenÂtary is in Dutch, but memÂbers of the AnaÂlog PhoÂtogÂraÂphy Users Group launched a project to creÂate EngÂlish subÂtiÂtles. You can read more about the project on Dutch memÂber MarÂco Boeringa’s webÂsite. And you can watch the 18-minute film startÂing above and conÂcludÂing below.
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Some of the big webÂsites are going black today to protest SOPA, the Stop Online PiraÂcy Act, that has been windÂing its way through ConÂgress. We’re going to hanÂdle things in our own way — by illuÂmiÂnatÂing the matÂter with a litÂtle intelÂliÂgent media.
Backed by the Motion PicÂture AssoÂciÂaÂtion of AmerÂiÂca, SOPA is designed to debilÂiÂtate and effecÂtiveÂly shut down forÂeign-based webÂsites that sell piratÂed movies, music and othÂer goods. That all sounds fine on the face of things. But the legÂisÂlaÂtion, if enactÂed, would carÂry with it a series of unexÂpectÂed conÂseÂquences that could change the interÂnet as we know it. Among othÂer things, the law could be used to shut down AmerÂiÂcan sites that unwitÂtingÂly host or link to illeÂgal conÂtent — and withÂout givÂing the sites due process, a real day in court. Big sites like YouTube and TwitÂter could fall under presÂsure, and so could countÂless small sites. NeedÂless to say, that could have a seriÂous chillÂing effect on the openÂness of the web and free speech.
To give a quick examÂple: It could conÂceivÂably be the case that StanÂford might object to my feaÂturÂing their video above, file a claim, and shut the site down withÂout givÂing me notice and an opporÂtuÂniÂty to remove the mateÂrÂiÂal (as exists under curÂrent law). It’s not likeÂly. But it is posÂsiÂble, and the risk increasÂes with every post we write. If this law passÂes, the amount of mateÂrÂiÂal we could truÂly safeÂly covÂer would become ludiÂcrousÂly small, so much so that it wouldÂn’t be worth runÂning the site and using the web as an eduÂcaÂtionÂal mediÂum.
The ObaÂma adminÂisÂtraÂtion has come out against SOPA and PIPA, sidelinÂing the legÂisÂlaÂtion for now. But you can almost guarÂanÂtee that reviÂsions will be made, and the bills will return soon. So, while othÂer sites go black, we’re going to do what we do best. We’re feaÂturÂing video of an event held in DecemÂber by the StanÂford CenÂter for InterÂnet and SociÂety (SCIS). What’s Wrong with SOPAÂť brings togethÂer a series of informed oppoÂnents to SOPA, includÂing StanÂford law proÂfesÂsors and busiÂness leadÂers withÂin SilÂiÂcon ValÂley. (Find their bios below the jump.) Some of the most inciÂsive comÂments are made by Fred von Lohmann, a Google lawyer, startÂing at the 19:10 mark.
Note: If you’re lookÂing to underÂstand the debate from the perÂspecÂtive of copyÂright holdÂers, then we’d recÂomÂmend you spend time watchÂing, FolÂlow the MonÂey: Who ProfÂits from PiraÂcy?, a video that tracks the theft of one movie, makÂing it a microÂcosm of a largÂer probÂlem.
With the SepÂtemÂber 11, 2001 terÂrorÂist attacks and the emoÂtionÂal whiplash that folÂlowed, the monotheÂisÂtic reliÂgions of the West took a more striÂdentÂly politÂiÂcal turn. It was in this conÂtext that Jonathan Miller, the British theÂatre and opera direcÂtor, felt comÂpelled to creÂate a three-part docÂuÂmenÂtary tracÂing the hisÂtoÂry of reliÂgious skepÂtiÂcism and disÂbeÂlief.
BroadÂcast by the BBC in 2004 under the title, AtheÂism: A Rough HisÂtoÂry of DisÂbeÂlief, the series wasÂn’t broadÂcast by PBS in AmerÂiÂca until 2007, and only after “AtheÂism” had been removed from the title and the word “rough” changed to “brief.”
“I’m rather relucÂtant to call myself an atheÂist,” Miller says at the outÂset. “It’s only in the light of such curÂrent conÂtroÂverÂsies with regard to belief that I’ve found myself willÂing to explicÂitÂly articÂuÂlate my disÂbeÂlief.”
Miller goes on to guide the viewÂer through the hisÂtoric evoÂluÂtion of reliÂgious doubt, from the skepÂtiÂcism of Greek and Roman philosoÂphers to the Deism of EnlightÂenÂment intelÂlecÂtuÂals and the emerÂgence of explicÂit atheÂism in the writÂings of the 18th cenÂtuÂry French arisÂtoÂcrat Paul-HenÂri Thiry, the Baron d’HolÂbach, who wrote in his SysÂtème de la Nature:
If we go back to the beginÂning we shall find that ignoÂrance and fear creÂatÂed the gods; that fanÂcy, enthuÂsiÂasm, or deceit adorned or disÂfigÂured them; that weakÂness worÂships them; that creduliÂty preÂserves them; and that cusÂtom, respect and tyranÂny supÂport them in order to make the blindÂness of men serve its own interÂests.
Miller also talks with a numÂber of well-known conÂtemÂpoÂrary atheÂists, includÂing playÂwright Arthur Miller, physiÂcist Steven WeinÂberg and philosoÂpher ColÂin McGinn. Episode One: ShadÂows of Doubt appears above, in its entireÂty, with the othÂer two episodes: “Noughts and CrossÂes” and “The Final Hour.”
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RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Steve MarÂtin Writes Song for Hymn-Deprived AtheÂists
AtheÂist StanÂford BiolÂoÂgist Robert SapolÂsky Explains How ReliÂgious Beliefs Reduce Stress
EdiÂtor’s note: The text below disÂcussÂes the endÂing of the film. We recÂomÂmend that you watch “The Monk and the Fish” before readÂing.
In this charmÂing and visuÂalÂly eleÂgant film from 1994, the Dutch-born aniÂmaÂtor Michael Dudok de Wit tells the stoÂry of a sinÂgle-mindÂed monk and a very eluÂsive fish. While the setÂting and symÂbols are ChrisÂtÂian, the stoÂry proÂgresÂsion is essenÂtialÂly BudÂdhist.
“The Monk and the Fish is not a stoÂry about the soluÂtion of a conÂflict,” Dudok de Wit explained to Sarah MoliÂnoff in a 2009 interÂview for the OxonÂian Review. “It’s more about the rise above the conÂflict, the rise above dualÂiÂty.” The monk doesÂn’t catch the fish; he and the fish are unitÂed. Dudok de Wit took his inspiÂraÂtion from the Ten Ox HerdÂing PicÂtures, a series of Zen poems and images from 12th CenÂtuÂry ChiÂna, which illusÂtrate the jourÂney to enlightÂenÂment through the stoÂry of an oxherd’s strugÂgle with a wayÂward bull. He said:
The genÂeÂsis of the film was the endÂing. It was that sequence I wantÂed to creÂate, where there is a serene union between the monk and the fish. The endÂing by itself would be flat, too abstract, to pull the audiÂence in, so I clearÂly needÂed to have a build-up, to estabÂlish and feel empaÂthy with the charÂacÂter. In conÂtrast to the endÂing, in the beginÂning the monk is obsessed, obsessed, obsessed, but in the endÂing he arrives at a resÂoÂluÂtion. In a quiÂet way, not with a big act.
The LonÂdon-based artist hand-paintÂed each frame in ink and waterÂcolÂor. Like the stoÂry, the visuÂal style was inspired by the Far East. “The JapanÂese in parÂticÂuÂlar, and also the ChiÂnese and KoreÂans,” said Dudok de Wit, “have a way of using negÂaÂtive space, of not fillÂing the picÂture, which is very typÂiÂcal of the Far East and very untypÂiÂcal of the West. We can be inspired by it, but it’s proÂfoundÂly in their culture–in their genes maybe, and not so much in ours. It’s not just about the brush line, it’s also the space around the line that is inspirÂing.”
For the music, Dudok de Wit chose a clasÂsic from the WestÂern canon, La Folia, a traÂdiÂtionÂal theme that was often adaptÂed or quotÂed by comÂposers like Bach, VivalÂdi, CorelÂli, HanÂdel and Liszt. The filmÂmakÂer selectÂed a few of his favorite variations–mainly from CorelÂli and Vivaldi–and asked comÂposÂer Serge BesÂset to lisÂten to them and creÂate a new verÂsion to fit the film.
The Monk and the Fish took six months to creÂate, and was nomÂiÂnatÂed for Best Short AniÂmatÂed Film at both the AcadÂeÂmy Awards and the British AcadÂeÂmy Film Awards. You will find it listÂed in our colÂlecÂtion of 450 Free Movies Online, along with anothÂer movÂing short by Dudock de Wit, Father and DaughÂter. They appear in the AniÂmaÂtion SecÂtion.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Shel SilÂverÂstein’s The GivÂing Tree: The AniÂmatÂed Movie
Last fall, we feaÂtured a talk by the hot-shot theÂoÂretÂiÂcal physiÂcist Lawrence Krauss, “A UniÂverse from NothÂing,” which answered some big enchiÂlaÂda quesÂtions: What is our curÂrent underÂstandÂing of the uniÂverse? When did the uniÂverse begin? What came before it? How could someÂthing come from nothÂing? And what will hapÂpen to the uniÂverse in the future?
The lecÂture gave a snapÂshot of the thinkÂing laid out in Krauss’ newÂly-released book by the same title: A UniÂverse from NothÂing: Why There Is SomeÂthing Rather than NothÂing. The book just hit the stands, and right now it’s #51 on the AmaÂzon bestÂseller list. Not bad for a text that delves into the comÂplex mysÂterÂies of dark matÂter, quanÂtum mechanÂics and cosÂmolÂoÂgy.
In case you missed the origÂiÂnal lecÂture, we have postÂed “A UniÂverse from NothÂing” below for your viewÂing pleaÂsure. (It has racked up over a milÂlion views on YouTube.) And you can catch the video trailÂer for Krauss’ new book right above. Find more great physics videos in our colÂlecÂtion of Free Online CoursÂes and Great SciÂence Videos.
RememÂber Jeff HarÂris? He’s the phoÂtogÂraÂphÂer who has docÂuÂmentÂed every day of his life with a self-porÂtrait since 1999. Now meet MadeÂline SchichÂtel, a young proÂducÂtion assisÂtant livÂing in LA. She recordÂed her daiÂly life in 2011 with a Canon PowÂerÂshot, then editÂed each day down to a meanÂingÂful one-secÂond shot, creÂatÂing the video monÂtage “This is What MadeÂline Did.” Wired writer Steve SilÂberÂman (aka @SteveSilberman) found the video unexÂpectÂedÂly charmÂing, and we have to agree. “All My Friends,” by LCD SoundsysÂtem, serves as the soundÂtrack for this endearÂing litÂtle film.
It’s a new year, which means it’s time for the Edge.org to pose its annuÂal quesÂtion to some of the world’s finest minds. The 2012 ediÂtion asks the quesÂtion, “What is Your Favorite Deep, EleÂgant, or BeauÂtiÂful ExplaÂnaÂtion?” And the replies — 190 in total — feaÂture thoughts by SherÂry Turkle, Robert SapolÂsky, Steven Pinker, and Daniel DenÂnett, plus the ones excerptÂed below. If you’re willÂing to venÂture down the rabÂbit hole, you can access the comÂplete colÂlecÂtion of responsÂes here.
Where did we come from? I find the explaÂnaÂtion that we were made in stars [that we are all starÂdust] to be deep, eleÂgant, and beauÂtiÂful. This explaÂnaÂtion says that every atom in each of our bodÂies was built up out of smallÂer parÂtiÂcles proÂduced in the furÂnaces of long-gone stars. We are the byprodÂucts of nuclear fusion. The intense presÂsures and temÂperÂaÂtures of these giant stoves thickÂened colÂlapsÂing clouds of tiny eleÂmenÂtal bits into heavÂier bits, which once fused, were blown out into space as the furÂnace died. The heavÂiÂest atoms in our bones may have required more than one cycle in the star furÂnaces to fatÂten up. UncountÂable numÂbers of built-up atoms conÂgealed into a planÂet, and a strange disÂeÂquiÂlibÂriÂum called life swept up a subÂset of those atoms into our morÂtal shells. We are all colÂlectÂed starÂdust. And by a most eleÂgant and remarkÂable transÂforÂmaÂtion, our starstuff is capaÂble of lookÂing into the night sky to perÂceive othÂer stars shinÂing. They seem remote and disÂtant, but we are realÂly very close to them no matÂter how many lightyears away. All that we see of each othÂer was born in a star. How beauÂtiÂful is that?
Kevin KelÂly, Wired co-founderhere and don’t miss Susskind’s comÂplete physics lecÂtures here].
Leonard Susskind, Physics ProÂfesÂsor, StanÂford.
[T]here is one eleÂgant and deep stateÂment (which, alas, is not quite an “explaÂnaÂtion”) … that I find very useÂful as well as beauÂtiÂfulÂly simÂple.
I refer to the well-known lines Lord Acton wrote in a letÂter from Naples in 1887 to the effect that: “PowÂer tends to corÂrupt, and absolute powÂer corÂrupts absoluteÂly.” At least one philosoÂpher of sciÂence has writÂten that on this senÂtence an entire sciÂence of human beings could be built.
I find that the senÂtence offers the basis for explainÂing how a failed painter like Adolph Hitler and a failed semÂiÂnarÂiÂan like Joseph StalÂin could end up with the blood of milÂlions on their hands; or how the ChiÂnese emperÂors, the Roman popes, or the French arisÂtocÂraÂcy failed to resist the allure of powÂer. When a reliÂgion or ideÂolÂoÂgy becomes domÂiÂnant, the lack of conÂtrols will result in widenÂing spiÂrals of license leadÂing to degraÂdaÂtion and corÂrupÂtion. [More here].
Mihaly CsikÂszentÂmiÂhaÂlyi; PsyÂcholÂoÂgist
You can dive into the full colÂlecÂtion at Edge.org. The phoÂto above was takÂen by MarÂco BelÂlucÂci.
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