Ancient Links

What did the music of ancient Babylon sound like?

Judge says reporter can't get public records about police "stingray" use.

New pulsed-magnetic method uses nanorods to deliver drugs deeply into the body.

How ancient Romans made better concrete than we do now.

Links, Historical

Skeletons discovered in an ancient cemetery in the southwest of France have shackles on their necks.

Alcohol-vapors might be the solution to the Marie Celeste mystery.

Danish Bronze Age glass beads traced to Egypt.

Art Links to Start December

Lars von Trier doubts he can make movies while sober.

Bleeding Cool talks Electricomics with Leah Moore.

Webcomic about Cibo Matto must be a thing of beauty.

Diamond Dogs, 40 years on.

The LA Review of Books interviews Jonathan Carroll.

Two Links for December

Under certain conditions, you can see infrared light.

Images captured by the Planck spacecraft reveal the shape of the galaxy's magnetic field.

Science Links For the End of November

Airborne lidar permitted researchers from the University of Salamanca discover a 1st Century Roman gold mining network that used a complex hydraulics system lifted from Ancient Egypt.

This is the seal that secured King Tutankhamun's tomb.

Researchers in Germany have grown a complete spinal cord from stem cells.

Antikythera Mechanism dates older than previously thought, going back to at least 205 BC.

Pictures from the ancient Greek tomb discovered in the Macedonian city of Amphipolis.

Comet Sliding Spring could alter the atmosphere of Mars.

Arts Links For the End of November

There was a series of children's storyteller records back in the 1950s and '60s. Before my time, but I was happy to have this pointed out to me as it includes Lauren Bacall reading James Thurber's 13 Clocks. 13 Clocks is a wonderful story, and Lauren Bacall as the narrator can only make it better.

Wm Shakespeare First Folio discovered in the library at Saint-Omer in France.

Terry Pratchett: Accused of philosophy!

The Verge reviews The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, a documentary about Studio Ghibli.

Marvel, DC, and Image Solicitations February 2015: What interests me

Marvel Comics solicitations February 2015:

Do we really need multiple Guardians of the Galaxy books? Guardians Team-Up has Art Adams on art, so - dammit! - I'm in.

Spider-Gwen and Silk now how their own titles. Extremely tempting. I'll probably give each a look.

Spider-Man 2099 #9 has Miguel O'Hara returning to his own time and meeting Maestro? Doubly tempted.

I read the first issue of the new Spider-Woman and enjoyed it. I've always been fond of Jessica Drew. Sticking around for a while.

Thanos vs Hulk by Jim Starlin? Hell, yes, I'm in.

Angela and Thor will be picked up. Love Asgard, love Gillen and Aaron's writing.

Dan Abnett is writing good science fiction/super-heroes mashup in Guardians 3000.

The Avengers: Rage of Ultron OGN by Rick Remender & Jerome Opena should be good.

Image Comics solicitations February 2015:

Nameless #1 by Grant Morrison & Chris Burnham.

Ed Brubaker does excellent crime and noir comics. His work with Sean Phillips has been phenomenal. The first trade of The Fade-Out is up.

I read the first issue of Low by Rick Remender & Greg Tocchini and it knocked me out. Set against the expansion of the sun, it deals with the survival of the human race both immediate and potential future. Good science fiction. I missed the second issue, but the first trade is being solicited. Yes!

The first trade of Trees by Warren Ellis & Jonathan Howard will be out in February, for those who didn't pick up the singles. This may be Warren's most mature comic work.

Bitch Planet #3 Kelly Sue DeConnick & Robert Wilson IV merge female prison and science fiction. And a swell time was had by all.

ODY-C by Matt Fraction & Christian Ward is a sfnal retelling of the Greek Odyssey. Likewise, Fraction's interdimensional superspy Casanova returns in a new eponymous series.

Supreme Blue Rose #7 brings Warren Ellis' Supreme tale to a close. He and Tula Lotay had so much fun with this I can't wait to see what they do next.

Tooth & Claw #4 by Kurt Busiek & Benjamin Dewey. High fantasy. Good story, lovely art.

DC Comics solicitations February 2015:

The Multiversity: The Mastermen. Jim Lee joins Grant Morrison for a story about the universe where the Third Reich won, Superman is the Overman and Uncle Sam is the leading superhero of the USA.

Gail Simone is once again doing the Secret Six for DC.