Links for October 20th through October 21st

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on October 21, 2008). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Sometime between October 20th and October 21st, I thought this stuff was interesting. You might think so too!

  • Geoff Dyer on the changing face of war photography: From Roger Fenton's prints of the Crimea to mobile-phone images of Baghdad, every era of war photography has been marked by new technology. But what has always mattered more than technical brilliance, argues Geoff Dyer, is getting close enough to the epicentre of history
  • Warning: In Case of Terrorist attack, do not discard brain.: This week’s comic is a friendly reminder: keep your brain running at all times. When you switch it off bad things happen.
  • Rands In Repose: FriendDA: The FriendDA is a non-binding, warm blanket agreement that offers absolutely no legal protection. I’d suggest if the idea of legal protection is even crossing your mind that the FriendDA is totally inappropriate for your current needs.
  • Oregon mom won’t return ‘Bunny Suicide’ book: The 2003 book by British author Andy Riley is a collection of cartoons showing a rabbit attempting to end his life in bizarre ways. Anderson's son told her he checked it out because his friends said it was funny. "It is a comic book, but that's not funny. Not at all," Anderson told the Albany Democrat-Herald newspaper. "I don't care if your kid is 16, 17, 18. It's wrong." (What a twit. The book — in my opinion — is hilarious, but even if it weren't, she doesn't have the right to dictate to everyone else what is or isn't appropriate. Submit the book for review and take your chances. Refusing to return it to the school library is petty and childish.)
  • Rant: New Star Trek Movie Is Intentionally Cheesy: "So, to sum up: it's ridiculously retro, it's unthinkingly homoerotic, it's a cheesefest worthy of Michael Bay, and it's a gift to fanboys, who will probably hate it anyway." That's a pretty strong condemnation of a film seven months away based on about ten just-released stills. Hopefully the cynicism proves unfounded — but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried at all.