February 22, 2011
Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR, a Brooklyn based art collective. The show’s format is that of educational PBS children’s television shows such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry, and clips of children being interviewed). However, Wonder Showzen parodies the format in a very adult-oriented manner. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, sex, and culture with black comedy.
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February 22, 2011
The EMP Museum (formerly the Experience Music Project) is an a nonprofit institution dedicated to popular culture (from the art of fantasy, horror cinema, and video games to science fiction literature and legendary costumes from screen and stage). Founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000, the museum has numerous public programs including ‘Sound Off!’ an annual 21 and under battle-of-the-bands that supports the all-ages scene and ‘Pop Conference’ an annual gathering of academics, critics, musicians and music buffs. In addition EMP in collaboration with the Seattle International Film Festival presents the ‘Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Film Festival,’ which takes place annually every winter at the world renowned Seattle Cinerama.
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame was founded by Paul Allen and Jody Patton in 2004. It incorporated the formerly independent Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame established in 1996. EMP is located on the campus of Seattle Center, adjacent to the Space Needle and the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs through the building. The structure itself was designed by Frank Gehry, A concert venue capable of holding up to 800 guests, Sky Church (named in honor of Jimi Hendrix) boasts 70-foot ceilings, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and a mammoth indoor HD LED screen.
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February 22, 2011
Beatlemania is a term that originated during the 1960s to describe the intense fan frenzy directed toward The Beatles during the early years of their success. It is similar to the much earlier term Lisztomania used to describe fan reaction to the concerts of pianist Franz Liszt. Beatlemania became common in the United States after The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
It was characterized by intense levels of hysteria demonstrated by fans both at the actual concerts and during the band’s travels to and from hotels, concert venues, and the like. The extent of Beatlemania in the United States is evidenced by their single and album sales. The Beatles had the number one single for 59 weeks during their six and half years spanning from ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand,’ in 1964 to ‘Let It Be’ in 1970.
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February 22, 2011
Lisztomania [list-uh-mey-nee-uh] is a term used to describe the intense fan frenzy directed toward Hungarian composer Franz Liszt during his performances. The phenomenon first occurred in Berlin in 1841 and was later coined by German poet Heinrich Heine in a feuilleton (newspaper supplement) in 1844. Liszt’s playing was reported to raise the mood of the audience to a level of mystical ecstasy. Admirers would swarm over him, fighting over his handkerchiefs and gloves. Fans would wear his portrait on brooches and cameos.
Women would try to get locks of his hair, and whenever he broke a piano string, admirers would try to obtain it in order to make a bracelet. Some female admirers would even carry glass vials into which they poured his coffee dregs. According to one report: ‘Liszt once threw away an old cigar stump in the street under the watchful eyes of an infatuated lady-in-waiting, who reverently picked the offensive weed out of the gutter, had it encased in a locket and surrounded with the monogram ‘F.L.’ in diamonds, and went about her courtly duties unaware of the sickly odor it gave forth.’
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February 22, 2011
The Machine, the former Alpha Rho chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon at the University of Alabama, is a coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities which formed a secret society with some degree of influence over campus and Alabama state politics.
The group, which has operated in varying degrees of secrecy since 1914, is credited with selecting and ensuring the election of candidates for Student Government Association, Homecoming Queen, and other influential on-campus and off-campus offices. It was first publicly noted as ‘ political machine’ in 1928 by Alabama’s campus newspaper, ‘The Crimson White.’
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February 22, 2011
The Fellowship, also known as The Family, is a U.S.-based religious and political organization founded in 1935 by Abraham Vereide, a Methodist clergyman and founder of Goodwill Industries. Its stated purpose is to provide a forum for decision makers to share in Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship experiences, and to experience spiritual affirmation and support. It has been described as one of the most politically well-connected ministries in the US. The organization shuns publicity and its members share a vow of secrecy. Fellowship leader Doug Coe and others cites biblical admonitions against public displays of good works, insisting they would not be able to tackle diplomatically sensitive missions if they drew public attention.
Although the organization is secretive, it holds one regular public event each year, the ‘National Prayer Breakfast’ held in Washington, D.C. Every sitting president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, up to Barack Obama, has participated in at least one National Prayer Breakfast during his term. The Fellowship’s known participants include ranking United States government officials, corporate executives, heads of religious and humanitarian aid organizations, and ambassadors and high ranking politicians from across the world. Many United States Senators and Congressmen who have publicly acknowledged working with the Fellowship or are documented as having done so work together to pass or influence legislation.
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February 22, 2011
A flying submarine or submersible aircraft is a craft able both to fly or travel under water. The Soviet Union made an unsuccessful attempt at developing a flying submarine during World War II. In 1961 American engineer, Donald Reid designed and built a single-seat craft (32.83 ft length) capable of flight and underwater movement, the Reid Flying Submarine 1 (RSF-1). The first full-cycle flight [underwater at 6.5 feet (2 m) depth, airborne at 33 ft (10 m) altitude] was demonstrated on 9 June 1964.
The US Navy is looking at the Lockheed Martin Cormorant, a drone aircraft launched from a submarine. On launching it floats to the surface and after flight it is retrieved from the water surface; it cannot travel directly underwater. In 2008, DARPA announced that it was preparing to issue contracts for a submersible aircraft.
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February 22, 2011
The Hansen Writing Ball was invented in 1865 by the reverend and principal of the Royal Institute for the deaf-mutes in Copenhagen. The writing ball was first patented and entered production in 1870, and was the first commercially produced typewriter. In Danish it was called the skrivekugle. The Hansen ball was a combination of unusual design and ergonomic innovations, but like most of the early 19th century typewriters, it did not allow the paper to be seen as it passed through the device.
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February 22, 2011
The Scoville scale is a measurement of the spicy heat (or piquance) of foods. The number of Scoville heat units (SHU) indicates the amount of capsaicin (a chemical compound that stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in the skin, especially the mucous membranes) present. The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville who developed it in 1912. The chilis with the highest rating on the Scoville scale exceed one million Scoville units, and include specimens of naga jolokia.
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February 22, 2011
Lake Vostok is the largest of more than 140 subglacial lakes found under the surface of Antarctica. The overlying ice provides a continuous paleo-climatic record of 400,000 years, and the lake water itself has been isolated for 15 million years. The lake is named after the ship of Fabian von Bellingshausen, an Antarctic pioneer. There is presently underway a scientific effort to reach the lake by drill. The lake is under complete darkness and expected to be rich in oxygen, so there is speculation that any organisms inhabiting the lake could have evolved in a manner unique to this environment. These adaptations to an oxygen-rich environment might include high concentrations of protective oxidative enzymes.
Living Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus microorganisms have been found in Lake Vostok’s deep ice core drillings, an extant surface dwelling species. This suggests the presence of a deep biosphere utilizing a geothermal system of the bedrock encircling the subglacial lake. There is optimism that microbial life in the lake may be possible despite high pressure, constant cold, low nutrient input, potentially high oxygen concentration and an absence of sunlight. Due to the lake’s similarity to the Jupiter moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus, any confirmation of life living in Lake Vostok would strengthen the prospect for the possible presence of life on Europa or Enceladus.
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February 22, 2011
The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) is a motorcycle club whose members attend the funerals of members of the United States armed forces at the invitation of the deceased’s family. The group was formed in 2005, to shelter and protect funerals from protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church, who claim that the deaths of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are divine retribution for American tolerance of homosexuality. PGR members position themselves to physically shield the mourners from the presence of the Westboro protesters by blocking the protesters from view with their motorcade, or by having members hold American flags. The group also drowns out the protesters’ chants by singing patriotic songs or by revving motorcycle engines.
Although initially founded by motorcyclists, the organization is open to anyone, regardless of political affiliation, veteran status, or whether they ride or not. The Patriot Guard was established in Mulvane, Kansas at American Legion Post 136 in 2005. The group’s mission quickly expanded to include the funerals of law enforcement officers, fire department personnel, all first responders, and any active duty member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces from all previous wars and conflicts and is now largely focused on recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of fallen servicemembers as well as their families and loved ones.
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February 22, 2011
The Coup is a political hip hop group based in Oakland, California. It formed as a three-member group in 1992 with emcees Boots Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group’s second album. The duo is politically Marxist in its music and aligns itself with other radical hip-hop groups such as Dead Prez. The group’s music is characterized by electronic sounds and bass-driven backbeats overlaid by humorous, cynical and sometimes violent lyrics criticizing capitalism, American politics, patriarchal exploitation, and police brutality, among other things.
In Novemeber 2001, The Coup released ‘Party Music’ to widespread praise and condemnation. The original album cover art depicted Pam and Boots standing in front of the twin towers of the World Trade Center as they are destroyed by huge explosions, and Riley is pushing the button on a guitar tuner. The cover art was finished in June 2001. In response to the uncanny similarity of the artwork with the WTC attack of 9/11, the album release was held back until alternative cover art could be prepared.
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