Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Wired News: Engineering God in a Petri Dish: "SAN FRANCISCO -- On a steep, narrow street above Chinatown works Jonathon Keats, a tweed-suited, bow-tied 32-year-old who, with assistance from a phalanx of scientists, is genetically engineering God in his apartment. "

Monday, September 27, 2004

Philip K. Dick - Exegesis Philip K Dick has long been one of my favourite writers; I continued reading his books long after I thought I had finished with science fiction and continue to read them even now - not least because he was so prolific it's hard to run out.
The page on philipkdick.com has scans from his journal kepts at the time of his breakdown in 1974 as well as a lot of other content of interest to anyone who loves PKD's writing.
Poems of Du Fu - Online translations, with Chinese, English and French, of one of China's greatest classical poets. Translations of other poets and works of philosophy also available.

Saturday, September 18, 2004

Federated States of Micronesia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The island of Yap is notable for its stone money, large disks usually of calcite, up to 4 m (12 ft) in diameter, with a hole in the middle. The islanders know who owns which piece, but do not necessarily move them when ownership changes. There are five major types: Mmbul, Gaw, Ray, Yar, and Reng, this last being only 0.3 m (1 ft) in diameter. Their value is based on both size and history, many of them having been brought from other islands, as far as New Guinea, but most coming in ancient times from Palau. Approximately 6,500 of them are scattered around the island."

Friday, September 17, 2004

Guardian Unlimited Politics | Aristotle This is a searchable database of British MPs that, as well as giving information about who your MP is, can tell you how your MP has voted on bills and amendments in the House of Commons.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

BBC NEWS | Technology | Flower power turns up the volume: "Called Ka-on, which means 'flower sound' in Japanese, the gadget consists of a doughnut-shaped magnet and coil at the base of a vase."

Sunday, September 12, 2004

Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament SWITCH OFF
STAR WARS
Crucial National Demo
Sat. Sept 25th, from noon
@ Fylingdales
With Thom Yorke, Caroline Lucas & Kate Hudson
plus an exhibition, march, food and more.
George Bush is due to announce the start of Star Wars this Autumn. Join CND at this national demonstration at the UK's only official Star Wars base to say NO to Star Wars and NO to space weapons. With music, exhibition, a march, speakers and more.

Friday, September 10, 2004

Shakespeare in quarto: view the British Library's digital copies online: "On this site you will find the British Library?s 93 copies of the 21 plays by Shakespeare printed in quarto before the theatres were closed in 1642."