Answer:
My apologies for the late reply. My favorite book is easily Dune by Frank Herbert. No other book has fleshed out such a vivid world as successfully as that, especially given the tendency for books of ideas to meander. The erudite nature of the writing is necessary not only for the complicated story but its desire to explore sociopolitical ecology, and how societies develop in and are affected by their environment. I really need to read it again. I’m terrible at explaining why I like things. >.>
The Big Lebowski’s “Enlightenment Through Bowling”
Jeff Mitchell, 2011
The Leaning Buildings of Amsterdam
I love how wonky the buildings are in Amsterdam :-)
Look at the way the gap between the Chinese emporium and the building to its right (dated 1644) increases.
I’d love to look inside one of these houses to see if they’re just as wonky inside.Because landspace was limited, many buildings were built very tall and very narrow. The sideways leaning is due to the weight of the heavy brick structures bearing down on wooden piles that are buried deep into the mud and sand below.
Do you also see the beams sticking out at the very top of the buildings? Their purpose is to hold a hook so that furniture can be hoisted up from the ground and brought in through the windows. The internal stairs are far too steep and narrow to bring furniture in that way! Apparently, the houses also lean forward a bit too to making the job of hoisting easier.
Well now you know :-)
(via the-maddest-scientist)
As long as women’s natural body hair is called disgusting and inappropriate while men’s isn’t, I am a feminist.
As long as I can’t watch an episode of a popular sitcom without…
Ileodictyon cibarium
The white basket fungus is native to New Zealand. It has an unusual geometric shape. It is not edible. It is a member of the stinkhorn family, and it has a foul smell and slime covering the inside of the lattice. Mathematical!
(via logicianmagician)
