Thursday, January 12, 2006

Not a Hoax, One-Eyed Kitten Had Bizarre Condition

Not a Hoax, One-Eyed Kitten Had Bizarre Condition

"A photo of a one-eyed kitten named Cy drew more than a little skepticism when it turned up on various Web sites, but medical authorities have a name for the bizarre condition.

"'Holoprosencephaly' causes facial deformities, according to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health. In the worst cases, a single eye is located where the nose should be, according to the institute's Web site.

"Traci Allen says the kitten she named Cy, short for Cyclops, was born the night of Dec. 28 with the single eye and no nose.

"'You don't expect to see something like that,' the 35-year-old Allen said by telephone from her home in Redmond in central Oregon."

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

The Town That Hated Heroes

In the real world, we hate our heroes sometimes.

The Town That Hated Heroes

"A miserable little version of Gotham City, the Michigan town of Jackson has turned on its only superhero."

A Quick Word About Verification

Hi folks.

I know that there aren't a lot of people who comment on Dorkland! but I thought that I would stop to mention the fact that I have set the comments to a moderated status. This means that I have to approve each comment before it gets posted to the blog. I just want to let people know that this is because of the fact that Spamming Comments on blogs is running rampant, and it has become almost as bad as email spam. It is because of these spammers that I had to do this moderation.

A few bad apples always spoil things for the rest. I just wanted to let people know why I made the choices that I made.

Thanks.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Garfield Randomizer

Make your own surreal masterpieces with random panels of Garfield strips. Have fun.

Garfield Randomizer

[via Boing Boing]

Monday, January 09, 2006

OEMED! – Warren Ellis

Artist Michael Avon Oeming interviews Warren Ellis to start off a new online column of comic industry interviews.

This is a really good interview, whether you are a fan of Ellis' work or not. If you aren't now, you might be when you've finished the interview. Enjoy.

OEMED! – Warren Ellis

"Michael Avon Oeming takes on Warren Ellis

"Welcome to OEMED!, a series of monthly interviews with various creators, both writers and artists, mayhaps even an editor or two. If you’re not familiar with my work, look me up on Google, I have enough to type already.

"These interviews should be fun and informative; from the POV of one artist/writer getting into the mind of another creator, helping readers get into our mindset. I won’t be asking about specific projects, but about the process behind those projects. I will try and be as honest as possible about myself, and with whom I am interviewing, and I won’t pull any punches if I have them, while at the same time, remaining respectful.

"The first interview I have for you is with Warren Ellis. You know his work from TRANSMETROPOLITAN, PLANETARY, AUTHORITY, GLOBAL FREQUENCY, STORMWATCH, ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR, DOWN, DESOLATION JONES, FELL and many other comics and original graphic novels." [via Bad Signal]

20-sided Fuzzy Dice Danglers

20-sided Fuzzy Dice Danglers

"True, 6-sided fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror may be overdone and cliche, but 20-sided dice, that is a different story. Time to replace that ratty, dangling high school tassel with something more fitting of a geek. Think of these fuzzy icosahedrons (that's a 20-sided polyhedron for the math-impaired) as a fantasy muse, inspiring you as you drive, conjuring images of dungeon crawling, orc whacking, and critical hitting."

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Nasa team sees explosion on Moon

Or, could it be because of something more sinister. This event could be a useful seed to jumpstart a super-hero or SF game of some sort or another.

Nasa team sees explosion on Moon

"Nasa scientists have witnessed a rare explosion on the Moon, caused by a meteoroid slamming into it.

"The blast was equal in energy to about 70kg of TNT and was seen near the edge of Mare Imbrium (the Sea of Rains).

"The object that hit the Moon was probably part of a shower of 'taurids' which peppered Earth in late October and early November."

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

The Coolest Rooms on the Planet

Now we know where the money from the comics are going...

The Coolest Rooms on the Planet

"Fit for a superhero, Joe Quesada's Manhattan flat accommodates technology without sacrificing clean design. As editor in chief of Marvel Comics, Quesada can watch Spider-Man save the Big Apple from anywhere in his 4,800-square-foot loft. Six rooms, including the bath, feature flat-panel screens, but the real highlight is a theater that opens into a music room."

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Dick Clark Returns to TV to Mark New Year

It was a mixed bit of sorrow and happiness seeing him on TV last night. It really isn't New Year's Eve without Dick Clark, but I guess that he isn't immortal after all and one year he won't be there any more. Just as long as Ryan Seacrest doesn't take over. Blech.

Dick Clark Returns to TV to Mark New Year

"There was more to celebrate than the ball dropping in Times Square for Dick Clark — the personality who's been ringing in the New Year for decades made his first television appearance since a stroke in late 2004.

"Clark, sitting behind a desk with the street scene in the background, sounded hoarse and occasionally was hard to understand, but he said, 'I wouldn't have missed this for the world.'

"'Last year I had a stroke,' he explained. 'It left me in bad shape. I had to teach myself how to walk and talk again. It's been a long, hard fight. My speech is not perfect but I'm getting there.'"

The Lion, The Witch and The World Trade talks

The Lion, The Witch and The World Trade talks

"The fantasy land of Narnia, the subject of C. S. Lewis' stories and a just-released film, impinged on last week's World Trade Organisation talks.

"A story issued by financial news agency AFX on Sunday, picked up by several other outlets, has left a series of red faces by faithfully reporting a press release from 'the independent state of Narnia'. The story claimed Narnia had walked out of the World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong because it was fed up with being bullied by the US and Europe. It claimed the major powers were attempting to enforce liberalisation of its clothing sector.

"It quoted Narnia spokeswoman Susan Aslan (Aslan is the name of the Christ-like lion featured in the film, and book, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). Narnia's delegates 'were tired of bullying by EU and US delegations and would be returning immediately to their state capital at Cair Parvel,' Ms Aslan was reported as saying. 'If this brings the Hong Kong talks to the knees we will be delighted,' it went on. The story was picked up by top business websites, including Forbes.com."