An irregular hodgepodge of links beyond the library curated together from @OmniumGatherum at Hrmtc I∴O∴ and more … Omnium Gatherum for September 21, 2022.
Here’s a selection of notable things I’ve recently found that you may also be interested in checking out:
- Autumn Wreaths by Watabou. Via dev update—”my generator can now generate autumn wreaths. There is much less green in them and much more yellow and red, and flowers are mostly replaced by berries and acorns.”
- Remember to read something subversive, offensive, or outsider at Hermetic Library for Banned Books Week! I make a point to read banned books, myself; and I’m sure you can find something that someone wants banned over at Hermetic Library!
Joe said, ‘I read it in the toilet. I hid it in a pillow. In fact, I read it because it was banned.’—PKD, The Man in the High Castle. For Banned Books Week, visit Hermetic Library for something to read in the toilet or hide under a pillow! Remember Alexandria. Remember book burnings. Remember banned books week. Remember public domain day. Don’t let the forces of anti-enlightenment win! Banned Books Week, Sept 18–24, 2022
- “WB Yeats and Aleister Crowley once battled each other in an epic real-life magical duel.” This gets trotted out every once in a while. It is a fun story, that gets repeated often, about them but my understanding is, from witness descriptions, it didn’t actually happen like that. Yeats didn’t actually yeet Crowlyeet aka Baphomyeet at Blyeethe. Even if he kinda deserved it, tbh.
- “When life feels cluttered, a good tarot reading can slow down the rush to quick solutions. Shuffling and studying the pictures on tarot cards can be like a moment of meditation.”
- “Some Christians are using sacred texts to embrace a broader understanding of gender. As some evangelicals push to restrict civil rights for trans people, other Christians use similar sacred texts and traditions to build a theology that embraces trans lives as part of God’s creation.”
- “Math Is the Great Secret. If human beings invented numbers and counting, then how is it that there are numbers such as primes that have attributes no one gave them?”
- “How the St. Javelin meme raised a million dollars for Ukraine The St. Javelin meme is inspired by the Virgin Mary, who despite being known for peace, can be found in centuries of war art.” Also “St Javelin. ‘Let the woman be girt with a sword before me: let blood flow to my name.’— Chapter III Verse 11 in Liber AL vel Legis, Book of the Law”
See “Saint Javelin Painting by Chris Shaw.” Also tweet—”Looking forward to presenting at #BNTS2022 this afternoon. I’ll be thinking about the reception of Mary Magdalene and the Mother via St Javelin and the interesting icons of [SHAWPOSTER].” Don’t see this paper online anywhere yet, but looks interesting!- “The 4-7-8 method that could help you sleep.” Pranayama in the news!
- “The Interstices Between Known Worlds. Where the magic happens.”—”Infinity exists in the interstices between known spaces. And again, but slightly differently: Infinity exists in the interstices between known worlds.” Mentions Hermetic Library Figure Hakim Bey and the wheel of the year.
- “Museum of Alchemy. We would like to welcome you to the website of the Museum of Alchemy – Speculum Alchemiae.”—”The newly opened alchemical laboratories were discovered during the reconstruction of one of the oldest historical buildings in Prague on the street Haštalská number 1. This building is listed by UNESCO and by miracle this one has been preserved after the demolition of the Jewish quarter at the end of 19th century.”
- “Woman’s terrifying ordeal after hearing ‘fairy’ voices while ‘stuck’ in the woods. She was sceptical about the supernatural world until she heard a high pitched voice that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.”
- “Modeling the Future of Religion in America. If recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades.” Nature is healing.
- “Sex and Imagination: An Essay in Sexistentialism“—”Nietzsche once remarked that ‘The degree and kind of a man’s sexuality reaches up into the topmost summit of his spirit.’ What I hope to briefly explain here is exactly how that can be the case.”
- “The Sacred Morning Routine Folks in Nicoya, Costa Rica—Home to Many of the Longest-Living People on the Planet—Do Every Day“—”For Monserrat Prado Flores, a Costa Rican coffee producer at the fourth-generation, family-owned, and woman-led company Ditsö Café, preparing coffee is certainly a sacred everyday routine. And although innovation in the coffee industry has threatened this centuries-old method, Flores affirms that using a Costa Rican chorreador is one of the most special ways to make a perfect cup.”
- “Satanic panic is making a comeback, fueled by QAnon believers and GOP influencers
Baseless accusations are branding people as satanist pedophiles at the speed of the internet — just ask a GOP prosecutor who recently lost re-election.”- “Do you love sci-fi and religion? You’re not alone.“—”While science fiction hasn’t been covered often in the pages of America, a few authors figured the way to an America editor’s heart: Make the review about religion instead.”
- “Aleister Crowley, the English king of the occult“—”Ready to start unpacking this enigma of a man? Then read on to learn all about Aleister Crowley.”
- “Sarah Ruhl: ‘It’s the ultimate age of Narcissus’. The US playwright on the traumatic impact of Bell’s palsy on her life, the American obsession with smiling and why Jo from Little Women is her literary heroine.” About Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl, available now, but paperback is new.
- “Astronomer Virginia Trimble: ‘There were 14 women on the Caltech campus when I arrived in 1964’. As her book of essays by female astronomers is published, the veteran scientist reflects on her career as an astronomy prodigy, the face of the Twilight Zone and Richard Feynman’s life model.” About The Sky Is for Everyone, edited by Virginia Trimble and David A Weintraub (affiliate link)
- Stranger Things Tarot Deck and Guidebook by Casey Gilly and Sándor Szalay—”Let Eleven, Jim Hopper, and other beloved residents of Hawkins, Indiana guide your tarot practice with this otherworldly tarot deck and guidebook inspired by the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.” Also Stranger Things: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book by Simon Arizpe, Matthew Reinhart, and Kyle Lambert—”Embark on an explosive 3D journey through the world of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things with the only officially licensed Stranger Things pop-up book.”
- I mentioned this last year, but it’s out now: Hocus Pocus: The Official Tarot Deck and Guidebook by Minerva Siegel, Tori Schafer, and DreaD—”Bring a touch of witchcraft into your tarot practice with this illustrated deck inspired by Hocus Pocus!”
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck and Guidebook by Casey Gilly and Karl James Mountford, due March 2023—”Follow the wisdom of Buffy, Willow, Xander, Spike, and others with this beautifully illustrated tarot deck inspired by the beloved series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
- “Buffy’s Final Act as Slayer Was Training Willow’s Daughter to Replace Her. After reluctantly taking on the duty of training the next Slayer following the death of the potential Slayers, Buffy’s Slayer run ends with a bang.” About Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer by Casey Gilly, Joe Jaro, & al.
- “‘Inject that Stoicism into my veins!’: 10 tools of ancient philosophy that improved my life. Brigid Delaney has been immersed in Stoicism since 2018 – and has had plenty of cause to use it since. Here’s a cheat sheet of what she learned.” About Reasons Not to Worry: How to be Stoic in chaotic times by Brigid Delaney (Linked to Allen and Unwin, the Australian publisher’s page. Not listed in US or UK shops yet, that I could find.).
- “The Nation That Never Was review: a new American origin story, from the ashes of the old. Kermit Roosevelt III, descendant of Theodore, sees lessons for today’s divided nation in Reconstruction and the civil rights era.” About The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America’s Story by Kermit Roosevelt III.
- Monster Boy and the Nightmare King and Other Stories by Pierre Demery—”A boy overcoming his fears, a home drowning in despair, and things worse than those that go bump in the night; these and other stories fill the pages of Monster Boy and the Nightmare King, an anthology book about monsters and those who are as close to monsters as they can get.” “Read a story every night, or brave through the book in one sitting, either way you are sure to enjoy everything that Monster Boy and the Nightmare King has to offer.”
- “Science for the People. Documents from America’s Movement of Radical Scientists by Sigrid Schmalzer, Daniel S Chard, Alyssa Botelho.”—”For the first time, this book compiles original documents from Science for the People, the most important radical science movement in U.S. history.” Available online and PDF as CC by-nc-nd / open access at the link. Also.
- “Reality+. Evan Selinger on the risks and virtues of David Chalmers’s deep dive into virtual reality.” About Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David Chalmers.
- Unquiet by E Saxey, due July 2023—”A young woman discovers her long-thought dead brother-in-law in her garden and sets about unravelling the mysterious circumstances of his disappearance in this gripping and unsettling Victorian gothic horror, perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Sarah Waters.”
- “A Book of Unique and Delectable Flavor: The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean.” About The Book Eaters.
- Watch “Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary Special | Comic Trailer | DC“—”Harley Quinn turns 30 in style! The Clown Princess of Crime has invited an all-star squad of her writer and artist pals to join her in an oversize extravaganza filled with amazing stories!” About Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary Special by Stephanie Phillips, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Paul Dini, & al.
- “Did DINOSAURS beat man to the MOON? Bones from giant reptiles were flung into space when the extinction-event asteroid smashed into the Earth 66 million years ago, scientists claim.” Clarke / Kubrick were right, just, um, dinos not primitive humans! ⬛️🦴🚀 About The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth’s Past Mass Extinctions by Peter Brannen.
- “How the Disappearance of the Dinosaurs Created an Hospitable World for Humans. Riley Black on the Causes and Consequences of the Great Extinction.” Excerpt from The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World by Riley Black.
- Wrath of the Picts by Steven A. McKay (Warrior Druid of Britain Book 5)—”Princess Catia has gone missing and once again it falls to the legendary druid, Bellicus, to find her. Was the child taken by force, or did she go willingly with the Pictish warrior-woman, Aife?”
- “Your everyday rituals do impact your life — just not how you might expect.” About Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living by Dimitris Xygalatas.
- “We Are Magic: Sigils for Trans Power“—”We Are Magic is a mini-zine love letter to the trans community … These sigils were created from trans-positive text provided by friends & strangers.” 🎩 Frater A.V. O.
- From 2016: “Are Frog and Toad Gay? Beloved Children’s Books Were ‘the Beginning of Coming Out’ for Author Arnold Lobel, Daughter Says. Adrianne Lobel says her father’s books were ahead of their time for their depiction of two same sex character who love one another.”
- “Why Black characters in ‘Rings of Power’ and ‘Little Mermaid’ make fantasy better“—”My first reaction when I saw the email was exasperation: This is not a debate we should still be having in 2022.”
- “What to read to become a better writer. Five texts that explain how to write simply and well.”
- “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Tweet—”My translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” undertaken without reference to existing English versions.”—
- “The Enduring Allure of Choose Your Own Adventure Books. How a best-selling series gave young readers a new sense of agency.”
- “40 years ago, Star Wars killed the most promising sci-fi show of all time. Logan’s Run is a cult movie and an even more obscure novel. But what do you know about the TV show?”—”This strangely compelling and totally underrated retro gem asks a different question about this specific dystopia: What if the premise of Logan’s Run was not the story of Logan’s Run?” “the TV version of Logan’s Run had more sci-fi writing cred than most new TV shows have today. So what went wrong?”
- “An NC school board cleared the room of teens to read a book’s sex scene aloud.” Performative pearl clutching.
- “My Life in Error. A copy editor recounts his obsession with perfection.”
- “Kanye West Says He’s Never Read A Book: ‘Reading Is Like Eating Brussels Sprouts’. The Yeezy mogul’s confession comes after recent chatter about his private school, Donda Academy.” I don’t know if that identifies a symptom or a disease, but there it is. Not reading is harmful, confirmed. Also “What the Hell Is Going on at Kanye West’s Mysterious New Private School? Parkour classes, a cone of silence, and a principal with no apparent formal teaching experience. Inside the superstar’s new private school.” Presumably there’s no reading lists on the syllabi.
- “Attempts to Ban Books Are Accelerating and Becoming More Divisive. To mark Banned Books Week, the American Library Association released a report on the rise in censorship efforts: In 2022, there have been attempts to restrict access to 1,651 titles.”
- New bionics center established at MIT with $24 million gift. Interdisciplinary research center funded by philanthropist Lisa Yang aims to mitigate disability through technologies that marry human physiology with electromechanics.”—”The center’s scientists, clinicians, and engineers will work together to create, test, and disseminate bionic technologies that integrate with both the body and mind.” We have the technology …
- “JWST’s First Glimpses of Early Galaxies Could Break Cosmology. The James Webb Space Telescope’s first images of the distant universe shocked astronomers. Is the discovery of unimaginably distant galaxies a mirage or a revolution?”
- “Farmer finds rare ancient treasure in Gaza while planting an olive tree — but discovery may be in ‘immediate danger’“—”Last spring, a Palestinian farmer was planting a new olive tree when his shovel hit a hard object. He called his son, and for three months, the pair slowly excavated an ornate Byzantine-era mosaic that experts say is one of the greatest archaeological treasures ever found in Gaza.”
- “Of God and Machines. The future of artificial intelligence is neither utopian nor dystopian—it’s something much more interesting.” Counterpoint, thread—””This article in the Atlantic by Stephen Marche is so full of #AIhype it almost reads like a self-parody. So, for your entertainment/education in spotting #AIhype, I present a brief annotated reading: … /1.” Also thread—”The article Emily’s dissecting is like the worst possible inversion of everything i value. It’s like… rather than digging down & elucidating the ways that beliefs function in the formation of technological artefacts & systems, they’re all ‘Believe in the ~*~Spooky Power~*~! 😃'”
- “The Radiance Adventure Engine. Play any Tabletop RPG as a solo game. You are both the Player AND the Gamemaster!” Crowdfunding effort with 22 days to go. Also watch “Radiance – What is Radiance?”—”The Radiance Adventure Engine is a supplement for any tabletop roleplaying game that allows you to play an RPG as a single-player experience. You are both the player AND the gamemaster. Change the way you enjoy tabletop roleplaying games.”
- “Rogue One’s Gary Whitta Is Trying to Crack the Code of Original IP. His new project, Gundog, would be a mega-budget movie, so he made it in other mediums instead.” Also Star Wars: Andor.
- “Hot Package: Paul Greengrass To Adapt & Direct Stephen King’s New Bestseller ‘Fairy Tale’”
- “‘Farscape’ & ‘Stargate SG-1’ fan fave Claudia Black tackles ‘more mature’ space role in thriller ‘DEUS’. ‘She’s human; she’s a scientist, and she’s in extreme grief,’ the Farscape & Stargate SG-1 star tells SYFY WIRE.”
- “Beyond Meat Executive Arrested For Biting Man’s Nose. Doug Ramsey, the COO of Beyond Meat, apparently had a beef with another driver in an Arkansas parking garage.” Soylent Green ‘roid rage was not the artificial meat we were hoping for.
- “Warner Bros. Discovery Has Bigger Problems Than Its DC Search. The film studio’s hunt for its own Kevin Feige may be complicated by key questions about what’s next for the heavily indebted company — and whether another major deal is on the horizon.”
- “HBO Max’s censored movie posters look kind of ridiculous. Holy smokes.” Also tweet—”No Smoking! Twitter users report HBO Max removed Warren Beatty’s and Paul Newman’s cigars from movie poster art used on its home page: McCabe & Mrs. Miller. The Life and Times of Roy Bean.”
- “IN CONVERSATION SEPT. 19, 2022. In Conversation: Karen O The Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer will give in to her urges, so long as she’s onstage.” About Cool It Down by Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
- “Daredevil’s Charlie Cox Was Also Thrilled by the Yellow Suit.”
- “‘Dalíland’ Review: Ben Kingsley and Ezra Miller Get Surreal in Mary Harron’s Eye-Opening Art-World Portrait. The biopic’s real subject is Salvador Dalí’s unconventional marriage to Barbara Sukowa’s Gala, a woman who built the foundations of his career while adding a string of beautiful boys to their entourage.”
- “Avenue 5’s Season 2 Trailer Promises Complete Anarchy in Outer Space. Things don’t seem so great back on Earth, either, in the HBO sci-fi comedy from Veep’s Armando Iannucci.” Watch “Avenue 5 Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO.”
- “Project Anomaly: Urban Supernatural Investigator is a 2.5D first-person adventure mystery game where you play as an investigator who solves cases by taking pictures of cryptids, urban legends, & mythological creatures as well as befriending them in an open-world environment.”
- “Keanu Reeves Returns for ‘Constantine’ Sequel, HBO Max’s TV Reboot Dead Along With ‘Madame X’“—”‘Constantine’ has been a hot property in Hollywood, sparking a NBC series created by Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer, and was even more recently being developed into a new series for HBO Max by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. However, sources tell Variety that the HBO Max series is now dead.” Also thread—”Honestly? … I think Keanu is at exactly the right place in his life and career to make this one actually work.” “Okay now I’m mad about it. I was kind of looking forward to the Constantine series. And i say again: WB has NO IDEA what they’re doing with their properties and are burning through interest and good will like cheap tissue paper.” Also “Constantine sequel brings back Keanu Reeves for more occult detective work. The original Constantine film premiered nearly two decades ago.”
- “Inside ‘Moonage Daydream’: the David Bowie doc that nearly killed its director. How 16-hour days in the studio put Brett Morgen in a coma – and the comeback that created a movie masterpiece.”
- “Cats Give the Laws of Physics a Biiiiig Stretch. They can fall from potentially infinite heights and survive. They can pivot off of nothing to land on their feet. Scientists still can’t fully explain why.” Infinite cats! All the way down!
- “How to end a tabletop campaign with karaoke. Everest Pipkin’s World Ending Game breathes new life into endings.”—”At the opening of our interview, Pipkin said that ‘you can’t fully separate a creative practice from a lived life.’ In thinking through the tools they have given us for our campaigns, making worlds and ending them, it’s easy to extend that slightly further into our engagement with that practice: You can’t fully separate play from a lived life.”
- “What on earth is this thing?“—”Accompanying the note was a photo of a bug-eyed, leering idol with crooked teeth. It’s awfully weird — at least for Akron. At first glance, it appears to be an ancient relic from somewhere far away.” “Some Catholics believe that burying a statue of St. Joseph in the ground will help sell a house faster, but this relic clearly isn’t the patron saint of home and family. We sent a few queries to archaeology experts around the country to see if they could identify the idol. An Arizona professor told us he couldn’t say for sure, but it looks like a category of objects made in Mexico today to sell to tourists. ‘It does not look anything like indigenous art from Ohio!’ he wrote.”
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