Ender’s Game and Hitler, ’smart’ sunglasses, UK urged to go transparent…

• 1 – ender and hitler: sympathy for the superman

  Elaine Radford’s classic critical essay on Orson Scott Card’s ‘Ender’s Game’.

  (tags: genocide Hitler justification Game Ender’s Card Scott Orson Radford Elaine criticism literary)

• 2 – Beat Blocks…

  “…is a tangible interface for a rhythm sequencer. The user is able to create and manipulate an 8-track drum loop on the fly by physically re-arranging blocks within a matrix.” Electronic music with wooden blocks. Result.

  (tags: tangible visual interface wood Blocks Beat project art sequencer drum music electronic)

• 3 – ‘Smart’ Sunglasses And Goggles Let Users Adjust Shade And Color

  “Imagine a single pair of glasses with lenses that can be transparent or dark, and in shades of yellow, green or purple, all on command.” I must confess to being underwhelmed.

  (tags: technology control filter colour lens sunglasses shades smart)

• 4 – Public webcams, not CCTV, urged to avoid Big Brother society [in UK]

  “Footage from surveillance cameras must be made freely available to the public if Britain is to avoid becoming a Big Brother state, researchers warned yesterday.” Someone’s been reading David Brin. Good.

  (tags: futurism society Brin David transparency technology privacy security surveillance CCTV government UK)

• 5 – New Adam Smith £20 note launched

  “The note includes a range of enhanced security measures designed to prevent counterfeiting, such as a wider holographic strip and microlettering.” Yeah, those forgers’ll never beat that. Via the Schneier.

  (tags: Smith Adam counterfeiting contermeasures forgery security note bank UK)

• 6 – Spinal Tap A to Zed

  “These 550+ entries were [...] were published in 1995 in an edition of 900 paper copies, which has sold out.” Brilliant. This one definitely goes all the way up to eleven.

  (tags: humour comedy reference film movie mockumentary music Tap Spinal)