
PeaceLove sez, "Cory's recent post mentioning the 'books as objects' phenomenon compels me to mention the extremely delectable new Taschen book, Magic, 1400s-1950s. It's gargantuan, classy, profusely illustrated and expensive but if you are a magician or magic fan, you've just found the perfect holiday gift (hint, hint). Authors Mike Caveney and Jim Steinmeyer, along with contributor Ricky Jay, are all professional magicians, scholars and historians of the first rank. This is a serious work, as well as a gigantic love letter to the 500+ 'golden years' of magic. It's available on deep discount right now at Amazon."
Magic, 1400s-1950s (Taschen, lots of interior images) (Thanks, PeaceLove!)






A new study conducted in Florida has given scientists reason to believe that hammerhead sharks may have vision comparable to that of humans. The researchers measured electrical activity in the eyes of half a dozen sharks from three different hammerhead species. They then put electrodes under the sharks' corneas and recorded electrical activity while shining lights in horizontal and vertical arcs around each eye. Compared to normal-headed sharks, the hammerheads had three times the visual overlap — that's what creates stereo vision and depth perception in animals with eyes that face forward. This, of course, helps them be faster and more efficient at hunting prey. But there's a catch: because their eyes are so far apart, hammerheads have these giant blind spots right in the middle of their head. As study leader Michelle McComb put it in an interview with National Geographic:
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Hemant "The Friendly Atheist" Mehta Interviews Ray "The Bana
Sean Blueart
Gay-bashing woman humiliated for wearing hideous skirt
Stephen
Gay-bashing woman humiliated for wearing hideous skirt
Peter K.
Hemant "The Friendly Atheist" Mehta Interviews Ray "The Bana
octopod
Ingenious Pac Man ring-set
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Neutrality takes no side but that of convenience
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Hemant "The Friendly Atheist" Mehta Interviews Ray "The Bana
octopod
High-mag pollen photos highlight the invisible beauty of pla
Eark_the_Bunny
Hemant "The Friendly Atheist" Mehta Interviews Ray "The Bana