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The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore

spacer February 12, 2012 at 7:26 am spacer Kylie Sturgess

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

Thanks, everyone who got in touch.

Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, “Morris Lessmore” is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Using a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation) award winning author/ illustrator William Joyce and Co-director Brandon Oldenburg present a new narrative experience that harkens back to silent films and M-G-M Technicolor musicals. “Morris Lessmore” is old fashioned and cutting edge at the same time.

“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” is one of five animated short films that will be considered for outstanding film achievements of 2011 in the 84th Academy Awards ®.

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    A Break (And Duck Pancakes)

    spacer February 11, 2012 at 1:45 pm spacer Kylie Sturgess

    Today, I had duck pancakes – for the first time. And I have deleted what follows.

    I am loved, this I know. Thanks, Digital Cuttlefish. I’ll blog about a week from now – there’ll be a podcast out before then, that I’ll post.

    Nearly forgot:

    Darwin Day in Perth – tomorrow, Perth Zoo and it’s being run by the Perth Atheists.

    Alom Shaha’s “The Young Atheist’s Handbook” tour will be heading to Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra (and possibly Sydney) – more details here.

    I’ll be at the Australian Science Communicators National Conference 2012 in Sydney and heading to Melbourne after – details closer to the date.

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    …And This Is Why You Shouldn’t Place Your Trust In Internet Polls (Example #9280 – Alt Med In Australian Universities)

    spacer February 11, 2012 at 3:44 am spacer Kylie Sturgess

    When I announced the release of the most recent Token Skeptic podcast interview (here it is again: Episode One Hundred And Six – On Friends Of Science In Medicine – Interview With Dr Rob Morrison), I posted a picture of an internet poll that had about six or so hours to go before it closed. I didn’t urge anyone to vote on it, mind – just an observation that it was clearly tending towards a “No“.

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    It clearly says: These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.

    Most readers would know (or at least I hope you’d know) that the internet is NOT the best place to get fair voting on various matters, particularly competitions or big issues like (say) education. I’ve seen more than enough examples of “ballot-stuffing” for certain causes, both good and bad – mind, I tend more towards seeing it as “bad”, because ultimately it isn’t fair to have polls or competitions that can be so easily manipulated.

    Mind, I did snorf somewhat at it being called Dark Arts by the Sydney Morning Herald - isn’t that an Info Tech/Media high-school class that Harry Potter attended?:

    The number of votes in the poll was about eight times more than the number of online readers of the story, a clear indicator that the poll had been gamed. Fairfax technical staff said the poll logs all but confirmed that the voting had been manipulated.

    All Fairfax polls state that they are ”not scientific” but on controversial issues such as alternative medicine and internet censorship, they are held up by interest groups as a rock-solid gauge of public opinion.

    In email messages seen by smh.com.au, supporters of alternative medicine, including Blackmores and the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia, contacted their mailing lists urging them to vote ”yes” in the poll. Alas, the ”no” vote won by a landslide.

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    How Americans Sound To British People

    spacer February 11, 2012 at 1:21 am spacer Kylie Sturgess


    Thanks to Charlotte for this find!

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    The Young Atheist’s Handbook – Touring Australia And Now On YouTube

    spacer February 10, 2012 at 10:09 pm spacer Kylie Sturgess

    Great news – the dates for the Australian tour of Alom Shaha and his new book, “The Young Atheist’s Handbook” (available for pre-order on Amazon) are now out:

    PERTH – Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th February: Various events at the Perth Writers Festival

    MELBOURNE – Monday 27th February: 6.15 pm, In Conversation with Jonathan Safran at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne

    Tuesday 28th February: 1.00 pm Live radio interview on Triple R radio’s ‘The Banana Lounge’ and 7.40 pm Live Radio interview with Waleed Aly for ‘Drive’
 on ABC Radio National.

    CANBERRA – Wednesday 29th February: 6.30 pm Canberra Skeptics in the Pub

    BRISBANE – Thursday 1st March: 6.00 pm Avid Reader Event at 193 Boundary Street  West End QLD 4101 Brisbane

    and there’s more to come regarding Sydney, just check his site at www.alomshaha.com.

    A short lesson on Death from The Young Atheist’s Handbook, a book for anyone who thinks about what they should believe and how they should live. Read more at alomshaha.com/

    Animation by Jack Kenny www.wix.com/jackkenny/animation
    Music by Jack Challoner explaining-science.co.uk/
    Words by Alom Shaha alomshaha.com/

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    Matt Parker – Maths Man: Best Superhero, Ever

    spacer February 10, 2012 at 1:59 am spacer Kylie Sturgess

    [Title blatantly taken from Matt's blog-post, where he really doesn't do himself enough credit for taking a stand as he did]

    This is Matt Parker – he’s a fellow QEDCon 2011 attendee (in fact, he did a fantastic gig on the evening of the first night) – and since I love hearing about local Perth people who do cool stuff, I’ve enjoyed catching up with him and have followed his career since.

    Now he’s a local hero, over there in the UK too!

    Police are hunting a brazen thief who posed for a photograph after stealing a mobile phone from a woman’s handbag on a train. The snap was taken by angry commuter Matt Parker, 31, who filmed the astonishing incident during an angry exchange with the teenage crook. 

    Mr Parker, a mathematician who works part time at Queen Mary, University of London, said he was outraged when he witnessed the theft on a late night train.

    …The victim, 34-year-old Deonne Farquharson said last night:”Matt was a hero.  It was wonderful that he stood up to this guy. I am glad no one got hurt and I just hope the thief gets caught.” 

    Ms Farquharson, who works in finance, added:”Thankfully I only lost my new phone.  I managed to get back by bag, keys, credit cards, and cash thanks to Matt. 

    “I am so grateful to him.” 

    Police are now seeking the thief who got off the train at Weybridge, Surrey.

    Warning, video has some swearing (as you might very well expect for someone who is watching some git blatantly steal a phone from a left-behind bag, after the video-maker has made an effort to get the phone back to its rightful owner):

    You can follow along on Matt’s Twitter account as the story gets passed on to more and more people, more and more media outlets… and hopefully helps get the phone to its rightful owner!

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    The Big Inflatable Red Flower At UWA (Very Friendly Art At The 2012 Perth Festival)

    spacer February 9, 2012 at 6:06 pm spacer Kylie Sturgess

    Naturally, as soon as UWA’s Info Services library account Tweets about something exciting on campus… I’m so there. This is Breathing Flower.

    As part of the Perth Festival 2012 Choi Jeong Hwa installed this giant red inflatable flower at the reflecting pool. “Renowned for his inventive and spectacular use of mass-produced plastics and synthetics in large scale installations, acclaimed artist Choi Jeong Hwa invites you to celebrate art that exudes abundance, colour and joy while provoking reflections upon social consumption and harmony in life.”

    It’s a little too friendly for my liking, but it’s entirely my fault as I got too close as it was exhaling. It does really seem to like being photographed though and blossomed quite happily every time it spotted a camera. Highly recommended!

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     You can check out more arts and science-related events at Science Network WA, such as the John Curtin Gallery exhibition by U-Ram Choe.

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