Spomenik Means Memorial

Whoa.

Melancholic, beautiful and at times alien, these amazing pictures are by photographer Jen Kempenaers, who trekked through the former Yugoslavia to document Communist memorials. These structures sit as relics from a bygone era yet beckon to a utopian future. In his book Spomenik: The End of History, Kempenaers' striking photography transports us to this world and fills us with wonder.

All photos © Jan Kempenaers, from the book Spomenik: The End of History

See more here.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

CARL <3's ANN

"This is a love story. And, oddly enough, it starts with an interstellar space mission and a golden record."

 

From Radiolab: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123534818                              

 

Time Magazine Covers the Singularity

What has been the basis of much sci-fi is now the focus of the latest Time Magazine as an imminent event:

2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal

Written by Lev Grossman, the article profiles Ray Kurzweil and examines this critical point in the near future when computers surpass human intelligence. During research for Things We've Made it has become more and more clear that this is very real and on the minds of more people than you would think in the general public. Transhumans, technoprogressives - already there have been movements, organizations, even trade shows for over a decade to embrace this crossroads. To some this is scary, to others it's an opportunity to maximize human potential. Both sides of the debate can agree that the singularity is polarizing, mysterious and it will be here within many of our lifetimes.

Another Sundance, Another Earth

Sundance is kicking off and there is a definite excitement in the air compared to previous years. After going through the lineup, we're extremely curious about Another Earth, directed by Mike Cahill. From the program book:

Rhoda Williams, a bright young woman recently accepted into MIT's astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. John Burroughs, a brilliant composer, has just reached the pinnacle of his profession, and is about to have a second child with his loving wife. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes, and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined. Estranged from the world and the selves they once knew, the two outsiders begin an unlikely love affair, which reawakens them to life. But when one of them is presented with the opportunity to travel to the other Earth and embrace an alternative reality, which new life will they choose?

On a shoestring budget, Cahill shot and directed the film himself with a Sony EX-3 in his hometown. Locations included his mother's house and the high school he attended. Co-writer and actress Brit Marling is in the majority of scenes by herself. Watch this interview with the director below for his musings on thoughtful sci-fi and how they began shooting the film.

Producer An Tran will be attending the festival and no doubt checking out Another Earth. Come back for a full report.

Art of the Van

Photo courtesy of Ken Berger

There's something soulful about old conversion vans and what they say about their owners. At the same time utilitarian and expressive, these vehicles can be characters themselves like in TWM.

We recently discovered this fantastic Flickr pool titled "We're an American Van" by Los Angeles photographer Orrin Anderson. Take a look at the funky colors and solid shapes. All we know is it makes us want to buy a van.

Local blog The Eastsider recently interviewed Anderson about this fascination and the appeal of vans.

Happy Holidays, See You in 2011!

via Echo Park Time Travel Mart

Mice Two Dads: Scientists Create Mice With Two Genetic Fathers

By e3000 via Flickr

We've got lots of critters here on the TWM blog lately...

It was announced yesterday that reproductive scientists in Texas, led by Dr. Richard R. Behringer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, have produced male and female mice from two fathers using stem cell technology. Quite a few news outlets have sensationalized the news by frightening readers or painting campy scenarios not too different from the Schwarzengger film "Junior."

Rather than highlighting these wild projections, Discover Magazine's straightforward explanation describes how this was done and that for human reproduction this is a long way from being achieved.

Where would this be useful? One benefit we could think of is to preserve highly endangered species. Another would be the creators of the '80s sitcom My Two Dads could also make out well by resurrecting the show with this updated twist.