Blogging The Universe: A Weekly Look At Blogs of Interest, Installment 6, The Science of Battlestar Galactica

I will impartially but emphatically state that Battlestar Galactica (the new series) is the best show on television currently, and perhaps ever. I can say this without bias because so many critics, fans, and people who rarely watch science fiction agree with me and everyone knows the masses cannot be wrong. As the series comes to a conclusion later this year I'm already having withdraw pains. Questions to still be answered include: will the motley assortment of humans find Earth to be a barren wasteland or a refuge, what will happen to the newly exposed Cylons on Galactica, will Adama and the President find true love, is their really going to be a spin off show? I want to know!

In the interum I stumbled upon Patrick Di Justo's fascinating blog The Science of Battlestar Galactica, a blog dedicated to answering questions such as, how can cylons and humans breed, or, what is the mass of Battlestar? The blog is a smorgasbord for those with an interest in science fiction speculation or just a love of Battlestar. Even a science novice like myself can follow along with the explanations so don't let the science in the blog's title dissuade you unless you hate science fiction and Battlestar Galactica, which you hopefully do not.

Scifipedia - Battlestar Galactica

Nicely summarized history of the show from the original series to now

Forbes.com - The Science of Star Wars

Science Fact or Fiction Quiz

- Christopher Bishop

Blogging the Universe: A Weekly Look At Blogs of Interest, Installment 5, Ugly Sheet Cakes and TackyChristmasYards

The odd and absurd emit an odd attraction for many who cannot help but notice the bizarre creations people seem to come up with as they create for others. This week I would like to highlight two blogs for those who love the tacky side of creativity. The first is Ugly Sheet Cakes, a blog dependent on cakes both disgustingly fantastic and universally revolting. I especially like the Groundhog Day cake on the left. The recent spattering of St. Patrick's Day entries are especially unappealing to my pallet for some reason. Edit: I just found a blog with similar coverage called Cake Wrecks. Take a look.


I know Christmas has passed so the blog TackyChristmasYards may be somewhat unseasonal but it still fits within the odd and absurd tag I'm using for this post. I think we have all passed a humongous Christmas display in someone's yard and felt both wonder and a sense of overkill on the decorator's part. I'll refrain from espousing my own opinion on these displays since a picture is worth a thousand words.

-Christopher Bishop

Blogging The Universe: A Weekly Look At Blogs of Interest, Installment 4, atlantalarry

I live in East Atlanta, a culturally and economically diverse area of the city undergoing a number of changes. Until the 1970s the area was predominately Caucasian and middle class. An influx of African-Americans to the area resulted in white flight to the suburbs and a downturn in the economic prosperity of the area as social ills such as unemployment, crime, and lack of development overtook East Atlanta. In the middle 1990s young families, bohemians, and others seeking all the culture and amenities of downtown living began moving to East Atlanta and surrounding areas of Atlanta once forgotten, resulting in the diversity present in the area now. The development and changes in the area have brought about a number of questions and concerns on the part of long time residents and those who question the ramifications of gentrification in Atlanta.

Someone addressing some of those concerns while presenting an informative and colorful resource for Atlanta living is atlantalarry, a long time resident of East Atlanta and deeply informed source of knowledge for Atlanta civics and history as a whole. Larry's easy to navigate blog contains information concerning everything from riding Cobb County Transit, to local resources for gardening and history, to a unique collection of photography documenting areas of Atlanta such as East Atlanta, Grant Park, and downtown Atlanta (the image of the Flat Iron above is from Larry's blog). Blogs like atlantalarry are some of the richest resources available for understanding Atlanta as it undergoes some of the most dramatic social and economic transformations ever experienced by the city.

For additional resources on Atlanta and issues including gentrification, Grady Hospital, The Beltline, et cetera, I would like to guide readers to Westminster's School for the Common Good Wiki, a resource Vicki Norman and I prepared for the class to create an interactive learning experience. The link will take you to the library's guide with a link to the wiki at the bottom. Since the wiki was introduced students have added a number of resources. Those with additional resources to add are invited to do so.

- Christopher Bishop

Blogging The Universe: A Weekly Look At Blogs of Interest, Installment 3, P.I.P. (The Post-It Project)

I count myself among those who believe the post-it note rivals only the home computer as the most important invention of the 20th century (actual statistics to back this belief are unavailable and unnecessary to the entry you are about to read). I remember once running out of post-it notes at work and having to wait a few days for more to arrive with a regular office supply order, leading me to nearly go crazy as I stuck pieces of torn paper on my computer/work area with tape trying to recreate the post-it note's utility. The habit of sticking post-it notes everywhere could not be broken. My love for post-it notes brought me to P.I.P. (The Post-It Project), a blog whose creator has transformed the post-it note from functional communition tool, to art canvas. On display are both the blog author's original works, and a host of contributions, including some representing little more than scribbles, and others with quite intricate drawings. This is folk art at its best.

My love of folk art and small things also reminds me of Willard Wigan's very miniature art pieces which must be seen to be believed. The link above also contains a small gallery (no pun intended) of his work. Enjoy! - Christopher Bishop

Blogging The Universe: A Weekly Look At Blogs of Interest, Installment 2, Splendid Pictures Around The Net

So, I'm innocently surfing the internet for interesting photography, images, art in general, and what do I find, photos of Star Wars origami that amaze me. Some of the origami figures are incredible (see Yoda to the left for instance), and others are respectable works which fail to fully dazzle the viewer, but still serve as inspiration for those who seek the power of the force through paper crafts. The Star Wars origami images are collected on the blog Splendid Pictures Around The Net, a site collecting images including the hilarious "Security Guard At Work" which features sleeping security guards on duty, the outlandish "Japanese Extreme Modified Vans," and the unexpectedly inspiring "Fork Art" wherein forks are transformed into works of art. No matter your visual medium of choice, each visitor will find something on interest in the blog.

- Christopher Bishop

Blogging The Universe: A Weekly Look at Blogs of Interest, Installment 1, Antipixel

In celebration of the vast world of blogging and those who bring you these often brilliant sites highlighting both the mundane and the extraordinary, I bring you Blogging The Universe, a weekly installment including both description and points of connection. These are blogs I find to be of interest, either for the aesthetics of the site, sensational prose, or some combination thereof. Suggestions are always welcome.

I'm a sucker for anything Japanese so Jeremy Hedley's Antipixel blog has fascinated me since I discovered it a few months ago. He compiles beautiful photography and print imagery from Japan courtesy of his residence there as a tech worker. His photography, usually capturing local scenery and objects, is amazingly beautiful, something he also adds to in words as he describes his take on the images. He also has an interest in local art, especially art used to advertise products. The appeal of what was once a disposable wrapper or gift card (see the image above) in Japan certainly highlights the often overlooked beauty of print advertising across time. Enjoy!

- Christopher Bishop