Image via Wikimedia Commons With the old joke about every generation thinking they invented sex, Listverse brings us the papyrus above, the oldest depiction of sex on record. Painted sometime in the Ramesside Period (1292–1075 B.C.E.), the fragments above—called the “Turin
All you need to know about the New York art world this week.
For most of human history, around 50% of children used to die before they reached the end of puberty. In 2020, that number is 4.3% . It’s 0.3% in countries like Japan & Norway. This dramatic decline has resulted from better nutrition, clean water, sanitation, neonatal
Very Good Music Fun Facts from Go Jeff Go including: “Hall and Oates never referred to themselves as “Hall and Oates.” All their records say Daryl Hall and John Oates. Also, there is a 9-inch height difference between Hall & Oates.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
The Vaillancourt Fountain in Embarcadero Plaza could be removed as soon as February.
The artist blends personal portraits that address but cannot be reduced to trans identity with utopian visions of what humanity could be.
Level Devil . This game is hilarious and diabolical. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
The mere spectacle of Es Devlin’s revolving library on the sand betrays its aim of engaging us in the act of reading.
It is astonishing enough that we invented language, this vessel of thought that shapes what it contains, that we lifted it to our lips to sip the world and tell each other what we taste, what it is like to be alive in this particular sensorium. But then we passed it from our
The newly discovered five-inch sketch dates back 500 years.
Titled "A Critter Carol," the short film takes its cues from compassion, creativity, and community. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Woodland
Retrospekt refurbs and sells retro technology (VHS tapes, cassette players, instant cameras, typewriters, iPods). 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
In a letter to the Times of London , Dr. Michael Baum tells how a line in Arcadia by Tom Stoppard sparked an idea which resulted in adjuvant systemic chemotherapy, a therapy Baum helped pioneer which greatly increased the survivability of breast cancer. Sir, In 1993 my wife
The first major retrospective of acclaimed artist Truman Lowe (Hoocąk [Ho-Chunk]), features nearly 50 evocative sculptures and drawings.
I’m in Charge at This Hertz Location, and Buddy, You’re Not Getting a Car Today . “Tell me, honestly, when you reserved a rental car through Hertz, you thought… what? That we were going to set aside a special little car just for you? Seriously?”
And no, the Louvre security password being “Louvre” isn’t a clue.
Krautgartner spends a lot of time planning and waiting for ideal weather conditions and swells. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Luminous Western
In just a few days (Dec 5), the entirety of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill duology will be released in theaters as one four-hour-long film. Here’s the trailer : Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated
A list of 25 Things to Say to Your Children , including “You can do hard things. I’ve seen you do them before and you can do them again.”; “I’m proud of you.”; and “It’s so brave to feel your feelings.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Paul Ford on normalized AI & what happens when bubbles burst . “When the bubble is big, every idea feels like a billion-dollar idea. I yearn for cheap ideas from strangers.”
From gardens to nail art to artist-led activism, these books are the Colossal team's favorites of the year. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Our
There are a few artists where you hear their name and “Tiny Desk” together and you think, well, that’s going to be great. David Byrne is one of those and his performance does not disappoint. Though Byrne and his band do normally spread out across large stages, the set design
"70,000 believers arrive at the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas to witness America’s greatest Christmas pageant."
Also: The Louvre is hiking up its entry fee, but only for non-Europeans.
Elephant families are matriarchal, inclusive and caring. But when environmental scarcity hits, everything changes - by Caitlin O’Connell-Rodwell Read on Aeon
Two different ways to consider this: First, in the marketplace, where most people, most of the time, want the thing that most people want. The average one. Exceptional is the exception. Second, in the committee meeting, where the easiest way forward is to sand off interesting
Mark Twain was, in the estimation of many, the United States of America’s first truly homegrown man of letters. And in keeping with what would be recognized as the can-do American spirit, he couldn’t resist putting himself forth now and again as a man of science — or, more
One desire felt like it would make me more of who I already was, and the other would unmake me entirely.