FAFO - Tiger Edition.
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Also, from Jenkins, 1988:
“‘fandom’ is a vehicle of marginalized subcultural groups (women, the young, gays, etc.) to pry open space for their cultural concerns within dominant representations; it is a way of appropriating media texts and rereading them in a way that serves different interests, a way of transforming mass culture into a popular culture”
Cites:
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I don’t really read fanfic (for no reason other than time). I’ve never thought of it that way before. Very cool.
Where to start, if I’m into sci-fi?
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Probably someplace like an Archive of Our Own, and then do a search for which ever franchise you enjoy (which can specific all sorts of criteria):
It’s not all great, but it’s a way for a lot of people to get started writing, to find community, and to help better understand themselves…
Also, you can check out youtubers who discuss fanfic, such as Strange Aeons:
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Thanks!
That’s very interesting!
However, when it comes to development in the global south, it seems a bit disingenous to not mention (or only briefly mention) colonialism or post-colonialism, yeah? Doing that can bring into the conversation just why many in the global south are turning to both China and Russia, as they are seen as less problematic, given that they were seen as being more strongly anti-imperial during the Cold War. Doesn’t mean that there wasn’t exploitation happening (now or then), but it helps to explain why they’re considered an alternative… And ignoring events like direct intervention into internal politics is also missing a big part of why things are they way they are now across the African continent. I don’t think you get the current set of crises in Congo without the assassination of Lumumba, which was aided by western powers.
Thoughtful stuff, though! thanks!
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worth a trip to sci-hub!
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The Gambler Who Beat Roulette
For decades, casinos scoffed as mathematicians and physicists devised elaborate systems to take down the house. Then an unassuming Croatian’s winning strategy forever changed the game.
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This was a great read. Thanks!
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I learned today that I have been tying my shoes wrong. For my. ENTIRE. Life. My shoes always come untied. And now that I’m caring for my elderly parents, I see their shoes always come untied. So apparently they didn’t know either!
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A square knot? No, i think they mean a reef knot.
Ian’s Shoelace Site is also good for this kinda stuff. For years now i have been using the fast shoelace knot for quick tying but not needed to be totally secure (but better than a standard bow knot) and the secure shoelace knot which is easy to untie compared to a double knot.
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How interesting. It’s also called a reef knot. And who knew there would be an entire website dedicated to tying one’s shoes. I mean, of course there is. Apparently I need to spend some time on it!
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Boing Boing wrote about it a few years ago.
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Well of course it did 
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I just double knot them. Like my friend in the airborne taught me when we went hiking long ago.
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Right?
Me too, and they never come loose. 
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They did, and i think that’s where i first learned of it. It feels like a left over from a less curated web when you could find a website on seemingly any esoteric passion project and there was less concern about analytics, SEO, rankings and suchlike.
ETA: Forgot the obligatory link to Animated Knots.
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This story was a real eye-opener about organ transplant recipients, and how far we have to go in terms of medical treatments:
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