Infocult: Uncanny Informatics

Speech balloons over centuries

Here's a nice page: the evolution of speech balloons, from the early modern era through the eighteenth century.  Very useful for the history of comics.  And I'm always glad to see the 1700s get their due.

("1769 'Grown Citizens Learnig to Dance' ")

(via Tailrank)

Blog/murder/cannibalism case update

The blogger accused of murdering and eating a neighbor is now entering the trial process.  In a rare rhetorical move, the linked article doesn't mention the internet aspect until the very end, 80% of the way through!

We noted Underwood's arrest in April.

Doppelganger time: fetus in fetu

In today's installment of "real life imitates Gothic," we learn about a biological doppelganger.  It's a case of parasitic human twins, fetus in fetu, where one twin absorbs another twin while still in the womb. 

"We were horrified. We were confused and amazed," [doctor] Mehta said.
At first glance, it may look as if Bhagat had given birth. Actually, Mehta had removed the mutated body of Bhagat's twin brother from his stomach.

(via MetaFilter)

Simulating current events: Bogost attempts a Paris riot

Ian Bogost is thinking about news games this week, focusing on Paris Riots, a nearly-completed French game.  He also notes Kumawar, which we've noted before, and which received some good attention at the Swedish conference this summer.

It's a useful sign, these games, for the current status of computer gaming in world culture (because this ain't just a US thing).  They've become used enough, capable of being produced and distributed quickly enough, that they can occupy a cultural space akin to Law and Order's "ripped from the headlines" approach, for instance.  I expect we'll see more anticipatory games, imaginations of what's about to hit the headlines.

Waking City taking registrations

Waking City, a Toronto-based augmented reality/urban game, will launch next month (starting September 16).  It's taking player registrations now, for this week.  Watercooler Clickable Culture has more logistical info.

Cityblogging in Beirut

Lebanon is seeing some innovative social software on urban landscapes, as observed by Henry Jenkins.  Along with some neat remixes of superhero comics and image-focused blogs, there are notes published to walls and city fixtures around the world.  Jenkins observes that what's going on might be a strategy to span a digital divide,

a kind of bridge between the digital world and the people in the streets who have little access to digital media.

Iranian blog battles continue

The Iranian government continues to crack down on Iranian bloggers.

Previously noted on this topic: blogging the self in Iran, bloggers protesting government action.

(thanks to Jim Lai)

Dolls from the uncanny valley

A brilliant participant in this digital story gathering introduced me to this week's creepy inhabitant of the uncanny valley: the Sasha doll.  Such sad, knowing eyes.  What a blank, gleaming face.

Previously posted: death threats from an Elmo doll, along with everyone's favorite, little Talking Tina.

Wandering the empty spaces of Second Life

Warren Ellis reflects on his Second Life explorations.  Note the melancholy sense of empty spaces:

it’s been jumping into a series of empty, abandoned clubs. It’s eerie, the way this place can seem so utterly fucking desolate sometimes. Like the 80s image of a city after a neutron bomb — buildings still standing, all humans exterminated... Some days, it must feel like they threw a universe and no-one showed up.

Reminds me of this earlier description of a MMOG during its last, failing days.

I'm revving up my own SL exploration, and will post.

US information warfare exercise: CyberStorm

The US Homeland Security Department held an information warfare exercise earlier this year.  Wired notes that it involved an alliance of left-wing groups, who launched network attacks.  All softs of data services were targeted, or faults within claimed.

(via MetaFilter; image via Cryptome)