The Book of Accidents: Designed for Young Children (1831). "In presenting to his little readers The Book of Accidents, the Author conceives he cannot render a more important service to the rising generation and to parents, than by furnishing them with an account of the accidents to which Children, from their inexperience or carelessness, are liable. If generally studied it will save the lives of thousands, and relieve many families from the long and unavailing misery attendant on such occurrences." [Via]
posted by homunculus at 6:37 PM Jul 3 2008 - 34 comments [49 favorites]

2 July 1863, second day of Gettysburg. Sickles has pulled his III Corps -- without orders -- off of Cemetery Ridge and positioned it a half mile in front of the rest of the Union lines. Longstreet smashes the hapless III Corps and its men are in full flight. Hancock rides back and forth inside the gaping hole left by Sickles. Below him, almost 2000 men of Wilcox's brigade are charging up the slope. They will gain a foothold on the ridge and be reinforced by Lee. As Longstreet pins down the Union left, Lee will roll up the center and right of the Northern army and chase them from the field. He will then march on and take Washington before turning north along the eastern seaboard. Lee will capture and burn Philadelphia and Boston in his March Along the Sea, chasing the Northern government from city to city until Lincoln finally sues for peace and the union is no more. Suddenly, a line of blue-coated soldiers comes into Hancock's view. "My God, is this all the men here? Who are you?" "1st Minnesota, sir." "See those colors?", says Hancock, pointing at the flags of the oncoming Confederates, "Take them."
posted by forrest at 5:45 AM Jul 2 2008 - 81 comments [153 favorites]

Twenty years ago this week, the biggest escape ever over the Berlin Wall took place, but the event went nearly unreported outside of the two Germanies. The 182 persons who jumped over the Wall in the early morning hours of 1 July 1988, instead of leaving East Germany, fled in the opposite direction (scroll down to "Wolfgang Ritter") to escape the West Berlin police. East German border guards waited with trucks on the other side of the Wall in the middle of the death strip to pick up the wall-hopping protesters; they were driven to another location, served breakfast, and then taken to the Friedrichsstrasse crossing to West Berlin with the admonition to "use the usual border crossing next time."
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 10:01 PM Jul 3 2008 - 16 comments [11 favorites]

Jedi Gym
posted by loquacious at 2:28 AM Jul 4 2008 - 30 comments [11 favorites]

How to Photograph Fireworks
posted by Del Far at 8:42 AM Jul 4 2008 - 31 comments [9 favorites]

Sexual Healing. "Sad stories and otherwise freaky tales from Florida's last sexual surrogate." A longish article, and fascinating.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:26 PM Jul 3 2008 - 81 comments [9 favorites]

Who? Only one of the supreme German graphic artists of his time, that's all. Long an acknowledged influence among illustrators, animators and cartoonists, he is probably known primarily for a couple of Dover Books collection of his sketchbook art that were published back in the 60s and are now hard to find.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:21 AM Jul 3 2008 - 10 comments [17 favorites]

Jack "Marvel" Whiteside Parsons was the right hand man to Aleister Crowley, a founder of modern US rocket science, and early partner to L Ron Hubbard. Celebrate July 4th by investigating this major character in the birth of our age.
posted by unpoppy at 1:22 PM Jul 4 2008 - 24 comments [7 favorites]

The Travels of Franz Kafka , a website that chronicles the many places and social interactions of Franz. A photographic journal collection of his life as he traveled. For your enjoyment, today being the 125th Anniversary of Franz Kafka's birthday. Cheers.
posted by Fizz at 6:17 PM Jul 3 2008 - 10 comments [8 favorites]

Without explanation, all of Violet Blue's posts have been removed from Boing Boing, raising serious questions about ethics and revisionism that run contra to the thoughtful declarations of blogging pioneers. Is this hypocritical in light of BB's own public bouts with censorship? Or does this reflect an altogether different loss of control?
posted by ed at 9:58 AM Jun 30 2008 - 1573 comments [62 favorites]

We've seen the first two episodes. First they met, then they celebrated her birthday together. Now it's time for step 3: Doki (the rabbit) and Nabi (the cat) have their first date.
posted by wanderingmind at 8:52 PM Jul 3 2008 - 18 comments [6 favorites]

After 80 years, a complete version of Fritz Lang's Metropolis has been discovered in Buenos Aires.
posted by Nathaniel W at 2:27 PM Jul 2 2008 - 79 comments [62 favorites]

Web Designer Wall is the personal weblog of Nick La who is N.Design Studio. He talks about design ideas he has, design tutorials from Photoshop to CSS, etc., and trends in modern web design. (see previous)
posted by netbros at 4:29 AM Jul 3 2008 - 7 comments [38 favorites]

These are the documents that started it all. The Charters of Freedom. As the USA celebrates another Independence Day, the National Archives presents the historical development of the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and their impact upon the nation and the world.
posted by netbros at 5:38 AM Jul 4 2008 - 54 comments [4 favorites]

In honor of the Fourth, I give you the 50 States and their Capitals, the U.S. Presidents, and in hopes for a better future, what the hell, all the Nations of the World.
posted by Navelgazer at 3:03 PM Jul 3 2008 - 30 comments [10 favorites]

"Several songs on the instrumental album were voted Best in Genre, and then shortly after that I was flown out to Los Angeles and nominated Independent Artist of the Year by the Association of Independent Artists." Until age 40, he'd never played piano. Then he suffered a concussion.. Also, cavemen sang -- and maybe echo-located. Where? Where they painted their cave art.
posted by orthogonality at 3:33 PM Jul 4 2008 - 19 comments [4 favorites]

'Nick Veasey uses x-ray technology to create mesmerizing and intriguing art.'
posted by shakespeherian at 1:03 PM Jul 4 2008 - 8 comments [4 favorites]

Pansori (aka P'ansori) is a genre of Korean folk music produced by travelling musicians, a singer accompanied by a lone drummer. Rooted in seventeenth century folk tales, by the 1960's, Pansori was in danger of dying out completely, when the director Im Kwon-taek made the film Sopyonje.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:02 PM Jul 3 2008 - 6 comments [4 favorites]

Internet in Africa is more than just Nigerian spam. There are honest African bloggers who fight corrupt government and police to go where mainstream journalists dare not. Compare their blogging experience with your own. Imagine the government calling you over the phone at night and questioning about a particular post you just wrote.
posted by Surfin' Bird at 11:13 AM Jul 3 2008 - 13 comments [8 favorites]

Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) delayed. Senator Dodd says, "This bill does not say, 'Trust the American people; Trust the courts and judges and juries to come to just decisions.' Retroactive immunity sends a message that is crystal clear: 'Trust me.'" Obama talks about why he supports the bill. Senate may vote after the Fourth of July recess. (previously)
posted by joannemerriam at 11:01 AM Jul 4 2008 - 100 comments [4 favorites]