Miss Cellania's Blog Posts

Create Your Own Marvel Comic

Marvel has announced a new project called Create Your Own Comic. You'll be able to choose from your favorite Marvel superheroes and villains, write a story, and design comic panels when the app goes online (you can register now). However, Marvel knows what can happen when you crowdsource any kind of creative content, so they have a few rules about what is not acceptable for the stories you can write, found in the Terms and Conditions. Actually, it's a long list, so here are some highlights from the list of no-nos.

“Content that could frighten or upset young children or the parents of young children.”

Prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication, vitamins, and dietary supplements.

Contraceptives

“Suggestive or revealing images,” including “bare midriffs”

“Sensationalism,” which is not defined but elucidated with the examples “killer bees, gossip, aliens, scandal, etc.”

“Obscenity, bad or offensive language” or “proxies for bad or offensive language.” E.g. no “X@#%!”

“Noises related to bodily functions.”

No politics, including “alternative lifestyle advocacies”

Death

“Misleading language”

“A copy or parody of current or past Marvel advertising creative”

Any “controversial topics,” including “social issues”

Double entendres

Any amusement parks that aren’t Disney amusement parks

Any movie studios that aren’t “affiliated with Marvel”

Guns

In other words, what you construct should not be anything like a Marvel comic book at all. Also, anything you write will become the property of Marvel and you can't share it. The project is starting off with more publicity about the restrictions than the possibilities, and we can't wait to find out how users will either flaunt the rules or find a way around them. Read more about the forthcoming Marvel comics app at The Verge. -via Metafilter


"War Pigs": Star Wars Version

The Black Sabbath song "War Pigs" is illustrated with the dark side. YouTuber voordeel edited war scenes from all nine Star Wars films into the song with an emphasis on the long line of the bad guys of the galaxy wielding death and destruction.

(YouTube link)

There are grand entrances, light saber fights, and space battles, edited into a breathtaking clash of evil vs. good. The only drawback is that it's pretty short. -via Laughing Squid


Academics With Cats Award Winners

The winners have been selected in Academia Obscura's Academics With Cats competition. A cat hiding in a bookshelf won Best In Show. The kitten shown here is the winner in the Research Assistant category. His name is Benny, and he belongs to Anthony Bale. We can see Benny is hard at work editing a thesis draft. At least I hope it's a draft. See the winners in each category and several runners-up at Academia Obscura. See all the entries at Twitter.

(Image credit: Anthony Bale)


10 Things You Never Knew about One Tree Hill

The TV series One Tree Hill ran on The WB (which later became The CW) from 2006 to 2012. It followed the lives of half-brothers Lucas Scott and Nathan Scott and their friends beginning in high school, and advanced until the characters were out of college. The teen soap opera was highly regarded by TV critics, and was the network's breakout hit. If you recall One Tree Hill fondly, you'll wanna to learn more about what went into it.     

10. Chad Michael Murray really wanted to play the part of Lucas.

The director want him to play Nathan since he’d had experience being the bad guy but Murray wanted to play Lucas since he had an idea of what it was like to be abandoned.

9. Three of the actors got to direct a single episode apiece.

It could have been a learning experience that they wanted in order to move their careers ahead in the future.

There's more to learn about One Tree Hill at TVOM.


How to Survive a Fall Through the Ice

In winter, northern lakes freeze over and that means time for ice fishing, ice skating, and other winter activities. But even the most experienced ice fishermen knows that danger lurks below the frozen surface. What would you do if the ice breaks under your feet? The Ontario Conservation Officers Association reminds us of the best tips for basic survival if this should happen you. -via Nag on the Lake

(Image credit: Ontario Conservation Officers Association)


The New Year’s Feast That Transformed Fools Into Popes And Kings

Parts of France celebrated what was called the Feast of Fools between the 12th and 15th centuries. On New Year's Day, status was inverted among the clergy, in which lower-ranked monks and students wold become the bosses of the priestly administration. It was a way to elevate the lower ranks, if only for a day. Over time, the celebrations became rowdier, although they probably weren't as dangerous as the powers-that-be made them out to be. However, the idea spread from the church to the public, because it seemed so much fun. By the time the Feast of Fools was banned, it was getting some panicky criticism.

“Priests and clerks may be seen wearing masks and monstrous visages at the hours of office,” the theologians recounted, presumably with a sniff of horror. “They dance in the choir dressed as women, panders or minstrels. They sing wanton songs. They eat black puddings… while the celebrant is saying mass. They play at dice… They run and leap through the church, without a blush at their own shame.”

Now, that sounds like a party. Read more about the Feast of Fools at Atlas Obscura.  ]


Biologists Fact-Check Animal Emojis

There is no doubt that we recognize most emojis -when they are large enough to see- but it appears we may have gotten our ideas about these animals from Saturday morning cartoons more than experience with the real thing. How accurate are emojis to the real-world animals they are supposed to represent? National Geographic obtained some opinions from scientists who study animals.

For instance, Anne Hilborn, a researcher studying cheetahs at Virginia Tech University, takes particular umbrage with the way Microsoft has given their version of a zebra emoji pink ears and nostrils.

“Seriously? Even when zebras die of diseases that have them bleed from their orifices, their nostrils aren’t pink,” says Hilborn.

Similarly, Hilborn says all the lion emojis are terrible representations. However, she deemed Samsung’s version the most egregious, with what appears to be “an explosion of shaving cream below the nose.”

But emojis look different depending on what device you're using them on. Read more about the accuracy of animal emojis at NatGeo News.  -via Boing Boing


10 Sacred Sites Worth Seeing

(Image credit: Al Jazeera English)

One man's vacation is another man's pilgrimage.

1) Mecca

location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia

most frequented by: Muslims

A trip to Mecca isn't likely to be confused with anything but a pilgrimage. Located in a drab, sandy valley about 50 miles from the Red Sea (where summer temperatures can easily reach 115 F), it's hardly a vacation destination. Regardless, it's a must-see for followers of Islam ...and we do mean "must." Mecca is the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and therefore the holiest city to Muslims. In fact, one of the religion's "Five Pillars" requires followers to attempt a hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once during their lives if at all physically and financially possible. Not ones to take pillars lightly, more than 2.5 million devout Muslim pilgrims flock to the city each year.

The hajj takes place during Dhu'l-Hijja, the last month of the Muslim calendar year (which is based on lunar cycles, meaning the hajj dates change annually). While there, pilgrims follow a pattern of devotional duties. One such ritual involves circling the Ka'ba, a cube-shaped building said to be the first place Mohammad preached and the holiest shrine in Islam. In addition, pilgrimages include the ritual kissing of the Black Stone. Although not a formal object of Islamic veneration, the Black Stone is believed to be a meteorite and is revered by pilgrims as a traditional symbol of Mecca. According to Muslim legend, it was originally a white stone given to Adam after he was expelled from Paradise, and since then, it's turned black from absorbing the sins of all those who have touched or kissed it.

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Serenading Daddy

Three-year-old Isabella doesn't want her daddy to leave her. The ukulele was right there, so she stalled by singing a little song for him. She made it up as she went along. The rhymes aren't much, but it's adorable.

(YouTube link)

That's pretty resourceful for her age. And now Bella's got a viral video to put on her resume when she's trying to get into a performing arts school in about 15 years. -via Digg


10 Amazing Facts About Stan Lee

Marvel comic book author and living legend Stan Lee is celebrating his 95th birthday today. His resume includes the titles of editor, publisher, film producer, and actor, among other accomplishments. Lee, in collaboration with Marvel artists, created the characters of Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, and a host of other superheroes and villains. In honor of the occasion, let's learn something new about Stan Lee.

6. HE DEFIED THE COMICS CODE AUTHORITY WITH AN ANTI-DRUG COMIC.

In 1971, Lee received a letter from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare asking him to put an anti-drug message in one of his books. He came up with a Spider-Man story that involved his best friend Harry abusing pills because of a break-up. The CCA would not approve the story with their seal because of the mention of drugs, but Lee convinced his publisher, Martin Goodman, to run the comic anyway.

7. AN ISSUE AT THE PRINTERS TURNED THE HULK GREEN.

The character was supposed to be gray, but Lee writes that the printer had a hard time keeping the color consistent. “So as of issue #2,” Lee writes, “with no explanation, he turned green.”

Read more about the life and career of Stan Lee at Mental Floss.

(Image credit: Gage Skidmore)


A Sad Diagnosis

Your doctor can tell you the benefits of exercising and eating right. Or she'll explain the problems you can run into if you don't. Or she can appeal to your vanity and encourage every little step forward. This doctor has probably tried all that to no avail. Now she's pulling out the big guns, by anthropomorphizing your poor body organs, who are suffering in silence. Philosophy has a place in the modern world after all. Hey, maybe it will work! This comic is from Zach Weinersmith at Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

By the way, anomie is a real word.


The Forgotten Sanatorium That Was Cooled by Cave Air

Before modern medicines were developed, the recommended cure for tuberculosis (and other chronic diseases) was fresh air, rest, and sunshine. Sanatoriums sprung up to accommodate patients and serve their needs. Limair Sanatorium was one such facility, with a difference: air conditioning, provided by air pumped up from Virginia's famous Luray Caverns. It was the culmination of years of work by heating and ventilation engineer T.C. Northcott.   

The Luray Caverns had been discovered and opened to the public for tours some 22 years before, but by the time Northcott leased them in early 1901, mismanagement had landed the owners in a heap of financial problems. According to resident historian and spokesperson Bill Huffman, these conditions likely contributed to Northcott’s ability to construct Limair, which entailed drilling into the caverns to access “lime air” that he believed had been disinfected by passing through miles of limestone chambers. “Otherwise, it probably wouldn’t have happened,” Huffman says.

“Mr. Northcott… has devoted many years to the problem of establishing an institution that would combine the advantages of sunlight and beautiful surroundings with an air supply at once voluminous and pure,” wrote Dr. Guy L. Hunner, a surgeon at the John Hopkins University Medical School. Hunner first visited Northcott’s Limair Sanatorium while vacationing in the Shenandoah Valley in 1901. “After investigating the caves of New York, Ohio, and Virginia, he secured building and park privileges over the Luray Caverns as a site comprising the greatest number of healthful and attractive features.”

Not only was the air cool, it contained fewer bacterial colonies than anywhere tested above ground. And the air in the building was completely replaced every five minutes. Read about Limair, an engineering marvel, at Atlas Obscura.


UFO Chicken Coop

While we've seen some creative ways to re-use large, obsolete satellite dishes, this has to be one of the nicest. A couple in Idaho who go by B&E raise chickens, but they are also artists. When they expanded their flock, they decided to build a UFO chicken coop! Two satellite dishes and a trampoline frame later (plus a lot of work), it was ready for the chickens. The coop has windows, surveillance cameras, insulation, ventilation, heaters, and for the alien landing effect, plenty of lights!  

(YouTube link)

Of course, it has the amenities that are important to the chickens, too. See how the UFO chicken coop was built at Backyard Chickens. -via Everlasting Blort


10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Movie Green Lantern

The 2011 DC comics film Green lantern was a mistake from the beginning. It barely made back its production budget, much less its promotional budget. The best thing about the film was that it drove its star Ryan Reynolds to Marvel where he became a different kind of superhero -Deadpool. What went wrong? We might get some clues from the trivia behind Green Lantern.  

8. Kevin Smith was offered a chance to write this movie.

He wasn’t impressed with the idea and passed on it. If a guy like Kevin Smith passes on a comic book movie it’s not a good endorsement.

7. There was almost a cameo by Superman.

It was going to be something that might have sparked the beginning of the Justice League but it was eventually scrapped.

Read more about Green Lantern at TVOM.


Ways To Hide The Ugliest Stuff In Your Home

This is just a plain, everyday garage door, but it looks like two swinging carriage house doors. The secret is the handles and hinges -they are magnets! They won't open the door, but they look nice. There are other ways to paint, paper, and cover the parts of your house that are obviously cheap, outdated, or worn that you'd never think of on your own. Buzzfeed has a list of 35 projects and products that can spruce up your home by hiding the things you can't afford to replace.


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