UNDER THE SEA WITH DENNIS CHAMBERLAND
March 17, 2010
by VBS STAFF
Today we’re debuting a new episode of Motherboard that takes you deep underwater to manned, space-age colonies on the ocean floor. Our guide on these expeditions was renown NASA engineer Dennis Chamberland. When Chamberland joined NASA in the early ‘70s, as the manned space program was starting to thunder forward, he latched on to an idea being floated by NASA at the time: using the sea as a test bed for space exploration. As a developer of the agency’s Advanced Space Life Support Systems, which monitors the safety for all off-planet habitation pursuits, Chamberland soon became a lead proponent of research on underwater habitation and what he calls the “space-ocean analog.”
THE FUTURE OF NASA
March 17, 2010
by MOTHERBOARD
The atmosphere surrounding last night’s 10th annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate was a bit heavier than usual. “The Moon, Mars and Beyond: Where Next for the Manned Space Program?” the topic chosen by the directors of the American Museum of Natural History, was announced just before the Obama administration released its controversial NASA budget, which for now cuts out the possibility of an American-led return to the moon (or Mars) in the near future. “What was originally just going to be us putting out opinions now turns out to have huge implications,” museum director Neil deGrasse Tyson told a sold-out audience at the start.
Read the rest on Motherboard.
ST. PATRICK’S GAY
March 17, 2010
by CONOR CREIGHTON
Today millions of plastic Paddys will be getting drunk on heavy black beer in honor of a Welsh sheep farmer who turned the Irish onto Christianity in the fifth century. But before all you Mexicans and Maoris fart in the face of genetics, geography, religion, and good taste by sticking the wig and face paint on, I’d just like to point out exactly what Patrick did for Ireland.
As much as you might like him for establishing the shamrock as our national symbol and for providing every other Irishman with a first name, what St. Patrick did was basically spoil the scene on Europe’s hottest party island.
Read the rest on viceland.
HOUSE OF THE SETTING SUN ON CNN
March 17, 2010
by VBS STAFF
This week CNN’s running House of the Setting Sun, the Vice Guide to Travel all about elderly sex workers in Mexico
We visit an amazing place called Casa Xochiquetzal (The House of the Beautiful Flowers), a retirement home for older prostitutes in Tepito, one of the sketchiest neighborhoods in Mexico City. The house has a minimum age requirement of 60 and can accommodate up to 45 women. Right now, there are only 23 retired ladies of the night living there. The majority of them continue working, because there are still people who want to pay to have sex with them.
Watch the whole thing here.
SHAMROCK SHAKES AND HONEY
March 17, 2010
by VBS STAFF
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, everyone. Remember to wear green, eat green food, and roll around in the grass or something. Oh, and don’t forget to get dangerously, sickeningly drunk. Think alcohol poisoning.
- After decades of secrecy, New York’s apiarists can finally bee themselves without breaking the law.
- A breakdown of just how much privacy you’ve permanently forfeited with your Facebook profile.
- Here’s a cautionary tale for anyone who might be thinking about setting up their meth lab in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
- Where to find Shamrock Shakes today.
OMAR'S #4 VBS VIDEO PICK
March 17, 2010
by VBS STAFF
Omar Salazar is a pro skater from San Francisco who is really into outer-space, going fast and crazy stories. He just happens to be one of our favorite stuntwood riders on the planet. Nike SB just released a shoe with his name on it, so to celebrate we asked Omar to pick his favorite VBS segments and tell us why he loves them. Welcome to Omar’s Outerspace.
VICE KILLS TEXAS AGAIN
March 16, 2010
by VICE STAFF
Oh wait, sorry, this year we’re “Saving” Texas again. If you’re going to SXSW, the three principal places you need to be familiar with are Red 7 & Starr Building for our business, the Scoot Inn for drinking, and wherever you’ve arranged for a bed or clothespile. The rest is basically gravy. Go to vicesavestexas.com for the info on the Vice Records showcases and our big Saturday night party. Anything else of importance should be covered in our old Guide to Austin. PS: here’s the lineup for Saturday.
Read the rest on viceland.
PRIVACY ALIVE AT SXSW
March 16, 2010
by ALEX PASTERNACK
It may not be saying much, given the humdrum quality of many of the sessions, but internet researcher danah boyd gave one of the standout talks at the South by Southwest Interactive fest over the weekend.
Wearing a warrior princess getup, she began with an unmistakable jab at Mark Zuckerburg: “No matter how many times a privileged whtie male tells you privacy is dead, it’s not." Online social networks might be full of privacy pitfalls, and many may be eager to click through screens of legalese to start spreading their contact details, ideas, and what beer they’re drinking at what bar right now. But if asked, people still want to have a say over who can see their information.
Read the rest on Motherboard.
CAPT. CHARLES MOORE ON LETTERMAN
March 16, 2010
by VBS STAFF
Last night our favorite master of the high seas, Captain Charles Moore, was in New York City for an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. What was he in to talk about? An enormous, repulsive atrocity floating in the Pacific Gyre called The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The interview’s really worth watching if only to hear a late-night talk show guest rail on “plastic [as] a lubricant of globalization.”
- If you haven’t seen it yet, please watch our special on Garbage Island.
THE BOTTLE REPORT - TABS Vs. TOPS
March 16, 2010
by BRENDAN SULLIVAN
“You reset.” One of the Chinese women yells at Milton. We are back at Fine Fare hanging out with Milton and Thelma, and the damn bottle machine is broken again.
“I what?”
“You reset,” she mimics reaching over the machine and unplugging the power cord above it.
Milton climbs up on a bucket, reaches over the top of the machine–pretty much the same size as its coordinate device, the soda machine–and yanks on a cord. The cable itself is the kind of 220v cord that a washer or a refrigerator uses. Milton crashes down, plug in hand, and the woman starts to yell again.
“Now back-in! Now back-in!” Milton had managed to turn the machine off, but getting it back on again was going to require a little more effort.
Read the rest on viceland.
Most commented
this week
- 11 GRAND OLD BRITISH CONFLICTS
- 9 SHAMROCK SHAKES AND HONEY
- 8 WOMAN BLOCKS LHC
- 8 DRUG BUSTS
- 8 REAL VAMPIRES OF FLORIDA
