Link About It: This Week’s Picks
Records made for aliens, shutting down douchebags on Tinder, a new Mona Lisa and more
1. The Voyager Golden Record Available for Human Ears
The Golden Records (first created to be taken aboard the Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977) were always intended for extraterrestrial ears. Made with 55 greetings in different languages, nature sounds, plus all kinds of music, the contents were chosen by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan. With tracks from Beethoven to Chuck Berry, the records were meant to serve as a welcome for alien life, and an introduction to Earth. Now, a Voyager Golden Record is available for human ears. For sale for $98 the golden vinyl now offers “a chance for people to slow down for a moment; to gather around the turntable and bask in the crackly sounds of what Sagan called the ‘pale blue dot’ that we call home.” Read more at NPR.
2. Seven Must-See Movies About Artists
No matter how much soul artists put into their work, we always seem to want to know more. Artist biopics can be wildly hit or miss—beautiful, accurate, misleading, insightful or shallow. “At their best, they can provide an immersive, informative and enriching entry-point into creatives’ lives, minds, experiences and surroundings, distilling greatness to its essence.” From 2017’s “Tom of Finland” to 1996’s “Basquiat,” AnOther Magazine has made a list of seven important films about some of the littlest known to astronomically famous artists. See all the trailers at AnOther Magazine.
3. Bjarke Ingels-Designed “LEGO House” Opens its Doors
A building as whimsical as the wonders it contains, the Bjarke Engels-designed LEGO House has finally opened its doors in Billund, Denmark—the town where LEGO was invented. Inside, one finds 25 million LEGO bricks, a store, three restaurants, a 2,000-square-meter public square and exhibitions. It’s a truly immersive experience center aimed at encouraging creative and cognitive skills. As for the building itself, 21 massive white bricks—stacked atop one other—compose the structure. It’s certainly a wonder to see. Check out a video over at designboom for more information.
4. 500-Year-Old Sketch Could Be Naked Mona Lisa
A sketch previously attributed to one of Leonardo da Vinci’s students is currently being studied by experts who believe it may actually be an early drawing of the Mona Lisa. It’s long been believed by art historians that da Vinci drew or painted a nude version of the work, and this 500-year-old piece certainly looks familiar. Her position and even the shapes of her fingers look incredibly similar, but there are (of course) differences. Read more at VICE.
5. Tinder Launches Animated Reactions
A new suite of Tinder Reactions offers ways to respond to messages on the dating app with a little humor. Part of their “Menprovement Initiative,” Tinder is encouraging women to offer immediate feedback to their would-be dates. In a blog post, the team at Tinder says, “We created Tinder Reactions so that our users can give instant feedback—both positive as well as constructive—to those who need it most.” You can send animated hearts, applause, smiley faces, and more if he’s being great. On the flip-side there’s a “Strike One” GIF, and even the ability to throw a virtual martini in your suitor’s face. See them all in the post.
6. Stranger Things 8-Bit Game
Ahead of the new series of Stranger Things (on Netflix 27 October), fans can play a retro 8-Bit game on their mobile phone. Available for iOS and Android, the game sees players collecting Eggos and searching Hawkins Lab—all scenarios loosely based on the first season of the show. Yet another way in which series creators the Duffer Brothers have successfully tapped into nostalgia of the ’80s.
7. Children’s Book About Yayoi Kusama
Written by Sarah Suzuki—a curator at The Museum of Modern Art—a new children’s book about Yayoi Kusama is set for release this month. Beautifully illustrated by Ellen Weinstein, the book “Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity!” will also include reproductions of the artist’s striking and recognizable pieces. Beginning with her childhood in Matsumoto, Japan, the story tracks her incredible life and success. Read more at Dezeen.
8. Documentary on Trans Icon and Activist Marsha P Johnson
Trans icon, activist and one of the West Village’s most adored figures, Marsha P Johnson was not only an important voice in the LGBTQ+ community, she was a beloved human. Since her untimely death in 1992, there’s been a lot of suspicion surrounding the idea that she killed herself—with rumors of murder at the hands of shady cops, the mob or others circulating. “How to Survive a Plague” director David France explores Johnson’s work in the community, and investigates her death in the new Netflix documentary “The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson.” Read a review at the Guardian.
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on social media, and rounded up every Saturday morning.
