Nefarious Mad Scientist Scheme: Freezing the Atmosphere

As a demonstration in class this past week, I and one of my henchmen froze a small portion of the atmosphere. 

That's it in the bell jar.  If it looks like ice floating in liquid, it is.  Before we froze the atmosphere, it needed to be liquified.

The process was amazingly simple.  Once the atmosphere was liquified, all we had to do was boil it.

I call the device the atmosphere-freezinator.

So, unless you want me to freeze the entire atmosphere of the Earth, you'll deposit.$500 in US currency each month in one of the following offshore accounts-

Excuse me, there's someone at the door.  I'll finish delivering this ultimatum once I've dealt with them.

Who left this platypus on the doorstep? And why is he wearing a fedora?

Hey, where'd you get that- Urk!

To see more pictures and find out what's really going on, click the link below (if you're accessing this from the main page of the blog) to read more:

Robert E. Howard Meets Jane Austen

I pass on this link without comment except to say that Mary Robinette Kowal has waayyy too much time on her hands. 

Watchmen Humor

A new Dork Tower strip went up a few minutes ago spoofing DC's Watchmen prequels.  Check it out here.  And for what it's worth, I rather fancy this rendition of Silk Spectre.

Why Women Barbarians Make Better Leaders

If you're offended by potentially sexist humor, don't read this cartoon.  Otherwise, enjoy.

An Important Public Service Announcement Concerning Slave Leia

I posted this at Futures Past and Present but thought some of you might enjoy it.  I've clearly been attending the wrong conventions.

Amazon Humor

We love a good amazon here at Adventures Fantastic.  I mean, who doesn't?  But we still treat them with courtesy and respect:

http://www.nicky510.com/comic/excuse-me-miss/ 

Some Thoughts on the Occasion of Oprah Winfrey's Final Show

For some, today is a day of great sadness.  Oprah Winfrey, mogul, talk show hostess, would be kingmaker, and self-appointed arbiter of what we should all be reading, is closing out her show with its final broadcast.  And while it's sure to be a sobfest with a lot of celebrities giving testimonials about how Oprah has changed their lives, given them meaning, and cured them of rickets, it truly marks the end of an era. 

About time, I say.

Now maybe we can get someone to step into the vacuum and start a book club to promote what we should really be reading.  Fantasy (especially sword and sorcery), historical adventure, science fiction, and noir.  Can you imagine what publishing would be like if someone with as many sheep minions followers as Oprah has were to get on national television and promote Robert E. Howard?  Or Jack McDevitt?  Or Harold Lamb?  How about Rafael Sabatini?  Michael Koryta?  Or, to be really radical, the poster child for all that's wrong in fantasy, Joe Abercrombie?  I could go on.

Can you just imagine it?  The shelves in bookstores, Wal-Marts, and supermarkets would be packed with great stuff to read rather than, well, the stuff they're packed with now.

Of course, those writers appeal to people who aren't cattle who can actually think for themselves, rather than having someone on TV tell them what to read, so that would probably never work.

Troll Quotes

Okay, Al Harron over at The Blog That Time Forgot has posted something you have got to see.  Robert E. Howard fans especially, if you haven't seen this, you need to.  It's hilarious.  Make sure you read all the way to the end.  Great job, Al!  And while it's probably too subtle for a lot of people, I think it's genius.  Thanks muchly for the laugh.  I really needed it this evening.

Need a New Place to Live?

If you are looking to move up in the world; being evicted; pestered by people breaking into your dwelling with crosses, stakes, and holy water; or just not able to get any work done because there's an angry mob with torches and pitchforks outside every night, and if you have a taste for the unusual, then perhaps you might want to consider one of the following properties:

http://xkcd.com/886/

Make sure to read the ad in the hypertext as well.