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martians

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martians

The Ninteenth Century Madman Who Invented Martians

He was the man who launched a thousand imaginary rocketships to Mars — in the nineteenth century, before anybody knew the word "Martian" and War of the Worlds hadn't been written yet. Percival Lowell, a wealthy Bostonian, spent his youth traveling Japan and Korea before having a nervous breakdown and recovering by falling in love with Mars. He built the Lowell Observatory in Arizona just so he could get a better look at the planet, and spent months staring at it every night, taking notes and writing books about how it might be possible that other creatures lived there. A mesmerizing speaker, Lowell gave lectures and readings all over the country, popularizing the idea that the Martian "canals" might be signs of Martian civilization. With the new Phoenix Mars Lander about to plop down on the Red Planet, the Boston Globe's Nancy Zaroulis has published an amazing and timely article about Lowell's life. More »

4:46 PM on Mon Apr 28 2008
By Annalee Newitz
1,161 views, 12 comments

Latest by Grey_Area: @Castle1914: Okay everybody, say it with me: "It's just crazy enough to work!" more »

retro futurism

We Will Land on Mars and We Will Sell Them Shoes

Capitalism triumphs again in this cartoon from a novelty ink blotter dating to the 1950s. Ink blotters, by the way, were absorbent cards used to soak up excess ink from your fountain pen. Thanks to the invention of the ballpoint, they were a dying technology when this one, celebrating future technology, was printed. More »

1:30 PM on Fri Apr 11 2008
By Lynn Peril
1,373 views, 9 comments

triviagasm

Santa Claus vs. Neo in the Martian Matrix

The 1964 holiday film Santa Claus Conquers The Martians has the distinction of constantly being named one of the worst films ever made. It also contains the acting debut of Pia Zadora, although that may be unrelated to its critical status. Instead this film was all about bringing "freedom" to poor Martian children who have been brainwashed by machines. Of course, Neo can't rescue them — only Santa Claus could bring that kind of liberation. How does this film stack up to The Matrix? Let us count the ways. More »

11:00 AM on Wed Dec 26 2007
By Kevin Kelly
345 views, Comment