Thursday various

  • Former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich says it’s difficult watching his wife, Patti, fill in for him on a reality show, but he appreciated the former Illinois first lady’s televised exercise in tarantula-eating as an “act of love. [link | via]

    They should double-date with the Santorums!

  • A fascinating discussion in The New York Times on the Uncanny Valley, the nature of forgeries, cover versions, and Vermeer. [via]
  • Behind the Scenes: A New Angle on History — Twenty years later, a new look at that historic moment in China’s Tiananmen Square. It’s a little startling to see a historical moment captured from a completely different angle like this, especially when the earlier angles have become so iconic. [via]
  • Watch season one of Veronica Mars for free online. Opinions vary on the later two seasons, but I think the first is generally considered the show’s best. You have until June 29, apparently, when the episodes will be replaced by season two. [via]
  • And finally, Warren Ellis on the writing process:

    The point is getting it all down, even if it’s crap or incomprehensible to anyone but you, so you can see it outside your own head. And then you can start adding to it. Expanding it, putting new layers on it, winding a new plotline around it, moving bits of it around. Just get it down.