National Archives To Put Entire Collection On Wikimedia Commons

Access!

A Tale of Two Humorists: The Onion and the MFA

Oh, MFA. Who knew you had such a sense of humor?

Awesome: Musical Air Force Flash Mob at the Smithsonian

Clear As A Bell: A Voice From 1885

Awesome!

Forgotten History: the Philanthropist and the Queen

Interesting stuff here:

She is regarded as the ancient world’s equivalent to the Mona Lisa and this weekend the 3,400–year old bust of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti will be the centrepiece of a grand exhibition in Berlin’s Neues Museum, celebrating her discovery by German archaeologists exactly a century ago.

The delicately featured and priceless bust of the wife of the ancient Egyptian Sun King Akhenaten has been one of the highlights of Berlin’s museum collection since it was first put on display in the city in 1923.

It was unearthed by the famous German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt, at Amarna in 1912. He became a household name in Germany but few know the story of the wealthy Jewish patron and philanthropist who not only funded the excavation work that led to the bust’s discovery but also donated Nefertiti and scores of other ancient Egyptian artefacts he owned to Berlin’s museums. Organisers of the centenary celebrations are hoping to change that.

Yes, please meet James Simon, who was written out of the history books after the rise of the Nazis in 1933.

You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream For Edvard Munch

Dude needs a better museum?

Awesome: The Oatmeal and the Tesla Museum

Fans of the Oatmeal already know this (and likely participated), but in case you missed the geeky glory of it all, NPR just interviewed Matthew Inman, the mad genius behind the wildly popular webcomic.

Remembering September 11

The National Museum of American History has a collection of artifacts online, including the American flag recovered from the World Trade Center.  See too the Insta-Prof's post.  Was it really 11 years and a different world ago?  It was an atrocity purposefully perpetrated by evil men.  Never forget that.  UPDATE: READ THIS.

Awesome: Ghiberti's Gate of Paradise

California Dreamer just told me this lovely news about the restoration of a Renaissance masterpiece.  How awesome is it?  So awesome that it impressed even Michelangelo himself.

Egypt and Extremism

Two disturbing thoughts here and here.

Vita Brevis, Ars Longa: Your Virtual Art Museum

Feast your eyes!  The Botticelli will take your breath away.

Looters and Protectors of Egyptian Antiquities

The Egyptian army has gone to protect the National Museum in Cairo.  Its antiquities are priceless.

Life and Art: A Live Exhibit at the National Gallery

I wish I could go and see this:

Ars longa, vita brevis.

Disgustingly Cute Nerd News: the Argonaut Octopus

It's more quirky than cute, admittedly, but it's a fascinating creature all the same, and scientists working with Museum Victoria in Australia have recently made a new discovery about it. More here.

Nerd Fun: Starstruck At The Planetarium

This is for La Parisienne and California Dreamer! Actually, this is for everybody, because -- seriously -- who doesn't love going to the planetarium when you go to your natural science museum? Astronomy is such a joy.

Here's a bit from "We Are Astronomers," a British planetarium program (or should I say, "programme") that is, alas, not available in the US. No wonder I totally missed it during 2009's Year of Astronomy fun. Still, here's a piece of it so you can get an idea -- and a hint of some mellifluous narration.



It's not a trip in the TARDIS, but it's still a trip into the heavens.

Awesome Geek Fun: QR Code Cupcakes!

This is nothing sort of BRILLIANT. Bravo!

Nerd News: The Staffordshire Treasure Hoard

Check it out!

Forgotten History: Shoes!

I love history. I love shoes. It was only a matter of time before these two passions collided, and here it is. For your pleasure, I give you a gorgeous bit of history: a pair of stunning embroidered shoes from 1929. Wow! And how perfect for spring!

UPDATE: Check out this awesome link to the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto! Thanks to the gentle reader who sent me this link -- you know who you are, but I won't tarnish your manly man credentials by calling you out!

Monday Therapy and Geek Fun: A Journey Through the Known Universe

From Geeks Are Sexy comes this great link to a video done by the American Museum of Natural History. By the way, watch it in "full-screen mode" for best effect.

Nerd News + Quirky Asia Files: Japan's Massive New Manga Library

Here's something for all you manga and anime fans like Alessandra and the Cinema-Mad Sibling:

The brand-new Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subculture will partially open October 31 at Meiji University. The massive collection will include some 140,000 comic books -- errr ... I mean, graphic novels! -- and some of those date from the World War II era or even earlier.

By the time the entire manga library is complete in 2015, it will hold 2 million comic books, drawings, and other cartoon artifacts. Wow!

I'm actually not being flippant (OK, not entirely flippant) when I tag this "Great Moments in Research." Manga is a big part of pop culture both Japanese and now abroad, so it's only fitting to try to give it the full academic treatment. Call it "cultural studies." And now we needn't feel too guilty when we run off to indulge in a bit of it.

Oh, and there's also the Kyoto International Manga Museum.