Lady Gaga was among the artists who entertained Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance on Monday.

As the year draws to a close, I find myself turning back to 2009 and to the highlights and lowlights of the year. For instance, the dumbest thing I heard anyone say all year: at the Battle of Ideas in London, I sat in on a panel on whether unlimited economic growth was plausible or desirable. On the pro side there was a man who argued: 1. The Bible gives man dominion over all the beasts and land and so forth 2. The world's per-capita GDP works out to about GBP5,000, which means that if we stop growing now and then redistribute things fairly, every human being will have to live on a mere £5 grand a year. Hardly a day goes by that I am not freshly amazed by how dumb this presentation was...

Rosy-cheeked, nostalgic, kitschy, clichéd: our feelings on Norman Rockwell are manifold. Though Rockwell's depictions of America evokes a certain warm feeling for yesteryear, they are more akin to propagandistic advertisements than high art. It's worth noting, however, that Rockwell referred to himself as an illustrator, not an artist, a fact that jives with his use of photography in creating his iconic images. NPR has a fascinating look at the process behind the lens; peep side-by-side comparisons plus other photorealist picks after the jump. Related posts:

1. Ride a Giant Elevator with Norman Foster
2. Norman Mailer’s Not So Dirty Laundry Aired By the FBI
3. Interactive...

Small Beer Press is an astoundingly good independent science fiction press run by Gavin Grant and the brilliant short story writer Kelly Link. Kelly has been in Franciscan Children's Hospital with their newborn, Ursula, having moved in after Ursula's early tenure at Ronald McDonald House following...

In his first new episode since the Thanksgiving holiday, the "Late Show" host returned with a series of jokes in which he mocked himself as much as the thoroughly roasted golf star.

What we're reading on Tuesday morning.

Just look at it. Banana Splitter® Banana Peeler -- 'Flip the top off a banana and peel it with ease' (Thanks, Bennett!) Previously: Just look at this awesome banana peeling simulator. Boing Boing Just look at this awesome banana slicer. Boing Boing Just look at this awesome banana saver clip. Boing...

This DIY Kodachrome machine (the "Filminator") was created to produce more film stock after the company discontinued productions. Michael, the creator, notes, "Plastic and goop go in one end, and camera film comes out the other end. This is not a trivial undertaking." DIY film (Thanks, Karloskar!)...

Here's a rare peek into the celestial kingdom in which the Tetris God decides which shape to send you next. The Tetris God (via Geekologie) Previously:Game-themed Tetris cake - Boing Boing Chain-mail tetris blocks Boing Boing High-resolution Tetris - Boing Boing Hi-rez Tetris after two weeks - Boing Boing HOWTO Make Tetris brownies - Boing Boing Tetris cosplayers in parking-lot brawl - Boing Boing 3D Tetris in Flash - Boing Boing...