Tim Burton retrospective to be held at Museum of Modern Art

If any readers happen to be in New York City between November 22 and April 16, they can catch a Museum of Modern Art retrospective of Tim Burton.

I always thought that Burton was a bit overrated (Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in particular, both weren't very good). But he still has an interesting style that is all his own, so the retrospective should be interesting.

In addition to his movies, the New York Times reports, the retrospective will look at some of his lesser-known stuff:

The exhibition will contain more than 700 drawings, paintings, puppets, costumes and other artifacts from Mr. Burton’s film career, as well as displays of his early nonprofessional and student films, artwork from his Web animation series “The World of Stainboy,” book projects like “Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys” and severed-head props from “Mars Attacks!” A film series is planned to accompany the exhibition.

I know that my friend Matt would love to see the severed-head props from Mars Attacks!

Friday night links

So you're stuck in at your house on a Friday night, nothing to do? Here are some interesting links for you to look at while you drink your Bud Light Lime by yourself while listening to Coast to Coast AM.

• Lo-fi Sci-Fi
  
  Some of the coolest science fiction covers you'll ever see (example to the right) are from Orion books. And Creative Review took a look at some of them. It's times like this that I wish I had any sort of artistic ability. But, alas, I do not.


• Scientists put psychic's paranormal claims to the test
  
  Via Bad Astronomy... again.
  
  Do you have paranormal abilities? If you do then you can win a million dollars, provided you can prove it in a scientifically viable way. A Guardian article looks at professional medium Patricia Putt trying to win the million dollars from the Randi Educational Foundation.


• Lesser-known poker hands
  
  I have no idea the point of this, but if you like poker than you might enjoy this. Then again, you might not. But the tags on the post ("poker, I hardly know her") reminds of 1) someone I went to college with and 2) This Psych episode.


• Obama welcomes Phillies to Washington
  
  The 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies got to meet the new President in the White House. How much more excited do you think they are to see Obama than they would have been to visit George W. Bush?