A nuclear physicist reviews Plutonium: A History of the World's Most Dangerous Element, arguing that understanding the element could help us construct a rational policy for dealing with its dangers.
"What the heck is that icon trying to tell me?" I had switched on Denon's new DVD-3000 player—a cute "Welcome to DVD World" message scrolled across its display—and put a disc in its drawer. The icon, which looked at best like a Japanese character and at worst like a child's drawing of a house (complete with windows), was lit up in light blue on the display. But the game was given away by the magic words "96kHz 24 bit" illuminated in red below the mysterious icon. For this was no DVD movie, but a test pressing of Chesky's new Super Audio Disc, The Super Audio Collection & Professional Test Disc, which makes use of the DVD-Video specification's provision for including a two-channel, linear-PCM signal encoded with a 96kHz sampling rate and a word depth of up to 24 bits. (Contrary to what you may have read in the popular press, using DVD-Video to carry high-definition sound quality does not introduce a new and incompatible standard.)
Krazy Kat, Ignatz Mouse, and Offissa Pup are an eternal triangle. Yes, the comic strip, the language, and the whole situation defy explanation or logic, but once you fall under its spell, you'll find yourself enchanted and intoxicated. Sarah Boxer explains all—sort of.
As we reported last March, Ken Kreisel declared bankruptcy, closing M&K Sound after 34 years of operation. Last week, the Great American Group, which, according to its website, "provides asset management, disposition, and financial services," announced that it would offer M&K's $3 million in assets at auction on July 19.