Of Matter into Energy
LATEST ADDITIONS
How to Pour Ketchup
No, not that viral video, but a real physics explanation. Of little use to my two Vegan readers.
Training Policewomen in Iran
When I first saw this, I was simply amused by the ninja-like image of the women in chadors rappelling down the building. Then I began to realize how revolutionary the concept of woman SWAT teams must be in a place like Iran. Now I think it's a pretty awesome video.
Oh Really?
<I>Business Week</I> thinks that the competing HD-DVD and Blu-Ray formats <I>might</I> confuse consumers and lead to conflicts between content protection scams, er, schemes.
Why Stupid Networks Are Betterer
<I>Fractals of Change</I> argues that "stupid" networks (such as the Internet) are better than "smart" ones (networks configured to allow certain machines running specific software to operate in ways their designers have anticipated). Smart networks may be more efficient when accomplishing those goals, but they don't necessarily work better (or even at all) when you try to do stuff the designers haven't anticipated.
Cyborgs In the Mist?
Fused protein/silicon chips may point towards a future where wetware becomes a reality. Forget a he-man rig—I want a hi-fi that's a direct neural implant. Just not the 1.0 version, thank you.
Evolution of Man and Woman
My wife made me post this. Honest.
Listening #39
<I>One should be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.</I>—F. Scott Fitzgerald
Music in the Round #17
When I got married, my mother pulled my bride aside and said, "Now it can be <I>your</I> fault!" You see, I have always practiced blame-avoidance. Now I get to do it again.
Truth vs Beauty: A Tale of Two Transports
It is a truism that audiophiles love music. What distinguishes us (footnote 1) from the vast majority of music lovers is the importance we ascribe to the high-quality reproduction of recorded music. But what, exactly, constitutes high-quality sound reproduction? To many audiophiles, the answer relates to accuracy. Useful indices of accuracy include many of the parameters that editor John Atkinson routinely measures: flat frequency response, time and phase accuracy, and low distortion, to name a few. On the other hand, many audiophiles apparently have little interest in these aspects and instead seek nothing more—or less—than a romantic and pleasant sound. Such individuals are unfazed by demonstrable inaccuracies in their systems; as long as it sounds good to their ears, they are happy. Are these two schools of thought both compatible with the notion of high-end audio? If so, is one "more correct" than the other? Are they mutually exclusive? What brought this issue to mind was, of all things, a digital transport. Actually, two transports.