Great Last Lines Deserves Props Too
Okay, last week we gave a shout out to great first lines; now let's give the last line some.
LATEST ADDITIONS
Continue Reading »
The Malevolent Conspiracy Behind Conspiracy Theories
Do conspiracy theories displace critical engagement with public life in favor of a fascination with the private lives and personal interest of a mistrusted class (specifically politicians)?
Stuff That Makes You Go Hmmm
I did some work for Muzak once and made the mistake of calling it "music" within the hearing of my boss. He corrected me, "It is a work enhancement technology." Muzak, he explained, was designed to operate subliminally and different programs were designed to have different effects. Office music was designed to keep you focused and working briskly, whereas shopping music was designed to chill you out and make you linger, perhaps to buy more.
Some Fine Tunes
You know, because, at first, all I had was the Arcam Solo, and the Arcam Solo does everything. It's a good-looking, easy-to-use, single-box multi-purpose solution; a CD playing, AM/FM receiving, integrated amplifying dreamboat of a component. It does everything I want it to do, does it all very well, and takes up almost no space and draws very little attention to itself while doing it. I love it. If you're interested in a fun and easy, one-stop ride into the high-end, then I think you should definitely get to know the Solo. But, like <a href="http://gpn.unl.edu/rainbow/">Reading Rainbow</a>, you don't have to take my word for it. I can't go assuming authority around here. I may not know audio all that well yet, but I know cool. And the Arcam Solo is cool. Art Dudley, who is way smarter than me about this, and most other stuff, also liked it. <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/705arcam/index.html">He said</a>:
You Were There
Beethoven conducts <I>Fidelio</I>, Louis Spohr remembers in the February 7, 1865 edition of <I>The Guardian</I>.
Words and Pictures
Addicting website featuring Don Ellis' stunning photographs and words (sometimes) and layout (mostly) that "clarifies" the statement.
The Gettysburg Powerpoint Presentation
This is perfect. Read while drinking at great peril to your monitor and keyboard.
The Blimp, The Blimp!
I'm fascinated by blimps. I've also always wondered why they weren't used more for hauling cargo, especially stuff that didn't fit neatly into road-width containers. <I>National Geographic</I> says I'm not the only one.
Ay Yi Yi Robot
Watched <I>I Robot</I> while practicing work avoidance yesterday. What a steaming pile of crap based on the title of a book with the same name! You know a movie's in bad shape when even it sqaunders Will Smith's considerable charm, but <I>I Robot</I>'s biggest flaw was that it abandoned almost everything from Asimov,except the three laws (good) and a very 1940's view of what robots would be. Who needs mechanical manservants when everyday objects perform more and more of our chores?
You Want Facts?
Nationmaster.com's got 'em. Amazing go-to resource for maps, stats, and factoids.