LATEST ADDITIONS

Ben Stein is not your typical free-trade apologist.

Are scientists getting close to telepathy?

I was reading Alex Ross's spot-on <A HREF="http://www.therestisnoise.com/2007/03/burying_the_led.html">"Burying the Lede"</A> this morning, when I followed a link to an essay he'd published in <I>The New Yorker</I> back in February that you simply <I>must</I> read.

Rats&mdash;like people&mdash;experience metacognition. To paraphrase Clint Eastwood, a rat's smart enough to know its own limitations.

Stealing jokes is serious.

Try to wrap your mind around the stats involving <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I>. The parasite makes rats seek cats, but is it also altering the cultures of entire nations? Skewing the sex ratios of affected populations? Doubling the chances of traffic accidents?

Tom Watson picks the greatest cover versions of rock'n'roll and comes up with Patti Smith's "Gloria." Interesting choice. I might have gone with "Respect," myself.

And now the important question: What percentage of music in your collection is both great music <I>and</I> sounds great?

<B>Wireworld:</B> Wireworld has "completely redesigned" its Series 5<SUP>2</SUP> (pronounced "five squared") audio cables. Chief engineer David Salz says they deliver the "highest fidelity the company has ever offered."