You Were There
Beethoven conducts <I>Fidelio</I>, Louis Spohr remembers in the February 7, 1865 edition of <I>The Guardian</I>.
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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.
Mountains of Power
<b>Me:</b> We're gonna go see <a href="http://www.brokebackmountainmovie.com/getflash.html">Brokeback Mountain</a> tonight.<br>
<b>Elizabeth:</b> [Gasp of horror!]<br>
<b>Me:</b> What? What's with the gasp of horror?<br>
<b>Elizabeth:</b> Steel yourself.<br>
<b>Me:</b> Why? Am I gonna cry? I'm not afraid of crying. I cry all the time, anyway.<br>
<b>Elizabeth:</b> No, I don't think you're going to cry. But you might wince. A lot.<br>
<b>Me:</b> Oh.<br>
Wolfie & Sid?
Stephen Brown argues that Sid Vicious and Mozart shared the quality of primitivism, by which he means the winnowing away of unnecessary complications. I see his point with Sid, but in Mozart's case, I see it as the essence of the refining fire. Still, a good read and well-argued, even though, IMHO, wrong.
Game Theoretic Approach to the Toilet Seat Problem
<I>Caution:</I> This is just a theory.
100 Greatest Moments in American Rhetoric
Frankly, I think this site has more Ronald Reagan than it needs, but it does have Richard Nixon's farewell address (man, I never get tired of that one) and a ton of other winners—in both text and MP3. Obviously slanted towards stuff they have audio files for, but a goldmine for those of us who appreciate good oratory.