Wes Phillips

Interesting collection of images from Cornell's division of rare and manuscript collections.

According to researchers at the University of Illinois, if you drop food on hardwood or tile floors and pick it up within five seconds, it probably is safe to eat.That's because it takes at least that long for germs to devour dropped dry food. It takes wet food less time to become contaminated—and if you drop food onto carpet, all bets are off. "That's an entirely different story and we haven't done that study yet."

Physics Web has a fascinating story on astronomers' newest theories on how far the Milky Way's arms extend. The illustrations are way cool, but I have to confess that it was the title that hooked me.

Living In Stereo posts Dave Marsh's 1983 must-read about Florence Thompson, the subject of Dorothea Lange's harrowing FSA photo portrait. It's a great read—and add LIS to my daily rounds of the 'Net.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of good writing. Well, if you ask me, Jon Carroll writes more better stuff every day than most writers write ever. This column is great even by Carroll's high standards. Just read it and see why Carroll's column is my first stop every day.

The (insert adjective here) recording and entertainment lobbies have sneakily maneuvered to have language inserted in http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat051606.html">
Section 115 Reform Act (SIRA), which is being considered by the House Judiciary Committee, that will destroy fair use as we know it. The language is vague but it appears to require licenses from copyright holders for "every digital copy made in the transmission of digital media—including cached copies on servers or on your hard drive, and even temporary copies in RAM," according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

Remind you of anybody? Heck yes, just about everybody!