Wes Phillips

Jeff Wong sends along a link to the Oxford University Press's "Ask the Experts" page. I like the "Jargon Buster" grammar feature, but this page on symbols is cool, too.

The Amateur Gourmet received a press release promoting Alain Ducasse's $320 white truffle prix fixe menu. He wrote back that neither he nor his readers could afford that, but he'd gladly come taste it and report on his experiences. Ducasse said sure and TAG posted his report, as promised.

"The Cat Attack uses the latest research in chaos theory and complex systems to emulate the movements and personality of a cat's favorite prey. This "virtual mouse" technology utilizes algorithms based on a six-dimensional coupled nzmap system modeled on the neural network of a real mouse. What that all means is that the Cat Attack's "virtual mouse" will become your cat's new best friend!"

"You think I can't?" sez Huckleberry. "Look at these ears—solid gold, baby."

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an empty box in a good location, must be in want of a cat.

My review of Nicholas Payton, Bob Belden, Sam Yehel, John Hart, Billy Drummond: Mysterious Shorter: Music of Wayne Shorter is now up at Face the Music blog.

Stephen Walsh's new biography of Stravinsky sounds as though it proves that, at least when it comes to hagiography, sometimes art is better without Craft (ahem!).