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)?
Wes Phillips
Sort By: Post Date TitlePublish Date
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.
You Were There
Beethoven conducts Fidelio, Louis Spohr remembers in the February 7, 1865 edition of The Guardian.
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. National Geographic says I'm not the only one.
Ay Yi Yi Robot
Watched I Robot 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 Robot'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.
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
Caution: This is just a theory.