The first thing you notice is the rather large black foam rubber foot sitting (standing?) in the room. And then the swanky furniture and trendy layout.

Ian MacDonald's <I>Revolution in the Head: The Beatles Records and the Sixties</I> is, quite simply, the best book ever published about the Beatles and their music. Its first half is the best description of the '60s I've ever read; its second half is a track by track exploration of the songs and the process of recording them. It's out of print in the USA, but there's a new edition available in the UK and it can be ordered from the link. Do yourself a favor and read this book if the Beatles mean anything to you at all.

And yes, it is a sad comment on my life that it's worth a headline.

Now there's proof. Besides Congress, I mean.

You know those scenes in movies like <I>The 13th Warrior</I> where the hero can't even lift a sword? It's BS. A heavy two-handed sword probably weighed about 4 lbs; most single handed blades were under 3 lbs.

By Strunk, White, and Factotum.

Before you try to get that fantasy novel published, take this simple test.