Defining "Conductor"
Jerome Harris sends along this Uncyclopedia definition of "conductor."
Definition of a Gentleman
Someone who can play bagpipes, but doesn't. Definition of having too much money Paying $5000 for digital bagpipes. Of course, I'm not Scots—or José Ángel Hevis.
Delay, Deny, and Hope They Die
Ex-professional football players expect to live with pain, the byproduct of a job well done, says Paul Solotaroff. What they don't expect is the shabby treatment afforded them by the game for which they squandered their good health. And with union representation like Gene Upshaw, who needs hostile team owners to do 'em dirty?
Deliberately Smashing A Smart Car into a Wall
Remind me again why we can't buy these here: It couldn't have been about safety, now could it?
Dengue Fever
No, not the disease, the band. Jon Iverson introduced me to them on Friday and I can't stop listening to Escape From Dragon House. What do they sound like? Sort of Asian/African fusion, mixed with a heavy dose of Farfisa irony, and a splash of spaghetti-Western surrealism. In other words, probably the next Quentin Tarantino soundtrack.
Detente
Mutually agreed cooperation on the disputed NAS drive chassis (it's warm, it vibrates, and it's next to the monitor).
Deutsch's Musical Illusions
Here's where we separate the musically inclined geeks from the musically inclined geeks with decent computer sound systems. Jeff Wong sent along the URL to Deutsch's Musical Illusions, so I checked out the examples on my laptop. I got nuttin'. Typical male-type guy that I am, then I read the technical note:
" In listening to these illusions, it is best to use equipment with a flat frequency response so as to avoid spectral distortion. For example, enhanced high frequency transients tend to degrade the effects. And features that alter the signal in any way, such as spatialization features, should be turned off. Also make sure that the playback amplitude is not too high. With many sound systems, this amplitude needs to be set at a different level depending on whether you are listening through headphones or loudspeakers, and you might want to determine the appropriate settings before you begin. When you are listening to the stereo illusions through loudspeakers, it is best to be positioned equidistant between the speakers, with one to your left and the other to your right."
" In listening to these illusions, it is best to use equipment with a flat frequency response so as to avoid spectral distortion. For example, enhanced high frequency transients tend to degrade the effects. And features that alter the signal in any way, such as spatialization features, should be turned off. Also make sure that the playback amplitude is not too high. With many sound systems, this amplitude needs to be set at a different level depending on whether you are listening through headphones or loudspeakers, and you might want to determine the appropriate settings before you begin. When you are listening to the stereo illusions through loudspeakers, it is best to be positioned equidistant between the speakers, with one to your left and the other to your right."
Dharma is a Cat
Teaching Buddhist precepts with a cartoon kitty. Probably won't cause riots.
Dialogs
At On an Overgrown Path, blogger Pliable ruminates on the Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the glorious music the order has inspired.
There's Poulenc's searing, glorious opera, of course, but did you know the sisters commissioned a piece by Handel?
There's Poulenc's searing, glorious opera, of course, but did you know the sisters commissioned a piece by Handel?
Dictionary of Roadie Slang
That's "roadie" as in cyclist. Decidedly non-PC and bound to offend folks who object to coarse language, but pretty funny for the rest of us.